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24 Hours 'Til Sunday — Andy Richardson

It's possible I'm a little old-fashioned. (Probable, really, although I prefer the term old school.) I remember when all the talk in the week between each NFL game was about the actual GAME. How will the Giants' top-ranked rushing offense match up with Pittsburgh's 2nd-ranked rushing defense? What happens when Drew Brees faces the franchise that kicked him out the door? That kind of thing. Instead it's like an episode of Gossip Girl: Who called who first? Did somebody betray somebody else? Who took a banned substance? Does he have an infection? It's terrible. I admit I'm kind of intrigued by this whole bounty thing, just because I'm fascinated by the idea that NFL players who make millions would try harder to hit such and such a player if there was a thousand bucks on it. Anyway, enough with the off-field stuff and onto the games.

San Diego against New Orleans: This game is in England, so due to the time difference it's possible it's already happened. Or not. Doesn't seem fair to me that the Saints lose a home game for this showcase, especially when you consider this is a team that lost out on ALL of its home games not so long ago, plus they're playing a division where everyone is in the playoff hunt. Anyway, Jeremy Shockey will probably play, but it's not clear how much; I wouldn't go near him. Reggie Bush is out of course, Deuce McAllister will play this week before possibly being suspended next week. Sounds like Chris Chambers will play, but it's not certain -- check Sunday morning. Good matchup if he does.

Oakland at Baltimore: Thomas Jones rushed for 159 yards against this defense, and that was with the Jets seemingly preferring to pass and playing from behind. Ravens should lead most of the way and run, run, run. Willis McGahee is practicing fully and should post his best numbers of the year. The Raiders seem unlikely to have any offensive success unless you count field goal attempts of more than 50 yards.

Arizona at Carolina: Sounds like Anquan Boldin is going to play. Panthers have the league's top pass defense, however, and it's definitely a week to only play him if you don't have any better options. He might not play full-time in his first game in a month.

Tampa Bay at Dallas: Joey Galloway might play on a limited basis. He can't be used with any confidence he'll be on the field more than sporadically. Sounds like Warrick Dunn and Ike Hilliard will both play, which is disappointing for the Bucs' other, healthier players. Good matchup, but tough to say who -- beyond Antonio Bryant and Jeff Garcia -- will play full-time.

Washington at Detroit: Tough matchup for Washington, on the road in a hostile stadium full of rabid Lions fans....yeah, right. Should be interesting to see how many fans are wearing bags on their heads, and how many are wearing Washington gear. Wild prediction: a Shaun Alexander touchdown!

Buffalo at Miami: Sounds like Dolphins run-stuffer Jason Ferguson will play, which is disappointing for those hoping for big numbers from Marshawn Lynch. Great week to start Lee Evans regardless. Dolphins (after struggling against the Ravens last week) should get back to a heavy run-based attack against the Bills.

St. Louis at New England: New England looked great against Denver last week, but don't forget -- so did Kansas City. I love how Denver keeps changing defensive coordinators as if that's the problem. (Granted, it's part of the problem.) Anyway, Steven Jackson is the big question mark; it sounds like he'll play, but check Sunday morning to be sure. For the Patriots, no Sammy Morris or LaMont Jordan, so I guess you have to go with BenJarvus Green-Ellis-Brown-Philllips or whoever. Kevin Faulk figures to have a larger than expected role, and with the Patriots, you never know, they could dust off fullback Heath Evans, too.

Cincinnati at Houston: ESPN is saying Carson Palmer is done for the year. They've gotten a few stories wrong lately, but it seems likely they're right on this one. Here, at least, their offense should do pretty well regardless. Cedric Benson, viable fantasy back! Who'da thunk it.

Atlanta at Philadelphia: Matt Ryan beat the Bears, so you can't rule out him doing well here, too. But, I like the Eagles' pass rush a little bit better. Brian Westbrook will play and probably play well, as will Kevin Curtis. Falcons have been doing it with matchups and mirrors, but that should change this week. As Jennifer Jason-Leigh said in the sadly underrated The Hudsucker Proxy, go Eagles.

Kansas City at N.Y. Jets: A couple of years back, the Panthers had a game where they only attempted around 5 passes against the Falcons. I don't think the Jets will go that route here, but they should consider it. Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery are hurt. Sounds like both will play -- Coles more likely than Cotchery -- but there's some risk involved. I'd much rather have Thomas Jones and maybe even Leon Washington this week. For Kansas City, Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard are both done for the year. Tyler Thigpen will start. Kolby Smith will start at running back. Unless they were facing their own defense, there's not much to get excited about with this offense the rest of the way. Oh yeah, I hear Bill Belichick called Herm Edwards with tips on how to beat the Jets. He said, "Get better players."

Cleveland at Jacksonville: Matt Jones will play for Jacksonville. The Browns offense will probably struggle, because that's mostly what they do. Maurice Jones-Drew should have a big game.

Seattle at San Francisco: No Matt Hasselbeck. No Deion Branch either, who I'm now hanging onto in a couple of leagues out of sheer stubbornness. I've carried the guy this long through all these weeks when he had no chance of playing, how can I cut him now when maybe he'll actually play and be healthy in the next month. Yeah, that sounds lame even to me. Maybe I'll cut him today.

N.Y. Giants at Pittsburgh: Game of the week, not that there's a whole lot of competition in this week's slate of games. Giants' charmed life continues as Pittsburgh has deactivated Santonio Holmes (drugs!) and Willie Parker (knee), making Mewelde Moore and Nate Washington mildly appealing. This won't be a shootout, however. Should be interesting to see if Brandon Jacobs can be productive against Pittsburgh's run defense, and which pass rush -- they're 1 and 2 in the league in sacks -- will be more productive.

Indianapolis at Tennessee: Time was you wouldn't start a defense against the Colts. That time appears to be past. The Colts might rise up with a stellar game here, but I'm not betting against the Titans. And you have to love LenDale White and Chris Johnson this week. Justin Gage will probably play. Mostly I'm looking forward to seeing how much the announcers talk about the game and how much they dwell on Manning's preseason knee surgery, infections, and other off-field stuff. ("You know what, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have been connected on the field, and now they're connected off it, too. Last week it came out that Tom Brady....knee.....infection..... Gisele.... Patriots..... doctor.... Oh, there's Chris Johnson with a 48-yard run....that reminds me of last postseason when Brady showed up at his girlfriend's apartment on crutches...."

Enjoy the games.

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