NFL 2011 Season – Week Nine Preview

Eight weeks into the 2011 NFL season, Green Bay and San Francisco have established themselves as the best teams in the NFC, while New England, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Baltimore are the class of the AFC. The month of November will help determine which teams stay in the playoff race and which fall out of contention.

Here's a look at what to expect for Week Nine:

NFL Schedule for Sunday, Nov. 6

Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs - 1:00 PM

Kansas City (4-3) enters the game having won four in a row after losing its first three contests. The Chiefs have pulled into a tie for the AFC West lead by forcing turnovers on defense, including 10 in the last two games. Linebacker Derrick Johnson was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after Monday's game against San Diego. He'll be looking to create problems for Miami (0-7), and its 24th-ranked passing offense. Dolphins running back Reggie Bush needs to continue the success he had last week against the Giants, when he rushed for 103 yards. The Miami pass defense is 27th in the league, so is the Kansas City passing offense. Still, the size and speed of Chiefs receiver Dwayne Bowe can create match-up problems for Miami.

Atlanta Falcons at Indianapolis Colts - 1:00 PM

With fresh legs coming off a bye week, Atlanta (4-3) gets to turn its athletic offense loose on a Colts defense that gives up 31.5 points per game, the most in the league, and the second-most yards per game at 402.9. Indianapolis (0-8) needs to improve on the 12 sacks they have recorded so far this year, tied for second-fewest in the NFL. The Colts have the defensive personnel to get to Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, but they may not be able to contain running back Michael Turner. The Indianapolis offensive line has allowed 14 sacks and failed to help establish the running game, regardless of the featured back. They'll be challenged to move Atlanta's rushing defense, ranked seventh in the NFL. The Colts only average 15.1 points per game, so they'll need to keep the game close.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints - 1:00 PM

This contest is a rematch of a Week 6 game that was won by Tampa Bay (4-3), when the Buccaneers came up with four New Orleans turnovers and controlled the clock by running the ball. The Saints (5-3) figure to start seeing more ball control strategies from opponents after the Rams used a similar script to upset them last week. New Orleans still has a pass offense that is putting up an NFL-best 326.8 yards per game. Quarterback Drew Brees is the NFL's fourth-ranked passer. If Brees can get his running game to help him, the Saints will score points. The larger concern for New Orleans is how it will stop the run. The Buccaneers hope that running back LeGarrette Blount will come back from his knee injury. Blount is physical enough to create problems for the Saints defense. If New Orleans crowds the line to stuff the run, Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman must make them pay downfield.

N.Y. Jets at Buffalo Bills - 1:00 PM

The New York Jets (4-3) head to upstate New York to take on Buffalo (5-2) and a running game ranked fifth in the NFL at 140.6 yards per game. Bills running back Fred Jackson, averaging an AFC-best 103 yards rushing per game, will look to gain yards against the Jets' 24th-ranked rushing defense. New York is much better against the pass, and their secondary may prey on Buffalo quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick when he is in obvious passing situations. Jets' quarterback Mark Sanchez has 10 turnovers this year and can be very erratic. He'll need running back Shonn Greene to continue to emerge and contribute against a Buffalo defense that gives up more than 385 total yards per game.

Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys - 1:00 PM

Seattle (2-5) heads to Dallas with the league's second-worst offense. The Seahawks face a Cowboys rushing defense that is fourth-best against the run, even after being victimized for 185 yards by the Eagles' LeSean McCoy last week. Dallas (3-4) has greater difficulty defending the pass, so Seattle quarterback Tarvaris Jackson may have opportunities to throw. He'll have to stay upright, though -- the Seahawks have allowed 28 sacks. Cowboys' quarterback Tony Romo has been sacked 15 times and has seven interceptions in seven games. He should get more help from emerging rookie threat DeMarco Murray. Dallas receivers Dez Bryant and Miles Austin are deep threats that can put Seattle behind quickly.

Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans - 1:00 PM

Houston (5-3) thrives on a running game anchored by Arian Foster, who has been quietly complemented by Ben Tate. With both backs on-pace for 1,000 yards, the duo has helped the Texans grind out 141.9 yards per game via the run, the fourth-best total in the NFL. If Houston star receiver Andre Johnson's hamstring has healed, Cleveland (3-4) will be challenged to stop all the Texans weapons. The Browns pass defense is the second-best in the league, but their schedule has kept them from facing any of the NFL's top quarterbacks. Cleveland is scoring just 15.3 points per game, tied for 29th. The rushing tandem of Montario Hardesty and Peyton Hillis only has two touchdowns this year for the Browns. Quarterback Colt McCoy has been steady, with nine touchdowns and just five interceptions for Cleveland. He has also been sacked 16 times.

San Francisco 49ers at Washington Redskins - 1:00 PM

San Francisco (6-1) takes the second-best record in the NFC into Washington (3-4). The Redskins are reeling, having lost three games in a row and four of five. Washington was shut out by Buffalo last week, a first for a Mike Shanahan team in his 24 years of NFL coaching. Washington gave up nine sacks last week. The Redskins must protect the quarterback against an aggressive 49ers defense with 21 sacks on the season. The Washington running attack will face a San Francisco run defense that yields just 73.4 yards per game, best in the NFL. With running back Frank Gore piling up 96.4 yards per game, the 49ers rushing offense is very good. Niners quarterback Alex Smith is the eighth-ranked passer in the league with a 95.7 rating, but he only throws for 181 yards per game. The Washington defense may choose to key on Gore and force Smith to beat them deep.

Cincinnati Bengals at Tennessee Titans - 4:05 PM

Cincinnati (5-2) has emerged as a playoff contender thanks to a defense that is ninth-best in the NFL against the pass and an even stronger second-best versus the run. Tennessee (4-3) may struggle if it doesn't get a more balanced offense. Titans running back Chris Johnson has been a target of defenses all season, but last week, Tennessee fans zeroed in on him, too. He'll need to do more, or Javon Ringer, who outgained Johnson last week, may see additional carries to try to improve the league's next-to-worst running game. The Bengals get running back Cedric Benson back from a one-game suspension. He'll be counted on to wear down the Titans run defense, so rookie quarterback Andy Dalton can continue to manage drives, rather than make plays. It's worked well thus far.

Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders - 4:05 PM

A week after being leveled by Detroit, Denver (2-5) faces its longtime AFC West rival Oakland (4-3). Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow was nothing short of awful last week and may not be the team's answer at the position. Tebow, Brady Quinn or Kyle Orton will have to contend with a Raiders pass rush that has 16 sacks and loves to hit the quarterback. Denver's rushing offense is ranked eighth in the league, so it can help. Oakland comes off a bye week and former Bengal Carson Palmer makes his first start at quarterback for the Raiders. The team needs him to be better than when he threw three interceptions in the second half in its last game, a loss to the Chiefs. Running back Darren McFadden is questionable for the Raiders, who also signed receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who played with Palmer in Cincinnati. Oakland will need offensive weapons to keep the very good Denver pass rush, led by rookie Von Miller and his sicks sacks, from affecting the game.

N.Y. Giants at New England Patriots - 4:15 PM

This rematch of franchises that played in Super Bowl 42 finds New England (5-2) still vulnerable when quarterback Tom Brady is pressured, just like they were in the Super Bowl loss to the Giants.  Brady has been sacked 10 times in the last three games. A strong pass rush figures to be part of the New York (5-2) game plan, as Giants defensive linemen Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul will all take aim at the Patriots' franchise quarterback. Another worrisome matchup for New England is the Giants' fourth-ranked passing offense against a Patriots pass defense that gives up 323.1 yards a game, worst in the NFL. If quarterback Eli Manning can get help from the New York ground game, currently ranked 29th, the Giants may be tough to beat.

St. Louis Rams at Arizona Cardinals - 4:15 PM

After getting its first victory of 2011, St. Louis (1-6) may see the return of quarterback Sam Bradford, who missed the last two games due to an ankle injury. The Rams' 25th-ranked passing offense could use Bradford against the 30th-ranked pass defense of Arizona (1-6). St. Louis running back Steven Jackson had 159 yards in the upset over the Saints last week. The Cardinals defense, which gave up a 21-point lead to Baltimore last week, needs to stop Jackson from controlling the game. Arizona quarterback Kevin Kolb has been sacked an NFC-leading 24 times. Kolb, who is nursing a turf toe, has registered a below-average 77.8 passer rating and thrown as many interceptions as touchdowns -- eight. Whoever is quarterbacking the Cardinals needs to be worried about pressure from Rams defensive lineman Chris Long, who had three sacks in last week's win over New Orleans.

Green Bay Packers at San Diego Chargers - 4:15 PM

Green Bay (7-0) comes off its bye week and faces San Diego (4-3), which is playing on short rest after its loss on Monday night. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has committed a league-high 14 turnovers, with 11 interceptions and three fumbles. He'll be pitted against a Packers defense that thrives on forcing mistakes. San Diego will need Rivers to produce against the Packers pass defense, which is next-to-last in the league. The Chargers are the fourth-best passing defense, allowing only 175.7 yards per game, so they could give Packers' quarterback Aaron Rodgers some trouble. While Green Bay averages 323 yards per game through the air, it may need running back James Starks to step up and exploit the San Diego run defense.

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers - 8:20 PM

The latest battle in this ongoing AFC North war is a rematch of the Week 1 game that saw Baltimore (5-2) thoroughly dominate Pittsburgh, 35-7. The Steelers (6-2) have become much more consistent since then, winning their last four games. Both defenses thrive on pressuring the opposing quarterback. The Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger is a demonstrably better passer than the Ravens' Joe Flacco, but Big Ben is also the most sacked quarterback in the league, getting dropped 25 times this season. Baltimore wants to add to that total and win the time of possession battle. They'll need Flacco to be more like the player who led the team back from a 21-point deficit last week and less like the quarterback with 10 turnovers. The Steelers defense looked to be in playoff form against the Patriots last week. If they are that successful against Flacco, Baltimore may struggle.

Monday, Nov. 7

Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Eagles - 8:30 PM

After stumbling to a 1-4 start, Philadelphia (3-4) has won two division games in convincing fashion. The Eagles' second straight primetime game comes against Chicago (4-3), which figures to turn all-purpose back Matt Forte loose on the Eagles run defense. He leads the league with 1,091 yards from scrimmage. Philadelphia's defensive personnel is starting to mesh, with lineman Jason Babin having a career year. He has nine sacks already and will look to add Jay Cutler to his list of quarterback victims. NFC Offensive Player of the Week LeSean McCoy is a blossoming run threat that the Eagles will need to use to keep the Bears' fearsome pass rush from keying on quarterback Michael Vick. The Chicago pass defense needs to account for Eagles tight end Brent Celek, who has 11 catches for 136 yards and two touchdowns pin his last two games.

Bye Week: Detroit, Minnesota, Carolina, Jacksonville