NFL.com-Rivalry Weekend

[TK]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/6787181

Chiefs still perfect; hot rivalries in Week 9

AFC notes: NFL's kings of the road arrive home happy

NFC notes: Familiar foes square off in key division matchups

(Oct. 28, 2003) -- Perfect for the half.

That is the story of only one team in the NFL -- the Kansas City Chiefs -- as the league this week reaches the mid-point of its season after an eight-week span of tight games, memorable plays, surprising teams -- and a perfect half-season by the 8-0 Chiefs.

Kansas City is only the 11th team since 1970 to start 8-0. "It's an indescribable feeling," said Chiefs guard Eric Hicks, whose club enjoys a bye this week. "We've already won as many now as we won all of last season. Obviously, we'll keep pushing to win some more and keep our quest going."

"Keep our quest going." That is the chant of every NFL team as the cold, cruel weeks of winter approach. Last year after eight weeks, six teams were either .500 or below yet followed that motto to reach the playoffs -- 4-4 Cleveland, Indianapolis, the New York Giants, Oakland and Tennessee, and the 3-5 New York Jets. In fact, over the past 10 years, 26 teams have reached the playoffs after starting 4-4 or worse.

NFL factoid

DANTE HAULS IT: Chiefs WR-KR Dante Hall, with his 67-yard TD catch Oct. 26 to go with his 10 career TDs (three on receptions, seven on kick returns) has averaged 79.8 yards on his touchdowns -- the highest average of any player in NFL history (minimum 10).

So as games are getting closer (57 percent decided by eight points or fewer in the past four weeks compared to 38 percent in the first four) ... overtimes are on pace to break the record set last season (25) by one (with eight of 12 OTs this season being won by the road team) ... and Dante Hall doing his miraculous things (see NFL Factoid below), here are some of the big story lines for Week 9. Call it "Rivalry Weekend":

WASHINGTON REDSKINS (3-4) at DALLAS COWBOYS (5-2): 'Skins. 'Boys. 'Nuff said!

This one is a BIG rivalry. Think Staubach-Theismann ... Dorsett-Riggins ... "Too Tall"-Jacoby. The intensity only built over the past five years as the Cowboys won 10 in a row. On the final Sunday of the season last year, the Redskins finally prevailed 20-14. These two usually play each other tight. Since 2000, five of the six meetings have been decided by seven or fewer points.

New Dallas head coach Bill Parcells had a 10-6 record against Washington when he led another NFC East rival, the Giants, from 1983-90. Washington comes off a bye following a loss to Buffalo. The Cowboys had their five-game winning streak halted Oct. 26 when the Buccaneers shut them out 16-0, only the third blanking in Parcells' 16-year head-coaching career.

GREEN BAY PACKERS (3-4) at MINNESOTA VIKINGS (6-1) (Sunday night, ESPN, 8:30 PM ET): "At some point before I retire, I'd like to win another one in here."

That is Packers quarterback Brett Favre talking about his difficulty in winning at Minnesota's Metrodome. The three-time NFL MVP has lost in nine of the 11 times he has played in this cauldron, including last year (31-21) when he was intercepted three times, managed one first down to Minnesota's 10 in the first quarter, and went down 20-0 at the half.

The Vikings will try to capitalize upon the attribute that makes Favre such a feared quarterback -- his confidence to throw into tight situations. Minnesota is second in the NFL in interceptions (17), and its two safeties -- Corey Chavous and Brian Russell -- are each tied with Miami's Patrick Surtain for the league lead in pickoffs (6).

The Vikings -- coming off their first loss of the season - have another weapon in wide receiver Randy Moss, who leads the NFL in receiving yardage (791) and is tied with St. Louis' Torry Holt in TD catches with eight. Moss has gone over 100 yards in seven of 11 games he has played against Green Bay.

ST. LOUIS RAMS (5-2) at SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (3-5): A series of streaks. And the Niners want to break the current one.

These two NFC West rivals have had a quixotic relationship over the past two decades. The 49ers won an amazing 17 in a row against the Rams from 1990 through 1998. But with the advent of the "Greatest Show on Turf" in St. Louis in 1999, the Rams have become the streakers, winning eight of the past nine, including this Sept. 14 in OT (27-24).

On top of that, San Francisco's ninth-ranked pass defense will have to contend with one of the hottest receivers in the NFL right now -- Torry Holt. The Rams' 1999 first-round draft choice has averaged 134 yards in his past four games. "He's outrageous right now," St. Louis head coach Mike Martz said.

NEW YORK GIANTS (3-4) at NEW YORK JETS (2-5): Throw out the records when these two meet for, as Weeb Ewbank used to call it, New York City "Bragging Rights."

They play ever summer in the preseason, but have met only nine times in the regular season (Giants lead 5-4), the last a Giants victory in 1999. "It's like a college game," Jets head coach Herman Edwards said. "Half the city goes white and green, and half goes blue. They make a big rivalry thing out of this. It's a fun game."

It's been fun recently for the Giants when playing the AFC East. They have a 9-3 record in their past 12 against the division. They are fresh off handing the Minnesota Vikings their first loss of the year, and produced their highest offensive production of 2003 -- 450 total net yards. Quarterback Kerry Collins, with the second-most passing yards in the league (1,882), will face the NFL's top pass defense.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (6-1) at MIAMI DOLPHINS (5-2): Old AFC East rivals go at it again.

The two met twice a year since 1970, plus last year in the first season of realignment. Miami has won five of the past six meetings, including a 2000 wild-card game.

It was the game last season that will act as a scene-setter for Sunday. Call it the "Dash of the Dreadlocks" -- Edgerrin James vs. Ricky Williams. When the 1999 No. 4 (James) and No. 5 (Williams) overall draft choices faced each other for the first time as pros, it was a ball-pounding day. James rumbled 30 times for 138 yards, Williams 24 times for 132 yards.

"It's fun watching him," Williams says of James (but it could be just as well James talking about Williams). "He can run, can cut, can hit the seams, can stop on a dime."

Quarterbacks Peyton Manning of the Colts and Brian Griese of the Dolphins (if Jay Fiedler's knee injury prevents him from playing) will face two stingy defenses. The Dolphins have allowed the fewest points in the AFC (87), the Colts the third-fewest (126).

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (6-2) at DENVER BRONCOS (5-3) (Monday, ABC, 9 p.m. ET): They might as well be in the same division, they face each other so often.

The Broncos and Patriots will play for the ninth consecutive season. And although Halloween will be over, both sides will be prepared for a lot tricks Nov. 3. It's just the way their coaches -- New England's Bill Belichick and Denver's Mike Shanahan -- operate.

"They give you one thing one series, then they'll change it up and give you something totally different," Giants cornerback Ralph Brown said. He's talking about Belichick and the Patriots, but old offensive coordinator Shanahan also has been known to shuffle and confuse looks in games.

Both teams are tough on defense, but in different areas. The Pats rank fourth in the NFL against the rush, the Broncos fifth against the pass. New England has won the past four weeks, the Broncos lost to Baltimore last Sunday. But they are 16-5 following a loss since 2000.

[Jimmythehair]

Lets beat them cowboys!!! :cool:

:dallasuck :dallasuck :dallasuck

What more is their to say