PITTSBURGH at CLEVELAND

PITTSBURGH at CLEVELAND
Time: 1 p.m.TV/radio: WKBN (27), WOIO (19), KDKA (2), WKBN-AM (570), WNCD-FM (93.3), WBBG-FM (106.1)Record vs. spread: Steelers 7-1, Browns 4-4Series history: Browns lead 55-50. Steelers beat Browns 34-23 on Oct. 10 at Pittsburgh.Key matchup: Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger vs. Browns DE Ebenezer Ekuban. Roethlisberger has tied NFL rookie record with six consecutive victories. A native of Findlay, 124 miles west of Cleveland, Roethlisberger has 19-game personal winning streak as starter, counting his 13 straight wins last year in college at Miami, Ohio. His passer rating of 105.2 is second only to Peyton Manning in AFC. Ekuban is tied for third among AFC DEs with five sacks. Roethlisberger has been sacked just nine times. Ekuban and rest of Browns' front seven will have to get Roethlisberger's uniform dirty if they're going to stop the young juggernaut.Streaks, stats and notes: In past two weeks, Pittsburgh has outrushed its opponents by 445 yards. Steelers have NFL's No. 1 rushing offense and defense. ... Steelers have won 13 of past 16 regular-season games against Browns. ... Teams comprise oldest rivalry in AFC, dating back to 1950 when Browns joined NFL after AAFC folded. ... Browns K Phil Dawson has kicked club-record 26 FGs in row and is only kicker not to miss this season.
CAROLINA at SAN FRANCISCO
Time: 4:15 p.m.Radio: WBBW-AM (1240)Record vs. spread: Panthers 3-5, 49ers 4-4Series history: Tied 7-7. 49ers beat Panthers 25-22 in OT on Nov. 18, 2001, at Carolina.Key matchup: San Francisco DT Bryant Young (68.5 career sacks) and LB Jamie Winborn vs. Panthers' offensive line. Winborn has team-leading 4 1/2 sacks, tops among NFC LBs. Carolina's line has surrendered just 11 sacks, fifth fewest in NFL. Carolina QB Jake Delhomme has 12 TD passes, averages 231.5 yards passing a game and ranks second in NFL with 285 passes.
CINCINNATI at WASHINGTON
Time: 4:05 p.m.Record vs. spread: Bengals 2-5, Redskins 3-5Series history: Redskins lead 4-2. Redskins beat Bengals 34-27 on Sept. 22, 1991, at Cincinnati.Key matchup: Bengals' front seven vs. Redskins RB Clinton Portis. Portis showed his versatility last week, rushing for 147 yards on 34 carries, catching one pass for 11 yards, and throwing 15-yard TD pass. Redskins' offense has few other weapons, as team finished with total of 229 yards of offense. However, they might not need anyone else against Bengals, who allow league-high 149.6 yards rushing per game.
CHICAGO at TENNESSEE
Time: 1 p.m.Record vs. spread: Bears 4-4, Titans 3-5Series history: Tied 4-4. Bears beat Titans 23-20 on Oct. 25, 1998, at Tennessee.Key matchup: Bears RDE Alex Brown vs. Titans LT Brad Hopkins. Brown had four sacks in last week's win over Giants, falling a half-sack short of Richard Dent's team record. Titans have allowed 16 sacks in eight games and QB Steve McNair has missed time with chest injury. Hopkins is 12-year veteran and the only first-round selection from 1993 draft who remains with team that drafted him.
HOUSTON at INDIANAPOLIS
Time: 1 p.m.Record vs. spread: Texans 4-4, Colts 4-3Series history: Colts lead 4-0. Colts beat Texans 20-17 on Dec. 28, 2003, at Houston.Key matchup: Texans OLB Kailee Wong vs. Colts QB Peyton Manning. Manning leads NFL with 2,429 yards passing and 26 TDs. He's thrown nine TD passes in last two weeks. Manning is on pace to throw for nearly 5,000 yards. He needs just three TD passes to match total from his co-MVP season of 2003, and his passer rating of 121.2 is better than Steve Young's NFL record of 112.8 in 1994. Manning has been sacked just five times this year, tied for fewest in league. Wong leads Texans with 3 1/2 sacks. He and rest of front seven will need to generate strong pass rush to hurry Manning.
BALTIMORE at NEW YORK JETS (6-2)
Time: 1 p.m.Record vs. spread: Ravens 6-2, Jets 3-3Series history: Ravens lead 2-1. Ravens beat Jets 34-20 on Dec. 24, 2000, at Baltimore.Key matchup: Ravens MLB Ray Lewis vs. Jets RB Curtis Martin. Martin is third in NFL with 865 yards and seven TDs, but had his lowest output of season against Bills, rushing for 67 yards. Jets will need more from Martin with Quincy Carter starting QB Chad Pennington (shoulder). Lewis, a first-team All-Pro, anchors one of NFL's most-balanced defenses. He has 42 solo tackles.
SEATTLE at ST. LOUIS
Time: 1 p.m.Record vs. spread: Seahawks 4-4, Rams 3-5Series history: Rams lead 8-4. Rams beat Seahawks 33-27 in OT on Oct. 10 at Seattle.Key matchup: Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander vs. Rams' front seven. Alexander ran for 160 yards and two TDs last week. He ranks second in NFL with 12 TDs (nine rushing, three receiving). He's second in NFL with 879 yards rushing, including 150 against Rams in October. Rams allow 131.9 yards rushing per game; only four teams in league give up more.
TAMPA BAY at ATLANTA
Time: 1 p.m.TV: WYFX (17/62)Record vs. spread: Buccaneers 3-4, Falcons 3-5Series history: Buccaneers lead 12-9. Falcons beat Buccaneers 30-28 on Dec. 20, 2003.Key matchup: Buccaneers RB Michael Pittman vs. Falcons OLB Keith Brooking. Since sitting out three losses while serving three-game suspension for violating NFL's personal conduct policy, Pittman has averaged nearly 5 yards per carry and scored five TDs. Last week, he rushed for 128 yards and three TDs against Chiefs. Falcons allowed eight TDs rushing against Chiefs two weeks ago. Brooking is Falcons' leading tackler, and will need strong game to contain Pittman.
DETROIT at JACKSONVILLE
Time: 1 p.m.Record vs. spread: Lions 4-4, Jaguars 5-3Series history: Tied 1-1. Lions beat Jaguars 37-22 on Dec. 6, 1998, at Jacksonville.Key matchup: Lions DE James Hall vs. Jaguars QB David Garrard. With regular QB Byron Leftwich not available because of sprained knee, Garrard will make second career start. He was a fourth-round pick in 2002 draft out of East Carolina. He's thrown just 60 passes in NFL career. Hall leads Lions with career-high 5 1/2 sacks. Jaguars have allowed 18 sacks in eight games.
KANSAS CITY at NEW ORLEANS
Time: 1 p.m.Radio: WBBW-AM (1240)Record vs. spread: Chiefs 3-5, Saints 2-6Series history: Chiefs lead 4-3. Chiefs beat Saints 25-13 on Dec. 21, 1997 at Kansas City.Key matchup: Chiefs RBs Derrick Blaylock or Larry Johnson vs. Saints' front seven. Chiefs RB Priest Holmes, most potent offensive threat in league,strained ligaments in right knee and might not play. Holmes has accounted for nearly 70 percent of Chiefs' rushing total this season, and is their fourth-leading receiver with 19 receptions. Blaylock is next leading rusher with 150 yards on 32 carries, and score four TDs against Falcons, but he's questionable thigh, which could leave running to third-stringer Johnson.
NEW YORK GIANTS at ARIZONA
Time: 4:15 p.m.Record vs. spread: Giants 5-3, Cardinals 5-3Series history: Giants lead 77-40-2. Cardinals beat Giants 21-7 on Sept. 29, 2002, at Arizona.Key matchup: Giants DEs Osi Umenyiora and Lance Legree vs. Cardinals OTs Leonard Davis and L.J. Shelton. Giants All-Pro defensive end Michael Strahan is out for year with chest injury. Giants also lost other starting DE, Keith Washington, for season with knee injury. Cardinals have allowed 24 sacks, among most in league.
MINNESOTA at GREEN BAY
Time: 4:15 p.m.TV: WYFX (17/62), WJW (8), WPGH (53)Record vs. spread: Vikings 5-3, Packers 4-4Series history: Tied 42-42-1. Packers beat Vikings 30-27 on Nov. 2, 2003, at Minnesota.Key matchup: Rejuvenated Green Bay defensive line against Minnesota offensive backfield. With WR Randy Moss unlikely to play, NT Grady Jackson and company can concentrate on rushing attack that has averaged at least 4.0 yards per carry in 18 consecutive games.
BUFFALO at NEW ENGLAND
Time: 8:30 p.m.TV/radio: ESPN, WBBW-AM (1240)Record vs. spread: Bills 5-3, Patriots 5-1Series history: Patriots lead 48-40-1. Patriots beat Bills 31-17 on Oct. 3 at Buffalo.Key matchup: Bills RB Willis McGahee vs. Patriots SS Rodney Harrison. Last week, McGahee had 132 yards rushing on 37 carries. It was his third 100-yard game in third career start, and Bills have won all three times. Harrison, a first-team All-Pro in 2003, is Patriots' leading tackler. A hard-hitter who excels at run support, Harrison will be sneaking toward line to stop McGahee.
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