NFL Game Previews: Breaking Down Week 11

Tennessee (+3) at Jacksonville - Thursday, 8:25 p.m. EST

Comments: Never let it be said that Thursday Night Football fails to provide its audience with riveting matchups. Inexplicably, both these teams are still in the hunt for the AFC South crown despite five wins between them. There are playoff implications here, but whoever wins Thursday will have its first victory over a division rival this season, so the tiebreakers don't favor either if it comes to that. Still, somebody has to win. Don't they? Come to think of it, the only crazy thing that hasn't happened yet this season is a tie. ... T.J. Yeldon is questionable with a foot injury, and may not be able to take advantage of a Titans defense that's allowed 112.3 rushing yards a game (21st in the league) and nine rushing TDs (tied for 25th). Antonio Andrews is healthy, but could face competition for touches from rookie David Cobb, who figures to finally make his debut after starting the season on IR. Neither is likely to be productive, though, as the Jags rank first in the league with 3.3 yards per carry allowed and sixth with 93.7 rushing yards allowed a game. ... Neither receiving corps is particularly healthy, which is a shame since Jacksonville is 21st in yards per pass attempt against at 7.5, while Tennessee is 27th at 8.0, so there's some exploitable secondaries here. Kendall Wright will miss his third straight game with a knee injury, while Allen Hurns (thigh and foot) and Julius Thomas (abdomen) are both playing at less than 100 percent health. Expect this one to be decided by the young quarterbacks.

Predictions: Andrews manages just 40 rushing yards, and Cobb vultures a short TD. Marcus Mariota throws for 250 yards and touchdowns to Delanie Walker and Dorial Green-Beckham. Denard Robinson leads the Jags backfield with 70 yards, while Blake Bortles throws for 280 yards and TDs to Allen Robinson and Thomas, but he also throws a pick-six to Perrish Cox. Titans, 28-17

Oakland at Detroit (+2) - Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

Comments: The Lions are officially the Rodney Dangerfields of the NFL. One week after walking into Lambeau, making Aaron Rodgers look like a chump and winning their first game on the frozen tundra since Poppy Bush was president, they come home and are underdogs to the Raiders. No respect, I tell ya, no respect. I can't really disagree with Vegas, though. They didn't so much win as Green Bay lost, and a defense that's been terrible against both the run (fifth-most rush yards allowed per game at 124.1, and the worst in rush TDs allowed at 14) and the pass (second-worst QB rating against at 105.7) seems like a poor match for an offense that's capable of doing both well. ... That said, there are some paths to victory for Detroit, especially if it can find any kind of ground game. Oakland is 28th in YPC against (4.7) and 23rd in rush yards allowed per game (115.3), so there should be some running lanes. The question is who gets to try to exploit them. Joique Bell's workload continues to inch up, but he's still playing through a shoulder injury and hasn't produced with the touches he's gotten. Ameer Abdullah, on the other hand, has continued to shine as a kickoff returner (285 return yards over the last two games) without getting much of a chance out of the backfield. You'd think at some point a team with two wins and no playoff prospects would start handing the ball to the kid to see what he can do with it. ... Calvin Johnson is having one of the quietest 1,300-yard seasons in history. He's only got three TDs and one 100-yard receiving game on his ledger as he plays through an ankle injury, but he hasn't missed a game yet and seems to go out there every week, pull down half a dozen or so balls and 80 or so yards, and nobody notices (no respect, I tell ya). If Megatron can get just a bit healthier he could easily explode, and his fantasy playoff schedule (at New Orleans in Week 15, home to the Niners in Week 16) makes him an intriguing target if you're willing to gamble on his health and upside.

Predictions:Latavius Murray rambles for 120 combined yards and a touchdown, while Derek Carr throws for 280 yards and TDs to Amari Cooper and Clive Walford. Abdullah leads the Lions backfield with 60 combined yards and a receiving touchdown. Matthew Stafford throws for 260 yards and a second score to Eric Ebron, but also gets picked off twice. Raiders, 27-17

Indianapolis (+6) at Atlanta - Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

Comments: So after all that brouhaha over Andrew Luck's mysterious health issues earlier in the year, he lacerates his kidney against the Broncos two weeks ago and could be gone for a couple weeks, or he could be gone for the rest of the regular season. That puts the Colts in a tight spot in the AFC South, but Matt Hasselbeck already led them to two wins earlier this year when Luck was sidelined with shoulder problems, so he should be able to keep the ship afloat. He also gets a fairly cushy matchup against a Falcons pass rush that's managed a league-low 10 sacks but has been bailed out by a secondary that ranks in the top 10 in yards per pass attempt (6.9) and TD passes allowed (11 in nine games). A defense that lets you sit in the pocket and dink-and-dunk to your heart's content seems ideal for Hasselbeck to get comfortable at the controls. ... Since its 5-0 start, the Falcons' offense has almost completely fallen apart. How a team headlined by the Matt Ryan-to-Julio Jones connection manages only 21 points against the Saints' atrocious defense is utterly baffling, but during the Falcons' current 1-3 skid that was actually their high-water mark in scoring. Maybe they got things straightened out during their bye, but a large part of the problem seems to be the lack of a secondary receiving option to take even a bit of attention away from Julio. Leonard Hankerson filled that role early but hasn't been the same since hurting his ribs in Week 5, and no one else has stepped up since. Roddy White is pretty much done after filling that role for many years, and raw rookie Justin Hardy wasn't even active until Week 8. Jacob Tamme has had to be that secondary option by default, seeing 22 targets in the two games before the bye, but clearly that's not working. Hankerson hasn't played at all since developing a hamstring injury in Week 7 and doesn't appear to be 100 percent healthy even after the bye, so any resurgence might be on Hardy's young shoulders from here on, especially with Julio having to contend with Vontae Davis this week. ... Back to Hasselbeck. In the two games Hasselbeck played earlier this year, T.Y. Hilton turned a whopping 22 targets into 12 catches and 155 yards, Andre Johnson had his two-TD revenge game against the Texans and Coby Fleener lit up the Jags for a 9-83-1 line on 12 targets. Someone stands a good chance of being productive behind Hilton, but the trick is figuring out who. Given the Falcons' weak track record against tight ends this season (seven TDs and more than 60 yards a game allowed), Fleener looks like the best bet.

Predictions:Frank Gore gains 80 combined yards and scores. Hasselbeck throws for 230 yards and finds Fleener for a touchdown. Devonta Freeman picks up 90 combined yards, while Ryan throws for 270 yards and TDs to Jones and Hardy. Falcons, 20-17

St. Louis (+2) at Baltimore - Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

Comments:Todd Gurley is coming off his worst game since becoming the starter for the Rams, but in his case that just means 89 combined yards and getting into the end zone for the fourth straight game. Ho hum. The problem for the rookie hasn't been his own abilities or his offensive line, it's been how many guys are in the box trying to stop him. Nick Foles was awful, putting up numbers that would have been mediocre in the mid-1960s, and Jeff Fisher finally did the inevitable and yanked him out of the lineup. Former Texan Case Keenum is the next man up, and while he wasn't overly impressive during his 10 starts with Houston, it would be hard to be worse than Foles. Any improvement at all in the Rams' passing game can only mean softer fronts for Gurley to attack as well, so this is a case where even an incremental gain can have a big impact. ... One thing working in Keenum's favor is the depth of his receiving corps. Recent signee Wes Welker joins Kenny Britt, Tavon Austin and Brian Quick, and while none is likely to put up WR1 numbers, they've all shown at least flashes of success during their careers. Quick, especially, is worth keeping an eye on. He was basically ignored by Foles, but the memory of his big start to 2014 hasn't completely faded, and he has the physical ability to make an impact if Keenum can unlock his talent. ... It's fair to say this just isn't the Ravens' year. Every game they've played has been decided by a single score or less (an eight-point loss to the Cardinals being the largest margin of victory), and yet they're only 2-7. Part of the problem has been the decline of their once-vaunted defense. They've been holding their own in yardage, but Baltimore's only produced four INTs and five total turnovers en route to a minus-10 turnover deficit, ranking last in the league in all those categories. It's hard to win when you're giving away better than a possession a game. If the defense can't start holding up its end of the bargain, things aren't likely to turn around for the Ravens.

Predictions: Gurley runs for 110 yards and Keenum has a solid game, throwing for 260 yards and TDs to Quick and Britt. Justin Forsett picks up 80 combined yards, while Joe Flacco throws for 250 yards and a touchdown to Crockett Gillmore. Rams, 20-16

Tampa Bay (+5.5) at Philadelphia - Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

Comments: The battering Sam Bradford took last week has him still working his way through the league's concussion protocol, and even if he recovers from that he's dealing with a sore shoulder, too. Enter Mark Sanchez, who threw a very Sanchez-like red zone pick in relief to help seal the loss to Miami. He put up solid numbers last year when he took over for Nick Foles, but this year's edition of the Eagles offense hasn't been quite as productive as last year's, as word spreads through the league on how to contain it. The Bucs are a friendly opponent for him, though, ranking among the worst pass defenses in the NFL in completion percentage allowed and passing TDs allowed (third-worst in both), so he could put up more solid numbers while he's filling in for Bradford this week. Just be prepared for at least one bone-headed decision. ... What's with these rookie QBs playing better on the road? Jameis Winston's numbers in five home games (56.5 percent completion rate, 7.2 YPA, 5:8 TD:INT ratio) pale in comparison to his numbers in four games away from home (59.1 percent completion rate, 8.2 YPA, 5:1 TD:INT ratio). Marcus Mariota has the same kind of split, and I'm not even going to attempt some kind of armchair psychology explanation. Philly's pass defense has been good this year, sitting in the top 10 in YPA and interceptions, but Winston could well surprise, or at least throw fewer picks than Sanchez does. It would help if either Vincent Jackson (knee) or Austin Seferian-Jenkins (shoulder) could get back on the field, so he has someone other than Mike Evans to throw to, but they both remain limited in practice. ... Ryan Mathews (concussion) is also sidelined for Philly, so DeMarco Murray will have to carry the rushing load against a defense that is third in the league at 3.6 yards per carry allowed. Obscure stat that may or may not come into play in this game: the Bucs are among the league leaders in fumbles forced and recovered this season. Murray, after losing all five of his fumbles last year, has yet to put the ball on the turf once in 2015.

Predictions:Doug Martin gains 80 combined yards. Winston throws for 240 yards and a TD to Evans, who pulls down 130 yards. Murray runs for 90 yards and scores, while Sanchez throws for 280 yards and touchdowns to Jordan Matthews and Nelson Agholor. Eagles, 27-13

Denver (+1) at Chicago - Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

Comments: Did we just witness the end of Peyton Manning's career? The Broncos are being vague on how long he might be out, and after grooming Brock Osweiler for three years to be their quarterback of the future, they're putting him in a good position to succeed right out of the gate given the defense at his back, the receivers he has to target, the team's three-game bulge in the AFC West and an initial starting assignment against an opponent that doesn't exactly strike fear into opposing QBs (the Bears are the only defense in the bottom five in both sacks and interceptions). There's no question that Manning was a shadow of his Hall of Fame self this season, and last week's train wreck against the Chiefs gave John Elway and the front office the perfect excuse to quietly shuffle him aside. The fact that he was able to set the all-time passing yards record before being removed is also a nice parting gift, if he indeed doesn't suit up again. ... While the defense is still a work in progress, the Bears' offense seems to be coming around. Hanging 37 points on the Rams in their own building is no mean feat, but doing it without Matt Forte (knee) makes last week's win even more impressive. Jeremy Langford has been outstanding in two games as Forte's replacement, racking up 145 yards and two TDs on the ground, but it's his work as a receiver that's really been an eye-opener, as 10 catches on 13 targets for 179 yards and another score is well above what anyone expected from the rookie. Forte returned to practice this week, but as a free agent in the offseason, the Bears really have no incentive to rush him back into the lineup. The Broncos are tough against the run anyway (second in YPC allowed at 3.5, sixth in rushing yards allowed per game at 94.6), so whoever gets the carries could have a long day. ... Alshon Jeffery re-tweaked his groin last week and also banged up his shoulder, while Eddie Royal doesn't appear close to returning from his knee injury. Jay Cutler may have to lean heavily on his tight ends once again to make anything happen through the air, as he clearly has little trust in Marquess Wilson (just three catches for 30 yards on nine targets over the last three games). Emmanuel Sanders is also questionable for Denver with various bumps and bruises, but seems likely to suit up.

Predictions:Ronnie Hillman leads the Broncos' backfield with 70 rushing yards and a score. Osweiler looks great, throwing for 300 yards and two TDs to Demaryius Thomas, who pulls in 140 yards. Forte returns and splits carries with Langford, but neither top 40 rushing yards. Cutler throws for 220 yards and a touchdown to Martellus Bennett, but also gets picked off twice. Broncos, 30-13

N.Y. Jets at Houston (+2.5) - Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

Comments: After a promising start to the season the Jets have hit a rough patch, losing three of their last four, including crucial divisional games against the Patriots and Bills. The defense has remained strong, at least statistically, but the running game struggled due to injuries to Chris Ivory (hamstring) and Nick Mangold (neck), which made Ryan Fitzpatrick's periodic lapses harder to weather. Ivory looked back in form last week, though, and Fitzpatrick used the extra time off after a Thursday nighter to have surgery on the non-throwing thumb he injured in Week 8. Brandon Marshall is still not 100 percent healthy, but if the offense can get back into a groove, the wins should start piling up again. ... With all the quarterback switches that happened over the last week, you might have missed the news out of Houston. Brian Hoyer has a concussion, so T.J. Yates is set to make his first start of the season about three weeks after signing with the team. Reports are that he will use a simplified playbook, but the Texans playbook has pretty much been "chuck it toward DeAndre Hopkins and pray" all season, so you may not notice much of a difference. Hopkins has been held out of practice this week with a knee issue, but as the team's lone remaining offensive threat he can't afford to miss the game. Normally, the combination of a QB switch, a wonky knee and matching up against Darrelle Revis would warrant a downgrade for a receiver, but Hopkins has seen double-digit targets in every game this season, and that's not likely to change. If Yates does decide to look for another option, tight end Ryan Griffin is worth keeping an eye on. Of Yates' 11 attempts in relief of Hoyer last week, five went to Hopkins, but three went to Griffin in his first game since coming off IR. ... A Texans' win puts them at .500, which feels more like .800 in the feeble AFC South, and also give them a three-game winning streak since Arian Foster was lost for the season. In fact, Houston's 3-2 on the year without Foster, and 1-3 with him in the lineup. Maybe Alfred Blue is better than anybody thought. Of course, his career 3.2 YPC says otherwise, and it may not improve against a Jets defense that ranks first in rushing yards allowed per game (88.1) and rushing TDs allowed (a mere two on the year).

Predictions: Ivory picks up 100 combined yards and scores. Fitzpatrick struggles, throwing for less than 200 yards again, though he does hit Decker for his usual TD. Blue grinds out just 30 yards, while Yates throws for 210 yards and a touchdown to Cecil Shorts. Jets, 20-10

Washington (+7) at Carolina - Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

Comments: Don't look now, but Kirk Cousins might be getting ready to challenge Joe Flacco for his spot among the elite. After throwing eight INTs in the first six games of the season, he's tossed only one in his last three games against eight TDs. Of course, one of those games was against the Saints, a defense capable of making any quarterback look like an angry Tom Brady, but it's still progress. DeSean Jackson also appears to be near full health after missing six games with a hamstring injury and looking fairly pedestrian in the two games since he returned to the lineup, so the Washington passing game could finally be firing on all cylinders. Too bad Cousins now has to face the only pass defense in the league holding opposition QBs under a 70.0 passer rating. ... On the other sideline, Superman just keeps doing his thing. Cam Newton's career high for total touchdowns (passing plus rushing) in a season is 35, set back when he was a rookie in 2011, but he could break that mark this year as he's on pace for a career-high 27 passing TDs and 11 rushing TDs. The rest of his numbers are middling, as usual, but Newton's ability to get the ball into the end zone, by hook or by crook, has the Panthers third in the NFL in points per game (28.3), an impressive showing for such a run-heavy outfit. If rookie Devin Funchess can develop into any kind of downfield threat to complement Greg Olsen the final seven games, Newton would only benefit. ... The Washington backfield seems stuck in a timeshare, as Alfred Morris and Matt Jones are either both good or both bad at the same time, so neither can pull ahead in the competition. Last week's combined 293 yards from scrimmage isn't going to happen again against the Panthers, but if Carolina's defense has any kind of mild weakness, it's to pass-catching backs. If you have to use one this week, lean towards Jones.

Predictions: Jones leads the Washington backfield with 60 combined yards, while Cousins throws for less than 200 yards, with two picks and no scores. Jonathan Stewart bangs out 120 yards and two TDs. Newton runs for 40 yards, passes for 220 more and hits Olsen and Jerricho Cotchery for touchdowns. Panthers, 31-9

Dallas (PK) at Miami - Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

Comments: If the Cowboys had known Brandon Weeden and Matt Cassel would combine to go 0-6 while Tony Romo was on the shelf, maybe they would have drafted Johnny Manziel in 2014 after all. Romo's back now, though, and with the NFC East one of the league's toxic waste dumps of a division, they still aren't theoretically eliminated from contention yet. If Romo can lead them to a 7-0 finish (which would include beating the Panthers on Thanksgiving and beating the Packers at Lambeau, just to make the miracle that much more miraculous), the Giants would need to go 5-1 down the stretch to avoid tiebreakers, which may or may not favor them. Of course, if Romo is at all rusty after sitting for two months while his collarbone healed, or the rest of the team finds a way to lose a winnable game (a skill they mastered during that losing streak), talks of miracles could die a quick death in Miami. ... Maybe it was an AFC East thing rather than a Joe Philbin thing. The Dolphins are 0-4 within their division this year regardless of who's been coaching them, but 4-1 outside of it after stealing a win in Philadelphia last week. (Does it actually count as stealing when Mark Sanchez gift-wraps it for you?) Ryan Tannehill has an 11:2 TD:INT ratio in those non-division games and a 4:7 ratio against the AFC East, so you know who'd he rather face. The Cowboys' secondary has been surprisingly stout this year, though, allowing just nine passing TDs (third in the league), but cornerback Morris Claiborne is limping again, which probably pushes rookie Swiss Army knife Byron Jones out of his safety/nickel corner role and to the outside. Jones has mostly been quietly outstanding this season, but asking him to switch from covering tight ends to Jarvis Landry would be a tough adjustment for a veteran. At least they get Sean Lee back from his concussion, for however long the fragile linebacker lasts this time. ... Both backfields could be in flux, albeit for different reasons. Darren McFadden is finally wearing down, to the surprise of no one except apparently the Cowboys, and comes into the game questionable with a groin injury. If he isn't able to handle a full workload, his potential replacements are two Seahawk retreads (Rod Smith and Robert Turbin) and an undrafted rookie (Trey Wlliams). In theory, Smith is the primary backup for now, but Turbin should eventually assume that role after being signed earlier in the week. In Miami, Lamar Miller bailed out his fantasy value through the air for the second straight week, but Jay Ajayi has looked dynamic in limited touches since coming off IR. Ajayi might not be anything more than a change-of-pace option this year, but if Miller continues to struggle on the ground, the Dolphins could start moving toward a timeshare.

Predictions: McFadden rushes for 70 yards. Romo shines in his return, throwing for 280 yards and three TDs, two to Dez Bryant (who tops 100 receiving yards) and one to Terrance Williams. Miller gains 110 combined yards and a touchdown, Ajayi rushes for 60 yards, and Tannehill throws for 230 yards and a TD to Landry. Cowboys, 27-23

Kansas City at San Diego (+3) - Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EST

Comments: The Chiefs' dismantling of the Broncos was a shocker, but the real eye-opener wasn't their four INTs off Peyton Manning, it was Charcandrick West's success against a great Denver defense, as he racked up 161 combined yards and two TDs. His stat lines have been virtually indistinguishable from what you would have expected Jamaal Charles to provide the last three games (276 rushing yards, nine catches for 136 receiving yards, four total touchdowns), and with their offense running smoothly despite the loss of its biggest weapon, they could be poised for a wild-card run. Their soft remaining schedule begins in San Diego against the doormat Chargers, who have no defense and nobody healthy for Philip Rivers to throw to. They've been especially poor against running backs, both on the ground and in the air, so West seems poised to explode. ... Rivers, incidentally, deserves some kind of award at the end of this season, even if it's just for heroic effort in the face of utter futility. Keenan Allen's gone for the year, Antonio Gates can't stay healthy, Malcom Floyd has a shoulder injury, Melvin Gordon has been a bust, and he still goes out there and is a near-lock for 300 yards and multiple TDs every week. Javontee Herndon (who?) got targets in Week 9's loss to the Bears, and Rivers still pulled 280 yards and a TD out of his, err, back pocket. He probably spent the bye week just introducing himself to his new receivers. The team's defense ensures that his volume should remain high, even if the results diminish, so whoever starts getting those targets is going to have value. ... How bad is the Chargers' defense? They're basically tied with the Saints in both yards per carry allowed (4.9) and yards per pass attempt allowed (8.3), and the Saints just fired their defensive coordinator.

Predictions: West shreds the Chargers for 150 yards and two TDs, one rushing and one receiving. Alex Smith throws for 240 yards and two additional scores, one to Jeremy Maclin and one to Travis Kelce. Danny Woodhead leads the San Diego backfield with 70 combined yards and a receiving TD, while Rivers does his best, throwing for 310 yards and a second score to Dontrelle Inman. Chiefs, 34-20

Green Bay (PK) at Minnesota - Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST

Comments: It is time to starting worrying about Aaron Rodgers yet? Getting held down by the Broncos and Panthers is one thing, but when the Lions stifle you at home, things have definitely gone awry. He's on the injury report with a shoulder injury, but that almost seems like a face-saving move by the front office rather than something likely to sideline him. If you listen to the Sunday morning talking heads, the issue is the loss to Jordy Nelson as a reliable top receiving option, but teams like the Niners, Ravens and Panthers would kill to have a group like Randall Cobb, James Jones and Davante Adams. The real culprit is an offensive line that's been trending down since right tackle Bryan Bulaga got hurt. Bulaga's playing through his knee injury, but the whole unit seems disjointed and has Rodgers running for his life at times, and the Packers' O-line is in the bottom half of the league in both sacks and QB pressures allowed. The Vikings' pass rush is middle of the pack, but against the Packers on Sunday could look like the Alan Page/Carl Eller Purple People Eaters. ... A Minnesota win would put it firmly in the driver's seat in the NFC North, two games up on Green Bay and holding the tiebreaker advantage. The game sets up well for the Vikings, too, as their offense keys off Adrian Peterson and the Packers' run defense is weak, though it has looked better since the bye week as B.J. Raji returns to form. If the Packers can force the game into Teddy Bridgewater's hands rather than Peterson's, their odds of turning around their slump go way up. ... James Starks will get another start for the Packers, but Eddie Lacy (groin) could be active this time behind him. The Vikings haven't allowed a 100-yard rushed since Ronnie Hillman in Week 4, though, so don't expect too much from either.

Predictions: Starks leads the Green Bay backfield with 80 combined yards. Rodgers has another inefficient day, throwing for 270 yards and touchdowns to Adams and Richard Rodgers. Peterson is held relatively in check, rushing for 80 yards and a TD, but Bridgewater surprises with 240 yards and touchdowns to Stefon Diggs and Jarius Wright. Vikings, 24-23

San Francisco (+12.5) at Seattle - Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST

Comments: The two-time defending NFC champs are in trouble. They're three games back in their division and two games back in the wild-card chase, and they aren't playing like a team about to get its act together and go on a tear. Russell Wilson may be a bad man, but he's certainly playing like someone just getting his feet wet in the NFL. While his yards and completion percentage are up, it's mostly coming between the 20s as his 10:7 TD:INT ratio is the worst of his career. He's also not converting drives with his legs, and after rushing for 11 TDs in his first three years in the league he's carrying a goose egg in that category into Week 11. Wilson's almost become the anti-Cam Newton, putting up shiny stats without turning them into consistent points. The Seahawks are tied for 20th in points per game at 22.1, and if they don't pick up that pace soon, they're staying home after Week 17. ... Of course, playing the Niners can cure a lot of ills. Blaine Gabbert looked like a semi-competent NFL quarterback in an upset of the Falcons, but the Seahawks' defense is another thing entirely. It isn't quite as fearsome as it's been the last few years, but it's still fifth in yards per carry allowed (3.7) and second in passing yards per game allowed (203). Carlos Hyde seems no closer to returning from his foot injury, and Anquan Boldin is still dealing with a strained hamstring, so Gabbert's options will be limited. But hey, when you have a retread at QB, why not use another one at RB too? Shaun Draughn, who's on his eighth NFL organization (seriously, check his Wikipedia page), will start again in Hyde's place. ... The 49ers aren't the only ones banged up on offense. Marshawn Lynch will probably keep playing through the abdominal injury that limited him to eight carries against the Cardinals, while Doug Baldwin is questionable with a sore toe. Even Paul Richardson, who just came off the PUP list, strained his hamstring last week after catching his first pass of the season.

Predictions: Draughn stumbles his way to 50 rushing yards. Gabbert throws for 170 yards and hits Vance McDonald for a score. Lynch guts it out for 60 yards, while Thomas Rawls picks up 80 combined yards in relief. Wilson throws for 260 yards and TDs to Jimmy Graham and Jermaine Kearse. Seahawks, 20-10

Cincinnati (+5) at Arizona - Sunday, 8:30 p.m. EST

Comments:Andy Dalton certainly went out of his way to quiet all that MVP talk Monday, didn't he? The Red Ryder BB Gun (he's not living that one down now) did everything short of putting his eye out against the Texans, but everybody gets a mulligan. It was the first time this season he hadn't thrown a TD pass, and just the third time in nine games that he hadn't thrown multiple TDs. If he has another poor game Sunday night, though, it'll be a little more justified. The Cardinals' pass defense is simply nasty, ranking third in yards per pass attempt allowed (6.5), second in QB rating allowed (74.2) and tied for first in INTs (14). ... The Bengals' pass defense is no slouch either, ranking in the top 10 in YPA allowed (6.7), QB rating allowed (83.1) and sacks (26), and has the advantage of facing a beat-up Arizona receiving squad. Larry Fitzgerald (ankle), Michael Floyd (hamstring) and John Brown (hamstring) are all on the limp, though Fitzgerald at least seems a lock to play. Carson Palmer's been on quite a roll, throwing for more than 350 yards in four of the last six games with a 14:5 TD:INT ratio over that stretch, but he too could have a quieter game than usual given the opposition. ... Game flow has kept the yardage they're allowing reasonable, but the Bengals' run defense hasn't been all that great, giving up 4.7 yards per carry (fourth most in the league). If Chris Johnson gets rolling, or Andre Ellington keeps breaking off 48-yard TD scampers, Palmer may not need to post big numbers.

Predictions:Giovani Bernard leads the Bengals' backfield with 70 combined yards and a score. Dalton throws for 270 yards and a TD to A.J. Green. Johnson has a big game, rushing for 110 yards and a touchdown. Palmer throws for 240 yards and TDs to Fitzgerald and David Johnson. Cardinals, 24-17

Buffalo (+7) at New England - Monday, 8:30 p.m. EST

Comments: Do the Bills actually have a chance here? Last time the two teams met, all the way back in Week 2, the Patriots won by a single score in a 40-32 barn burner. They also got 235 yards from scrimmage and three TDs out of Dion Lewis and Julian Edelman, neither of whom will be in uniform Monday night. Nobody does "next man up" like Bill Belichick, so it wouldn't be a shock to see Danny Amendola and James White score three times between them, but Tom Brady's options behind Rob Gronkowski are looking a little iffier than usual. ... The two defenses are almost joined at the hip statistically, with neither having an advantage in any major category (for instance, Buffalo ranks seventh in QB rating allowed at 82.4; New England comes in 11th at 84.8). Despite that, the Pats are allowing just 18.8 points per game (fourth in the league) while the Bills are 15th at 23.0. What's the difference? I have no idea. They're about the same in turnover differential, the Pats are the more penalized team, and the Bills are a little more efficient in getting off the field on third and fourth down. I can't find anything to explain the difference other than small-sample noise. Chalk it up to coaching if you want, but to me, it almost feels like a correction is coming. ... Tyrod Taylor had a huge game in Week 2 with three TD passes and one more on the ground, but he also threw three picks, as there's nothing Belichick likes better than scheming against an inexperienced QB. LeSean McCoy also had 116 yards from scrimmage on just 18 touches, though. The Pats haven't been particularly vulnerable on the ground (11th in YPC allowed at 4.0, and just second in rushing yards allowed per game at 88.2, though much of that is due to game flow that forces the other team to throw a lot), but if the Bills are going to win this one, it'll probably require heavy volume for McCoy and Karlos Williams.

Predictions: McCoy slashes for 130 combined yards and scores, while Williams also punches in a TD. Taylor is fairly quiet, running for 50 yards and throwing for 230 yards with a touchdown to Chris Hogan. LeGarrette Blount rumbles for 60 yards and a TD. Brady throws for 310 yards and touchdowns to Amendola and Brandon LaFell, and Stephen Gostkowski kicks the winner late. Patriots, 27-24

Last week's record: 6-8, 9-5 ATS
Season to date: 90-56, 78-63-5 ATS