The New York Giants lost an important game in San Francisco Sunday, but unfortunately that’s not all they lost. Linebacker Michael Boley suffered a hamstring injury that has put his status for Sunday in jeopardy. This is just the latest blow for a defense that has lost several players this year, but they have stilled managed to stay in the middle of the pack. Head coach Tom Coughlin knows how big a loss Boley could be though, “He’s a middle backer. He communicates. He’s played very, very well. It’s not about one individual. It’s about a team and someone now is going to have to step up if he can’t go and perform the duties that he had to try to help us win a game.” The reason why the defense has been able to maintain adequacy is because of the pressure they supply as shown by the league high 30 sacks. The Giants have been playing a nickel set so much it has almost been their base formation, and Boley’s athleticism has allowed them to get away with having only two linebackers on the field.

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Mercedes Lewis parlayed a 10 touchdown season to a Pro Bowl in 2010 and a brand new contract in 2011. This year though, Lewis has only 16 receptions, 700 yards and 0 touchdowns. Apparently head coach Jack Del Rio is tired of talking about it and informed the media that he will not answer questions about Lewis, “know you have to ask those questions. We’ve talked about that subject quite a bit. Until we do something as a football team, we’re going to hear that, and I understand that, but I don’t have anything I can tell you sitting here today that’s going to help you feel better about it.” Lewis has suffered from bad quarterback play with Blaine Gabbert, but tight ends are usually a rookie quarterback’s security blanket and Lewis has let Gabbert down with problems dropping passes. Lewis is just one problem that the Jaguars have the worst offense in the league by over 30 yards.

Leon Hall has been incredibly durable as a professional football player. He has played in 74 games for the Cincinnati Bengals and started his 66th straight game last Sunday. That will change after he tore his Achilles tendon as he is out for the year, but there is further fear over more than just his immediate future. The surgeon charged with repairing the torn tendon has less than positive things to say about the long term implications, “Having the ability to be very reactive and quick and change directions can be more demanding because he has to react to fleet-footed athletes," Kwong said. "With offensive players, at least they know where they're going. With a defensive player you're reacting.” People with knowledge of the history of Hall’s particular injury know that it is about a 50/50 chance that a player can return to form. Hall luckily just signed a contract extension prior to this season, but the Bengals have a big hole to fill in their secondary this season at the very least, and possibly permanently.

A glance at Chicago Bears defensive end Julius Peppers’ stat line from Sunday doesn’t produce a jaw dropping reaction. One sack and a pass deflection doesn’t seem like unusually good production from the Pro Bowl end, but he made a lot more impact than the stats indicate thanks to the creativity of defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford dropped back to pass 39 times with Peppers on the field; 28 times he lined up at his normal position of right end, but also 6 times at right end and 5 times at left defensive tackle. The Lions, who already have shaky line play, had to shift their protection schemes to stop Peppers which created opportunities for his teammates. Even though only one other Bears defender had a sack, they created the type of pressure that caused Stafford to throw 4 interceptions, 2 of which were returned for touchdowns. The Bears offense has been doing a better job of not putting the defense in bad spots with turnovers, and the defense has rewarded that effort with stalwart play.

The New York Jets will be traveling from one end of the defensive spectrum to the other in the course of just four days. On Sunday they lost to the Patriots spread offense 37-16 at home, but will now have to prepare for the Broncos read option on Thursday night. The Broncos offense is one rarely seen at the NFL level according to NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock, “With Tim Tebow at quarterback, it’s almost a throwback to the college game.” Jets head coach Rex Ryan wrote a book in 1999 titled “Coaching Football’s 46 Defense” he wrote an entire chapter on defending the option. The Jets defense is the first legitimate unit charged with stopping the unpopular offensive scheme the Broncos have adopted for Tebow who is 3-1 as a starter. Ryan is a brilliant defensive mind, and it is hard to think that he will not figure out how to slow down the read option attack, even if they only have four days to do it.

At the beginning of his post game presser, St. Louis Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo named 15 players that are on the injury report after Sunday’s last second win over Cleveland, including two players who are now done for the season. Tight end Michael Hoomanawanui and cornerback Al Harris were both placed on injured reserve after suffering ACL tears in their knees. Spagnuolo is understandably frustrated by the latest season ending injuries, especially Harris’, “I'm crushed by that one. I tell you what, he has been a terrific, terrific addition in a lot of ways. He came off an injury from a year ago and he battled every week to get his body healthy and right. And what he has meant in the (meeting) room, certainly in the defensive back room ... He brings out a whole different level of energy out on the practice field.” The Rams have been crippled by injuries, but speculation has begun as to whether another bad losing season would be reason enough to cost Spagnuolo his job after 8 combined wins in his first two years.