NFL MATCHUPS | Today's games

ST. LOUIS (6-3) at CHICAGO (3-6)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Bears lead 48-34-3. Last meeting: Rams beat Bears 21-16 on Nov. 18, 2002, at St. Louis.
Last week: Rams beat Ravens 33-22. Bears lost to Lions 12-10.
Key matchup: Rams WR Tory Holt vs. Bears CBs Jerry Azumah and R.W. McQuarters. Holt leads NFL with 66 receptions and 1,016 yards receiving, and is second with nine TDs. Only in fifth season, Holt has 22 100-yard games and has topped 1,000 yards for fourth consecutive season. Azumah and McQuarters have one INT each and will have busy day trying to contain elusive Holt.
HOUSTON (3-6) at BUFFALO (4-5)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Bills lead 1-0. Last meeting: Bills beat Texans 31-24 on Oct. 13, 2002, at Houston.
Last week: Texans lost to Bengals 34-27. Bills lost to Cowboys 10-6.
Key matchup: Texas QB David Carr vs. Bills QB Drew Bledsoe. Both QBs were drafted No. 1 overall, Carr in 2002 and Bledsoe in 1993 by Patriots. Neither is having a stellar season. Carr was not expected to excel in Texans' second year in NFL. He has thrown nine INTs and eight TDs and has mediocre 75.4 passer rating. More was expected from Bledsoe after throwing for over 4,000 yards in 2002. Instead, he's thrown only six TDs with eight INTs and his lack of mobility and an occasionally porous offensive line have led to 26 sacks, tied for second most among NFL QBs. After being battered in 2002, Carr has been sacked just 13 times this season.
BALTIMORE (5-4) at MIAMI (5-4)
Time: 1 p.m.
TV: KDKA (2).
Series history: Dolphins lead 3-1. Last meeting: Dolphins beat Ravens 26-7 on Nov. 17, 2002, at Miami.
Last week: Ravens lost to Rams 33-22. Dolphins lost to Titans 31-7.
Key matchup: Ravens RB Jamal Lewis vs. Dolphins RB Ricky Williams. Lewis is NFL's leading rusher with 1,156 yards through nine games. Williams led league last season with 1,853 yards. Ravens have NFL's No. 1 rushing offense, averaging 168.6 yards per game, 128.4 from Lewis. Dolphins allow only 81.4 yards rushing per game, second best in league. Last year, Williams rushed for 102 yards and two TDs, while Lewis was held to 47 yards by Miami. Lewis has rushed for at least 100 yards in seven of past eight games. Dolphins are only NFL team not to allow a 100-yard rusher this season.
WASHINGTON (4-5) at CAROLINA (7-2)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Redskins lead 6-0. Last meeting: Redskins beat Panthers 17-14 in OT on Oct. 21, 2001, at Washington.
Last week: Redskins beat Seahawks 27-20. Panthers beat Buccaneers 27-24.
Key matchup: Redskins LB LaVar Arrington vs. Panthers RB Stephen Davis. Earlier this year, when asked who were the last two players he'd like to see closing in on him, Davis answered Ray Lewis (Baltimore) and former teammate Arrington. Davis is NFL's third-leading rusher with 992 yards, despite missing last week's game with sprained ankle. He led Redskins in rushing past four years, setting team record with 1,432 yards in 2001. He made two trips to Pro Bowl with Redskins and will look to exact revenge on former team that let him go.
JACKSONVILLE (2-7)at TENNESSEE (7-2)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Titans lead 11-7. Last meeting: Titans beat Jaguars 30-17 on Oct. 26 at Jacksonville.
Last week: Jaguars beat Colts 28-23. Titans beat Dolphins 31-7.
Key matchup: Jaguars' secondary vs. Titans QB Steve McNair. McNair has dominated Jaguars in last four games at Tennessee, all Titans wins. In those contests, McNair completed 71.8 percent of his passes for 992 yards and 10 TDs with no INTs for 122.1 passer rating. This year, McNair leads NFL with 107.3 passer rating and is second in AFC with 15 TD passes. While nine Jaguars have intercepted passes, McNair has thrown only three in nine games.
ATLANTA (2-7) at NEW ORLEANS (4-5)
Time: 1 p.m.
Radio: WBBW-AM (1240).
Series history: Falcons lead 41-28. Last meeting: Saints beat Falcons 45-17 on Oct. 19 at Atlanta.
Last week: Falcons beat Giants 27-7. Saints had bye, beat Buccaneers 17-14 in Week 9.
Key matchup: Falcons' porous secondary vs. Saints WR Joe Horn. Horn is tied for third in NFC with six TD receptions and leads Saints with 576 yards receiving. He has at least 100 yards receiving in four of last six games against Falcons and needs one more to pass Eric Martin (18) for most in team history. Falcons have NFL's worst pass defense, allowing 262.9 yards per game and have only six INTs (NFL worst is five). If Falcons can't pressure Saints QB Aaron Brooks, Horn could easily gain another 100 yards.
KANSAS CITY (9-0) at CINCINNATI (4-5)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Chiefs lead 11-9. Last meeting: Chiefs beat Bengals 17-15 on Oct. 10, 1993, at Kansas City.
Last week: Chiefs beat Browns 41-20. Bengals beat Texans 34-27.
Key matchup: Chiefs RB Priest Holmes vs. Bengals' defense. Holmes is NFL's most potent offensive threat. He leads NFL with 14 TDs. He has 38 TDs in past 23 games. Holmes ranks third in AFC with 862 yards rushing and leads Chiefs with 41 receptions. Bengals DBs will have to watch out for Holmes, because QB Trent Green likes to spread ball around. Chiefs' top four receivers are within 100 yards of each other. Holmes is fourth with 399 yards receiving.
N.Y. GIANTS (4-5)at PHILADELPHIA (6-3)
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Giants lead 75-62-2 Last meeting: Eagles beat Giants 14-10 on Oct. 19 at Giants Stadium.
Last week: Giants lost to Falcons 27-7. Eagles beat Packers 17-14.
Key matchup: Giants DE Michael Strahan vs. Eagles QB Donovan McNabb. Strahan ranks third in NFL with 10 sacks. McNabb is NFL's most-sacked QB, having been dropped 29 times this season. For his career, Strahan has 1051/2 sacks, 171/2 against Eagles, and has personally sacked McNabb 101/2 times. In part because of constant pressure, McNabb has been ineffective this season, with paltry 63.5 passer rating. But he leads all QBs with 239 yards rushing. Giants leads NFL with 28 sacks.
N.Y. JETS (3-6) at INDIANAPOLIS (7-2)
Time: 4:05 p.m.
TV: WKBN (27), WOIO (19).
Series history: Colts lead 38-27. Last meeting: Jets beat Colts 41-0 on Jan. 4 in AFC wild-card game at Jets.
Last week: Jets beat Raiders 27-24 in OT. Colts lost to Jaguars 28-23.
Key matchup: Jets DE Shaun Ellis vs. Colts QB Peyton Manning. Ellis leads AFC with 91/2 sacks and has 12 sacks in his past 12 games. Manning leads NFL with 2,475 yards passing, is tied for first with 18 TD passes and is second in AFC with 99.4 passer rating. He has been sacked only eight times in nine games this season. Even though Manning's favorite target, WR Marvin Harrison, is doubtful (hamstring), he has several other threats at his disposal. Ellis and rest of Jets' pass rush will have to pressure Manning to have chance of winning.
SAN DIEGO (2-7) at DENVER (5-4)
Time: 4:05 p.m.
Series history: Broncos lead 48-38-1. Last meeting: Broncos beat Chargers 37-13 on Sept. 14 at San Diego.
Last week: Chargers beat Vikings 42-28. Broncos had bye, lost to Patriots 30-26 in Week 9.
Key matchup: Chargers QB Doug Flutie vs. Broncos' secondary. Last week, Flutie ran for two TDs against Vikings, marking first time in NFL history a 40-year-old scored two times rushing in one game. Flutie turned 41 on Oct. 23. Flutie earned first win as a starter since October 2001, when he led Chargers to win over Buffalo before losing last nine games to end season. Flutie may have trouble earning back-to-back wins: Broncos are 10-4 after byes and have won 10 of last 13 against Chargers.
DETROIT (3-6) at SEATTLE (6-3)
Time: 4:15 p.m.
Series history: Tied 4-4. Last meeting: Lions beat Seahawks 28-20 on Sept. 12, 1999, at Seattle.
Last week: Lions lost to Bears 12-10. Seahawks lost to Redskins 27-20.
Key matchup: Lions P Nick Harris vs. Seahawks punter returner Bobby Engram. Thanks to inept offense, Lions punters have been busy all season. Harris replaced John Jett, who was placed in injured reserve in October with calf injury. Lions have punted 56 times, most in NFL, and have had 31 returned, third most. Seahawks have returned only 19 punts, which puts them in bottom third of league. Engram averages 9.3 yards per return, but is choosy about which punts he'll run back and has 10 fair catches.
MINNESOTA (6-3) at OAKLAND (2-7)
Time: 4:15 p.m.
Radio: WBBW-AM (1240).
Series history: Raiders lead 8-3. Last meeting: Raiders beat Vikings 22-17 on Sept. 19, 1999, at Minnesota.
Last week: Vikings lost to Chargers 42-28. Raiders lost to Jets 27-24 in OT.
Key matchup: Vikings WR Randy Moss vs. Raiders CBs Charles Woodson and Terrance Shaw. Moss leads NFL with 10 TD catches and is second with 63 receptions and 998 yards receiving for NFL's top offense, which averages 376.2 yards per game. Raiders' soft defense allows 351.4 yards per game. With 2 yards receiving, Moss will become first player in NFL history with 1,000 in each of first six seasons. Unless Woodson and Shaw have great games, Moss should end up with a lot more than that.
GREEN BAY (4-5) at TAMPA BAY (4-5)
Time: 4:15 p.m.
TV: WYFX (17/62), WJW (8).
Series history: Packers lead 29-18-1. Last meeting: Buccaneers beat Packers 21-7 on Nov. 24, 2002, at Tampa Bay.
Last week: Packers lost to Eagles 17-14. Buccaneers lost to Panthers 27-24.
Key matchup: Packers QB Brett Favre vs. Buccaneers DLs Simeon Rice and Warren Sapp. Favre has been sacked only 11 times in nine games this year; just two teams have allowed fewer sacks. Rice is tied for NFL lead with 11 sacks, while rest of team has 10. Bucs have recorded at least one sack in NFL-record 69 straight games. As division rivals from 1995-2001, Sapp and Favre were known to exchange words and hits on the field, but are friends off it. Both Packers and defending Super Bowl champs need win to get back to .500, and Bucs will need to pressure Favre to get win.
DALLAS (7-2) at NEW ENGLAND (7-2)
Time: 8:30 p.m.
TV/radio: ESPN, WBBW-AM (1240).
Series history: Cowboys lead 7-1. Last meeting: Patriots beat Cowboys 13-6 on Dec. 5, 1999, at New England.
Last week: Cowboys beat Bills 10-6. Patriots had bye, beat Broncos 30-26 in Week 9.
Key matchup: Cowboys coach Bill Parcells vs. Patriots coach Bill Belichick. Belichick served 12 years under Parcells with three franchises in 1980s and 90s -- Giants, Patriots and Jets -- mostly as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach. They helped each other to two Super Bowl championships with Giants, Super Bowl appearance with Patriots, and AFC championship game berth with Jets. With win, Parcells will have defeated each of his former teams in 2003.
-- Associated Press