NFL PREVIEW | Today's games

DALLAS (3-6) at INDIANAPOLIS (5-4)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Cowboys lead 7-5. Colts beat Cowboys 34-24 on Oct. 31, 1999, at Indianapolis.
Last week: Cowboys had bye, lost to Lions 9-7 in Week 9; Colts beat Eagles 35-13.
Key matchup: Dallas CBs Duane Hawthorne and Mario Edwards vs. Colts WR Marvin Harrison. Last week, Harrison and QB Peyton Manning returned to their previous form, torching Eagles secondary with TD passes of 57 and 43 yards. Cowboys' secondary must cover Harrison better than the Eagles did or he'll easily break 100 yards receiving.
NEW ORLEANS (7-2) at ATLANTA (5-3-1)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Falcons lead 39-27. Falcons beat Saints 37-35 on Oct. 27 at New Orleans.
Last week: Saints beat Panthers 34-24; Falcons tied Steelers 34-34 in OT.
Key matchup: Saints QB Aaron Brooks vs. Falcons QB Michael Vick. These cousins faced each other for first time as NFL quarterbacks three weeks ago. Vick won on last-second FG. Vick leads NFL with 0.5 INT percentage (1 INT, 205 attempts). Brooks ranks third in NFL with TD pass every 6.2 attempts.
BUFFALO (5-4) at KANSAS CITY (4-5)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Bills lead 20-15-1. Bills beat Chiefs 21-17 on Nov. 19, 2000, at Kansas City.
Last week: Bills had bye, lost to Patriots 38-7 in Week 9; Chiefs lost to 49ers 17-13.
Key matchup: Bills defensive front seven vs. Chiefs RB Priest Holmes. Holmes leads NFL with 14 TDs and is one of three RBs who average over 100 yards rushing per game. Bills defense allows 128.7 yards rushing per game. If Bills need to bring defensive backs close to line to stop Holmes, Chiefs QB Trent Green should have big day.
WASHINGTON (4-5)at NEW YORK GIANTS (5-4)
Time: 1 p.m.
Radio: WBBW-AM (1240).
Series history: Giants lead 78-58-4. Redskins beat Giants 35-21 on Oct. 28, 2001, at Washington.
Last week: Redskins lost to Jaguars 26-7; Giants beat Vikings 27-20.
Key matchup: Redskins DB Darrell Green vs. Giants WR Herman Moore. Giants receiving corps so beset with injuries team signed 33-year-old Moore, who hadn't played since early last season with Lions. Green, 42, has played sparingly in 20th NFL season, but is only Redskins DB older than Moore.
JACKSONVILLE (4-5) at HOUSTON (2-7)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Texans lead 1-0. Texans beat Jaguars 21-19 on Oct. 27 at Jacksonville.
Last week: Jaguars beat Redskins 26-7; Texans lost to Titans 17-10.
Key matchup: Jaguars DTs John Henderson and Marcus Stroud vs. Texans QB David Carr. Henderson, a rookie, and Stroud lead Jaguars in sacks with five and four, respectively. Carr has been sacked 49 times, by far the most in NFL. Texans won last meeting, despite allowing four sacks, but will need to protect battered Carr to win rematch.
ARIZONA (4-5) at PHILADELPHIA (6-3)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Cardinals lead 53-52-5. Eagles beat Cardinals 21-7 on Nov. 4, 2001, at Arizona.
Last week: Cardinals lost to Seahawks 27-6; Eagles lost to Colts 35-13.
Key matchup: Cardinals defense vs. Eagles QB Donovan McNabb. This season, McNabb has beaten teams in air (2,034 yards and 13 TDs passing) and on ground (460 yards and six TDs rushing, both bests among NFL QBs). Arizona has only 13 sacks in nine games and might be well-served dropping back into coverage to minimize McNabb's effect on the game.
GREEN BAY (8-1) at MINNESOTA (2-7)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Series tied 40-40-1. Packers beat Vikings 24-13 on Dec. 30, 2001, at Green Bay.
Last week: Packers beat Lions 40-14; Vikings lost to Giants 27-20.
Key matchup: Packers QB Brett Favre vs. Vikings secondary. Favre has NFL's second-highest passer rating, and is second in NFC in yards passing (2,244) and TDs passing (17). Vikings defense ranks among NFL's worst in yards passing per game (283.1), TD passes allowed (18) and opponent's completion percentage (65.8).
SAN FRANCISCO (7-2)at SAN DIEGO (6-3)
Time: 4:05 p.m.
TV: WYFX (17/62), WJW (8), WPGH (53).
Series history: 49ers lead 7-3. 49ers beat Chargers 45-17 on Dec. 3, 2000, at San Diego.
Last week: 49ers beat Chiefs 17-13; Chargers lost to Rams 28-24.
Key matchup: 49ers RDE Andre Carter vs. Chargers LT Ed Ellis. Chargers missing both starting tackles with injuries. Ellis has only four starts in 46 career games. Carter is tied for second in NFL with eight sacks. Chargers have scored only three offensive TDs while losing last two games, and need strong play from Ellis and substitute RT Sammy Williams to get back on track.
CAROLINA (3-6) at TAMPA BAY (7-2)
Time: 4:05 p.m.
Series history: Buccaneers lead 3-1. Buccaneers beat Panthers 12-9 on Oct. 27 at Carolina.
Last week: Panthers lost to Saints 34-24; Buccaneers had bye, beat Vikings 38-24 in Week 9.
Key matchup: Panthers DE Julius Peppers vs. Buccaneers RT Kenyatta Walker. Peppers, second overall selection in draft, leads NFL with 10 sacks and needs five more to break single-season rookie record. The Bucs' unimpressive offense has allowed 21 sacks and couldn't muster TD against Panthers in last meeting.
NEW YORK JETS (4-5) at DETROIT (3-6)
Time: 4:15 p.m.
Series history: Lions lead 6-3. Lions beat Jets 10-7 on Dec. 17, 2000, at Jets.
Last week: Jets beat Dolphins 13-10; Lions lost to Packers 40-14.
Key matchup: Jets PR Santana Moss and KR Chad Morton vs. Lions special teams. In game with two struggling offenses, special teams could be difference. Two of Jets' wins have come when either Moss or Morton ran back kicks for scores. On kickoffs, Jets have NFL's second-best average drive start and Jets' opponents have second worst. Lions KR Desmond Howard is out for year with neck injury.
DENVER (6-3) at SEATTLE (3-6)
Time: 4:15 p.m.
Series history: Broncos lead 32-18. Broncos beat Seahawks 20-7 on Dec. 9, 2001, at Denver.
Last week: Broncos lost to Raiders 34-10; Seahawks beat Cardinals 27-6.
Key matchup: Broncos RB Clinton Portis vs. Seahawks defense. Portis, a rookie, has rushed for 612 yards and averages 4.8 yards per carry. Should Portis need rest, backups Mike Anderson and Olandis Gary are also quality backs. Any or all could have big days against Seahawks, who have allowed 166.6 yards rushing per game and 13 TDs, both NFL worsts.
BALTIMORE (4-5) at MIAMI (5-4)
Time: 4:15 p.m.
TV/radio: WKBN (27), WBBW-AM (1240).
Series history: Dolphins lead 2-1. Ravens beat Dolphins 20-3 on Jan. 13, at Miami in AFC wild-card game.
Last week: Ravens beat Bengals 38-27; Dolphins lost to Jets 13-10.
Key matchup: Ravens' depleted defense vs. Dolphins RB Ricky Williams. Ravens All-Pro LB Ray Lewis, who has missed five weeks with shoulder injury, still doubtful, though he came back to practice this week. DE Michael McCrary is doubtful with knee injury. Williams, NFL's third-leading rusher, needs to take pressure off backup QB Ray Lucas with strong rushing performance.
NEW ENGLAND (5-4) at OAKLAND (5-4)
Time: 8:30 p.m.
TV/radio: ESPN, WBBW-AM (1240).
Series history: Series tied 14-14-1. Patriots beat Raiders 16-13 in OT on Jan. 19 at New England in AFC playoff game.
Last week: Patriots beat Bears 33-30; Raiders beat Broncos 34-10.
Key matchup: Raiders vs. Rule 3, Section 21, Article 2 of NFL rule book. In last season's playoff game, this rule caused referee to overturn call on Patriots QB Tom Brady's apparent fumble late in fourth quarter, ruling it an incomplete pass. The Pats went on to kick game-tying FG and win in OT. Raiders must forget about last year's game and much-disputed call, and focus on stopping Brady's short passing game.
-- Associated Press