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

The Matchups

Terry Bannon, Chicago Tribune

Ravens at Jaguars

Line: Jaguars by 8.

Last meeting: Jaguars won 28-27 at Baltimore on Aug. 31, 1997.

Key stats: Jacksonville has won 12 straight at home, the third-longest streak in the league (Green Bay 22, Denver 15).

Worth watching: Jacksonville wide receivers Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell both had 100-yard games in last year’s game vs. Ravens in Jacksonville.

Outlook: Baltimore’s once-powerful offense has faded in the last three months, averaging 9.8 points as Ravens have gone 0-3-1. Jaguars tied for first in AFC Central with Pittsburgh and should keep rolling at home.

Bengals at Eagles

Line: Eagles by 5.

Last meeting: Bengals won 33-30 at Cincinnati on Dec. 24, 1994.

Key stats: Eagles are sixth in the NFL in yards gained but only 24th in points scored.

Worth watching: Philadelphia’s Bobby Hoying, who got his chance three weeks ago, is firming up his grip on the starting job, having completed 59 percent (49 of 83) of his passes with three touchdowns and no interceptions (94.3 rating).

Outlook: Eagles are off to a good start building for ‘98, with Hoying at quarterback and Charlie Garner getting more and more work at running back. Bengals’ improving running game won’t be enough for a road upset.

Colts at Patriots

Line: Patriots by 11.

Last meeting: Patriots won 31-6 at Indianapolis on Sept. 7, 1997.

Key stats: New England has won six of last eight from the Colts.

Worth watching: Patriots’ Curtis Martin has averaged 110 rushing yards in last four games against the Colts. Colts’ Marshall Faulk needs to bounce back after being held to 38 yards in loss to Detroit.

Outlook: Patriots, a game behind Jets in the AFC East, need to win and dominate if they plan to start a run at a second straight Super Bowl. The rest of their schedule is daunting - at Jacksonville, vs. Pittsburgh, at Miami. The Patriots are not only the better team in this game, they’re the more desperate team.

Saints at Panthers

Line: Panthers by 9.

Last meeting: Panthers won 13-0 at New Orleans on Oct. 19, 1997.

Key stats: Saints look like two teams: their offense is 30th, their defense fourth.

Worth watching: Carolina’s leading receiver is tight end Wesley Walls, who has 47 catches, six for touchdowns. Tackle Wayne Martin leads a solid New Orleans defense with 8-1/2 sacks.

Outlook: So, what will Mike Ditka do this week? Predict a Super Bowl if the Saints win, resign on the spot if they lose? His players are probably wondering, too. More importantly, Panthers quarterback Kerry Collins is playing better as the season continues.

Jets at Bills

Line: Jets by 2.

Last meeting: Bills won 28-22 at New York on Sept. 7, 1997.

Key stats: Bills have averaged 12.3 points in their last three games, all losses.

Worth watching: Bills rookie Antowain Smith averaging 4.4 yards per carry. Jets QB Neil O’Donnell has NFL-leading 14-3 touchdown-interception ratio.

Outlook: This one should knock the Bills out of the playoffs for only the second time since 1987. Buffalo doesn’t have a passing game to keep the pressure off Smith. Jets have won four of last five.

Rams at Redskins

Line: Redskins by 8-1/2.

Last meeting: Redskins won 17-10 at St. Louis on Sept. 22, 1996.

Key stats: Redskins have won last three from the Rams.

Worth watching: Jerald Moore gained 60 yards on 19 carries for the Rams in his debut last week as their featured running back. Redskins quarterback Gus Frerotte has not thrown an interception in his last four games.

Outlook: After settling for a tie with the Giants last week, Redskins trail New York by a game in the NFC East and will have to keep winning for the rematch in two weeks to mean something. As long as Frerotte gives up head-butting and Michael Westbrook keeps his helmet on, they should be fine.

49ers at Chiefs

Line: 49ers by 3-1/2.

Last meeting: Chiefs won 24-17 at Kansas City on Sept. 11, 1994.

Key stats: 49ers lead the NFL with a turnover differential of plus-21.

Worth watching: The 49ers’ Dana Stubblefield is having a huge season in his free-agent year - a league-leading 15 sacks. Chiefs need a big play or two from quarterback Rich Gannon, but he has thrown for only one score in 101 attempts.

Outlook: Chiefs have the ability to surprise, as they showed in upset of Denver at Arrowhead Stadium two weeks ago. But this time, they face the NFL’s toughest run defense. Plus, San Francisco has allowed only 10.2 points per game the last five weeks. Chiefs can wrap up a playoff berth with a victory and losses by New England and Miami.

Dolphins at Raiders

Line: Dolphins by 2.

Last meeting: Raiders won 17-7 at Oakland on Dec. 1, 1996.

Key stats: Raiders have never lost to Dolphins in Oakland (9-0, including two postseason games).

Worth watching: Oakland quarterback Jeff George continues to have a huge season (an AFC-leading 23 touchdown passes, and only eight interceptions). Dolphins’ Karim Abdul-Jabbar leads league with 13 rushing touchdowns.

Outlook: Dolphins’ defense has been playing better than its No. 24 ranking, but George and Napoleon Kaufman (5.1 yards per carry) should find room to operate. This is a shootout the Raiders could win.

Steelers at Cardinals

Line: Steelers by 5-1/2.

Last meeting: Steelers won 20-17 at Arizona on Oct. 30, 1994.

Key stats: It’s Pittsburgh’s No. 1 rushing offense vs. Arizona’s No. 26 rushing defense.

Worth watching: Steelers’ Jerome Bettis is third in the NFL with eight 100-yard rushing games, trailing only Barry Sanders (11) and Terrell Davis (nine).

Outlook: Steelers, tied with Jacksonville for the AFC Central lead, figure to stick to basics against a poor rushing defense. If Cardinals can’t find a way to slow Bettis, this will be over quickly. After last week’s loss to Eagles, Steelers will pay attention to business.

Bucs at Giants

Line: Giants by 1-1/2.

Last meeting: Giants won 23-7 at New York on Sept. 12, 1993.

Key stats: New York’s defense has allowed only 27 points in its last three games.

Worth watching: Bucs could use some big plays from quarterback Trent Dilfer, who has 19 touchdown passes and only six interceptions. Giants’ rookie fullback Charles Way is averaging 4.9 yards per carry.

Outlook: A gut-check game for both teams. After being upset by the Bears, Bucs are 0-17 in games played when the temperature drops below 42 degrees. More important, they face a team that makes few mistakes and leads the NFC East by a game. Giants are closing in on their first division title since 1990 and first playoff berth since 1993.

Broncos at Chargers

Line: Broncos by 8-1/2.

Last meeting: Chargers won 16-10 at San Diego on Dec. 22, 1996.

Key stats: Denver leads the AFC with a turnover differential of plus-9.

Worth watching: Denver running back Terrell Davis needs to average 133 yards per game in the final four for a 2,000-yard rushing season. He’ll run into Charger linebacker Junior Seau.

Outlook: Broncos have NFL’s second-best record but still lead Chiefs by just a game in AFC West. Broncos clinch playoff berth with a victory or with losses by New England and Miami. Road games can be tough, but John Elway’s numbers in last seven games vs. Chargers are impressive: 66.5 percent completions, 12 touchdowns, 1 interception.

Packers at Vikings (Monday night)

Line: Packers by 3.

Last meeting: Packers won 38-32 in Green Bay on Sept. 21, 1997.

Key stats: Under Mike Holmgren, the Packers are 8-23 on artificial turf, 8-11 in domed stadiums (including recent losses to Detroit and Indianapolis) and 0-5 at the Metrodome.

Worth watching: Green Bay’s Brett Favre leads the NFL with 27 touchdown passes. Minnesota’s Brad Johnson is fourth with 20.

Outlook: Last week, Green Bay ended its eight-game losing streak against Dallas. The time would seem right for the Packers to end their five-game losing streak at Minnesota. But injuries may limit Packer defensive linemen Reggie White (bulging disk in back) and Gilbert Brown (sprained ankle) to part-time work. And the Packers’ problems in domes may be as mental as physical. Packers can clinch playoff berth with a victory and either a Washington loss or a Carolina loss or tie.

xxxx Today’s TV games 10: Jets at Bills (NBC). 1 p.m.: Falcons at Seahawks (Fox). 1: Dolphins at Raiders (NBC). 5: Broncos at Chargers (ESPN).