Snap, Crackle and Pop is a weekly column that reviews the major injuries (Snap) and then projects both busts (Crackle) and sleepers (Pop) for the coming week.
Snap
Finally, we have a week that has not left us knee deep in injuries.
St. Louis QB Marc Bulger suffered a sprained right (throwing) shoulder in Sunday's win. "He'll be back, but whether it's this week or not I don't know," said head coach Mike Martz. If not, expect Chris Chandler to start in his place.
Niners QB Tim Rattay played the whole game on Sunday, but he was in pain for most of it. Rattay sprained his right arch and is unsure if he will be able to play next week. If he can't go, Ken Dorsey will get his fourth start of the season.
New England RB Corey Dillon gained 98 rushing yards in the first half this weekend before injuring his leg late in the first half. He carried once in the second half -- a carry that allowed him to reach 100 yards for the day -- before taking a seat to rest the injury.
Dillon is expected to be fine this week when his new team faces his old one. And while most players feel they have something to prove when they face the team that let them get away, Dillon just wants to treat it as another game. "No Cincinnati questions. I'm not worried about that," said Dillon. "It is what it is. We play them, and we just have to work hard to play a tough game."
Ravens RB Jamal Lewis is expected to miss at least one more game with his sprained ankle. The way Chester Taylor has been playing may allow the Ravens to be more careful with Lewis despite their precarious playoff position.
Marshall Faulk was active for Sunday's game but did not play. The Rams turned to Steven Jackson and allowed Faulk to rest his bruised knee.
Just when Oakland got its deep passing game going, something bad had to happen. WR Ronald Curry showed great promise the past couple weeks, including a spectacular game Sunday when he finished with nine catches for 141 yards and two scores. His season ended prematurely, though, when he tore his Achilles' tendon on a 22-yard reception with six minutes to go in the game.
Two weeks after scoring a career-high three TDs, TE Mark Campbell suffered a first-quarter knee injury and may be lost for the season.
In Pittsburgh, TE Jay Riemersma caught his second TD pass of the season. But he injured his right ankle on the score and could miss next week's game.
Crackle
San Diego QB Drew Brees has been the cat's meow this year. He has a running back who not only is one of the league's best pure runners, but also possesses wide receiver skills. He has an experienced route runner at wide receiver who is among the best in the league in receptions since the 2000 season. And he has one of the league's best new tight ends in Antonio Gates.
But he also has to face a Buccaneers defense that has allowed just 160 passing yards per game this year. The Bucs are among the best in the league at bringing pressure and creating turnovers as well. With 35 sacks and 13 picks in 12 games, Tampa Bay is not a team to be taken lightly. Denver held Brees to 106 passing yards and picked him off while keeping him scoreless. You should expect similar results when Tampa comes to town this Sunday.
The Jets are solidly placed for the playoff run. With a 9-3 record and Baltimore and Denver trailing by two games, even a loss in Pittsburgh is unlikely to curtail their playoff plans. But a win would virtually assure them a spot. To get that win, RB Curtis Martin will need to perform as he has for most of the year.
Unfortunately, I would not bet the house on this happening. The Steelers are allowing just 77.4 rushing yards a game and have only given up four rushing TDs. In their last three games, they have limited Rudi Johnson, Clinton Portis and Fred Taylor to a combined 155 rushing yards on 49 carries (3.16 ypc) and no scores. The fact that this game is being played in Pittsburgh only adds to my distrust of Martin in Week 14.
Since suffering an improbable loss to Oakland, the Carolina Panthers have been unstoppable. They have won four games in a row while averaging 31 points per game. Their defense has not been as dominant as it was during their Super Bowl run last year, but they have played relatively well. This week they host the St. Louis Rams and WR Isaac Bruce. The Rams may be without QB Marc Bulger, which means the Panthers will have a relatively immobile Chris Chandler throwing the ball. Bruce is still suffering the effects of injuries he suffered two weeks ago and Chandler seemed to look more for Torry Holt in last week's game. Carolina is allowing over 219 passing yards a game, but just 11 passing TDs all year. That means we can expect one 100-yard receiver and one passing TD. My money is on Holt getting both this week, so sit Bruce.
Pop
Name three signal callers who have been hotter than Kerry Collins over the past three weeks. If you named Peyton Manning and Donovan McNabb, you got two right. If you named anyone else -- beep. Collins is the third-ranked quarterback over the past three weeks -- and he has been amazingly consistent. His challenge this week will be to keep it up without new favorite receiver Ronald Curry. In his favor, he plays an indoor game this week. The Falcons are not the ideal opponent, but as hot as Collins has been, it should not matter.
When looking for a sleeper at running back, it's best to examine the trends of the opposing defenses. Baltimore RB Chester Taylor faces the Giants in Week 14. Over the past three weeks, the Giants have given up an average of 188 rushing yards on 39 carries (5.36 ypc) while allowing three rushing TDs. The loss of both starting defensive ends and tackle Norman Hand has made a definite impact on the New York defense. But even more so has been the inability of the offense to sustain drives since the promotion of QB Eli Manning. Baltimore lives and dies with a very conservative offense and a sometimes overpowering defense. That should play well for Taylor owners this week.
Seattle travels to Minnesota in what should be a shootout, one that should allow WR Darrell Jackson to have plenty of opportunities for success. Minnesota is giving up over 200 passing yards a game, and has allowed 20 passing TDs while only intercepting five. After three consecutive subpar games, Jackson showed up Monday night against the Cowboys. He should be just as good this week.
Quotes to Note
"I didn't see a whole lot of positives, but we'll try to find something and go on."
-- Falcons coach Jim Mora after Sunday's 27-0 loss to Tampa Bay
Greg Kellogg
Snap
Finally, we have a week that has not left us knee deep in injuries.
St. Louis QB Marc Bulger suffered a sprained right (throwing) shoulder in Sunday's win. "He'll be back, but whether it's this week or not I don't know," said head coach Mike Martz. If not, expect Chris Chandler to start in his place.
Niners QB Tim Rattay played the whole game on Sunday, but he was in pain for most of it. Rattay sprained his right arch and is unsure if he will be able to play next week. If he can't go, Ken Dorsey will get his fourth start of the season.
New England RB Corey Dillon gained 98 rushing yards in the first half this weekend before injuring his leg late in the first half. He carried once in the second half -- a carry that allowed him to reach 100 yards for the day -- before taking a seat to rest the injury.
Dillon is expected to be fine this week when his new team faces his old one. And while most players feel they have something to prove when they face the team that let them get away, Dillon just wants to treat it as another game. "No Cincinnati questions. I'm not worried about that," said Dillon. "It is what it is. We play them, and we just have to work hard to play a tough game."
Ravens RB Jamal Lewis is expected to miss at least one more game with his sprained ankle. The way Chester Taylor has been playing may allow the Ravens to be more careful with Lewis despite their precarious playoff position.
Marshall Faulk was active for Sunday's game but did not play. The Rams turned to Steven Jackson and allowed Faulk to rest his bruised knee.
Just when Oakland got its deep passing game going, something bad had to happen. WR Ronald Curry showed great promise the past couple weeks, including a spectacular game Sunday when he finished with nine catches for 141 yards and two scores. His season ended prematurely, though, when he tore his Achilles' tendon on a 22-yard reception with six minutes to go in the game.
Two weeks after scoring a career-high three TDs, TE Mark Campbell suffered a first-quarter knee injury and may be lost for the season.
In Pittsburgh, TE Jay Riemersma caught his second TD pass of the season. But he injured his right ankle on the score and could miss next week's game.
Crackle
San Diego QB Drew Brees has been the cat's meow this year. He has a running back who not only is one of the league's best pure runners, but also possesses wide receiver skills. He has an experienced route runner at wide receiver who is among the best in the league in receptions since the 2000 season. And he has one of the league's best new tight ends in Antonio Gates.
But he also has to face a Buccaneers defense that has allowed just 160 passing yards per game this year. The Bucs are among the best in the league at bringing pressure and creating turnovers as well. With 35 sacks and 13 picks in 12 games, Tampa Bay is not a team to be taken lightly. Denver held Brees to 106 passing yards and picked him off while keeping him scoreless. You should expect similar results when Tampa comes to town this Sunday.
The Jets are solidly placed for the playoff run. With a 9-3 record and Baltimore and Denver trailing by two games, even a loss in Pittsburgh is unlikely to curtail their playoff plans. But a win would virtually assure them a spot. To get that win, RB Curtis Martin will need to perform as he has for most of the year.
Unfortunately, I would not bet the house on this happening. The Steelers are allowing just 77.4 rushing yards a game and have only given up four rushing TDs. In their last three games, they have limited Rudi Johnson, Clinton Portis and Fred Taylor to a combined 155 rushing yards on 49 carries (3.16 ypc) and no scores. The fact that this game is being played in Pittsburgh only adds to my distrust of Martin in Week 14.
Since suffering an improbable loss to Oakland, the Carolina Panthers have been unstoppable. They have won four games in a row while averaging 31 points per game. Their defense has not been as dominant as it was during their Super Bowl run last year, but they have played relatively well. This week they host the St. Louis Rams and WR Isaac Bruce. The Rams may be without QB Marc Bulger, which means the Panthers will have a relatively immobile Chris Chandler throwing the ball. Bruce is still suffering the effects of injuries he suffered two weeks ago and Chandler seemed to look more for Torry Holt in last week's game. Carolina is allowing over 219 passing yards a game, but just 11 passing TDs all year. That means we can expect one 100-yard receiver and one passing TD. My money is on Holt getting both this week, so sit Bruce.
Pop
Name three signal callers who have been hotter than Kerry Collins over the past three weeks. If you named Peyton Manning and Donovan McNabb, you got two right. If you named anyone else -- beep. Collins is the third-ranked quarterback over the past three weeks -- and he has been amazingly consistent. His challenge this week will be to keep it up without new favorite receiver Ronald Curry. In his favor, he plays an indoor game this week. The Falcons are not the ideal opponent, but as hot as Collins has been, it should not matter.
When looking for a sleeper at running back, it's best to examine the trends of the opposing defenses. Baltimore RB Chester Taylor faces the Giants in Week 14. Over the past three weeks, the Giants have given up an average of 188 rushing yards on 39 carries (5.36 ypc) while allowing three rushing TDs. The loss of both starting defensive ends and tackle Norman Hand has made a definite impact on the New York defense. But even more so has been the inability of the offense to sustain drives since the promotion of QB Eli Manning. Baltimore lives and dies with a very conservative offense and a sometimes overpowering defense. That should play well for Taylor owners this week.
Seattle travels to Minnesota in what should be a shootout, one that should allow WR Darrell Jackson to have plenty of opportunities for success. Minnesota is giving up over 200 passing yards a game, and has allowed 20 passing TDs while only intercepting five. After three consecutive subpar games, Jackson showed up Monday night against the Cowboys. He should be just as good this week.
Quotes to Note
"I didn't see a whole lot of positives, but we'll try to find something and go on."
-- Falcons coach Jim Mora after Sunday's 27-0 loss to Tampa Bay
Greg Kellogg
