FIVE UNDEFEATED CLUBS SEEK TO STAY SPOTLESS; FAVRE GOES FOR TD RECORD; 
WEEK FEATURES 8 DIVISION CLASHES
Posted 9/26/07

“It’s hard to luck into three straight wins.”

And who’s to disagree with BRETT FAVRE, especially this year?  Not his team, the Green Bay Packers, or the other four  clubs that believe talent and not only luck have brought them to a 3-0 record going into Week 4 – the Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers.

All five clubs can’t agree more with No. 4 when he says, “there’s no better feeling than winning.  All those touchdowns are great because they give you the opportunity to win.”

What touchdowns is Favre talking about?  The three he threw last Sunday in a comeback victory over San Diego , the last of which lifted him into a tie at 420 with DAN MARINO for the most TD throws by a quarterback in NFL history.  This week in Minnesota , Favre goes for the record and a win – which the soon-to-be 38-year-old QB says is most important.

So after a wild weekend -- but aren’t they all in the NFL? – in which the sixth-most points (751) on a weekend in history were scored, here comes Week 4, packed with eight, pump-up-the-excitement divisional games:

STORYLINE:  Ah, the Metrodome!

For a guy who has played the majority of his games outdoors, BRETT FAVRE sure has liked performing under the roof of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome recently.

The Pack has won in three of its last four visits to Minnesota with Favre producing big days.  He has thrown 10 touchdown passes in those four games while averaging 305 yards.     

“Brett has been doing it a long time in the NFL,” says Vikings head coach BRAD CHILDRESS.  “He has seen every look in the book.  He has made it work a lot of different ways and it all starts with him.”

Of course, the Vikings – who will play in their throwback uniforms of the 1970s -- are going to bring some power of their own, both offensively and defensively.  They send the NFL’s third-ranked rush defense against the Packers’ young backs and the league’s No. 3 sack attack (11).  Then there’s ’07 first-round choice ADRIAN “ALL DAY” PETERSON (nicknamed such as a child because he could run “all day”), who leads all rookies in rushing with 271 yards.  With two 100-yard rushing games, Peterson is one away from tying CHUCK FOREMAN’s 1973 rookie team record in the category.

STORYLINE:  Can an improved “D” stop the streak?  

The Panthers have won seven of the past eight meetings between these NFC South foes, but an improved Buccaneers defense with five new starters that has allowed the fifth-fewest points (37) in the NFL this year thinks that streak might be ripe for breaking.

“It’s a whole new group of guys out there playing,” says Tampa Bay head coach JON GRUDEN.  “BARRETT RUUD is the

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NFL FACTOID

ANOTHER FAVRE RECORD:  With all the attention that will be paid this week to BRETT FAVRE’s attempt to set the all-time passing TD record, the Packers’ QB can break another NFL record this Sunday.  With 11 pass attempts, Favre (now with 8,348) will top the all-time mark in the category of DAN MARINO (8,358).

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new middle linebacker.  CATO JUNE is new.  KEVIN CARTER is new.  We’ve gone back to what this defense is about, and that’s getting to the football.”

The Bucs’ defense limited St. Louis to 4.0 yards per offensive play in Week 3, but they will confront a personal litmus test in the Panthers’ STEVE SMITH.  The All-Star wide receiver has had 100-yard receiving games in his last four meetings with Tampa Bay .  And the Panthers can pound the ball.  DE SHAUN FOSTER rushed for 122 yards last Sunday for one TD and also added a scoring reception.

No pickoffs:  The Bucs’ JEFF GARCIA has yet to throw an interception this season.

STORYLINE:  Forget Marvin – shut down Reggie!

That just might be the Broncos’ game plan – at least when they look at the tapes of last year’s meeting between the teams.

Colts WR REGGIE WAYNE burned the Broncs for three TDs in a matchup that came down to an ADAM VINATIERI game-winning (34-31) field goal with two seconds left. 

Of course, Colts QB PEYTON MANNING is adept at taking what the defense gives him.  If Denver corners CHAMP BAILEY and DRÉ BLY shut down Wayne and MARVIN HARRISON, Manning will go to his sometimes slot receiver, TE DALLAS CLARK, who ties Wayne for TD catches this year (2) with only three less receptions (13) than the two wideouts.

Frequent meetings/frequent 3-0s:  The teams seem like division rivals, having played six times, including playoffs (Colts lead 4-2), since TONY DUNGY became Indy’s head coach in ’02…the Colts are 3-0 for the fourth time in the past five years.

STORYLINE:  Seasons turned around!

That’s what these teams feel going into yet another NFC East battle (the third out of four weeks for the Giants, second for the Eagles).

There they were a week ago at 0-2 with things seemingly slipping away.  Then Philadelphia scores the most points of any team this year (56) and the Giants post 21 unanswered second-half points and make a last-minute goal-line stand against Washington – and 1-2 looks pretty good!    

“Confidence is a big factor in this league,” says Giants C SHAUN O’HARA.  “Last year we were able to get on a roll and lump some wins together.  That’s kind of your objective.”

There will be many scenarios built into this game.  Can the Giants protect QB ELI MANNING against an Eagles’ rush that had nine sacks and seven QB hurries last week?  Can Eagles RB CORRELL BUCKHALTER pick up the slack if BRIAN WESTBROOK (221 total yards, three TDs last Sunday) cannot make it this week (abdominal strain)? 

But the key question may be, what will veteran Eagles defensive coordinator JIM JOHNSON plan to parry the knowledge of his former assistant (1999-06), new Giants defensive coordinator STEVE SPAGNUOLO?

STORYLINE:  Get ready, DBs, here come the TDs!

It could come to that.  The NFL’s top two touchdown throwers -- New England’s TOM BRADY (10) and Cincinnati’s CARSON PALMER (9) -- will be chucking Monday night to three of the top six reception leaders in the league this season – the Bengals' T.J. HOUSHMANDZADEH (No. 1, 29 catches), CHAD JOHNSON (No. 3, 25) and the Patriots’ RANDY MOSS (Tie, No. 5, 22).  Man-to-man…zone…something’s got to slow these guys down!  

It isn’t often that a team boasts the NFL’s No. 1 offense and defense, but that is exactly what the Patriots bring into Paul Brown Stadium.  “They’ve been a great team for so long,” says Bengals 12-year T WILLIE ANDERSON.

Tops in 20s:  The Bengals and Patriots are the only teams in the league with two receivers with at least 20 catches apiece.  New Pats WR WES WELKER (20) joins the three above.