PREVIEW | Today's games

SAN FRANCISCO (8-4) at DALLAS (5-7)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: 49ers lead 13-8-1. Cowboys beat 49ers 27-21 on Dec 30, 2001 at Dallas.
Last week: 49ers beat Seahawks 31-24; Cowboys beat Redskins 27-20.
Key matchup: San Francisco RB Garrison Hearst vs. Dallas rush defense. The Cowboys have allowed just four TDs rushing this year. Hearst, coming off a 124-yard, three-TD performance, could be hard- pressed to come up with such numbers again.
NEW YORK GIANTS (6-6)at WASHINGTON (5-7)
Time: 1 p.m.
Radio: WBBW-AM (1240).
Series history: Giants lead 78-57-4. Giants beat Redskins 19-17 on Nov. 17 at Giants Stadium.
Last week: Giants lost to Titans 32-29 in OT; Redskins lost to Cowboys 27-20.
BUFFALO (6-6) at NEW ENGLAND (7-5)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Patriots lead 44-39-1. Patriots beat Bills 38-7 on Nov. 3 at Buffalo.
Last week: Bills beat Dolphins 38-21; Patriots beat Lions 20-12.
Key matchup: Buffalo QB Drew Bledsoe vs. Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel. An emotional return to Foxboro for Bledsoe, with first place in AFC East possibly on line. In last game against New England, Bills got 331 yards of net offense, but sputtered within scoring range. The result: Buffalo's most-lopsided home loss in more than 19 years.
ST. LOUIS (5-7) at KANSAS CITY (6-6)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Rams lead 4-3. Chiefs beat Rams 54-34 on Oct. 22, 2000 at Kansas City.
Last week: Rams lost to Eagles 10-3; Chiefs beat Cardinals 49-0.
Key matchup: Kansas City coach Dick Vermeil vs. St. Louis coach Mike Martz. Dick Vermeil was head coach of Rams from 1997-99 and led club to Super Bowl title. Martz, who joined Rams as offensive coordinator for Vermeil's final season, has orchestrated three consecutive 500-point seasons. Martz, minus Kurt Warner and Marc Bulger at QB, faces worst pass defense in NFL.
INDIANAPOLIS (8-4)at TENNESSEE (7-5)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Titans lead 8-7. Titans beat Colts 23-15 on Nov. 3 at Indianapolis.
Last week: Colts beats Texans 19-3; Titans beat Giants 32-29 in OT.
Key matchup: Colts coach Tony Dungy vs. Titans coach Jeff Fisher. Game features NFL's winningest head coaches since 1999: Fisher (40-20, .667) and Dungy (38-22, .633). Dungy is 0-3 against Titans, while Fisher has beaten Colts in two previous meetings.
CINCINNATI (1-11) at CAROLINA (4-8)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Panthers lead 1-0. Panthers beat Bengals 27-3 on Sept. 26, 1999 at Carolina.
Last week: Bengals lost to Ravens 27-23; Panthers beat Browns 13-6.
Key matchup: Cincinnati QB Jon Kitna vs. Carolina DE Al Wallace. Al who? Kitna gets break as Wallace replaces rookie sensation Julius Peppers. Peppers, with 12 sacks, was suspended for final four games of season for violating NFL's substance-abuse policy. Kitna can breathe a little easier Sunday.
ATLANTA (8-3-1) at TAMPA BAY (8-3)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Buccaneers lead 10-8. Buccaneers beat Falcons 20-6 on Oct. 6 at Atlanta.
Last week: Falcons beat Vikings 30-24 in OT; Buccaneers lost to Saints 23-20.
Key matchup: Atlanta QB Michael Vick vs. stingy Tampa Bay defense. Vick may break the QB rushing record again as he faces NFL's No. 1 pass defense. Bucs may be better off keeping Vick in pocket and letting him throw.
DETROIT (3-9) at ARIZONA (4-8)
Time: 4:05 p.m.
Series history: Lions lead 28-20-5. Cardinals beat Lions 45-38 on Nov. 18, 2001 at Arizona.
Last week: Lions lost to Patriots 20-12; Cardinals lost to Chiefs 49-0.
PHILADELPHIA (9-3) at SEATTLE (4-8)
Time: 4:05 p.m.
Series history: Eagles lead 5-3. Eagles beat Seahawks 27-3 on Sept. 23, 2001 at Seattle.
Last week: Eagles beat Rams 10-3; Seahawks lost to 49ers 31-24.
Key matchup: Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck vs. Philadelphia's third-ranked defense. Hasselback has passed for 789 yards and six TDs in last two games. Eagles forced five turnovers, had eight sacks and scored TD off INT last week against St. Louis. Hasselback got most of his yards (311) and three TDs in second half against 49ers.
NEW ORLEANS (8-4)at BALTIMORE (6-6)
Time: 4:05 p.m.
TV: WYFX (17/62), WJW (8).
Series history: Ravens lead 2-0. Ravens beat Saints 31-8 on Dec. 19, 1999 at Baltimore.
Last week: Saints beat Bucs 23-20; Ravens beat Bengals 27-23.
Key matchup: Ravens QB Jeff Blake vs. Saints QB Aaron Brooks. Blake faces old team and man who replaced him. Blake would like to make statement, but his play has been inconsistent. Brooks has Saints headed to playoffs, but is nursing bruised right shoulder after being hit twice in same area last week.
DENVER (7-5) at NEW YORK JETS (7-5)
Time: 4:05 p.m.
Series history: Broncos lead 14-13-1. Broncos beat Jets 30-23 on Nov. 5, 2000 at Jets.
Last week: Broncos lost to Chargers 30-27 in OT; Jets lost to Raiders 26-20.
Key matchup: Jets RB Curtis Martin vs. Denver's rushing defense. Martin had only 26 yards in 11 carries last week. Jets need him to get his 4.1 yards per carry to avoid third-and-long situations. The Jets were just 1-of-8 on third-down conversions last week. Broncos allowed 220 yards on ground and three TDs to LaDainian Tomlinson last week.
OAKLAND (8-4) at SAN DIEGO (8-4)
Time: 4:15 p.m.
Radio: WBBW-AM (1240).
Series history: Raiders lead 52-31-2. Chargers beat Raiders 27-21 on Oct. 20 at Oakland.
Last week: Raiders beat Jets 26-20; Chargers beat Broncos 30-27 in OT.
MINNESOTA (3-9) at GREEN BAY (9-3)
Time: 8:30 p.m.
TV/radio: ESPN; WBBW-AM (1240).
Series history: Vikings lead 41-40-1. Vikings beat Packers 31-21 on Nov. 17 at Minnesota.
Last week: Vikings lost to Falcons 30-24 in OT; Packers beat Bears 30-20.
Key matchup: Home vs. Away. Packers are only NFL team without loss at home (6-0). Vikings have lost 16 straight road games, including 2000 NFC championship game, for longest current streak in NFL.
-- Associated Press