QB: Dan Orlovsky, Drew Stanton RB

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But Dougherty was quick to add there remain questions about whether the Packers are complete enough on offense to prevail in what figures to be a close race in the NFC North Division.

Three NFC scouts who have studied the NFC North this year all pointed to the running game as the Packers' greatest weakness after seven games in the 2008 season.

"Where I think they're going to struggle as they go along is if they don't start running the ball," a scout told Dougherty.

In an overview of the Packers, the scouts agreed Rodgers is their best offensive player. One of the scouts said his only concern with Rodgers was durability, which Rodgers has answered so far by starting all seven games, including the last three with a sore throwing shoulder.

"His ability to stay alive and make plays is his biggest strength," one scout said. "His arm strength is a plus. And he's got some guys who once they catch it can make things happen, which always helps."

However, one scout also cited the absence of Brett Favre as the biggest reason the Packers' run game has underperformed.

The Packers rank No. 22 in the NFL in rushing yards, No. 25 in average yards per rush, and halfback Ryan Grant is averaging 3.4 yards a carry, down significantly from 5.1 yards last year.

The other two scouts agreed to some degree that defenses' fear of Favre caused them to slant game plans and more heavily to stopping him last year.

The third scout said declining run blocking by aging tackles Chad Clifton (he's 32) and Mark Tauscher (he's 31) and inconsistencies with interior blockers Daryn Colledge, Jason Spitz and Scott Wells were at least as responsible for the run game's problems.

"I've been impressed with the way (Rodgers) has played and certainly like the added dimension of his mobility, something Brett didn't have," the scout said. "But just because it was Brett Favre, people always thought you have to defend the pass because this guy can throw it from anywhere at anytime to anybody. Just that concept of defending Brett Favre instead of defending a passing game, they were always conscious of that. You don't know quite what you're getting.

"Rodgers is more disciplined with the offense and will take his shots and certainly throws a nice deep ball. So he can hurt you. It's just a matter of him developing a reputation -- I don't think it will be that of a gunslinger, but he'll have a reputation before it's all said and done of being a quality quarterback."

All three scouts rated the Packers' receiving corps, led by Greg Jennings and Donald Driver, as a major asset, along with Rodgers. ... Hard to argue that point. ...

Meanwhile, in a column published Monday, Press Gazette staffer Mike Vandermuse advised readers that Grant is capable of breaking out after a sluggish start.

Grant's production is down considerably from last season. Most alarming is his drop in average from 5.1 yards per carry in 2007 to 3.4 this year. He also has caught only four passes for 8 yards this season after grabbing 30 for 145 yards last year. Theories abound for the slide, but the biggest factor was his absence from training camp due to a holdout and hamstring injury.

Vandermuse added: "Hysterical claims that Grant simply isn't that good and will never live up to his new contract are premature. ..."

Vandermuse also believe the return of James Jones will give the receiving corps a big boost.

The more weapons Aaron Rodgers has at his disposal, the better the offense will be. When at his best, Jones can make an impact. As the No. 3 receiver, he will take pressure off Jennings and Driver and give head coach Mike McCarthy more play-calling options.

Jones has been bothered by a lingering knee injury and has just five catches for 38 yards this season after a 676-yard rookie campaign. Early indications are Jones will return -- meaning all five wideouts on the roster will finally be healthy.

Jones practiced Monday and said his knee passed the test.

"I ran full speed," Jones said. "Tested it out and exploded, it felt good. Hopefully I'll wake up with no soreness or anything like that."

If McCarthy opts to activate all five, he could bring back the five-receiver package he used so well last year for a handful of plays a game to stretch defenses and force favorable matchups in the passing game.

"It's a great package," Driver said Monday. "If we ran it, there's no five (defensive backs) in the National Football League that can stop us."

According to Dougherty, that's especially true with second-round draft pick Jordy Nelson coming on recently.

The five-receiver package could be a way for McCarthy to maximize his depth at the position, which might be the team's strongest top to bottom. Because of the injury to Jones, who came into the season as the No. 3 receiver, Nelson has played regularly in the rotation, sometimes as a third receiver, sometimes as a fourth. There are occasional packages where he's one of two receivers on the field.

Nelson ranks third in receptions (16) among Packers wide receivers, with 15 of those coming in the last five games. Jennings (37) and Driver (29) are the Packers' two leading receivers overall, and Ruvell Martin has five receptions -- he missed the second and third games because of a broken finger.

The greatest downside is that package leaves only the five offensive linemen to protect Rodgers, so Rodgers and the linemen have no margin for error on blitz pickups and hot reads.

However, it makes it harder for the defense to disguise blitzes.

The five-wide set seems like a great way to loosen things up for Grant.

DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT  

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In his past four starts, Schaub has thrown for 1,233 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions.

And as HoustonTexans.com staffer Brooke Bentley noted, Johnson capped his fabulous October with 143 receiving yards to give him 593 yards for the month. His 41 catches this month were the second-most by an NFL receiver in October since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. Eric Moulds caught 42 in October, 2000.

Johnson's 593 yards were the fifth-most by an NFL receiver in October since 1970. He leads the league with 56 catches for 772 yards and a 110.3 average per game.

That would translate to 164 catches and 2,372 receiving yards for a full season.

As SI.com's Peter King wrote on Monday: "This just in: You've got to mention Johnson with Randy Moss (who had his 800th catch Sunday) and Larry Fitzgerald among the elite wideouts."

Against Cincinnati, Johnson took several hard hits to the head, but that didn't stop him from making spectacular catches over the middle and up the sidelines.

"No. 80 is playing as good as I've ever seen a wide receiver play," head coach Gary Kubiak said. "I've been around some good ones -- Jerry Rice in San Francisco and Rod Smith in Denver. He wants the ball. He makes plays after the catch. He took a pounding (against the Bengals) and popped right back up.

"Defenses are doing things to try to take him away, but we're really moving him around. He responds to the mental pressure we put on him to get open. He's just doing a great job."

"He's special, and we're not even halfway there yet. I'm just very proud of him. He started leading this team the minute we walked out of Tennessee with his play and he hasn't stopped."

Thanks in large part to the Schaub-Johnson connection, the Texans are averaging 410 yards of total offense over the last five games.

"I think it's the best football we've played since I've been here," Johnson said. "It's fun. It's a lot of fun because we know what we can be. ..."

But as Houston Chronicle beat writer John McClain noted Tuesday, defeating Detroit and Cincinnati, which are a combined 0-15, at Reliant Stadium is one thing, but winning at Minnesota is something else.

If the Texans are going to extend their winning streak to four games, expect them to rely heavily on the passing game Sunday.

The Vikings (3-4) like to run and stop the run. They ranked first in both statistics last season. They rank eighth in rushing (128.4 yards) this season, and they're second in run defense (70.7). ...

Other notes of interest. ... Kevin Walter showed the Bengals what they've missed out on since he left Cincinnati in 2006 to sign with Houston. In his first game against his former team, Walter grabbed five passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns.

"I was in Cincinnati for three years and I still have good relationships with all those guys," Walter said. "It was good to see those guys today, but most of all it was good to get a win."

Walter entered the game with extra motivation and perhaps a little too much adrenaline, getting called for a false start on the first play of the Texans' first series.

"He was really pumped before the game," Johnson. "That's why he had that offsides, probably. I was telling him to calm down, and he goes, ‘Oh, whatever. I'll look out for you.'"

The two scores gave Walter five touchdowns for the season, and he proved to everyone on the field how valuable he has become as a Texans starter.

"I'm excited for him," Kubiak said. "Here's a kid that (former general manager) Charley (Casserly) and I were able to get a couple of years back. He didn't ask for anything.

"We probably should have started him that first year, and now he played against his old team and made some big plays like that. I know that's special. I saw some of their players go up to him after the game. I can imagine how much they respect him of the way he goes about his business. ..."

Wide receiver Jacoby Jones returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown following Cincinnati's opening drive. It was Jones' second punt return for touchdown of the year, tying him with New Orleans running back Reggie Bush for the most punt returns for a touchdown this season.

King called Jones' return "the single-most impressive special-teams play of Sunday's action."

Green carried nine times for 41 yards with a long run of 11. ...

In a related note, the Texans released running back Darius Walker last Saturday and promoted Ryan Moats from the practice squad.

And finally. ... Andre' Davis will continue to miss time following finger surgery; could miss 2-3 more weeks. Tight end Joel Dreessen sprained his jaw during the game Sunday, but is not expected to be limited this week. He is expected to play Sunday at Minnesota.

DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT  

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"In the grand scheme of things, winning the division is going to be tough to do," he said.

The defeat dropped the five-time defending division champions four games behind unbeaten Tennessee and left Indianapolis (3-4) in an unfamiliar position: at the bottom of the division looking up. Way up.

It's a view the Colts have enjoyed much of the decade. For years the tipped balls, big plays and even bigger stops have belonged to the Colts.

As Graves suggested, not anymore.

The Colts will have to draw from that past if they want to pull themselves out their current funk. The last time they were below .500 after seven games was 1998. Back then, Manning was a rookie trying to prove himself on a rebuilding team while Dungy was leading a renaissance in Tampa Bay.

A decade later, a renaissance isn't necessary. But Manning thinks an attitude makeover might be in order.

"I hope we play a little ticked off," Manning said. "There's a healthy way to be angry and try to bounce back and do something about it."

Being healthy -- angry or otherwise -- would help.

Running back Joseph Addai, who missed his second straight game with a hamstring injury, was among those watching from the sideline Monday night. Still, the Colts had their chances.

Tied late in the third quarter, they went for it on fourth-and-1 near midfield only to have Dominic Rhodes dropped for a loss. Trailing by three early in the fourth quarter, they went for it again on fourth-and-2 at the Tennessee 34. Manning's pass to Marvin Harrison was knocked down.

In a physical, bruising game that the Colts needed to win, they let too many opportunities slip away. Tight end Dallas Clark, who caught both of Manning's touchdown passes, called the difference between winning and losing in the NFL the finest in sports.

"It's what makes this game so great," said Clark. "When you're on the other end of it, it makes it awful."

The schedule offers little relief.

The Colts host surging New England on Sunday and travel to Pittsburgh and San Diego before Thanksgiving. They won't get another shot at the Titans until the season finale. By then, the division title may have been sewn up for weeks.

Not that the Colts can afford to dwell on it.

"We've got to realize that there's a lot of season left," Clark said. ...

Looking for positives? How about Clark finally hitting pay dirt?

As Indianapolis Star beat man Mike Chappell noted, Clark caught 11 touchdown passes last season, a career high and franchise record for a tight end.

He came up with his first this season in the first quarter when he pulled in a 10-yarder from Peyton Manning. It marked the first first-quarter touchdown allowed by the Tennessee defense in the past 10 games.

Clark added to his total in the third quarter, working down the right seam and catching a 19-yard TD from Manning.

Otherwise, not much for Fantasy owners to hang their hats on here. Harrison was limited to one catch for 12 yards while Reggie Wayne finished with just three receptions for 29 yards. Rhodes led the Colts with eight catches for 39 yards. ...

For what it's worth. ... Pro Football Weekly reports there's a growing sentiment around Indianapolis that Harrison will be given his walking papers in the offseason. The Colts' perennial Pro Bowler simply hasn't been the same explosive force since coming back from his bursa sac (knee) problems of 2007, and PFW believes the club will be reluctant to shell out the more than $13 million he's due in 2009.

The problem with cutting him is the Colts' lack of an established third receiver who could be plugged into coordinator Tom Moore's spread offense. ...

Also according to Chappell, The Colts' ever-changing offensive line changed yet another time in Tennessee.

Tony Ugoh, who missed the past four games with a groin injury, returned to his normal left tackle spot. That moved Charlie Johnson, who filled in for Ugoh during his absence, back to left guard and sent rookie Jamey Richard to the bench.

It marked the Colts' fourth different starting O-line combination in the first seven games. The only player to start all seven games at the same spot has been right tackle Ryan Diem.

The latest combination was effective. Although pressured on occasion, Manning wasn't sacked. And Rhodes finished with 70 yards on 17 carries.

Based on what we've seen to date this season, it's hard to imagine Addai -- even if he returns at full speed this week -- suddenly being much more productive. That said, Dungy told the Boston media on Wednesday he expected Addai to practice Wednesday and barring any unforeseen setbacks, play Sunday.

Those interested, however, will want to keep an eye on this week's Late-Breaking Updates for more as the week progresses. ...

Also worth noting. ... Colts president Bill Polian responded Tuesday evening to comments made by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young regarding the health of Manning.

Young, a member of ESPN's "Monday Night Football" pre-game and post-game show crew, questioned whether Manning was still having health issues.

"I know that Steve Young mentioned that on the broadcast or postgame show [Monday] night. I just want to put an end to that speculation. There's no one in the game I respect more than Steve Young. And I understand that observation is a good thing. But people can be right and wrong in observations," Polian said during his weekly radio show.

"But I can assure that Peyton is not hurt. He has no injuries to speak of. There's nothing wrong with his arm. There's nothing wrong with his knee. So to put those kinds of conjecture to rest, he has not appeared on the injury list and won't because he doesn't have an injury.

"We made some throws [Monday] night that we'd rather have back, I'm sure. It had nothing to do with injury."

Worth noting: Fellow ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer agrees with Young.

DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT  

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"I thought we had it today," Garrard said after the game. "I really thought were going to pull it out."

As Florida Times-Union staffer Michael C. Wright noted, Jones has caught at least five passes in six of the first seven games, including back-to-back games with at least seven catches. Currently appealing a possible three-game suspension for violating the league's drug policy, Jones nearly hauled in a game-winning TD on the next-to-last play.

"It was a tough loss. We know we can play a lot better than we did," Jones said. "We had a chance [at the end]. [Garrard] threw a great ball. We've just got to make that play."

As of Wednesday, Jones still hadn't heard from the NFL in response to his appeal of a three-game suspension for violating the league's drug policy. He was hoping to hear something Tuesday but in this case no news is probably good news. ...

Meanwhile, Orlando Sentinel staffer Jim Nasella reports the loss to Cleveland left the team trying to plug holes in a variety of areas and head coach Jack Del Rio frustrated as he seeks answers.

"It's almost like putting your finger in a dike and there's a leak somewhere else," Del Rio said Monday. "Consistency is the key right now."

Del Rio singled out the offensive line for what he called a lack of surge that is hampering the running game (the team's calling card).

Any belief that the Jaguars would exploit Cleveland's 26th-ranked run defense was squashed by nose tackle Shaun Rogers, who often shed blocks from center Brad Meester to blow up plays.

It didn't matter whether it was Fred Taylor (eight carries, 24 yards) or Maurice Drew (12 carries, 29 yards) because there was no room on designed run plays.

"We remain committed to the running game," he said, "but I don't feel like we're changing the line of scrimmage enough and we're not creating enough space for our backs."

Against the Browns, the Jaguars managed just 113 yards rushing, 59 on scrambles from Garrard. "When I'm talking about running the ball and being committed to it, I'm talking about running the ball well," Del Rio said.

"I'm not committed to running the ball 40 times for 2 yards. We need to be committed to running the ball well and we need a surge in order to do that."

That won't get any easier going forward. Del Rio said guard Chris Naeole probably is lost for the season because he faces surgery after breaking his hand in pregame warm-ups Sunday.

"Most likely he's out for the year," Del Rio said. "He worked so hard to get himself back. We were going to start him and he breaks it in pregame warm-ups. It's a shame."

Del Rio couldn't confirm that kicker Josh Scobee broke his wrist against Cleveland.

"I've not heard that," he said. "I know he was going to get an MRI or X-ray or something. He's got something he's getting examined, I don't know if it's a wrist or a hand, but nothing with his feet."

WR Mike Walker has been battling a knee infection but is expected back this week against Cincinnati, Del Rio said. Walker has missed the last two games. ...

Taylor still is searching for the 11,000-yard mark in rushing. He needed just 43 yards against Cleveland but gained only 24, leaving himself 19 to go. Taylor now ranks 21st in NFL history for the most attempts (2,365). He surpassed Jim Brown on Sunday. ...

Garrard has thrown 150 consecutive passes without an interception. ...

Scobee had a potential game-tying, 38-yard field-goal try blocked, snapping his streak of 11 consecutive made field goals. It didn't lead to any Cleveland points, but the blocked kick stalled momentum.

DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 14:00 PT