By Jason Bryden
Assistant Sports Info Director
Tampa Bay (5-2) at Atlanta (5-2)
First place is on the line in the NFC South on Sunday as the Buccaneers travel north to take on the Falcons at the Georgia Dome.
Tampa Bay downed Arizona 38-35 in Week 8. The Buccaneers got 120 yards and two touchdown runs from running back LaGarrette Blount. Wide receiver Mike Williams had 105 yards receiving and a touchdown. Atlanta had a bye in Week 8, but won its Week 7 game over Cincinnati 39-32. Wide receiver Roddy White had 201 yards receiving and two touchdowns, while running back Michael Turner had 121 yards and two scores on the ground.
Tampa Bay leads the all-time series 18-15, but Atlanta has won the last three. The Buccaneers have won nine of 16 meetings with the Falcons since becoming NFC South rivals in 2002.
Miami (4-3) at Baltimore (5-2)
The Dolphins bring their perfect 4-0 road record to Charm City to take on the Ravens on Sunday in a key AFC interdivisional matchup.
Miami topped Cincinnati 22-14 as the Dolphins scored the final 16 points to rally from a 14-6 deficit. Kicker Dan Carpenter kicked five field goals in the road victory for Miami. Miami’s lone touchdown came on a one-yard run by running back Ricky Williams.
Baltimore is currently in first in the AFC North holding the breaker on Pittsburgh. Miami has won five of the seven regular season meetings, but Baltimore has won both playoff meetings in the Wild Card round in 2001 and 2008.
San Diego (3-5) at Houston (4-3)
Did the Chargers begin their annual second half surge last week with their win over Tennessee or will the magic run out beginning on Sunday against the Texans?
San Diego downed Tennessee 33-25 on Sunday, rallying from a 19-7 second quarter deficit. The Chargers got 305 yards passing and two touchdowns from quarterback Philip Rivers. 123 of his 305 yards went to tight end Antonio Gates, who had one of two touchdown passes. Houston fell on Monday night in Indianapolis, 30-17. The Colts jumped out to a 24-3 lead on the Texans who never got within 10 points the rest of the night. Running back Arien Foster had 102 yards and a touchdown.
San Diego has won all three meetings between the two teams.
Kansas City (5-2) at Oakland (4-4)
A critical AFC West game takes place on Sunday as the Chiefs travel to play the Raiders. A win by the Chiefs gives them a two-and-a-half game lead on Oakland, while a Raiders victory reduces the Chiefs to a half game.
Kansas City downed visiting Buffalo in overtime by a 13-10 score. Kicker Ryan Succop hit a 35-yard field goal as time expired in the extra session. The Chiefs got 177 yards rushing from Jamaal Charles in the win. Oakland won its second straight game by blowout as they trounced Seattle 33-3 on Sunday. The Raiders outgained the Seahawks 545-162 in the win as they have won their last two games by a combined score of 92-17.
Kansas City holds a 54-46-2 overall series lead and 2-1 in the playoffs. The Chiefs have won the last seven in Oakland.
Indianapolis (5-2) at Philadelphia (4-3)
Two teams that combined for 17 playoff appearances in the previous decade meet on Sunday in Philadelphia.
The Colts topped the Texans, 30-17, on Monday in Indianapolis. The Colts got 268 yards passing and two touchdown passes from quarterback Peyton Manning. The Eagles had a bye in Week 8, but fell 37-19 in Week 7 at Tennessee as Philadelphia was outscored 27-3 in the fourth quarter. The Eagles hope to have wide receiver DeSean Jackson back in the fold after he missed Week 7 with a concussion. If quarterback Michael Vick is able to go, he will start on Sunday.
Indianapolis leads the all-time series 10-6, having won the previous four in the series.