THE NICKEL PACKAGE

Times staff writer Sam Farmer breaks down five areas worth watching in this week’s NFL matchups:

Pinball wizard

No wonder Minnesota rookie Adrian Peterson is hobbling. The guy never goes down without a fight. He’s averaging a league-high 2.86 yards after contact, although now he’s sidelined for at least a week with a sprained right knee. Most yards after contact per rush, (minimum 6.25 rushes per team game):

Adrian Peterson, Minnesota: 2.86 483 yds./169 carries

Marion Barber, Dallas: 2.52 282/112

Travis Henry, Denver: 2.44 312/128

Fred Taylor, Jacksonville: 2.43 304/125

Jesse Chatman, Miami: 2.41 152/63

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Feeling the heat

It’s a tale of two quarterbacks when San Diego’s Philip Rivers is under pressure. He has been effective with lots of time, but has really struggled with pass rushers closing in on him. According to STATS LLC, no quarterback has a sharper drop-off in passer ratings when the rush is on. Biggest difference in quarterback rating, no pressure vs. under pressure (minimum 14 total attempts per team game):

No Press.: Under Press.: Diff.

Philip Rivers, San Diego: 98.7: 3.9 94.8

Tom Brady, New England: 140.5: 60.8: 79.7

Peyton Manning, Indianapolis: 102.2: 37.0: 65.2

Kyle Boller, Baltimore: 86.2: 21.1: 65.1

Matt Schaub, Houston: 98.4: 39.7: 58.7

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On the defensive

Pittsburgh leads the NFL in rush and pass defense and is looking to become the first team in 16 years -- and only the third since 1960 -- to finish the season at the top in both categories. Not surprisingly, the Steelers also lead the league in points allowed, yielding an average of 14.0 per game. Teams since 1960 that have led the NFL in rush defense and pass defense:

*--* Year Team Rush def. Pass def. Rec. 1975 Minnesota 109.4 115.8 12-2 1991 Philadelphia 71.0 150.8 10-6 2007 Pittsburgh 72.0* 157.4* ??? *--*

Source: NFL

Statistics to note

Baltimore’s Willis McGahee, who has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of his past two games against Cleveland, has a rushing touchdown in each of his past four games.

Green Bay’s Brett Favre recorded his sixth 300-yard passing game of 2007 last Sunday and is one away from tying his single-season career high, set in 1995.

Reggie Bush has 143 catches since joining the New Orleans Saints. That’s more than any NFL running back over that span, and more than all but three players at any position.

San Diego, which scored on a kickoff and punt return by Darren Sproles against Indianapolis, has six runbacks for touchdowns in the past five games.

This speaks to good coaching and adjustments: Dallas has by far the league’s most points in the third quarter, 104.

Source: STATS LLC

It’s a lock

Cleveland over Baltimore -- Although they’ve beaten Cleveland four consecutive times in Baltimore, the Ravens just can’t get anything going on offense.

Minnesota over Oakland -- The Vikings don’t have Peterson, but Chester Taylor should be able to pick up the slack against the slumping Raiders.

Green Bay over Carolina -- The Packers are playing great, and the Panthers can’t pressure quarterbacks the way they once did.

Pittsburgh over New York Jets -- In their last seven games against Pittsburgh, the Jets have scored in double digits only once.

Dallas over Washington -- Although they have yet to play the Redskins this season, the Cowboys are averaging 38.0 points against division opponents.

Last week: 2-3.

Season: 36-14.