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Posted on Sat, Oct. 31, 2009 10:15 PM
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This weekend’s NFL games

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Minnesota at Green Bay (-3), 3:15, Ch. 4

The Brett Bowl comes to Lambeau Field as QB Brett Favre makes his first appearance in Green Bay since throwing an ill-fated interception in overtime of the loss to the New York Giants in the 2007 NFC championship game. Forgotten in Green Bay’s 30-23 loss at Minnesota on Oct. 5 was the performance of Favre’s successor, Aaron Rodgers, who despite the harassment of Jared Allen and Co., threw for 384 yards and two TDs.

Atlanta at New Orleans (-10 1/2 ), 7:30 Monday, ESPN

With a win Monday night, the Saints should take their record to 10-0 (their next three games are vs. Carolina, at St. Louis and at Tampa Bay) before New England visits. Falcons QB Matt Ryan better keep track of Saints safety Darren Sharper. Sharper had a 42-yard interception-return TD in the Saints’ 46-34 win at Miami last week.

Denver at Baltimore (-3 1/2 ), noon, Ch. 5

What’s happened to that vaunted Baltimore defense? The Ravens went 39 consecutive games without allowing a 100-yard rusher during 2006 through 2009. Now the Ravens have been nicked for back-to-back 100-yard games. Cincinnati’s Cedric Benson went for 120 yards against the Ravens in the Bengals’ 17-14 victory on Oct. 11, and Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson ran for 143 yards in the Vikings’ 33-31 victory on Oct. 18. That’s good news for Denver rookie RB Knowshon Moreno, who leads the Broncos with 381 rushing yards.

N.Y. Giants (-1) at Philadelphia, noon

It’s quite a day on the south side of Philly. The Giants and Eagles play in the afternoon, and then the scene shifts across the street where the New York Yankees visit the Philadelphia Phillies in game four of the World Series.

Miami at N.Y. Jets (-3 1/2 ), noon

This is a rematch of week five when the Dolphins won 31-27 on RB Ronnie Brown’s 2-yard run with 6 seconds left. The Dolphins outscored the Jets 21-14 in the final quarter as the teams combined for 35 points, the highest-scoring fourth quarter in an NFL game in which no points were scored in the third quarter since 1982. “You always dream as a kid of endings like that,” said Miami QB Chad Henne.

San Francisco at Indianapolis (-13), noon, Ch. 4

The 49ers are on pace to allow 48 sacks after surrendering a league-most 55 last year. They’ll have to contend with Colts pass rushers Dwight Freeney (seven sacks) and Robert Mathis (4 1/2 ) in a noisy dome.

Jacksonville at Tennessee (-3), 3:05

The Vince Young era will resume as coach Jeff Fisher abides his owner’s request and reinstates the Titans’ former first-round pick as the club’s starter in the wake of the 0-6 start.

Carolina at Arizona (-10), 3:15

Carolina QB Jake Delhomme, who threw three INTs last week and a league-most 13 for the season, will face the team that started his spiral. Delhomme had six turnovers (five INTs and a fumble) in last year’s playoff loss to Arizona.

Oakland at San Diego (-16 1/2 ), 3:05

The Chargers have started 2-3 in all three seasons under Norv Turner, and squaring their record with a win over the Chiefs last week can’t mask their problems on both sides of the line as well as on the sidelines.

Seattle at Dallas (-9 1/2 ), noon

Seattle has won only one of its last 10 games played outside the Pacific time zone, at St. Louis on Sept. 21, 2008. That poses a problem because four of the Seahawks’ next five games are in the Central or Mountain time zones.

Cleveland at Chicago (-13), noon

The kick return game will be the most fun about this matchup. Since 2005, Chicago’s Devin Hester and Cleveland’s Josh Cribbs rank 1-2 in return TDs. Hester has 11, Cribbs eight. The all-time record is held by Brian Mitchell with 13. Hester is limited to punt return duties now that he’s become a full-time receiver.

Houston (-3) at Buffalo, noon

Texans QB Matt Schaub feels at home on the road, averaging 373 yards passing game with 10 touchdown passes and two INTs in three road games — wins at Tennessee and Cincinnati and a loss at Arizona.

St. Louis at Detroit (-4), noon

One of these teams shouldn’t lose today. Since the start of the 2005 season, Detroit (55), Oakland (54) and St. Louis (52) have lost the most games in the NFL. No wonder this game is being blacked out in the Detroit area.

| Randy Covitz, rcovitz@kcstar.com

Posted on Sat, Oct. 31, 2009 10:15 PM
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