NFL PREVIEWS | Today's games

OAKLAND (2-2) at CHICAGO (0-3)
Time: 1 p.m.Radio: WBBW-AM (1240).Series history: Raiders lead 6-4. Last meeting: Raiders beat Bears 24-17 on Sept. 26, 1999, at Oakland.Last week: Raiders beat Chargers 34-31 in OT. Bears lost to Packers 38-23.Key matchup: Bears RB Anthony Thomas vs. Raiders' front seven. Judging by league rankings, neither team does anything particularly well. Raiders' offense has sputtered and defense has been porous. Ditto for Bears. Chicago has managed to average more than 100 yards rushing in three losses thanks in part to Thomas and desperate scrambles from QB Kordell Stewart. Raiders allow over 150 yards per game, so Bears' best chance for points might come on ground.
ARIZONA (1-3) at DALLAS (2-1)
Time: 1 p.m.Series history: Cowboys lead 52-28-1. Last meeting: Cardinals beat Cowboys 9-6 in OT on Oct. 20, 2002, at Arizona.Last week: Cardinals lost to Rams 37-13. Cowboys beat Jets 17-6.Key matchup: Cardinals RB Emmitt Smith vs. Cowboys coach Bill Parcells. Smith is NFL's all-time leading rusher, and makes first appearance at Texas Stadium as an opponent. He played 13 years for Cowboys, winning three Super Bowls and one Super Bowl MVP. Bill Parcells' arrival as Cowboys coach coincided with Smith's release. In 11 times when a top-20 all-time rusher has faced his former club, the player's new team has an 8-3 record. And those players have rushed for an average 72.9 yards and have nine TDs.
MIAMI (2-1) at NEW YORK GIANTS (2-1)
Time: 1 p.m.Series history: Giants lead series 3-1. Last meeting: Giants beat Dolphins 17-7 on Dec. 8, 1996, at Miami.Last week: Dolphins had bye, beat Bills 17-7 in Week 3. Giants had bye, beat Redskins 24-21 in Week 3.Key matchup: Dolphins RB Ricky Williams vs. Giants RB Tiki Barber. Two of top 10 NFL rushers of last year square off. Williams had 42 carries for 153 yards in Week 3. Barber rushed for 126 yards. Williams averages 115.7 yards, Barber averages 104.3. Both face strong rushing defenses: Dolphins allow only 63 yards per game, Giants allow 90.3. Williams has rushed for 100 yards in 12 of his 19 Miami games. Dolphins are 10-2 in those contests.
MINNESOTA (4-0) at ATLANTA (1-3)
Time: 1 p.m.Series history: Vikings lead 14-8. Last meeting: Falcons beat Vikings 30-24 in OT on Dec. 1, 2002, at Minnesota.Last week: Vikings beat 49ers 35-7. Falcons lost to Panthers 23-3.Key matchup: Falcons QB Doug Johnson vs. Vikings SS Corey Chavous and FS Brian Russell. Johnson, subbing for injured Michael Vick, has not been stellar. He has pedestrian 56.2 completion percentage and has thrown seven INTs, tied for most in NFL. Chavous and Russell are tied for NFL lead with four INTs apiece. Falcons have not established running game, so if Johnson has to throw often, Chavous and Russell could have big games.
SEATTLE (3-0) at GREEN BAY (2-2)
Time: 1 p.m.TV: WYFX (17/62), WJW (8), WPGH (53).Series history: Tied 4-4. Last meeting: Seahawks beat Packers 27-7 on Nov. 1, 1999, at Green Bay.Last week: Seahawks had bye, beat Rams 24-23 in Week 3. Packers beat Bears 38-23.Key matchup: Former Packers vs. current Packers. Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren (1992-98) and defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes (1999) were both Packers head coaches. Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck backed up Packers QB Brett Favre in Green Bay from 1998-2000. Holmgren won first game as opposing coach at Lambeau Field in 1999. Favre leads NFC with seven TD passes, while Hasselbeck is tied for second with six. Favre has been sloppy at times, and has seven INTs compared to only one for Hasselbeck.
DENVER (4-0) at KANSAS CITY (4-0)
Time: 1 p.m.TV: WKBN (27), WOIO (19), KDKA (2).Series history: Chiefs lead 48-38. Last meeting: Broncos beat Chiefs 31-24 on Dec. 15, 2002, at Denver.Last week: Broncos beat Lions 20-16. Chiefs beat Ravens 17-10.Key matchup: Chiefs KR-PR Dante Hall vs. Broncos K-P Micah Knorr. Hall's 97-yard kickoff return for TD gave Chiefs lead last week. He became first player to return kick for touchdown in three consecutive games, having run back punts for scores in Weeks 2 and 3. After four games, he is one short of season TD record for kick returns, held by seven players. Returners average 20.7 yards on Knorr's kickoffs, but he is tied for second in NFL with five touchbacks. Knorr has 33.7 net punting average, which puts him in lower third of league, so Hall might have more success on punts.
CINCINNATI (3-3) at BUFFALO (5-1)
Time: 1 p.m.Series history: Bengals lead 11-10. Last meeting: Bills beat Bengals 27-0 on Dec. 29, 2002, at Buffalo.Last week: Bengals beat Browns 21-14. Bills lost to Eagles 23-13.Key matchup: Bengals RB Rudi Johnson vs. Bills RB Joe Burns. If regular Bengals RB Corey Dillon (questionable, groin) can't play, Johnson might get first career start. Johnson had 15 carries for 51 yards last week in win over Browns, both career highs, bringing his NFL total to 118 yards rushing. For Bills, starter Travis Henry is questionable (chest) and backup Sammy Morris is out. Burns made first NFL start last week and rushed eight times for 17 yards. If running game fails for both teams, Bills have better passing game to fall back on.
NEW ORLEANS (1-3) at CAROLINA (3-0)
Time: 1 p.m.Series history: Saints lead 9-7. Last meeting: Panthers beat Saints 10-6 on Dec. 29, 2002, at New Orleans.Last week: Saints lost to Colts 55-21. Panthers beat Falcons 23-3.Key matchup: Saints QB Aaron Brooks vs. Panthers DE Mike Rucker. Brooks ranks third in NFC with 814 yards passing, but has been sacked nine times. Panthers defense has 11 sacks in three games, second-best per game average in NFL. Rucker has five sacks this season and has recorded five sacks in his last four games against Saints.
TENNESSEE (3-1)at NEW ENGLAND (2-2)
Time: 1 p.m.Series history: Patriots lead 18-16-1. Last meeting: Titans beat Patriots 24-7 on Dec. 16, 2002, at Tennessee.Last week: Titans beat Steelers 30-13. Patriots lost to Redskins 20-17.Key matchup: Titans QB Steve McNair vs. Patriots DE Willie McGinest. McNair leads NFL with 110.9 passer rating and is second with eight TD passes. Patriots' defense has held opposing QBs to 62.3 passer rating. McNair has thrown only one INT and has one of the lowest INT percentages at 0.9. In last game against Patriots, McNair rushed for two TDs, although he only has 31 yards on eight rushes this season. Patriots' defense is tied for third in NFL with 12 sacks. McGinest leads team with three and needs to pressure McNair if Patriots are going to rattle one of NFL's top QBs.
SAN DIEGO (0-4)at JACKSONVILLE (0-4)
Time: 4:05 p.m.Series history: First meeting.Last week: Chargers lost to Raiders 34-31 in OT. Jaguars lost to Texans 24-20.Key matchup: Chargers K Steve Christie vs. Jaguars K Seth Marler. In a matchup of two winless teams that don't score many points, kickers could be difference. Chargers score only 17 points per game, while Jaguars average 18.2 points. Christie is 8-of-8 on PATs and 4-of-5 on FGs. Marler, a rookie, is 7-of-7 on PATs, but only 6-of-10 on FGs.
DETROIT (1-3) at SAN FRANCISCO (1-3)
Time: 4:15 p.m.TV: WYFX (17/62), WJW (8), WPGH (53).Series history: 49ers lead 31-27-1. Last meeting: 49ers beat Lions 21-13 on Nov. 4, 2001, at San Francisco.Last week: Lions lost to Broncos 20-16. 49ers lost to Vikings 35-7.Key matchup: Lions coach Steve Mariucci vs. 49ers coach Dennis Erickson. New Lions coach Mariucci returns to San Francisco to face team he led from 1997-2002. He had 60-43 record with 49ers and led team to four playoff appearances, including one trip to NFC championship game. Erickson's team is off to bad start. Relations have soured between WR Terrell Owens and QB Jeff Garcia after blowout loss at Minnesota, and Owens has thrown multiple tirades on sidelines. Erickson needs win against rebuilding Lions or season could spiral out of control.
WASHINGTON (3-1)at PHILADELPHIA (1-2)
Time: 4:15 p.m.Radio: WBBW-AM (1240).Series history: Redskins lead 73-58-5. Last meeting: Eagles beat Redskins 34-21 on Dec. 15, 2002, at Philadelphia.Last week: Redskins beat Patriots 20-17. Eagles beat Bills 23-13.Key matchup: Redskins WR Laveranues Coles vs. Eagles' banged-up secondary. Coles, a free agent signing, has been great addition. He's second in NFL with 453 yards receiving and averages 16.2 yards per catch on 28 receptions. Eagles' once-vaunted defense has been weak against pass. Team allows 257.3 yards passing per game, second worst in NFL, and is one of two teams that has intercepted only one pass. Redskins average 235.8 yards passing per game, and could have field day against Eagles.