Nfl Matchups

Arizona at New Orleans

Line: Saints by 7-1/2.

Last meeting: Saints won 20-17 at Arizona on Oct. 31, 1993.

Key stats: Under coach Jim Mora, the Saints are 5-1 against the Cardinals.

Worth watching: The Cardinals unveil their 13th starting quarterback in their ninth season in Phoenix. He’s Kent Graham, who played at Notre Dame and Ohio State. Will he be able to do anything that Boomer Esiason couldn’t do? Rookie Simeon Rice leads the Cardinals with two sacks. The Saints may give Ray Zellars a shot at the starting RB job.

Outlook: They haven’t won a game, but the Saints boast the NFL’s 10th-ranked defense. Wayne Martin is second in the NFC with four sacks.

Denver at Kansas City

Line: Chiefs by 5.

Last meeting: Chiefs won 20-17 at Kansas City on Dec. 17, 1995.

Key stats: The Broncos, not usually noted for their defense, lead the AFC and are third in the NFL, allowing only 235.3 yards per game.

Worth watching: Chiefs LB Derrick Thomas already has five sacks, and will turn his radar on to find QB John Elway. Denver RB Terrell Davis has two straight 100-yard games and is the AFC’s No. 1 rusher (third in the NFL) with 320 yards.

Outlook: The Chiefs get help from the crowd at Arrowhead against an improving Broncos’ team. Kansas City must run the ball with Marcus Allen and Greg Hill to keep Steve Bono out of third-and-long situations. Blocking Thomas will be a key to Broncos’ upset hopes.

Green Bay at Minnesota

Line: Packers by 6-1/2.

Last meeting: Vikings won 27-14 in Minneapolis on Nov. 5, 1995.

Key stats: Why are these teams both 3-0? Packers are plus-eight in turnover differential; Vikings are plus-seven.

Worth watching: Green Bay QB Brett Favre’s interception differential of 10-2 is ridiculously good. The Vikings counter with 39-year-old Warren Moon, although backup Brad Johnson may give them a better chance later in the season. Packers have outscored opponents 115-26.

Outlook: The Packers are the NFL’s best, but the Vikings take encouragement from the fact that they have won six of the last eight from Green Bay, including the last four in the Metrodome. That won’t mean much today, especially if Edgar Bennett can keep averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Against the NFL’s No. 22 rushing defense, he should.

N.Y. Giants at N.Y. Jets

Line: Jets by 2-1/2.

Last meeting: Jets won 10-6 on Oct. 31, 1993.

Key stats: These are the two worst defenses in the league; the Jets 29th, Giants 30th.

Worth watching: Not much, unless you’re a masochistic New York football fan. But if you must watch, Jets QB Neil O’Donnell has thrown back-to-back 300-yard games and could feast on the Giants.

Outlook: Who cares? The loser becomes one of the leaders in the race for the first pick in the draft. This game is at their mutual home field, the Meadowlands, but it’s a home game for the Jets, so give them the edge.

San Francisco at Carolina

Line: 49ers by 9-1/2.

Last meeting: 49ers won 31-10 at Carolina on Dec. 10, 1995.

Key stats: The 49ers lead the NFL in total defense.

Worth watching: San Francisco QB Steve Young played well in his first two starts, but is still looking for his first touchdown pass. Carolina turns to backup QB Steve Beuerlein to replace the injured Kerry Collins.

Outlook: San Francisco’s running game has been a pleasant surprise, with Derek Loville averaging 3.9 yards in the first two games. The 49ers should be able to move the ball against the Panthers’ aging defense. They’ll throw, too, as long as they can block Lamar Lathon (five sacks).

Washington at St. Louis

Line: St. Louis by 2.

Last meeting: Redskins won 35-23 at St. Louis on Dec. 17, 1995.

Key stats: The Rams are last in total offense and last in passing offense.

Worth watching: Washington’s Terry Allen leads the NFL with 340 yards rushing and is averaging a robust 5.1 yards per carry. St. Louis wide receiver Isaac Bruce has caught a pass in 29 straight games.

Outlook: The Redskins are emerging as one of the NFL’s surprise contenders. Built around a running game, they have a chance for a 3-1 start. The Rams are sticking with Steve Walsh, even though he has completed only 15 of 41 passes.

Dallas at Buffalo

Line: Cowboys by 3.

Last meeting: Bills won 13-10 at Dallas on Sept. 12, 1993.

Key stats: The Cowboys are fifth in the NFL in total defense.

Worth watching: While the Dallas offense struggles, the Cowboys are getting production from DL Tony Tolbert (four sacks) and cornerback Kevin Smith (two interceptions). Buffalo’s strength is also on defense, where Bruce Smith has five sacks.

Outlook: The Cowboys will be a desperate bunch if they lose this one and fall to 1-3. Thanks to their defense, they won’t. And now doctors are telling DE Charles Haley not to play for three weeks because of his sore back. The Bills expect to go without QB Jim Kelly, who injured a hamstring in practice on Thursday. Todd Collins would get the start.

Chicago at Detroit

Line: Lions by 4-1/2.

Last meeting: Lions won 27-7 in Pontiac.

Key stats: The Lions have four of the last five from the Bears.

Worth watching: Detroit’s Barry Sanders is the NFL’s No. 2 rusher with 337 yards, but his 5.6-yard average is the more telling statistic. Teammate Herman Moore leads the NFL with 26 catches. The Bears have been struggling on offense, but strong safety Marty Carter has been plugging holes on defense with a team-high 41 tackles.

Outlook: The loser of this meeting will be a long shot to make the playoffs, so a sense of desperation is in the dome. Both teams expected more, but the presence of Sanders means the Lions can control this affair, even if the Bears’ banged up offense gets its act together. Rashaan Salaam, fighting a sore knee, may play for the first time this season.

Jacksonville at New England

Line: Jaguars by 8.

Last meeting: This is their first meeting.

Key stats: Jacksonville leads the AFC, and is fourth in the NFL, in passing offense.

Worth watching: Drew Bledsoe, still trying to bounce back from a poor 1995, tossed three touchdown passes. Mark Brunell leads the AFC with 731 passing yards.

Outlook: The second-year Jaguars began the season with playoff hopes, and need this one to avoid the 1-3 start that usually means playoff oblivion. They need to get running back James Stewart the ball often.

San Diego at Oakland

Line: Raiders by 3.

Last meeting: Chargers won 12-6 at San Diego on Nov. 27, 1995.

Key stats: Chargers are 24-3 under coach Bobby Ross when they hold opponents to 15 points or fewer.

Worth watching: This game features two of football’s top wide receivers. The Chargers’ Tony Martin is third in the NFL and leads the AFC with 19 receptions, three for touchdowns. The Raiders’ Tim Brown isn’t far behind with 17. He also has three TD receptions.

Outlook: A year ago, it looked like coach Mike White might have turned the Raiders around. Now, at 1-2, White may be fighting for his job. The Raiders responded to the return of Jeff Hostetler last week, and he should hook up with Brown just enough.

Philadelphia at Atlanta

Line: Falcons by 2.

Last meeting: Falcons won 28-21 in Atlanta on Nov. 27, 1994.

Key stats: The Eagles are third in the NFL in offense, second in passing offense.

Worth watching: Philadelphia boasts one of the NFL’s new receiving stars in Chris T. Jones, who had nine catches for 121 yards and a TD in last week’s win over the Lions.

Outlook: The Eagles should be able to control the ball with the running of Ricky Watters and the passing of Rodney Peete. The Falcons have a home-dome edge, having won eight of last 10.