The matchups

Bengals at Browns

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Browns by 3.

Bengals: Gained momentum with win over Redskins, but they’ve scored only 19 points in their last three on road. Asking too much of defense.

Browns: Inept on offense, with only 31 points in four-game losing skid. Ken Dorsey has zero TD passes in two starts.

Fantasy outlook: Bengals’ Cedric Benson getting only 3.1 yards per carry, but coming off 161 yards from scrimmage vs. Redskins. Browns’ Jamal Lewis averaging 3.5 with four rushing TDs.

Injuries: Bengals’ OT Levi Jones (knee) questionable. Browns TE Steve Heiden (knee) out for season.

Saints at Lions

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Saints by 7.

Records: Saints (7-7); Lions (0-14)

Saints: Little to play for except to avoid trivia question answer: Who lost to Lions in ’08? Saints are 1-6 on road, and Reggie Bush is out for season with knee injury.

Lions: Last home game, and best chance to avoid winless season. They’ve put up good fights against better teams (Vikings, Colts) last two weeks. Dan Orlovsky is back at QB.

Fantasy outlook: Drew Brees leads NFL with 28 TD passes and 4,332 yards. Orlovsky has six TD passes vs. four INTs and decent passer rating of 80.3.

Injuries: Saints RB Reggie Bush (knee) out for year. Lions S Dwight Smith (ankle) out.

Dolphins at Chiefs

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Dolphins by 31/2.

Records: Dolphins (9-5); Chiefs (2-12)

Dolphins: Confident bunch will have to adjust to weather. Won last three on road, seven of eight overall. Secret to success: Lead NFL with plus-12 turnover differential.

Chiefs: Hard to see this offense doing much against defense that hasn’t allowed TD in last three games. Can Larry Johnson carry load? They’re 1-6 at home.

Fantasy outlook: Chad Pennington has 14 TD passes vs. only six INTs. Chiefs’ Dwayne Bowe has 73 catches, 12.2 avg., seven TDs.

Injuries: Chiefs’ CB Maurice Leggett (shoulder) probable.

Cardinals at Patriots

Time: 10 a.m. TV: Fox 28. Line: Patriots by 8.

Records: Cardinals (8-6); Patriots (9-5)

Cardinals: Uphill battle for Cardinals, who are 2-5 against winning teams and have lost three of four. Does Kurt Warner have another big game in him?

Patriots: Win keeps share of 1st in AFC East, with winnable finale at Buffalo next. Facing warm-weather team at home in December good matchup. Pats have won 11 straight in December.

Fantasy outlook: Cardinals’ Tim Hightower leads rookies with 10 rushing TDs, but only 2.9 yards per carry. Patriots’ Sammy Morris has seven rush TDs, at least one in last three games, and is averaging 4.7 per carry.

Injuries: Pats’ OT Matt Light (shoulder), LB Tedy Bruschi (knee) questionable.

49ers at Rams

Time: 10 a.m. Line: 49ers by 5.

Records: 49ers (5-9); Rams (2-12)

49ers: Have won three of five. Motivated to finish strongly so Mike Singletary gets head coaching job.

Rams: Have lost eight straight with little hope of quick turnaround. Scored more than 20 points only once all season.

Fantasy outlook: 49ers’ Isaac Bruce, former Ram, has 52 catches, six TDs. Rams’ Torry Holt has 54 catches, three TDs.

Injuries: 49ers RB Frank Gore (ankle) questionable. Rams’ WR Derek Stanley (knee) out.

Chargers at Buccaneers

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Bucs by 3 1/2 .

Records: Chargers (6-8); Buccaneers (9-5)

Chargers: Need plenty of help for playoffs. Offense is capable of big day with NFL-leading passer Philip Rivers.

Bucs: Effectiveness of QB Jeff Garcia (calf) may decide this one. Backup Brian Griese has five TD passes vs. seven INTs.

Fantasy outlook: Chargers’ Vincent Jackson has 50 catches, 18.8 avg., seven TDs; Bucs’ Antonio Bryant has 74, six TDs, including three TDs in last two games.

Injuries: Bucs S Jermaine Phillips (broken arm) out, LB Derrick Brooks (rib) questionable. Chargers C Nick Hardwick (concussion) questionable, WR Malcolm Floyd (lung) doubtful.

Steelers at Titans

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Steelers by 2.

Records: Steelers (11-3); Titans (12-2)

Steelers: Two wins would lock up No. 1 seed in AFC. But offense remains suspect, especially on road.

Titans: Kerry Collins’ poor outing last week at Houston has raised questions, and now they face NFL’s No. 1 defense. They’ll miss DT Albert Haynesworth (knee). Home field will be difference.

Fantasy outlook: Willie Parker has slowed down, getting 3.8 per carry with four rushing TDs. Titans rookie Chris Johnson has eight rushing TDs with 4.9 avg.

Injuries: Steelers’ DE Brett Keisel (shoulder) questionable. Titans DT Albert Haynesworth (knee), DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (groin) out until playoffs.

Bills at Broncos

Time: 1 p.m. Line: Broncos by 6.

Records: Bills (6-8); Broncos (8-6)

Bills: Trent Edwards has recovered enough from groin injury to return to starting job. Nothing to lose anymore.

Broncos: Can wrap up AFC West title with win. If they lose and Chargers win, it all comes down to their meeting in San Diego next week.

Fantasy outlook: Marshawn Lynch carrying load for Bills with 1,002 yards, seven rushing TDs, 4.2 average. Broncos’ Jay Cutler has 24 TD passes vs. 15 INTs.

Injuries: Bills WR James Hardy (knee) out for season. Broncos T Ryan Clady (ankle), CB Champ Bailey (groin) questionable.

Texans at Raiders

Time: 1 p.m. Line: Texans by 7.

Records: Texans (7-7); Raiders (3-11)

Texans: Out of playoffs but finishing strongly with four straight wins. Pass rusher Mario Williams (11 sacks) emerging as major force.

Raiders: Fading into sunset with another disastrous season. They’ve lost three straight, getting outscored 103-46.

Fantasy outlook: Texans’ Andre Johnson leads NFL with 103 catches, and has six TDs. In six home starts, Raiders’ JaMarcus Russell has six TD passes vs. three INTs.

Injuries: Raiders WR Ronald Curry (toe) questionable.

Falcons at Vikings

Time: 1:15 p.m. TV: Fox 28. Line: Vikings by 3.

Records: Falcons (9-5); Vikings (9-5)

Falcons: Need win to stay in playoff race, but only 3-4 on road. Need to control clock with ground game and limit turnovers.

Vikings: NFC North title is one win away, and team is gaining confidence in QB Tarvaris Jackson (four TD passes last week), who is expected to start again.

Fantasy outlook: Falcons’ Michael Turner is NFL’s No. 2 rusher with 1,421 yards (15 rushing TDs); Vikings’ Adrian Peterson is No. 1 with 1,581 (nine rushing TDs.)

Injuries: Vikings’ DT Pat Williams (shoulder) out.

Eagles at Redskins

Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: Eagles by 5.

Records: Eagles (8-5-1); Redskins (7-7)

Eagles: A rejuvenated Donovan McNabb has brought Eagles back into playoff contention, including three straight by 98-44 margin.

Redskins: Heading down in opposite direction, they misplaced offense in October. Not yet eliminated but may as well be.

Fantasy outlook: Eagles’ Brian Westbrook has 400 yards from scrimmage, six TDs in last three. Redskins QB Jason Campbell has 12 TD passes vs. six INTs.

Injuries: Eagles WR Kevin Curtis (calf) questionable. Redskins’ OT Jon Jansen (knee) questionable.

Panthers at Giants

Time: 5:15 p.m. TV: NBC. Line: Giants by 31/2.

Records: Panthers (11-3); Giants (11-3)

Panthers: Offense scored at least 27 points in seven of last eight, and they’ve won seven of eight. Momentum on their side.

Giants: Have lost two straight, getting outscored 40-22, without suspended WR Plaxico Burress and getting little from injured running back Brandon Jacobs. Must find other options.

Fantasy outlook: Panthers’ DeAngelo Williams, averaging 5.5 yards per carry, 14 rush TDs, including one in seven straight games. Eli Manning has 20 TD passes vs. 10 INTs.

Injuries: Giants RB Brandon Jacobs (knee), OT Kareem McKenzie (back) questionable.