NFL PREVIEW | Today's games

MINNESOTA (2-0) at DETROIT (1-1)
Time: 1 p.m.Series history: Vikings lead 52-29-2. Last meeting: Vikings beat Lions 38-36 on Dec. 29, 2002, at Detroit.Last week: Vikings beat Bears 24-13. Lions lost to Packers 31-6.Key matchup: Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper vs. Lions CB Dre' Bly. Culpepper has won five straight starts against Lions. After shaky performances in 2002, Culpepper has settled down and leads NFL with five TD passes and with 114.4 QB rating. He's one of four starters with zero INTs in two games. Bly has intercepted a pass in both of Detroit's games and should see time covering Culpepper's favorite target, WR Randy Moss.
TAMPA BAY (1-1) at ATLANTA (1-1)
Time: 1 p.m.TV/radio: WYFX (17/62), WJW (8), WKST-AM (1200).Series history: Buccaneers lead 11-8. Last meeting: Buccaneers beat Falcons 34-10 on Dec. 8, 2002 at Tampa Bay.Last week: Buccaneers lost to Panthers 12-9 in OT. Falcons lost to Redskins 33-31.Key matchup: Buccaneers' pass defense vs. Falcons WR Peerless Price. Bucs defense, which led them to championship last year, has had at least one sack and caused one turnover in 43 straight games, longest such streak in past 40 years. Bucs allow league-low 105.5 yards passing per game and have not allowed TD this season. Price, Atlanta's big offseason acquisition, has only four receptions in two games for 58 yards. For Falcons to have chance, QB Doug Johnson, subbing for injured Michael Vick, must be given time to find Price and other targets downfield.
KANSAS CITY (2-0) at HOUSTON (1-1)
Time: 1 p.m.Series history: First meeting.Last week: Chiefs beat Steelers 41-20. Texans lost to Saints 31-10.Key matchup: Chiefs RB Priest Holmes vs. Texans' front seven. Holmes, one of top offensive threats in NFL, has five TDs rushing, tied for best in league. His 30-point total is more than seven teams have scored in first two games. In addition to having 207 yards rushing, Holmes leads team with nine receptions for 104 yards receiving. Texans held Dolphins RB Ricky Williams to 69 yards on 17 carries in Week 1 upset, and will need similar performance against Holmes to beat Chiefs.
NEW ORLEANS (1-1) at TENNESSEE (1-1)
Time: 1 p.m.Series history: Titans lead 5-4-1. Last meeting: Titans beat Saints 24-21 on Oct. 17, 1999 at New Orleans.Last week: Saints beat Texans 31-10. Titans lost to Colts 33-7.Key matchup: Saints CBs Dale Carter and Fred Thomas vs. Titans WR Derrick Mason. On an offense that sputtered in first two games, Mason has been lone bright spot. He leads NFL with 20 receptions and has 197 yards and one TD receiving. While Saints have yet to come up with INT, team allows only 151 yards passing per game. If Carter and Thomas shut down Mason, it could be long day for Titans' offense.
NEW YORK JETS (0-2) at NEW ENGLAND (1-1)
Time: 1 p.m.Series history: Patriots lead 47-38-1. Last meeting: Jets beat Patriots 30-17 on Dec. 22, 2002 at New England.Last week: Jets lost to Dolphins 21-10. Patriots beat Eagles 31-10.Key matchup: Patriots QB Tom Brady vs. Jets' secondary. After throwing only 14 INTs in 16 games in 2002, Brady has thrown four in two games this season. He has 65.6 passer rating, although he did throw for three TDs in Week 2 win over Eagles. He has 21-11 (.656) career record, fourth-best among active QBs. Jets have but one INT in two games, that by CB Donnie Abraham (out, shoulder), but allow only 178 yards passing per game, ninth best in league.
JACKSONVILLE (0-2) at INDIANAPOLIS (2-0)
Time: 1 p.m.Series history: Colts lead 4-0. Last meeting: Colts beat Jaguars 20-13 on Dec. 29, 2002, at Indianapolis.Last week: Jaguars lost to Bills 38-17. Colts beat Titans 33-7.Key matchup: Jaguars QB Mark Brunell vs. Colts CB Nick Harper. Brunell has played well in Jaguars' two losses. He has passer rating of 100.5 and has the best completion percentage of any starting QB in NFL (71.2). He's one of only four starters in NFL to not throw an INT this season. Harper leads league with three INTs, one of which he returned 75 yards for TD last week.
ST. LOUIS (1-1) at SEATTLE (2-0)
Time: 4:05 p.m.Series history: Rams lead 6-3. Last meeting: Seahawks beat Rams 30-10 on Dec. 22, 2002 at Seattle.Last week: Rams beat 49ers 27-24 in OT. Seahawks beat Cardinals 38-0.Key matchup: Rams' generous offense vs. Seahawks' larcenous defense. The Rams have minus-4 turnover differential, thanks in part to Kurt Warner's three lost fumbles in Week 1 and a pair from current starter Marc Bulger. Seahawks lead NFL with a plus-10 differential. They have five fumble recoveries and five interceptions, including two by safety Reggie Tongue. Seahawks are only NFL team without offensive giveaway. If Rams keep giving ball away, Seattle could end up 3-0 for first time since 1998.
NEW YORK GIANTS (1-1) at WASHINGTON (2-0)
Time: 4:05 p.m.Series history: Giants lead 80-58-4. Last meeting: Giants beat Redskins 27-21 on Dec. 8, 2002 at Giants.Last week: Giants lost to Cowboys 35-32 in OT. Redskins beat Falcons 33-31.Key matchup: Giants CBs Will Allen and William Peterson vs. Redskins WR Laveranues Coles. Coles set career highs in receptions (11) and yards (180) last week. Coles already proved to be thorn in side of one New York team, when he caught five passes for 106 yards in Week 1 against Jets, his former team. Giants have been weak against pass, allowing more than 300 yards per game, despite sacking opposing QBs 10 times.
GREEN BAY (1-1) at ARIZONA (0-2)
Time: 4:05 p.m.Series history: Packers lead 42-21-4. Last meeting: Packers beat Cardinals 29-3 on Sept. 24, 2000 at Arizona.Last week: Packers beat Lions 31-6. Cardinals lost to Seahawks 38-0.Key matchup: Packers CB Al Harris vs. Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin. Boldin ranks second in NFL with 279 yards receiving, and is tied for second with two TDs. His 18 receptions is tops in NFC. Not bad for rookie who was 54th overall pick in draft. Harris had 56-yard INT return for TD last week, and should see time lined up across from Boldin. If Boldin can be contained, it could be rout for Packers, who should have little trouble with Cardinals' toothless defense.
BALTIMORE (1-1) at SAN DIEGO (0-2)
Time: 4:15 p.m.Series history: Chargers lead 2-1. Last meeting: Ravens beat Chargers 24-3 on Dec. 10, 2000 at Baltimore.Last week: Ravens beat Browns 33-13. Chargers lost to Broncos 37-13.Key matchup: Ravens RB Jamal Lewis vs. Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson. Last week, Lewis set NFL single-game rushing record with 295 yards against Browns. Chargers have fourth-worst rushing defense in NFL, allowing 164 yards per game. One of top rushers in 2002, Tomlinson has yet to get on track in 2002. He has 127 yards in two games without a TD. He does lead Chargers with 10 receptions.
BUFFALO (2-0) at MIAMI (1-1)
Time: 8:30 p.m.TV/radio: ESPN, WBBW-AM (1240).Series history: Dolphins lead 47-30-1. Last meeting: Bills beat Dolphins 38-21 on Dec. 1, 2002 at Buffalo.Last week: Bills beat Jaguars 38-17. Dolphins beat Jets 21-10.Key matchup: Bills LB Takeo Spikes vs. Dolphins RB Ricky Williams. Williams dominated Bills in 2002, rushing for career-high 228 yards and two TDs in last game. He averages 139.3 yards over three games against Bills. Spikes is leader of revamped Bills defense, which has allowed only one TD in two games. After shaky play in Week 1, Dolphins established run in win over Jets last week. If Spikes and teammates can stuff Williams in early going, it could lead to good field position and quick scores from Bills' potent offense.
Source: Associated Press