NFL MATCHUPS Today's games

ATLANTA (3-11) at TAMPA BAY (7-7)
Time: 1:30 p.m.
TV: WYFX (17/62), WJW (8), WPGH (53).
Series history: Buccaneers lead 12-8. Last meeting: Buccaneers beat Falcons 31-10 on Sept. 21.
Last week: Falcons lost to Colts 38-7. Buccaneers beat Texans 16-3.
Rankings: Falcons -- Offense (overall 31, rush 15, pass 31); Defense (overall 32, rush 30, pass 32); Buccaneers -- Offense (overall 11, rush 21, pass 6); Defense (overall 3, rush 10, pass 2).
Key matchup: Falcons QB Michael Vick vs. Buccaneers DE Simeon Rice. Rice leads NFL with 15 sacks and needs two to surpass his career high set in 1999 with Arizona. He'll have a tough time catching Vick, who will be making his third start after missing 11 games with a broken leg. Vick has 187 yards rushing this season, averaging 8.9 yards every time he takes off downfield. Between Rice and DT Warren Sapp the Bucs have a nimble defensive line and will need to contain Vick to stay in playoff race.
Streaks, stats and notes: Falcons WR Peerless Price has catch in 64 consecutive games. ... Falcons' Ellis Johnson leads NFL DTs with eight sacks. Sapp has five sacks this year, and 77 for his career. He needs two more to pass Hall of Famer Lee Roy Selmon for Bucs' all-time record. ... Bucs WR Keenan McCardell has team-leading eight TDs.
KANSAS CITY (12-2)at MINNESOTA (8-6)
Time: 5 p.m.
TV: WKBN (27), WOIO (19), KDKA (2).
Series history: Chiefs lead 5-3. Last meeting: Chiefs beat Vikings 31-28 on Dec. 12, 1999, at Kansas City.
Last week: Chiefs beat Lions 45-17. Vikings lost to Bears 13-10.
Rankings: Chiefs -- Offense (overall 2, rush 13, pass 3); Defense (overall 28, rush 29, pass 20); Vikings -- Offense (overall 1, rush 5, pass 4); Defense (overall 25, rush 19, pass 25).
Key matchup: Chiefs QB Trent Green vs. Vikings SS Corey Chavous. Green is one of NFL's top passers, ranking second with 3,653 yards passing and third with a 97.2 passer rating. He's played in 14 games and thrown only nine INTs, among lowest totals in league. Chavous is league's most larcenous DB with eight INTs. Vikings lead NFL with 25 INTs.
Streaks, stats and notes: Game also features two of NFL's most potent offensive threats. Chiefs RB Priest Holmes leads NFL with 22 TDs rushing, also a team record. Vikings WR Randy Moss leads league with 14 TDs receiving and is second with 99 receptions and 1,465 yards receiving. ... Chiefs lead NFL with plus-21 turnover differential; Vikings are plus-9. ... Vikings DE Kevin Williams, drafted No. 9 in last draft, is second in league among rookies with 71/2 sacks. ... Rematch of fourth Super Bowl, won by Chiefs 23-7 in 1970 in the last game before the AFL-NFL merger.
NEW ENGLAND (12-2) at N.Y. JETS (6-8)
Time: 8:30 p.m.
TV/radio: ESPN, WBBW-AM (1240).
Series history: Jets lead 47-39-1. Last meeting: Patriots beat Jets 23-16 on Sept. 21 at New England.
Last week: Patriots beat Jaguars 27-13. Jets beat Steelers 6-0.
Rankings: Patriots -- Offense (overall 18, rush 27, pass 9); Defense (overall 7, rush 3, pass 17); Jets -- Offense (overall 20, rush 24, pass 15); Defense (overall 21t, rush 31, pass 6).
Key matchup: Ex-Jets LB Roman Phifer vs. Ex-Patriots RB Curtis Martin. Rosters for both teams are filled with players who used to play for the other side, thanks in part to former coach Bill Parcells. Phifer played two years with Jets and in third year with Pats ranks third on team in tackles. Last week, Martin, who played three seasons with Pats, became second RB in history to gain 1,000 yards rushing in each of his first nine NFL seasons. He has six 100-yard games against his former team and Jets are 6-0 in those games. He has five TDs rushing in last six games against Pats.
Streaks, stats and notes: In 86 regular-season meetings, Patriots have 227 TDs and Jets have 225. ... Patriots have clinched AFC East title. ... Jets DE Shaun Ellis is second in AFC with 111/2 sacks. ... Last week, Martin passed John Riggins for 11th place on NFL's career rushing list with 11,488 yards.
-- Associated Press