The Matchups

Bears at Vikings

Line: Vikings by 9.

Last meeting: Vikings won 27-24 at Soldier Field on Sept. 7.

Key stats: The Bears have not held an opponent under 20 points all season; the Vikings have held their last five opponents under 20 points.

Worth watching: Minnesota quarterback Brad Johnson and receiver Cris Carter are both having Pro Bowl years. Once again, Bears will need a big game from Raymont Harris to pull off an upset.

Outlook: The Vikings have won five in a row. With a resurgent defense, they look like Super Bowl contenders. Problems continue to mount for the Bears, with John Thierry’s season-ending knee injury the latest. Time for the Bears to take a long look at the likes of Steve Stenstrom and Darnell Autry - before there’s a minute left in the game.

Cardinals at Cowboys

Line: Cowboys by 9.

Last meeting: Cardinals won 25-22 in OT at Tempe on Sept. 7.

Key stats: It’s the Cardinals’ No. 28 offense vs. Cowboys’ No. 2 defense.

Worth watching: Two of the game’s great ones go head-to-head: Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin vs. Cardinals cornerback Aeneas Williams.

Outlook: Cowboys a surprising 4-5 and no doubt haven’t forgotten that Week 2 loss at Arizona. Dallas has scored only 22 points in last two weeks, but should get healthy against the NFL’s No. 20 rushing defense.

Bengals at Colts

Line: Bengals by 3.

Last meeting: Bengals won 31-24 at Cincinnati on Dec. 22, 1996.

Key stats: An even matchup: It’s Colts’ No. 29 offense vs. Bengals’ No. 29 defense.

Worth watching: With Jim Harbaugh and Paul Justin injured, Colts are down to Kelly Holcomb at quarterback. Bengals hope they have found a consistent running back in rookie Corey Dillon, who gained 123 yards vs. Chargers.

Outlook: More bad luck for Colts. With Harbaugh or Justin, this would be a good chance to get that first victory.

Chiefs at Jaguars

Line: Jaguars by 5.

Key stat: Jaguars have won 10 straight at home.

Worth watching: With Elvis Grbac out with a broken collarbone, Rich Gannon steps in at QB for Chiefs. Jacksonville QB Mark Brunell must find a way to jump-start passing game.

Outlook: Jaguars ended two-game losing streak last week at Tennessee and face a Kansas City team coming off an emotional Monday night victory. But can Gannon replace Grbac?

Jets at Dolphins

Line: Dolphins by 3.

Key stats: Dolphins have won three straight and six of last seven from the Jets.

Worth watching: Jets give first start to quarterback Glenn Foley, who has come off the bench to spark victories over New England and Baltimore. Foley’s line in 3-1/2 quarters of work: 23 of 36, 272 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions, and clutch play.

Outlook: It’s Jimmy Johnson vs. Bill Parcells in matchup of two of the league’s top coaches. Both teams have faltering running games and shaky defenses. Unless Dan Marino’s ankle keeps him out, Dolphins should find a way to protect their home field.

Rams at Packers

Line: Packers by 14-1/2.

Key stat: Packers have won 23 straight at Lambeau Field since losing to the Rams in the 1995 season-opener.

Worth watching: Packers’ Brett Favre leads the NFC with 19 TD passes. Rams’ Isaac Bruce is back on track - last week he had a career-high 233 receiving yards vs. Falcons.

Outlook: With four straight victories, Packers have put their house back in order. Rams have lost five straight and don’t figure to challenge the Packers.

Bucs at Falcons

Line: Bucs by 3.

Key stats: Atlanta leads the NFL with 36 sacks.

Worth watching: Falcons defensive end Chuck Smith has nine sacks. He goes against Bucs’ Paul Gruber, still one of the NFL’s best.

Outlook: Bucs’ offense was struggling until last week’s 31-28 victory at Indianapolis. This week, they get to face an even worse defense. A loss in this one would lead to questions whether Tony Dungy really has brought the Bucs back.

Panthers at Broncos

Line: Broncos by 7.

Last meeting: First meeting.

Key stats: Broncos have won 13 straight regular-season home games.

Worth watching: Denver’s Terrell Davis continues to lead the NFL in rushing with 1,169 yards and is just off the pace of breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season record of 2,105 yards. Can Panthers rookie Fred Lane repeat last week’s 147-yard, three-TD game vs. Raiders?

Outlook: Panthers’ running defense has improved, but they’re facing a state-of-the-art offense. Broncos will lose at home some time, but it will take a team better than the Panthers.

Lions at Redskins

Line: Redskins by 3-1/2.

Last meeting: Redskins won 36-30 in OT at Washington on Oct. 22, 1995.

Key stat: Redskins have beaten the Lions 15 straight.

Worth watching: Detroit’s Barry Sanders can set an NFL record with his eighth straight 100-yard game. Washington’s Terry Allen is healthy again, coming off a 125-yard game against the Bears.

Outlook: Sanders should be able to run against the NFL’s No. 29 rushing defense. However, the Redskins are 5-1 when Allen plays, 0-3 when he doesn’t. Allen is playing.

Patriots at Bills

Line: Patriots by 3.

Last meeting: Patriots won 33-6 at Foxboro on Oct. 12, 1997.

Key stat: Patriots have won five of last six from the Bills.

Worth watching: Buffalo’s struggling offense (averaging 11 points last four games) needs more from new starting quarterback Alex Van Pelt. Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe has thrown 11 TD passes and only four interceptions in last six starts vs. Buffalo.

Outlook: Patriots struggling through three-game losing streak, but last two have been to NFC powers Minnesota and Green Bay. New England figures to get a big game from its defense against Bills’ inept offense.

Saints at Raiders

Line: Raiders by 9-1/2.

Last meeting: Raiders won 24-19 at Los Angeles on Nov. 20, 1994.

Key stats: Saints are last in the NFL in total offense and passing offense.

Worth watching: Quarterback mismatch: Heath Shuler returns to lineup for Saints; Jeff George, who leads NFL with 20 TD passes, solid for Raiders.

Outlook: Saints, back to work after a week off, have been shut out in their last two games and have lost three straight since beating the Bears. Looks like four straight.

Giants at Oilers

Line: Oilers by 3.

Last meeting: Giants won 13-10 at Houston on Nov. 21, 1994.

Key stats: It’s Oilers’ No. 3 rushing offense vs. Giants’ No. 4 rushing defense.

Worth watching: Giants fullback Charles Way has emerged as a threat, with 256 rushing yards and two TDs in last three games. Oilers QB Steve McNair has five TD passes and only one interception in last four games.

Outlook: Danny Kanell has led Giants to five consecutive victories and has an efficient, if not spectacular, passer rating of 76.0 in those games. Giants’ winning streak includes road victories over Arizona and, more impressively, Detroit.

Ravens at Steelers

Line: Steelers by 7.

Last meeting: Steelers won 42-34 at Baltimore on Oct. 5.

Key stats: Baltimore is fourth in total offense but 26th in defense.

Worth watching: Can Ravens’ Bam Morris rush for 100 yards for a third straight game? Steelers’ Jerome Bettis is second in the NFL with 1,023 yards rushing, averaging 4.7 yards per carry.

Outlook: Steelers had won five straight until Monday night’s loss at Kansas City, and should get back on track against Ravens, who have lost four out of five.

49ers at Eagles (Monday night)

Line: 49ers by 4.

Last meeting: Eagles won 40-8 at San Francisco on Oct. 2, 1994.

Key stats: Eagles No. 3 offense vs. Niners No. 1 defense.

Worth watching: Eagles going back to Ty Detmer at quarterback. Can Garrison Hearst keep churning out 100-yard games for the 49ers?

Outlook: Why the Eagles? They’re 4-0 at home, including victories over Green Bay and Dallas. San Francisco struggled to win last week at Dallas, which is only 4-5. Eagles may need big game from ex-49er Ricky Watters.