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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

The Matchups

Bucs at Bears

Line: Bucs by 5.

Last meeting: Bucs won 34-19 at Tampa on Dec. 22, 1996.

Key stats: Tampa Bay has scored 89 points in the Bucs’ three-game winning streak.

Worth watching: Tampa Bay RB Mike Alsott has averaged 4.6 yards a carry the last three games, all of which the Bucs have won. With injuries all over the place, Ricky Proehl has emerged as the Bears’ leading receiver.

Outlook: For the Bears, grim and getting grimmer. Bucs share first place in the NFC Central with Green Bay and Minnesota and have shown they can overcome adversity. Bucs have something to play for; Bears don’t. Even if the Bears keep playing hard.

Cardinals at Ravens

Line: Ravens by 4.

Last meeting: Ravens (Browns) won 32-0 at Cleveland in 1994.

Key stats: Ravens have scored only 26 points in their last three games, all losses.

Worth watching: Cardinals continue to develop QB Jake Plummer, who set an NFL rookie record with 388 yards passing in last week’s loss to the Giants.

Outlook: The Ravens’ playoff hopes all but disappeared in last week’s tie with Philadelphia and Bam Morris’ latest off-the-field problems. Cardinals’ season is lost, as is their offense (it ranks 23rd overall, 30th in rushing).

Bills at Oilers

Line: Oilers by 3-1/2.

Last meeting: Oilers won 28-17 at Buffalo on Dec. 24, 1995.

Key stats: Buffalo has scored only 54 points in five games.

Worth watching: Eddie George leads Houston with 1,301 yards rushing, and is averaging 4.1 yards a carry. Buffalo DE Bruce Smith continues his big year (13 sacks).

Outlook: Winner of this one still has playoff hopes. Oilers have won four of six (both losses to Jacksonville) and have a solid defense that shut down what’s left of the Buffalo offense.

Cowboys at Packers

Line: Packers by 6-1/2.

Last meeting: Cowboys won 21-6 at Irving, Texas, on Nov. 18, 1996.

Key stats: Cowboys have beaten Packers eight straight times.

Worth watching: Green Bay’s Dorsey Levens has emerged as a big-time runner, averaging 4.6 yards a carry. Cowboys’ Emmitt Smith is having an off-year by his standards (4.1 yards a carry).

Outlook: Thanks to a scheduling fluke, the last seven meetings between these teams have been in Texas. The Packers haven’t played host to the Cowboys since 1991 (Milwaukee) and the Cowboys haven’t visited Lambeau Field since 1989. So this is a mini-Super Bowl for the Packers, who have won 21 straight in Green Bay.

Colts at Lions

Line: Lions by 8-1/2.

Last meeting: Lions won 33-24 at Indianapolis on Sept. 22, 1991.

Key stats: Colts have averaged 27.3 points the last three weeks.

Worth watching: Marshall Faulk has rushed for more than 100 yards two weeks in a row for Indianapolis. Detroit’s Barry Sanders has nine consecutive 100-yard rushing games, one short of tying Walter Payton for second on the all-time list.

Outlook: This is Paul Justin’s first start as the certified No. 1 QB of the Colts. Last week, Justin led an upset of Green Bay at home. Can the Colts win two in a row? Sure, but can they?

Dolphins at Patriots

Line: Patriots by 5-1/2.

Last meeting: Patriots won 24-23 at New England on Nov. 3, 1996.

Key stats: Patriots have lost five of their last seven, with the only wins coming over Buffalo.

Worth watching: Miami RB Karim Abdul-Jabbar leads the NFL with 10 rushing touchdowns. New England RB Curtis Martin has 1,014 rushing yards, but was held to only 26 in last week’s loss to Tampa.

Outlook: When will the Patriots’ slide stop? Looks like here. Dolphins coming off Monday night victory over Buffalo, but Bills are on the slide. Martin should be a much tougher runner at home than he was during road trip.

Vikings at Jets

Line: Jets by 1-1/2.

Last meeting: Jets won 31-21 at Minnesota on Nov. 20, 1994.

Key stats: Jets coach Bill Parcells is 4-0 against the Vikings.

Worth watching: Neil O’Donnell returns as Jets starting QB because of Glenn Foley’s knee injury. Vikings’ Robert Smith continues his comeback from ankle injury after 61-yard day in loss at Detroit.

Outlook: This is one of those big-test games for the Vikings, who are in first place in the NFC Central with Tampa Bay and Green Bay. Look for Vikings QB Brad Johnson to attack weak Jets secondary.

Saints at Falcons

Line: Falcons by 4.

Last meeting: Falcons won 23-17 at New Orleans on Oct. 12, 1997.

Key stats: Falcons have won five straight from the Saints.

Worth watching: The Mike Ditka QB-a-thon goes on, this time with former University of Idaho star Doug Nussmeier starting now that Heath Shuler is out for the season with a knee injury. In the last three games, Atlanta RB Jamal Anderson has rushed for 283 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry.

Outlook: Ditka goes for three straight. However, the incessant changing of quarterbacks takes a toll at some point. Atlanta has won two of its last three, the only loss vs. 8-3 Tampa Bay.

Steelers at Eagles

Line: Steelers by 3.

Last meeting: Steelers won 14-3 at Pittsburgh on Dec. 11, 1994.

Key stats: Eagles have a losing record even though they are fourth in offense and third in defense.

Worth watching: Pittsburgh QB Kordell Stewart is having a big second half: In last seven games, he has had a hand in 15 TDs (four rushing, 11 passing).

Outlook: Eagles are beginning to look to next season as Bobby Hoying gets another start at QB. Steelers continue drive to the playoffs.

Panthers at Rams

Line: Panthers by 3.

Last meeting: Panthers won 20-10 at St. Louis on Nov. 17, 1996.

Key stats: The Rams, in their first season under Dick Vermeil, have lost seven straight.

Worth watching: St. Louis QB Tony Banks continues to show progress: In the last four games, he has thrown five touchdowns and only one interception.

Outlook: Rams didn’t expect much out of this season, but the Panthers, who made it to the NFC title game, sure did. At least the Rams have rid themselves of Lawrence Phillips, but he was their leading rusher.

Jaguars at Bengals

Line: Jaguars by 5-1/2.

Last meeting: Jaguars won 21-13 at Jacksonville on Oct. 5, 1997.

Key stats: Jaguars have won eight of their last nine in the AFC Central, including five of six this year.

Worth watching: Will Jacksonville QB Mark Brunell ever start putting up big passing numbers this season? In the last three games (two wins), Bengals rookie Corey Dillon has rushed for 298 yards, averaging 5.0 yards per carry. Bengals benching QB Jeff Blake in favor of Boomer Esiason.

Outlook: Bengals’ new-found running game makes them dangerous, but Jaguars are a very efficient team. Jacksonville’s only losses this year have been to winning teams.

Chargers at 49ers

Line: 49ers by 14.

Last meeting: 49ers won 38-15 at San Diego on Dec. 11, 1994.

Key stats: San Francisco’s No. 1-ranked defense has allowed only one rushing touchdown.

Worth watching: San Francisco QB Steve Young leads the NFL in passing (104.0 rating). In the last two games, he has completed 51 of 68 for 652 yards with five TD passes and no interceptions.

Outlook: The 49ers go for their 11th straight victory in what should amount to a tuneup for the final quarter of the season.

Giants at Redskins

Line: Redskins by 5-1/2.

Last meeting: Redskins won 31-21 at Washington on Oct. 20, 1996.

Key stats: Giants are second in the NFL with a turnover differential of plus-13.

Worth watching: With WR Leslie Shepherd out for the season, Redskins will need a big game from Henry Ellard. Giants want another efficient game from QB Danny Kanell.

Outlook: This is the first of two Washington-New York games that will go a long way toward deciding playoff berths in the NFC East. Redskins are 4-1 at home, and will have to give the ball to Terry Allen early and often.

Raiders at Broncos (Monday night)

Line: Broncos by 9.

Last meeting: Raiders won 28-25 at Oakland on Oct.19, 1997.

Key stats: Broncos have attempted 16 field goals in the last four games, a sign of a sputtering offense.

Worth watching: Denver WR Rod Smith has five 100-yard receiving games, two short of Lionel Taylor’s team record set in 1960. Raiders QB Jeff George leads NFL in passing yards (2,840).

Outlook: Broncos have mental edge in two ways: They get to avenge their first loss of the season and bounce back from the second (Chiefs last week). Raiders at best when they have to outscore teams, but they won’t outshoot Denver. xxxx NFL on TV 10 a.m.: Cowboys at Packers (Fox). 10 a.m.: Dolphins at Patriots (NBC). 1 p.m.: Chiefs at Seahawks (NBC). 5 p.m.: Giants at Redskins (ESPN).