The Matchups

Bears at Rams

Line: Rams by 4.

Last meeting: Rams won 34-28 at Chicago on Sept. 24, 1995.

Key stats: St. Louis has scored 57 points in beating Washington and New Orleans the last two weeks.

Worth watching: Bears building toward next year with rookie starters at running back (Darnell Autry), tight end (John Allred) and Rick Mirer expected to get significant playing time at quarterback.

Outlook: Just the Bears’ luck to catch one of the NFL’s worst teams on a two-game winning streak. With Raymont Harris out with a broken leg, Bears will have trouble running the ball. Rams QB Tony Banks has directed two straight come-from-behind victories.

Cardinals at Saints

Line: Saints by 2.

Last meeting: Cardinals won 28-14 at New Orleans on Sept. 22, 1996.

Key stats: Cardinals are minus-18 in turnover differential; Saints are minus-22.

Worth watching: Arizona continues to be pleased with rookie QB Jake Plummer, who has thrown 12 touchdown passes. Saints’ sixth-ranked defense led by Wayne Martin (9-1/2 sacks).

Outlook: It’s Mike Ditka against his old Bears defensive coordinator, Cardinals coach Vince Tobin.

Cowboys at Bengals

Line: Bengals by 3.

Last meeting: Cowboys won 23-20 at Cincinnati on Oct. 30, 1994.

Key stats: Bengals have averaged 38 points in their last three games (two victories).

Worth watching: Cincinnati’s Corey Dillon set a rookie record with 246 yards rushing against Tennessee last week. Can Cowboys Emmitt Smith go with a sore shoulder?

Outlook: Three straight losses have all but knocked the Cowboys out of playoffs.

Lions at Vikings

Line: Vikings by 2-1/2.

Last meeting: Lions won 38-15 at Detroit on Nov. 16.

Key stats: Vikings have lost four in a row (Lions, Jets, Packers, 49ers).

Worth watching: Detroit RB Barry Sanders trying to extend his NFL record 100-yard game streak to 13. Vikings RB Robert Smith needs 197 yards in last two weeks to break Terry Allen’s team record of 1,201 yards.

Outlook: Detroit has averaged 38.8 points in its last four games (three wins). Vikings can clinch a playoff spot with a win.

Oilers at Ravens

Line: Oilers by 2.

Last meeting: Ravens won 36-10 at Tennessee on Sept. 21.

Key stats: Tennessee is fourth in rushing offense but 29th in passing defense.

Worth watching: Game features the NFL’s top two pass-rushers, Ravens LB Peter Boulware (10.5 sacks) and Oilers’ end Kenny Holmes (seven sacks).

Outlook: Two teams out of the playoff race trying to work toward next season.

Jaguars at Bills

Line: Jaguars by 5.

Last meeting: First regular-season meeting.

Key stats: Bills are minus 17 in turnover differential.

Worth watching: Jacksonville WR Keenan McCardell has 26 catches for 358 yards in the last three games. Buffalo DE Bruce Smith leads the AFC with 14 sacks.

Outlook: Buffalo gets a chance to make amends against the team that upset it in the playoffs last year. But the Bills didn’t look much like they had any fight left when the Bears handled them last week. Jaguars at least have some incentive: A win or Jets loss puts them in the playoffs.

Dolphins at Colts

Line: Dolphins by 4.

Last meeting: Dolphins won 16-10 at Miami on Oct. 31.

Key stats: Dolphins have won four of their last five games, averaging 29 points.

Worth watching: Colts’ Marshall Faulk (885 yards, 4.0 avg.) on track for his third 1,000-yard rushing season. Dolphins’ Karim Abdul-Jabbar leads NFL with 15 rushing touchdowns.

Outlook: Miami hopes to use this game as a warmup for the season-finale at home against New England.

Packers at Panthers

Line: Packers by 6-1/2.

Last meeting: First regular-season meeting.

Key stats: Panthers are minus-14 in turnover differential.

Worth watching: Green Bay QB Brett Favre is getting hotter as the weather gets colder: In the last three games, he has completed 69.9 percent of his passes and has a passer rating of 112.6.

Outlook: Packers need two wins and two San Francisco losses to get top seed in NFC playoffs. That’s a long shot, so Packers must guard against a letdown. Panthers coming off Monday night win over Dallas.

Chiefs at Chargers

Line: Chiefs by 9-1/2.

Last meeting: Chiefs won 31-3 at Kansas City on Oct. 16.

Key stats: Kansas City defense has allowed a total of only 33 points the last three weeks.

Worth watching: Chiefs’ Andre Rison has 70 catches for 14.9 average and seven TDs. Chargers looking for improvement from QB Craig Whelihan , whose passer rating is an anemic 54.4.

Outlook: Chiefs’ dream season should continue behind Rich Gannon, who has gone 4-1 in place of injured Elvis Grbac.

Eagles at Falcons

Line: Falcons by 3.

Last meeting: Eagles won 33-18 at Atlanta on Sept. 22, 1996.

Key stats: Atlanta has allowed an average of 11 points per game during its four-game winning streak.

Worth watching: Philadelphia WR Irving Fryar, second in the NFC with 1,216 receiving yards, has a team-record six 100-yard games. Atlanta rookie Byron Hanspard has returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the last two games.

Outlook: Two teams with only mathematical playoff hopes meet. Atlanta’s strong finish likely to continue against Eagles (0-5-1 on the road).

Bucs at Jets

Line: Bucs by 3.

Last meeting: Jets won 16-13 at New York on Sept. 1, 1991.

Key stats: Bucs are 0-17 when the temperature is under 42 degrees.

Worth watching: How effective will injured Tampa Bay QB Trent Dilfer (ankle), or his replacement Steve Walsh, be?

Outlook: Jets’ offense has managed a total of only 24 points in consecutive losses to Buffalo and Indianapolis. Bucs could easily stumble here, especially if Dilfer is out. But a win puts them in the playoffs.

Broncos at 49ers

Line: 49ers by 4.

Last meeting: 49ers won 42-19 at San Francisco on Dec. 17, 1994.

Key stats: It’s Denver’s No. 1 offense versus San Francisco’s No. 1 defense.

Worth watching: After tearing up his knee in the opener, receiver Jerry Rice scheduled to return to the 49ers. Denver’s Terrell Davis hopes to continue his huge season (1,722 yards rushing).

Outlook: It’ll be a big night in San Francisco, with the 49ers retiring Joe Montana’s number and Rice’s comeback.