RAVENS (2-6) AT JAGUARS (5-3)
11 a.m.
The scoop: Jacksonville has already worked its way successfully through half the AFC North — the tough half — by beating Cincinnati and the Steelers. Now the Jaguars get the bottom-feeder, Baltimore, which is expected to get QB Kyle Boller back for the first time since the opening game. Boller's return should help an offense that has produced a league-worst 97 points and didn't manage a touchdown in last week's 21-9 loss to the Bengals. The Ravens have won six in a row against the Jaguars, though they haven't played in Jacksonville since 2001.
Prediction: Jaguars, 16-13
CHIEFS (5-3) AT BILLS (3-5)
11 a.m.
The scoop: Despite all its offensive problems, despite the inefficiency of first-year starter T.J. Losman, Buffalo finds itself just a game out of first place in the AFC East, thanks to another loss by New England. The Bills also hope to find themselves in a situation similar to last season, when they were 3-5 at the halfway point and won six of their last eight games. That, though, will be difficult to replicate. After Kansas City, which has won three of its last four, the Bills play San Diego, Carolina, New England and Denver in the next five weeks. Lotsa luck.
Prediction: Bills, 24-23
49ERS (2-6) AT BEARS (5-3)
11 a.m.
The scoop: Chicago has a pretty good formula going — a two-headed running game with Thomas Jones and rookie Cedric Benson and the league's stingiest defense. The Bears give up fewer points than a Motel 6 Rewards Program (12.2 ppg). That cannot be good news for San Francisco, which managed just six points in last week's loss to the Giants and has scored an NFC-low 117 . The 49ers have an aptly named QB, too — Cody Pickett — at least as far as the Bears are concerned. They are tied for the NFC lead with 13 INTs, meaning they can pick it off.
Prediction: Bears, 23-0
CARDINALS (2-6) AT LIONS (3-5)
11 a.m.
The scoop: Arizona might not be accustomed to the climate-controlled air in the Ford Field warehouse, but, then, the Cardinals don't appear to be accustomed to the air anywhere outside the desert. They are 0-3 on the road, though the losses were to teams (Giants, Seahawks, Cowboys) with winning records. That will not be the case with Detroit, which has lost its past two homes games. Kurt Warner returned as the Cardinals' starting QB last week and threw for 334 yards . The Cardinals have a chance if Joey Harrington is the Lions' quarterback.
Prediction: Lions, 23-17
TEXANS (1-7) AT COLTS (8-0)
11 a.m.
The scoop: Indianapolis, which has not lost to any team this season, has NEVER lost to Houston. Not three weeks ago in Reliant Stadium (38-20). Not the three previous years against the Texans. It is unlikely anything out of the norm will occur this time, too, though the Colts — the only unbeaten team in the NFL — are coming off a huge psychological victory in New England. In fact, about the only way the Texans can win is if the Colts give the game away like the Steelers did in 2002, when the Texans had 47 yards offense and won, 24-6.
Prediction: Colts, 34-17
PATRIOTS (4-4) AT DOLPHINS (3-6)
11 a.m.
The scoop: Believe it or not, Miami can tie for the lead in the AFC East with a victory against New England and it might not be as far-fetched as it sounds. The Patriots have won four of the past five with the Dolphins, and the loss came last December in Miami, 24-20. OK, so the Patriots were getting ready for the playoffs and backed off their starters , but how is that different from this year? The Patriots are playing with a cast, especially defensively, that is much different from last year's Super Bowl team. Still, can't imagine them losing two in a row.
Prediction: Patriots, 24-20
VIKINGS (3-5) AT GIANTS (6-2)
11 a.m., Ch. 13
The scoop: This is the third time since 1990 New York has started 6-2. The other times were 1990 and 2000, and each time the Giants went to the Super Bowl. Nobody is ready to anoint them a Super Bowl team just yet, but they have some of the necessary ingredients: An offense that leads the league in points per game (29.1) and a defense that leads the NFC in takeaways (24). Plus, a running back who is third in the NFC with 760 yards rushing and a 6-foot-5, 229-pound receiver who makes one-handed catches. Oh yeah, and a quarterback named Manning.
Prediction: Giants, 34-20
JETS (2-6) AT PANTHERS (6-2)
2:05 p.m.
The scoop: Carolina has done a good job beating up on people and working together — and that's just the cheerleaders. The Panthers haven't been too shabby, either, winning five in a row and starting to look like they did in 2003. That was apparent last week when they settled a battle for first place in the NFC South by hammering Tampa Bay, 34-14. The Panthers do a good job against the run, allowing a league-low 74 yards rushing per game. Apparently, some of their cheerleaders are good against the run, too — from the police.
Prediction: Panthers, 30-10
BRONCOS (6-2) AT RAIDERS (3-5)
2:05 p.m., Ch. 2
The scoop: Denver has this annoying little habit of folding in the second half of a season and the Broncos don't want to do it again. It has happened every year since 2002 — the Broncos started 6-2 that year and finished 9-7 — and they haven't played above .500 in the second half of each of the past three seasons. The Raiders are the best 3-5 team in football and are coming off another close loss, this one on the final play to K.C. They have 23 or more points in three consecutive games for the first time since they went to the Super Bowl in '02.
Prediction: Raiders, 23-21
REDSKINS (5-3) AT BUCCANEERS (5-3)
2:15 p.m.
The scoop: Tampa Bay is in something of a free fall, losing three of its past four after a 4-0 start, the most convincing of which came last week at home to Carolina (34-14). The Bucs don't want to waste another opportunity at home, either, because they play four of their next five on the road. Washington knows all about rebounding. The Redskins did a good job of it last week, beating the Eagles, 17-10, a week after they were manhandled by the Giants, 36-0. The Bucs have won the past four games against the 'Skins at Raymond James Stadium.
Prediction: Buccaneers, 17-16
PACKERS (1-7) AT FALCONS (6-2)
2:15 p.m.
The scoop: Atlanta held Miami to 0 for 9 third-down conversions in last week's 17-10 victory. Green Bay held the Steelers to 0 for 8 third-down conversions and lost, 20-10. Go figure. Something will have to change for the Packers when they play in Atlanta for the first time in 13 years. Right now, the only battle in which the Packers are engaged is the race for the No. 1 draft pick with Houston. The Falcons, meantime, are tied with Carolina for the lead in the NFC South. But they have won three in a row and get the other Bay — Tampa — after they play Green.
Prediction: Falcons, 30-17
RAMS (4-4) AT SEAHAWKS (6-2)
2:15 p.m., Ch. 13
The scoop: St. Louis has done a good job maintaining decent standing in the NFC West, remaining two games behind Seattle despite the loss of its three big offensive weapons — QB Marc Bulger and WRs Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce. All three are expected to return , and just in time. The Seahawks have won four in a row and have the NFL's No. 1 ranked offense. The Rams, though, won both games in Seattle last season, including playoffs. Their comeback from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter last October put the then-unbeaten Seahawks in a season-long funk.
Prediction: Seahawks, 34-30
BROWNS (3-5) AT STEELERS (6-2)
6:30 p.m., ESPN
The scoop: In its past three visits to Heinz Field, Cleveland has scored 89 points against the Steelers, though the Browns' record in those games is 1-2. The Browns' offense would love to generate nearly 30 points this time, too, though the chances are about as remote as the Steelers signing Terrell Owens. The Browns are averaging 14.2 ppg — only Houston and Baltimore average fewer — and have scored more than 20 points in a game just once this season. Of course, the Steelers, in games not involving Ben Roethlisberger, average just 18.5 points this season.
Prediction: Steelers, 24-7