FEATURE

Last week saw a plethora of injuries to big-name stars and even some players whose contributions go unnoticed. Lines move all the time based on who is out and who is in during any given week. With a healthy Chad Pennington, the Jets would have been between a -1 and -3 favorite against the Ravens but are now a 6 to 8 point underdog. QBs are obviously the most key position that can affect the line but other players can have an impact also. We'll look at some key players whose absence will impact their teams to varying degrees.

QBs Pennington and Jay Fiedler - Jets: Expecting Pennington to be ready for new Off. Co. Mike Heimerdinger's deep-passing game was probably too optimistic for the Jet brass. Pennington had missed too much time in the offseason due to shoulder surgery and came back too soon. Now he's done for the year. Fiedler hurt his shoulder in the same game vs. the Jaguars and could miss 6-8 weeks. In their stead, New York will look to Brooks Bollinger, the old Wisconsin star, to keep their playoff hopes alive. He's short at 6' and lacks great arm strength. He's tough and can make some plays on the move but he's a major downgrade. The Jets also signed Vinny Testaverde and Kliff Kingsbury. Testaverde played with New York a few seasons back, but that was in Paul Hackett's old West Coast offense. This is a very different system and Vinny should pick it up in time. RB Curtis Martin led the NFL in rushing last season but didn't have a run longer than 25 yards. Look for defenses to load up against the run and force Bollinger to beat them through the air. The line will be against the Jets most of the time but if Martin can move the chains, he'll give a good defense a chance to rest. New York is in trouble but I don't think they are an automatic "Go Against" every week.

OLB Takeo Spikes - Bills: Spikes is done for the year with an Achilles injury. This is a big blow for Buffalo which needs the defense to keep them in games until QB J.P. Losman finds a groove. Spikes is a two-time Pro Bowler and 3-down LB. He'll be replaced by Angelo Crowell, a very athletic player who lacks instincts. Because he's a LB, this might not affect too many lines but I'll look twice if the Bills are playing a good running team. As it is, Buffalo has allowed 427 yards on the ground the past two weeks and the loss of their best defender can't help.

SS Rodney Harrison - Patriots: Harrison is done for the year after injuring his left knee. I feel this is a major injury to a team that has few elite players. QB Tom Brady and RB Corey Dillon are irreplaceable and Harrison comes close. When the secondary lost their top 3 corners last season, it was Harrison who kept everything together. Harrison bristles at the suggestion that the Patriots are all scheme and coaching but the thought has merit. However, a very young secondary now lacks a vocal, physical, veteran leader and it will be interesting how HC Bill Belichick schemes to make up for this loss. With the position Harrison plays, I don't expect big line movement but this is a significant loss. Teams that can throw, especially to TEs down the seams, could find success here.

TE Eric Johnson, WR Rashaun Woods, FS Mike Rumph and CB Ahmed Plummer - 49ers: The young 49ers have outshone expectations but face some dilemmas here. Johnson had 35 more receptions than any other teammate last season and the backups have nowhere near his ability. Woods is a bust and the team is better off without him. The offense does get a downgrade here. Losing two starters in the secondary is huge. Keep this in mind when San Fran plays a top passing team. Michael Adams might step up for Plummer but the FS spot has a void. SS Tony Parrish needs to keep this young group together but it could be too big a task.

SS Donovin Darius - Jaguars: Darius is an in-the-box safety who hits like a truck but struggles in coverage. This could hurt with power-running teams but his backup, Deke Cooper, played with fellow FS Deon Grant in Carolina, so there is a comfort level there. Again, this shouldn't affect the line too much but it is a big loss.

Last week I hit on the Redskins (thank you Nick Novak and a bigger thanks to Josh Brown) but missed on a 49er team that was up 14-0 before their offense had stepped on the field. They proceeded to allow 31-straight points and made Arizona look like world beaters.

This week I like Miami getting three points at Buffalo. The defense has played very well and should be in QB J.P. Losman's face all game. This also marks the return of RB Ricky Williams and him and Ronnie Brown should be able to run on a defense that has been getting gashed up the middle. QB Gus Frerotte has been efficient and will make some big plays here. I also like the Eagles laying three points at Dallas. They have won 9 of the last 10 matchups and after a hiccup in Game 1, they have averaged 34 points in the last three games. I like Donovan McNabb, the hottest QB in the league, to continue his hot play and for the defense to blitz Bledsoe up the middle unmercifully. Good luck.

Last week: 1-1 Season: 3-3