ARIZONA (3-9) AT CINCINNATI (2-10)
SERIES: Bengals lead, 4-2
LAST MEETING: Bengals win, 24-21, on Aug. 31, 1997, as Jeff Blake passes for 252 yards.
THE SCOOP: Both teams are run by interim coaches . . . Cardinals r returns to the lineup after missing last week with thumb and rib injuries . . . QB Akili Smith is expected to start for the Bengals despite having the lowest QB rating (52.5) and fewest TD passes (3) in the league . . . Smith went six starts without throwing a TD pass before finding rookie Peter Warrick last week. Smith has failed to reach 100 passing yards in five of his past seven starts and has completed more than 10 passes only once in those seven starts . . . Cardinals RB Michael Pittman has 61 receptions, tops among RBs. He also has 1,085 total yards, including 515 receiving yards. He has gained more than 100 scrimmage yards only once this season.
THE PICK: Snooze and you don't lose. Cardinals, 24-20
DALLAS (4-8) TAMPA BAY (7-5)
SERIES: Cowboys lead, 6-0
LAST MEETING: Cowboys win, 17-13, on Oct. 21, 1990, as Troy Aikman caps an 80-yard drive with a 23-yard TD pass to Michael Irvin with 23 seconds left.
THE SCOOP: Cowboys RB Emmitt Smith need 93 yards to join Barry Sanders as the only players to rush for 1,000 yards in 10 consecutive seasons . . . The Buccaneers have lost all eight meetings, including playoffs, against the Cowboys by a combined margin of 191-97 . . . Last week, Warrick Dunn became the first Bucs' runner in 19 games to gain 100 yards. It was Dunn's first 100-yard effort in two years. Dunn ran for 106 yards against the Buffalo Bills, the first time Buffalo's defense has allowed a 100-yard rusher this season . . . The Cowboys are one loss from their first losing season since 1997 and second in 10 years . . . Bucs LB Derrick Brooks had 19 unassisted tackles last week.
THE PICK: All streaks must end. Bucs, 29-17
DENVER (8-4) NEW ORLEANS (8-4)
SERIES: Broncos lead, 4-2
LAST MEETING: Saints won, 30-28, on Dec. 25, 1994, as Jim Everett passes for 343 yards and three TDs. WR Torrence Small has six catches for 200 yards and two TDs.
THE SCOOP: The Broncos committed five turnovers in consecutive weeks, yet won both games, and extended their winning streak to four . . . The Saints have an NFL-high 55 sacks in 12 games. . . . The Saints defense held St. Louis Rams RB Marshall Faulk to a season-low 43 scrimmage yards last week . . . After a 3-13 record last season, first-year coach Jim Haslett has guided the Saints to seven victories in their past eight games and a share of the NFC West lead . . . The Broncos have had at least three TD passes in four games this season. The Saints have not allowed three TD passes in any game this season.
THE PICK: Reality sets in on Saints. Broncos, 24-20
MIAMI (9-3) AT BUFFALO (7-5)
SERIES: Dolphins lead, 42-25-1
LAST MEETING: Dolphins win, 22-13, on Oct. 8, 2000, as CB Sam Madison returns a fumble 20 yards for a TD with five minutes left in the game.
THE SCOOP: Since 1990, Miami is 2-8 in games played in wintry conditions in the months of December and January. All-time, Miami is 3-7 in games when the temperature drops below 29 degrees. Forecasts for Sunday call for partly sunny skies, with temperatures ranging between 26-34 . . . Bills WR Eric Moulds leads the league with 84 receptions . . . The Dolphins have outscored their opponents 67-3 in the third period. That is the fewest points allowed in any quarter by any team . . . Bills QB Rob Johnson has been knocked out of the game in seven of his first 14 starts . . . The Dolphins won at Indianapolis last week without starting QB Jay Fiedler and top RB Lamar Smith. Both are questionable.
THE PICK: Can you say frozen fish? Bills, 20-17
N.Y. GIANTS (8-4) WASHINGTON (7-5)
SERIES: Giants lead, 75-56-4
LAST MEETING: Redskins win, 16-6, on Sept. 24, 2000, as Brad Johnson throws for 289 yards and two TDs.
THE SCOOP: QB Brad Johnson returns to the starting lineup for the Redskins. Jeff George went 69 of 116 for 833 yards and five TDs in three games that Johnson missed. The Redskins were 1-2 in those games . . . The Giants have allowed two 100-yard receivers this season, including the Redskins' Albert Connell, who had four catches for 122 yards in Week 4 . . . Giants DE Keith Hamilton had three sacks against the Cardinals after totaling five in the previous 11 games.
THE PICK: Hey Jim Fassel, guarantee this . . . Redskins, 23-17
OAKLAND (10-2) AT PITTSBURGH (6-6)
SERIES: Raiders lead, 7-5
LAST MEETING: Steelers win, 29-10, on Dec. 10, 1995, as Neil O'Donnell throws for 230 yards and two TDs, and Erric Pegram rushes for 122 yards.
THE SCOOP: This is the Raiders' first visit to Three Rivers Stadium since 1980 . . . This game matches the two AFC teams with the most rushing TDs this season (Raiders 20, Steelers 14) . . . The Raiders' 10 victories are their most since 1993, and they are a step closer to their first division title since 1990 . . . Steelers QB Kordell Stewart had a career-high three TD passes last week and has accounted for seven TDs in the past two games . . . The Raiders' offense was flagged five times for holding in the first half last week.
THE PICK: An old-fashioned AFC brawl. Raiders, 30-24
ST. LOUIS (8-4) AT CAROLINA (5-7)
SERIES: Panthers lead, 6-5
LAST MEETING: Panthers win, 27-24, on Nov. 5, 2000, as Joe Nedney kicks four FGs, including the game winner with 40 seconds left.
THE SCOOP: After a 6-0 start, St. Louis has lost four of six, including three consecutive at the Trans World Dome — a streak that started after 14 home victories in a row . . . When the teams met last year in Carolina, Rams WR Az-Zahir Hakim had TD catches of 48 and 49 yards . . . The Panthers have allowed only two TD passes of 40 or more yards this season . . . The Rams have 7 TD passes of 40 or more yards this season, but none since Week 5.
THE PICK:Kurt Warner puts Rams back on track. Rams, 37-24
SEATTLE (4-8) AT ATLANTA (3-10)
SERIES: Seahawks lead, 4-2
LAST MEETING: Falcons win, 24-17, on Nov. 30, 1997, as Jamal Anderson scores two TDs.
THE SCOOP: Seahawks QB Jon Kitna, who has started eight games, will start in place of Brock Huard, who suffered a bruised kidney and probably won't play the rest of the season . . . The Falcons have lost four in a row and nine of 10 . . . Seahawks RB Ricky Watters caught nine passes for a career-high 126 yards last week . . . The Falcons have not allowed a 100-yard receiver in their past eight games after allowing three in their first five. The Falcons' streak of 25 possessions without allowing a TD ended when Oakland scored early in the second quarter last week.
THE PICK: Leftover turkey. Seahawks, 28-20
TENNESSEE(9-3) AT PHILADELPHIA (9-4)
SERIES: Eagles lead, 6-0
LAST MEETING: Eagles win, 21-6, on Oct. 24, 1994, as Randall Cunningham passes for 310 yards and two TDs, including three completions over 50 yards to Fred Barnett.
THE SCOOP: Veteran PK Al Del Greco has missed two FG attempts and an extra point in the final moments of the past two games, both narrow losses . . . Eagles QB Donovan McNabb rushed for 125 yards — the most for a quarterback since Chicago's Bobby Douglass ran for 127 yards against Oakland on Dec. 17, 1972. It was the sixth highest single-game rushing total ever by a QB.
THE PICK: Eagles' one-man show grounded. Titans, 23-19
SAN FRANCISCO (4-8) AT SAN DIEGO (1-11)
SERIES: 49ers lead, 5-3
LAST MEETING: 49ers win, 17-10, on Nov. 23, 1997, as Steve Young passes for 245 yards and two TDs, while S Merton Hanks intercepts two passes.
THE SCOOP: Six years ago, these teams met in the Super Bowl . . . After missing the playoffs just twice from 1981-98, the 49ers are one loss from a second consecutive losing season . . . The Chargers will miss the playoffs for the fifth season in a row . . . 49ers QB Jeff Garcia's 3,060 passing yards are fourth-most in the NFL, but he has passed for more than 265 yards only four times this season.
THE PICK: Can't . . . type . . . Charg . . . Oh, well, 49ers, 27-23
CLEVELAND (3-10) AT JACKSONVILLE (5-7)
SERIES: Jaguars lead, 5-0
Last meeting: Jaguars win, 27-7, on Sept. 3, 2000, as Mark Brunell passes for 301 yards and one TD.
THE SCOOP: The Jaguars are 5-0 against the Browns . . . The Browns have outscored their opponents 51-26 in the first quarter but have been outscored 286-89 after that . . . Jaguars RB Fred Taylor has rushed for 784 yards and scored six TDs in the past six games. His current six-game streak of 100-yard games is the NFL's longest this season . . . The Jaguars have two rushing TDs in each of their past three games against the Browns. The Browns have allowed at least two rushing TDs four times this season and have allowed six running scores in the past two games . . . Last week, the Browns had five first downs and gained 28 yards rushing on 17 attempts against the Ravens.
THE PICK: Some streaks end later than others. Jaguars, 41-7
INDIANAPOLIS (7-5) AT N.Y. JETS (8-4)
SERIES: Colts lead, 37-23
LAST MEETING: Colts win, 23-15, on Nov. 12, 2000, as Edgerrin James rushes for 131 yards and a TD, and PK Mike Vanderjagt kicks four FGs.
THE SCOOP: The Colts have won four in a row against the Jets and 21 of the past 27 . . . Colts QB Peyton Manning's three lowest-yardage passing games this season have come against the Buffalo Bills (187 yards), Miami Dolphins (209) and New York Jets (210). The Colts' four remaining games are against the Jets, Bills, Dolphins and Vikings . . . Last week, Jets RB Curtis Martin had his worst offensive game in four years, gaining just 29 yards rushing on 17 carries.
THE PICK: Both teams are fighting for their playoff lives. Colts need the win more, 28-21.
GREEN BAY (5-7) AT CHICAGO(3-9)
ESPN, 6:30 p.m.
SERIES: Bears lead, 83-70-6
LAST MEETING: Bears win, 27-24, on Oct. 1, 2000, as Marcus Robinson catches TD passes of 58 and 68 yards as Bears record first victory.
THE SCOOP: The Packers have won the past six games in Chicago . . . The Bears have held opponents to 20 points or fewer in four of past five games . . . Bears WR Marcus Robinson, who had one reception for minus-3 yards last week, could miss this game after injuring his back Thursday. Robinson's 55 catches are only two fewer than at this stage last season. But his 741 yards are considerably less than his 1,028 yards after 12 games last year.
THE PICK: Reclaiming a smidgen of respect. Packers, 26-17.
KANSAS CITY (5-7) AT NEW ENGLAND (3-9)
Ch. 4, 7 p.m. Monday
SERIES: Chiefs lead, 15-8-3
LAST MEETING: Chiefs win, 16-14, on Oct. 10, 1999, as Pete Stoyanovich kicks three FGs.
THE SCOOP: Both QBs have hand injuries. Chiefs QB Elvis Grbac missed last week's loss to the winless Chargers with an injured index finger on his throwing hand. Patriots QB Drew Bledsoe has played three weeks with a jammed thumb, throwing one TD and four interceptions . . . The Chiefs have lost four in a row, including the past two by five total points. The Patriots have lost five of six, while seven of their nine losses have been by eight points or fewer.
THE PICK: A show of hands. Chiefs, 30-27