Nfl Matchups

New York Jets at Buffalo

Line: Bills by 9-1/2.

Last meeting: Bills won 25-22 at New York on Oct. 20.

Key stats: Jets are fifth in NFL in offense, but have won only once.

Worth watching: Bills getting big season from DE Bruce Smith, who already has 10-1/2 sacks. Jets RB Adrian Murrell has 938 yards rushing and 4.3 average.

Outlook: Bills have won three in a row (Washington, Philadelphia, Cincinnati) and aren’t about to be derailed by Jets.

Carolina at Houston

Line: Oilers by 4-1/2.

Last meeting: First meeting.

Key stats: Oilers are second in NFL in rushing defense.

Worth watching: Carolina RB Anthony Johnson has four 100-yard rushing games. Houston QB Chris Chandler is NFL’s most effective passer on third down (108.2 rating).

Outlook: These two up-and-coming teams smell the playoffs. Panthers broke through with road victory last week, but it was over Rams. Home-dome advantage should work for Oilers.

Philadelphia at Arizona

Line: Eagles by 3-1/2.

Last meeting: Eagles won 21-20 at Philadelphia on Dec. 17, 1995.

Key stats: Eagles have won three of last four from Cardinals.

Worth watching: Arizona DE Simeon Rice from Illinois leads team and all rookies with eight sacks. Ty Detmer might never have had chance if Rodney Peete hadn’t been injured; now he’s second in the NFC with 87.0 rating.

Outlook: Eagles are coming off home losses to Buffalo and Washington, and need a victory badly. Cardinals gradually improving, but Eagles need this one too much to stay in NFC East race.

Detroit at Chicago

Line: Bears by 3.

Last meeting: Lions won 35-16 in Pontiac on Sept. 22.

Key stats: The Bears have scored only 50 points in last four games.

Worth watching: RB Raymont Harris leads Bears in rushing with 431 yards (4.2 average) and starts again at tailback. Detroit’s Barry Sanders needs only 18 yards for an NFL-record, eighth-straight 1,000-yard season.

Outlook: Thanks to improved defense, Bears have been playing close, competitive games for last four months. Lions have more offensive weapons, but with QB Scott Mitchell ailing (he’s starting after recovering from rib injury), haven’t been able to use them all.

Jacksonville at Baltimore

Line: Ravens by 4.

Last meeting: Jaguars won 30-27 at Jacksonville at Nov. 10.

Key stats: Jacksonville is second in NFL in offense, Baltimore is third.

Worth watching: Jacksonville QB Mark Brunell has thrown for more than 200 yards in last 13 games, longest such active streak in NFL. Baltimore’s Vinny Testaverde (expected to start despite sore ribs) has career-high 24 TD passes.

Outlook: Jaguars edged Ravens two weeks ago, but that game was in Jacksonville. Jaguars are like an expansion team in one respect - they’re 0-5 on the road. Look for Bam Morris to get some tough yards for Ravens.

New Orleans at Tampa Bay

Line: Bucs by 5-1/2.

Last meeting: Saints won 9-7 at Tampa on Sept. 18, 1994.

Key stats: A defensive coordinator’s delight: Game features Bucs’ No. 27 offense and Saints’ No. 28 offense.

Worth watching: Tampa Bay QB Trent Dilfer continues to give Bucs hopes for future. His stats from last two games: 50 of 69 for 519 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Outlook: Bucs going for third straight thanks to improved Dilfer and defense that hasn’t allowed more than 17 points in six games. They should get it.

Atlanta at Cincinnati

Line: Bengals by 6.

Last meeting: Bengals won 21-17 at Cincinnati on Dec. 26, 1993.

Key stats: Bengals lead the NFL with turnover differential of plus-13.

Worth watching: Atlanta QB Bobby Hebert has thrown 10 TD passes in the last six games. After a slow start, Bengals RB Ki-Jana Carter has been effective near the goal line (six TDs in four games).

Outlook: Bengals have won three of four under Bruce Coslet, no doubt making all of southern Ohio wonder more and more about the wasted years under Dave Shula. Both teams improving, but Bengals are hotter.

San Francisco at Washington

Line: 49ers by 3-1/2.

Last meeting: 49ers won 37-22 at Washington on Nov. 6, 1994.

Key stats: Mismatch of week? San Francisco offense is 10th, Washington defense is 30th.

Worth watching: Redskins must find way to block DE Chris Doleman, who is enjoying rejuvenated career with 8 sacks. Washington will, as always, rely on RB Terry Allen, who has 17 TDs.

Outlook: San Francisco coach George Seifert has decided to go with Steve Young, hoping he can avoid another concussion. One of the Redskins’ keys this season has been turnover differential, so San Francisco defense may need to make a big play. But 49ers have been playing consistently.

Denver at Minnesota

Line: Broncos by 5-1/2.

Last meeting: Vikings won 26-23 at Denver on Nov. 14, 1993.

Key stats: Denver leads league in total offense, rushing offense and rushing defense.

Worth watching: Lost amid publicity for Denver offense is defensive end Alfred Williams. One of prize free agents from last winter, he leads AFC with 11 sacks. Vikings WR Jake Reed leads NFL with 1,017 receiving yards (19.6 avg., 5 TDs).

Outlook: With Terrell Davis in gear, Broncos should run at will against NFL’s No. 24-ranked defense. Vikings have shaken off distractions all season, now they have to deal with the Lou Holtz-to-the-Vikings rumors.

San Diego at Kansas City

Line: Chiefs by 5-1/2.

Last meeting: Chargers won 22-19 at San Diego on Sept. 29, 1996.

Key stats: Chiefs have won 10 of last 13 from Chargers.

Worth watching: Chiefs LB Derrick Thomas leads NFL with 11 sacks. Chargers will need big game from WR Tony Martin (13.4 yards per catch, 11 TDs).

Outlook: Chargers had high hopes for this season, but losses in last month to Tampa Bay, Seattle and Oakland have dropped them into wild-card hunt. Chiefs should win this one in typical low-scoring fashion.

Indianapolis at New England

Line: Patriots by 6.

Last meeting: Patriots won 27-9 at Indianapolis on Oct. 20.

Key stats: Colts have won 11 of their last 16 AFC East games.

Worth watching: Colts could use something they haven’t been getting - a big game from RB Marshall Faulk, averaging 2.8 yards per carry.

Outlook: Patriots had won four in a row until running into Broncos last week, but should regain momentum against banged-up Colts team. After this, Colts still have Buffalo, Philadelphia and Kansas City, so playoffs are only a dream.

Dallas at New York Giants

Line: Cowboys by 9.

Last meeting: Cowboys won 27-0 at Dallas on Sept. 8.

Key stats: Mismatch of the week II: Cowboys’ No. 1 defense versus Giants’ No. 29 offense.

Worth watching: Dallas RB Emmitt Smith is due for big game, and Giants’ 20th-ranked rushing defense could help.

Outlook: With six victories in last seven games, Cowboys have Super Bowl look about them again. Giants will be a fine scrimmage for Cowboys’ stretch run (Washington, Arizona, New England, Washington again).

Green Bay at St. Louis

Line: Packers by 9-1/2.

Last meeting: Rams won 17-14 at Green Bay on Sept. 3, 1995.

Key stats: Packers have allowed only 165 points (second only to Pittsburgh).

Worth watching: WR Andre Rison makes his Packer debut. Packers are taking a chance on him because of their injury-depleted receiver corps.

Outlook: Packers, considered the class of the NFC in September, have plenty of company now with likes of Washington, Philadelphia, Dallas and San Francisco. With a two-game losing streak, including Monday night’s 21-6 loss at Dallas, they need a big victory to rebuild confidence.

Pittsburgh at Miami (Monday night)

Line: Dolphins by 3.

Last meeting: Dolphins won 23-10 at Miami on Sept. 18.

Key stats: Running experts: The Steelers are second in rushing offense and fifth in rushing defense.

Worth watching: Can Steelers QB Mike Tomczak pull out of a two-game slump (20 of 52 for 289 yards, two TDs, four INTs)? Miami QB Dan Marino paces AFC with passer rating of 95.5.

Outlook: Steelers are in Super Bowl race, but they’re only 2-3 on the road, with losses to Jacksonville, Houston and Cincinnati. Tomczak’s slump and Marino’s presence are the difference.