The NFL matchups

Saints at Panthers

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Saints by 3.

Records: Saints (4-6), Panthers (4-6)

Last meeting: Panthers won 16-13 at New Orleans on Oct. 7.

Key stat: Panthers have won last 4 meetings.

Fantasy factor: Saints’ Marques Colston has 35 catches, 3 TDs in last 4 games. Panthers’ Steve Smith, who has 6 TD catches, has had 1 in each of last 4 against Saints.

The Buzz: Saints made a run at getting back into the playoff picture, but they appear to have run out of gas again. Panthers sticking with 44-year-old Vinny Testaverde at QB over David Carr, though Testaverde was listed as questionable after showing up to Saturday’s practice with a stiff back.

Titans at Bengals

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Titans by 1 1/2 .

Records: Titans (6-4), Bengals (3-7)

Last meeting: Bengals won 31-23 at Tennessee on Oct. 16, 2005.

Key stat: Titans have won in last 5 trips to Cincinnati.

Fantasy factor: Titans’ Chris Brown has run for 231 yards, 3 TDs in 2 games vs. Bengals. Bengals’ T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who leads NFL with 76 catches, has TD catch in 9 games this season.

The Buzz: Titans scrambling for playoff berth. Whether that’s enough to overcome Carson Palmer remains to be seen.

Texans at Browns

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Browns by 3.

Records: Texans (5-5), Browns (6-4)

Last meeting: Texans won 14-6 at Houston on Dec. 31, 2006.

Key stat: Browns going for 4th straight home win for 1st time since rejoining NFL in ‘99.

Fantasy factor: Texans’ Ron Dayne has run for 211 yards in last 2 games. Browns’ Braylon Edwards has 6 TDs in last 6 games.

The Buzz: Both of these oft-struggling recent expansion franchises have shown signs of hope, but they’re bigger in Cleveland.

Bills at Jaguars

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Jaguars by 8.

Records: Bills (5-5), Jaguars (7-3)

Last meeting: Bills won 27-24 at Buffalo on Nov. 26, 2006.

Key stat: Jaguars 3rd in NFL in rushing at 140 yards per game.

Fantasy factor: Bills’ Lee Evans, who has 2 TDs this season, averaging 101.2 yards receiving in last 5 games. Jaguars’ David Garrard has thrown 8 TD passes and no interceptions.

The Buzz: With Garrard’s efficiency and Jaguars’ ability to run ball, they should control the game. Bills’ offense not explosive enough.

Raiders at Chiefs

Time: 10 a.m. TV: CBS

Line: Chiefs by 5 1/2 .

Records: Raiders (2-8), Chiefs (4-6)

Last meeting: Chiefs won 12-10 at Oakland on Oct. 21.

Key stat: Chiefs have won 9 straight meetings.

Fantasy factor: Raiders’ Justin Fargas doing all he can for woeful offense, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez has 7 career TDs vs. Raiders, and has 4 total this season.

The Buzz: Remember when this was a great old AFC rivalry? If so, you have a long memory.

Vikings at Giants

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Giants by 7.

Records: Vikings (4-6), Giants (7-3)

Last meeting: Vikings won 24-21 at New York on Nov. 13, 2005.

Key stat: Giants have outscored foes by only 3.6 points per game.

Fantasy factor: Vikings’ Chester Taylor can still do it, averaging 5.6 yards per carry with 4 TDs. Giants’ Eli Manning ought to improve on his 15 TDs vs. league’s worst pass defense.

The Buzz: Vikings may miss Adrian Peterson, but Taylor can keep them in this game. Unfortunately, he can’t do enough to win it.

Redskins at Bucs

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Buccaneers by 3.

Records: Redskins (5-5), Buccaneers (6-4)

Last meeting: Bucs won 20-17 at Tampa on Nov. 19, 2006.

Key stat: Bucs have won 2 of last 3 meetings.

Fantasy factor: Run defense isn’t strength of Bucs’ defense, so Redskins’ Clinton Portis may improve on his 4.2-yard average, 6 rushing TDs. Bucs’ Jeff Garcia having solid year with 11 TD passes vs. 3 INTs.

The Buzz: Redskins won’t score much against this defense, but they will score enough. Garcia will have to make some big plays for Bucs to win.

49ers at Cardinals

Time: 1:05 p.m.

Line: Cardinals by 10 1/2 .

Records: 49ers (2-8), Cardinals (5-5)

Last meeting: 49ers won 20-17 at San Francisco on Sept. 10.

Key stat: It’s 49ers’ No. 32 offense vs. Cards’ No. 11 defense.

Fantasy factor: 49ers’ Frank Gore, who has 3 rushing TDs, has TD in last 3 meetings. Cards’ Edgerrin James not producing yards like in his Indy days with 3.6 avg. but has 6 rushing TDs.

The Buzz: With 49ers QB Alex Smith out, and making issue of his medical treatment, things are not good by the Bay. Trent Dilfer gets call against Kurt Warner in old-timer’s game.

Ravens at Chargers

Time: 1:15 p.m.

Line: Chargers by 9.

Records: Ravens (4-6), Chargers (5-5)

Last meeting: Ravens won 16-13 at Baltimore on Oct. 1, 2006.

Key stat: Ravens have won last 3 meetings.

Fantasy factor: Ravens’ Willis McGahee averaging 4.3 yards per carry with 5 rushing TDs. Chargers’ LaDainian Tomlinson averaging just 4.1 but leads NFL with 9 rushing TDs.

The Buzz: Chargers show signs of making move but never follow through on it. Troubled Ravens play good run defense – but well enough vs. LT?

Broncos at Bears

Time: 1:15 p.m. TV: CBS

Line: Bears by 1 1/2 .

Records: Broncos (5-5), Bears (4-6)

Last meeting: Bears won 19-10 at Denver on Nov. 23, 2003.

Key stat: It’s Bears’ 25th-ranked offense vs. Broncos’ 25th-ranked defense.

Fantasy factor: Broncos’ Jay Cutler having fine 2nd season with 11 TDs vs. 9 INTs. Bernard Berrian, coming off 9-catch game, has 51 receptions but only 2 TDs.

The Buzz: Bears lost in Rex Grossman’s return to the lineup last week, but he made only 1 mistake. Can Cedric Benson have 2 good games in row?

Eagles at Patriots

Time: 5:15 p.m. TV: NBC

Line: Patriots by 22 1/2 .

Records: Eagles (5-5), Patriots (10-0)

Last meeting: Patriots won 24-21 in Super Bowl XXXIX at Jacksonville on Feb. 6, 2005.

Key stat: Patriots lead NFL with plus-13 turnover differential.

Fantasy factor: RB Brian Westbrook still Eagles’ best hope with 9 TDs. Patriots’ Wes Welker continues to be 1 of NFL’s surprises with 68 catches, 7 TDs.

The Buzz: Eagles will go with backup QB A.J. Feeley as Donovan McNabb heals, making mismatch even bigger. Unless Patriots’ Tom Brady does something uncharacteristic, another rout.

Dolphins at Steelers

Time: 5:30 p.m. Monday. TV: ESPN

Line: Steelers by 16.

Records: Dolphins (0-10), Steelers (7-3)

Last meeting: Steelers won 28-17 at Pittsburgh on Sept. 7, 2006.

Key stat: Dolphins losing by 9.1 points per game.

Fantasy factor: Marty Booker has 29 catches but only 1 TD for Dolphins. Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger rolling along with 23 TD passes vs. 8 INTs.

The Buzz: At some point, Dolphins figure to steal win, but it’s not likely to be on road – and certainly not in Pittsburgh.