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Week 6 Passing Matchups

by Mark Wimer and Joe Bryant, Exclusive to Footballguys.com

[ARI] [ATL] [BAL] [CAR] [CHI] [CIN] [CLE] [DAL] [DEN] [DET] [GB] [HOU] [IND] [JAX] [MIA] [MIN] [NE] [NO] [NYG] [NYJ] [OAK] [PHI] [SD] [SEA] [SF] [STL] [TB] [WAS]

PLEASE NOTE: This does NOT replace the Cheatsheet ranking. The Cheatsheet rankings are the final say on where we see a player for that week. The Matchup Breakdowns are simply one more tool in the box when it comes to helping choose your lineup.

Also note, just because a player has a "bad" matchup, it does NOT mean he's not a starter in your league. If Peyton Manning is playing the toughest pass defense in the league, that just means he's got a tough matchup that week. He's also your starter unless you're loaded at QB. In the same way, if the worst QB on your roster has a "great" matchup that week, it doesn't necessarily mean he's your starter. It means we think he'll fare better than normal that week.

Bottom line is that the cheatsheets are the final say.

Denver Broncos Passing Offense vs Jacksonville Jaguars Passing Defense (Great Matchup)

Jay Cutler's parade of fantasy top-5s halted last week, when he faced the solid Tampa Bay defense (23/34 for 227 yards, 1 TD and 0 interceptions) - Brandon Stokley snagged the TD (6/52/1), while Tony Scheffler grabbed the most yardage (4/65/0) - however, Scheffler strained his groin during the game and that makes him iffy this week. Eddie Royal sprained his right ankle and left the game (3/23/0), opening the door for Stokley's surge. Brandon Marshall was contained by the Bucs (3/25/0) as Cutler rejoined mere mortals at the QB position in week 5.

The Jaguars were blasted by an ailing Ben Roethlisberger last week - he exploded for 26/41 for 286 yards, 3 TDs and 1 interception despite a sore throwing arm (the Jags did sack him 3 times). Even with the big game in terms of sacks, the Jaguars are still sub-par in that department, with only 8 sacks to date (22nd in the NFL), while they average 237.2 passing yards allowed per game (26th in the NFL) and have handed over 9 pass TDs (2nd-most in the NFL (tie)).

This looks like an attractive matchup for Cutler and company.

Weather: Mile High Stadium expects a high of 47F with a low of 32F and a 20% chance of precipitation on Sunday - it'll be on the cool side in Denver this week. Hopefully, the sky will remain clear and the teams and fans will enjoy a crisp autumn afternoon. Weather shouldn't be a huge factor if the forecast holds up, folks.

The official NFL injury report with Probable, Questionable, Doubtful and Out designations will be available by Saturday. Please refer to the week 6 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

Jacksonville Jaguars Passing Offense at Denver Broncos Passing Defense (Great Matchup)

David Garrard battled the hard-nosed Steelers last week and couldn't quite pull out a "W", tossing 18/32 for 200 yards, 1 TD and 0 interceptions. Marcedes Lewis dropped a ton of balls last week (4 targets for 1/24/1) but made the one ball he did catch count - he needs to convert more passes, though, having 18 chances turn into only 7/87/1 so far this year (38.9 reception %). Garrard consistently targets Lewis, but gets little for his trust so far. Mike Walker was the big-play guy last week (6/107/0) while Matt Jones got mugged by Steeler DBs a lot and drew some significant penalties for the team (2/25/0), but Jones' quality play was little solace for his fantasy owners stuck with 25 yards.

The Broncos' pass D is even worse than their rush D, which is saying something not very nice about the pass D - they are currently 30th in the NFL averaging 254.4 net yards allowed per game, with 8 passing TDs given up (tied for 3rd-most in the NFL). Denver is one of 2 teams to allow over 1900 total yards in 5 contests. They have only 2 interceptions and 8 sacks so far - this is not a feared defense, friends.

Garrard and company had frustration last week vs. Pittsburgh, but they should bounce back big against the weak Broncos.

Minnesota Vikings Passing Offense vs Detroit Lions Passing Defense (Great Matchup)

The Detroit defense is putrescent, awful, horrid - pick a derogatory term and you still won't be able to express their ineptitude. Having played only 4 contests they none-the-less lead the league with 147 points allowed (tied with St. Louis). They are 30th in the NFL averaging 180 rushing yards allowed per game, with the 2nd-most rushing TDs given up (7). They are 29th in the NFL averaging 249 net passing yards per game, with the 3rd-most passing TDs given up (8). They are 30th in the league with a mere 4 sacks; they are dead last in the league with 0 interceptions. Kyle Orton and company rang up 24/34 for 328 net passing yards, 2 TDs and 0 interceptions vs. Detroit's pass D last week. Enough said.

Gus Frerotte carried the Vikings to victory when the Saints stymied the running backs - Frerotte ended up with 19/36 for 222 yards, 1 TD and 0 interceptions during the game. Chester Taylor also threw a TD (1/1 for 4 yards and a TD) - Minnesota got the job done last week. Bernard Berrian (6/110/1), Bobby Wade (8/64/0) and Visanthe Shiancoe (2/16/1) led the team in receiving - Berrian played through his sore knee with few problems.

Frerotte proved he could carry the team last week, and this week he's got home field advantage at his back and a league-worst (perhaps worst-of-the-decade) defense in front of him - advantage, Minnesota.

Weather: Inside the Hubert H. Humphry Metrodome, weather won't be a factor for either team on Sunday.

New England Patriots Passing Offense at San Diego Chargers Passing Defense (Great Matchup)

Matt Cassel found his #1 weapon often last week, hooking up with Randy Moss for a team-leading 5/111/1 - when the dust settled, the Patriots had a "W" and Cassel posted 22/32 for 259 yards, 1 TD and 2 interceptions - good things happen when you throw the ball to your best player. Wes Welker led the team in receptions with 8/73/0, while Jabar Gaffney chipped in 3/35/0 vs. San Francisco. It appears the rumors of the demise of the Patriots' passing game were dead wrong, although Cassel needs to limit the number of turnovers he gives to the other team.

The Chargers only managed to sack Chad Pennington once last week, while handing over 22/29 for 223 yards, 1 TD and 0 interceptions - even with the relatively modest totals by Miami, San Diego remains dead last in the NFL averaging 265.6 net yards allowed per game, with a league-worst 10 TDs given up so far. These guys are weak, folks.

Cassel, Welker and Moss have great prospects this week.

Weather: Qualcomm Stadium expects a high of 76F with a low of 57F and a 0% chance of rain on Sunday - just about ideal weather for tackle football is heading to Southern California this weekend.

New York Jets Passing Offense vs Cincinnati Bengals Passing Defense (Great Matchup)

Brett Favre made everyone go "Wow" in week 4. Even though the Jets maintained good rush/pass balance (26 rushes vs. Favre's 24/34 for 289 yards, 6 TDs and 1 interception), Favre simply found a lot of seams to exploit in the Cardinal's scheme. Laveranues Coles roared back into the fantasy stratosphere with 8/105/3 in the game; Jerricho Cotchery snagged 2 TDs (4/67/2), and youngster Dustin Keller caught his first pro TD pass from Favre (1/24/1). Favre quieted some critics with this game, folks. We'll see if he can keep the momentum going despite having a bye week in between this matchup and the big game.

The Bengals give up loads of points each week - 6 passing TDs so far this year - but not a lot of pass yards (mostly because their rush D is even worse than the secondary), and currently rank 6th in the NFL averaging 167.6 net pass yards given up per tilt. Tony Romo only needed 14 completions to notch 3 scores and 175 yards (1 interception) vs. Cincy last week - the Bengals are league-worst with only 3 sacks all year and have but 2 interceptions so far.

This is a great matchup for the streaking Jets - Cincinnati is already building for next season.

Weather: At the Meadowlands, the Jets and Bengals expect a high of 71F with a low of 57F and a 20% chance for rain. Weather shouldn't play a huge roll in this contest.

Washington Redskins Passing Offense vs St. Louis Rams Passing Defense (Great Matchup)

Jason Campbell has been consistently solid since week 1, tossing 82/126 for 921 yards, 5 TDs and 0 interceptions over the past 4 weeks. Last week, Santana Moss was a decoy (0 catches), but Campbell still managed 16/29 for 176 yards in the face of the intimidating Philly D. Chris Cooley finally got back in the end-zone, with 8/109/1 (the TD pass was thrown by Antwaan Randle-El - he also pitched in 3/34/0 receiving on the day). Campbell is in a groove entering week 6, folks.

The Saint Louis defense is so bad, writing out the facts regarding their season to date sounds like a (bad) comedy routine. "St. Louis' defense is so bad, they are tied for dead last in the NFL in total points allowed (with one game less played than most of the other teams) at 147 points given up. The Rams' defense is so bad, they rank 28th in the NFL in both rushing yards allowed per game (166, with 7 rushing TDs handed over in 4 games) and passing yards allowed per game (245.8 net yards allowed, with 8 pass TDs given up). The Rams' defense is so bad, they have only 1 interception all year long, with a mere 7 sacks to their credit as well." Buffalo posted 15/25 for 166 yards, 1 TD and 1 interception vs. St. Louis in the final game of the Scott Linehan era, which was by far the best defensive effort of the year for St. Louis. These guys just aren't very good.

Jason Campbell is playing very well indeed, while the Rams are in flux due to a coaching change (and they haven't played well vs. 3 of their last 4 opponents). Advantage, Washington.

Weather: FedEx Field should see a high around 72F on Sunday, with a low of 55F and a 20% chance of rain - nice weather is on tap for this contest.

Arizona Cardinals Passing Offense vs Dallas Cowboys Passing Defense (Good Matchup)

Kurt Warner bounced back from a horrid 6 turnover outing vs. the Jets to throw 33/42 for 250 yards, 2 TDs and 0 interceptions vs. Buffalo in the absence of his #1B receiver (Anquan Boldin is recovering from surgery to repair a fractured sinus incurred during the NYJ game). The Cardinals didn't allow a sack last week on the way to a 41-17 rout of Buffalo - Larry Fitzgerald led the team's receivers in scoring with 7/52/2, while Steve Breaston continues to impress while filling in for Boldin (7/77/0 receiving, led the team in receiving yards last week). Over the past 3 weeks, Fitzgerald has seen 37 targets for 22/283/3 while Breaston has chased down 16/199/0 on 21 looks from Kurt Warner - this team's passing attack goes through the WRs, mostly. That's a good thing as TE Leonard Pope is nursing a foot/ankle injury and hasn't been 100% this season - backup TE Ben Patrick suffered a nasty-looking knee injury last week. All the pain at TE means that Fitzgerald and Breaston figure to continue as Warner's favorite pass catchers until Boldin can get back in the game.

The Cowboys handed over 20/31 for 220 yards, 2 TDs and 0 interceptions to Jason Campbell two weeks ago and coughed up 23/39 for 208 yards, 2 TDs and 1 interception to Carson Palmer last week - they haven't been doing well in this phase of the game during 2008 (maybe S Roy Williams is more key than we realized? He's been out with a broken forearm for weeks). To date, the Cowboys are 17th in the NFL with an average of 210.2 pass yards allowed per game, with 6 passing TDs given up vs. 14 sacks generated (6th in the NFL) - Dallas has a mere 1 interception through 5 games, folks.

Warner is the #5 fantasy QB in the land entering week 6, and he should have a solid outing against the suspect Cowboys - especially if his pass protection can keep the defense's pass rushers at bay again this week (they are in the middle of the NFL with 12 sacks given up to date).

Weather: Inside University of Phoenix Stadium, under the retractable roof, weather shouldn't have an impact on the contest.

Chicago Bears Passing Offense at Atlanta Falcons Passing Defense (Good Matchup)

Over the last 3 weeks, Kyle Orton is the #2 fantasy QB in the land (total fantasy points), with 64/102 for 801 yards, 7 TDs and 4 interceptions to his credit. Last week, without his #1 WR Brandon Lloyd, Orton tossed 24/34 for 334 yards, 2 TDs and 0 interceptions vs. the hapless Lions - Rashied Davis led the team with 6/97/0; Greg Olsen snagged 3/87/1; Devin Hester (looking more and more like a legit WR each week) grabbed 5/66/1; and RB Matt Forte ran in a TD and caught one (4/25/1). Lloyd missed practice on Wednesday, which doesn't bode well for his chances to play on Sunday. Stay tuned.

The Bears' passing attack is one of the best in the NFL this year as of week 6 - and we kid you not.

The Falcons pass D generates a respectable amount of pressure (9 sacks and 5 interceptions through 5 games) while ranking 22nd in the NFL averaging 221.6 yards allowed per game. Unfortunately for Falcons' fans and owners of their D/ST, they also cough up a lot of TDs - 9 so far, tied for next-to-last in the NFL. Last week, the Packers carved Atlanta up for 25/37 for 304 yards, 3 TDs and 1 interception. Not too good, folks, though Atlanta did emerge with a slim victory.

Orton and company have good prospects this week even in the hostile Georgia Dome.

Weather: Inside the Georgia Dome, near-perfect conditions for football will be present on Sunday.

Cincinnati Bengals Passing Offense at New York Jets Passing Defense (Good Matchup)

Carson Palmer returned from a surprise deactivation 2 weeks ago to throw for 23/39 for 217 yards, 2 TDs and 1 interception vs. the Cowboys in a near-miss loss to Dallas. Usual favorite T.J. Houshmandzadeh once again led his team in receiving (7/85/2), while Antonio Chatman also snagged 7 balls for 55 yards; Chad Johnson appeared in a box score (and on the field) with 3/43/0. It appears that the Bengals' passing game is (finally) on the mend.

The Jets handed over a whopping 40/57 for 426 yards, 2 TDs and 3 interceptions to the mad-bombing Cardinals 2 weeks ago (with 5 sacks on Kurt Warner to boot) - not surprisingly, their 4-game average of passing yards allowed is among the league's worst after that game, set at 265 per tilt (with 7 pass TDs given up to date). The Jets' defense is not strong in this phase of the game, folks, but 400+ yard passing games are not a usual happening even for the Jets.

Palmer and the Bengals showed some signs of life last week - they have a good matchup to work with in the Meadowlands this week.

Weather: At the Meadowlands, the Jets and Bengals expect a high of 71F with a low of 57F and a 20% chance for rain. Weather shouldn't play a huge roll in this contest.

Dallas Cowboys Passing Offense at Arizona Cardinals Passing Defense (Good Matchup)

Tony Romo sputtered through much of the 2nd half vs. Cincinnati, but when the rubber hit the road in the 4th quarter and Cincy pulled to within a point, he responded with 2 TD throws to pull out a "W". At the end of the day, Romo had amassed 14/23 for 176 yards, 3 TDs and 1 interception - enough scoring to keep his spoiled fantasy owners happy after all. Through 5 games Romo is the 6th-ranked fantasy QB with 104/162 for 1368 yards, 11 TDs and 5 interceptions. Terrell Owens caught a TD last week (2/67/1), but Jason Witten was the main figure in the attack with 8/79/1 - Patrick Crayton lucked into the 3rd TD when a carom landed in his hands at the end of the game (1/15/1). Dallas won ugly, but they won and did OK for fantasy owners, too.

The Cards whacked Trent Edwards and J.P. Losman for 5 sacks last week (Edwards was concussed and literally knocked out of the game) - Arizona is tied for 3rd in the NFL with 15 sacks to date, and they have also generated 3 interceptions and 7 fumble recoveries on defense. However, the Cardinals are also handing over a lot of pass TDs (9 to date, tied for 2nd-most in the NFL) while averaging 204.2 pass yards given up per game (14th in the NFL). The Bills managed 203 yards, 1 TD and 1 interception last week, right on pace for this secondary.

Romo is one of the leagues' best, while the Cardinals are just so-so at pass defense, excelling in some areas but suspect in others. On balance, this looks like a good matchup for the visiting Cowboys.

Weather: Inside University of Phoenix Stadium, under the retractable roof, weather shouldn't have an impact on the contest.

Green Bay Packers Passing Offense at Seattle Seahawks Passing Defense (Good Matchup)

Aaron Rodgers gutted out a painful performance vs. Atlanta, throwing for 25/37 yielding 313 yards, 3 TDs and 1 interception despite his sore throwing arm shoulder. The early word this week is that the team expects him to play on Sunday, but that he'll probably miss a lot of practice again this week as he nurses his sore shoulder.

Greg Jennings has dominated the opposition over the last 3 weeks, with 30 targets for 18/311/3 to his credit, while supporting cast members Donald Driver (15 for 8/152/1) and TE Donald Lee (12 for 10/71/1) have also handled TD passes during that time span. Last week, Jennings grabbed 4/87/1; Driver caught 3/68/1; and Lee accounted for 4/25/1 - these 3 guys are the main targets in the passing game to date.

The Seahawks were obliterated by the Giants last week, allowing over 500 yards in total offense and 5 TDs (Eli Manning and David Carr threw for 20/26 for 269 yards, 3 TDs and 0 interceptions during the laugher). To date, the Seahawks have handed over 7 pass TDs and an average of 237 net yards per game - despite generating a healthy 11 sacks, so far, they have but 1 interception to boast of this year. Seattle enters this game on the downswing, as you can see.

Rodgers and the Packers' offense is in fine form despite Rodger's sore shoulder - meanwhile, the Seahawks' defense is in disarray. Advantage, Green Bay.

Weather: Qwest Field expects a rare, non-rainy day on Sunday, with a high of 60F with a low of 45F and only a 10% chance for rain. If the weather service is right, conditions shouldn't have an impact on this game.

New Orleans Saints Passing Offense vs Oakland Raiders Passing Defense (Good Matchup)

Drew Brees threw for 26/46 for 330 yards, 1 TD and 2 interceptions vs. the Vikings, extending his streak of 300+ yards-passing games to 3 (and he's done that 4 of 5 games during 2008) - the guy is an automatic fantasy start with 133/194 for 1673 yards, 9 TDs and 6 interceptions to date, currently 4th fantasy QB in points per game. Despite losing his top WR, Marques Colston, and TE, Jeremy Shockey, and his seeing his #2 WR David Patten limited by a sore groin, Brees continues to deliver high-quality performances week in and week out. Devery Henderson was "on" last week, with 4/102/1, while TE Billy Miller continued his solid play in relief of Shockey (4/61/0) - Lance Moore wasn't forgotten, either, with 5 catches, but only 31 yards were gained as the result of his reliable hands.

The Raiders' pass D runs in the middle of the NFL pack, averaging 212.8 net yards allowed per game (18th in the NFL), with 5 passing scores surrendered so far during 2008. They are in the middle of the NFL with 12 sacks and 5 interceptions so far, and managed to steal the ball twice from Philip Rivers in their last contest before the bye week (14/25 for 154 net yards, 1 TD and 2 interceptions was the final tally in that game). This unit is respectable but not elite.

Drew Brees is an elite QB, and he has home field advantage at his back this week - meanwhile, the solid Chargers want to impress their new coach and position themselves for next season. On balance, this matchup seems to favor New Orleans.

Weather: Inside the Louisiana Superdome, weather won't be a factor for either squad.

Oakland Raiders Passing Offense at New Orleans Saints Passing Defense (Good Matchup)

JaMarcus Russell is currently the 19th best fantasy QB in the land, with 54/99 for 668 yards, 4 TDs and 1 interception (8/15/1 rushing) so far during 2008. He has limited the errors that tend to plague young QBs, but there simply isn't much firepower at the WR position despite all the money spent on the spot during the offseason. Zach Miller (5/95/1 2 weeks ago) and Michael Bush (7/80/0) provided much of the yardage for Russell in week 4 - Javon Walker did manage to snag 2 balls for 34 yards receiving. Russell posted his highest passing total of the season before the bye week, with 22/37 for 277 yards, 1 TD and 1 interception vs. San Diego. He is trending upwards as the season progresses.

The Saints average 244.6 net passing yards allowed per game (27th in the NFL) and have handed over 7 passing TDs to date (with 11 sacks and 4 interceptions so far, both totals in the middle of the NFL pack). New Orleans has given up 130 total points so far, among the league's worst marks in that category. Last week, Gus Frerotte powered his team to 19/36 for 222 yards, 1 TD and 0 interceptions (Chester Taylor also threw a TD) - pass D is not a team strength for New Orleans.

Russell has a good matchup to work with this week - we'll see if he continues to progress with the new coaching regime at the helm.

Weather: Inside the Louisiana Superdome, weather won't be a factor for either squad.

Philadelphia Eagles Passing Offense at San Francisco 49ers Passing Defense (Good Matchup)

Donovan McNabb couldn't get much going vs. the Redskins, with a mere 17/29 for 196 yards, 0 TDs and 0 interceptions to his credit. He's thrown for 196 yards passing during 2 of the last 3 games, with 2 TDs and 2 interceptions to his credit in that span of time. In other words, the Eagles' offense has cooled off quite a bit entering the middle part of the season. Reggie Brown (4/84/0); Brian Westbrook (6/51/0) and L.J. Smith (3/26/0) led the team in receiving last week.

The 49ers handed over 22/32 for 233 net yards, 1 TD and 2 interceptions to Matt Cassel and the Patriots last week (San Fran had 5 sacks during the contest, to run their season total to 13 (7th in the NFL - tie)). They have generated 7 interceptions this year as well, on the way to a season average of 215.6 net passing yards allowed per game (19th in the NFL), with 6 passing TDs handed over to date. The 49ers field a so-so pass defense from week to week, as you can see.

McNabb has all-world skills, but lately he's been in a funk. Against the mediocre 49ers, McNabb has better-than-average prospects despite being on the road. Advantage, Philadelphia.

Weather: Walsh Field expects a high of 73F with a low of 50F on Sunday, and a 0% chance for rain - just about perfect football weather, in other words.

Seattle Seahawks Passing Offense vs Green Bay Packers Passing Defense (Good Matchup)

Matt Hasselbeck suffered a minor knee injury last week (coach Mike Holmgren says that Hasselbeck is fine and will play this week), and his play was as lame as his stride vs. New York (11/21 for 105 yards, 0 TDs and 1 interception). Bobby Engram returned to help out Hasselbeck (8/61/0), but Deion Branch could only muster 3/31/0 before bruising his heel (now he's out indefinitely due to the heel injury). Nobody else on the team caught more than one pass. The Seahawks' pass attack is on life support entering week 6, folks. Hasselbeck missed practice on Wednesday, and may not be able to do on Thursday due to his hyperextended right knee - but coach Holmgren will stick with Hasselbeck if at all possible: "If Matt didn't practice all week and could play on Sunday, I would welcome him with open arms," Holmgren said on Wednesday. "He has to play."

The Packers handed over 16/26 for 194 yards, 2 TDs and 1 interception to Matt Ryan and company last week - Green Bay has been stealing a lot of passes this year (9 to date) and has a decent number of sacks to their credit (9), but they have also coughed up 7 passing scores and average 201.8 net passing yards allowed per game. Ryan's effort last week was just slightly off that pace - the Packers' defense is pretty ordinary in this phase of the game, but ball security is of special concern when facing Charles Woodson and company.

Hasselbeck has a decent shot at rebounding when the Packers come to town, but he'll need to be disciplined with his throws or the Packers may be hanging a pick-six or two on Seattle's scoreboard.

Baltimore Ravens Passing Offense at Indianapolis Colts Passing Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Joe Flacco didn't lose the game vs. Tennessee all by himself, but he made some rookie errors that were very costly in a tight contest (18/27 for 153 yards, 0 TDs and 2 interceptions, despite not taking a single Tennessee sack). Derrick Mason suffered a left thumb/hand injury of some sort last week (5/38/0), while Todd Heap led the team in receiving (4/41/0) - nobody on this aerial squad is very exciting from a fantasy perspective, especially not last week.

The Colts' pass D looks good on paper (164.5 yards allowed per game, 4th in the NFL, with only 1 passing TD handed over) - however, their rush D is so pathetic that teams simply don't need to test the secondary much. When Sage Rosenfels did throw the ball last week, he did just fine (scrambling and carrying the ball was a different story), gaining 21/33 for 235 yards, 1 TD and 1 interception - the meltdown in the final 5 minutes of the game by Houston allowed the Colts to escape with a "W", but they didn't dominate Houston by any stretch of the imagination. Indianapolis' D is very suspect entering week 6.

Flacco is a green rookie; the Colts' defenders are suspect; but this has the look of an area of the game that won't see much action on Sunday as the Ravens figure to rush the ball extensively. We call it a neutral matchup but advise fantasy owners to look at other WR/TE options (you're in trouble if Flacco is under consideration as a starter for your fantasy club).

Weather: Inside Lucas Oil Stadium, weather won't be a factor for either team on Sunday.

Carolina Panthers Passing Offense at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Passing Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Jake Delhomme continues to hit his stride as the weeks go by - now, he's the 17th best fantasy QB in points per game (86/142 for 1096 yards, 5 TDs and 2 interceptions) - but Delhomme has thrown 4 of those scores in the last 2 weeks. The Panthers' offense is getting up to speed, folks. Steve Smith led the team in receiving last week (6/96/0), but Muhsin Muhammad (3/71/1) and DeAngelo Williams (1/25/1) caught the TDs. TE Jeff King pitched in with 2/17/0 but hasn't yet taken off in fantasy terms (11 targets for 8/72/0 so far this year). We'll see if Kings' numbers trend up now that Delhomme is playing better (he had 2 targets last week).

The Buccaneers allow a hefty amount of pass yards per game (218.6, 21st in the NFL) and have been giving in the TD department so far (8 allowed) - however, they are 2nd in the NFL with 8 interceptions to date and have generated a respectable 11 sacks so far. Tampa brings pressure to bear on opposing passers (Carolina is in the middle of the league with 9 sacks allowed to date). The Panthers had to play without either starting OT last week vs. the weak Chiefs - they hope they don't have to do that against the aggressive Bucs in this divisional showdown. Starting OT's Jordan Gross and Jeff Otah, along with C Ryan Kalil, did not practice Wednesday although coach Fox is hopeful that all 3 will be back for Sunday's game. Stay tuned.

Delhomme has stoked up the engine, but this week he'll have to fight through an aggressive pass defense in a hostile stadium - this looks like a fairly even matchup to us.

Weather: The forecast for Raymond James Stadium calls for a high of 85F with a low of 70F and a 30% chance of rain on Sunday - if tropical rain squalls blow through during the game, footing and ball handling could be more problematic than usual for both teams, and visibility could be an issue if the rain comes down in buckets.

Detroit Lions Passing Offense at Minnesota Vikings Passing Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Jon Kitna stunk up the joint last week before departing early due to back spasms (8/16 for 74 yards), but his backup Dan Orlovsky was even worse (13/23 for 97 yards, 0 TDs and 1 interception) - Orlovsky also twisted an ankle, the severity of the injury isn't known as of Tuesday. Roy Williams played his best game of the year with 7/96/0 while Calvin Johnson was held in check (2/16/0), but with no TDs to share around nobody on the Lions' unit was highly desirable. Kitna has been in a tailspin since the week 1 game vs. Atlanta. He was sent for a MRI on Wednesday after missing practice - there may be more wrong with his back than simple muscle spasms. Stay tuned to Footballguys.com's players in the news later this week if you are invested in the Lions' passing attack - there could be a new starter under center, depending on what the tests uncover.

The Vikings' pass D allows some yards (230 per game on average, 24th in the NFL), but have only given up 3 scores to date. Drew Brees lit them up for 26/46 for 320 net yards, but only 1 TD vs. 2 interceptions. The team has 4 interceptions and 8 sacks to date, towards the bottom of the NFL in those categories - on balance, the Minnesota pass defense isn't very good.

Two sub par units face off in this game, which makes it an ugly but even matchup from where we sit.

Weather: Inside the Hubert H. Humphry Metrodome, weather won't be a factor for either team on Sunday.

Houston Texans Passing Offense vs Miami Dolphins Passing Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Matt Schaub missed the game last week due to a viral infection, but is expected to be back in the saddle again this week. Sage Rosenfels lost the game for Houston last week in the final 5 minutes of the game and is going back to the bench in shame.

Schaub has been up-and-down so far this year, with 71/110 for 697 yards, 4 TDs and 5 interceptions, with 10/40/1 rushing - his last effort was solid (Schaub passed for 29/40 for 307 yards, 3 TDs and 0 interceptions vs. Jacksonville 2 weeks ago. As usual, Andre Johnson is his primary target (29 for 15/179/0 with Schaub under center weeks 1-4), though Kevin Walter has been catching Schaub's TD passes (22 for 15/132/3 so far).

Miami did a fine job defending vs Philip Rivers and company last week (13/28 for 142 net yards, 1 TD and 0 interceptions), and currently ranks 15th in the NFL averaging 206 net pass yards allowed per game, with 7 passing TDs allowed to date, with 11 sacks but only a single interception so far. On balance, this is an average unit but they played tough last week and look like a team on the rise.

The Texans' QB had a hot hand the last time he was under center, but the Dolphins aren't going to be push overs when they arrive in Houston - this looks like a neutral matchup to us.

Weather: Thanks to Hurricane Ike, the retractable roof at Reliant Stadium will stand open this season - on the field, temperatures should be around 85F at kickoff and there is a 20% chance for rain. Proper hydration will be key for both teams in the South Texas heat and humidity.

Miami Dolphins Passing Offense at Houston Texans Passing Defense (Neutral Matchup)

17/20 for 226 yards, 0 TDs and 0 interceptions 22/29 228 1 TD and 0 interceptions - Pennington has thrown 1 interception all year long, way back in week 1. The flip side of that coin, though, is that he's only thrown 1 TD since week 1 - he's making high percentage, low-risk throws and then leaning on the running game in the red zone, which leads to "W's" in the real NFL but isn't much help for his fantasy owners. Ted Ginn (14 targets for 12/105/0 over the last 3 weeks); Greg Camarillo (13 targets for 10/128/1 in that same time span) and TE Anthony Fasano (7 for 6/113/1) are the main cogs in the Miami passing attack entering the middle phase of the NFL season.

The Texans limited the Colts for 55 of 60 minutes last week, but ultimately handed over 25/34 for 235 net yards, 2 TDs and 1 interception to Peyton Manning and company. To date, they are 12th in the NFL averaging 194.5 net yards allowed per game, with 6 passing TDs surrendered (only 5 sacks and 2 interceptions so far, though). On balance, Houston fields a mediocre bunch of pass defenders.

Pennington is efficient but not spectacular, while the Texans' defenders are so-so - that sounds about even to us.

New York Giants Passing Offense at Cleveland Browns Passing Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Eli Manning didn't have his favorite receiver to lean on last week - but it wasn't a problem at all as Domenik Hixon stepped into fill Plaxico Burress' shoes without a hitch (4/102/1 - led the team in receiving). Amani Toomer snagged 4/64/0; Sinorice Moss had a coming-out party with 4/45/2; and Steve Smith chipped in with 2/27/0. The Giants may have the deepest WR corps - with high quality players on the bench - in the entire NFL, friends. At the end of the day, Manning (19/25 for 267 yards, 2 TDs and 0 interceptions) was watching David Carr get a small taste of success (1/1 for 5 yards, 1 TD and 0 interceptions) as the Giants continue their Carr reclamation project.

The Browns' pass D handled a young QB in his first NFL start 2 weeks ago - all pro defenses are assumed to trump a first-time starter - intercepting 3 passes and allowing only 1 TD, with 142 net yards given up. The easy opponent helped push the Browns up to 10th vs. opposing passers this year - they average 187 net passing yards allowed per game, with only 3 passing scores handed over so far. They have 7 sacks and 6 interceptions - not the best in the NFL, but not the worst, either. All in all, the Browns' pass D is respectable.

The Browns have a vocal 12th man at their back and a decent pass defense to put in the path of Eli Manning - this looks like a neutral matchup for the visiting Giants.

Weather: Cleveland Browns Stadium expects pleasant weather for the fans (if nothing else), with a high of 70F during the day leading up to the game and then a low around 58F during the contest on Monday night. There is a 20% chance for precipitation - it should be a nice night to play football.

San Diego Chargers Passing Offense vs New England Patriots Passing Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Philip Rivers suffered a power outage last week - Antonio Gates couldn't come up with the ball (1/12/0 - and his one reception shouldn't have counted as it was a bounce pass); Chris Chambers sprained his ankle and left the game early (he is likely to miss out on this contest); LaDainian Tomlinson wasn't explosive as a receiver (4/22/0 receiving). In the end, Rivers eked out 13/28 for 159 yards, 1 TD and 0 interceptions - the TD to Chambers (3/30/1) saved his fantasy owners from utter ruin, but it wasn't a great game last week. The Chargers have personnel woes aplenty entering week 6 - remember that if you are a Rivers owner.

The Patriots' pass D had mixed results vs. San Francisco last week, limiting J.T. O'Sullivan to 14/29 for 122 net yards, but giving up 3 TDs while also intercepting him 3 times and sacking him once. Miami managed 18/21 for 245 yards, 1 TD and 0 interceptions vs. New England in the contest prior - the Patriots are decent but not spectacular pass defenders, ranking 8th in the NFL averaging 175.3 net yards allowed per game (7 sacks, 5 interceptions), but with 6 passing TDs given up so far.

Two iffy units lock horns in this contest - that sounds about even to us.

Weather: Qualcomm Stadium expects a high of 76F with a low of 57F and a 0% chance of rain on Sunday - just about ideal weather for tackle football is heading to Southern California this weekend.

San Francisco 49ers Passing Offense vs Philadelphia Eagles Passing Defense (Neutral Matchup)

J.T. O'Sullivan was a schizophrenic QB last week, with a modest 14/29 for 130 yards passing, but also 3 TDs to his credit. To make matters worse, he also tossed 3 interceptions while taking only 1 New England sack. Isaac Bruce scored 2 of 3 TDs, with 3/49/2, while Frank Gore notched the other TD (4/24/1). As of today, O'Sullivan is a borderline fantasy starter, with 82/14 for 1092 pass yards, 7 TDs and 6 interceptions to his credit (12th fantasy QB in points per game).

The Eagles fly in the middle of the NFL flock, averaging 190.4 net passing yards allowed per game, with 7 passing TDs given up to date. They have generated 18 sacks (league-best), but only 4 interceptions so far. The Redskins' Jason Campbell threw for 16/29 for 176 yards, 0 TDs and 0 interceptions last week - the Redskins' team posted 17/30 for 185 net yards, 1 TD and 0 interceptions against Philly. The Eagles get in opposing offensive back fields, but they also give up big plays down the field when the blitz of the moment is picked up.

O'Sullivan has played pretty well through the first 1/4 of the season, while the Eagles are up and down. At home in Walsh Field, we think the home crowd will level the playing field for O'Sullivan despite last week's struggles - this is a neutral matchup from our perspective.

Weather: Walsh Field expects a high of 73F with a low of 50F on Sunday, and a 0% chance for rain - just about perfect football weather, in other words.

Atlanta Falcons Passing Offense vs Chicago Bears Passing Defense (Tough Matchup)

Matt Ryan looked great under pressure in Green Bay, firing 16/26 for 194 yards, 2 TDs and 1 interception for his first career road win. Roddy White remains "Mr. Everything" to the pass attack, grabbing 8/132/1 last week and 26/454/2 so far this season (10th best fantasy WR in the land - points per game). Backup TE Justin Peele accounted for the other TD last week, with 2/15/1, and #2 WR Michael Jenkins grabbed 3/38/0 - he's the junior partner in the starting WR tandem.

The Bears' pass D clobbered the Lions last week for 4 sacks and an interception (Chicago has 12 sacks and 6 interceptions so far this season, on the upper end of the NFL range in both categories). Detroit eked out 131 net yards passing - Chicago averages 223.4 allowed per game with 4 passing TDs handed over all said this year. Entering week 6, the Bears' pass D is playing pretty well, as you can see.

Ryan has looked mature beyond his years so far during 2008, but Chicago will test his abilities and maturity on Sunday.

Weather: Inside the Georgia Dome, near-perfect conditions for football will be present on Sunday.

Indianapolis Colts Passing Offense vs Baltimore Ravens Passing Defense (Tough Matchup)

Peyton Manning is a fantasy disappointment this season, with a mere 5 TDs offset by 5 interceptions - yes, he's still #11 in points per game at his position, but Manning was likely the 2nd or 3rd QB off the board in most drafts, which makes his so-so numbers bad for his fantasy clubs. So far, Manning has managed 96/154 for 1031 yards passing in 4 contests. Last week, Manning amassed 25/34 for 247 yards, 2 TDs and 1 interception vs. Houston, hooking up with Reggie Wayne (7/97/1) and Tom Santi (4/27/1) for the TDs, while Dallas Clark grabbed 5/81/0 and Marvin Harrison ended up with 4/32/0. Anthony Gonzalez was hurt in the game (unspecified injury) and may be a question mark this week depending on how he responds to treatment/whether or not he practices later in the week.

Enter the Ravens, who sport the league's number 1 rush D (averaging 64 yards allowed per game, with 0 TDs given up to date) and the league's number 1 pass D (128.5 net yards allowed per game, with only 3 passing TDs given up). The Ravens are tied with Tennessee at a mere 56 points given up over 5 contests, the least for any team that has played 5 games. Last week, Kerry Collins scraped up 17/32 for 163 yards, 1 TD and 2 interceptions vs. Baltimore (they have 7 interceptions and 10 sacks to date, on the high end of the NFL range in both categories although not league-best).

This is a tough matchup for the slow-starting Colts.

Weather: Inside Lucas Oil Stadium, weather won't be a factor for either team on Sunday.

St. Louis Rams Passing Offense at Washington Redskins Passing Defense (Tough Matchup)

Marc Bulger is back in the saddle after the one-week Trent Green experience (17/32 for 236 yards, 0 TDs and 1 interception) - we'll see if departed coach Scott Linehan's attempt to motivate Bulger paid off this week. To date, Bulger and company have taken 13 sacks (tied for 8th-most in the NFL), and Bulger has managed just 52/89 for 519 yards passing, 2 TDs and 2 interceptions over 3 games of action. Steven Jackson (19 targets for 15/133/0); Torry Holt (17 targets for 11/122/1) and the now-sidelined Randy McMichael (out for the season with a broken leg - he had 14 targets for 9/113/0 receiving from Bulger before exiting the stage) were Bulger's favorite targets before his benching.

The Redskins' pass D is 20th in the NFL averaging 217.6 net passing yards allowed per game, with 6 pass TDs given up to date. They claim only 6 sacks so far but have generated 5 interceptions in the early going - last week, Washington gave up 17/29 for 196 yards, 0 TDs and 0 interceptions to Donovan McNabb and company. Washington is decidedly mediocre when it comes to defensing opposing QBs. They don't shut teams down like the Ravens, but they aren't pushovers like, well, the Rams.

Mediocre defense is good enough to harass the inept Rams - this is a tough matchup for the visitors.

Weather: FedEx Field should see a high around 72F on Sunday, with a low of 55F and a 20% chance of rain - nice weather is on tap for this contest.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Passing Offense vs Carolina Panthers Passing Defense (Tough Matchup)

"It felt good to have the old me back again," Garcia said after throwing for 13/17 for 93 yards, 1 TD and 1 interception vs Denver. "In terms of the movement and finding receivers and having receivers making plays and just stringing together a drive in a difficult environment, it was good." In Joey Galloway's continuing absence, Antonio Bryant (7/58/0) continues to lead the Bucs in receiving, while Ike Hilliard was entrusted with Garcia's TD pass (4/29/1).

Coach Gruden commented after the game that he first started to see signs of the old Garcia in practice a week ago. "I had to see with my own eyes," Gruden said. "I wanted to see him throw the ball on time, crisp. I wanted to see his movement again. Now I'm seeing more and more of that." With Brian Griese suffering from an injured throwing-arm elbow (he took a helmet to the elbow and couldn't grip the ball without serious pain after the injury), it looks like Garcia may be the QB under center vs. Carolina. Keep an eye on who practices with which squad later in the week. On Wednesday, Garcia took a majority of snaps with the first team, and coach Gruden commented: "Jeff is returning to health and that's a very good thing for us because Jeff is a very good quarterback. I think that he put forth a pretty good effort last week while he was in there."

The Panthers' pass D crushed the off-the-reservation Chiefs last week, holding K.C. to 15/31 for 92 net yards, 0 TDs and 2 interceptions (with 3 sacks). To date, the Panthers have 10 sacks but only 3 interceptions (they did well in that category last week, though). Their DBs are covering well, though, with an average of only 156 pass yards allowed per game (3rd in the NFL) and 4 pass TDs surrendered so far.

The Bucs have personnel issues at QB entering this game - whichever guy ends up calling the shots has a tough game ahead vs. the stout Carolina D.

Cleveland Browns Passing Offense vs New York Giants Passing Defense (Bad Matchup)

Derek Anderson finally managed to hit Braylon Edwards in the end zone (3/22/1 receiving for Edwards), but Anderson's tally was nothing to get excited about from a fantasy perspective (15/24 for 138 yards, 1 TD and 1 interception). Mr. Anderson has thrown twice as many interceptions as TDs to date (58/117 for 543 yards, 3 TDs and 6 interceptions) - he needs to take a blue pill and get back to last year's dream season. Kellen Winslow led the team with 5/54/0 receiving 2 weeks ago.

The Giants have given up the least number of points in the NFL to date (49), and rank #2 in the NFL vs. opposing passers, averaging 154 net yards allowed per game, with only 3 passing TDs handed over vs. 15 sacks (3rd in the NFL) and 2 interceptions generated to date. The Seahawks had their wings broken by the Giants last week - 14/27 for 113 yards, 0 TDs and 1 interception was the book on Matt Hasselbeck and company at the end of 60 minutes. The Giants' defense is scary good.

The Browns face a huge challenge this week despite having home field under their feet.

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