Nfl Matchups

Arizona at Washington

Line: Redskins by 10-1/2.

Last meeting: Cardinals won 24-20 at Arizona Oct. 15, 1995.

Key stats: Cardinals have won five of last six from the Redskins.

Worth watching: Arizona rookie DE Simeon Rice has six sacks, tying team’s rookie record. Washington running back Terry Allen has 15 TDs. Ex-Bear Kevin Butler makes his debut as Cardinals kicker.

Outlook: Just when the Cardinals seemed headed toward the NFL’s middle class, new starting QB Kent Graham was lost for 4-6 weeks with a knee injury. If Boomer Esiason (toe) can’t go, Stoney Case gets his first NFL start. It won’t matter.

Atlanta at St. Louis

Line: Falcons by 2.

Last meeting: Falcons won 31-6 at Atlanta on Oct. 19, 1995.

Key stats: Rams still last in both offense and defense.

Worth watching: Not much.

Outlook: Game only mothers and agents could love. Two teams going in opposite directions, but they’re both still at the pool’s bottom. Atlanta got its first victory versus Carolina last week. Falcons have 10 sacks in the last two games. Loser improves chances of drafting Peyton Manning.

Buffalo at Philadelphia

Line: Eagles by 3-1/2.

Last meeting: Bills won 10-7 at Philadelphia on Dec. 12, 1993.

Key stats: Bills are 12-3 versus NFC East under coach Marv Levy, including 3-0 this season. They’re 21-6 versus the NFC in the 1990s.

Worth watching: Since replacing the injured Rodney Peete, Eagle Ty Detmer has emerged as one of the NFL’s top passers (6 TDs, 3 INTs, 4-0 record). Buffalo RB Thurman Thomas is coming off 107-yard rushing game in victory over Redskins.

Outlook: Eagles have become a Super Bowl threat. Detmer is playing so well Peete will have trouble getting his job back this year. Bills are No. 3 in rushing offense and need to keep the ball away from Detmer.

Green Bay at Kansas City

Line: Packers by 3.

Last meeting: Chiefs won 23-13 at Kansas City on Nov. 8, 1993.

Key stats: Green Bay leads the NFL in total defense and turnover differential (plus 14).

Worth watching: Green Bay defense, led by Reggie White (5 sacks) and LeRoy Butler (5 interceptions). Kansas City RB Marcus Allen already has seven rushing TDs, his most since 1994, when he also had seven.

Outlook: At start of season, this game looked like a Super Bowl preview. But the Chiefs are slipping toward middle of pack, with No. 23 offense and No. 18 defense.

Houston at New Orleans

Line: Oilers by 3-1/2.

Last meeting: Saints won 33-21 at New Orleans on Sept. 5, 1993.

Key stats: Mismatch: Oilers’ No. 2 rushing defense challenges Saints’ No. 29 rushing offense.

Worth watching: Oilers continue the patient development of QB Steve McNair, who passed for 225 yards in loss to Seattle. New Orleans DT Wayne Martin has 6-1/2 sacks.

Outlook: Oilers must forget last week’s lastsecond loss to Seattle on blocked FG return for TD. Houston’s DL should dominate Saints, who are without Pro Bowl tackle Willie Roaf for four weeks with knee injury.

Indianapolis at Miami

Line: Dolphins by 3-1/2.

Last meeting: Colts won 10-6 at Indianapolis on Sept. 23, 1996.

Key stats: Colts have won four straight from Dolphins.

Worth watching: Can Jim Harbaugh snap out of slump (4 INTs in loss to Chargers) and jump-start Colts’ offense? He has seven TDs and no INTs in last three games vs. Dolphins.

Outlook: Although Colts have dominated Dolphins recently, these are Jimmy Johnson’s Dolphins. With Dan Marino back healthy, Miami’s headed for good second half.

New England at New York Jets

Line: Patriots by 6-1/2.

Last meeting: Patriots won 31-28 at New England on Dec. 10, 1995.

Key stats: Patriots have averaged 32 points in winning six of last seven.

Worth watching: New England QB Drew Bledsoe coming on strong, with 15 TDs and only six INTs. Jets WR Keyshawn Johnson, the top pick in draft, has 36 catches for 438 yards.

Outlook: Patriots are league’s hottest team, and it’s not just offense. Defense is led by DE Willie McGinest, who has a sack in each of last four games. It will be a long second half for Jets.

Oakland at Tampa Bay

Line: Raiders by 5.

Last meeting: Raiders won 27-20 in Los Angeles on Dec. 19, 1993.

Key stats: Four of the Raiders’ five losses have come by six or fewer points (a total of 14 points).

Worth watching: Oakland QB Jeff Hostetler has 15 TD passes, only five short of his career best. Tampa Bay looks for more from Errict Rhett, who has averaged 3.0 yards per carry in his first two games.

Outlook: Two teams that are playing better and better. Tampa Bay defense has held last four opponents to 13 points each, while Raiders had Denver beaten until becoming latest victim of a John Elway comeback.

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati

Line: Steelers by 4.

Last meeting: Steelers won 20-10 at Pittsburgh on Oct. 13, 1996.

Key stats: Steelers have won 10 of last 11 from Bengals.

Worth watching: Steelers may just give the ball to Jerome Bettis (4.7 yards per carry) and kick back. After a slow start, Bengals QB Jeff Blake passed for 255 yards last week in victory over Baltimore.

Outlook: Well, it seems coaching matters. Bengals are going for their first three-game winning streak since 1990, quite a turnaround since Bruce Coslet replaced David Shula. But this week, it’s back to reality.

Dallas at San Francisco

Line: 49ers by 3-1/2.

Last meeting: San Francisco won 38-20 on Nov. 12, 1995.

Key stats: San Francisco has beaten Dallas three straight.

Worth watching: Will Deion Sanders play less wide receiver and concentrate more on cornerback now that Kevin Williams has returned from a knee injury?

Outlook: This could have been an NFC title game preview; instead it will provide another barometer of whether Cowboys can repeat as Super Bowl champions. Last week’s barometer was Philadelphia, and Dallas lost. Only a huge game from Cowboys’ No. 6 defense can save them.

Baltimore at Jacksonville

Line: Jaguars by 3-1/2.

Last meeting: Jaguars won 24-21 in Jacksonville on Dec. 24, 1995.

Key stats: Jacksonville is No. 1 in passing offense, Baltimore is No. 2.

Worth watching: Baltimore planning bigger role for RB Bam Morris, who has been especially effective near the goal line. Jacksonville QB Mark Brunell has thrown seven interceptions in the last two games.

Outlook: Meeting of two teams that have lost to Bengals. At least Jaguars have had two weeks to get over it, though it might not be enough.

Chicago at Denver

Line: Broncos by 10-1/2.

Last meeting: Broncos won 13-3 in Chicago on Dec. 18, 1993.

Key stats: Denver is No. 1 in NFL in rushing defense and passing defense.

Worth watching: Denver QB John Elway has a tender hamstring, but all that may do is force him to stay in the pocket. He is second only to Green Bay’s Brett Favre in the NFL in passing. Bears need a combined big game from tailbacks Rashaan Salaam and Raymont Harris.

Outlook: Against Elway, tight end Shannon Sharpe and the NFL’s leading rusher, Terrell Davis, the Bears are outmanned. Bryan Cox is out for the season with a broken thumb, so Barry Minter steps in. Unless Elway is hurt more than it appears, look out below.

New York Giants at Carolina

Line: Panthers by 4-1/2.

Last meeting: First game.

Key stats: Giants have won four of last six, allowing more than 19 points only in 31-21 loss at Washington.

Worth watching: Carolina LB Lamar Lathon leads NFL with 9-1/2 sacks, and team leads league with 32.

Outlook: Panthers have built a strong home-field advantage, and are 4-0 there this season. Giants are one of the worst at protecting the quarterback, and QB Dave Brown may be slowed by a knee injury.

Detroit at San Diego

Line: Chargers by 4.

Last meeting: Chargers won 27-24 in San Diego on Sept. 30, 1984.

Key stats: Lions have won their last three Monday night games.

Worth watching: San Diego LB Junior Seau returned to the lineup last week and had two sacks.

Outlook: Lions have finally figured out that they should give the ball to Barry Sanders, whose 152-yard effort in loss at Green Bay Sunday was his first 100-yard game since Sept. 8 versus Tampa Bay. If QB Scott Mitchell plays - he’s questionable with rib injury - Lions should have more than enough offense.