Nfl Matchups

New England at New York Giants

Line: Patriots by 9.

Last meeting: Giants won 13-10 at New England on Dec. 30, 1990.

Key stats: Patriots have scored 395 points, their most since 441 in 1980.

Worth watching: Drew Bledsoe and Terry Glenn becoming one of NFL’s top scoring threats. Bledsoe has thrown 25 TD passes, and Glenn needs only one catch to tie the NFL record for receptions by a rookie (82, by 49ers’ Earl Cooper in 1980).

Outlook: Patriots, who started 0-2, can cap amazing regular season. A win gives them No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs, a first-round bye and home field in the conference semifinals. Sounds like enough motivation. If they lose, they’ll need a Pittsburgh loss to Carolina to reap those benefits.

New Orleans at St. Louis

Line: Rams by 5.

Last meeting: Rams won 26-10 at New Orleans on Dec. 1.

Key stats: Saints have won 10 of the last 13 against the Rams.

Worth watching: Two coaches saying goodbye. Saints interim coach Rick Venturi will be replaced, and Rams coach Rich Brooks is on the bubble.

Outlook: Could there be a more meaningless game?