WEEK 5

Lions (2-1) at Falcons (4-0)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Falcons by 7

Last meeting: Falcons won 36-15 at Atlanta on Dec. 22, 2002.

Key stat: Falcons are 16-8-1 in games Michael Vick has started.

Players to watch: Lions’ rookie Roy Williams has 4 TD receptions in first three games. Falcons’ left end Patrick Kerney leads NFL with seven sacks.

The buzz: Because of injuries, Lions are going with Artose Pinner at running back and they will struggle against Atlanta’s improving defense. The Falcons have made the Georgia Dome a tough place for visitors, winning the last four at home.

Giants (3-1) at Cowboys (2-1)

Time: 10 a.m., Fox 28

Line: Cowboys by 3 1/2

Last meeting: Cowboys won 19-3 at Dallas on Dec. 21, 2003.

Key stat: Giants have forced league-high 13 turnovers.

Players to watch: Giants’ Tiki Barber is averaging 6.2 yards per carry; Eddie George getting only 2.9 for Cowboys.

The buzz: Early-season showdown for the right to chase the Eagles in the NFC East. Bill Parcells will get the better of his former aide, Giants coach Tom Coughlin, by finding a way to stop rejuvenated Kurt Warner.

Vikings (2-1) at Texans (2-2)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Vikings by 4

Last meeting: First meeting.

Key stat: Vikings have lost six straight road games.

Players to watch: Vikings’ Daunte Culpepper leads NFL in passing (8 TDs. vs. 1 interception). Texans’ Andre Johnson has 17 catches for 20.9-yard average and 2 TDs.

The buzz: Thanks to Michael Bennett’s injury and Onterrio Smith’s suspension, Vikings are down to Moe Williams (6 carries for 27 yards) at running back — and he has a sore calf. Rookie Mewelde Moore may get the call. Can NFL’s No. 1-ranked offense overcome that?

Raiders (2-2) at Colts (3-1)

Time: 10 a.m., CBS

Line: Colts by 9

Last meeting: Raiders won 23-18 at Indianapolis on Oct. 14, 2001.

Key stat: Raiders have lost 11 straight road games.

Players to watch: Peyton Manning has thrown 19 TD passes and only 1 interception in last five home games. Kerry Collins off to a slow start as Raiders’ starter — 1 TD pass vs. 4 interceptions.

The buzz: Colts’ big names may pile it on Raiders. Edgerrin James already has run for 4 TDs and Marvin Harrison has 3 TD catches. Raiders won’t slow them down.

Dolphins (0-4) at Patriots (3-0)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Patriots by 13

Last meeting: Patriots won, 12-0, at New England on Dec. 7, 2003.

Key stat: Pats’ 18 straight victories have been by an average of only 8.9 points, 4.0 points less than any of the other five teams that share the NFL record.

Players to watch: Ex-Bear Marty Booker is fourth on the Dolphins with 10 catches (9.5 avg.). David Givens leads Pats with 14 catches (20.4 avg.).

The buzz: The two franchises at opposite ends of the league meet in a potentially historic game as Pats try to become first NFL team to win 19 straight regular-season and playoff games. Dolphins have three times as many FGs (6) as TDs, and that doesn’t figure to change.

Bucs (0-4) at Saints (2-2)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Saints by 3

Last meeting: Bucs won, 14-7, at New Orleans on Dec. 7, 2003.

Key stat: Bucs have been outscored 46-30 in two road losses.

Players to watch: Saints left end Charles Grant is second in the NFL with 5 sacks. Bucs’ Simeon Rice has 1 sack, but has 9 in last five games vs. Saints.

The buzz: Second-year QB Chris Simms gets a chance to boost an offense that has scored only three TDs. QB Aaron Brooks, quietly off to a good start, will produce enough for the Saints.

Browns (2-2) at Steelers (3-1)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Steelers by 6

Last meeting: Steelers won, 13-6, at Cleveland on Nov. 23, 2003.

Key stat: Browns 0-2 on road, outscored 46-22 by Cowboys, Giants.

Players to watch: Jerome Bettis, becoming a short-yardage specialist, has run for 5 TDs on 18 carries for Steelers. Browns’ Kenard Lang is third in NFL with 4 sacks.

The buzz: Steelers rookie Ben Roethlisberger off to a good start, with 4 TD passes vs. 3 interceptions. The running combination of Duce Staley (4.3 yards per carry) and Bettis is working.

Bills (0-3) at Jets (3-0)

Time: 1:05 p.m.

Line: Jets by 7

Last meeting: Bills won, 17-6, at Buffalo on Dec. 7, 2003.

Key stat: Bills have lost seven of last eight road games.

Players to watch: Bills’ Eric Moulds has caught a pass in 97 straight games — 20 this season, 3 for TDs. Curtis Martin averaging 5.0 yards per carry for Jets.

The buzz: The sinking Bills meet the surging Jets and neither trend will be reversed. Bills have scored only 37 points in three games.

Jaguars (3-1) at Chargers (2-2)

Time: 1:05 p.m.

Line: Jaguars by 3

Last meeting: Jaguars won, 27-21, at Jacksonville on Oct. 5, 2003.

Key stat: Average score of Jacksonville game: Jaguars 13, opponents 13.

Players to watch: Two quarterbacks having solid seasons: Jaguars’ Byron Leftwich has thrown 4 TD passes vs. 2 interceptions; Chargers’ Drew Brees has 6 TD passes, 2 interceptions.

The buzz: Jaguars’ smothering defense may give up a few yards to LaDainian Tomlinson, but won’t yield much to Brees. At some point, Jacksonville’s offense will have to do its share.

Panthers (1-2) at Broncos (3-1)

Time: 1:15 p.m.

Line: Broncos by 5 1/2

Last meeting: Broncos won 34-0 at Denver on Nov. 9, 1997.

Key stat: Denver has allowed 2 sacks, fewest in NFL.

Players to watch: Panthers’ Jake Delhomme off to a modest start, with 5 TD passes vs. 5 interceptions. Broncos’ Quentin Griffin (ankle injury) is questionable.

The buzz: Cornerback Champ Bailey and linebacker Al Wilson lead Denver’s No. 2-ranked defense against Carolina’s struggling offense. If RB Stephen Davis returns, Panthers have a chance.

Cardinals (1-3) at 49ers (0-4)

Time: 1:15 p.m.

Line: 49ers by 1.

Last meeting: 49ers won, 50-14, at San Francisco on Dec. 7, 2003.

Key stat: 49ers have been outscored 48-3 in first quarters.

Players to watch: Cards’ Josh McCown threw 2 TD passes in last game vs. 49ers, but has none this season. Linebacker Julian Peterson a bright spot for 49ers with 2 1/2 sacks.

The buzz: San Francisco is looking more and more like the worst team in the league and the Cardinals suddenly have a defense that is allowing only 14 points per game.

Ravens (2-2) at Redskins (1-3)

Time: 5:30 p.m., ESPN

Line: Pick ‘em.

Last meeting: Redskins won, 10-3, at Washington on Oct. 15, 2000.

Key stat: Redskins have lost four of last five at home.

Players to watch: Redskins’ Clinton Portis rushed for 141 yards and 4.7 average in two games against Baltimore while a Bronco. With Todd Heap injured, Randy Hymes leads Ravens with 14 catches, 2 for TDs.

The buzz: Ravens are pretty much living and dying with Jamal Lewis’s running, and Redskins are capable of shutting him down.

Titans (1-3) at Packers (1-3)

Time: 6 p.m. Monday, ABC

Line: Packers by 3

Last meeting: Titans won, 26-20, at Tennessee on Dec. 16, 2001.

Key stat: Packers are 4-4 in last eight at home, including 0-2 this season.

Players to watch: With quarterbacks ailing, the running backs: Titans’ Chris Brown averaging 5.1 yards per carry; Ahman Green getting 4.2 for Packers.

The buzz: Brett Favre is coming off a concussion and Steve McNair a bruised sternum. The team with the healthier quarterback wins this matchup, which looked better in August than it does now.