NFL PREVIEW Today's games

MINNESOTA (5-10) at DETROIT (3-12)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Vikings lead 51-29-2. Vikings beat Lions 31-24 on Oct. 13 at Minnesota.
Last week: Vikings beat Dolphins 20-17; Lions lost to Falcons 36-15.
Key match-up: Detroit QB Mike McMahon vs. improved Minnesota defense. McMahon had career highs with 241 yards passing and 74 yards rushing in the last home game vs. Vikings. The Vikings haven't allowed a 300-yard passer since the Giants' Kerry Collins on Nov. 10.
DALLAS (5-10) at WASHINGTON (6-9)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Cowboys lead 50-31-2. Cowboys beat Redskins 27-20 on Nov. 28 at Dallas.
Last week: Cowboys lost to Eagles 27-3; Redskins beat Texans 26-10.
Key match-up: Washington defense vs. Dallas RB Emmitt Smith. Smith had 144 yards rushing on Thanksgiving Day, his most in two years. Smith has 76 career 100-yard rushing games, 12 vs. Washington.
TENNESSEE (10-5) at HOUSTON (4-11)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Titans lead 1-0. Titans beat Texans 17-10 on Nov. 10 at Tennessee.
Last week: Titans beat Jaguars 28-10; Texans lost to Redskins 26-10.
Key match-up: Old vs. New. Old Oilers return to Houston as Texans meet former Houston Oilers in final game of Houston's inaugural season. Beating Titans could match thrill of beating Dallas Cowboys in season opener.
MIAMI (9-6) at NEW ENGLAND (8-7)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Dolphins lead 44-27. Dolphins beat Patriots 26-13 on Oct. 6 at Miami.
Last week: Dolphins lost to Vikings 20-17; Patriots lost to Jets 30-17.
Key match-up: New England PK Adam Vinatieri vs. Miami PK Olindo Mare. Six of last 12 regular-season games have been decided by three or fewer points. Mare has hit 23-of-29, with a long of 53. Vinatieri has hit 23-of-26, with a long of 57.
CINCINNATI (2-13) at BUFFALO (7-8)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Tied 9-9. Bills beat Bengals 33-20 on Dec. 6, 1998 at Cincinnati.
Last week: Bengals beat Saints 20-13; Bills lost to Packers 10-0.
Key match-up: Cincinnati RB Corey Dillon vs. Buffalo run defense. In two games on AstroTurf this season, Dillon has gained 230 yards on 41 carries (5.6 average) with two TDs. Buffalo is next-to-last in rushing defense.
CAROLINA (6-9) at NEW ORLEANS (9-6)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Saints lead 9-6. Saints beat Panthers 34-24 on Nov. 10 at Carolina.
Last week: Panthers beat Bears 24-14; Saints lost to Bengals 20-13.
Key match-up: New Orleans QB Aaron Brooks vs. Carolina defensive line. Brooks has been nursing bruised right shoulder. He completed just 16 of 38 passes for 203 yards against lowly Bengals last week. Panthers have 48 sacks, 37 by defensive line, second-most in NFL.
JACKSONVILLE (6-9) at INDIANAPOLIS (9-6)
Time: 4:05 p.m.
Series history: Colts lead 3-0. Colts beat Jaguars 28-25 on Sept. 8 at Jacksonville.
Last week: Jaguars lost to Titans 28-10; Colts lost to Giants 44-27.
Key match-up: Jacksonville RB Fred Taylor (three rushes for 17 yards last week) vs. Indianapolis RB Edgerrin James (10 for 13). Colts are 9-0 when out-rushing opponents and 0-6 when opponents out-rush them. Last week, Jacksonville rushed for 75 yards and Indianapolis gained 50 on ground.
GREEN BAY (12-3) at NEW YORK JETS (8-7)
Time: 4:15 p.m.
TV/radio: WYFX (17/62), WJW (8), WPGH (53), WBBW-AM (1240).
Series history: Jets lead 6-2. Jets beat Packers 20-16 on Sept. 3, 2000 at Green Bay.
Last week: Packers beat Bills 10-0; Jets beat Patriots 30-17.
Key match-up: N.Y. run defense vs. Green Bay RB Ahman Green. Green has 14 100-yard rushing games with Packers and club has won all of them. Green Bay is 17-2 (7-1 in 2002), when Green has 25 or more touches in a game. Taking Green out of game gives Jets a chance.
SEATTLE (6-9) at SAN DIEGO (8-7)
Time: 4:15 p.m.
Series history: Seahawks lead series 24-22. Seahawks beat Chargers 25-22 on Dec. 30, 2001 at San Diego.
Last week: Seahawks beat Rams 30-10; Chargers lost to Chiefs 24-22.
Key match-up: Seattle run defense vs. San Diego RB LaDainian Tomlinson. Although Seahawks have worst rushing defense in league, they held St. Louis to 17 yards rushing. Rams RB Marshall Faulk had nine rushes for 13 yards.
ARIZONA (5-10) at DENVER (8-7)
Time: 4:15 p.m.
Series history: Broncos lead series 5-0-1. Broncos beat Cardinals 38-17 on Sept. 23, 2001 at Arizona.
Last week: Cardinals lost to 49ers 17-14; Broncos lost to Raiders 28-16.
Key match-up: Arizona secondary vs. Denver QBs. Arizona has nine INTs over last five games, while Denver QBs have four TDs and 11 INTs over last five games. Brian Griese has two TDs and six INTs, and Steve Beuerlein, 0-2 as a starter, has two TDs and five INTs in compiling a 1-4 record over last five.
TAMPA BAY (11-4) at CHICAGO (4-11)
Time: 8:30 p.m.
TV/radio: ESPN, WBBW-AM (1240).
Series history: Bears lead 33-15. Bears beat Bucs 27-3 on Dec. 16, 2001 at Chicago.
Last week: Buccaneers lost to Steelers 17-7; Bears lost to Panthers 24-14.
Key match-up: Tampa Bay vs. Jack Frost. Bucs are 0-20 when the game-time temperature is below 40 degrees. If the Bucs lose and San Francisco wins, they might have to visit cold-weather cities Philadelphia or Green Bay in the playoffs. Weathermen are predicting 35-degree temperatures in Champaign, Ill., for today.