Leading rusher out for Giants in Atlanta

The New York Giants will play a critical game Sunday at Atlanta against the Falcons without their leading rusher.

Giants coach Tom Coughlin said Ahmad Bradshaw will not play because of knee and foot problems.

“It would have been a reach for him to be ready,” Coughlin said of Bradshaw, who has rushed for 869 yards and five TDs this season.

He sprained the knee in last week’s 52-27 win over New Orleans and did not recover in time to practice this week.

With the team already missing their second-leading rusher Andre Brown (broken fibula), the Giants will now turn to rookie David Wilson and recent free agent signees Ryan Torain and Kregg Lumpkin.

Wilson broke the team’s single-game record of all-purpose yardage with 327 against the Saints.

■ Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara was fined $15,750 for a horsecollar tackle on New Orleans running back Pierre Thomas on Sunday.

Bears: Wide receiver Earl Bennett (concussion), cornerback Tim Jennings (shoulder) and Brian Urlacher (hamstring) will miss Sunday’s game against the Packers.

Bengals: Second-year quarterback Andy Dalton was under heavy pres- sure most of Thursday’s 34-13 win over the Eagles. He finished 13 of 27 for 127 yards and a below-average passer rating of 74.2. “It was very un-Andy-like last night,” offensive coordinator Jay Gruden said. “He made some plays that just weren’t up to par.” Gruden said half of the Eagles’ six sacks were the result of Dalton holding the ball too long.

Colts: Center Samson Satele (ankle), right tackle Winston Justice (biceps), running back Delone Carter (ankle), linebacker Kavell Conner (hamstring) and safety Tom Zbikowski (knee) will not make the trip to Houston for Sunday’s game.

Cowboys: Defensive tackle Jay Ratliff is unlikely to play again this season after undergoing sports hernia surgery. Coach Jason Garrett said Ratliff would be out three to six weeks, meaning he would only have a chance to play if Dallas makes the playoffs.

Dolphins: Receiver Davone Bess (back) and linebacker Koa Misi (ankle) have been ruled out of Sunday’s game against Jacksonville.

Eagles: Philadelphia had four fumbles, one interception and one punt blocked by a teammate in Thursday night’s 34-13 loss to the Bengals. That brought the Eagles’ turnovers total to an NFL-high 34 in 14 games. They’ve only forced 12.

49ers: The NFL leader with 19½ sacks, Al- don Smith enters Sunday night’s game at New England three sacks short of Michael Strahan’s NFL record after recording at least one sack in seven consecutive games.

Jets: Rookie defensive lineman Quinton Coples was fined $15,000 for grabbing the facemask of Jaguars quarterback Chad Henne on Sunday.

Packers: Linebacker Clay Matthews, who has missed the past four games with a hamstring injury, will play Sunday at Chicago.

Raiders: Tyvon Branch, who has been sidelined by neck and ankle injuries, practiced for the first time this week. The strong safety is optimistic he’ll play in Oakland’s final home game of the season Sunday against Kansas City.

Redskins: Quarterback Robert Griffin III practiced for the third straight day on his sprained right knee and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game at Cleveland. “He keeps on improving every day,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “He’s much better today.”

Saints: Jon Vilma urged a federal judge to reject NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s motion to dismiss the defamation lawsuit filed against him by the linebacker.

Seahawks: Cornerback Walter Thurmond will miss Sunday’s game against the Bills in Toronto with a hamstring injury.