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24 Hours 'Til Sunday — Andy Richardson

I find myself thinking a lot about the Kurt Warner touchdown pass that wasn't. I started Warner myself in a playoff matchup last week, winning by 20 points, but in league the TD was just erased as if it never happened, which I guess is the how the NFL sees it.

It's odd because normally stat changes like that happen sooner; this one came down either Wednesday night or Thursday morning. Moreover, I saw the play as it happened, and didn't think for a second it was a lateral. Presumably the video is conclusive enough that it would be clear if I went back and re-watched it, but at the time I was only thinking, wow, Anquan Boldin really should have been tackled by 1 or 2 guys at the 3. Anyway, as Ian suggested, I can't help but wonder if this reversal occurred because of some fantasy owner lobbying for it. Who else would care?

Moving on: Chargers are pretty good. If you started Vincent Jackson and Nate Kaeding, as I did, you're probably a little disappointed that their games weren't bigger. The Titans couldn't hold San Diego to any field goals, and Philip Rivers couldn't connect with Jackson on a long touchdown when Jackson was 5 yards behind the secondary. Rivers' TD to Antonio Gates sure looked like he was past the line of scrimmage, but the challenge failed, and granted I was relying on NFL Network's blue line on the field, which was probably inaccurate. And those of us who started Chris Johnson can be very happy that he's going for 2,000 yards, because otherwise there's no way he'd have been on the field late in a 42-10 pounding to score his touchdown, hooray. OK, on to the games yet to be played.....

Bills at Falcons: Trent Edwards is out and Ryan Fitzpatrick is questionable. Having seen Brian Brohm play with Green Bay the last couple of preseasons, I would not consider Lee Evans or Terrell Owens if Fitzpatrick doesn't play. Michael Turner probably won't play, and Buffalo's pass defense, though banged up, should still be tough enough that this should be the Fred Jackson versus Jason Snelling show, with lesser numbers from both passing games.

Kansas City at Bengals: Cincinnati might have two productive runners this week, and I'm not shying away from the passing game, either. Kansas City's defense is that bad, plus the Bengals need a win to lock up the AFC North. No injuries of note, and I'm using Jamaal Charles, but beyond that I wouldn't rush to use any Kansas City players.

Raiders at Browns: No Darrius Heyward-Bey, Bruce Gradkowski or Justin Fargas. Not many teams can lose three starters while suffering so minimally, but the Raiders are one of them. Michael Bush and Darren McFadden carry some value, they'll probably split work. Charlie Frye should start. Zach Miller is questionable. Browns have no injuries of note (although Brady Quinn is on IR so Derek Anderson starts), and Jerome Harrison should be pretty good. Probably an ugly game, with less "defense" being played than just sloppy offense.

Seahawks at Packers: Can't see any good coming out of this for Seattle. Matt Hasselbeck returns to Lambeau Field for about the seventh or eighth time, so maybe there will be a humorous Kenny Mayne feature about divided Packers fans or somesuch. No Nate Burleson, but after being burned by Deion Branch last week, never again. Julius Jones will play, so he and Justin Forsett have little value. Green Bay should just clobber the Seahawks here.

Texans at Dolphins: One of these teams could still make the playoffs, so it should be a good game with everyone available for both teams. No injuries of note. Start the stars, avoid marginal players, same as ever.

Ravens at Steelers: Steelers have some banged up players, but everyone but Troy Polamalu will be out there. Ravens have Mark Clayton as questionable, which is pretty much the case even when he's healthy. I'm using key offensive players even though it should be a defensive struggle, because it's a big game and I'm counting on guys like Big Ben and Ray Rice to play big. I'm just not willing to risk sitting them down even in a tough matchup.

Panthers at Giants: DeAngelo Williams is doubtful, so forget him. Better matchup for Jonathan Stewart. Still, I believe more in the Giants team that crushed Washington than the Panthers team that knocked off the faltering Vikings. Exciting confrontation between Steve Smiths; can't just scan the box score on this one. Matt Moore's got a little shoulder injury, but he'll play.

Jaguars at Patriots: Both passing offenses should be better than rushing this week. It's not clear if Fred Taylor will play against his former team; he's questionable and been limited in practice. I wouldn't use any Patriots back regardless. New England should win this game and rest starters in week 17, since San Diego's win last night clinches the AFC's second bye.

Bucs at Saints: Lance Moore won't play, while Reggie Bush and Jeremy Shockey are both questionable. The latter two look like gametime decisions, which helps no one. I wouldn't use Shockey and consequently am afraid to use David Thomas. I'd go ahead with Pierre Thomas. Bucs have Antonio Bryant and Derrick Ward banged up, but Bryant will probably play. Ward shouldn't be used regardless. Saints should hang a big number on Tampa, Bucs like Bryant and Winslow have value in garbage-time; i.e., mid third quarter on.

Rams at Cardinals: No Neil Rackers, Ben Patrick (and who cares), or Marc Bulger. Steven Jackson hasn't practiced all week, but will play. This game worries me a tiny bit because the game has little meaning for Arizona. They've won their division but have almost no shot of getting a bye. Plus their offense didn't do as much as it should have in Detroit last week. Not that I'd bench guys like Fitzgerald or Boldin, Warner or Beanie Wells, but I'm a little wary of them. Kyle Boller isn't on the injury report, so I guess the Keith Null era comes to a merciful end.

Lions at 49ers: Love everything connected with the 49ers offense. Hate everything connected with the Lions. Love my oversized Marvel Comics Chronicle book and the Black Label Scotch Whiskey I got for Christmas; think I'll sample it tonight. The whiskey, that is. No Matthew Stafford or Joe Nedney, so don't use 'em. If you're the type who wants to gamble on a no-name kicker seeing his first NFL action just because of an extremely favorable situation, have at it, but I won't be joining you.

Broncos at Eagles: Sounds like Correll Buckhalter will play, but it's not a great matchup. Sounds like Jeremy Maclin will play at least some, but the only Eagles receivers I'd use are DeSean Jackson, obviously, and Brent Celek. Brian Westbrook returns, but it's crazy to use him or any Eagles back in what figures to be a three-man mix. (I'm weary of the three-headed monster lingo, sorry.)

Jets at Colts: The Colts list about half their team on the injury report, which tells you all you need to know about whether to use them. Pierre Garcon won't play and I suspect Manning, Wayne, Clark and Addai won't play much beyond the first series. I'm using Austin Collie, that's it. Jets are healthy and the Colts might field second-stringer for much of the game. New York has to be thinking that if they'd blown only half of the games they've blown this year, they'd already be in the playoffs.

Cowboys at Washington: Washington has played each of its three division rivals in primetime this season, all since week 7. That's just mean -- to us, I mean -- but also to Washington. I mean, why? Is this the '80s or something? They got beaten decisively by Philadelphia and just embarrassed by the Giants. Something similar could happen again this week. Devin Thomas won't play, and if you use any Washington players at all after last week, well, maybe you didn't see them play. Dallas has no injuries, and if you hesitate to start anybody, again I ask, did you miss last week's game in primetime against the Giants?

Vikings at Bears: In a season of annoying stories, the Favre-Childress one is right up there. Favre didn't want to come out of the game, Childress wanted him out, Favre wants to audible more, blah blah. Is that why they lost to Carolina? No. I figure the controversy could only help them this week; well, the other part is that the Bears are so awful and stuff. Vikings are healthy. Devin Hester could return. Vikings have a chance to put all that stuff behind them by winning big, so maybe they will. They really need that first-round bye that ensures this will be the only cold-weather game they'll play all year. I'm calling a good game from Adrian Peterson (who sadly I'm facing in three Super Bowls) and Percy Harvin, lukewarm on Favre though (who I'm starting in two of those three Super Bowls, interestingly enough. To me.).

Enjoy the games.

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