USA TODAY's Jarrett Bell wraps up the NFL weekend and hands out his weekly accolades every Tuesday:1.With the Bears, Packers and Vikings all sitting at 5-5, it's suddenly a six-week sprint for the NFC North crown with a wide range of X-factors. Green Bay's dismantling of the Bears sent a chi...

Packers RB Ryan Grant (hamstring) and DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (knee) missed practice as a precaution heading into Monday night's opener against Minnesota. ... It begins: Giants, Redskins rise above challenges for '08 kickoff USA Today

Packers take the kickoff, and Ryan Grant begins moving the ball on the field. Well, for a while. He puts the ball on the ground again. So that's two fumbles by Ryan Grant in the first 69 seconds. Ick. Seattle takes over just barely on Green Bay's side of the 50.

By Jeffrey Boswell(jeffreyboswell@sports-central.org) The Dolphins bullpen fell apart last Sunday, blowing a 3-2 lead to Buffalo and eventually losing 13-10 to fall to 0-9. Cam Cameron is contemplating a change at quarterback. Vikings win, 17-14. Pittsburgh @ NY Jets (+9½) St. Louis wins, 27-14. Chicago @ Seattle (-5 1/2)

By Kirkendall AFC Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 10 were: Green Bay quarterback BRETT FAVRE, who completed 33 of 46 passes (71.7 percent) for 351 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 115.4 passer rating in the Packers’ 34-0 win over Minnesota. Arizona wide receiver LARR...

By The Gryphon 11. Buccaneers (5-4) (11): Bucs had week off and visit an improved Falcons team on Sunday. 21. Texans (4-5) (21): Texans are hopeful Andre Johnson can get back from a knee injury. They’re home to New Orleans on Sunday. 23. Bengals (3-6) (26): Just shows how bad Ravens have become. Bengals have thei...

By Seth Doria(sethdoria@sports-central.org) Time to take stock: Green Bay 34, Minnesota 0: The knock on the Packers until now has been the absence of a running game. Knock no more: Green Bay rookie RB Ryan Grant ran for 119 yards on 25 carries on what had been one of the best defenses against the rush in the NFL.

By The Gryphon — Matt Palmer VIKINGS AT PACKERS Rookie running back Adrian Peterson has been eyeing a 300-yard game all season. Vikings 30, Packers 28 BENGALS AT RAVENS Bengals’ dangerous WRs are licking their chops at the sight of the banged-up Ravens secondary. Bengals 27, Ravens 13 — John Keim

By Kirkendall AFC Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 9 were: New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES, who completed 35 of 49 passes (71.4 percent) for 445 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 119.9 passer rating in the Saints’ 41-24 win over Jacksonville. New Orleans wide receiv...

The Vikings are the favorites to dethrone the Brett Favre-less Pack. Welcome to the pressure cooker, Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers needs to win his first start so ... NFL Preview: Cowboys start "Super Bowl season" in Cleveland this ... The Canadian Press

The Southern Ledger  - The Vikings are the favorites to dethrone the Brett Favre-less Pack. Welcome to the pressure cooker, Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers needs to win his first start so ... NFL Season Kicks Off Thursday with Giants and Redskins Voice of America The starting quarterbacks Denver Post