Wade Phillips a good ol' - and funny coach By Woody Paige Denver Post November 7, 2015

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1 Wade Phillips a good ol' - and funny coach By Woody Paige Denver Post November 7, 2015 In 2014, the nomad coach couldn't get a sniff of a job, or even an interview, in the NFL. In fact, a year ago last week, he barely could secure a ticket to see Dallas play at AT&T Stadium, where he was the head coach when the imposing edifice opened. He sat among the folks in fifth-deck section 404, had to be concerned his nose would bleed and watched on the mammoth TV scoreboard as his son coached the Washington tight ends. Harold Phillips was out of the game he loved and had spent all of his life around. He was 67, and nobody in football cared about hiring him. But he wanted back in. At 68, "Wade" (his middle name) Phillips is all in and deserves to be the NFL coach of the (first half) of the year by acclimation. Wade has produced the No. 1 defense in the NFL the defense that held Green Bay to 10 points and the great Aaron Rodgers to 77 yards passing, and the defense that primarily is responsible for the Broncos' immaculate record, which will ascend to 8-0 with a victory over the Colts. "We're playing pretty good," the self-effacing, unassuming coach of 45 seasons says. "I don't do a lot." I was having dinner with friends at Shanahan's when Wade suddenly materialized in a stylish checked shirt and a pair of dress pants, and said hello. I introduced him as the "S.O.B." "Son of Bum" (his Twitter handle). Yes, Wade likes to interact with fans and media. However, he rankled sensitive Packers loyalists by tweeting that he likes "chicken parm... especially with Cheese." Some stupid people don't get Wade's wry sense of humor and "aw-shucks," good-ol'-boy attitude reflective of his home state Texas. Thirty-two head coaches didn't get Wade in They thought he was too ancient and yesterday's defensive coordinator. He couldn't get a phone call. In early January, Washington did interview him but made no offer. Then, finally, after new Broncos coach Gary Kubiak sought another defensive coordinator, he turned to his former defensive coordinator at Houston. "I'm used to being second choice," Wade said. Is everyone obtuse? Wade has been a defensive coordinator for eight teams. All improved considerably in his first season. There was sound reasoning why he became the highest-paid NFL assistant. The unintelligencia didn't understand. Wade had trained under two of the premier defensive coaches in history his father and Buddy Ryan, architect of the Bears' defense in Perhaps they didn't comprehend that Wade has proven himself over and again since he was a defensive coordinator at

2 Luther Stark High School in West Orange, Texas. Maybe they looked at Wade as failed since, he says in that syrupy Texas accent, "I was a lousy head coach." Sorry, Wade. He won 56 percent of his games when assuming control, and every team he was head coach of made the playoffs. He was fired in Buffalo, Dallas and, yes, Denver because owners wanted a coach who had footballs flying out of his skull, and Wade was not a screamer or a dreamer. He is a sound, fundamental, hard-working, smart-scheming football man for whom players crave to play. Bum Phillips was Wade's idol. Wade played for his father, coached for his father, replaced his father as interim coach in New Orleans when Bum decided to step down. Bum died in 2013, just weeks before Wade took over as interim coach of the Houston Texans when Kubiak experienced a health problem, then was fired. ("Look at the teams I became interim coach," Wade says. The three were Wade was asked to go naked into a blast furnace.) Wade is a kid at 68, I told him. I was born the same month a year earlier. Wade certainly feels young again with this defensive bunch. "Best talent I've ever taken over." When Wade really was a kid, his father moved eight times as a high school and college coach. One day, Wade was called into the principal's office and thought he was in trouble. As he sat there, he could see his house down the street. A moving van pulled up. Wade knew he was transferring again. In his life, Wade has moved 22 times and lived in 11 states. He settled long enough once to be an exceptional high school quarterback and middle linebacker, and ask the head cheerleader on a date. Wade was recruited by Bear Bryant at Alabama, but decided to join dad at the University of Houston. A few years later, he reconnected with his high school sweetheart, and Wade and Laurie have been married 38 years. Their son, Wes, is an NFL assistant, and their daughter, Tracy, is an actress who has appeared in several major movies. In his wandering career, Wade has rejoined only one team the Denver Broncos. He cherishes his five years before (one Super Bowl as coordinator, and as head coach for two seasons) and these incredible Broncos now. He has a job again. He doesn't have to pay to get in. He's not too old. And Harold Wade Phillips is continuing to prove that he is a brilliant defensive coordinator... especially with Cheese.

3 Broncos' missed opportunity with Joe Thomas may hurt By Mark Kiszla Denver Post November 7, 2015 The line on Thomas. Kiz, I completely agree with your column on the Broncos' decision not to trade for Cleveland tackle Joe Thomas. I feel like Denver lost the Super Bowl. There's no way quarterback Peyton Manning stays healthy with the current offensive line. Rick, Harrisburg, Pa. Kiz: What should really concern us is the likelihood Denver will have to beat New England not once, but twice, to reach the Super Bowl. Patriots coach Bill Belichick is no dummy, and he will attack the weakness on the left side of the offensive line that John Elway underlined in red marker with his pursuit of Thomas. Divided on Vernon. I can feel the Denver media already spreading the Vernon Davis love. At some point, that love will fade. What is there to love? He is a great blocking tight end and is fast. What is there not to love? Over the past two years in San Francisco, he has dropped a lot of easy catches. He has always been selfish. He is not a leader. Rick, lifelong 49ers fan Kiz: Nobody is counting on Davis to be a leader, and he wouldn't be the first NFL receiver accused of being self-absorbed. He was acquired to catch touchdown passes in the red zone. If Davis fails in that regard, then Elway dropped the ball on this trade. Stink pot of teams. It is easy to find the Kroenke-owned teams in the standings. Just look at who's at the bottom and there you go. Whip, helpful hinter Kiz: Josh Kroenke, you have a problem. Well, actually three problems: 1) Nuggets, 2) Avalanche and 3) Rapids. Stink. Stank. Stunk. Avs and Av-nots. When Patrick Roy was hired, I stated it would be great if the Avalanche could win a Stanley Cup within 10 years. You pooh-poohed my idea and said it would be a mere three years for the Avs to be serious contenders. Charles, hockey soothsayer Kiz: That's what I get for being Mr. Sunshine. Please forgive my boo-boo. Now my sunny optimism can only hope the Avs aren't mathematically eliminated from playoff contention by Thanksgiving. A mother's load. And today's parting shot is a reminder why players on the sideline always turn to the television camera and say hello to mom rather than dad.

4 Thank you for your column on Lisa McCaffrey and her four football-playing sons. Too many times I have read the children are the sons of former Broncos receiver Ed McCaffrey, as if they had no mother. As a parent of three sons, I remember the dirty uniforms, the anxiety of watching them play and the hurt when they were disappointed. Kudos to Lisa and Ed! Evelyn, won at motherhood

5 Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck: A Reversal of fortunes By Troy Renck Denver Post November 7, 2015 It's hard to remember or believe now, but there was a time not long ago that Andrew Luck represented the next big thing. It was Jan. 11. Luck became the scraggly-bearded face of the NFL, his mobility and strength guiding forces in the Indianapolis Colts' stunning playoff upset of the Broncos at Sports Authority Field. On the refrigerator-cold afternoon, Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning looked closer to retirement than another championship. He completed 6-of-19 passes of more than 10 yards. Luck walked off the field with arms in the air. Manning trudged to the locker room, uncertain of his future. The snapshot fundamentally changed both franchises, but with upside-down logic. Manning returns to Indianapolis on Sunday, standing on history's doorstep. He needs 284 yards to become the NFL's all-time passing yards leader, eclipsing Brett Favre. A victory makes him the all-time winningest quarterback. This season represents Manning's best, if not last, chance at a second Super Bowl title. He has slowly found his footing in a hybrid offense, and while his passing numbers are down across the board, he leads an undefeated team under new coach Gary Kubiak. Manning refuses to acknowledge added significance to this game, but his teammates readily admit they want to win and help Manning stick it to his former team. "We know what's on the line," linebacker Brandon Marshall said. "I really want this one for Peyton." The Colts would like to win a game for anyone. Perhaps Pep Hamilton. Colts coach Chuck Pagano fired the offensive coordinator last week, one more move symbolizing the divergent paths the teams have taken since January. Luck left Denver as the future. His 40 regular-season touchdown passes last season led the NFL, one ahead of Manning. This season his 12 interceptions lead the NFL, one ahead of Manning. The noticeable difference: Manning is 39. Luck is 26. How did the 3-5 Colts go from a Super Bowl contender to this season's most surprising dumpster fire? Luck accepts blame, citing his turnovers, although he is working with his third offensive coordinator in four seasons and is on pace to be sacked 39 times. "Taking care of the football is paramount as a quarterback, and I have not done a good enough job," Luck said. "It starts in practice and in the meeting rooms." "The same Peyton" Manning arrives in Indiana, where he was so popular the state is dotted with children named after him, in a good place. After a barrage of criticism about his turnovers, Manning threw a meaningless

6 interception against Green Bay but completed 21 of 29 passes for 340 yards in an otherwise crisp showing. He spent the better part of two months ironing out wrinkles, but as he showed against Green Bay, he fits well in Kubiak's attack when the Broncos run the ball and use their tight ends in the passing game. The Broncos have rushed for 312 yards over the past two games. Tight ends Owen Daniels and Virgil Green nearly equaled their season total in receiving yards against Green Bay, and the Broncos acquired tight end Vernon Davis last week, providing Manning an added weapon in the red zone. "I still see the same Peyton," said Colts edge rusher Robert Mathis, who spoiled Manning's 2013 homecoming with multiple sacks and who injured Manning's ankle. "I wouldn't make it anything more than that because if you take him lightly, he'll hang 60 (points) on you." In Manning's first game as an opponent at Lucas Oil Stadium, a facility he practically built with his success, emotions roiled up inside him. The Colts honored him before the game with a video tribute. So many old friends wanted to see him. It tugged at his heartstrings. This game feels different. Less personal, more business. "We're playing in an extremely loud place. We've got a lot on our plate each week trying to kind of figure out what we're doing and trying to get everybody here on the same page. That's plenty," Manning said. "Between that and getting ready to play a team in a loud environment, it's kind of easy just to focus on that." Manning's early-season slump came with a caveat the Broncos kept winning. The Colts' disastrous season has thrown the franchise into turmoil. The Indianapolis Star reported a players-only meeting was recently held with players upset that the front office is dictating lineup decisions. On a mission In his first three seasons, Luck helped camouflage personnel weaknesses. He has become one this year. Broncos players insist Luck's ability hasn't changed. When they watch him on film, they see diminished accuracy, possibly due to multiple injuries to his shoulder and ribs, and relentless pressure. Luck can't "put a finger" on why he hasn't played well. This matchup, on paper, doesn't provide an antidote. "That is our mission right now," Pagano said. "To get Andrew going." Ten months is not a long time. After the AFC divisional round upset, the Colts held bragging rights on horsepower. The Broncos had become an afterthought. Then came this season, and a jarring juxtaposition few expected. "I haven't, to tell you the truth, kept up a whole lot (with Luck's season)," Manning said. "I've been pretty focused on the Broncos' offense and kind of trying to get the Broncos' quarterback comfortable in the Broncos' offense. You're just trying to keep getting better. That's what I try to do. It's the toughest position out there. That's my opinion. It's not for everybody, I can tell you that."

7 Will the Colts' Andrew Luck ever be as good as Peyton Manning? By Troy Renck and Mark Kiszla Denver Post November 7, 2015 Kiz: Unlike the first time Peyton Manning returned to Indianapolis as a member of the Broncos, he is truly Denver's quarterback now. While he was overcome by emotion during that Broncos' loss in 2013, I think Manning goes back this time to pass Brett Favre and claim the NFL record of 187 regular-season victories. Which makes me wonder: Will Andrew Luck ever be as successful as Manning, by any measure? Renck: Luck won't equal Manning's career. And there's no shame in that. Luck is the best college quarterback I saw since John Elway. He's big, mobile, smart and a rudder in the locker room. I believe his career will more closely resemble Elway's career. Losing multiple Super Bowls, and then rebuilding before winning a championship later in his career. Like maybe when Tom Brady retires when he turns 46. Kiz: Know what strikes me? Luck seems to have far more in common with Favre than Manning. There's way more gunslinger in Luck's game than I thought when he entered the NFL. As the Colts have struggled and his beloved offensive coordinator got fired, Luck has truly realized for the first time just how heavy a burden that carrying a franchise can be. It's an underrated challenge of the job, and Manning has dealt with that aspect of being an elite quarterback as well as anyone in league history. Renck: It's impossible to overstate how hard it is to play quarterback, let alone to carry a team on your back. Go back and look at some of the receivers Manning turned into stars. Playing with Manning was like skating on the wing with Wayne Gretzky. He improved everyone's numbers. Luck will figure it out once the Colts figure out it might be a good idea to protect him. Manning wasn't running for his life every week when he played in Indy. Kiz: Said it when Luck was a rookie. And happy to repeat it: Going forward, New England's Tom Brady and Manning have a better chance to add to their Super Bowl ring collection than Luck has of winning his first championship for the Colts. Luck has Hall of Fame potential, no doubt. But will Luck build a more impressive career than Manning? No way. No how. Renck: Falling short to Brady and Manning requires no apology. Brady might win two more rings before he retires, cementing his reputation as the greatest of all time. Manning's best chance, if not his last, comes this season. What I want for Luck is a team around him. He's too good to spend his career taking hits. He has been awful this season, but if I am starting a franchise today, I'd still take Luck with my first pick. Followed by offensive tackles in the next few rounds.

8 Broncos' offense must build on momentum against Colts By Cameron Wolfe Denver Post November 7, 2015 When the Broncos run Suddenly, the Broncos are the 2000 Rams with Marshall Faulk and the Greatest Show on Turf. Perhaps that's a little exaggeration. The run game has shown big signs of life lately. In their past two games, Denver has run for 312 yards. It gained 358 yards on the ground in its first five games. The Colts give up yards rushing per game, fifth-most in the NFL. Edge: Broncos When the Colts run Derek Wolfe won AFC defensive player of the week for his run-stuffing prowess, and the rest of the defense held its own as well. Denver held Eddie Lacy to 38 yards rushing Sunday and averages giving up 89.3 yards per game on the ground, the fourth-lowest in the NFL. Frank Gore is the Colts' bell cow with 516 yards rushing. He's consistent and powerful, but Gore has a bit of a fumbling issue with three this season. Edge: Broncos When the Broncos pass The Sheriff, Peyton Manning, put on a show Sunday against Green Bay, throwing for a season-high 340 yards, 168 of them to receiver Demaryius Thomas. For the first time all season, a complete performance came because of chemistry from Manning, the offensive line and the receivers. Colts cornerback Vontae Davis, brother of Vernon Davis, is one of the best cover guys in the AFC. Edge: Broncos When the Colts pass Andrew Luck played a terrible first three quarters against Carolina on Monday but looked like a new quarterback in overtime. Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton is battling a foot injury, and secondary receivers Andre Johnson and Donte Moncrief have failed to make the impact the team thought they would. The Broncos have given up only yards per game in the air. The ballhawks in the secondary make every QB think twice before throwing. Edge: Broncos Special teams Denver's Brandon McManus has been one of the league's best kickers this season, but his counterpart, Adam Vinatieri, is one of the best kickers of all time. Vinatieri is 9-for-11 on the season. McManus is 18- for-19. Colts punter Pat McAfee has a 45.2 net punt average, second-best in the NFL. The Broncos haven't been hurt by big returns this season, but they haven't produced any, either. Colts punt returner Griff Whalen muffed a punt Sunday against New Orleans. He was also the center for the botched fake punt attempt against the Patriots on Oct 18. Edge: Broncos Three things to watch

9 Turnovers, takeaways. The Broncos are tied for second in turnover margin in the NFL with a plus-5 mark, despite quarterback Peyton Manning's 11 interceptions. The Colts are tied for the second-worst margin at minus-9. Indy quarterback Andrew Luck leads the NFL with 12 interceptions. If the stats tell the truth, there should be opportunities for the Broncos to get turnovers Sunday. The Broncos need to make sure they take care of the football, as they have for the majority of the season. Block out the noise. All season, the Broncos have played like underdogs with a chip on their shoulders. They were called the worst undefeated team before Sunday when they beat Green Bay. Now, there aren't many questioning the Broncos. The Colts, on the other hand, are in turmoil. They are 3-5 and just fired their offensive coordinator, and Luck is having the worst season of his career. It's a perfect storm for a Denver win, but a dangerous road game nonetheless. The Comeback Kid. The fourth quarter always is the key to winning football games, but this week it holds a special value. Luck is known for his improbable comebacks. The 26-year-old QB has 10 fourth-quarter comebacks and 13 game-winning drives through his 3½ NFL seasons. He almost pulled off another one Sunday against Carolina. The Broncos will be smart to never let their guard down even if they have a big lead. Luck has the talent and guts to pull a rabbit out of a hat late.

10 Sunday NFL preview: Who to start, sit in Week 9 By ESPN.com Staff ESPN.com November 7, 2015 NFL Nation reporters look ahead to what Sunday has in store for each team. AFC EAST Buffalo Bills: Signs had been pointing toward Sammy Watkins (ankle) being ready to go for Sunday's game against the Dolphins until we found out Friday that Watkins had a "little tweak" of his ankle late in Thursday's practice that kept him out of action Friday. Watkins insists that he'll play, but it's hard to imagine the banged-up receiver being anywhere close to 100 percent. Watkins said he doesn't plan on making any "crazy moves" on his injured ankle, a sign that he could be mostly a decoy against the Dolphins' defense. -- Mike Rodak Miami Dolphins: Fantasy buyer beware with Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Few teams have given Tannehill more issues over his career than the Bills. He is 2-5 all-time against Buffalo, including 0-3 at Ralph Wilson Stadium, which is the site of Sunday's game. Tannehill struggled completing passes against Buffalo's blitz in a Week 3 loss. He is a risky play for fantasy owners. -- James Walker New England Patriots: The Patriots have little concern with wide receiver Julian Edelman (knee) and running back Dion Lewis (abdomen) being able to assume their normal duties Sunday against Washington. Both are probable, and the only thing that might limit their snaps is if the Patriots are winning big late in the game and they are pulled more as a precautionary measure. -- Mike Reiss New York Jets: The expected return of center Nick Mangold should help the Jets' running attack, especially Chris Ivory. The offensive line blew a lot of assignments last week, contributing to Ivory's 15- carry, 17-yard day. The Jets plan to run, but the Jaguars are allowing a league-low 3.5 yards per carry. -- Rich Cimini AFC NORTH Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens have a much-needed bye this weekend before a home game vs. the Jaguars in Week ESPN.com staff Cincinnati Bengals: Perhaps it's time to just keep Tyler Eifert in the regular rotation at tight end on your fantasy team. He keeps posting 20-point games in ESPN's standard scoring system. His third such game came Thursday night when his season-high 23 points became a nice early-week present for those who started him. Part of what makes him such a good fantasy play is his ability to catch multiple touchdown passes in individual games. Three times this year (the same weeks he has had 20 or more points) he has caught two or more touchdown passes. Eifert is on pace to set the franchise mark in single-season receiving scores. -- Coley Harvey Cleveland Browns: After losing to the Bengals on Thursday Night Football, the Browns travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers in Week 10. Though Johnny Manziel started at quarterback -- and flashed at times -- vs. Cincinnati, coach Mike Pettine said he won't announce a starting quarterback until next week. -- ESPN.com staff

11 Pittsburgh Steelers: Antonio Brown is on pace for more than 1,400 receiving yards this year. Then why do the Steelers need to get him going a little more? Because after 35 straight games of at least five catches and at least 50 yards, he has failed to hit those marks in four of his past five games. Brown will trend upward starting this week. Oakland gives up 302 passing yards per game, the second-worst clip in the league. Brown and Ben Roethlisberger -- who throws Brown's way about 30 percent of the time on broken plays -- have a second healthy week together to find a rhythm. After taking several deep shots last week, to mixed results, expect the Steelers to accentuate the quick passing game that allows Brown to do damage in the middle of the field. The biggest obstacle in Brown's way is Martavis Bryant, who has a penchant for big plays. But even if Brown doesn't score, he's good for a major-yardage play in Week Jeremy Fowler AFC SOUTH Houston Texans: The Texans, who have won two of three games, have a bye in Week 9. They travel to Cincinnati next weekend to take on the 8-0 Bengals. -- ESPN.com staff Indianapolis Colts: The Broncos have given Andrew Luck fits in his career. Luck has thrown four interceptions and been sacked five times by the Broncos in three career meetings against them. Those numbers could increase Sunday because the Broncos lead the NFL in a number of defensive categories, including sacks with 29. Luck has been sacked 14 times this season. -- Mike Wells Jacksonville Jaguars: Tight end Julius Thomas has been limited to just 10 catches because of injuries, but he and quarterback Blake Bortles are slowly starting to build some chemistry together. With wide receivers Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson having to deal with Jets cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie on Sunday, Thomas should be a big factor in the passing game. -- Mike DiRocco Tennessee Titans: The Titans hope rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota's return from a sprained knee energizes the offense. A new interim coach in Mike Mularkey and a new first-time play-caller in Jason Michael have to help an offense that has converted just four of its past 31 third downs. That's the sixthworst three-game stretch of third-down offense in NFL over the past 10 years. -- Paul Kuharsky AFC WEST Denver Broncos: The Broncos haven't lined up in a two tight end set more than 21 times in any game this season -- penalty snaps included -- but Sunday's game in Indianapolis could well be the first. Coach Gary Kubiak has said all season he'd like to use the formation more because it allows the Broncos to face more base defenses, which they believe gives them a chance to use play action more in the passing game. Vernon Davis is expected to get a healthy dose of snaps after Monday's trade and gives the Broncos the depth and added athleticism in the offense to bulk up the formation. -- Jeff Legwold Kansas City Chiefs: Fresh off a blowout win over the Lions in London, the Chiefs are off this week. They play the Broncos in Denver in Week Adam Teicher Oakland Raiders: Taking any number of Oakland players these days may be a smart fantasy approach. Several players are playing at a high level. This season, for the first time in franchise history, the Raiders have had a 300-yard passer (Derek Carr), a 100-yard rusher (Latavius Murray) and 100-yard receivers (Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree) in same game twice in a season. Also, Oakland is playing sound football. It is trying to tie a franchise record with three straight games without a turnover, set in 1979, Sunday at Pittsburgh. -- Bill Williamson

12 San Diego Chargers: Running back Danny Woodhead will be one of the players that help fill the void on offense for San Diego with wide receiver Keenan Allen out for the year. Woodhead has been particularly effective in the red zone, with 14 touches and four total touchdowns through eight games. -- Eric D. Williams NFC EAST Dallas Cowboys: As the Cowboys lean on Darren McFadden in the running game, they are attempting to do what they can to lighten the load elsewhere. In addition to the 20 carries last week vs. Seattle, he led the Cowboys with six catches. The Cowboys are looking at rookie Rod Smith as a possibility to take more third-down snaps. He did not catch a pass in two games for Seattle earlier this season and had just nine catches and a touchdown in his career at Ohio State. -- Todd Archer New York Giants: Jason Pierre-Paul will make his 2015 season debut for the Giants on Sunday in Tampa. It will be Pierre-Paul's first game action since he severely damaged his right hand in a July 4 fireworks accident. It's hard to imagine him playing a full game right out of the chute, and the Giants want to be careful to make sure they don't ask him to do anything for which he's not ready, but anything Pierre- Paul can do to help the pass rush of a team that ranks last in the league with nine sacks would be appreciated. -- Dan Graziano Philadelphia Eagles: It is already obvious that Chip Kelly's offense makes it tough to rely on his players for fantasy purposes. DeMarco Murray, who was consistently excellent in Dallas last year, is a perfect example. This could be a good week for Murray, though. Ryan Mathews is listed as questionable, but he didn't practice as the week went on because of a groin injury. That could translate into more carries for Murray. -- Phil Sheridan Washington Redskins: The Redskins have their full arsenal of receiving weapons available now that DeSean Jackson will play Sunday against the Patriots. New England has done a good job vs. tight ends (and likely will make Jordan Reed a target), but the Patriots allow yards per catch to receivers this season, 21st in the NFL (that's a little misleading, built on teams needing to pass a lot in the second half; in the first half of games they're 7th). Still, that bodes well for a team that has Jackson and slot receiver Jamison Crowder. -- John Keim NFC NORTH Chicago Bears: Chicago departs for Southern California on Sunday following a walk-through practice at the team facility. Coach John Fox spent his teen years in the San Diego area and attended Castle Park High School in Chula Vista, California. Fox later played defensive back at San Diego State University, and spent two years ( ) as the Chargers' defensive backs coach. Fox is 4-1 lifetime against San Diego head coach Mike McCoy, who previously worked under Fox in Carolina and Denver. This is the Bears' first regular season trip to Qualcomm Stadium since 2007 when Chicago opened the year with a 14-3 loss. -- Jeff Dickerson Detroit Lions: The Lions, who are on a bye this week, fired their team president and general manager on Thursday. After being routed by the Chiefs in London last weekend, their schedule doesn't get any easier. Detroit plays at Green Bay in Week ESPN.com staff Green Bay Packers: If you're thinking about benching Aaron Rodgers after his 77-yard passing performance in Sunday's loss at Denver, consider this: In the previous 18 times in which he has thrown

13 for less than 200 yards in a game, he has come back to throw for an average of yards the following week. -- Rob Demovsky Minnesota Vikings: You'll probably start Adrian Peterson regardless of the fact he has a tough matchup tomorrow, but he's facing the league's ninth-best run defense in the Rams, who have allowed one 100- yard rusher all season. And if the Vikings have to throw the ball frequently, Peterson might not be on the field as much as usual. The Vikings are giving many of his third-down snaps to Matt Asiata, who's better in pass protection, and Asiata could see a larger workload if the Vikings need help protecting Teddy Bridgewater against the Rams' fierce front four. -- Ben Goessling NFC SOUTH Atlanta Falcons: Devonta Freeman has been held scoreless the past two games after scoring an NFLleading 10 touchdowns in the first six games. Although Freeman said he has much respect for a "physical" 49ers defense, he should be able to get back in the scoring column by getting physical right back at them. The 49ers gave up a 71-yard touchdown run to Rams rookie Todd Gurley last week, so maybe Freeman can break loose himself. 49ers defensive coordinator Eric Mangini said himself it's not like you can just load the box against Freeman with Julio Jones on the field. -- Vaughn McClure Carolina Panthers: Quarterback Cam Newton could be in for a big day with Green Bay cornerbacks Sam Shields and Quinten Rollins doubtful on a defense that has given up 1,048 yards in the past two games combined. That the Packers have allowed 120 or more yards rushing in five of seven games also bodes well for Newton, who is a threat as a runner and a passer. Newton already has four rushing touchdowns, one less than he had all of last season, and he's on a career-best pace with 9.1 carries a game. He has had a rushing and passing touchdown in four of seven games. -- David Newton New Orleans Saints: Don't hesitate to use Saints receiver Willie Snead if he's your best option, even though he was on the injury report with a knee injury this week. Snead described it as a bruise and said he's dealing with some soreness. But he insisted he'll be "good to go" and said the team was just being smart when they held him out of Wednesday's practice. Snead has been averaging seven targets, five receptions and 67 yards per game since Week 2 with three touchdowns. Expect that same pace to continue. -- Mike Triplett Tampa Bay Buccaneers: He's still a rookie, but quarterback Jameis Winston might reward fantasy owners Sunday against a vulnerable Giants pass defense. New York allowed Drew Brees to throw for 505 yards and seven touchdowns in Week 8. It's hard to count on another collapse of that magnitude, but the Giants are last in the NFL against the pass by allowing yards per game. Winston has thrown for 683 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in the Bucs' past three contests. Don't be shocked to see him break out as a passer here. -- Andrew Astleford NFC WEST Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals are on a bye this weekend. They take on the Seahawks in Seattle in Week ESPN.com staff St. Louis Rams: Rams running back Todd Gurley is already a must-play as some rank him as the top player in fantasy going into this week. But his chances of a big game increased when the Vikings officially ruled out linebacker Eric Kendricks for Sunday. The Vikings are 25th in the league in run defense, yielding 4.4 yards per carry, and that's with Kendricks. Gurley will get a lot of attention but looks poised for another strong day at the office. -- Nick Wagoner

14 San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers' offensive backfield will consist of quarterback Blaine Gabbert, running back Kendall Gaskins and fullback Bruce Miller. Not exactly what fantasy players dream about. But with Miller the most experienced player, it makes sense that he could be Gabbert's safety valve with outlet passes and, like earlier in the season, a few deep throws. -- Paul Gutierrez Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks have a bye in Week 9 before playing the Cardinals at home next weekend. -- ESPN.com staff

15 Greg Hardy tweets regret day after graphic photos released By ESPN.com News Services ESPN.com November 7, 2015 One day after photos of the bruised ex-girlfriend from his domestic violence case were released by Deadspin, Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy took to social media and expressed regret for "what happened in [the] past." In a series of posts on Twitter on Saturday night, Hardy also said he is grateful still to be playing in the Just had to say I express my regret 4 what happened in past and I'm Dedicated to being the best person & teammate that I can be 6:03 PM - 7 Nov but mostly I am Grateful 4 the opportunity to play in NFL #GodBlessHookyStreet 6:03 PM - 7 Nov 2015 Hardy was arrested on charges of attacking and threatening his former girlfriend, Nicole Holder, in The tweets come a day after Deadspin made public photos showing multiple bruises all over the body of Holder. The photos also show Hardy with marks on his face. Hardy, who now plays for the Cowboys but at the time was a member of the Carolina Panthers, was accused by Holder of throwing her against a bathroom wall, throwing her on a futon covered with assault rifles, choking her and threatening her life during an altercation at his apartment. He was convicted on charges of domestic violence against Holder in 2014 in a bench trial. He appealed, seeking a jury trial, but the case was dismissed in February 2015, when Holder stopped cooperating with authorities. The charges then were expunged from Hardy's record earlier this week. Neither Hardy nor Holder has spoken much publicly about what happened that night. Hardy had declined to speak with reporters Friday. Hardy was placed on the NFL commissioner's exempt list in September He signed a one-year, $11.3 million deal with the Cowboys in March The league issued Hardy a 10-game suspension for multiple violations of the personal conduct policy in connection with the incident with Holder, but that suspension was reduced to four games on appeal. On Friday, after the photos were released, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the team did not have access to the photos when it signed Hardy and that it continued to support the player. "While we did not have access to the photos that became public today, we were and are aware of the serious nature of this incident," Jones said. "We as an organization take [this very] seriously. We do not condone domestic violence. We entered into the agreement with Greg fully understanding that there

16 would be scrutiny and criticism. We have given Greg a second chance. He is a member of our team and someone who is grateful for the opportunity he has been given to move forward with his life and his career." A source told ESPN's Ed Werder that the NFL saw all of the police photos released Friday during a trip to North Carolina by NFL investigator Lisa Friel in April, before Hardy was suspended by the NFL. The source tells Werder that the NFL also sued the state of North Carolina for the right to view seven additional photos related to the incident. In addition, a league source told Werder that at no time during the NFL's investigation, nor through his suspension and appeal, did Hardy demonstrate any remorse for the incident. The NFL would not comment on the photos Friday. The NFL Players Association hasn't responded to a request for comment. The Cowboys host the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night.

17 Panthers-Packers matchup big test for both teams By Barry Wilner Associated Press November 7, 2015 Peyton returns to Indy. The Raiders and Steelers renew their long-standing and often nasty rivalry. Intriguing matchups both. Yet the spotlight this weekend shines on Charlotte, where the unbeaten Panthers host the 6-1 Packers, with the winner getting the inside track for the top rung in the NFC. Green Bay comes off, by far, its worst performance of the season, a drubbing at Denver in which even Aaron Rodgers looked pedestrian. The Panthers weren't exactly lights-out on Monday night in their rain-soaked victory over Indianapolis that required overtime after Carolina blew a big lead. Considering the strengths of their coaching staffs and rosters, expect both sides to be far more efficient for 60 minutes on Sunday. "We have stressed to young guys that if you play this game long enough, regardless of how good you are or how well you prepare, bad things are going to happen if you play," said Greg Olsen, the Panthers' outstanding tight end. "Things are not going to always go your way. But the guys who have the ability to continue to fight, or not let it take them over mentally, are the ones who make it here." After this, the Panthers (7-0) don't face an opponent that currently has a winning record until Atlanta on Dec. 13. Green Bay (6-1) heads into the meat of its NFC North schedule with four in a row, two with the lowly Lions. So look at this as a valid test for both Carolina and Green Bay. "It's a good thing that we have a quality opponent this week that's undefeated," Packers safety Micah Hyde said. "We can go in there and have a big opportunity to make a splash win." The week's action began Thursday night with Cincinnati's home victory over Cleveland. Andy Dalton threw three touchdown passes to Tyler Eifert and played lead blocker on Mohamed Sanu's reverse to help the Bengals improve to 8-0 for the first time in franchise history. Coming off an emotional victory in Pittsburgh that gave them control of the AFC North, the Bengals dominated the Browns (2-7) and Johnny Manziel in the second half. Six teams are off this week: Arizona (6-2), Seattle (4-4), Kansas City (3-5), Houston (3-5), Baltimore (2-6) and Detroit (1-7). Denver (7-0) at Indianapolis (3-5)

18 Peyton Manning has been gone from Naptown for seasons, in which time the Colts have been a playoff regular along with the Broncos. Denver clearly is on a path toward another postseason berth, using a powerful defense more than Manning's arm. But he comes off his best performance of the season in the Broncos' romp past perhaps the NFC's best team, Green Bay. If the Broncos win, Manning will break Brett Favre's record for regular-season wins by a quarterback (186). Manning also needs 284 yards passing to pass Favre (71,838) and become the NFL's career leader. Manning dislikes remembrance tours. "We've got a lot on our plate each week trying to kind of figure out what we're doing and trying to get everybody on the same page and that's plenty to focus on," Manning said. "Between that and getting ready to play a team in a loud environment, it's kind of easy just to focus on that." Folks in Indy are focused on that losing record, even though the Colts are tied for the AFC South lead with Houston. Offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton was fired this week and Andrew Luck has thrown a league-high 12 interceptions despite missing two games. Washington (3-4) at New England (7-0) No place is tougher for a visitor than Foxborough, and the Redskins are 1-10 on the road under coach Jay Gruden. They head into this game off a bye and a stirring comeback victory over the Bucs the previous week, but are banged-up on defense no way to face Tom Brady. Brady leads the NFL in fourth-quarter passer rating at 143.5, with seven TDs, zero interceptions, and a 76.7 completion rate. Overall, Brady's passer rating is best in the league, too; he has thrown for 20 TDs and one pick. Philadelphia (3-4) at Dallas (2-5) A rare intriguing night affair between teams with losing records. Why? Well, the Cowboys believe if they could only find a way to win a game or two before quarterback Tony Romo returns, they could steal the NFC East. Of course, that assumes Dallas is spotless once Romo is back in the lineup a huge if. The Cowboys do come close most weeks, though, as their defense has performed well. So has Philadelphia's, relatively speaking, allowing less than 20 points a game. But the Eagles need an outbreak offensively from DeMarco Murray and where better to do it than at his former stomping grounds? Oakland (4-3) at Pittsburgh (4-4) Ah, Kenny Stabler vs. the Steel Curtain. Ted Hendricks doing a number on Terry Bradshaw. John Madden and Chuck Noll. Oops. Wrong era.

19 Once the nastiest of NFL rivalries, Raiders-Steelers gets some of that spice back this week. For the first time since 2002, the Raiders are relevant, above.500 and with a big-play offense sparked by rookie receiver Amari Cooper. They manhandled the Jets' supposedly superior defense last week. For Pittsburgh, this is huge after a home loss to the Bengals dropped the Steelers games back in the AFC North. Look for Ben Roethlisberger, in his second game at QB following a knee injury, to do more passing with star RB Le'Veon Bell gone for the season. If it comes down to defense, as these matchups often have, watch out for Jack Lambert and Jack Tatum. Oops, wrong era again. St. Louis (4-3) at Minnesota (5-2) The winner here will be in good position for a wild card halfway through the schedule. Both teams are on the upswing, with the Vikings taking three in a row and the Rams three of four. The Rams have visited Minnesota just twice in 23 seasons. Their coach, Jeff Fisher, is 1-6 against the Vikings. For St. Louis to prosper, it will need to keep firing up that league-leading pass rush, but also slow down Todd Gurley. Gurley is the first rookie in NFL history with four straight games of 125-plus yards rushing. He leads the league with 115 yards per game rushing, and Minnesota star Adrian Peterson is next at Tennessee (1-6) at New Orleans (4-4) Mike Mularkey steps into a difficult situation in the Big Easy. The Saints have turned it around as Drew Brees tears apart defenses with some new playmakers (Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead). Meanwhile, the Titans are in disarray with six straight defeats, and No. 2 overall draft pick Marcus Mariota missed the past two losses with a knee injury. Brees is on one of those hot streaks that have marked his superb career. He tied the NFL record for single-game TD passes with seven last week and passed for 505 yards, 5 yards short of career high, in a shootout with the Giants. Miami (3-4) at Buffalo (3-4) The other team that has changed coaches so far, the Dolphins found instant success with two wins after Dan Campbell replaced Joe Philbin. Then they went up to New England and got smoked. No coaching changes are imminent in Western New York, though Rex Ryan has quieted down while trying to fix a sick offense and a disappointing defense. Buffalo comes off a bye after a damaging loss in London to the Jaguars, and should have starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor back. But Ryan needs to get that defense revived, especially in light of professed communication issues between players and coaches. "It's the execution of the calls, and I think that's the thing that we're trying to make sure that we're dialed in," Ryan says.

20 Atlanta (6-2) at San Francisco (2-6) Desperation has hit the Niners' offense, with QB Blaine Gabbert taking over for Colin Kaepernick. The 49ers have no touchdowns in their past two games and three in five. After a 5-0 start, the Falcons have struggled. Atlanta has six turnovers and 17 penalties over the past two games, and could be thin in the secondary. Safety William Moore (groin) could miss his second straight game and two more starters, cornerbacks Robert Alford (groin) and Desmond Trufant (lower back) also have missed practice time or have been limited by injuries. Jacksonville (2-5) at New York Jets (4-3) Jacksonville could do some more damage to AFC East wild-card contenders with a win at the Meadowlands, and like two weeks ago at Wembley, the Jags will face a team with uncertainty behind center. Both Ryan Fitzpatrick (left thumb) and Geno Smith (shoulder) were dinged in the Jets' worst showing of the season, a loss at Oakland, although Fitz will start. Look for New York's defense to be far stingier this week, and also keep an eye out for Jaguars WRs Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns, who have combined for 11 TD catches, most of any wideout duo this season. Hurns has a TD catch in five consecutive games, the longest streak in team history. New York Giants (4-4) at Tampa Bay (3-4) The prospect of the return of Jason Pierre-Paul, the Giants' stud defensive end who blew off his finger in a fireworks accident July 4, makes this game stand out a bit. New York desperately needs to find a pass rush, which is JPP's specialty. The Bucs are more than capable of making the Giants pay for poor defending as Jameis Winston improves on his reads and decisions. In Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson, he has the targets to hurt a weakened defense. Chicago (2-5) at San Diego (2-6), Monday night Not exactly a prime-time must-see, especially with Bears star RB Matt Forte (knee) and Chargers standout WR Keenan Allen (spleen) injured. Philip Rivers has had brilliant numbers this season even as the Bolts blunder. Rivers has set a franchise record with five straight 300-yard games. He has thrown for 18 TDs and has a passer rating. Could be plenty of transplanted Midwesterners at this one as San Diegans wonder where the Chargers will call home after this season.

21 What happened to NFL parity? Some factors separate elite from cluster of so-so teams By Lindsay Jones USA Today November 6, 2015 In addition to his well-earned reputation as one of the NFL s feistiest cornerbacks, Denver Bronco Chris Harris is known for being brutally honest, especially when it comes to the state of the league at the midpoint of the regular season. There are probably five teams that can win a Super Bowl each year. And everybody else is just there, really," Harris told USA TODAY Sports. Through eight weeks, four clubs, including Harris Broncos, remained undefeated. But 21 of the other 28 teams sit at.500 or worse. Two entire divisions, the NFC East and AFC South, are comprised of teams without winning records. The chasm between the league s elite and the jumble of apparent have-nots seems to be wider than ever. But Harris believes that s been the case in each of the five years he s been in the NFL, a league that derives much of its popularity from the parity it attempts to foster. I think you want to have some great teams, that's exciting. When you watch sports, you want to see greatness. But I think in a perfect world, your great teams in the NFL are 11-5 and 12-4, because there are so many good teams that you just can't win every week, even if you're really good, former Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns front office executive Joe Banner told USA TODAY Sports. If you're 7-0, you're mainly good because you're great. But you're also good because you've got some games where it's just a huge mismatch, and that isn't the goal. There are several explanations for why there are a handful of perfect teams and a logjam of so-so ones. Quarterback play To Harris, there is one common thread separating the good teams from the rest: Quarterbacks. There are going to be bad teams, because they have bad quarterbacks. Or they have young quarterbacks that are still trying to learn the game, he said. It is that simple. It really is. And to a degree, Harris is right. The four undefeated teams so far this season each have a Pro Bowl quarterback (the New England Patriots' Tom Brady, Denver's Peyton Manning, the Cincinnati Bengals' Andy Dalton and Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton). Same goes for the one-loss Green Bay Packers with reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers. Teams can still struggle with a good quarterback the San Diego Chargers' Philip Rivers is on pace to break the single-season passing record despite his team's 2-6 record but few succeed without one. If you've got a top quarterback, then you have a chance to be a top 10 team. And if you don't have one those elite quarterbacks, you can win or lose, former NFL coach Tony Dungy told USA TODAY Sports.

22 Injuries The relative health of a roster might be the NFL s greatest equalizer, and several teams have seen their seasons derailed because of injuries to key players. It happened to the Dallas Cowboys, who have been without all-pro wideout Dez Bryant (broken foot) and quarterback Tony Romo (broken collarbone) for most of the season. Dallas has yet to win a game since Romo went down in Week 2. The Baltimore Ravens, a popular preseason Super Bowl pick, have 12 players on injured reserve, including star pass rusher Terrell Suggs and No. 1 receiver Steve Smith. The Pittsburgh Steelers have a league-high 15 players on IR, including all-pro running back Le Veon Bell. They also lost quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for four games with a knee injury. The undefeated teams have not avoided the injury bug the Broncos and Patriots each lost their starting left tackles for the season, and Panthers wideout Kelvin Benjamin went down in training camp but have remained relatively healthy overall. The Bengals are tied for the league-low with just three players on IR. Offseason rules In his current role as an analyst for NBC, Dungy fills out a weekly list of power rankings and has found himself struggling to determine the order from about No. 5 to 25. Before he gets to the 10th spot, he s already inserting teams with losing records. But he thinks his task will get easier over the next few weeks as some teams finally start finding an their identities. Shouldn't that have happened sooner? Not necessarily, Dungy said, because rules that limit offseason work and padded practices in training camp mean it is taking teams longer to jell. I m not sure we're seeing the best football that these teams have to offer in September and October," said Dungy, who's predicting a prosperous second half for the Minnnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams, Oakland Raiders and Steelers. "We're just starting to see who is coming into their own and who are going to be the good teams as the season goes along."