Nfl Matchups

Arizona at Philadelphia

Line: Eagles by 5-1/2.

Last meeting: Cardinals won 36-30 at Arizona on Nov. 24.

Key stats: Eagles’ only wins in last six weeks have been over Jets and Giants.

Worth watching: Eagles RB Ricky Watters will try to stay sharp for playoffs. Meaningless game is chance for Cardinals to give QB Kent Graham more experience as a starter (he’s 4-2).

Outlook: Eagles know they’ll play a wild-card game on the road next weekend, and a win will probably give them the No. 5 seed in the NFC (assuming a Minnesota loss at Green Bay). That would mean the Eagles could avoid visiting Dallas in the first round.

Atlanta at Jacksonville

Line: Jaguars by 9.

Last meeting: First meeting.

Key stats: Jacksonville’s No. 2 offense gets to feast on Falcons’ No. 28 defense.

Worth watching: Jacksonville’s Jimmy Smith is NFL’s hottest receiver, with three 100-yard games in the four games since Andre Rison’s departure gave Smith more playing time. Smith leads AFC with 1,169 receiving yards, including seven TDs.

Outlook: What’s more impressive? That the Jaguars will make the playoffs in their second season, or that they’ll do it after a 3-6 start? Jaguars have won four in a row and have too many offensive weapons for the Falcons, in all likelihood playing their last season under coach June Jones.

Chicago at Tampa Bay

Line: Bucs by 2-1/2.

Last meeting: Bears won 13-10 at Soldier Field on Nov. 3.

Key stats: Game features two improving defenses: Bucs are ranked eighth, Bears 13th.

Worth watching: Curtis Conway needs 71 receiving yards to become the first Bears receiver to have back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Bucs defense is led by Pro Bowl linebacker Hardy Nickerson.

Outlook: Bucs have won four of their last six, and their last four at home. Bears have scored more than 17 points on the road only once all season (and that was a 27-24 loss at New Orleans). Bears will need some big plays, but Bucs defense has become one of the NFL’s best.

Houston at Baltimore

Line: Ravens by 3.

Last meeting: Oilers won 29-13 in Houston on Sept. 15.

Key stats: Oilers have NFL’s highestranked defense (No. 5) that isn’t in the playoffs.

Worth watching: Ravens QB Vinny Testaverde (30 TDs, 17 INTs) warms up for the Pro Bowl. Oilers’ Eddie George (1,283 yards) proving Heisman jinx doesn’t apply to running backs - he’s about to become fifth Heisman Trophy winner to run for 1,300 yards.

Outlook: Running of Bam Morris (272 yards in last two games) and throwing of Testaverde should let Ravens close out their first season in Baltimore with a win.

Indianapolis at Cincinnati

Line: Pick ‘em.

Last meeting: Bengals won 24-21 in OT at Indianapolis on Sept. 3, 1995.

Key stats: Bengals are 6-2 since Bruce Coslet replaced David Shula as head coach.

Worth watching: Can Jim Harbaugh come up with one more big game in a clutch situation? Bengals WR Bruce Pickens seeks to add to his AFC-leading 94 catches.

Outlook: Colts are healthy and hot. After a season dominated by injuries, they’ve won three in a row and can earn a spot in the playoffs with a win. Coslet fired most of his defensive assistants this week, and his agenda is next year, not this game.

Kansas City at Buffalo

Line: Bills by 5.

Last meeting: Bills won 44-10 in Buffalo on Oct. 30, 1994.

Key stats: Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer has won his last 10 season-ending games (seven with Chiefs, three with Browns).

Worth watching: Chiefs may go with Steve Bono at QB if Rich Gannon’s hamstring isn’t well. Chiefs must find a way to block Bills DE Bruce Smith (12.5 sacks).

Outlook: The winner of this one is in the playoffs, and both will back in if Jacksonville loses. Bills are at home, and Chiefs’ offense lacks consistency. Chiefs better pull for Atlanta to shock Jacksonville.

Miami at New York Jets

Line: Dolphins by 3-1/2.

Last meeting: Dolphins won 36-27 at Miami on Sept. 15.

Key stats: Dolphins are plus-11 in takeaway-giveaway differential; Jets are minus-19.

Worth watching: Dolphins RB Karim Abdul-Jabbar needs 36 yards to become Dolphins’ first 1,000-yard rusher since 1978. Dolphins QB Dan Marino tries to close out subpar season (14 TDs, 9 INTs) with a win.

Outlook: Jimmy Johnson needs win to finish .500 in his first season in Miami. He’ll probably get it.

Minnesota at Green Bay

Line: Packers by 11.

Last meeting: Vikings won 30-21 in Minneapolis on Sept. 22.

Key stats: Green Bay has won 14 consecutive regular-season games at Lambeau Field.

Worth watching: With frigid weather expected, Packers may try to warm up their running game for the playoffs. Edgar Bennett leads them with 790 yards and 3.9-yard average.

Outlook: Packers have No. 1 seed in NFC playoffs locked up, unless they somehow lose this game by 19 points and Carolina beats Pittsburgh. Packers don’t lose at Lambeau, much less by that amount. Vikings locked into road game in wild-card round anyway.

Pittsburgh at Carolina

Line: Panthers by 5-1/2.

Last meeting: First meeting.

Key stats: Pittsburgh’s No. 2 rushing offense vs. Carolina’s No. 6 rushing defense.

Worth watching: QB Kerry Collins (13 TDs, 9 INTs) seeks to add to burgeoning Panthers legend. Steelers need big ball-control game, but if RB Jerome Bettis isn’t healthy, they don’t have it.

Outlook: Panthers haven’t lost at home all season, and with a chance for a first-round playoff bye, don’t seem about to blow it. Panthers get that bye with a win, and could even be the No. 1 seed in the NFC if Packers somehow lose to Vikings by 19.

Dallas at Washington

Line: Redskins by 1.

Last meeting: Cowboys won 21-10 at Dallas on Nov. 28.

Key stats: Dallas is No. 1 in defense, but No. 24 in offense.

Worth watching: How much Dallas QB Troy Aikman and RB Emmitt Smith play. It won’t be much. This one has the looks of an exhibition game.

Outlook: When the Redskins got off to a 7-1 start, this looked like a great game. Now, Cowboys are just getting ready for the playoffs. Unless they win this game by 78 points (tiebreakers, you know), they’re locked into a home wild-card game next week.

Denver at San Diego

Line: Broncos by 1-1/2.

Last meeting: Broncos won 28-17 at Denver on Oct. 6.

Key stats: Under Mike Shanahan, Broncos are 5-1 against Chargers.

Worth watching: How the Broncos backups look. With homefield throughout AFC playoffs wrapped up, no reason to risk John Elway, et al, for long.

Outlook: Broncos will just make sure they win … maybe.

Detroit at San Francisco

Line: 49ers by 12-1/2.

Last meeting: Lions won 27-24 in Pontiac on Sept. 25, 1995.

Key stats: 49ers have won five of the last six against the Lions.

Worth watching: Wayne Fontes as he likely coaches his final game with the Lions. Also, Detroit RB Barry Sanders, who leads NFC with 1,378 yards rushing, can become first player to record three consecutive 1,500-yard seasons.

Outlook: San Francisco will be locked into No. 4 seed in NFC as long as Carolina beats Pittsburgh. But if the Panthers lose or tie, 49ers can become No. 2 seed (first-round bye) with a win over the Lions. But it’s most likely this will be another last-week-of-the-season scrimmage. A nationally televised one, though.