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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Nfl Matchups

Terry Bannon, Chicago Tribune

Atlanta at Detroit

Line: Lions by 10-1/2.

Last meeting: Falcons won 34-22 at Atlanta on Nov. 5, 1995.

Key stat: Detroit has won 14 of last 15 games at Silverdome.

Worth watching: The passes will be flying all over the Silverdome. Atlanta has the NFL’s No. 1 passing offense, and Detroit has the leading receiver, Herman Moore (42 catches for 12.1 avg., 3 TDs).

Outlook: Lions have shaken off their propensity for slow starts, thanks largely to a defense that has allowed only 63 points in five games. Falcons’ best hope is a big game from QB Bobby Hebert, who starts again for the suspended Jeff George.

Carolina at Minnesota

Line: Vikings by 6.

Last meeting: This is their first meeting.

Key stat: Vikings have won last six at the Metrodome.

Worth watching: Minnesota’s ninth-ranked offense features RB Robert Smith, who has stayed relatively healthy this year and is averaging 4.1 yards per carry. Vikings’ Cris Carter has 28 catches for a 12.8-yard average.

Outlook: The Panthers were becoming national media darlings until suffering their first loss last week to expansion cousin Jacksonville. With the home-dome advantage, Vikings will add to the lesson. Panthers will also miss rookie RB Tshminga Biakabutuka, out for the season with a knee injury.

Green Bay at Chicago

Line: Packers by 7-1/2.

Last meeting: Packers won 35-28 at Green Bay on Nov. 12, 1995.

Key stats: Green Bay leads NFL with takeaway differential of plus 13. Packers have 15 interceptions and seven fumble recoveries.

Worth watching: Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre is having a memorable season. His most amazing stat: TD-INT ratio of 16-2. With Erik Kramer out at least five more weeks, Bears counter with Dave Krieg, who guided Bears back from a 14-point deficit to beat the Raiders 19-17 a week ago.

Outlook: The Packers owned the Bears before they owned the rest of the league. The NFL’s oldest rivalry has become a rout, with the Packers winning four in a row and five of six. Bears’ chance for an upset depends on a big rushing game for Rashaan Salaam, still rounding into form after leg injuries. Krieg 5-0 vs. Packers as a starter; Bears hope that means something. It won’t.

New England at Baltimore

Line: Patriots by 3.

Last meeting: Patriots won 17-14 at New England (Ravens were Browns).

Key stat: Patriots have built the NFL’s No. 2 rushing defense.

Worth watching: WR Terry Glenn, Patriots’ first-round pick, has 17 catches in the last three games.

Outlook: Ravens have found help from their running game in Earnest Byner, who rushed for 149 yards in victory over the Saints.

Oakland at New York Jets

Line: Raiders by 4.

Last meeting: Raiders won 47-10 at New York on Oct. 1, 1995.

Key stat: Raiders have beaten Jets four straight.

Worth watching: The Raiders’ season is falling apart, but wide receiver Tim Brown continues to excel, leading the AFC with 34 catches, six for touchdowns.

Outlook: This is about as bad a matchup as the NFL can produce. Raiders have lost 10 of last 11; Jets are winless. They spent more than $70 million to build an offense, but this week will be without WR Jeff Graham (knee) and possibly without top draft pick Keyshawn Johnson (knee).

Indianapolis at Buffalo

Line: Bills by 2.

Last meeting: Bills won 16-10 at Indianapolis on Nov. 11, 1995.

Key stat: Bills have won 10 of last 13 from the Colts.

Worth watching: Colts’ QB Jim Harbaugh leads the AFC in passing. Buffalo DE Bruce Smith has five sacks.

Outlook: Colts have had their problems with the Bills in the past, but this may be their year. Bills again figure to go without QB Jim Kelly (hamstring), while Colts have some hope of regaining the services of RB Marshall Faulk (toe).

Jacksonville at New Orleans

Line: Saints by 2.

Last meeting: First meeting.

Key stats: Jacksonville is No. 1 in the NFL in passing offense and No. 2 in total offense.

Worth watching: Jaguars QB Mark Brunell is the 1990s version of Fran Tarkenton, running and passing his team into playoff contention. He has thrown six touchdown passes in the last two games and leads all quarterbacks in rushing. In a dismal season for Saints, only Wayne Martin’s five sacks draw interest.

Outlook: Is this the week another slow-starting Saints team finally wakes up? With Brunell’s scrambling and James Stewart’s running, Jacksonville should handle the NFL’s No. 24 defense. Saints must account for Jacksonville rookie LB Kevin Hardy, who has three sacks.

San Diego at Denver

Line: Broncos by 3-1/2.

Last meeting: Broncos won 30-27 in Denver on Nov. 19, 1995.

Key stat: Denver leads NFL in total offense and rushing offense.

Worth watching: The Broncos’ more conservative offense is led by RB Terrell Davis, who leads the NFL with 573 yards rushing and is averaging 5.1 yards per carry. San Diego LB Junior Seau is coming off a 12-tackle, two interception, one-sack game and will be looking for Elway.

Outlook: Elway has beaten San Diego 16 times, more than he has any team, and that includes six come-from-behind wins. Why should San Diego’s defense - last in the league - be able to stop him?

San Francisco at St. Louis

Line: 49ers by 10-1/2.

Last meeting: 49ers won 34-0 at San Francisco on Sept. 8.

Key stat: The 49ers have beaten the Rams 12 straight.

Worth watching: After throwing three TD passes in his first start, Rams rookie QB Tony Banks steps in against the big leaguers - the 49ers. After a slow start, San Francisco WR Jerry Rice finally caught his first TD pass last week.

Outlook: With Steve Young still ailing, 49ers stick with Elvis Grbac. He’s 4-2 as a starter, and should find Rice open often against soft Rams secondary.

Houston at Cincinnati

Line: Bengals by 1.

Last meeting: Bengals won 32-25 at Houston on Nov. 12, 1995.

Key stat: Bengals still struggling: They’re 26th in offense and 21st in defense.

Worth watching: With Ki-Jana Carter struggling, Bengals go with Garrison Hearst at running back. Oilers happy with their rookie running back - Eddie George leads AFC rookies with 314 yards.

Outlook: This has become an interesting rivalry. They split the last two seasons, with the road teams winning in ‘95. George’s running and Chris Chandler’s passing should give Oilers their second straight win at Cincinnati.

Pittsburgh at Kansas City (Monday)

Line: Chiefs by 4.

Last meeting: Steelers won 27-3 at Kansas City on Oct. 25, 1992.

Key stat: Chiefs have won five straight Monday night home games.

Worth watching: Jerome Bettis has been everything the Steelers hoped and is going for his fourth straight 100-yard rushing game. Chiefs getting solid season out of QB Steve Bono.

Outlook: Kansas City is going for its 12th straight win at home and should get it thanks to a strong defensive effort. Pittsburgh QB Mike Tomczak has won seven of his last nine starts, but Monday night in K.C. different.

xxxx TODAY’S GAMES ON TV 10 a.m.: Seahawks at Dolphins (NBC) 1 p.m.: 49ers at Rams (Fox) 1 p.m.: Chargers at Broncos (NBC) 5 p.m.: Oilers at Bengals (TNT)