Stefanie Spielman, the wife of NFL and Ohio State star Chris Spielman who led a public fight against breast cancer, died Thursday after a lengthy battle with the disease. She was 42. Stefanie Spielman died at the family's home in Upper Arlington, surrounded by her family, said WBNS radio in Columbus, where Chris Spielman co-hosts a show.

Several times a week, The Trenches will present team reports from Sporting News' 32 NFL correspondents.

This is their chance. If the Lions hope to win another game, they had better beat the Browns on Sunday. They're not going to have a better opportunity the rest of this season.

The Lions have one of the worst defenses in the NFL, especially against the pass. In a 27-10 loss Sunday at Minnesota, they allowed Brett Favre to heave deep balls to Sidney Rice. They gave up 10 plays of 20 yards or more.

But the Browns have scored only five offensive touchdowns all season, worst in the NFL, and have scored six points or fewer in six of their last eight games. In a 16-0 loss to Baltimore on "Monday Night Football," they didn't take shots down the field.

"Well, they're going to take them against us," defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham said.

Even when Sidney Rice is tightly covered, Brett Favre isn't afraid to fire a pass downfield. Favre's new favorite receiver just keeps fighting through the contact and coming up with the ball, perhaps finally making Minnesota fans forget Randy Moss. Favre passed for a season-high 344 yards, 201 to Rice, and the Vikings overcame several self-inflicted setbacks to beat the Detroit Lions 27-10...