FSH: THE WEEKEND INJURY WRAP UP (DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS)

January 12th, 2008 10:47pm PST


Divisional Playoffs...
NFL Injury News & Notes

• The Cardinal's wide receiver Anquan Boldin did not play Saturday, but the word is he is improving. According to the Arizona Republic, Boldin is improving in his recovery from his strained hamstring.
• The Raven's running back LeRon McClain suffered an injured ankle in the team's Divisional Round game against the Titans. The severity of the injury is not known.
• The Cardinals will be without tight end Stephen Spach. An MRI revealed he tore his ACL in the team's Divisional Round matchup with Carolina. He is done for the post season.
• The Steeler's quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who suffered a spinal cord concussion in Week 17 and had to be carted off the field, made it through Sunday's Divisional Round without suffering any setbacks. He appears fine for next week's AFC Championship matchup with Baltimore.
• The Eagle's running back Brian Westbrook came away from Sunday's win over the Giants with just 36-yards rushing and some swelling in his right knee. Westbrook likely won't see any practice time this week, but he's expected to play Sunday against Arizona.
• Fast Willie Parker appears completely healed from his injuries that had slowed him earlier in the season. Parker should be ready for Sunday when the Steelers host the Ravens in the AFC Championship.

Sunday's Game Notes:

• The story Saturday night in the Cardinal's huge on the road upset of the Panthers was not the magical play of their 37-year old quarterback, but the impressive play of their young and inexperienced defense. Maybe these kids are too young to understand the magnitude and importance of these games they play. Against the Panthers, the Arizona defense swarmed like a desert heat wave creating much pressure with two sacks and forcing six turnovers. There's no question the Panthers abandonment of the run game early played into the hands of Arizona and let's face it, Delhomme's poor play helped a great deal too.
• In the early game on Saturday, this was just an ugly slugfest with very little offense, but plenty of defense. Both the Raven's and Titan's defenses were dominant often forcing their will and making plays. While the Titans managed to move the ball quite a bit (391-total net yards) the Raven's defense forced three turnovers and managed to keep them out of the end-zone most of the afternoon. Only an 8-yard touchdown run by rookie running back Chris Johnson in the first 1st quarter would get by Ray Lewis and company. In the end, it was the plays the Ravens made down the stretch and those that the Titans didn't make that proved to be the difference.
• On Sunday, the Eagles-Giants clash was everything that fans of the NFC East would expect. It was a hard-hitting grudge match that, as expected came down to the 4th quarter. The Eagles used a mix of stunts and blitzes to pressure Manning and force the Giant's quarterback into two interceptions. In the first half,the Eagles struggled to generate much offense going into the intermission with just 97-total nets yards. Out of the break the Eagles gave the Giants an early gift with a McNabb interception, that would lead to a Giant field-goal. Missed opportunities not only defined the G-men on Sunday, but ultimately sealed their fate. The Eagles responded following the turnover over with a 12-play drive that would lead to a field-goal, followed by a 10-play drive resulting in a touchdown that would prove to be more than enough.
  

The Fantasy Notebook....

What we think we know:

• The Steelers swept their season series against the Ravens. In the early matchup at home, Pittsburgh was without "Fast" Willie Parker. In the team's win on Sunday, Parker was huge and a difference maker. Against the Raven's stout run defense he will be key for Big Ben and the Steeler's offense. In his last game against Baltimore, Parker only rushed for 47-yards on 14 carries. Last season Parker was held to just 42-yards on 23 carries in his only matchup with the Ravens.
• The Eagles are flying high after two road wins. One more win this weekend and they will repeat the same feat the Giants accomplished a year ago. One of the driving forces has been the defense that has forced five turnovers in the team's two victories. In their first matchup with the Cardinals, a game Philly won by 28-points, the defense forced four turnovers including three Kurt Warner interceptions.
  

Fantasy Spotlight:

***Warner Continues to Play Like a Two-time MVP...
The Cardinal's veteran quarterback Kurt Warner continued his stellar form completing 21 of 32 passes for 220-yards and two touchdowns. In the playoffs Warner is completing 62.5% of his passes with four touchdowns.

***McNabb is Magnificent in Win over Giants...
The Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was more than just good on Sunday. Despite his two interceptions, D-Mac kept his wings flapping and carried the Eagles to the NFC Championship with 217-yards passing and two touchdowns (1 pass, 1 rush).

***Johnson Totals 100-yards in Loss...
The Titan's rookie running back Chris Johnson played well for the short time he was in the game. Johnson totaled 100-yards (72-yards rushing, 28-yards receiving) and scored a touchdown, all in the first half before leaving the game with injury.

***The Edge Knifes His Way into the End-zone...
The Cardinal's running back Edgerrin James carried the ball 20 times on Sunday and rushed for 57-yards with a touchdown to help lead the offense in the team's big win on Saturday.


Another Sunday and another week in the NFL, here are your "Weekend Heroes!"


DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS


PASSING CLUB

QB-Philip Rivers (SD)
.....the Charger's offensive leader played well, but was not enough to overcome the Steelers on Sunday. Rivers completed 21 of 35 passes for 308-yards and tossed three touchdowns.

RUSHING CLUB

RB-Willie Parker (Pit)
....the Steeler's running back Willie Parker carried the ball 27 times for 146-yards on the ground and scored two big rushing touchdowns in the team's big Divisional Round win on Sunday.

RB-Brandon Jacobs (NYG)
....the Giant's running back Brandon Jacobs toted the rock 19 times for 92-yards on the ground, but was unable to find the end-zone against a stingy Eagle's defense.

RECEIVING CLUB

WR-Larry Fitzgerald (Ari)
....the Cardinal's wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald was unstoppable on Saturday hauling eight receptions for 166-yards, including a 29-yard touchdown reception.

WR-Justin Gage (Ten)
....the Titan's wide receiver Justin Gage was huge on Saturday with a big afternoon. Gage caught 10 passes for 135-yards receiving in the team's loss to the Ravens.

WR-Darren Sproles (SD)
....the Charger's box of dynamite, running back Darren Sproles showed his versatility and playmaking skills with five receptions for 91-yards including a 62-yard touchdown reception.


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