The Nickel Package
5 MIDSEASON DISAPPOINTMENTS
Jamal Lewis, Baltimore, RB
* Once the NFL’s best back, he’s averaging 3.0 yards a carry.
Julius Peppers, Carolina, DE
* Panthers might be hot, but Peppers isn’t: one sack so far.
Quentin Jammer, San Diego, CB
* Collects lots of yellow flags but nary an interception.
Duane Starks, New England, CB
* Looking for a soft spot in the Patriot defense? You’ve found him.
Trent Dilfer, Cleveland, QB
* 2-5 Browns’ offense hasn’t scored a TD in 18 of 20 quarters.
*
5 RED-HOT RECEIVERS
* Steve Smith, Carolina -- Needs 203 yards receiving for 1,000 in first eight games, a first since 1970.
* Joey Galloway, Tampa Bay -- Averaging 110.2 yards and has five touchdowns in last five games.
* Jeremy Shockey, New York Giants -- With 28 catches and four touchdowns this season, he’s helping make Eli Manning look good.
* Heath Miller, Pittsburgh -- Has caught at least one touchdown pass in four consecutive games.
* Santana Moss, Washington -- With four more catches, he’ll surpass his 2004 total.
*
5 LOCKS
Jacksonville over Houston
* Jaguar defense should be able to decide this one.
San Diego over the New York Jets
* If LT doesn’t doom Jets, turnovers will.
New York Giants over San Francisco
* 49ers will not be able to handle Giant offense.
Seattle over Arizona
* Remember Week 3? Shaun Alexander burned Cards for four TDs.
Pittsburgh over Green Bay
* Big Ben is out, but Packers have no ground game.
*
RATING THE SCHEDULES
*****
* Jacksonville -- Other than the Colts, every Jaguar opponent from now on has a losing record.
****
* Denver -- Broncos are rolling, and their future foes are a combined 26-33.
***
* Indianapolis -- Some tough games and a few -- Texans, Titans and Cardinals -- puff games.
**
* San Diego -- At least Chargers still have their open week; their opponents are 32-26.
*
* Dallas -- Six of Cowboys’ final eight opponents have winning records.
*
5 TELLING STATISTICS
* Carolina is averaging 2.7 yards a carry in its last six games, with the longest run 14 yards.
* Cincinnati has a league-best 28 takeaways, including 20 interceptions. No other team has more than 13 interceptions.
* Jacksonville’s Fred Taylor, who has averaged 148.5 yards rushing the last two games, today faces a Texan defense that has given up an average of 227 yards rushing in the last three games.
* Each of San Diego’s last four road losses has come by three points or fewer.
* Indianapolis’ Peyton Manning has completed 75% of his passes in the last five games.
*
Source: STATS LLC
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