NFL MATCHUPS | Today's games

MIAMI (8-6) at BUFFALO (6-8)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series record: Dolphins lead 48-30-1. Last meeting: Dolphins beat Bills 17-7 on Sept. 21 at Miami.
Last week: Dolphins lost to Eagles 34-27. Bills lost to Titans 28-26.
Key matchup: Dolphins RB Ricky Williams vs. Bills LB Takeo Spikes. Last year in late-season game at Buffalo, Williams rushed for career-best 228 yards, but Miami still lost. He'll need another strong performance, because cold weather could hamper passing game. Williams is workhorse, leading league with 343 carries, but averages just 3.5 yards per carry and 84.9 per game. Spikes was Buffalo's biggest offseason acquisition and anchors solid defense.
N.Y. GIANTS (4-10) at DALLAS (9-5)
Time: 1 p.m.
TV: WYFX (17/62).
Series record: Cowboys lead 48-31-2. Last meeting: Cowboys beat Giants 35-32 in OT on Sept. 15 at Giants.
Last week: Giants lost to Saints 45-7. Cowboys beat Redskins 27-0.
Key matchup: Giants' patchwork secondary vs. Cowboys QB Quincy Carter. Giants DBs have been hampered by injuries, and opposing teams have taken advantage. CB Ralph Brown reinjured his shoulder Sunday night, and Saints QB Aaron Brooks threw five TD passes. New York's secondary has one starter remaining from season opener. Carter had career-best 321 yards passing in last meeting. He could shred Giants for more on Sunday, if he can avoid pass rush from DE Michael Strahan, who is second in league with 14 sacks.
DETROIT (4-10) at CAROLINA (9-5)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series record: Tied 1-1. Last meeting: Panthers beat Lions 31-7.
Last week: Lions lost to Chiefs 45-17. Panthers beat Cardinals 20-17.
Key matchup: Lions QB Joey Harrington vs. Panthers DE Mike Rucker. While Harrington has had a dismal season, throwing 21 INTs and 14 TDs for lowly 61.3 passer rating, he has spent very little time on his back. Lions QBs have been sacked just nine time, by far the fewest in NFL -- only two other teams have less than 20. Panthers' defense has 36 sacks, just two off league lead. Rucker has career-high 12 sacks.
WASHINGTON (5-9) at CHICAGO (6-8)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series record: Bears lead 22-19-1. Last meeting: Bears beat Redskins 20-15 on Dec. 23, 2001, at Washington.
Last week: Redskins lost to Cowboys 27-0. Bears beat Vikings 13-10.
Key matchup: Redskins QB Tim Hasselbeck vs. Bears QB Rex Grossman. Two of NFL's oldest teams are playing very inexperienced QBs. Hasselbeck wasn't on Redskins roster until late October and has started three games in brief NFL career. Bears drafted Grossman No. 22 overall last spring, and he made first start last week in upset win over Vikings.
TENNESSEE (10-4) at HOUSTON (5-9)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series record: Titans lead 3-0. Last meeting: Titans beat Texans 38-17 on Oct. 12 at Tennessee.
Last week: Titans beat Bills 28-26. Texans lost to Buccaneers 16-3.
Key matchup: Titans C Jeff Hartwig vs. Texans NT Jerry DeLoach. There is much uncertainty at quarterback for Titans. Regular Steve McNair missed last week's game and is questionable with ankle and calf problems. Backup Billy Volek, who was solid last week, is out for season with damaged spleen. That leaves rookie Jason Gesser, who hasn't taken snap all year, and re-signed veteran Neil O'Donnell. Hartwig can't be too concerned about snap counts, however, because he'll have DeLoach lined up across him in Texans' 3-4 defense.
CINCINNATI (8-6) at ST. LOUIS (11-3)
Time: 1 p.m.
Radio: WKST-AM (1200).
Series record: Bengals lead 5-4. Last meeting: Rams beat Bengals 38-10 on Oct. 3, 1999, at Cincinnati.
Last week: Bengals beat 49ers 41-38. Rams beat Seahawks 27-22.
Key matchup: Bengals CBs Jeff Burris and Tory James vs. Rams WR Torry Holt. Holt is NFL's most prolific receiving threat, leading league with 102 receptions and 1,518 yards. He has 11 TD receptions, second best in league. James leads team with three INTs, while Burris has two. Both will be busy trying to contain Holt on fast turf in St. Louis.
NEW ORLEANS (7-7)at JACKSONVILLE (4-10)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series record: Tied 1-1. Last meeting: Jaguars beat Saints 41-23 on Nov. 21, 1999, at Jacksonville.
Last week: Saints beat Giants 45-7. Jaguars lost to Patriots 27-13.
Key matchup: Saints WR Joe Horn vs. Jaguars' secondary. Last week against Giants, Horn caught nine passes for 133 yards and four touchdowns. After his second TD, he made a cell phone call from back of end zone, which got him $30,000 fine from NFL. Horn has 76 receptions for 934 yards and 10 TDs, which ties him for third in league. Jaguars have decent pass defense, allowing less than 200 yards per game. They'll need a strong game to contain Horn.
ARIZONA (3-11) at SEATTLE (8-6)
Time: 4:15 p.m.
Series record: Cardinals lead 7-2. Last meeting: Seahawks beat Cardinals 38-0 on Sept. 14 at Arizona.
Last week: Cardinals lost to Panthers 20-17. Seahawks lost to Rams 27-22.
Key matchup: Cardinals' offense vs. Seahawks' goal line. Arizona hasn't scored touchdown against Seattle in more than eight quarters. On opening day, Seahawks forced six turnovers and recorded first shutout since 1998. Cardinals are NFL's lowest-scoring team, averaging 14.1 points per game.
SAN FRANCISCO (6-8)at PHILADELPHIA (11-3)
Time: 4:15 p.m.
TV: WYFX (17/62), WJW (8).
Series record: 49ers lead 16-7-1. Last meeting: Eagles beat 49ers 38-17 on Nov. 25, 2002, at San Francisco.
Last week: 49ers lost to Bengals 41-38. Eagles beat Dolphins 34-27.
Key matchup: 49ers WR Terrell Owens vs. Eagles CBs Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent. 49ers are 13-3 in last 16 games when Owens tops 100 yards receiving. In three career games against Eagles, Owens has 20 catches for 280 yards and three TDs. Eagles have one of best pairs of CBs in NFL. Vincent was first-team All-Pro in 2002 and Taylor was second team. Eagles have allowed only 15 TDs passing this season, tied for seventh in league. Vincent has three INTs this season and Taylor has one.
DENVER (9-5) at INDIANAPOLIS (11-3)
Time: 8:30 p.m.
TV/radio: ESPN, WBBW-AM (1240).
Series record: Broncos lead 9-4. Last meeting: Colts beat Broncos 23-20 in OT on Nov. 24, 2002, at Denver.
Last week: Broncos beat Browns 23-20 in OT. Colts beat Falcons 38-7.
Key matchup: Colts QB Peyton Manning vs. Broncos DE Bert Berry. Manning has been one of NFL's top QBs this season. He leads league with 3,901 yards passing and 28 TDs. He's second with 101.6 passer rating. He needs 99 yards to become only QB in history to post five consecutive seasons of 4,000 yards. He is also seldom touched in the pocket. Colts have allowed only 16 sacks, tied for second fewest. Berry is tied for third in AFC with 11 sacks and leads a defense that has 32.
-- Associated Press