NFL PREVIEW Today's games

BUFFALO (5-5) at NEW YORK JETS (5-5)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Bills lead 47-37. Jets beat Bills 37-31 in OT, Sept. 8 at Buffalo.
Last week: Bills lost to Chiefs 17-16; Jets beat Lions 31-14.
Key matchup: Bills special teams vs. Jets KR Chad Morton. On opening day, Morton returned two kickoffs for TDs, one in regulation and one in overtime, to give Jets win. Bills have one of NFL's worst kickoff coverage units, allowing 23.0 yards per return. Bills are only NFL team to allow two kickoff-return TDs this season.
DETROIT (3-7) at CHICAGO (2-8)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Bears lead 81-59-5. Lions beat Bears 23-20 on Oct. 20 at Detroit.
Last week: Lions lost to Jets 31-14; Bears lost to 21-16.
Key matchup: Lions K Jason Hanson vs. Bears K Paul Edinger. In a matchup of teams that average less than 20 points per game (Lions 18.6, Bears 19.8), kickers could be difference. Both are perfect 21-of-21 on PATs. Hanson is 13-of-15 on FGs, while Edinger is 17-of-20. Hanson provided all nine Lions points in Week 9 win over Dallas.
ST. LOUIS (5-5) at WASHINGTON (4-6)
Time: 1 p.m.
TV: WYFX (17/62), WJW (8).
Series history: Redskins lead 6-4. Redskins beat Rams 33-20 on Nov. 20, 2000, at St. Louis.
Last week: Rams beat Bears 21-16; Redskins lost to Giants 19-17.
Key matchup: Rams QB Kurt Warner vs. Redskins' committee of QBs. Warner returns from finger injury after backup Marc Bulger went 5-0. Redskins coach Steve Spurrier announced his fourth starting QB change of the season Monday, benching Shane Matthews for Danny Wuerffel. Warner is highest-rated passer in NFL history at 99.9. Redskins passers have combined 68.4 rating this year.
SAN DIEGO (7-3) at MIAMI (6-4)
Time: 1 p.m.
Radio: WBBW-AM (1240).
Series history: Chargers lead 12-10. Dolphins beat Chargers 17-7 on Nov. 12, 2000, at San Diego.
Last week: Chargers beat 49ers 20-17 in OT; Dolphins beat Ravens 26-7.
Key matchup: Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson vs. Dolphins RB Ricky Williams. Tomlinson is NFL's leading rusher with 1,053 yards. Williams is fourth with 913 yards. They have nine 100-yard games between them this year. Miami boasts NFL's No. 2 rush defense (92.1 yards per game), San Diego's No. 3 (92.8). Chargers are 6-1 when Tomlinson carries ball 20 times.
ATLANTA (6-3-1) at CAROLINA (3-7)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Falcons lead 10-5. Falcons beat Panthers 30-0 on Oct. 20 at Atlanta.
Last week: Falcons beat Saints 24-17; Panthers lost to Buccaneers 23-10.
Key matchup: Falcons QB Michael Vick vs. Panthers DE Julius Peppers. Peppers leads NFL with 11 sacks. His appeal of four-game suspension will not be heard by NFL until next week, allowing him to play Atlanta. Vick has been sacked 25 times, fifth-highest total for any QB. The nimble Vick is NFL's top rushing QB, however, averaging 50.6 yards per game.
JACKSONVILLE (5-5) at DALLAS (3-7)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Series tied 1-1. Jaguars beat Cowboys 23-17 in OT, Oct. 29, 2000, at Dallas.
Last week: Jaguars beat Texans 24-21; Cowboys lost to Colts 20-3.
Key matchup: Jaguars RB Fred Taylor vs. Cowboys defense. Oft-injured Taylor, who has missed 24 full games and parts of nine others in career, has played in all 10 games this season, and has 828 yards rushing and five TDs. Cowboys have allowed an NFL-low three TDs rushing this season.
MINNESOTA (3-7)at NEW ENGLAND (5-5)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Series tied 4-4. Vikings beat Patriots 21-13 on Sept. 17, 2000, at New England.
Last week: Vikings beat Packers 31-21; Patriots lost to Raiders 27-20.
Key matchup: Vikings RBs Michael Bennett and Moe Williams vs. Patriots LB Roman Phifer. Bennett rushed for 130 yards last week and will be looking for fifth straight 100-yard game. Williams has 10 TDs rushing, tops in NFC, and has scored in last seven games. Despite missing two games early in season, Phifer leads Patriots with 44 tackles, and will need strong game to keep Vikings' powerful running game (159.5 yards game) in check.
TENNESSEE (6-4) at BALTIMORE (4-6)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Ravens lead 7-6. Ravens beat Titans 16-10 on Nov. 12, 2001, at Tennessee.
Last week: Titans beat Steelers 31-23; Ravens lost to Dolphins 26-7.
Key matchup: Titans RB Eddie George vs. Ravens LB Ray Lewis. These two stars are having off seasons. George averages less than 70 yards rushing per game, but is still Titans' workhorse, carrying more than 20 times per contest. Lewis missed five games with a shoulder injury, but remains force in middle of defense.
OAKLAND (6-4) at ARIZONA (4-6)
Time: 4:05 p.m.
Series history: Raiders lead 3-2. Cardinals beat Raiders 34-31 in OT on Dec. 2, 2001, at Oakland.
Last week: Raiders beat Patriots 27-20; Cardinals lost to Eagles 38-14.
Key matchup: Raiders QB Rich Gannon vs. Arizona secondary. Gannon is on pace to break Dan Marino's single-season passing record of 5,084 yards. He leads NFL's most prolific offense (401.9 yards per game) and passing offense (308.1). Cardinals' soft pass defense allows 238.5 yards per game. Norm Van Brocklin's single game passing record (554 yards) might also be in jeopardy.
KANSAS CITY (5-5) at SEATTLE (3-7)
Time: 4:05 p.m.
Series history: Chiefs lead 30-17. Seahawks beat Chiefs 21-18 on Jan. 6 at Seattle.
Last week: Chiefs beat Bills 17-16; Seahawks lost to Broncos 31-9.
Key matchup: Chiefs RB Priest Holmes vs. Seahawks' porous run defense. Holmes is NFL's second-leading rusher (1,012 yards), and leads league with 15 TDs rushing. He also leads Chiefs with 56 receptions. His 17 TDs are more than four teams have scored this year. Seahawks allow 170.1 yards rushing per game, 32.5 yards more than second-worst team.
NEW YORK GIANTS (6-4)at HOUSTON (2-8)
Time: 4:15 p.m.
Radio: WBBW-AM (1240).
Series history: First meeting.
Last week: Giants beat Redskins 19-17; Texans lost to Jaguars 24-21.
Key matchup: Giants DE Michael Strahan vs. Texans' protection for QB David Carr. In his rookie year at helm of expansion team, Carr has been sacked NFL-high 53 times, 17 more than the next most-bruised QB. Strahan, who set league sacks mark last year, leads Giants with eight and could feast on Texans' young offensive line.
GREEN BAY (8-2) at TAMPA BAY (8-2)
Time: 4:15 p.m.
TV: WYFX (17/62), WJW (8), WPGH (53).
Series history: Packers lead 29-17-1. Packers beat Buccaneers 21-20 on Nov. 4, 2001, at Green Bay.
Last week: Packers lost to Vikings 31-21; Buccaneers beat Panthers 23-10.
Key matchup: Packers QB Brett Favre vs. Buccaneers DE Warren Sapp. These two rivals, known for occasional heated exchanges in previous matchups, face each other just once this year. Favre ranks second in NFC in yards passing, TDs passing and passer rating. Sapp leads all NFL DTs with 7 1/2 sacks. Favre has started 167 consecutive games, most ever by QB and longest current streak for any player.
INDIANAPOLIS (6-4) at DENVER (7-3)
Time: 8:30 p.m.
TV/radio: ESPN, WBBW-AM (1240).
Series history: Broncos lead 9-3. Colts beat Broncos 29-10 on Jan. 6 at Indianapolis.
Last week: Colts beat Cowboys 20-3; Broncos beat Seahawks 31-9.
Key matchup: Colts WR Marvin Harrison vs. Broncos CBs Deltha O'Neal and Denard Walker. Harrison leads NFL in receptions (89) and yards receiving (1,110). He had 600th career reception last week, in 102nd game, earliest ever to that plateau. He's on pace to shatter single-season reception mark. O'Neal, who has four INTs, and Walker need to contain Harrison and force Colts QB Peyton Manning to look for other targets.
-- Associated Press