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NFC notes: Ezekiel Ansah continues to rack up the sacks

Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah has been a menace to quarterbacks this season, as Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers can attest.

Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah has been a menace to quarterbacks this season, as Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers can attest.

(Rick Osentoski / Associated Press)
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Notes from around the NFC heading into Sunday’s games.

Arizona: The Cardinals are 6-1 on the road. Receiver Michael Floyd has 100 yards receiving in four of the past five games with four touchdowns.

Atlanta: The Falcons must win two of their last three games to avoid becoming the first team to finish with a losing record after opening the season 5-0.

Carolina: The Panthers are the eighth team in the Super Bowl era to start 13-0. Carolina is seeking its 18th straight regular-season victory going back to last year.

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Chicago: The Bears’ top receiver, Alshon Jeffery, missed practice this week because of an illness and has been dealing with tightness in his right calf.

Dallas: Who misses Tony Romo most? Barring an amazing finish, Dez Bryant’s three-year run of at least 10 touchdown catches per season is over.

Detroit: Defensive end Ezekiel Ansah has 11 1/2 sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble returns over the last 10 games. He has had a sack in the last four games.

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Green Bay: The Packers can clinch a franchise-record seventh straight playoff berth with a win over the Raiders. Green Bay has won its last six in a row against Oakland.

Minnesota: Safeties Harrison Smith (knee) and Andrew Sendejo (knee) are expected to be available to play. Last week, Minnesota started four rookies on defense.

New Orleans: Receiver Willie Snead had seven catches for 122 yards last week. Marques Colston had two touchdown catches last week.

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N.Y. Giants: Josh Brown has missed a field goal attempt in each of the last two games after not missing in the first 11. Robert Ayers leads the team with five sacks.

Philadelphia: Defensive end Fletcher Cox has 5 1/2 sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in his last five home games. He has 6 1/2 sacks on the season.

San Francisco: The 49ers beat the Bengals in Cincinnati’s two Super Bowl appearances, after the 1981 and 1988 seasons. The 49ers are 7-1 at home vs. the Bengals.

Seattle: Quarterback Russell Wilson has 16 touchdown passes with no interceptions over the last four games. He also has rushed for 101 yards and one score.

St. Louis: Rookie running back Todd Gurley cracked the 1,000-yard rushing mark with 48 yards in 21 carries against the Buccaneers on Thursday night.

Tampa Bay: Jameis Winston threw for a career-high 363 yards, including two touch- down passes in the fourth quarter, in a loss to St. Louis on Thursday.

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Washington: Kirk Cousins is the first Redskins quarterback with a touchdown pass in 13 consecutive games since Sonny Jurgensen in 1967.

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