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| Rodgers praises Finley |
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| Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers expects a lot out of his tight end Jermichael Finley this season and that could happen in Week 1 when the Packers take on the Eagles. Rodgers told The Dallas Morning News, Finley is in the same category as Pro Bowlers Vernon Davis, Jason Witten and Antonio Gates. "He's that good. He's got all the tools. He's too big for the average corner to guard. He's too fast for a linebacker or safety. And he really details his routes. That's how he takes it to the next level," Rodgers said. "Jermichael has all the tools but the routes ... the routes can make him special. The proper depth on his routes, the sharpness of his cuts – those are some things he struggled with last year. If he dials all that in this season, he's going to be a huge weapon for us."
 
Green Bay Packers - Aaron Rodgers - Antonio Gates - Jermichael Finley - Jason Witten |
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| Stroughter to put up numbers? |
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| Buccaneers WR Sammie Stroughter caught six passes for 65 yards and a touchdown in the preseason. He will face the Browns in Week 1 in what could be a favorable matchup for Tampa Bay's passing offense. The Browns ranked 29th against the pass last season, allowing 244.7 yards per game and 22 touchdowns in 16 games.
Tampa Bay Buccaneer - Sammie Stroughter - Sports - Wide receiver - NFL |
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| Williams to make NFL debut |
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| Buccaneers WR Mike Williams will make his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland ranked 29th in the NFL against the pass last season, allowing 244.7 yards per game and 22 passing touchdowns in 16 games. Williams led all Bucs receivers in the preseason with seven catches and 157 yards.
Cleveland Browns - NFL - National Football League - Sports - Football |
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| Winslow in for good showing? |
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| The Cleveland Browns struggled mightily covering tight ends in 2010 and will open this season against Kellen Winslow. Browns coach Eric Mangini said how he will be covered will depend on matchups and formations, but he expects rookie safety T.J. Ward to have some responsibility. The Browns ranked 29th against the pass last season.
Cleveland Browns - Eric Mangini - Kellen Winslow - NFL - Sports |
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| Huggins to make early impact? |
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| Buccaneers RB Kareem Huggins is likely to see his first official NFL carry in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns. The Browns ranked 28th in the NFL against the run last season, allowing 144.6 yards per game. They allowed 15 rushing touchdowns in 16 games. Huggins led the team in rushing this preseason, carrying the ball 25 times for 134 yards. He appeared in three games last season, but did not have an offensive touch.
Cleveland Browns - NFL - National Football League - Sports - Football |
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| Caddy looking at good start? |
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| Buccaneers RB Cadillac Williams has never faced his Week 1 opponent, the Cleveland Browns. The Browns ranked 28th in the NFL against the run last season, allowing 144.6 yards per game. They allowed 15 rushing touchdowns in 16 games.
Cleveland Browns - NFL - National Football League - Sports - Football |
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| LaFell to make NFL debut |
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| Panthers rookie WR Brandon LaFell is set to kick off his NFL career in Week 1 against the N.Y. Giants on the road. The Giants allowed a a league-high 31 passing touchdowns a season ago. They ranked 15th overall against the pass, allowing an average of 214.1 yards per game. LaFell caught three passes for 46 yards in the preseason.
NFL - Brandon LaFell - Sports - National Football League - Wide receiver |
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| Jarrett with little history vs. NYG |
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| Panthers WR Dwayne Jarrett did not play last season when his team played the New York Giants, the team he'll face to open up the regular season in Week 1. Jarrett did face them in 2008, finishing with just one catch for 19 yards. He finished the preseason with six catches for 37 yards.
New York Giants - Carolina Panthers - Dwayne Jarrett - Sports - NFL |
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| King a poor option for Week 1 |
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| Panthers TE Jeff King will face the N.Y. Giants on the road in Week 1. He has faced the Giants three times in his career, totaling just two catches for 13 yards with one touchdown.
Jeff King - Touchdown - Tight end - New York Giants - NFL |
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| Moore has fond memories vs. NYG |
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| Panthers QB Matt Moore started the final five games of last season. One of those games came against the Giants on the road, the same scenario he will face to kick off the regular season in Week 1. In a Week 16 matchup against the Giants last season, Moore completed 15 of 20 passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions in a 41-9 drubbing of the Giants. That game was the final regular season game played by the Giants at the old Giants Stadium. This game will mark the first regular season game played by the Giants at the new Meadowlands Stadium.
New York Giants - Matt Moore - Carolina Panthers - Giants Stadium - Season |
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| Galloway out to prove something |
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| Redskins WR Joey Galloway is listed as a starter on the depth chart, but he hardly made any sort of impact this preseason, catching three passes for 29 yards. At age 38, he's out to prove something Week 1 against the Cowboys, his team from 2000 to 2003. “He’s a guy that we all know back in the day made a name for himself. In a given moment, he’ll do the same,” Redskins QB Donovan McNabb told CSNwashington.com.
Washington Redskins - Donovan McNabb - Dallas Cowboys - Joey Galloway - sport |
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| Philly D impresses Rodgers |
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| Heading into Week 1 Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers said he's been impressed with Philadelphia's defense. "They fly to the ball, they tackle," he said. "It's going to be important for us to hold on to the football. Early in the season, there's often mistakes you might not see later in the season." Rodgers is starting his third year at the helm of the Packers, and is coming off a season where he passed for 4,434 yards and 30 touchdowns. Both Greg Jennings and Donald Driver posted more than 1,000 yards receiving in 2009, and TE Jermichael Finley is expected to play a larger role in the offense. "Jermichael has all the tools but the routes ... the routes can make him special. The proper depth on his routes, the sharpness of his cuts – those are some things he struggled with last year. If he dials all that in this season, he's going to be a huge weapon for us," Rodgers told The Dallas Morning News.
Greg Jennings - Green Bay Packer - Donald Driver - Aaron Rodgers - Jermichael Finley |
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| Armstrong could factor Week 1 |
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| Redskins WR Anthony Armstrong has yet to catch a pass in a regular-season game, but based on his performance this preseason, he may be the closest thing the Redskins have to a No. 2 wide receiver. He emerged as a deep-ball threat in the second game of the preseason, connecting on a 45-yard strike with Donovan McNabb against the Ravens on Aug. 21 “I think we’ve come together well,” Armstrong told CSNwashington.com. “The coaches have pretty good confidence in us and if people want to doubt us, that’s fine.”
Washington Redskins - Donovan McNabb - Anthony Armstrong - NFL - sport |
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| Vilma upgraded to probable |
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| Despite being limited in practice all week, Saints LB Jonathan Vilma (groin) was listed as probable for Thursday's season opener against the Vikings. Vilma totaled five tackles, one interception, three pass defenses, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in the NFC Championship game against Minnesota last season.
Minnesota Vikings - Jonathan Vilma - NFC Championship Game - NFL - Minnesota |
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| Williams to make up for lost time? |
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| Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams was not active for last season's Week 16 game at the Giants due to an ankle injury. In that game, Jonathan Stewart rushed for a franchise record 209 yards. Williams, however, did manage four touchdowns and 108 yards on 24 carries against the Giants the previous season. Both games were also on the road.
Jonathan Stewart - DeAngelo Williams - New York Giants - NFL - Sports |
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| Colston probable for Week 1 |
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| Saints WR Marques Colston (kidney) is expected to start in Thursday's opener against the Vikings. Colston is listed as probable on the injury report after practicing in full all week. Colston, who posted his third 1,000-yard season in 2009, was held in check in the NFC title game last season against Minnesota, recording just two catches for 22 yards before hauling in seven catches for 83 yards in the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl - Minnesota Vikings - Marques Colston - sport - NFL |
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| Ivory out for Week 1 |
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| The Saints have ruled out RB Chris Ivory (knee) for Week 1 vs. Minnesota. Ivory sustained an MCL injury during the final preseason game vs. Tennessee and could miss up to three weeks.
Running back - New Orleans Saints - Knee - NFL - Sports |
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| Thomas likely just a return man |
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| Redskins WR Devin Thomas, who had just 25 catches for 325 yards in 2009 even though he spent much of the year as the team's No. 2 WR, will enter the 2010 season lower on the depth chart. He will likely return kicks Week 1 against the Cowboys, but his role on offense is less certain. "Going in, he's not slated to do as much because of the group we've got going," offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan said.
Washington Redskins - Dallas Cowboys - Kyle Shanahan - sport - NFL |
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| Vikes toy with idea of playing Griffin |
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| Vikings CB Cedric Griffin (knee) is listed as questionable on the injury report for Thursday's game at New Orleans. Coach Brad Childress says he is "toying" with the idea of having Griffin play even though he is less than eight months removed ACL surgery.
Minnesota Vikings - Cedric Griffin - Brad Childress - Anterior cruciate ligament - New Orleans |
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| Gerhart questionable for 1st game |
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| This is not how Vikings rookie RB Toby Gerhart envisioned his NFL career beginning. The former Stanford star is listed as questionable for Week 1 against the Saints because of a knee injury. Gerhart has been limited in practice all week. If Gerhart is unavailable on Thursday, then Albert Young is expected to pull primary backup duties to Adrian Peterson.
NFL - Toby Gerhart - Minnesota Vikings - Adrian L. Peterson - Sports |
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| F. Davis back to a backup role |
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| Redskins TE Fred Davis, who averaged 4.4 catches and 48.5 yards with six touchdowns in place of the injured Chris Cooley over the final 10 games last year, will go back to a reserve role Week 1 against the Cowboys. Davis caught four passes for 60 yards this preseason.
Chris Cooley - Fred Davis - Washington Redskins - Tight end - Dallas Cowboys |
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| Favre probable for rematch |
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| Vikings QB Brett Favre (ankle) is ready to go for his rematch with the Saints. The veteran quarterback, who is coming off offseason ankle surgery, is listed as probable for Week 1 against the Saints. Favre looks to avenge an NFC Championship game loss to New Orleans. He went 28 of 46 for 310 yards against New Orleans in the playoffs last season, but he threw one touchdown and two interceptions. However, in five regular-season games against New Orleans, Favre has completed 118 of 188 passes for 1,283 yards, 13 touchdowns and two interceptions.
New Orleans - New Orleans Saints - Minnesota Vikings - Brett Favre - sport |
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| Cooley looks to start 2010 right |
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| Redskins TE Chris Cooley, who missed the final nine games of 2009 with a broken ankle, looked good this preseason, catching six passes for 74 yards in three games, and opens the 2010 season against a familiar foe. In 10 games against the Cowboys, Cooley has five touchdown grabs, tied for the most against any foe, and 41 catches for 432 yards. Of course, he also has a new quarterback in Donovan McNabb, who is still learning the offense after missing time this preseason with an ankle injury.
Donovan McNabb - Washington Redskins - Dallas Cowboys - Chris Cooley - Ankle |
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| Moss likes facing the Cowboys |
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| Redskins WR Santana Moss hasn't gotten to work much with new QB Donovan McNabb, who was battling an ankle injury this preseason, but he still likes his team's chances of competing with the visiting Cowboys in Week 1. “I’m confident in the guys we’ve got," Santana told CSNwashington.com. "We’ve been working together since training camp first started and I’ve been seeing a lot of changes in the way we approach the game with how competitive our practices have been and the preseason games have been." Moss has more career receiving yards against the Cowboys than any other team, averaging 90.6 yards in 10 games.
Dallas Cowboys - Donovan McNabb - Washington Redskins - NFL - Sports |
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| Smith talks up WR Crabtree |
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| 49ers WR Michael Crabtree missed most of the preseason with a neck injury, but QB Alex Smith is confident he will be on top of his game heading into Week 1 against Seattle. "It's unfortunate that we've missed out on the preseason reps, but that's behind us," Smith said. "Moving forward, it's the real deal. These games count. And he's going to have to come out and be a part of this."
Alex Smith - San Francisco 49ers - Michael Crabtree - Wide receiver - NFL |
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| Stewart hoping for repeat vs. NYG |
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| Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart has good memories of his Week 1 opponent. He'll face the Giants to kick off the regular season, a team he rushed for a franchise-record 206 yards against in Week 16 last season. Stewart said this week that he was "on his last leg" in that game. He had surgery on his Achilles' after the season, but said he feels fine now. He was not listed on the official injury report by the team.
New York Giants - Carolina Panthers - Jonathan Stewart - Season - NFL |
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| Bush has 'real chance' to play |
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| Raiders RB Michael Bush (left thumb surgery) was limited in practice on Wednesday, but Tom Cable hasn't ruled him out for Sunday's game against the Titans. "I know there's a real chance (of him playing)," Cable said. "He did quite a bit today." Bush has no history playing against the Titans, but Tennessee was among the worst NFL defenses last season. That said, they still managed to finish in the top 10 against the run, allowing 106.9 yards per game on the ground. They gave up 14 touchdowns to running backs last season.
Michael Bush - Tom Cable - Oakland Raiders - Tennessee Titans - NFL |
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| Johnson to be on call in Week 1 |
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| Redskins RB Larry Johnson is nothing more than a backup at this stage of his career, but if 29-year-old starter Clinton Portis aggravates his ankle injury against the Cowboys in Week 1, the former Chiefs standout could make an impact. He's coming off a good preseason performance at the Jets on Aug. 27, when he ran nine times for 42 yards.
Larry Johnson - Clinton Portis - Washington Redskin - Running back - NFL |
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| Hasselbeck respects 49ers D |
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| Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck will face a familiar foe on Sunday. Seattle kicks off the 2010 season against NFC West rival San Francisco. Hasselbeck has faced San Francisco 14 times in his career, passing for 3,210 yards, 23 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He might be 10-4 in his career against San Francisco, but he is not taking the matchup lightly. "This is one of the better defenses we'll play," he said. "They're well designed, well coached, and they're very good against the run up front. They're big, strong, physical, and they play downhill. I think we voted (S Dashon) Goldson for the Pro Bowl last year, and the corners are really good. They play their scheme very well. It's really hard to exploit them. It's not easy to find a weakness."
San Francisco 49ers - Matt Hasselbeck - Seattle Seahawks - NFC West - Pro Bowl |
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| Portis faces tough test Sunday |
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| Redskins RB Clinton Portis, who has been dealing with a minor ankle injury, has been practicing this week and should be able to play Week 1 against the Cowboys -- a team that ranked fourth against the run last year, allowing 90.5 yards per game. Portis didn't get a chance to face the Cowboys during an injury-plagued 2009, but he hasn't had much success against them in his career, scoring just three touchdowns in nine games.
Dallas Cowboys - Washington Redskins - Clinton Portis - sport - Running back |
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| Matthews back at 100 percent |
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| Packers LB Clay Matthews, who missed most of the preseason with a hamstring injury, continues to look good in practice. "Demonstrated fresh legs out there," coach Mike McCarthy said. "I thought he looked very good, particularly in the third-down pressure periods, just bouncing around. So I think Clay is back 100 percent."
Green Bay Packer - Mike McCarthy - Clay Matthews - Linebacker - Sports |
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| Williams no longer brash WR |
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| Entitlement is a tricky topic for Seattle's Mike Williams. When he was young and brash, Williams felt a certain sense of it. He was, after all, taken with the 10th overall pick in the 2005 draft by the struggling Detroit Lions, expected to be the big play threat the Lions offense lacked after two standout seasons at Southern California. And now that he's 26, spent the past two seasons out of the NFL and has his college coach to thank for a chance to resurrect his career, Williams is fighting another perception of entitlement -- that the association with Pete Carroll is the only reason he's back in football. "A lot of people think this is because of my relationship with coach Carroll that the position was given to me, that was his old coach so of course it was going to work out this way," Williams said on Wednesday. "I just think the only thing I can take from it is how I've controlled my emotions, how I've handled the situation. Every day is a new day. Every day is an audition all over for me."
Detroit Lions - Mike Williams - Pete Carroll - Southern California - NFL |
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| Choice set to come off bench |
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| Third-string RB Tashard Choice and the Cowboys visit a Redskins team in Week 1 that ranked 29th against the run this preseason, allowing 131.2 yards per game, and 16th against the run last season, allowing 112.4 yards per game. But with Marion Barber and Felix Jones both healthy, Choice figures to see minimal touches on offense.
Felix Jones - Dallas Cowboys - Tashard Choice - Marion Barber III - NFL |
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| Mathews says he is not L.T. |
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| To Ryan Mathews, there's a distinction: he's following LaDainian Tomlinson, not trying to replace the great running back. After showing his speed and power in the limited context of exhibition games, Mathews gets to unleash it full-time when the San Diego Chargers begin pursuit of their fifth straight AFC West title Monday night at Kansas City. Mathews idolized Tomlinson to the point that he wore No. 21 while at Fresno State. On draft day, when the Chargers moved up 16 spots to take Mathews with the 12th pick overall, he suddenly found himself following in L.T.'s cleat marks. "I'm not L.T. I'm not in here to try to be L.T. or I'm not in here to try to replace him," Mathews said. "He's a legend. What he did here is forever going to stand in the record books. For me looking up to him, I'm in a wonderful position. It's a gift just being able to follow his footsteps and what he did, to be in the same position, same locker room, same teammates, where he just dominated."
San Diego Chargers - LaDainian Tomlinson - Ryan Mathews - AFC West - California State University Fresno |
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| Jones looks to break a long one |
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| Cowboys RB Felix Jones, known more for his big-play ability than his consistency, faces a team Week 1 at Washington that prevented him from breaking a long one last year. In two games against the Redskins in 2009, Jones ran 20 times for 109 yards, never gaining more than 15 yards on a carry. He's coming off a poor preseason in which he carried the ball nine times for 21 yards.
Washington Redskins - Dallas Cowboys - sport - NFL - Football |
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| Driver looks to score vs. Eagles |
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| Green Bay's all-time leading receiver, Donald Driver, could see a lot of targets in Week 1 against Philadelphia. In six career games versus the Eagles, Driver has 21 receptions for 267 yards and no touchdowns. The Eagles ranked 16th in pass defense last year as they allowed 216.4 yards per game. Driver caught 70 passes for 1,061 yards and six touchdowns in 2009.
Philadelphia Eagles - Donald Driver - Touchdown - Forward pass - Sports |
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| Tebow to debut in hometown |
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| Tim Tebow will begin his rookie season Sunday in his hometown of Jacksonville, Fla. --holding a clipboard. All those fans who have made No. 15 the NFL's best-selling jersey want to know just how far has the Denver Broncos' rookie quarterback has come under the tutelage of Josh McDaniels, the coach who rolled the dice six months ago and selected the Heisman-winning Florida star in the first round of the NFL draft. Despite the doubts -- about his delivery, his release, about how far his gritty running will get him in the NFL. Tune in Sunday to find out if McDaniels made the right call. Or at least, to see if that's when the answers will start to come. "It's nice to have support from people anywhere, so I'm thankful that they did want me," Tebow said. "But I'm happy to be here and be a Bronco."
Denver Broncos - NFL - Josh McDaniel - Tim Tebow - National Football League |
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| Patrick inks deal with Rams |
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| Former Oklahoma RB Allen Patrick, who's bounced around several NFL rosters the last three seasons, was signed to the Rams practice squad on Wednesday.
NFL - National Football League - Scout team - Sports - Football |
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| Matchup helps Barber's cause |
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| Cowboys RB Marion Barber, who enters another season as the starter even though he has Felix Jones breathing down his neck, should benefit from playing at Washington in Week 1. The Redskins are transitioning to a 3-4 defense under new defensive coordinator Jim Haslett and had a miserable time stopping the run this preseason, allowing 131.2 yards per game -- fourth-most in the NFL. They weren't much better last season, ranking 16th against the NFL with an average of 112.4 yards per game.
Washington Redskins - NFL - Jim Haslett - Dallas Cowboys - Felix Jones |
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| Matchup no help for D. Bryant |
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| Cowboys rookie WR Dez Bryant, who didn't play at all this preseason because of a high ankle sprain, has a good chance of playing some Week 1 at Washington, but he might struggle against a team that ranked ninth against the pass last season, averaging 207.2 yards per game, and fifth against the pass this preseason, averaging 175.8 yards per game.
Dallas Cowboys - Dez Bryant - Washington Redskins - High ankle sprain - Rookie |
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| Williams not promising at 'Skins |
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| Cowboys WR Roy E. Williams, who should be ready to go Week 1 at Washington despite battling a strained back and hip flexor at the end of the preseason, will be facing a team that has given him trouble over the years. He has averaged 2.5 catches for 27.3 yards against the Redskins during his career and had one catch for 4 yards in a game against them last year.
Washington Redskins - sport - NFL - Football - Dallas Cowboys |
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| Witten aims to reestablish self |
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| Cowboys TE Jason Witten, who has slipped down the Fantasy rankings after catching only two touchdown passes last year, is also trying to rebound from a preseason in which he caught five passes in four games. Fortunately, he faces a Redskins team that gave him one of his better performances last season. He caught six passes for 117 yards at Washington in Week 16.
Washington Redskins - Dallas Cowboys - NFL - Sports - Jason Witten |
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| Redskins no match for Miles |
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| Cowboys WR Miles Austin shouldn't have too much trouble handling the Redskins when the Cowboys visit Washington in Week 1. The big target had nine catches for 92 yards in the teams' second meeting last year, bouncing back from a four-catch, 47-yard performance in their first meeting. The Cowboys' first-team offense wasn't operating on full cylinders this preseason, scoring just one touchdown in five games, but their track record suggests those struggles shouldn't carry over into the regular season.
Dallas Cowboys - Washington Redskins - sport - NFL - Football |
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| Smith says he is ready to play |
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| Panthers WR Steve Smith, who missed most of the preseason with an arm injury, said he's ready to play in Week 1 against the Giants. "I’m traveling to New York and we’re on schedule, just as we’ve been saying all along, for Week 1," he said. Smith also has nothing but good things to say about new starting QB Matt Moore, who has a 6-2 record as a starter. "He's been very efficient and minimized mistakes when he's played," Smith said. "When you have all of those plusses and not that many negatives, it’s kind of hard not to give a nod to that guy."
Steve Smith - Matt Moore - Wide receiver - New York Giants - New York |
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| Eagles add three to practice team |
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| The Eagles signed three more players to the practice squad, thus reaching the limit of eight. Wednesday's signings included S Chip Vaughn, TE Garrett Mills and WR Jeremy Williams.
Philadelphia Eagles - Scout team - Sport - Wide receiver - NFL |
