NFL PREVIEW \ Sunday's games

NEW ENGLAND at CLEVELAND
Time: 1 p.m.
TV/Radio: WKBN (27), WOIO (19), KDKA (2), WKBN-AM (570), WNCD-FM (93.3)
Series history: Browns lead 12-7. Patriots beat Browns 9-3 on Oct. 26, 2003, at New England.
Key matchup: Patriots coach Bill Belichick vs. Browns coach Terry Robiskie. Once and interim Browns coaches meet. Robiskie, Cleveland's offensive coordinator, was chosen as interim head coach after Butch Davis resigned under pressure Tuesday. Belichick coached Browns from 1991-95, amassing 36-44 regular season record and one trip to playoffs. Browns have lost five straight.
Streaks, stats and notes: Robiskie went 1-2 as Washington's interim coach in 2000 after Redskins fired Norv Turner. ... Last week, Bengals and Browns scored 106 combined points, second most in NFL history and most since 1966, when Redskins beat Giants 72-41. ... Under Belichick, 1994 Browns beat Patriots in playoffs. ... Patriots have scored first in NFL-record 16 games in row. ... Patriots K Adam Vinatieri leads NFL with 112 points and 96.6-percent success rate on FGs (28-of-29).
PITTSBURGH at JACKSONVILLE
Time: 8:30 p.m.
TV/radio: ESPN, WBBG-FM (106.1)
Series history: Jaguars lead 8-7. Steelers beat Jaguars 25-23 on Dec. 1, 2002, at Jacksonville.
Key matchup: Steelers RB Jerome Bettis vs. Jaguars DT Marcus Stroud. Stroud is Jaguars' top lineman in their 4-3 defense. Strong against run and pass, he is tied for team lead with four sacks. Bettis, who needs 37 yards rushing to become fifth player in history with 13,000, is tied for second in NFL with 11 rushing TDs. He has rushed for over 100 yards in each of last four games. Even with RB Duce Staley likely to return, Bettis should see some carries and be force up the middle.
Streaks, stats and notes: Stroud was Jacksonville's only Pro Bowl player last year. ... Both starting QBs played in Mid-American Conference in college. Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger (Miami of Ohio) can set rookie QB record for wins (10). Byron Leftwich (Marshall) has led Jaguars to five last-minute victories. ... Steelers have NFL's No. 1 run defense, giving up only 75.4 yards per game and only one 100-yard rusher this season.
SAN FRANCISCO at ST. LOUIS
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Rams lead 57-51-2. Rams beat 49ers 24-14 on Oct. 3 at San Francisco.
Key matchup: 49ers DBs Dwaine Carpenter and Shawntae Spencer vs. Rams WR Isaac Bruce. Carpenter, a backup safety, has been playing cornerback because Niners' secondary has been ravaged by injuries. Spencer is a rookie. They'll have to face Bruce, top receiver on one of NFL's best passing teams. Bruce leads NFL with 1,026 yards receiving and is second in NFC with 67 receptions. Against 49ers, Bruce has 1,434 yards receiving on 93 receptions, and likely could break 100 against slumping 49ers.
Streaks, stats and notes: 49ers are last in NFL with minus-16 turnover differential. Rams aren't much better at minus-14. 49ers have turned over the ball 28 times, tied for most in league. Rams' defense has forced 10 turnovers, fewest in NFL. ... Rams QB Marc Bulger leads NFL with 3,267 yards passing. ... Rams RB Marshall Faulk needs 104 yards rushing to become 12th player in NFL history with 12,000. He needs 132 yards receiving to pass Larry Centers (6,691) for most in NFL history by running back.
CINCINNATI at BALTIMORE
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Ravens lead 12-5. Ravens beat Bengals 23-9 on Sept. 26 at Cincinnati.
Key matchup: Bengals RB Rudi Johnson vs. Ravens MLB Ray Lewis and NT Kelly Gregg. In last week's high-scoring game, Johnson rushed for season-high 202 yards and two TDs. In last meeting against Ravens, Johnson had 98 yards on 23 carries, but his effort was wasted due to three INTs from QB Carson Palmer. Lewis anchors one of NFL's top defenses. Gregg, one of Baltimore's top run stuffers, missed September's game with knee injury.
CAROLINA at NEW ORLEANS
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Tied 9-9. Panthers beat Saints 23-20 on Oct. 26, 2003, at New Orleans.
Key matchup: Panthers DE Julius Peppers vs. Saints' offense. With combination of size, strength and speed, Peppers is one of most versatile defenders in NFL. Last week, he returned an INT for TD, blocked field goal and had sack. He also caught running back from behind on opposite sideline from where he lined up. Peppers is second in NFC with nine sacks, and has seven in last four games. He'll be threat to Saints' offense that struggles in run game, and to special teams.
TENNESSEE at INDIANAPOLIS
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Tied 10-10. Colts beat Titans 31-17 on Sept. 19 at Tennessee.
Key matchup: Titans QB Steve McNair vs. Colts QB Peyton Manning. Last year's co-MVPs have had very different seasons. Manning is on pace to break several passing records, while frustrated McNair hinted Sunday this could be his last season. McNair missed time with bruised sternum earlier this month. Manning has 41 TDs after 11 games; Dan Marino's single-season record is 48.
ATLANTA At TAMPA BAY
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Buccaneers lead 12-10. Falcons beat Buccaneers on Nov. 14 at Atlanta.
Key matchup: Falcons QB Michael Vick vs. Buccaneers DE Simeon Rice. Vick is one of NFL's most versatile weapons. Rice is one of last bastions of once-great defense. He leads team with six sacks and needs one more to become third active player with 100 in career. Vick is team's leading rusher, and 15th in NFL, with 709 yards. He's tied for NFL lead, averaging 7.2 yards per carry. Despite his speed, Vick has been sacked 34 times in 2004, third most in league.
ARIZONA at DETROIT
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Lions lead 29-21-5. Lions beat Cardinals 42-24 on Sept. 7, 2003, at Detroit.
Key matchup: Cardinals RDE Bertrand Berry vs. Lions LT Jeff Backus. Berry is tied for NFL lead with 10 sacks, accounting for nearly 40 percent of team's total. Lions have allowed 27 sacks after giving up only 11 in 2003. Backus has started all 59 games in his four-year career.
MINNESOTA at CHICAGO
Time: 1 p.m.
TV: WYFX (17/62), WJW (8), WPGH (53)
Series history: Vikings lead 47-38-2. Vikings beat Bears 27-22 on Sept. 26 at Minnesota.
Key matchup: Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper vs. Bears MLB Brian Urlacher. Urlacher missed last two games (both losses) with calf injury. He was supposed to be out four to six weeks, but practiced Wednesday and looks ready to play. Bears' defense will need former All-Pro's help to stop Culpepper, who ranks second in league with 28 TD passes and a 112.4 passer rating, and is third with 3,180 yards passing.
HOUSTON at NEW YORK JETS
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Jets lead 1-0. Jets beat Texans 19-14 on Oct. 19, 2003, at Houston.
Key matchup: Texans CBs Marcus Coleman and Aaron Glenn vs. Jets WR Justin McCareins. Coleman and Glenn were selected from Jets in expansion draft. Coleman was with Jets for six seasons, while Glenn was with them for eight, and played in two Pro Bowls. Glenn has four INTs this season. McCareins leads Jets with 34 receptions. He has catch in every game this season and three TDs in his last five games.
BUFFALO at MIAMI
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Dolphins lead 49-31-1. Bills beat Dolphins 20-13 on Oct. 17 at Buffalo.
Key matchup: Bills RB Willis McGahee vs. Dolphins LB Derrick Pope. Bills are 5-0 when McGahee rushes for 100 yards, including last week's rout when he had 116 yards rushing and four TDs. McGahee ran for 111 yards in Week 6 against Miami in first NFL start. He excelled as college player at University of Miami, but hurt knee in championship game after 2002 season. Pope, a rookie, will start in place of injured LB Zach Thomas, a five-time Pro Bowler who leads team with 132 tackles.
GREEN BAY at PHILADELPHIA
Time: 4:15 p.m.
TV: WYFX (17/62), WJW (8), WPGH (53)
Series history: Packers lead 22-12. Eagles beat Packers 20-17 in OT on Jan. 11 in NFC divisional playoff in Philadelphia.
Key matchup: Packers CB Ahmad Carroll vs. Eagles WR Terrell Owens. The top new acquisitions for each team face off. Carroll, taken No. 25 overall in draft, had first INT last week, and returned fumble 40 yards for TD. Owens, who forced trade to Eagles in March, leads NFL with 13 TD receptions and is second with 969 yards receiving. Packers' defense has struggled against pass, allowing 240.3 yards per game and 23 TDs, second most in NFL.
N.Y. GIANTS at WASHINGTON
Time: 1 p.m.
Series history: Giants lead 82-59-4. Giants beat Redskins 20-14 on Sept. 19 at Giants.
Key matchup: Giants RB Tiki Barber vs. Redskins' front seven. Barber leads NFL with 1,641 yards from scrimmage (1,145 rushing and 496 receiving). He has eclipsed 100 yards in either rushing or receiving in nine of 11 games this season. Barber has 21 career 100-yard rushing games, most in Giants history, including eight this season, tying Joe Morris (1986) for single-season team record. Redskins' defense has been team's only bright spot, allowing 91.2 yards rushing per game, third fewest in league. Redskins have given up only six TDs rushing. Giants are tied for third in league with 14 TDs rushing.
KANSAS CITY at OAKLAND
Time: 4:05 p.m.
Series history: Chiefs lead 45-43-2. Chiefs beat Raiders 27-24 on Dec. 23, 2003, at Kansas City.
Key matchup: Chiefs RB Derrick Blaylock vs. Raiders' front seven. With star RB Priest Holmes out with knee injury, Chiefs will turn to Blaylock again. In last three weeks, Blaylock has 301 yards rushing and three TDs. He has seven TDs rushing this season. Raiders allow 125.5 yards rushing per game (22nd in league) and have given up 12 TDs rushing (26th). With Chiefs QB Trent Green questionable with sore ribs, Blaylock and running game will have to carry heavier load.
DENVER at SAN DIEGO
Time: 4:05 p.m.
Series history: Broncos lead 50-38-1. Broncos beat Chargers 23-13 on Sept. 26 at San Diego.
Key matchup: Broncos MLB Al Wilson vs. Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson. Wilson leads Broncos with 69 total tackles and anchors powerful 4-3 defense. Broncos are tied for fourth in league, allowing just 96.8 yards rushing per game. Tomlinson averages 81.7 yards per game, while Chargers average 138.9, fifth most in league. Tomlinson is tied for second in league with 11 TDs rushing. He was held to 60 yards rushing in Week 3 loss.
Associated Press