January 1, 2006 in Sports

Week 17

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Panthers (10-5) at Falcons (8-7)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Panthers by 3½.

Last meeting: Panthers won 24-6 at Carolina on Dec. 4, 2005.

Key stat: Falcons lead NFL in third-down conversion defense (28.5 percent).

Fantasy factor: Panthers’ Steve Smith 3rd in NFL with 94 catches, 2nd with 11 TD catches. Falcons rely on tight end Alge Crumpler (62 catches, 5 TDs).

The buzz: Panthers in playoffs with win, take NFC South with win and Tampa loss. It’s up to Panthers’ defense to slow down Warrick Dunn and Co.

Ravens (6-9) at Browns (5-10)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Ravens by 3.

Last meeting: Ravens won 16-3 at Baltimore on Oct. 16, 2005.

Key stat: Ravens have won 4 of last 5 meetings.

Fantasy factor: Ravens QB Kyle Boller beginning to look like full-fledged NFL starter. Browns rookie Charlie Frye has completed 60.9 percent in his 1st 4 starts.

The buzz: It’s old Browns vs. new Browns in a blah season finale. Ravens surging, Browns fading (see last week’s 41-0 loss to Steelers).

Cardinals (5-10) at Colts (13-2)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Colts by 7 1/2 .

Last meeting: Colts won 20-13 at Indianapolis on Sept. 1, 1996.

Key stat: These are only teams in top 10 in offense and defense (Cards 10th, 10th; Colts 3rd, 9th).

Fantasy factor: Peyton Manning could play enough to add to his 28 TD passes. Cards’ Larry Fitzgerald ranks second in NFL with 97 catches, 9 for TDs.

The buzz: After two straight losses, Colts have incentive to play starters long enough to win. Cardinals are 3-2 in starts by QB Josh McCown.

Bengals (11-4) at Chiefs (9-6)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Chiefs by 7 1/2 .

Last meeting: Bengals won 24-19 at Cincinnati on Nov. 16, 2003.

Key stat: Bengals have allowed only 20 sacks, 2nd in NFL.

Fantasy factor: Carson Palmer tries to add to his league-leading total of 32 TD passes. Chiefs’ Larry Johnson is tied for 2nd in NFL with 17 rushing TDs.

The buzz: Chiefs will be alive for playoffs at kickoff if Chargers lose Saturday, but Bengals need win or Patriots loss to wrap up AFC’s No. 3 seed.

Dolphins (8-7) at Patriots (10-5)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Patriots by 5½.

Last meeting: Patriots won 23-16 at Miami on Nov. 13, 2005.

Key stat: Dolphins go for 1st 6-game win streak since ‘92.

Fantasy factor: Dolphins’ Chris Chambers 2nd in NFL with 11 TD catches. Corey Dillon, who has scored 26 TDs in 27 games with Patriots, has 12 rushing TDs this season.

The buzz: Patriots, who have won 6 of 7, can move up to No. 3 seed with win and Bengals loss. That would mean avoiding possible game at Indianapolis until AFC title game.

Bills (5-10) at Jets (3-12)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Bills by 3.

Last meeting: Bills won 27-17 at Buffalo on Oct. 16, 2005.

Key stat: Jets have averaged 22.3 points in last 3 games.

Fantasy factor: Bills’ Eric Moulds, who has 73 catches this season, has caught at least 6 in last 3 games vs. Jets. Laveranues Coles has 69 catches, 5 TDs for Jets.

The buzz: Miserable season ending for both teams with battle of backup QBs: Bills’ Kelly Holcomb vs. Jets’ Brooks Bollinger.

Lions (5-10) at Steelers (10-5)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Steelers by 13½.

Last meeting: Steelers won 47-14 at Pittsburgh on Dec. 23, 2001.

Key stat: Steelers 3-0 vs. NFC North, winning by 12.3 points per game.

Fantasy factor: Lions’ Roy Williams has 15 TD catches (7 this season) in 26 career games. Steelers are 21-3 with Ben Roethlisberger as starter.

The buzz: Steelers would have backed into playoffs with win by Chargers on Saturday, but now they’ll need win or Chiefs loss today. Either way, Steelers should cruise.

Saints (3-12) at Bucs (10-5)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Bucs by 13 1/2 .

Last meeting: Bucs won 10-3 at Baton Rouge, La., on Dec. 4, 2005.

Key stat: Bucs 2nd in NFL in total defense (275.9 yards per game).

Fantasy factor: Saints’ Todd Bouman has thrown only 1 TD pass vs. 5 interceptions. Bucs’ Chris Simms has 8 TD passes vs. 7 interceptions.

The buzz: With rookie Cadillac Williams running strong down stretch, Bucs can wrap up division title with win (or Panthers loss).

Titans (4-11) at Jaguars (11-4)

Time: 1:05 p.m.

Line: Jaguars by 4.

Last meeting: Jaguars won 31-28 at Tennessee on Nov. 20, 2005.

Key stat: Jaguars have won 7 of last 8.

Fantasy factor: Titans tight end Erron Kinney has been factor all year with 55 catches. Ernest Wilford is coming off 118-yard game and is tied for Jaguars’ lead with 6 TD catches.

The buzz: Jaguars are locked into No. 5 seed in AFC and will work hard on staying healthy for playoff opener at New England or Cincinnati.

Texans (2-13) at 49ers (3-12)

Time: 1:05 p.m.

Line: Texans by 1.

Last meeting: First meeting.

Key stat: 49ers are consistent: They’re last in offense and defense.

Fantasy factor: Two No. 1 overall picks meet: Texans’ David Carr has 14 TD passes in 412 attempts; 49ers’ Alex Smith has none in 136.

The buzz: Texans can wrap up 1st pick in draft with loss. 49ers actually coming off win.

Redskins (9-6) at Eagles (6-9)

Time: 1:15 p.m.

Line: Redskins by 7½.

Last meeting: Redskins won 17-10 at Washington on Nov. 6, 2005.

Key stat: Eagles have won last 3 meetings at home.

Fantasy factor: Redskins’ Clinton Portis 3rd in NFL with 9 rushing TDs. Eagles tight end L.J. Smith has 58 catches, 3 short of his combined total of previous 2 seasons.

The buzz: Redskins can clinch NFC East with win and Giants loss; can earn wild-card berth with win or Cowboys loss. Eagles have little incentive or offense.

Bears (11-4) at Vikings (8-7)

Time: 1:15 p.m.

Line: Vikings by 4½.

Last meeting: Bears won 28-3 at Soldier Field on Oct. 16, 2005.

Key stat: Bears lead NFL in total defense (274.2 yards per game).

Fantasy factor: Rex Grossman makes his second start but doesn’t figure to play the whole game. Brad Johnson (10 TD passes vs. 4 interceptions) finishes solid first year back in Minnesota.

The buzz: Vikings aren’t headed toward playoffs, so they have no reason to rest anyone. Bears, locked in as No. 2 seed in NFC, have to be careful about health, and Packers hung in there with them in game that mattered Sunday.

Rams (5-10) at Cowboys (9-6)

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Line: Cowboys by 12 1/2 .

Last meeting: Cowboys won 13-10 at St. Louis on Sept. 29, 2002.

Key stat: Rams minus-14 in turnover differential; Cowboys minus-1.

Fantasy factor: Rams’ Kevin Curtis has emerged as threat with 57 catches, 6 for TDs. Cowboys’ Drew Bledsoe wraps up solid season with 22 TD passes vs. 15 interceptions.

The buzz: Cowboys will know by kickoff whether they are still alive for playoffs. Either way, they figure to finish strong.

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