by Adam Schein

How much latitude does Derek Anderson get while there's a former first-round draft pick standing on the sideline? (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)

Here's who's sweating this week:

1. Derek Anderson

If you listen closely you can hear the chants for Brady Quinn in the distance. That's not right. That's not fair. But those voices will scream in unison if Anderson loses a second consecutive home game. Anderson, who was concussed in the preseason, looked very rusty against Dallas in the season opener. Pittsburgh comes in for Sunday Night Football fresh off a pasting of Houston. In talking to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin on Sirius NFL Radio, he raved about the play of James Harrison last week. And he challenged second-year studs LaMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons to play like they did against the Texans this week against the rival Browns.

Plus, the Steelers players were chapped all offseason that the Browns were labeled the paper champs. A lot of folks, myself included, rolled their eyes when Cleveland received six prime-time games.

Anderson needs to mute the voices and prove he and the Browns are ready for prime-time. Color me skeptical.

2. Broncos run defense

I picked Denver to make the playoffs. In doing so, I firmly believed they could split with San Diego and take the Week 2 game at home.

While Jay Cutler, Eddie Royal and Mike Shanahan's offense looked outstanding in Week 1, I am going to nitpick the run defense. Justin Fargas and Darren McFadden each averaged over five yards a pop. The Denver run defense was just horrible last season. And here comes LaDainian Tomlinson, who has rushed for over 100 yards in three of the last four games vs. Denver with seven touchdowns on the ground. Chew on this nugget: San Diego is 5-0 against the Broncos when LT gets over 100 yards.

Shanahan brought in new defensive linemen, linebackers and safeties with this game in mind.

Eric Mangini and the Jets will hear some howls if they bomb out against the hated Patriots. (Doug Benc / Getty Images)

3. Eric Mangini

Look, I know Tom Brady is out for the season. But do we really want to make the Jets the favorite in the weekend showdown with the Patriots? New England still has the better head coach, running attack, wide receivers, defense and special teams. Obviously, Mangini's crew has the major advantage with Brett Favre over Matt Cassel at quarterback.

With all the conversation about the AFC East being wide open, the Jets' win in Miami where they showed off their brand new defense, and the Jets fans and the media being giddy about New York's playoff chances since the Favre deal, Mangini is thrust into a huge, pressure-packed spot on Sunday.

The natives will go wild if the Jets lose to Matt Cassel.

You also factor in Mangini's frosty relationship with his former mentor.

Oh, yeah, last time these teams played in New York, the Patriots were caught cheating and something minor called "Spygate" blew up.

4. Terrell Owens

Choose a story line for Monday Night.

Getcha popcorn ready!

It's Owens against his former club.

It's Owens against Donovan McNabb, the quarterback he loved to hate.

Owens has 12 touchdowns in his last 10 Monday night games. He loves the spotlight. But Owens can also have that rare case of the yips when he is too pumped up for a contest.

5. Tarvaris Jackson

Here's the point: In theory, Adrian Peterson should rush for a minimum of 150 yards. And I think he will against an Indy defense that got humbled by Matt Forte in the season opener. But Indianapolis can stack the box with Bob Sanders. This means that Jackson, the king of inconsistency, is going to have to step up and make some big throws.

NFL Week 17

Week 17 action

Vikings 20, Giants 19 -- Recap | Box
Panthers 33, Saints 31 -- Recap | Box
Packers 31, Lions 21 -- Recap | Box
Falcons 31, Rams 27 -- Recap | Box
Texans 31, Bears 24 -- Recap | Box
Patriots 13, Bills 0 -- Recap | Box
Colts 23, Titans 0 -- Recap | Box
Steelers 31, Browns 0 -- Recap | Box
Raiders 31, Bucs 24 -- Recap | Box
Bengals 16, Chiefs 6 -- Recap | Box
Eagles 44, Cowboys 6 -- Recap | Box
Dolphins 24, Jets 17 -- Recap | Box
49ers 27, Redskins 24 -- Recap | Box
Ravens 27, Jaguars 7 -- Recap | Box
Cardinals 34, 'Hawks 24 -- Recap | Box
Chargers 52, Broncos 21 -- Recap | Box


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Analysis

• Marvez: Mangini should blame Favre
• Whitlock: It's all about character

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Video

• NFL on Fox: Scariest playoff team?
• NFL on Fox: NFC playoff preview

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Photos

• NFL Week 17 snapshots
• NFL cheerleaders
• Worst teams ever
• NFL year in photos

The Vikings defensive line has excellent matchups against the Colts youngsters on the interior.

If the Vikes start 0-2, Jackson's seat is going to be scorching.

6. Bengals offensive line

I hope Carson Palmer has a good health plan.

Cincy's front five was abused by Baltimore. Terrell Suggs told me Tuesday that the Ravens felt super confident matching up with the Bengals after they cut Willie Anderson and let Rudi Johnson go.

Enter Tennessee, which stoned Jacksonville's incredible run game to the tune of 33 rushing yards and turned over David Garrard. Albert Haynesworth is in midseason form with two sacks last week. And Haynesworth told us Tuesday he played the game with a mild concussion!

Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck reveals that Tennessee is still chapped about losing 35-6 against the Bengals last year.

Payback is going to be painful.

7. Rob Ryan

The calls to my radio show on Tuesday from Oakland fans were filled with sheer anger.

And I couldn't argue. The game plan and the execution from the Raiders defense left much to be desired on Monday night.

Damon Huard is playing quarterback for the Chiefs against the Raiders. The Kansas City line is patchwork. I know the game is in Arrowhead, but there's no excuse for Ryan's very talented defense not to shine on Sunday.

8. Matt Schaub

I am a Matt Schaub guy. Most especially, Gary Kubiak says he is still a Matt Schaub guy. But Schaub better start playing like the quarterback Houston thought it was getting, especially with Sage Rosenfels waiting on the bench.

This is a terrible matchup for Schaub this week, and thus, a legit test. The Ravens defense was cooking with gas last weekend against Cincy. Overmatched rookie Duane Brown and the Texans line were schooled in Pittsburgh. Haloti Ngata should dominate.

Then there's the pressure of protecting Houston's four-game win streak in Texas. For the Texans, that's big. Winning at home is a very important stated goal for this team.

9. Matt Millen

I know. I know. Millen has a lifetime job. Results in Detroit don't matter. But when the Lions lose to the Packers and start a season filled with expectation at 0-2 doesn't someone have to be held accountable? Doesn't someone have to get blamed?

Maybe I'm dreaming.

Fantasy Land . . .

Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good. Or have the luck and the hunch of the Irish!

What a week in the SNY league for defending champ McShugana, co-owned by yours truly and senior producer Will O'Toole (I hope you laugh at the team name now that you know the owners). O'Toole missed the draft last week, producing the Mets game. He threatened things that are unmentionable if I drafted Tom Brady. O'Toole had a man-crush on Frank Gore. He produces our Jets postgame show. I don't bite the hand that feeds me. Despite my objections, we drafted Gore. The war room erupted with laughter. I promptly tossed O'Toole under the bus. We are 1-0.