| Scouts Takes |
| THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2008 |
 | Bengals at Steelers
8:15 PM ET
The Steelers knocked off the Chargers in a defensive struggle last week, winning the time of possession battle and relying on their exceptional defense to remain atop the AFC North. After picking up their first win of the season in Week 9, the Bengals came off a bye to battle the Eagles to a tie on a cold, windy day in Cincinnati. It may not be a streak, exactly, but it's something. Pittsburgh had better not take its divisional rival lightly, because the Bengals are still playing hard.
• Complete advance scouting report 
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| SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2008 |
 | Texans at Browns
1:00 PM ET
Last week, Cleveland traveled to Buffalo for the Monday night game and held on in a tight rather poorly played game and is now working on a short week. Before that win, Cleveland blew a 14-point lead against Baltimore and a 13-point lead against the Broncos. Houston visited divisional rival Indianapolis, battled to the end and lost on a late interception. It is safe to say that neither of these teams are heading to the playoffs and their seasons have not gone as planned, but there is potential for offensive fireworks.
• Complete advance scouting report
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| SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2008 |
 | 49ers at Cowboys
1:00 PM ET
Both clubs are coming off much-needed victories. But the Cowboys are playing for their postseason lives, while the 49ers are playing for respect, coach Mike Singletary's job and something to build on in the future. The Cowboys are coming off an impressive road win against the Redskins. The 49ers were clearly overmatched against the Cardinals, but they gave them all they could handle. This should be a hard-hitting contest that will likely go down to the wire.
• Complete advance scouting report
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| SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2008 |
 | Buccaneers at Lions
1:00 PM ET
The Buccaneers are just one game behind division-leading Carolina and can't afford to look past the lowly Lions as they look forward to next week's game against division rival New Orleans. Detroit found new life this past Sunday as it fought the Panthers tooth and nail before losing late in the fourth quarter. QB Daunte Culpepper has given Detroit reason to hope that it may actually win a game this year.
• Complete advance scouting report
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| SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2008 |
 | Jets at Titans
1:00 PM ET
The Jets, coming off a huge win at New England last Thursday and leading the AFC East by a game, have an extra couple days to prepare for this matchup. Tennessee pretty much has the AFC South wrapped up and now looks to lock up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. This will pit a Titans offense that wants to run the ball effectively to set up the pass versus a Jets team that will throw the ball to set up the run.
• Complete advance scouting report
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| SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2008 |
 | Bills at Chiefs
1:00 PM ET
This week's matchup between two struggling teams may have huge consequences for both clubs. After a heart-breaking loss in Week 11, the Bills have their backs against the wall to try and get back into the wild card picture, while the Chiefs' coaching staff is fighting to retain their jobs. Both clubs have plenty of holes to fill on both sides of the ball, but have two young signal callers that appear to be going in different directions. Bills QB Trent Edwards has been less than impressive over the past few weeks, while third-team Chiefs QB Tyler Thigpen is making the most of his opportunity. Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards has his team playing hard and Bills head coach Dick Jauron will have his club well-prepared for this matchup, which should make for a hard fought battle.
• Complete advance scouting report
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| SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2008 |
 | Bears at Rams
1:00 PM ET
The Bears are coming off a disappointing loss to the Packers and are now tied with Minnesota and Green Bay for the division lead. After a two-game spark by naming Jim Haslett the head coach in St. Louis, the Rams have come back down to earth and have lost their last four games. Chicago will be playing with a sense of urgency, while the Rams will be playing with nothing to loose. St. Louis is apt to pull out all the stops and try to test Chicago's secondary inside the dome.
• Complete advance scouting report
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| SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2008 |
 | Patriots at Dolphins
1:00 PM ET
Both clubs are trying to keep pace with the Jets and vying for a possible wild-card spot. Miami is on a roll, having won four in a row, while the Patriots have lost two of their past three. The Dolphins are playing with great confidence and have been playing at a high level, while the Patriots have been a bit inconsistent on both sides of the ball.
• Complete advance scouting report
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| SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2008 |
 | Vikings at Jaguars
1:00 PM ET
This is a must-win game for the Jaguars, who pretty much have to run the table and get to 10-6, if they have any chance at making it back to the playoffs. It is not as big a game for the Vikings, but they are in a tight NFC North race. Jacksonville head coach Jack Del Rio is a former Vikings player, so this one will have a little more meaning for him. The Vikings' defensive line was controlled last week at the point of attack, and it remains to be seen if they will be able to bounce back versus the mediocre Jaguars offensive line.
• Complete advance scouting report
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| SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2008 |
 | Eagles at Ravens
1:00 PM ET
Ravens coach John Harbaugh takes on his mentor, Andy Reid, in what should be a tough, physical game. Can Baltimore QB Joe Flacco, facing a strong defense for the second consecutive week, handle the blitz package of Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jim Johnson? Will Eagles RB Brian Westbrook be the first player in 29 games to run for 100 yards on the Ravens? Expect Baltimore to pound the rock in order to take pressure off Flacco, while Philadelphia will come out passing to set up the run. And both teams will emphasize the kicking game in a matchup in which field position will be critical.
• Complete advance scouting report
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| SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2008 |
 | Raiders at Broncos
4:05 PM ET
Though injuries have forced the Broncos to juggle personnel and give opportunities to younger players, they have won their last two games on the road to remain atop the AFC West. The Raiders are coming off a narrow loss to the Dolphins and haven't won since Week 7. Can Oakland find a way to stop the bleeding and get retribution for an embarrassing loss to Denver in the season opener?
• Complete advance scouting report
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| SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2008 |
 | Panthers at Falcons
4:15 PM ET
The Falcons, who trail the Panthers by two games in the NFC South, need a win to stay in the thick of the playoff hunt. By picking off a division rival on the road, Carolina can take a big step toward its goal of winning the division. Both teams' coaches rely on similar formulas for success: run the ball, play good defense and capitalize on field position with solid special teams play. The Panthers have taken care of business against lesser competition in recent weeks, but the Falcons are a tough opponent (especially playing in the Georgia Dome) with plenty to lose.
• Complete advance scouting report
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| SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2008 |
 | Giants at Cardinals
4:15 PM ET
The Cardinals will find out exactly where they stand in the current NFL hierarchy when the Giants roll into Phoenix on Sunday. This game features two division leaders, the defending Super Bowl champions and a spurned quarterback who will get a chance at some payback against a former team. Big games are nothing new for New York, but Arizona hasn't been in this position in some time. The Cardinals are on the cusp of capturing their first division title since 1975, but the punishing Giants -- one of the hottest teams in the league -- stands in their way.
• Complete advance scouting report
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| SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2008 |
 | Redskins at Seahawks
4:15 PM ET
The Redskins enter this game still in the postseason hunt, while the Seahawks are trying to find a way to salvage their disappointing season. Is the Redskins' season unraveling after an impressive start to the season? Head coach Jim Zorn returns home to Seattle and must find a way to protect QB Jason Campbell, while relying on RB Clinton Portis. Defensively, the Seahawks must find a way to control the Redskins' running game, while trying to get consistent pressure with their four-man rush. Head coach Mike Holmgren will continue to rely on his West Coast passing attack to set up the run, while Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Blache must find a way to attack QB Matt Hasselbeck in the pocket and not allow any explosive, downfield game-changing plays on the back end.
• Complete advance scouting report
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| SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2008 |
 | Colts at Chargers
8:15 PM ET
Though the Colts have only a slim chance at a division title, both teams remain playoff contenders, and the Chargers still are in the thick of the awful NFC West race. Still, San Diego desperately needs a win Sunday, especially with the Broncos' having won two in a row and facing the Raiders this week. Though last week's win over Houston wasn't entirely convincing, Indianapolis appears to be turning its season around. This pair of 2007 powerhouses has taken a step back from last season, but both teams still have a chance to reach their original goal.
• Complete advance scouting report
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| MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2008 |
 | Packers at Saints
8:30 PM ET
These are two teams fighting for their playoff lives, so every game carries a lot of importance. Green Bay is in a three-way tie in the NFC North, which should go right down to the wire, but New Orleans is three games behind Carolina and this becomes a must-win game for them. Both teams have good offenses with quality playmakers, but New Orleans and QB Drew Brees is considerably more explosive than Packers QB Aaron Rodgers. The defenses are evenly matched and both are mediocre versus the run, but the real matchup to watch may be the tight press coverages of the Packers' defensive backs versus the Saints' multi-receiver sets. This has the look of a high-scoring game in front of an excited Saints home crowd that hasn't seen their team in person since Week 6.
• Complete advance scouting report
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