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Ed Reed hopes Steelers throw 50 times against Ravens
You may have heard something about the rivalry between the Ravens and Steelers, two of the best teams in the AFC that will also happen to face off in the Sunday-night game. The last time they got together, back in Week 1, Baltimore steamrolled Pittsburgh, 35-7. The Steelers committed seven turnovers, five courtesy of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
In the seven weeks since, Pittsburgh has gone 5-1, and last Sunday dominated the Patriots. In that game, Roethlisberger threw the ball 50 times and was easily the best quarterback on the field that day.
The Ravens' D, one of the most physical units in the league, is unconcerned by Roethlisberger's success through the air. In fact, they welcome it Sunday night.
"It's been [Pittsburgh's] game plan for a while to challenge me and shake me up," Reed said, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I don't know the method to their madness. It's all good.
"Detroit used to try to take Michael Jordan out when he went to the hole, but he kept coming back. Pittsburgh knows they are going to get a full game worth of play from me. They know if they don't account for me, it's going to cost them. …
"I'll love for Roethlisberger to throw the ball 50 times," Reed added. "That will be more opportunities for us. So, if they're going to throw it, throw it."
Reed's right -- the Ravens' D is an opportunistic bunch. Look no further than Week 1 for proof of that. Their biggest obstacle won't come from the Steelers, but from their offense. And Joe Flacco is well aware of that.
For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnNFL on Twitter, subscribe to our NFL newsletter, and while you're at it, add our RSS Feed.
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Who's in, who's out: Week 9
Turning to the The NFL Today injury insider…
* According to sources in St. Louis, Rams quarterback Sam Bradford (probable, anke) looks good to start later today against the Cardinals. Meanwhile, Arizona starting quarterback Kevin Kolb is out with turf toe. John Skelton will make his fifth NFL start. Running back Beanie Wells will play despite a knee injury.
* Pittsburgh's linebacker corps is banged up for tonight's return engagement with Baltimore, but James Harrison will be back in the lineup after missing four games with a broken orbital bone. James Farrior is doubtful with a calf injury, and LaMarr Woodley, who sacked Tom Brady twice last week, is out with a hamstring injury. Wide receiver Hines Ward, however, will play.
* The Giants will be without running back Ahmad Bradshaw and Hakeem Nicks against the Patriots. For New England, wideout Wes Welker, who leads the league with 57 receptions, will play despite a neck injury.
* Chargers running back Ryan Matthews is doubtful (groin injury) against Green Bay and Mike Tolbert will start in his place. Tight end Antonio Gates and Vincent Jackson will start but Malcom Floyd is doubtful.
For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnNFL on Twitter, subscribe to our NFL newsletter, and while you're at it, add our RSS Feed.
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So why is Philip Rivers struggling?
CBS insider Charley Casserly tells James Brown on The NFL Today what's going on in San Diego…
"I checked with the Chargers. Physically, there's nothing wrong with [Rivers]. But in my opinion, here are some of the issues: first of all, the pass protection isn't as good this year as it was last year.
"They don't have Darren Sproles anymore. And the wide receivers -- a lot of injuries there, they've missed a lot of practice time. A lot of passes in this offense are timing based and they're not getting their timing down in practice.
"I watched the last three games and I think [Rivers] is still a good player. The thing that jumps out to me: he can still make big-time throws downfield."
For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnNFL on Twitter, subscribe to our NFL newsletter, and while you're at it, add our RSS Feed.
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Broncos S Rahim Moore injured on first play of game
Carson Palmer made the first start of his Raiders career Sunday against the Broncos, and on the very first play from scrimmage he … almost threw an interception (he tossed three picks two weeks ago against the Chiefs).
The pass was intended for Denarius Moore but he was double-covered by Broncos cornerback Andre Goodman and safety Rahim Moore.
A harmless interception so nothing to worry about, right? Not quite, at least for the beleaguered Broncos' D. Rahim Moore injured his shoulder, colliding violently with Goodman as he tried to make a play on the ball.
It's more bad news for Denver, an outfit that struggles on both sides of the ball. Tim Tebow's travails are well documented, but the defense has a lot to do with the team's 2-5 record.
Follow all the action here
Saints with a big win against the Bucs
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The Saints, once again, look like the most dangerous team in the NFC South. With the Falcons having little trouble with the Colts, New Orleans -- after last week’s debacle to the Rams and quarterback A.J. Feeley -- rolled to an impressive 27-16 win against the Buccaneers.
With the victory, the Eagles improved their record to 6-3, ahead of 5-3 Atlanta and 4-4 Tampa Bay.
Although Drew Brees threw his 33rd interception since the start of 2010 -- the most of any quarterback -- the Saints got a big spark from Darren Sproles, who managed 99 yards of total offense and continued to make the Chargers look silly for not retaining his services. And without No. 1 running Mark Ingram in the game, Chris Ivory and Pierre Thomas managed to combine for 133 yards on 23 carries.
Even when the Buccaneers cut the lead to eight with about 5 minutes to play, the Saints, helped tremendously by a 20-yard Brees scramble, responded with a John Kasey field goal to put the game out of reach.
Now that the season series with the Buccaneers is finished, the Saints will travel to Atlanta next week before getting their much-needed bye. After that, New Orleans will get the Giants and the Lions before the schedule lightens up a bit before its second meeting with the Falcons in late December.
And if the Saints falter and allow the Falcons to take the division title again, they can talk solace in this: along with the Lions, New Orleans probably would be on track to grab one of the NFC’s wild card spots.
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Groundhog Day: Philip Rivers throws more interceptions
Television cameras caught Philip Rivers mouthing "worst game ever" on Monday night after he inexplicably forgot how to take a snap from center, which led to the Chargers losing to the Chiefs.
Rivers is probably having similar thoughts Sunday after throwing his league-leading 12th interception of the season against the Packers, a tipped pass that ended up in the hands of safety Charlie Peprah, who promptly returned it 40 yards for a touchdown.
And it wasn't like Peprah had no one in front of him as he made his way to the end zone. He ran through 10 Chargers players, some more than once, and his efforts gave Green Bay an early 14-0 lead. (By the way, we say "10 Chargers players" because Rivers had absolutely no interest in getting involved.)
We can't write fast enough. On the very next series, Rivers threw ANOTHER interception, his 13th, this time to Tramon Williams. And, yes, Williams took it to the house, too. Packers lead 21-7.
Hey, Norv, we believe you are now officially on the hot seat.
Follow all the action here
Browns vs. Texans Recap
Arian Foster rushed for 124 yards, Ben Tate ran for 115 and both scored touchdowns in the Houston Texans' 30-12 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts recap this game. www.cbssports.com
Also see: Ben Tate's 27-yard TD
Dolphins vs. Chiefs Recap
Dolphins vs. Chiefs Recap
Matt Moore threw for 244 yards and three touchdowns, Reggie Bush had 92 yards rushing and another score and Miami walloped Kansas City 31-3 for its first win of the season. Kevin Harlan and Solomon Wilcots recap all the action from Kansas City. www.cbssports.com
Also see: Reggie Bush's 28-yard TD run
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Tebow throws TD, plays peacemaker, too
Tim Tebow is more than a Heisman winner and a swell person. He's also an NFL quarterback, even if just for a handful of plays every week. Making his third start of the 2011 season against the Raiders Sunday, Tebow does what he usually does: hold the ball too long, and struggle to read defenses.
But on the rare occasion he knows where to go, Tebow can be impressive. Late in the first quarter, Tebow dropped back, saw Eric Decker was open in the middle of the field, hit his wide receiver in stride and it was one of the easiest touchdown pitch-and-catches you'll ever see.
But Tebow wasn't done. On his way to celebrate, he also had time to break up a fight between a Broncos and Raiders player. Because that's how he rolls.
Follow all the action here
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Carson Palmer throws first TD with Raiders
If you had Tim Tebow tossing a touchdown before Carson Palmer then congratulations, you're the big winner.
Tebow connected with Eric Decker late in the first quarter to give the Broncos a 7-3 lead, but Palmer drove the Raiders down the field and found Michael Bush (!) for an 11-yard touchdown early in the second quarter.
Palmer, who came out of retirement three weeks ago, and was thrown to the Chiefs after a handful of practices two weeks ago, looks a tad more comfortable in the Raiders' offense. He threw three picks against Kansas City and, in general, looked awful.
If Oakland is going to have a chance to make it to the playoffs, it'll be because of Palmer. If it turns out that Palmer isn't the guy then, well, the Raiders are in a world of hurt; coach Hue Jackson gave up a first- and (likely) second-rounder to get the Bengals to unload Palmer. But you already knew that.
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Chris Johnson looking very un-Johnson like
With this season a disaster so far for Chris Johnson, it didn’t figure that his year would get much better today when the Titans faced the Bengals. After all, Cincinnati, entering the game, had the fourth-ranked defense and the second-ranked run defense in the league.
But in the first half, it looks like Johnson -- who came into the game averaging 2.8 yards per carry -- has rejuvenated himself.
He’s moving quickly, making Bengals defenders miss and breaking tackles -- none of which Johnson has been adept at this year. In all, he’s got nine carries for 55 yards and two catches for another 22 yards as the Titans lead 17-7.
We’re not ready to proclaim that Johnson IS BACK!!!! But this has to be awfully comforting for the team that paid him a ton of money in the preseason.
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Wes Welker is kind of tough
Wes Welker got drilled before halftime of the Patriots-Giants game on Sunday and stayed on the ground through a full commercial break. He was assisted by the trainers and, well, if Welker misses time, the Patriots are in trouble.
Fortunately for Tom Brady and Co, Welker doesn't miss time until things get REAL serious -- Welker was back on the field the very next play.
He didn't catch a pass on the final drive of the half, but that wasn't the problem for New England.
Their problem was Stephen Gostkowski shawshanking a 27-yard field goal that left the game scoreless at the half.
Follow the SEC-like second half here.
Jets vs. Bills Recap
New York Jets' QB, Mark Sanchez, completed 20 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown in a 27-11 victory over the Buffalo Bills. Join CBS Sports' Jim Nantz and Phil Simms for a recap of all the action. www.cbssports.com
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'On any other team' and Forte says he would've been paid by now
We've talked about Chris Johnson's new deal, the reports that LeSean McCoy could be getting paid soon, too, as well as the possibility of Ray Rice and Matt Forte getting franchised after the season.
Predictably, that thought doesn't make Forte particularly happy. During an appearance on NBC SportsTalk Friday, Forte, the Bears' workhorse running back, said "any other team" would have paid him by now. (Feel free to include the requisite #paytheman hashtag here … and then punch yourself in the face. Seriously, #paytheman is this season's #fivedollarfootlong. Please make it stop.)
“I think it really depends on what organization you’re in and how they treat their players," Forte said, as transcribed by the Chicago Sun-Times' Sean Jensen. I feel if I was on any other team, and you produce, and you were drafted by that team, and you produce enough in the last four years, it would be easy to really get a deal done. I’m not really sure what the problem is and what’s going on.”
It could be any number of things, from the Bears not wanting to pay a running back a lot of coin to Chris Johnson ruining things for everybody else.
Whatever happens, Forte will get paid, either in Chicago or somewhere else.
