Nfl Matchups

Atlanta at New Orleans

Line: Saints by 1.

Last meeting: Falcons won 17-15 at Atlanta on Nov. 17.

Key stats: It’s Saints’ No. 28 offense versus Falcons’ No. 28 defense.

Worth watching: Saints QB Jim Everett is out because of a concussion, and will be replaced by Idaho product Doug Nussmeier.

Outlook: Saints close their home season against an old rival, but the cavernous Superdome will look empty again. Falcons will extend Saints’ losing streak to seven as they remain winless under interim coach Rick Venturi.

Baltimore at Cincinnati

Line: Bengals by 3.

Last meeting: Bengals won 24-21 at Baltimore on Nov. 3.

Key stats: Bengals are 4-2 under coach Bruce Coslet.

Worth watching: Game features two of AFC’s top receivers, Ravens’ Derrick Alexander and Bengals’ Carl Pickens.

Outlook: Resurgent Bengals face a Ravens team fresh off an upset of Pittsburgh. But the Jeff Blake-Pickens combination should outscore Ravens.

Denver at Green Bay

Line: Packers by 8-1/2.

Last meeting: Packers won 30-27 in Green Bay on Oct. 10, 1993.

Key stats: Packers lead the NFC with a turnover differential of plus-14.

Worth watching: Backup quarterback Bill Musgrave gets his first start as John Elway rests his sore hamstring. Can Packers wide receiver Antonio Freeman put up big numbers against any team other than the Bears?

Outlook: A few weeks ago, this looked like a Super Bowl preview. But Broncos have clinched home field throughout the AFC playoffs and, with Elway ailing, shouldn’t take many risks. The Packers want to win to be assured of home field through the NFC playoffs. The Broncos have struggled against their first three NFC opponents, beating the Bucs by 4, the Bears by 5, and the Vikings by 4.

Jacksonville at Houston

Line: Oilers by 6.

Last meeting: Oilers won 34-27 at Jacksonville on Sept. 8.

Key stats: It’s Jacksonville’s No. 2 offense versus Houston’s No. 8 defense.

Worth watching: Houston’s second-year QB Steve McNair starts again in place of injured Chris Chandler. He threw for two TDs against Jets last week.

Outlook: Houston has won twice in last five weeks, but only against New Orleans and Jets. Jacksonville, with two straight victories and Seattle and Atlanta up the next two weeks, has a chance at a winning season in its second year of existence.

New York Giants at Miami

Line: Dolphins by 7.

Last meeting: Giants won 19-14 at Miami on Dec. 5, 1993.

Key stats: Despite a losing record, Dolphins are second in AFC with a plus-10 turnover differential.

Worth watching: Dolphins rookie RB Karim Abdul-Jabbar is just a yard short of the Dolphins rookie rushing record of 793 yards. Giants increasingly relying on running back Tyrone Wheatley.

Outlook: Unlike the Giants, the Dolphins are clinging to slim playoff hopes. The Miami running game has been struggling, but could get well against the Giants.

St. Louis at Chicago

Line: Bears by 6-1/2.

Last meeting: Rams won 34-28 at Chicago on Sept. 24, 1995.

Key stats: Don’t look for many touchdowns: Bears are 24th in offense; the Rams are 29th.

Worth watching: Rams WR Isaac Bruce is second in the NFL with 1,169 receiving yards, and is averaging 16.2 yards a catch with six TDs. Raymont Harris has taken over as the Bears’ starting tailback, and is averaging 4.1 yards a carry.

Outlook: The Bears’ improving defense, combined with Chicago weather in December, should contain the Rams’ offense, even if Bruce comes up with the occasional big play.

San Diego at Pittsburgh

Line: Steelers by 9-1/2.

Last meeting: Steelers won 31-16 at Pittsburgh on Oct. 1, 1995.

Key stats: Steelers have won six of last seven from Chargers.

Worth watching: Chargers go with QB Sean Salisbury in place of Stan Humphries (concussion). Steelers once again rely on RB Jerome Bettis (1,341 yards, 4.5 avg., 10 TDs).

Outlook: The Chargers are scrambling to stay in the AFC wild-card race, but Three Rivers Stadium in December is not the place to be doing that. Steelers can clinch the AFC Central with a victory and a Houston loss or tie. The Steelers will hold up their end of the deal.

Washington at Tampa Bay

Line: Redskins by 3.

Last meeting: Bucs won 14-6 at Tampa on Sept. 24, 1995.

Key stats: Redskins’ plus-12 turnover differential is second in the NFC.

Worth watching: Washington RB Terry Allen still leads the NFL with 17 TDs, but has none in last three games. Bucs need more than 3 yards a carry from Errict Rhett.

Outlook: The Bucs had a three-game winning streak snapped last week at Carolina, and are now trying to finish strongly under rookie coach Tony Dungy. The Redskins have lost two straight (San Francisco, Dallas) and four of five. Tampa has always been a place to get warm and well.

New York Jets at New England

Line: Patriots by 13.

Last meeting: Patriots won 31-27 at New York.

Key stats: The Jets are sixth in offense; the Patriots, seventh.

Worth watching: With Neil O’Donnell injured again, the Jets give Glenn Foley his first career start at QB. The Patriots look for Drew Bledsoe to continue his big season (24 TD passes, only nine interceptions).

Outlook: If talent weren’t the difference here, incentive would be. The Patriots need a victory to maintain division tiebreaker edge over Buffalo in the AFC East race. That could give them a home playoff game.

Carolina at San Francisco

Line: 49ers by 9.

Last meeting: Panthers won 23-7 at Carolina on Sept. 22.

Key stats: San Francisco is third in the NFC in defense; Carolina is fifth.

Worth watching: Two key players are ex-teammates who will have to face each other. San Francisco WR Jerry Rice (11.9 yards a catch, 6 TDs) and Carolina CB Eric Davis (four interceptions in the last six games).

Outlook: Carolina has won two of three from San Francisco, and can grab the rail in the race for home-field advantage in NFC with a victory. But 49ers can wrap up fifth consecutive NFC West title with a victory. With Steve Young back from concussion, 49ers have more offensive weapons and slightly better defense.

Dallas at Arizona

Line: Cowboys by 10.

Last meeting: Cowboys won 17-3 at Dallas on Oct. 13.

Key stats: Cowboys have beaten the Cardinals 12 straight.

Worth watching: Can Cardinals QB Boomer Esiason continue his hot streak against NFL’s No. 1 defense?

Outlook: The Cowboys recovering from yet another setback, the loss of DT Leon Lett to a drug suspension. Tony Casillas takes his place. Cowboys need this one desperately because they finish against New England and Washington.

Minnesota at Detroit

Line: Lions by 2-1/2.

Last meeting: Vikings won 17-13 at Minnesota on Sept. 1.

Key stats: Despite injuries to QB Warren Moon and RB Robert Smith, Vikings are 10th in NFL in offense.

Worth watching: Vikings QB Brad Johnson is coming off a four-TD pass game in a victory over Arizona, and is in process of displacing Moon. The Lions will try to keep Vikings offense off the field by giving the ball to Barry Sanders.

Outlook: The Vikings have a good shot at a wildcard spot, with home game versus Tampa Bay next before finishing up at Green Bay. Lions usually tough at home, but the Vikings have something to play for.

Kansas City at Oakland (Monday night)

Line: Raiders by 2.

Last meeting: Chiefs won 19-3 at Kansas City on Sept. 8.

Key stats: Chiefs have beaten Raiders seven straight and 13 of last 14.

Worth watching: Rich Gannon gave the Chiefs’ offense a boost in the 28-24 Thanksgiving Day victory at Detroit. Raiders QB Jeff Hostetler is having a good year (19 TDs, 12 interceptions).

Outlook: The Raiders have traditionally been tough at home on Monday nights, though the Broncos beat them in Oakland this year. But Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer knows how to beat the Raiders.