NFL MATCHUPS | Sunday's games

PHILADELPHIA at CLEVELAND
Game time: 1 p.m.TV/radio: WKBN-AM (570), WNCD-FM (93.3), WYFX (17/62), WJW (8)Record vs. spread: Eagles 5-0. Browns 3-3.Series history: Browns lead 31-12-1. Eagles beat Browns 35-24 on Dec. 10, 2000, at Cleveland.Key matchup: Eagles CB Lito Sheppard vs. Browns QB Jeff Garcia. Garcia has been inconsistent in first year in Cleveland. He's thrown for 1,146 yards and eight TDs, but also has thrown six INTs. Garcia has 2.46 career interception percentage, fourth lowest in league history. Sheppard had two INTs last week, and ran one back 64 yards for touchdown.Streaks, stats and notes: Eagles seek to become seventh team in history to win each of a season's first six games by at least 10 points (1999 Rams did it last). ... Eagles QB Donovan McNabb is second in league history with 2.23 interception percentage. ... Browns are 3-0 at home this year (and could go 4-0 for first time since 1963), where they have surrendered an average of 11.0 points. ... Browns last home win against Eagles came in 1988. ... Browns K Phil Dawson has made 23 FGs in row.
ST. LOUIS at MIAMI
Game time: 1 p.m.Record vs. spread: Rams 3-3. Dolphins 1-5.Series history: Dolphins lead 7-2. Rams beat Dolphins 42-10 on Sept. 30, 2001, at St. Louis.Key matchup: Rams secondary vs. Dolphins QBs Jay Fiedler and A.J. Feeley. Dolphins have thrown as many TD passes as they've thrown TD interceptions. The team has scored just four offensive TDs in six games, all by passing, but Fiedler and Feeley have combined to throw league-high 11 INTs, four of which were run back for TDs. Rams have just two INTs, but could add to that total against generous Dolphins.
DETROIT at NEW YORK GIANTS
Game time: 1 p.m.Record vs. spread: Lions 3-2. Giants 4-1.Series history: Lions lead 20-17-1. Lions beat Giants 31-21 on Nov. 19, 2000 at Giants.Key matchup: DE Michael Strahan vs. Lions RT Stockar McDougle. Last week, Lions struggled on ground, rushing for just 33 yards, led by 12 from QB Joey Harrington. McDougle and rest of Lions O-line will need to open up large holes for Detroit's mediocre running backs. McDougle will have to face Strahan, a first-team All-Pro last year who already has three sacks.
BUFFALO at BALTIMORE
Game time: 1 p.m.Radio: WBBW-AM (1240)Record vs. spread: Bills 3-2. Ravens 3-2.Series history: Bills lead 1-0. Bills beat Ravens 13-10 on Oct. 31, 1999, at Baltimore.Key matchup: Ravens RB Chester Taylor vs. Bills DT Sam Adams. Ravens will be without RB Jamal Lewis, who has started serving two-game suspension for violating league's substance-abuse policy. He has accounted for nearly two-thirds of Ravens rushing total this year. Taylor has just 164 yards. Adams, who had a confrontation with his defensive coach on sideline last Sunday and didn't play in second half, is looking for revenge against his former team. He played two years in Baltimore and won Super Bowl there. The 335-pound behemoth in middle will try to force Ravens to run outside, or turn to their weak air game.
ATLANTA at KANSAS CITY
Game time: 1 p.m.Record vs. spread: Falcons 2-4. Chiefs 1-4.Series history: Chiefs lead 4-1. Falcons beat Chiefs 29-13 on Dec. 24, 2000, at Atlanta.Key matchup: Falcons RB Warrick Dunn vs. Chiefs RB Priest Holmes. Both Dunn and Holmes are tied for second in NFL with six TDs rushing, although Holmes has scored once on pass reception. Holmes averages more yards per carry, 4.6 to Dunn's 3.9, but will be facing NFL's top run defense. Atlanta allows only 74.5 yards rushing per game, while Chiefs allow 126.4.
JACKSONVILLE at INDIANAPOLIS
Game time: 1 p.m.Record vs. spread: Jaguars 4-2. Colts 4-0.Series history: Colts lead 6-1. Colts beat Jaguars 24-17 on Oct. 3 at Jacksonville.Key matchup: Jaguars RB Fred Taylor vs. Colts LB David Thornton. With Jaguars QB Byron Leftwich questionable with ankle injury, Jacksonville will look to run. Taylor is workhorse with 394 yards on 101 carries. However, Colts' defense is strong against run, allowing 91.8 yards per game and Thornton leads in tackles. Colts have NFL's worst pass defense, allowing 293.6 yards per game, but if Jaguars don't have Leftwich, they'll be hard-pressed to take advantage.
CHICAGO at TAMPA BAY
Game time: 1 p.m.Record vs. spread: Bears 2-3. Buccaneers 1-4.Series history: Bears lead 33-16. Buccaneers beat Bears 15-0 on Dec. 29, 2002, at Chicago.Key matchup: Bears K Paul Edinger vs. Buccaneers K Martin Gramatica. In matchup of two of NFL's lowest-scoring offenses, kickers could make difference. In last meeting, neither team scored touchdown, but Gramatica kicked five field goals in Bucs win. In prior meeting, Bucs couldn't manage TD in 27-3 loss. Edinger is 5-of-8 on FGs this season and has made all seven PATs. Gramatica is 9-of-13 on FGs, along with seven PATs.
SAN DIEGO at CAROLINA
Game time: 1 p.m.Record vs. spread: Chargers 4-1. Panthers 2-3.Series history: Panthers lead 2-0. Panthers beat Chargers 30-22 on Dec. 17, 2000, at Carolina.Key matchup: Chargers secondary vs. Panthers QB Jake Delhomme. One year after leading team to improbable appearance in Super Bowl, Delhomme leads NFL with nine interceptions, including four last week. His new offensive line has been porous, and Delhomme has been knocked around. Chargers have five INTs in 2004, and should look to pounce on Delhomme's hurried passes.
TENNESSEE at MINNESOTA
Game time: 1 p.m.Record vs. spread: Titans 2-4. Vikings 3-2.Series history: Vikings lead 6-3. Vikings beat Titans 42-24 on Dec. 9, 2001, at Minnesota.Key matchup: Titans secondary vs. Vikings WRs Kelly Campbell, Marcus Robinson and Nate Burleson. Randy Moss, who with eight TDs receiving has more than 20 NFL teams, is questionable with hamstring injury. If Vikings are without their top weapon, other receivers will have to pick up slack. Titans allow 234.3 yards passing per game, seventh worst in league. Vikings have had many injuries at RB, so QB Daunte Culpepper will still be looking to throw often, even without Moss.
NEW YORK JETS at NEW ENGLAND
Game time: 4:05 p.m.TV: WKBN (27), WOIO (19)Record vs. spread: Jets 2-2. Patriots 4-0.Series history: Jets lead 47-40-1. Patriots beat Jets 21-16 on Dec. 20, 2003, at Jets.Key matchup: Jets Gs Pete Kendall and Brandon Moore vs. Patriots DEs Richard Seymour and Ty Warren. Jets' offense struggled last week when Kendall and Moore were injured. Offense relies on strong line play, clearing holes for former Patriots RB Curtis Martin, who leads NFL with 613 yards rushing. Patriots' defense allows 111.8 yards rushing per game.
DALLAS at GREEN BAY
Game time: 4:15 p.m.TV/radio: WYFX (17/62), WJW (8), WBBW-AM (1240)Record vs. spread: Cowboys 2-3. Packers 2-4.Series history: Cowboys lead 14-11. Cowboys beat Packers 27-13 on Nov. 14, 1999, at Dallas.Key matchup: Cowboys front seven vs. Packers RB Ahman Green. Packers are successful when they run; in last week's win they rushed for 157 yards. Green has 26 100-yard rushing games with Packers, including 114 yards in opening day win over Panthers. Packers are 0-3 this season when QB Brett Favre throws more than 40 passes, so they need strong game from Green to make offense more balanced.
SEATTLE at ARIZONA
Game time: 4:15 p.m.Record vs. spread: Seahawks 3-2. Cardinals 3-2.Series history: Cardinals 6-4. Seahawks beat Cardinals 28-10 on Dec. 21, 2003, at Seattle.Key matchup: Seahawks WR Jerry Rice vs. Cardinals RB Emmitt Smith. Upset with his lack of receptions in Oakland, Rice was traded to Seattle on Tuesday, just before deadline. Game marks first time in almost 20 years NFL's career receiving and rushing leaders have faced each other, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Smith holds NFL rushing record with 17,771 yards, while Rice has 1,254 receptions and 22,533 yards receiving. On Dec. 3, 1984, Chargers WR Charlie Joiner hosted Bears RB Walter Payton. Joiner entered that game with 651 career receptions, and Payton had 12,980 yards rushing.
NEW ORLEANS at OAKLAND
Game time: 4:15 p.m.Record vs. spread: Saints 1-5. Raiders 1-5.Series history: Raiders lead 5-3-1. Raiders beat Saints 31-22 on Nov. 19, 2000, at New Orleans.Key matchup: Saints DE Charles Grant vs. Raiders RT Robert Gallery. Grant has eight sacks through six games, most in NFL, after getting 10 in 2003. Saints rank seventh in NFL with 15 sacks. Raiders have already lost one quarterback for season, 2002 MVP Rich Gannon, who broke vertebra in his neck Sept. 26. Kerry Collins has struggled in Gannon's place. Gallery, No. 2 pick in draft, will have to contain Grant to give shaky Collins time to throw.
Associated Press