Nfl Matchups

Atlanta at Dallas

Line: Cowboys by 15.

Last meeting: Cowboys won 28-13 at Atlanta on Oct. 29, 1995.

Key stats: The Cowboys’ defense is No. 1 in the NFL, the offense is No. 26.

Worth watching: Dallas wide receiver Michael Irvin figures to improve on his first game of the season (five catches, 51 yards). Falcons’ dream of an upset may hinge on big plays from WR Terance Mathis.

Outlook: Irvin’s return means Dallas will climb in the standings as well as the offensive rankings. Irvin’s presence prevents safeties from concentrating on the run, which is one reason Emmitt Smith ran for 112 yards and two TDs in last week’s win over Arizona. Falcons know this: They just won’t be able to do much about it and will remain winless.

Miami at Philadelphia

Line: Eagles by 3.

Last meeting: Dolphins won 19-14 at Philadelphia on Nov. 14, 1993.

Key stats: Eagles are 27-0-1 when a running back rushes for 100 yards or more.

Worth watching: RB Ricky Watters is carrying more of the load with Rodney Peete out, gaining 110 yards in last week’s victory over the Giants. Will Miami rookie RB Karim Abdul-Jabbar return to his early-season form? He has only 74 yards in the last three games.

Outlook: Eagles beat the Giants without a touchdown from the offense, a bit of good fortune that isn’t likely to repeat itself against the Dolphins. With Ty Detmer running the show, Eagles won’t score much. Dolphins won’t, either, but Craig Erickson gets the nod in another battle of backup QBs.

New England at Indianapolis

Line: Colts by 3-1/2.

Last meeting: Colts won 10-7 in Indianapolis on Dec. 23, 1995.

Key stats: Colts have won 10 of their last 13 vs. the AFC East.

Worth watching: Two of the game’s top tight ends share the spotlight in this one. New England’s Ben Coates leads the Patriots with 31 catches (4 TDs). The Colts’ Ken Dilger has 19 catches and leads all tight ends with 14.9 yards per catch.

Outlook: The Indianapolis defense will have to find a way to stop an offense that has averaged 31.8 points per game the last four weeks. A key sack from ex-Bear Richard Dent, who leads the Colts with 3-1/2 sacks, would help. The Colts are only 25th in offense and 17th in defense, but keep finding ways to win.

New Orleans at Carolina

Line: Panthers by 7.

Last meeting: Panthers won 22-20 at New Orleans Sept. 8.

Key stats: Panthers are 4-0 within the NFC West.

Worth watching: Both teams hope big games by running backs aren’t flukes. Carolina’s Anthony Johnson has had back-to-back 100-yard games; Ray Zellars of the Saints blitzed the Bears for a career-high 174 yards. Outlook: Panthers needed a rally to beat Saints in September, but this one is in Charlotte, where the Panthers are 3-0. LB Lamar Lathon (7-1/2 sacks) leads the Carolina defense. Saints have won two in a row, but their inability to stop the run consistently could be the difference.

New York Giants at Washington

Line: Redskins by 7-1/2.

Last meeting: Redskins won 31-17 at New York on Sept. 15.

Key stats: It’s the Giants’ No. 29 offense vs. the Redskins’ No. 29 defense. Can you wait? Worth watching: The Giants had beaten the Redskins six straight until Sept. 15, when Terry Allen rushed for 146 yards. Look for Allen to continue his big season.

Outlook: The Giants’ defense hasn’t allowed a TD in 12 quarters, but that didn’t stop them from losing to Philadelphia. The Redskins are 5-1, and Allen should help them get their sixth straight victory.

Baltimore at Denver

Line: Broncos by 10.

Last meeting: Broncos won 26-14 in Denver in 1994.

Key stats: Broncos lead the NFL in rushing offense and total offense.

Worth watching: Both quarterbacks are playing well. Even though he isn’t throwing deep as often as he once did, Denver’s John Elway has 11 TD passes. And Baltimore’s Vinny Testaverde has three in each of the last two games, 11 overall.

Outlook: Broncos come off a bye week hoping they haven’t lost anything. Before the break, they went 5-1 and had everything working. With Terrell Davis (4.8 avg.) running, Elway passing and Alfred Williams (5-1/2 sacks) leading the pass rush, they should keep rolling.

Buffalo at New York Jets

Line: Bills by 7.

Last meeting: Bills won 28-26 at New York on Nov. 19, 1995.

Key stats: The Bills have won the last two from the Jets.

Worth watching: Can Buffalo QB Jim Kelly bounce back from a horrible performance against Miami last week, after which he questioned whether he should even be playing? Jets’ Wayne Chrebet comes off a 12-catch game, giving him 40 for the season.

Outlook: The Jets actually have a shot at the NFL’s first 0-16 season since Tampa Bay in 1976. This is no joke: Their “easy” games are behind them. After a home loss to Miami, Bills should be motivated to get back on track.

Cincinnati at San Francisco

Line: 49ers by 15.

Last meeting: 49ers won 21-8 at San Francisco on Dec. 5, 1993.

Key stats: San Francisco has won the last eight against the Bengals, including two Super Bowls.

Worth watching: Steve Young, ready to play again after being sidelined three games by a groin strain. For the sorry Bengals, Lee Johnson’s punting is one of the few things to get excited about; he’s averaging 49.4 yards.

Outlook: Bengals are fading, and general manager Mike Brown has finally acknowledged that coach Dave Shula’s job is on the line. Unless the 49ers get hit with a case of Monday night hangover, they should bounce back from that loss to the Packers with ease.

Jacksonville at St. Louis

Line: Jaguars by 1-1/2.

Last meeting: First meeting.

Key stats: The Jaguars lead the NFL in passing offense with 251.9 yards per game.

Worth watching: Jacksonville QB Mark Brunell is still putting up big numbers, leading NFL with 1,875 passing yards. Rams have an emerging star in rookie Eddie Kennison, who had eight catches for 93 yards in last week’s loss to Carolina.

Outlook: Remember a year ago, when the Rams were considered an up-and-coming team? Since starting last year 5-1, they’ve gone 3-13. Now, they’ve lost five in a row since beating the Bengals in their opener. The Jaguars should roll vs. the Rams’ No. 28 defense.

Pittsburgh at Houston

Line: OFF

Last meeting: Steelers won 30-16 at Pittsburgh on Sept. 29.

Key stats: Steelers have won five straight.

Worth watching: The battle of the running backs: Steelers’ Jerome Bettis has five straight 100-yard games; Oilers’ Eddie George has two.

Outlook: Could be the best game of the day if the teams stick to football. Last time they met, 35 players were fined as result of fights. When the gloves come off, the Steelers’ defense should control things.

Tampa Bay at Arizona

Line: Cardinals by 3.

Last meeting: Bucs won 7-3 at Arizona on Dec. 27, 1992.

Key stats: In their first season under head coach Vince Tobin, the Cardinals’ defense is ninth in the league.

Worth watching: Can Tampa Bay QB Trent Dilfer have two good games in a row? Last week, he threw for three TDs as the Bucs beat the Vikings. Arizona rookie DE Simeon Rice has five sacks, four in the last five games. Dilfer will run into him.

Outlook: Cardinals’ improving defense should contain what passes for a Tampa Bay offense. If Arizona RB LeShon Johnson, who has a sore ankle, can break a big run, this one won’t be close.

Oakland at San Diego

Line: Chargers by 3-1/2.

Last meeting: Chargers won 40-34 at Oakland on Sept. 22.

Key stats: It’s Raiders’ No. 2-ranked offense vs. Chargers’ No. 30 defense.

Worth watching: Oakland QB Jeff Hostetler has shaken off early-season injuries and is throwing the ball well (four TD passes in victory over Detroit last week). San Diego’s Tony Martin leads NFL with seven TD receptions.

Outlook: Raiders could make a run at Chargers in this one. If Hostetler finds WR Tim Brown and improving rookie TE Rickey Dudley enough, an upset looms.