This weekly feature will take you inside the NFL games, breaking down team statistics, head-to-head records, home statistics, road statistics, trends, player statistics per season, player statistics against a particular team, and other miscellaneous tidbits.

I'll also take a stab at picking the winners of each NFL game as well as what the final score will be. I will also track my progress as the season goes on.

Smith's Game Predictions Record

Overall record: 21 wins / 11 losses / 65.6%
Last week: 13 wins / 3 losses / 81.3%

This week I am picking 7 home teams and 7 road teams to win.

Much better result in week two with a respectable 13-3 record running my season record to 21-11…

What have we learned after just two weeks?

• Go against the Titans, Packers and Raiders every week. Combined these three teams may not win 8 games this season
  
• The Colts are a dominant regular season team once again in '06
  
• The Chargers, Ravens, Bears and Seahawks are playing incredible defensively
  
• Preseason favorites Carolina and Miami are really struggling on offense right now

All fantasy points mentioned are based on the following criteria...

20 passing yards = 1 FP
10 rushing yards = 1 FP
10 receiving yards = 1 FPs
Passing touchdown = 4 FPs
Rushing touchdown = 6 FPs
Receiving touchdown = 6 FPs
Passing Interceptions = -1 FP

Fantasy points are rounded up to the nearest number (i.e. 47.6 becomes 48)

Let's get right to it!

My Ultimate Fantasy team this week

• QB Michael Vick, Atlanta (vs. New Orleans)
  
• RB Steven Jackson, Rams (vs. Arizona)
  
• RB Clinton Portis, Washington (vs. Houston)
  
• WR Anquan Boldin, Arizona (vs. St. Louis)
  
• WR Torry Holt, St. Louis (vs. Arizona)
  
• WR Chris Chambers, Miami (vs. Tennessee)
  
• TE Jeremy Shockey, Giants (vs. Seattle)
  
• PK Neil Rackers, Arizona (vs. St. Louis)
  
• DEF Detroit Lions

Tidbit of the week

Top 10 FP seasons at the QB position over the last ten years

1. Daunte Culpepper, Vikings, 2004 - 434 FP
   
2. Steve Young, 49ers, 1998 - 422 FP
   
3. Peyton Manning, Colts, 2004 - 418 FP
   
4. Jeff Garcia, 49ers, 2000 - 393 FP
   
5. Kurt Warner, Rams, 1999 - 384 FP
   
6. Steve Beuerlein, Panthers, 1999 - 375 FP
   
7. Kurt Warner, Rams, 2001 - 370 FP
   
8. Rich Gannon, Raiders, 2002 - 362 FP
   
9. Peyton Manning, Colts, 2000 - 355 FP
   
10. Vinny Testaverde, Ravens, 1996 - 353 FP

Arizona Cardinals @ St. Louis Rams

Smith's Predicted Score: Arizona Cardinals 27 - St. Louis 23

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Cardinals offense vs. Rams defense: 237 yards gained vs. 166 yards against
  Rams offense vs. Cardinals defense: 171 yards gained vs. 241 yards against
• Rushing
  Cardinals offense vs. Rams defense: 75 yards gained vs. 144 yards against
  Rams offense vs. Cardinals defense: 122 yards gained vs. 127 yards against

Arizona Cardinals Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 1-1
  
• 2006 road record: 0-1
  
• 2006 road points for: 10
  
• 2006 road points against: 21
  
• 2005 road record: 2-6
  
• 2005 road points for: 152
  
• 2005 road points against: 227

Interesting Tidbits:

• The Cardinals:
  
  • Have now lost three straight road games
    
  • Haven't started 2-1 since the 1991 season when they played in Phoenix and Johnny Johnson was their best running back
• In four games against the Rams, WR Larry Fitzgerald has
  
  • One 100-yard receiving games
    
  • At least four receptions in each contest
    
  • Scored 3 touchdowns
    
  • Two games with 16+ FP and one game under 10 FP
• In five games against the Rams, WR Anquan Boldin has
  
  • Three 100-yard receiving games
    
  • Averaged 6.6 receptions per game
    
  • Scored 3 touchdowns
    
  • One 27 FP game, one 17 FP game, two 9+ FP game and one 5 FP game
• In two games against the Rams (both last season), QB Kurt Warner has
  
  • 612 passing yards
    
  • 3 touchdowns and 1 interception
    
  • One 300-yard passing effort
    
  • One 26 FP game and one 15 FP game

St. Louis Rams Inside The Numbers

• 2006 record: 1-1
  
• 2006 home record: 1-0
  
• 2006 home points for: 18
  
• 2006 home points against: 10
  
• 2005 home record: 3-5
  
• 2005 home points for: 187
  
• 2005 home points against: 205

Interesting Tidbits

• The Rams:
  
  • Lost at home to the Cardinals last season. Prior to that the Rams won three straight against the Cardinals in St. Louis
    
• In seven games against the Cardinals, QB Marc Bulger has
  
  • Two 300-yard passing games
  • At least 216 passing yards in each contest
    
  • At least one touchdown pass in each game with four multiple-touchdown games
    
  • 11 passing touchdowns against 11 interceptions
    
  • Two 22+ FP games, and at least 14 FP in all seven games
    
• In eight games against the Cardinals, WR Isaac Bruce has
  
  • One 100-yard receiving game (had one 99-yard effort as well)
    
  • Five games with 58+ receiving yards
    
  • Only 3 touchdowns (and no multiple-touchdown games)
    
  • Three 14+ FP games and five games with fewer than 7 FP
    
• In eight games against the Cardinals, WR Torry Holt has
  
  • Four 100-yard receiving games and six games above the 90 yards
    
  • Five games with 7+ receptions
    
  • Five receiving touchdowns
    
  • No multiple touchdown games
    
  • One 20 FP game, six games with at least 10 FP
    
• In two games against the Cardinals last season, RB Steven Jackson had
  
  • One game with 93 yards on 18 carries and scored a touchdown (17 FP)
    
  • One game with just 6 yards on 12 carries and no scores (2 FP)

Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns

Smith's Predicted Score: Baltimore 16 - Cleveland 14

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Ravens offense vs. Browns defense: 147 yards gained vs. 246 yards against
  Browns offense vs. Ravens defense: 173 yards gained vs. 120 yards against
• Rushing
  Ravens offense vs. Browns defense: 121 yards gained vs. 158 yards against
  Browns offense vs. Ravens defense: 71 yards gained vs. 33 yards against

Baltimore Ravens Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 2-0
  
• 2006 road record: 1-0
  
• 2006 road points for: 27
  
• 2006 road points against: 0
  
• 2005 road record: 0-8
  
• 2005 road points for: 110
  
• 2005 road points against: 194

Interesting Tidbits

• The Ravens:
  
  • Have only given up six points on the season. That is their best defensive start ever
    
  • Have never started a season 3-0
    
• WR Derrick Mason faced the Browns twice last season. He caught 11 passes for 158 yards but didn't score a touchdown
  
• RB Jamal Lewis has faced the Browns ten times. In those games he has
  
  • Two 200-yard rushing games (in the same season no less)
    
  • Five 100-yard rushing games
    
  • Three 2-touchdown games and four games in total with a score
    
  • At least 57 yards rushing in each contest
    
  • Three games with 29+ FP, five games with at least 16 FP and seven games of 10+ FP
    
• TE Todd Heap has faced the Browns eight times. In those games he has
  
  • No 100-yard receiving games
    
  • Three 60+ yard receiving games
    
  • Two total touchdowns
    
  • One game with 10+ FP and the rest with 9 or fewer FP
    
• QB Steve McNair is not throwing the ball much to start the season but his consistent play has been a great addition to this squad
  
• McNair has 153 touchdown passes, 36 rushing touchdowns and just 101 interceptions over the past ten seasons

Cleveland Browns Inside The Numbers

• 2006 record: 0-2
  
• 2006 home record: 0-1
  
• 2006 home points for: 14
  
• 2006 home points against: 19
  
• 2005 home record: 4-4
  
• 2005 home points for: 119
  
• 2005 home points against: 141

Interesting Tidbits

• The Browns:
  
  • Have been outscored 53 to 31 on the season
    
  • Haven't started 0-3 since their first season back in the NFL (1999) when they lost their first seven games
    
  • Are 3-10 against divisional foes since the start of the 2004 season
    
• RB Reuben Droughns carried the ball 34 times for 95 yards in two games against the Ravens last season. He had no more than 5 FP in both games
  
• QB Charlie Frye is completing 60% of his passes and has thrown for 376 yards but has just 1 touchdown against 4 interception
  
• Frye now has just 5 touchdown passes against 10 interceptions in his first nine NFL games
  
• Droughns has only 59 rushing yards and a 2.4 YPC average over the first two games
  
• WR Braylon Edwards is leading the team with 133 receiving yards

New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills

Smith's Predicted Score: Jets 13 - Bills 17

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Jets offense vs. Bills defense: 294 yards gained vs. 163 yards against
  Bills offense vs. Jets defense: 104 yards gained vs. 227 yards against
• Rushing
  Jets offense vs. Bills defense: 71 yards gained vs. 138 yards against
  Bills offense vs. Jets defense: 102 yards gained vs. 117 yards against

New York Jets Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 1-1 2006 road record: 1-0
  
• 2006 road points for: 23
  
• 2006 road points against: 16
  
• 2005 road record: 0-8
  
• 2005 road points for: 67
  
• 2005 road points against: 191

Interesting Tidbits

• The Jets:
  
  • Haven't won two straight road games since the 2004 season
    
• In four career games against the Bills, QB Chad Pennington has
  
  • One 300-yard passing games and three games with less than 180 passing yards
    
  • No multiple-passing touchdown games and only 3 passing touchdowns in total
    
  • Two games with 18+ FP and two games with less than 12 FP
    
• Pennington has had just one 3,000 yard passing season and one 20+ passing touchdown season. He is on pace for over 4,000 yards this season
  
• WR Laveranues Coles has faced the Bills seven times as a NYJ. In those games he has
  
  • One 100-yard performance
    
  • 5+ receptions in four games
    
  • One touchdown
    
  • Three 12+ FP games and four with fewer than 10 FP
    
• Coles is currently leading the NFL with 253 receiving yards in two games

Buffalo Bills Inside The Numbers

• 2006 record: 1-1
  
• 2006 home record: 0-0
  
• 2006 home points for: nil
  
• 2006 home points against: nil
  
• 2005 home record: 4-4
  
• 2005 home points for: 132
  
• 2005 home points against: 141

Interesting Tidbits

• The Bills:
  
  • Gave up 144 points in their final five games last season. They have given up just 25 points in the first two this season
    
  • Have lost four straight home games
    
• In his last three games against the New York Jets, RB Willis McGahee has
  
  • 88 carries for 388 yards (all three were 100-yard rushing games)
    
  • Two touchdowns
    
  • Two 20+ FP games and all three with at least 14 FP
    
• McGahee has a touchdown in just one of the last 12 games
  
• In four games against the Jets, WR Lee Evans has
  
  • No games over 64 receiving yards
    
  • Two touchdowns
    
  • Two games with 11+ FP and two games with fewer than 6 FP

Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Smith's Predicted Score: Panthers 17 - Buccaneers 13

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Panthers offense vs. Buccaneers defense: 157 yards gained vs. 122 yards against
  Buccaneers offense vs. Panthers defense: 214 yards gained vs. 179 yards against
• Rushing
  Panthers offense vs. Buccaneers defense: 86 yards gained vs. 205 yards against
  Buccaneers offense vs. Panthers defense: 33 yards gained vs. 196 yards against

Carolina Panthers Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 0-2
  
• 2006 road record: 0-1
  
• 2006 road points for: 13
  
• 2006 road points against: 16
  
• 2005 road record: 6-2
  
• 2005 road points for: 190
  
• 2005 road points against: 124

Interesting Tidbits

• The Panthers haven't started a season 0-3 since the 1998 season. They did start 1-7 back in 2004
  
• The Panthers have scored just 19 points so far in 2006
  
• In six games against the Buccaneers, QB Jake Delhomme has
  
  • No 300-yard passing games but five games with at least 213 passing yards
    
  • 10 touchdown passes (including 4 in one game and 2 in two others)
    
  • Two 20+ FP games, five games with 15+ FP and one game with just 3 FP
    
• Delhomme has just 367 passing yards and no touchdowns in two games this season
  
• In his last three games against the Buccaneers, RB DeShaun Foster has
  
  • 52 carries for 125 yards (only 2.4 YPC)
    
  • No games with more than 56 rushing yards
    
  • No touchdowns scored
    
  • No games with more than 5 FP
    
• After getting no carries in week one, rookie RB DeAngelo Williams had 13 carries for 74 yards and a score last week

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Inside The Numbers

• 2006 record: 0-2
  
• 2006 home record: 0-1
  
• 2006 home points for: 0
  
• 2006 home points against: 27
  
• 2005 home record: 6-2
  
• 2005 home points for: 177
  
• 2005 home points against: 148

Interesting Tidbits

• The Buccaneers:
  
  • Have scored a whopping 3 points in the first two games this season. They scored 3 or less in just one of the previous 67 games going into this season
    
  • Haven't had just three points in the first two games since their inaugural season of 1976 when they were shut out twice
    
• QB Chris Simms faced the Panthers twice last season. In those games he had
  
  • 397 passing yards and 1 touchdown pass against 2 interceptions
    
  • One game with 259 passing yards and the other with 138 passing yards
    
  • One 15 FP game and one 7 FP game
    
• Simms is really struggling this season. He has no touchdowns and 6 interceptions on the season
  
• In four games against Carolina as a Buccaneer, WR Joey Galloway has
  
  • No 100-yard receiving games
    
  • 21 receptions for 254 yards
    
  • 2 touchdowns scored
    
  • Two 14+ FP games and two games with 4 or fewer FP
    
• Galloway's 166-yard effort last week was his best since week four of last season
  
• WR Michael Clayton had a 2-touchdown game against the Buccaneers in 2004 but has done nothing in the other three games
  
• RB Cadillac Williams faced the Buccaneers twice last season
  
  • In one game he had 29 carries for 112 yards and scored twice (23.6 FP)
    
  • In the other game he carried the ball just 11 times for 29 yards with no touchdowns (5.4 FP)
    
• Williams has just 59 rushing yards on 23 carries to start this season
  

Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings

Smith's Predicted Score: Bears 16 - Vikings 13

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Bears offense vs. Vikings defense: 273 yards gained vs. 164 yards against
  Vikings offense vs. Bears defense: 224 yards gained vs. 182 yards against
• Rushing
  Bears offense vs. Vikings defense: 99 yards gained vs. 105 yards against
  Vikings offense vs. Bears defense: 113 yards gained vs. 75 yards against

Chicago Bears Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 2-0
  
• 2006 road record: 1-0
  
• 2006 road points for: 26
  
• 2006 road points against: 0
  
• 2005 road record: 4-4
  
• 2005 road points for: 112
  
• 2005 road points against: 141

Interesting Tidbits

• The Bears have outscored their opponents 60 to 7 to start this season
  
• The Bears haven't started 3-0 since Mike Ditka was the head coach back in 1991.
  
• RB Thomas Jones has faced the Vikings four times since joining the Bears. In those four games he has
  
  • One 100-yard rushing game
    
  • Three total touchdowns (including 2 in one game)
    
  • Two games with 22+ FP and two games with 7 or fewer FP
    
• Jones has 42 carries on the season but has gained just 127 yards
  
• Cedric Benson has carried the ball 25 times this season but gained just 59 yards
  
• The Bears still don't have a rushing season this season
  
• QB Rex Grossman has faced the Vikings twice in his injury-plagued career. He has
  
  • One game with 248 passing yards and a rushing touchdown for 20.4 FP
    
  • One game with 157 passing yards with no touchdowns scored for 7.8 FP
    
  • No touchdown passes and no interceptions
    
• Grossman is on pace to throw for 4,488 passing yards and 40 touchdowns this season.
  
• Grossman threw 4 touchdowns last week against the Lions. He had 4 (195 passing attempts) in his entire career heading into this season
  
• In his only game against the Vikings last season, WR Muhsin Muhammad caught 5 passes for 48 yards with no touchdowns scored
  
• Muhammad has just one touchdown in his last seven games
  
• Muhammad had 16 touchdowns in 2004. Take away that season and he has just 17 in the last 73 games

Minnesota Vikings Inside The Numbers

• 2006 record: 2-0
  
• 2006 home record: 1-0
  
• 2006 home points for: 16
  
• 2006 home points against: 13
  
• 2005 home record: 6-2
  
• 2005 home points for: 184
  
• 2005 home points against: 127

Interesting Tidbits

• The Vikings haven't started 3-0 since the 2003 season when they won their first six games (they still missed the playoffs that season)
  
• The Vikings have given up 29 points on the season. That ranks 11th in the NFL. They haven't finished top ten in defense since 1998.
  
• QB Brad Johnson
  
  • Threw for 247 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Bears in week seventeen last season
    
  • Has had four straight 200-yard passing games
    
  • Has had four 20+ passing touchdown seasons and five 3,000 yard passing seasons over the past ten seasons
    
  • Has thrown just 16 passing touchdowns in the last 458 passing attempts
    
• WR Troy Williamson has 179 receiving yards on the season, 90 yards more than the next closest Viking
  
• RB Chester Taylor is on pace for 440 carries on the season and 1,608 rushing yards
  
• Amazing stat: The Vikings have never had a running back carry the ball 300-times in one season. Both Robert Smith and Chuck Foreman were close but neither hit the 300-carry mark

Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Smith's Predicted Score: Cincinnati 24 - Steelers 27

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Bengals offense vs. Steelers defense: 221 yards gained vs. 246 yards against
  Steelers offense vs. Bengals defense: 162 yards gained vs. 210 yards against
• Rushing
  Bengals offense vs. Steelers defense: 138 yards gained vs. 74 yards against
  Steelers offense vs. Bengals defense: 86 yards gained vs. 85 yards against

Cincinnati Bengals Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 2-0
  
• 2006 road record: 1-0
  
• 2006 road points for: 23
  
• 2006 road points against: 10
  
• 2005 road record: 6-2
  
• 2005 road points for: 205
  
• 2005 road points against: 160

Interesting Tidbits

• The Bengals:
  
  • Started 4-0 last year and are 2-0 this season. They have never enjoyed back to back seasons with a 3-0 start
    
  • Have won five or their last six road games
    
• This is QB Carson Palmer's first matchup against the Steelers since the playoff game in which Palmer blew out his knee
  
• In four games against the Steelers, Palmer has
  
  • No games with more than 227 passing yards
    
  • 6 touchdown passes against 5 interceptions
    
  • One rushing touchdown
    
  • One 23 FP game, three 15+ FP games and all four with at least 10 FP
    
• In five games against the Steelers, RB Rudi Johnson has
  
  • One 100-yard rushing game (and another 98-yard performance)
    
  • 3 touchdowns scored (including 2 in one game)
    
  • Only two games with 20+ carries
    
  • Two 18+ FP games and three games with 7 or fewer FP
    
• Rudi Johnson is on pace to rush for 1,928 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns
  
• In ten games against the Steelers, WR Chad Johnson has
  
  • Two 100-yard games
    
  • Nine games with 4+ receptions (49 total receptions)
    
  • Only 2 touchdowns scored
    
  • Two 15+ FP games, another at 14 FP and seven games with 10 or fewer FP
    
• In seven games against the Pittsburgh Steelers, WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh has
  
  • No 100-yard receiving games
    
  • Two games with 88+ receiving yards
    
  • 34 receptions
    
  • One game in which he scored (he got 2 TDs that day)
    
  • One 22 FP game, No other games in which he eclipsed 10 FP

Pittsburgh Steelers Inside The Numbers

• 2006 record: 1-1
  
• 2006 home record: 1-0
  
• 2006 home points for: 28
  
• 2006 home points against: 17
  
• 2005 home record: 5-3
  
• 2005 home points for: 212
  
• 2005 home points against: 161

Interesting Tidbits

• The Steelers have lost to Cincinnati in Pittsburgh twice in the past three seasons
  
• The Steelers have had just two head coaches since 1969. The franchise is 335-230-2 over that span
  
• QB Ben Roethlisberger has faced the Bengals four times. In those games he has
  
  • One game with 386 passing yards (week 13 of last season)
    
  • Not thrown for more than 174 yards in the other three games
    
  • Has at least 1 touchdown in all four games
    
  • One 28.5 FP game, and three games with 13 or fewer FP
    
• In two games against the Bengals last season, RB Willie Parker had
  
  • 202 rushing yards including one 100-yard effort
    
  • One rushing TD
    
  • One 19 FP game and one 8 FP game
    
• In twelve games against the Bengals, WR Hines Ward has
  
  • Three 100 yard receiving games
    
  • One multiple-touchdown game
    
  • Seven games with a touchdown
    
  • Averaged 71 receiving yards per game
    
  • Three games with 21+ FP, five games with 15+ FP and five games with fewer than 10 FP

Denver Broncos @ New England Patriots

Smith's Predicted Score: Denver 13 - New England 21

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Broncos offense vs. Patriots defense: 136 yards gained vs. 214 yards against
  Patriots offense vs. Broncos defense: 174 yards gained vs. 163 yards against
• Rushing
  Broncos offense vs. Patriots defense: 153 yards gained vs. 75 yards against
  Patriots offense vs. Broncos defense: 165 yards gained vs. 135 yards against

Denver Broncos Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 1-1
  
• 2006 road record: 0-1
  
• 2006 road points for: 10
  
• 2006 road points against: 18
  
• 2005 road record: 3-5
  
• 2005 road points for: 186
  
• 2005 road points against: 153

Interesting Tidbits

• The bad news: the Broncos have scored just 19 points on the season
  
• The good news: the Broncos have surrendered just 24 points on the season
  
• RB Mike Bell vs. RB Tatum Bell comparison:
  
  • Mike: 23 car / 102 RuY / 4.4 YPC / 1 RuTD / 5 rec / 42 ReY / 144 total yards
    
  • Tatum: 31 car / 172 RuY / 5.5 YPC / 0 RuTD / 2 rec / 7 ReY / 179 total yards
    
• Tatum Bell
  
  • Has scored in just one of the last ten games (got 3 TDs vs. the Chargers in week 17 of 2005)
    
  • Had 114 rushing yards and a touchdown against the Broncos in week six last season
    
• QB Jake Plummer
  
  • Hasn't thrown a touchdown pass in four straight regular season games
    
  • Threw for 262 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Patriots in week six last year
    
  • Has averaged 15+ FP per game in seven of his nine seasons
    
  • Has had one 4,000 passing yard season and four 3,000 passing yard seasons
    
• WR Javon Walker has 120 receiving yards on the season. That is 70 more than the next closest receiver (Rod Smith)
  
• Walker had 21 touchdowns during the 2003/04 seasons

New England Patriots Inside The Numbers

• 2006 record: 2-0
  
• 2006 home record: 1-0
  
• 2006 home points for: 19
  
• 2006 home points against: 17
  
• 2005 home record: 5-3
  
• 2005 home points for: 183
  
• 2005 home points against: 165

Interesting Tidbits

• The Patriots lost twice to the Broncos last season, once in the regular season and once in the playoffs
  
• QB Tom Brady
  
  • Averaged 257 passing yards per game last season. This year he is averaging only 192 passing yards
    
  • Has at least one touchdown pass in six straight games and in fourteen of the last fifteen games
    
  • Threw for 299 yards and a touchdown against the Broncos last season
    
  • Has four straight seasons of 3,600+ passing yards and 23+ passing touchdowns
    
• RB Corey Dillon and rookie RB Laurence Maroney have combined for 304 rushing yards on the season
  
• Maroney is on pace for 264 carries and Dillon is on pace for 288 carries
  
• Think Brady misses WR Deion Branch? WR Troy Brown is leading the wide receivers with only 6 receptions for 69 yards
  
• TE Ben Watson is leading the team with 89 receiving yards on the season but hasn't scored yet

Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions

Smith's Predicted Score: Green Bay 10 - Detroit 24

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Packers offense vs. Lions defense: 243 yards gained vs. 234 yards against
  Lions offense vs. Packers defense: 206 yards gained vs. 292 yards against
• Rushing
  Packers offense vs. Lions defense: 83 yards gained vs. 90 yards against
  Lions offense vs. Packers defense: 42 yards gained vs. 79 yards against

Green Bay Packers Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 0-2
  
• 2006 road record: 0-0
  
• 2006 road points for: nil
  
• 2006 road points against: nil
  
• 2005 road record: 1-7
  
• 2005 road points for: 123
  
• 2005 road points against: 204

Interesting Tidbits

• The Packers:
  
  • Have lost three straight road games by a combined score of 86-24
    
  • Are 8-2 against the Lions in the last ten meetings and 3-2 in Detroit
    
• QB Brett Favre's next touchdown pass will be the 400th of his career
  
• WR Donald Driver is on pace for 1,992 receiving yards
  
• In his last twelve games against the Lions, QB Brett Favre has
  
  • Seven games with 250+ passing yards
    
  • Eight multiple-touchdown games
    
  • 19 passing touchdowns and 12 interceptions
    
  • Seven 20+ FP games and only two games with fewer than 13 FP
    
• In his last seven games against the Lions, WR Donald Driver has
  
  • Two 100-yard receiving games
    
  • Four receiving touchdowns
    
  • Four games with 13+ FP and three games with 5 or fewer FP
    
• In ten games against the Lions, RB Ahman Green has
  
  • Four 100-yard rushing games
    
  • Three multiple-touchdown efforts
    
  • Has scored a touchdown in just four games
    
  • Four games with 22+ FP and seven with 10+ FP

Detroit Lions Inside The Numbers

• 2006 record: 0-2
  
• 2006 home record: 0-1
  
• 2006 home points for: 6
  
• 2006 home points against: 9
  
• 2005 home record: 3-5
  
• 2005 home points for: 154
  
• 2005 home points against: 170

Interesting Tidbits

• The Lions
  
  • Are just 21-78 in their last ninety-nine games played
    
  • Haven't started 0-3 since the 2002 season. They finished 3-13 that season
    
• In his last three games against the Packers, RB Kevin Jones has
  
  • 7 carries for 306 rushing yards
    
  • 1 TD
    
  • One 22 FP game, one 10 FP game and one 7 FP game
    
• In three career games against the Packers, WR Roy Williams has just
  
  • 7 receptions for 79 yards
    
  • 1 TD
    
  • One 11 FP game and two 1 FP games
    
• QB Jon Kitna
  
  • Is completing 65.7% of his passes on the season
    
  • Is averaging only 10.4 yards per completion
    
  • Has yet to throw a touchdown or an interception
    
  • Hasn't thrown a touchdown pass in his last 96 attempts
    
• WR Mike Furrey is leading the team with 122 receiving yards
  
• WR Roy Williams is second on the team with 107 receiving yards
  
• RB Kevin Jones is averaging just 3 yards per carry on the season
  
• QB Jon Kitna has the only touchdown of the season (a 1-yard scoring plunge)

Washington Redskins @ Houston Texans

Smith's Predicted Score: Washington 17 - Houston 21

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Redskins offense vs. Texans defense: 158 yards gained vs. 351 yards against
  Texans offense vs. Redskins defense: 181 yards gained vs. 226 yards against
• Rushing
  Redskins offense vs. Texans defense: 98 yards gained vs. 128 yards against
  Texans offense vs. Redskins defense: 89 yards gained vs. 112 yards against

Washington Redskins Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 0-2
  
• 2006 road record: 0-1
  
• 2006 road points for: 10
  
• 2006 road points against: 27
  
• 2005 road record: 4-4
  
• 2005 road points for: 161
  
• 2005 road points against: 176

Interesting Tidbits

• The Redskins
  
  • Haven't started 0-3 since the 2001 season
    
  • Have scored just 26 points on the season
    
• QB Mark Brunell
  
  • Is averaging just 180 passing yards per game
    
  • Has yet to throw a touchdown pass this season
    
  • Has nine straight games with less than 200 passing yards
    
• WR Santana Moss
  
  • Leads the team in receiving yards with 138 yards and is 2nd in rushing with 47 rushing yards
    
  • Has just one 100-yard result in the last twelve games
    
  • Has scored in just one of the last seven games
    
• TE Chris Cooley had 3 receptions for 20 yards on the season

Houston Texans Inside The Numbers

• 2006 record: 0-2
  
• 2006 home record: 0-1
  
• 2006 home points for: 10
  
• 2006 home points against: 24
  
• 2005 home record: 2-6
  
• 2005 home points for: 160
  
• 2005 home points against: 250

Interesting Tidbits

• The Texans
  
  • Are 1-4 over the last five home games
    
  • Went 0-6 to start the season a year ago
    
• QB David Carr has
  
  • Completed 76% of his passes this season
    
  • Thrown for 427 yards
    
  • Tossed 4 touchdowns against 0 interceptions
    
  • Is on pace for 32 touchdown passes. He has never had more than 16 in a season
    
• Both WR Andre Johnson and WR Eric Moulds have 10 receptions and a touchdown this season
  
• Four different Texans have caught a touchdown (Johnson, Moulds, Owen Daniels, Mark Bruener)
  
• RB Wali Lundy leads the team with 17 carries but has only 57 yards to show for it
  
• All the running backs combined have 36 carries for 143 yards (4.0 YPC) but have no touchdowns

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts

Smith's Predicted Score: Jaguars 13 - Colts 20

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Jaguars offense vs. Colts defense: 241 yards gained vs. 219 yards against
  Colts offense vs. Jaguars defense: 331 yards gained vs. 181 yards against
• Rushing
  Jaguars offense vs. Colts defense: 94 yards gained vs. 147 yards against
  Colts offense vs. Jaguars defense: 90 yards gained vs. 57 yards against

Jacksonville Jaguars Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 2-0
  
• 2006 road record: 0-0
  
• 2006 road points for: nil
  
• 2006 road points against: nil
  
• 2005 road record: 6-2
  
• 2005 road points for: 186
  
• 2005 road points against: 150

Interesting Tidbits

• The Jaguars
  
  • Have won five straight regular season games and ten of the last eleven
    
  • Are 2-4 against the Colts in the last three years
    
  • Have given up just 17 points on the season
    
• In the last four meetings in which QB Byron Leftwich has faced the Colts, he has
  
  • Two 300-yard passing games
    
  • 4 TD passes against just 1 interception
    
  • 1 rushing TD
    
  • Three 20 FP games and one 11 FP game
    
• In his nine games against the Colts, RB Fred Taylor has
  
  • Three 100-yard rushing games
    
  • One multiple-touchdown game
    
  • Just four touchdowns scored
    
  • One 27 FP game, five 14+ FP games and just two games with less than 10 FP
    
• In four games against the Colts, WR Reggie Williams has never scored a touchdown or finished with more than 40 receiving yards
  
• In four games against the Colts, WR Ernest Wilford has never scored a touchdown or finished with more than 56 receiving yards
  
• In two games against the Colts last season, WR Matt Jones caught just 4 passes for 37 yards

Indianapolis Colts Inside The Numbers

• 2006 record: 2-0
  
• 2006 home record: 1-0
  
• 2006 home points for: 43
  
• 2006 home points against: 24
  
• 2005 home record: 7-1
  
• 2005 home points for: 194
  
• 2005 home points against: 103

Interesting Tidbits

• The Colts
  
  • Are 13-1 in their last fourteen games
    
• In nine games against the Jaguars, QB Peyton Manning has
  
  • Four 300-yard passing games
    
  • Seven 200-yard passing games
    
  • Seven multiple-touchdown games (19 touchdown passes vs. 5 interceptions)
    
  • Two 30+ FP games, five 23+ FP games and just one game with fewer than 13 FP
    
• In nine games against the Jaguars, WR Marvin Harrison has
  
  • Two 100-yard receiving games
    
  • 5+ receptions in just three of the games
    
  • 8 touchdowns scored with 2 touchdowns in a game twice
    
  • One 26 FP game, three 16 FP games and five games with 10 FP or less
    
• In eight games against the Jaguars, WR Reggie Wayne has
  
  • One 26 FP game
    
  • Seven other games with 8 or fewer FP
    
• In two games against the Jaguars last season, TE Dallas Clark caught just 3 passes for 18 yards
  
• Manning has six of the top twenty fantasy seasons over the past ten years

Tennessee Titans @ Miami Dolphins

Smith's Predicted Score: Tennessee Titans 13 - Miami 27

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Titans offense vs. Dolphins defense: 202 yards gained vs. 131 yards against
  Dolphins offense vs. Titans defense: 215 yards gained vs. 269 yards against
• Rushing
  Titans offense vs. Dolphins defense: 71 yards gained vs. 126 yards against
  Dolphins offense vs. Titans defense: 65 yards gained vs. 166 yards against

Tennessee Titans Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 0-2
  
• 2006 road record: 0-1
  
• 2006 road points for: 7
  
• 2006 road points against: 40
  
• 2005 road record: 1-7
  
• 2005 road points for: 118
  
• 2005 road points against: 224

Interesting Tidbits

• The Titans
  
  • Have now lost five games in a row
    
  • Have lost six straight road games
    
  • Have scored sixteen points or less in six of the last seven games
    
• Can QB Kerry Collins play any worse? A 40.4% completion rate, 4.9 YPA with 0 touchdowns and 4 interceptions
  
• The Titans leading rusher, RB Chris Brown has just 73 rushing yards on 22 carries
  
• It has been 18 games now since Brown has enjoyed a 100-yard effort
  
• The only bright spot for the Titans is WR Drew Bennett who has 11 receptions for 151 yards and a touchdown

Miami Dolphins Inside The Numbers

• 2006 record: 0-2
  
• 2006 home record: 0-1
  
• 2006 home points for: 6
  
• 2006 home points against: 16
  
• 2005 home record: 5-3
  
• 2005 home points for: 179
  
• 2005 home points against: 157

Interesting Tidbits

• The Dolphins have started 0-2 six times and finished with at least 10 losses in all six seasons
  
• Good news or bad news: The Dolphins are 22nd in points surrendered but 6th in yards given up
  
• The TE position hasn't been used very much through 2 games. TE Randy McMichael has just 4 receptions
  
• RB Ronnie Brown
  
  • Is averaging just 3.3 YPC on the season
    
  • Has 100 rushing yards
    
  • Has caught 9 passes for 84 yards
    
• WR Wes Welker is tied for the team lead in receptions with 9 and is only six yards off the team lead (Chambers, 114 / Welker, 108)
  
• QB Daunte Culpepper
  
  • Has thrown just 1 touchdown against 3 interception
    
  • Is averaging 256 passing yards per game but has struggled in both games
    
  • Has only rushed for 15 yards on the season
    
  • Culpepper's upside… He has the best single-season fantasy output at the quarterback position over the last ten years (434 FP in 2004)
    
• WR Chris Chambers is on pace to finish with just 912 receiving yards

New York Giants @ Seattle Seahawks

Smith's Predicted Score: Giants 28 - Seahawks 27

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Giants offense vs. Seahawks defense: 283 yards gained vs. 202 yards against
  Seahawks offense vs. Giants defense: 184 yards gained vs. 308 yards against
• Rushing
  Giants offense vs. Seahawks defense: 136 yards gained vs. 52 yards against
  Seahawks offense vs. Giants defense: 119 yards gained vs. 81 yards against

New York Giants Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 1-1
  
• 2006 road record: 1-0
  
• 2006 road points for: 30
  
• 2006 road points against: 24
  
• 2005 road record: 4-4
  
• 2005 road points for: 184
  
• 2005 road points against: 180

Interesting Tidbits

• The Giants
  
  • Lost in Seattle 24-21 last season in a game they could have won. Jay Feely missed 3 field goals that day
    
• Last season in week 12, QB Eli Manning threw for 344 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the Seahawks
  
• In that game last season, RB Tiki Barber rushed for 151 yards but failed to score
  
• WR Plaxico Burress had 6 receptions for 109 yards in the Seahawks game last season
  
• WR Amani Toomer had 6 receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown against the Seahawks last year
  
• TE Jeremy Shockey had 10 receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown against the Seahawks last year
  
• Manning is on pace to throw for more than 4,900 yards and 40 touchdowns
  
• Barber has thirteen straight 100-total yard games going back to week 6 of last season
  
• Burress is on pace to catch 80 passes for 1,552 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns
  
• Toomer has 9 touchdowns in the last ten games

Seattle Seahawks Inside The Numbers

• 2006 record: 2-0
  
• 2006 home record: 1-0
  
• 2006 home points for: 21
  
• 2006 home points against: 10
  
• 2005 home record: 8-0
  
• 2005 home points for: 237
  
• 2005 home points against: 103

Interesting Tidbits

• The Seahawks haven't lost at home since week thirteen of the 2004 season
  
• The Seahawks are 37- 16 over the last 53 games
  
• QB Matt Hasselbeck
  
  • Threw for 249 yards and a pair of touchdowns last season against the Giants
    
  • Has four straight seasons with at least 216 passing yards per game
    
• RB Shaun Alexander
  
  • Rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown against the Giants last season
    
  • Is on pace for 1,120 rushing yards but is averaging a miserable 3.1 YPC. Think the Hawks miss G Steve Hutchinson
    
  • Has only averaged 1 reception per game over the last 18 games
    
• WR Darrell Jackson
  
  • Is on pace for 80 receptions and 1,392 receiving yards
    
  • Has six 100-yard receiving games in his last thirteen games played
    
  • Has 5 receptions in seven of the last eight games

Philadelphia Eagles @ San Francisco 49ers

Smith's Predicted Score: Eagles 31 - 49ers 21

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Eagles offense vs. 49ers defense: 328 yards gained vs. 215 yards against
  49ers offense vs. Eagles defense: 260 yards gained vs. 245 yards against
• Rushing
  Eagles offense vs. 49ers defense: 119 yards gained vs. 101 yards against
  49ers offense vs. Eagles defense: 117 yards gained vs. 78 yards against

Philadelphia Eagles Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 1-1
  
• 2006 road record: 1-0
  
• 2006 road points for: 24
  
• 2006 road points against: 10
  
• 2005 road record: 2-6
  
• 2005 road points for: 143
  
• 2005 road points against: 214

Interesting Tidbits

• The Eagles
  
  • Are 1st in total yardage this season but only 8th in points scored
    
  • Are 2-5 on the road over the last seven games
    
• QB Donovan McNabb
  
  • Threw for 342 yards and 5 touchdowns against the 49ers in week two last season in an Eagles romp
    
  • Has the 4th best single-game performance at the QB spot over the past six years thanks to his 464 yard / 5 touchdown game vs. the Packers in 2004
    
  • Has thirteen 30+ FP games over the last six seasons
    
  • Has forty-seven 20+ FP games over that same span
    
  • Has twenty-two games in which he has accounted for 3 touchdowns (passing, rushing or a combination of the two)
    
• RB Brian Westbrook
  
  • Had 120 total yards and 1 touchdown in that game last season
    
  • Has had just six 20+ FP games over the past three seasons
    
  • Has seventeen games with 5+ receptions
    
  • Has six multiple-touchdown games
    
  • Has two 100-yard rushing games and two 100-yard receiving games
    
  • Has twenty games with 100+ total yards
    
• TE L.J. Smith caught 9 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown against the 49ers last year

San Francisco 49ers Inside The Numbers

• 2006 record: 1-1
  
• 2006 home record: 1-0
  
• 2006 home points for: 20
  
• 2006 home points against: 13
  
• 2005 home record: 3-5
  
• 2005 home points for: 138
  
• 2005 home points against: 182

Interesting Tidbits

• The 49ers
  
  • Haven't started 2-1 since the 2002 season (finished 10-6 that year and reached the playoffs
    
  • Are on pace for 376 points scored this season. They finished with just 239 points last year
    
• What a difference one season can make…
  
  • Last season, Alex Smith averaged 97 passing yards per game last year and had 1 touchdown in 165 passing attempts
    
  • This season, Smith has averaged 261 passing yards per game and has 2 touchdowns in only 62 passing attempts
    
• RB Frank Gore is on pace for 1,712 rushing yards, 744 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns
  
• WR Antonio Smith is averaging 30.6 yards per reception on the year and is on pace for 1,960 receiving yards on the season

Monday Night Football - Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints

Smith's Predicted Score: Atlanta 30 - New Orleans 20

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Falcons offense vs. Saints defense: 105 yards gained vs. 212 yards against
  Saints offense vs. Falcons defense: 251 yards gained vs. 231 yards against
• Rushing
  Falcons offense vs. Saints defense: 279 yards gained vs. 74 yards against
  Saints offense vs. Falcons defense: 102 yards gained vs. 53 yards against

Atlanta Falcons Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 2-0
  
• 2006 road record: 1-0
  
• 2006 road points for: 20
  
• 2006 road points against: 6
  
• 2005 road record: 4-4
  
• 2005 road points for: 153
  
• 2005 road points against: 152

Interesting Tidbits

• The Falcons have surrendered just 9 points on the season while scoring 34 points
  
• In five games against the Saints, QB Michael Vick has
  
  • Two 200-yard passing games
    
  • Four 50+ yard rushing games (304 rushing yards in total)
    
  • Six passing touchdowns and six rushing touchdowns
    
  • Four 27+ FP games and no games with less than 14 FP
    
• In eight games against the Saints, RB Warrick Dunn has
  
  • Three 100-yard rushing games
    
  • Six 100-yards of total offense games
    
  • Five games with a touchdown scored
    
  • Five games with 15+ FP and only one game with less than 10 FP
    
• In eight games against the Saints, TE Alge Crumpler has
  
  • One 100-yard game and four 60+ yard games
    
  • 3 touchdowns
    
  • Two games with 14+ FP, four games with 8+ FP and four games with 6 or fewer FP
    
• WR Michael Jenkins caught just 5 passes for 57 yards against the Saints a year ago

New Orleans Saints Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 2-0
  
• 2006 home record: 0-0
  
• 2006 home points for: nil
  
• 2006 home points against: nil
  
• 2005 home record: 1-7
  
• 2005 home points for: 108
  
• 2005 home points against: 159

Interesting Tidbits

• The Saints
  
  • Haven't started 3-0 since the 2002 season
    
  • Are 3-3 against the Falcons over the past three seasons
    
• RB Reggie Bush has caught 15 passes on the season but is averaging just 3.4 yards per carry and has yet to score a touchdown
  
• In his last six games against the Atlanta Falcons, RB Deuce McAllister has
  
  • Five 100-yard rushing games
    
  • 131 carries for 675 rushing yards (5.2 YPC)
    
  • 7 touchdowns
    
  • 24 receptions
    
  • Two 35+ FP games
    
• In his twelve games against the Falcons, WR Joe Horn has
  
  • Five 100-yard receiving games
    
  • 5 touchdowns (no multiple-touchdown games)
    
  • Eight games with 5+ receptions
    
  • One 20+ FP game, six games with 11+ FP and six games with 8 or fewer FP

Data was compiled using many different sources including

Pro-Football reference
Footballguys.com Data Dominator
ESPN statistics page
Stats Inc.
My own statistical database and team tracker

If you have any useful comments, meaningful suggestions, kind words, biting insults or interesting tidbits you wish to share with myself, you can e-mail me at smith@footballguys.com and I'll do my best to respond back as soon as possible.

Thanks for reading folks. Hope to see you next week