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: 27 wins / 19 losses
Last week: 6 wins / 8 losses

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, Falcons
  
• RB Ronnie Brown, Dolphins
  
• RB Larry Johnson, Chiefs
  
• WR Torry Holt, Rams
  
• WR Marvin Harrison, Colts
  
• WR Chad Johnson, Bengals
  
• TE L.J. Smith, Eagles
  
• PK David Akers, Eagles
  
• DEF Dallas Cowboys Def

Tidbit of the week

Of the thirty-four running backs with 100 or more rushing yards this season…

• Fourteen have an YPC average of less than 4
  
• Twenty-four have at least 40 carries
  
• Twelve have scored multiple touchdowns
  
• Twenty-two have at least 1 touchdown
  
• Ten have 60 or more carries

Dallas Cowboys @ Tennessee Titans

Smith's Predicted Score: Cowboys 30 vs. Titans 17

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Cowboys offense vs. Titans defense: 232 yards gained vs. 222 yards against
  Titans offense vs. Cowboys defense: 220 yards gained vs. 191 yards against
• Rushing
  Cowboys offense vs. Titans defense: 113 yards gained vs. 164 yards against
  Titans offense vs. Cowboys defense: 68 yards gained vs. 86 yards against

Dallas Cowboys Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 1-1
  
• 2006 road record: 0-1
  
• 2006 road points for: 17
  
• 2006 road points against: 24
  
• 2005 road record: 4-4
  
• 2005 road points for: 147
  
• 2005 road points against: 179

Interesting Tidbits

• The Cowboys are 1-3 in the last four road games
  
• Head Coach Bill Parcells is just 26-24 so far with the Dallas Cowboys
  
• RB Julius Jones
  
  • Has carried the ball 37 times in the first two games and has 70% of the team's carries to start the season
    
  • Has only one reception on the season but it went for 39 yards
    
  • Still has just one 100-yard game in his last fifteen starts
    
  • However he does have eleven games with 70+ yards in that same stretch of games
    
  • Has scored in two of his last four games but prior to that streak he went 8 games without a touchdown
    
• RB Marion Barber has just 11 carries through the first two games but did score a touchdown and is averaging 4.7 YPC
  
• WR Terry Glenn has 76 more receiving yards than WR Terrell Owens (175 to 99 on the season)
  
• Through two games, QB Drew Bledsoe
  
  • Has completed less than 50% of his passes (49.3%)
    
  • Has 3 touchdowns against 3 interceptions
    
  • Has a passer rating of 68.0 (only 27th best in the NFL this season)

Tennessee Titans Inside The Numbers

• 2006 record: 0-3
  
• 2006 home record: 0-1
  
• 2006 home points for: 16
  
• 2006 home points against: 23
  
• 2005 home record: 3-5
  
• 2005 home points for: 181
  
• 2005 home points against: 197

Interesting Tidbits

• The Titans
  
  • Have now lost six consecutive games going back to last season
    
  • Have scored 16 or fewer points in five straight games
    
  • Were 56-24 from 1999 to 2003. Since then they are only 9-26
    
• The Calls for QB Vince Young are growing louder every day. QB Kerry Collins has
  
  • Completed just 46.7% of his passes
    
  • Has a poor YPA of just 6.1
    
  • Has thrown just 1 touchdown against 6 interceptions
    
  • Has a brutal quarterback rating of just 42.3 which ranks 30th in the NFL
    
• However in limited action, QB Vince Young has fared no better
  
  • 10 of 23 passing (43.5%)
    
  • 5.8 YPA
    
  • 1 touchdown pass against 1 interception
    
  • 24 rushing yards on 5 attempts
    
• RB Travis Henry is leading the team in rushing but has just 82 yards with a horrid 2.7 YPC average
  
• TE Bo Scaife is emerging as a viable option in the offense and is leading the tight end position with 7 receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown
  
• WR Drew Bennett
  
  • Is on pace for 1,253 receiving yards which is tremendous considering how inept the Titans passing attack has been
    
  • Has at least 8.4 FP in each of his three games this season

Indianapolis Colts @ New York Jets

Smith's Predicted Score: Colts 28 vs. Jets 17

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Colts offense vs. Jets defense: 290 yards gained vs. 253 yards against
  Jets offense vs. Colts defense: 257 yards gained vs. 181 yards against
• Rushing
  Colts offense vs. Jets defense: 81 yards gained vs. 134 yards against
  Jets offense vs. Colts defense: 72 yards gained vs. 162 yards against

Indianapolis Colts Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 3-0
  
• 2006 road record: 1-0
  
• 2006 road points for: 26
  
• 2006 road points against: 21
  
• 2005 road record: 7-1
  
• 2005 road points for: 245
  
• 2005 road points against: 144

Interesting Tidbits

• The Colts
  
  • Have lost just 10 regular season games since the start of the 2003 season (41-10)
    
  • Have finished 1st or 2nd in points scored in three consecutive seasons and are currently sitting in 1st place with 90 points scored
    
• QB Peyton Manning has faced the New York Jets five times. In those games he has
  
  • At least 1 touchdown pass in each contest (7 TDs total)
    
  • At least 210 passing yards in all five games
    
  • Two 300-yard passing games
    
  • 15+ FP in all five games (highest was 24 FP)
    
• WR Marvin Harrison has faced the Jets four times. In those games he has
  
  • Scored in three of the four contests
    
  • Has had two 90+ yard games including a 127-yard receiving performance back in 2001
    
  • Has two 15+ FP games and just one under 8 FP
    
• In week thirteen of 2003 (last meeting between these teams), WR Reggie Wayne caught 9 passes for 141 yards but failed to score
  
• The Colts have lost just 10 regular season games since the start of the 2003 season (41-10)
  
• QB Peyton Manning
  
  • Is only completing 59% of his passes on the year (career completion % is 64%)
    
  • Is on pace to throw for 4,773 passing yards on the year
    
  • Had a rushing touchdown last week. It was his first since week eight of 2002 against the Redskins
    
  • Needs just one more touchdown pass to reach 250 in his career
    
  • Last week completed less than 50% of his passes against the Jaguars. That has happened just two other times in the last 120 games
    
• RB Dominic Rhodes has 2 rushing touchdowns on the season but is averaging just 2.6 YPC
  
• RB Joseph Addai is averaging 4.7 YPC on the season
  
• WR Marvin Harrison is averaging more than 100 receiving yard per game this season but still hasn't scored a touchdown
  
• In fact, the only wide receiver to score a touchdown through the first three games of the season is WR Brandon Stokley (who only has the one catch)
  
• WR Reggie Wayne is averaging 20.3 yards per catch on the season

New York Jets Inside The Numbers

• 2006 record: 2-1
  
• 2006 home record: 0-1
  
• 2006 home points for: 17
  
• 2006 home points against: 24
  
• 2005 home record: 4-4
  
• 2005 home points for: 173
  
• 2005 home points against: 164

Interesting Tidbits

• The Jets
  
  • Have scored 68 points in the first three games of the year, averaging just under 23 points per game
    
  • Last season the Jets averaged just 15 points per game
    
  • Three leading rushers have combined for 70 carries and 176 rushing yards on the season (just 2.5 YPC)
    
• In his only start against the Colts (back in 2003), QB Chad Pennington threw for 219 yards and a pair of touchdowns
  
• Pennington
  
  • Is the 4th best rated quarterback so far this season with a sizzling 103.4 quarterback rating
    
  • Is on pace to throw for more than 4,000 yards on the season
    
  • Has thrown 5 touchdowns against just 1 interception
    
  • Has never thrown for more than 3,120 passing yards in a season
    
• RB Kevan Barlow is leading the team in rushing with 108 yards but is averaging just 2.9 YPC on the season
  
• WR Laveranues Coles
  
  • Is on pace for 128 receptions this season
    
  • Is on pace for 1,765 receiving yards
    
  • Has at least 6 receptions and 78 receiving yards in all three games this season
    
  • Had 10 receptions last week. That marks the 4th time in his career he has had double-digit receptions in one game
    
• WR Jerricho Cotchery needs just 33 more yards to set a new career best for a season

Miami Dolphins @ Houston Texans

Smith's Predicted Score: Dolphins 21 vs. Texans 14

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Dolphins offense vs. Texans defense: 187 yards gained vs. 321 yards against
  Texans offense vs. Dolphins defense: 187 yards gained vs. 172 yards against
• Rushing
  Dolphins offense vs. Texans defense: 96 yards gained vs. 163 yards against
  Texans offense vs. Dolphins defense: 80 yards gained vs. 104 yards against

Miami Dolphins Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 1-2
  
• 2006 road record: 0-1
  
• 2006 road points for: 17
  
• 2006 road points against: 28
  
• 2005 road record: 4-4
  
• 2005 road points for: 139
  
• 2005 road points against: 160

Interesting Tidbits

• The Dolphins
  
  • Are averaging just 12 points per game on the season. Last year the Dolphins averaged 20 points per game
    
  • Are surrendering 18 points per game on the year
    
• In his only game against the Texans (in 2003), WR Chris Chambers caught 7 passes for 118 yards and a pair of touchdowns
  
• QB Daunte Culpepper
  
  • Has a passer rating of 73.1 on the season (that ranks him 23rd overall)
    
  • Has thrown 95 passes in the first three games and has completed a respectable 61% of those throws
    
  • Has just 1 touchdown pass on the season and just 7 in his last 311 passing attempts
    
  • Has just 20 rushing yards on 11 carries this season but has scored a touchdown
    
  • Has just one 300-yard passing game in the last twelve games
    
• RB Ronnie Brown
  
  • Has carried the ball 56 times on the season but has gained just 190 yards (3.4 YPC)
    
  • Has added 94 receiving yards in the first three games this year
    
  • Has scored in just one of his last six games
    
  • Has only two 100-yard rushing games in his career to this point
    
• WR Wes Welker is leading the team in receiving yards with 167 yards gained in the first three weeks
  
• The Dolphins have three receivers with 133+ receiving yards (Marty Booker, Chris Chambers and Welker)
  
• TE Randy McMichael has caught just 6 passes on the season for 59 yards and hasn't scored in eight straight games

Houston Texans Inside The Numbers

• 2006 record: 0-3
  
• 2006 home record: 0-2
  
• 2006 home points for: 25
  
• 2006 home points against: 55
  
• 2005 home record: 2-6
  
• 2005 home points for: 160
  
• 2005 home points against: 250

Interesting Tidbits

• The Texans
  
  • Have lost five straight games
    
  • Have given up a league worst 98 points so far this season
    
  • Have given up 20+ points in five straight games
    
• In his only game against the Dolphins, QB David Carr threw for 266 yards and a touchdown on 17 of 31 passing
  
• The #1 rated quarterback in the NFL through three games is David Carr with a sizzling 113.6 rating
  
• QB David Carr
  
  • Has completed 72.0% of his passes
    
  • Tossed 6 touchdowns against just 1 interception
    
  • Averaged 7.7 YPA
    
• WR Andre Johnson is averaging over 100 receiving yards per game on the season and has two 100-yard games in the first three weeks
  
• RB Ron Dayne is leading the team with 25 carries and 95 yards gained
  
• WR Eric Moulds
  
  • Has had a solid start to his Texans career. He is on pace for 821 receiving yards
    
  • Has scored just 11 touchdowns in his last forty-seven games

Minnesota Vikings @ Buffalo Bills

Smith's Predicted Score: Vikings 10 vs. Bills 14

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Vikings offense vs. Bills defense: 212 yards gained vs. 169 yards against
  Bills offense vs. Vikings defense: 171 yards gained vs. 200 yards against
• Rushing
  Vikings offense vs. Bills defense: 108 yards gained vs. 116 yards against
  Bills offense vs. Vikings defense: 124 yards gained vs. 87 yards against

Minnesota Vikings Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 2-1
  
• 2006 road record: 1-0
  
• 2006 road points for: 19
  
• 2006 road points against: 16
  
• 2005 road record: 3-5
  
• 2005 road points for: 122
  
• 2005 road points against: 217

Interesting Tidbits

• The Vikings three games this season have each been decided by three points
  
• The Vikings have lost three straight road games to AFC opponents
  
• QB Brad Johnson has been solid so far this season and has a good 81.8 rating but has just 1 touchdown pass in his three games
  
• RB Chester Taylor
  
  • Has 75 carries in the first three games and has 85.1% of the team's rushing yardage
    
  • Has 20+ carries in each of the first three games and at least 89 total yards in all three games
    
• Troy Williamson and Travis Taylor have emerged as the two go-to receivers. Between them they have 24 of the 29 receptions from the wide receiver spot

Buffalo Bills Inside The Numbers

• 2006 record: 1-2
  
• 2006 home record: 0-1
  
• 2006 home points for: 20
  
• 2006 home points against: 28
  
• 2005 home record: 4-4
  
• 2005 home points for: 132
  
• 2005 home points against: 141

Interesting Tidbits

• Last week against the Jets, the Bills had a 300-yard passing effort by QB J.P. Losman and a 150-yard rushing game from RB Willis McGahee and still lost. It was the first time in NFL history that a home team lost a game in which the quarterback had 300+ passing yards and a running back reached the 150-yard mark.
  
• The Bills
  
  • Have scored 53 points and surrendered 53 points on the season
    
  • Have lost four straight home games
    
• QB J.P. Losman
  
  • Has a solid 82.8 quarterback rating on the season
    
  • Has tossed two touchdowns against one interception
    
  • Had his first 300-yard passing game against the Jets last week
    
• RB Willis McGahee
  
  • Is averaging over 100 rushing yards per game on the season
    
  • Has a strong 4.4 YPC average
    
  • Has not scored a touchdown in five straight games
    
• The Bills have three receivers with more than 120 receiving yards on the season
  
  • WR Lee Evans has 12 receptions for 151 yards
    
  • WR Josh Reed has 11 receptions for 124 yards with a touchdown
    
  • WR Roscoe Parrish has 7 receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown
    
  • WR Peerless Price also has 86 receiving yards

Arizona Cardinals @ Atlanta Falcons

Smith's Predicted Score: Arizona 17 vs. Atlanta 23

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Cardinals offense vs. Falcons defense: 240 yards gained vs. 214 yards against
  Falcons offense vs. Cardinals defense: 107 yards gained vs. 261 yards against
• Rushing
  Cardinals offense vs. Falcons defense: 83 yards gained vs. 84 yards against
  Falcons offense vs. Cardinals defense: 225 yards gained vs. 105 yards against

Arizona Cardinals Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 1-2
  
• 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 scored 14 points or less in two of the three games this season
    
  • Are just 3-14 on the road since Dennis Green became the head coach
    
  • Have lost three straight games to the Falcons (last win was in 1997)
    
  • Have thrown 5 touchdown passes this season and have 2 rushing touchdowns
    
• QB Kurt Warner
  
  • Now has 4 interceptions and 2 fumbles over the past two games
    
  • Has completed 64% of his passes this season and is averaging 7.7 YPA
    
  • Has 230+ passing yards in nine of his last ten games (only game he didn't was against Houston in week fifteen when he started 10 for 10 with 115 passing yards when he was knocked out of the game)
    
  • Has thrown a touchdown pass in ten consecutive games
    
• RB Edgerrin James
  
  • Is averaging 23 carries per game on the season but has a poor 3.4 YPC average
    
  • Has 88.3% of his team's carries thus far in 2006
    
  • Has caught 11 passes but is averaging just 4.6 yards per catch
    
• Through three games, WR Larry Fitzgerald and WR Anquan Boldin are almost identical in their production
  
  • Fitzgerald has 19 receptions for 250 yards and 1 touchdown
    
  • Boldin has 20 receptions for 253 yards and 1 touchdown
    
  • Both have one 100-yard game

Atlanta Falcons Inside The Numbers

• 2006 record: 2-1
  
• 2006 home record: 1-0
  
• 2006 home points for: 14
  
• 2006 home points against: 3
  
• 2005 home record: 4-4
  
• 2005 home points for: 198
  
• 2005 home points against: 189

Interesting Tidbits

• The Falcons
  
  • Have failed to score more than 20 points in five of the last six games
    
  • Are just 3-4 in the last seven home games
    
• In his only game against the Cardinals during the 2004 campaign, QB Michael Vick completed just 10 of 20 passes for 115 yards with no touchdowns but did manage to rush for 68 yards
  
• QB Michael Vick has
  
  • Thirty games with 50+ rushing yards
    
  • Continues to complete only 50% of his passes
    
  • Is on pace to rush for a staggering 1,237 rushing yards on the season
    
• In his only game against the Cardinals (in 2004), RB Warrick Dunn rushed for 117 yards and had two receptions
  
• Warrick Dunn
  
  • Is averaging more than 100 rushing yards per game on the year
    
  • Hasn't scored a touchdown in ten games now
    
• Throughout his career, Dunn has been very consistent when it comes to fantasy production per game. Check this out
  
  • 2000: 13.1 FP/game
    
  • 2002: 12.3 FP/game
    
  • 2004: 12.1 FP/game
    
  • 2003: 11.9 FP/game
    
  • 2005: 11.7 FP/game
    
  • 1997: 11.6 FP/game
    
  • 2001: 10.5 FP/game
    
  • 1998: 9.3 FP/game
    
  • 1999: 8.8 FP/game
    
• The Falcons leading receiver only has 114 receiving yards (WR Michael Jenkins)

New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers

Smith's Predicted Score: Saints 17 vs. Panthers 27

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Saints offense vs. Panthers defense: 227 yards gained vs. 168 yards against
  Panthers offense vs. Saints defense: 188 yards gained vs. 178 yards against
• Rushing
  Saints offense vs. Panthers defense: 117 yards gained vs. 152 yards against
  Panthers offense vs. Saints defense: 91 yards gained vs. 88 yards against

New Orleans Saints Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 3-0
  
• 2006 road record: 2-0
  
• 2006 road points for: 53
  
• 2006 road points against: 41
  
• 2005 road record: 2-6
  
• 2005 road points for: 127
  
• 2005 road points against: 239

Interesting Tidbits

• The Saints haven't started 4-0 since 1993 when they went 5-0 only to stumble to an 8-8 record
  
• New HC Sean Payton has won his first three games. No other 1st year Saints head coach has ever done that (nobody else even won the first two games)
  
• In his twelve games against the Panthers, WR Joe Horn has
  
  • Three games with 100+ receiving yards
    
  • Eight games with 70+ receiving yards
    
  • Seven games where he scored at least one touchdown (9 touchdowns in total)
    
  • Three 20+ FP games and eight games with at least 10 FP
    
• In his last seven games against the Panthers, RB Deuce McAllister has
  
  • Four 100-yard rushing games
    
  • 5 touchdowns
    
  • Four games with 18+ FP and only one game with less than 13 FP
    
• The Saints leading receiver is rookie Marques Colston who has 204 receiving yards on the season
  
• RB Reggie Bush is off to a slow start. He is averaging only 3.6 yards per carry and 7.2 yards per reception. He does however have 20 receptions on the season
  
• The tight end position has just one catch on the season

Carolina Panthers Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 1-2
  
• 2006 home record: 0-1
  
• 2006 home points for: 6
  
• 2006 home points against: 20
  
• 2005 home record: 5-3
  
• 2005 home points for: 201
  
• 2005 home points against: 135

Interesting Tidbits

• The Panthers
  
  • Have lost three straight home games
    
  • Are surrendering 20 points per game on the season
    
• In six games against the Saints, QB Jake Delhomme has
  
  • Had one 300-yard passing game and three 200-yard passing games
    
  • Just 5 touchdown passes (four games) including one 2-touchdown effort
    
  • Three games with 18+ FP and two with less than 10 FP
    
• Last season in two games against the Saints, WR Steve Smith caught 14 passes for 223 yards and scored 3 touchdowns
  
• QB Jake Delhomme
  
  • Has thrown just 1 touchdown pass in 108 attempts on the season
    
  • Hasn't had a 300-yard passing game in twelve straight games
    
  • Has had two games with fewer than 10 FP so far this season
    
• RB DeShaun Foster has 48 carries and 9 receptions on the season but is averaging just 3.4 YPC and has yet to score a touchdown
  
• Foster now has just 4 rushing touchdowns on 425 career rushing attempts
  
• WR Keyshawn Johnson is leading the team with 16 receptions for 243 yards on the year
  
• WR Steve Smith now has ten 100-yard receiving games in his last seventeen starts

San Diego Chargers @ Baltimore Ravens

Smith's Predicted Score: Chargers 13 vs. Ravens 14

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Chargers offense vs. Ravens defense: 172 yards gained vs. 163 yards against
  Ravens offense vs. Chargers defense: 183 yards gained vs. 103 yards against
• Rushing
  Chargers offense vs. Ravens defense: 218 yards gained vs. 34 yards against
  Ravens offense vs. Chargers defense: 109 yards gained vs. 71 yards against

San Diego Chargers Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 2-0
  
• 2006 road record: 1-0
  
• 2006 road points for: 40
  
• 2006 road points against: 7
  
• 2005 road record: 5-3
  
• 2005 road points for: 189
  
• 2005 road points against: 151

Interesting Tidbits

• The Chargers
  
  • Have given up just 7 points on the season and are first in points allowed and yardage allowed
    
  • Haven't started 3-0 since the 2002 season (went 8-8 that year after winning their first four games)
    
  • Have never finished a season as the best team in points allowed since joining the NFL back in 1970
    
• QB Philip Rivers
  
  • Is the 2nd highest rated passer through two games with a rating of 107.4. He has gone up against the Titans and Raiders though
    
  • Is completing 71.7% of his passes on the season
    
  • Has a touchdown pass in each of his first two games
    
• RB LaDainian Tomlinson
  
  • Has never finished with less than 10 touchdowns in a season and is already ranked 19th all-time in rushing touchdowns
    
  • Has scored 3 touchdowns in two games this season
    
  • Had 105 rushing yards and 51 receiving yards with a touchdown in 2003 against the Ravens
    
  • Now has 28 career 100-yard rushing games
    
• TE Antonio Gates is leading the team with 81 receiving yards and a touchdown in the first two games
  
• WR Keenan McCardell hasn't had a 100-yard receiving game since week one of last season but has had eleven games of 50+ receiving yards

Baltimore Ravens Inside The Numbers

• 2006 record: 3-0
  
• 2006 home record: 1-0
  
• 2006 home points for: 28
  
• 2006 home points against: 6
  
• 2005 home record: 6-2
  
• 2005 home points for: 155
  
• 2005 home points against: 105

Interesting Tidbits

• The Ravens
  
  • Have scored 70 points and surrendered just 20 on the season
    
  • Have just five offensive touchdowns on the season
    
• TE Todd Heap has 15 receptions on the season but has gained just 99 yards. He already has two touchdowns on the season
  
• QB Steve McNair
  
  • Has a passer rating of 78.3 on the season
    
  • Has tossed one touchdown in each of the three games
    
  • Has rushed for only 12 yards on the season
    
  • Is averaging 196 passing yards per game
    
• Mark Clayton and Derrick Mason have caught 27 of the 29 completions to the receiver position
  
• Mr. Consistency in 2006? Through the first three games this season, RB Jamal Lewis has had
  
  • 18,19 and 21 carries
    
  • 70, 78 and 86 rushing yards
    
  • One touchdown

San Francisco 49ers @ Kansas City Chiefs

Smith's Predicted Score: 49ers 14 vs. Chiefs 20

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  49ers offense vs. Chiefs defense: 263 yards gained vs. 147 yards against
  Chiefs offense vs. 49ers defense: 154 yards gained vs. 232 yards against
• Rushing
  49ers offense vs. Chiefs defense: 119 yards gained vs. 131 yards against
  Chiefs offense vs. 49ers defense: 129 yards gained vs. 117 yards against

San Francisco 49ers Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 1-2
  
• 2006 road record: 0-1
  
• 2006 road points for: 27
  
• 2006 road points against: 34
  
• 2005 road record: 1-7
  
• 2005 road points for: 101
  
• 2005 road points against: 246

Interesting Tidbits

• The 49ers have scored 20+ points in each of their last five games
  
• The 49ers are 1-9 in the last ten road games
  
• Last season it took QB Alex Smith eight games to throw for 800+ yards. This season he did it in just three games
  
• QB Alex Smith
  
  • Has thrown for 233+ yards in each of the first three games
    
  • Has 1 touchdown pass in each of the first three games
    
  • Is on pace to throw 576 passes this season for 4,666 passing yards
    
  • Has yet to record a rushing touchdown in the NFL
    
  • Hasn't thrown an interception in 108 passing attempts this season. Last year he had 11 interceptions in 165 passing attempts
    
• RB Michael Robinson has scored two touchdowns on only ten touches on the year
  
• RB Frank Gore is averaging 20 carries, 89 rushing yards and 38 receiving yards per game. He has also scored 3 touchdowns
  
• The 49ers have four receivers with 100+ receiving yards
  
  • WR Antonio Bryant has 12 receptions for 281 yards and a touchdown
    
  • WR Arnaz Battle has 8 receptions for 123 yards
    
  • WR Bryan Gilmore has just 4 receptions but has amassed 108 yards
    
  • RB Frank Gore has 115 receiving yards
    
  • Honorable mention to TE Eric Johnson who has 89 yards and a touchdown

Kansas City Chiefs Inside The Numbers

• 2006 record: 0-2
  
• 2006 home record: 0-1
  
• 2006 home points for: 10
  
• 2006 home points against: 23
  
• 2005 home record: 7-1
  
• 2005 home points for: 227
  
• 2005 home points against: 141

Interesting Tidbits

• The Chiefs are 27th in yards gained per game (282.5 YPG) and 31st in points scored (only 8.0 per game)
  
• The Chiefs last lost three in a row in 2004. Prior to that season though the last time the club lost three in a row was way back in 1980 when Marv Levy was coach and Steve Fuller was quarterback
  
• QB Damon Huard is completing 67.4% of his passes on the season and has yet to throw an interception
  
• However Huard is averaging less than 10 yards per completion
  
• RB Larry Johnson has 194 rushing yards and 121 receiving yards but no touchdowns on the season
  
• Johnson has at least 148 total yards in each of the two games this season
  
• WR Eddie Kennison has just 3 receptions on the season
  
• TE Tony Gonzalez does have 12 receptions in his two games but has only 88 receiving yards
  
• Only Kennison and Johnson are averaging more than 10 yards per reception on the season

Detroit Lions @ St. Louis Rams

Smith's Predicted Score: Lions 17 vs. Rams 14

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Lions offense vs. Rams defense: 240 yards gained vs. 192 yards against
  Rams offense vs. Lions defense: 214 yards gained vs. 269 yards against
• Rushing
  Lions offense vs. Rams defense: 63 yards gained vs. 130 yards against
  Rams offense vs. Lions defense: 102 yards gained vs. 80 yards against

Detroit Lions Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 0-3
  
• 2006 road record: 0-1
  
• 2006 road points for: 10
  
• 2006 road points against: 34
  
• 2005 road record: 2-6
  
• 2005 road points for: 100
  
• 2005 road points against: 175

Interesting Tidbits

• The Detroit Lions
  
  • Are averaging only 12.3 points on the season
    
  • Haven't started 0-4 since the 2001 season (in which they went 2-14)
    
  • Haven't had a ten-win season since 1995
    
• QB Jon Kitna is putting up good numbers but the offense isn't scoring touchdowns. He has
  
  • Completed 64.5% of his passes
    
  • Has a strong 7.5 YPA
    
  • Has only 1 interception on the season
    
  • Is on pace for over 4,000 passing yards
    
  • Has just two passing touchdowns and 1 rushing touchdown
    
• RB Kevin Jones
  
  • Has 43 of the 46 running back carries this season
    
  • Had 80 rushing yards in week three against Green Bay after gaining only 79 yards in the first two weeks
    
  • Hasn't had more than 81 rushing yards since week one of 2005
    
  • Is tied for the team lead with 16 receptions
    
• WR Roy Williams
  
  • Is leading the team with 16 receptions for 245 yards on the season
    
  • Has had five 100-yard receiving games in the NFL
    
• Much hyped in the preseason, WR Corey Bradford has just 3 receptions for 36 yards on the year
  
• WR Mike Furrey on the other hand has caught 14 passes on the season

St. Louis Rams Inside The Numbers

• 2006 record: 2-1
  
• 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
  
  • Haven't had more than 20 points in a game in the last eight games played
    
  • Haven't started 3-1 since the 2001 season when they went 14-2 and lost to the Patriots in the Super Bowl
    
  • Are averaging just 15.7 points per game
    
• QB Marc Bulger has
  
  • Not thrown an interception in the past four games played (123 attempts)
    
  • Sixteen 300-yard passing games
    
  • Has at least one touchdown pass in twelve of the last thirteen weeks
    
• RB Steven Jackson has
  
  • Two 100-yard rushing games on the season
    
  • 100+ total yards in each game this year (385 total yards gained)
    
  • Just 1 touchdown in the past seven games
    
• WR Torry Holt has
  
  • Just two 100-yard receiving games in the last eight played
    
  • Not enjoyed a double-digit touchdown game since the 2004 campaign
    
  • Has averaged 7.2 receptions per game since the start of last season
    
  • Had less than 4 receptions just once in the last twenty-four games

Cleveland Browns @ Oakland Raiders

Smith's Predicted Score: Browns 13 vs. Raiders 20

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Browns offense vs. Raiders defense: 198 yards gained vs. 117 yards against
  Raiders offense vs. Browns defense: 83 yards gained vs. 248 yards against
• Rushing
  Browns offense vs. Raiders defense: 60 yards gained vs. 166 yards against
  Raiders offense vs. Browns defense: 63 yards gained vs. 134 yards against

Cleveland Browns Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 0-3
  
• 2006 road record: 0-1
  
• 2006 road points for: 17
  
• 2006 road points against: 34
  
• 2005 road record: 2-6
  
• 2005 road points for: 113
  
• 2005 road points against: 160

Interesting Tidbits

• The Browns
  
  • Are 2-7 in their last nine road games and were outscored 130 to 194
    
  • Are scoring just 15 points per game
    
  • Haven't started 0-4 since their inaugural season (1999)
    
• QB Charlie Frye has rushed for a touchdown in three straight games. That hasn't been done by a Browns quarterback since Otto Graham did it back in 1954
  
• Against the Raiders a year ago, RB Reuben Droughns carried the ball 18 times for 53 yards with no touchdowns
  
• Against the Raiders last season, Charlie Frye threw for 198 yards, completing 21 of 32 passes but had no touchdown passes against one interception
  
• QB Charlie Frye has had both a positive and a negative beginning. He has
  
  • Completed 61.3% of his passes
    
  • A solid 7.2 YPA
    
  • 3 rushing touchdowns through the first three weeks
    
  • 2 passing touchdowns
    
  • Has tossed 5 interceptions
    
• The Browns running backs have combined to rush for only 104 yards on 47 carries (2.2 YPC)
  
• WR Braylon Edwards is averaging 83 receiving yards per game
  
• TE Kellen Winslow Jr. is off to a hot start. He is on pace for 101 receptions and 1,051 receiving yards. He is still looking for his first 100-yard game

Oakland Raiders 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: 2-6
  
• 2005 home points for: 154
  
• 2005 home points against: 183

Interesting Tidbits

• The Raiders
  
  • Are only 2-7 in their last nine home games having been outscored 154 to 210
    
  • Are averaging a whopping 3 points per game on the year
    
  • Are averaging just 146 total yards per game
    
  • Have now lost eight games in a row
    
  • Have never finished worse than 27th in points scored in a season. They are currently 32nd
    
• Last season against the Browns, RB Lamont Jordan carried the ball 25 times for 132 yards and caught 5 passes. He failed to score however
  
• WR Randy Moss caught only 1 pass against the Browns last season but it was a 28-yard touchdown reception
  
• QB Andrew Walter, the savior? Not with these numbers…
  
  • 37.5% completion percentage
    
  • 5.9 YPA average
    
  • 0 passing touchdowns in 3 interceptions
    
• RB Lamont Jordan is averaging only 1.9 yards per carry on the season. At that rate he'll need 526 carries to reach the 1,000 yard mark
  
• WR Randy Moss has only six receptions for 79 yards on the season
  
• Moss has only one 100-yard receiving game in the last fourteen games played

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Washington Redskins

Smith's Predicted Score: Jaguars 13 vs. Redskins 10

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Jaguars offense vs. Redskins defense: 196 yards gained vs. 217 yards against
  Redskins offense vs. Jaguars defense: 192 yards gained vs. 190 yards against
• Rushing
  Jaguars offense vs. Redskins defense: 126 yards gained vs. 95 yards against
  Redskins offense vs. Jaguars defense: 143 yards gained vs. 59 yards against

Jacksonville Jaguars Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 2-1
  
• 2006 road record: 0-1
  
• 2006 road points for: 14
  
• 2006 road points against: 21
  
• 2005 road record: 6-2
  
• 2005 road points for: 186
  
• 2005 road points against: 150

Interesting Tidbits

• The Jaguars are 6-1 over the last seven road games that didn't involve the Indianapolis Colts
  
• The Jaguars are only averaging 15.7 points per game
  
• In two games against the Redskins, RB Fred Taylor has carried the ball 43 times for 206 yards, caught 11 passes and scored 1 touchdown
  
• Rookie RB Maurice Drew-Jones is averaging 6.8 yards per carry on the season
  
• Taylor has rushed for 74+ yards in each of the first three games
  
• WR Reggie Williams is leading the team with 16 receptions on the season
  
• QB Byron Leftwich is completing 64.4% of his passes on the year but only 9.3 yards per completion and 4 interceptions against 2 touchdowns

Washington Redskins Inside The Numbers

• 2006 record: 1-2
  
• 2006 home record: 0-1
  
• 2006 home points for: 16
  
• 2006 home points against: 19
  
• 2005 home record: 6-2
  
• 2005 home points for: 198
  
• 2005 home points against: 117

Interesting Tidbits

• Thank god for the Texans… The Redskins scored just 26 points in the first two games and then exploded for 31 points against the lowly Texans
  
• QB Mark Brunell has never faced his former team (the Jaguars)
  
• Brunell is completing 67% of his passes this season but has just 1 touchdown pass
  
• RB Ladell Betts has rushed for 186 yards on the season with a strong 5.3 YPC average
  
• RB Clinton Portis now has 9 touchdowns in his last seven games
  
• Portis has 100+ total yards in seven of his last eight games
  
• WR Santana Moss has just one 100-yard game in his last thirteen games but has had twelve straight 50+ yard games
  
• WR Brandon Lloyd has just 3 receptions for 26 yards on the season

New England Patriots @ Cincinnati Bengals

Smith's Predicted Score: Patriots 17 vs. Bengals 30

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Patriots offense vs. Bengals defense: 222 yards gained vs. 205 yards against
  Bengals offense vs. Patriots defense: 200 yards gained vs. 228 yards against
• Rushing
  Patriots offense vs. Bengals defense: 127 yards gained vs. 113 yards against
  Bengals offense vs. Patriots defense: 121 yards gained vs. 98 yards against

New England Patriots Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 2-1
  
• 2006 road record: 1-0
  
• 2006 road points for: 24
  
• 2006 road points against: 17
  
• 2005 road record: 5-3
  
• 2005 road points for: 196
  
• 2005 road points against: 173

Interesting Tidbits

• The Patriots are 6-3 over the past nine road games
  
• The Patriots are scoring just 16.7 points per game
  
• The Patriots are 6th in the NFL in yardage gained
  
• So, do wide receivers matter? Check out QB Tom Brady's numbers this year compared to years past
  
  • 2006: 53% completion percentage, 6.6 YPA
    
  • 2005: 63% completion percentage, 7.8 YPA
    
  • 2004: 61% completion percentage, 7.8 YPA
    
• In his only game against the Bengals, QB Tom Brady threw for 250 yards and a pair of touchdowns (in 2004)
  
• Brady is on pace to throw 571 passes this season. That would be his most since the 2002 campaign
  
• Rookie RB Laurence Maroney is tied with RB Corey Dillon with 169 rushing yards on the season
  
• TE Ben Watson is the leading receiver with 12 receptions for 155 yards
  
• The best wide receiver to this point is Troy Brown but he has just 10 receptions for 110 yards

Cincinnati Bengals Inside The Numbers

• 2006 record: 3-0
  
• 2006 home record: 1-0
  
• 2006 home points for: 34
  
• 2006 home points against: 17
  
• 2005 home record: 5-3
  
• 2005 home points for: 216
  
• 2005 home points against: 190

Interesting Tidbits

• The Bengals have a chance to start 4-0 for the 2nd year in a row
  
• The Bengals are averaging 28 points per game which is 4th best so far this season
  
• In their only game against the Patriots back in 2004…
  
  • QB Carson Palmer threw for 202 yards with a pair of touchdowns in that game
    
  • RB Rudi Johnson rushed for 89 yards on 24 carries, caught 2 passes for 35 yards but failed to score
    
  • WR Chad Johnson caught 5 passes for 80 yards and scored once
    
  • WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh caught 12 passes for 145 yards
    
• The Bengals leading receiver is Chris Henry with 177 receiving yards so far this season
  
• QB Carson Palmer is on pace to throw 32 touchdowns on the season. He has also thrown four interceptions this season however
  
• In Houshmandzadeh's first game of the season resulted in 94 yards and 2 touchdowns

Seattle Seahawks @ Chicago Bears

Smith's Predicted Score: Seahawks 13 vs. Bears 17

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Seahawks offense vs. Bears defense: 198 yards gained vs. 184 yards against
  Bears offense vs. Seahawks defense: 273 yards gained vs. 223 yards against
• Rushing
  Seahawks offense vs. Bears defense: 114 yards gained vs. 82 yards against
  Bears offense vs. Seahawks defense: 83 yards gained vs. 59 yards against

Seattle Seahawks Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 3-0
  
• 2006 road record: 1-0
  
• 2006 road points for: 9
  
• 2006 road points against: 6
  
• 2005 road record: 5-3
  
• 2005 road points for: 215
  
• 2005 road points against: 168

Interesting Tidbits

• The Seahawks haven't started
  
• RB Shaun Alexander has a cracked bone in his foot and is out for the next several weeks
  
• In their only game against the Bears (in 2003)…
  
  • RB Shaun Alexander rushed for 101 yards and scored twice
    
  • QB Matt Hasselbeck threw for 215 yards and a touchdown
    
  • WR Bobby Engram caught 6 passes for 73 yards and a touchdown
    
  • WR Darrell Jackson caught just 2 passes for 32 yards
    
• QB Matt Hasselbeck
  
  • Had his second 5-TD game of his career last week. His first was against the Ravens in 2003
    
  • Has had eleven games in which he threw 3+ touchdown passes in the NFL

Chicago Bears Inside The Numbers

• 2006 record: 3-0
  
• 2006 home record: 1-0
  
• 2006 home points for: 34
  
• 2006 home points against: 10
  
• 2005 home record: 7-1
  
• 2005 home points for: 148
  
• 2005 home points against: 61

Interesting Tidbits

• The Bears are 8-1 in their last nine home games, outscoring their opponents 182 to 71
  
• The Bears are 5th in scoring this season (79 points) and 3rd in points surrendered (23 points)
  
• The good news is that RB Thomas Jones has been consistent so far this season. The bad news is that he's been mediocre
  
  • Week One: 21 carries for 63 yards, 0 receiving yards
    
  • Week Two: 21 carries for 64 yards, 2 receiving yards
    
  • Week Three: 18 carries for 54 yards, 11 receiving yards
    
• WR Bernard Berrian has caught 11 passes for 159 yards over the past two weeks
  
• WR Muhsin Muhammad is on pace to finish with 1,488 receiving yards
  
• QB Rex Grossman is still on pace to throw for 4,421 yards on the season

Monday Night Football - Green Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles

Smith's Predicted Score: Packers 20 vs. Eagles 38

Matchup numbers

• Passing
  Packers offense vs. Eagles defense: 275 yards gained vs. 253 yards against
  Eagles offense vs. Packers defense: 307 yards gained vs. 301 yards against
• Rushing
  Packers offense vs. Eagles defense: 75 yards gained vs. 93 yards against
  Eagles offense vs. Packers defense: 129 yards gained vs. 87 yards against

Green Bay Packers Inside the Numbers

• 2006 record: 1-2
  
• 2006 road record: 1-0
  
• 2006 road points for: 31
  
• 2006 road points against: 24
  
• 2005 road record: 1-7
  
• 2005 road points for: 123
  
• 2005 road points against: 204

Interesting Tidbits

• The Packers have scored 58 points in the last two games
  
• QB Brett Favre has faced the Eagles four times in the past six seasons. In those games he has
  
  • No 200-yard passing games
    
  • Only 2 touchdowns against 8 interceptions
    
  • No more than 11 FP in any one game (11, 9, 7 and 5)
    
• In four games against the Eagles, WR Donald Driver has
  
  • Only caught 10 passes for 151 yards with no touchdowns
    
  • Has no more than 5 FP in any one game (5, 5, 3, 2)
    
• QB Brett Favre is off to a quick start. Through three games he has
  
  • Thrown for 850 passing yards
    
  • Tossed six touchdowns against three interceptions (including 6 touchdowns in the last two weeks)
    
  • Two 300+ yard passing games
    
• Favre has six touchdowns in the last two weeks. Prior to that he had just one touchdown pass in the previous six weeks
  
• Last week, RB Ahman Green had his first touchdown in his last nine games
  
• Green is averaging 72 rushing yards and 46 receiving yards on the season
  
• WR Donald Driver has just one touchdown in his last nine games
  
• However Driver does have three 100-yard receiving games in his last five starts
  
• Rookie WR Greg Jennings is leading the team with two touchdowns

Philadelphia Eagles Inside The Numbers

• 2006 record: 2-1
  
• 2006 home record: 0-1
  
• 2006 home points for: 24
  
• 2006 home points against: 30
  
• 2005 home record: 4-4
  
• 2005 home points for: 167
  
• 2005 home points against: 174

Interesting Tidbits

• The Eagles are the 2nd highest scoring team in the NFL so far this season (86 points scored)
  
• In his last game against the Packers (back in 2004), QB Donovan McNabb threw for 464 yards and 5 touchdowns. That was good for 43.2 FP
  
• RB Brian Westbrook has faced the Packers twice in the last three seasons. In both games he put up big numbers:
  
  • 2004: 37 rushing yards, 156 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns (37 FP)
    
  • 2005: 120 rushing yards, 11 receiving yards and 1 touchdowns (19 FP)
    
• QB Donovan McNabb
  
  • Is leading the NFL with 960 passing yards (on pace for 5,120 yards passing)
    
  • Has 7 touchdowns against just 1 interception
    
  • Has thrown for at least 296 yards and 2 passing touchdowns in each game this season
    
• RB Brian Westbrook
  
  • Has three straight games with 100+ total yards
    
  • Going back to 2004, Westbrook has averaging 60.2 rushing yards and 53.0 receiving yards per game
    
  • Has scored in each of the three games this season
    
• The Eagles have four receivers with 149+ receiving yards on the season
  
  • WR Donte Stallworth has 11 receptions for 222 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns (in just two games played)
    
  • TE L.J. Smith has 16 receptions for 186 receiving yards with a touchdown
    
  • RB Brian Westbrook has 15 receptions for 164 yards with two receiving touchdowns
    
  • WR Reggie Brown has 8 receptions for 149 yards with 2 touchdowns

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

Chris Smith, Footballguys.com