FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEKLY FEATURES

NYJ (9-3) vs PIT (11-1)

Game Prediction: NYJ 13, PIT 23

The Steelers are on a ten game winning streak and are primed for a loss. The Jets have won their last three and are already likely to settle for a wildcard. Both of these teams could use the win but neither absolutely has to have it. The Jets are only 4-2 on the road this season but the Steelers keep winning by smaller and smaller margins. Then again, as long as Pittsburgh continues to win, they're in the hunt for the treasured "homefield throughout".

Pre-Game Notes - NYJ

The Jets come off an easy three game stretch that saw wins over CLE, ARZ and HOU. Now the road gets uphill.

Running Backs: Curtis Martin shouldered the load again last week when he gained 134 yards on 24 carries and scored on both a run and a pass. Martin's 1305 rushing yards are tops in the NFL this season and he has 12 scores so far. In the recent weeks against soft defenses, he has been sharing between 11 and 18 carries with Lamont Jordan but in tougher matchups he's never shared more than three runs.

Wide Receivers: Just pitiful. Pennington's big return against the worst secondary in the league resulted in Justin McCareins only logging 47 yards on four catches and Santana Moss had an incredible one catch for five yards. Even Quincy Carter was better for the wideouts to produce something. if you thought the Jets were ignoring their wideouts, realize they play the Steelers this week and then the Patriots in three weeks.

Tight Ends: Anthony Becht scored his first touchdown for 2004 last week and it was his first (and only) catch since week eight. While Carter ignored the tight ends entirely, Pennington at least notices them. In this offense, 20 to 40 yards is like wide receiver yardage.

Match Against the Defense: The Steelers sport a top three toughest defense in almost every fantasy category. Curtis Martin faces a rush defense that has allowed only one touchdown in Pittsburgh this season. Other than the freakishly high 123 yards by Rudi Johnson, no visiting runner has gained more than 34 yards in Pittsburgh. This will be his toughest test yet this year. Expect a moderate game at best. Anything over 60 yards on the ground will be a success and likely reflect that the Jets were able to keep the game in reach.

Pennington should throw for one score but more than that would be high for him, let alone to an opponent in Pittsburgh. The matchups strongly favor McCareins here but if any wideout gains more than about 80 yards it will reflect that the Jets fell horribly behind very early.

Pre-Game Notes - PIT

The Steelers keep finding themselves in tough games that are close the last three weeks but they've stayed just good enough to win every time. Back at home, they'll probably be just good enough again.

Quarterback: Ben Roethlisberger not only has set the NFL rookie record with ten wins in his first season, he has done that in the only ten games he has ever started. He had been on a downslide for three weeks with sub-140 yard efforts but faced with a "do or die" final drive last week, the kid took the team down for the winning score and ended with 221 yards and two scores in spite of playing without Plaxico Burress.

Running Backs: The Steelers kept the running game alive and very well using Jerome Bettis while Duce Staley was out. Now both are healthy and ready to finish the best season of any Steeler team so far. Staley only had 51 yards on 17 carries last week but that was against a tough Jaguars defense on the road. Before he left injured in week eight, he was gaining over 100 yards a week.

Wide Receivers: Hines Ward had his best game since Roethlisberger took over and ended with 80 yards and a score against Jacksonville last week. The odder factor was that Ward gained 65 yards and the score on the first series. Then he disappeared yet again. Antwaan Randle El had his best game of the year when he turned in 71 yards replacing Burress but he still has never scored this year.

Burress was a late scratch last week and could play here but until there is better word, I'll assume he is still out.

Tight Ends: Jay Riemersma scored in each of the last two games on his only catch but he could be lost for the season due to a serious ankle injury on that one catch. Since Riemersma is not likely to play this week, Jerame Tuman should start.

Match Against the Defense: The Jets have done well defensively this season but they have faced a lighter schedule. On the road against good teams, they've given up big games to Dillon, Tomlinson and McGahee. The Jets have also lost DE John Abraham which should be felt against both the run and pass.

Expect that the Steelers will mix Bettis and Staley in a fashion similar to earlier this year when both were healthy. That's yardage for Staley and scores for Bettis. An aggressive defense should rattle Pennington and help with field position which only leads to more rushing.

Roethlisberger should throw for one score but more than that is not likely. The rushing game should be solid enough to support the win combined with a good defensive effort.