NFL PREVIEW | Sunday's games

NEW ENGLAND at PITTSBURGH
Time: 4:15 p.m.TV/radio: WKBN (27), WOIO (19), KDKA (2), WBBG-FM (106.1)Record vs. spread: Patriots 4-0, Steelers 5-1Series history: Steelers lead 12-7. Patriots beat Steelers 30-14 on Sept. 9, 2002, at New England.Key matchup: Patriots RB Corey Dillon vs. Steelers SS Troy Polamalu. Dillon has 637 yards rushing this season, five short of Patriots' top individual total last season. He's rushed for more than 100 yards in his last two games, but in his last four games against Steelers (with Bengals), he hasn't had more than 60. Steelers have allowed 100-yard rusher just once this year. Polamalu leads Steelers in tackles.Streaks, stats and notes: Patriots have won 21 straight games, including playoffs, an NFL record. ... Steelers are off to best start since 2001, when they won their division and advanced to AFC championship. ... Ben Roethlisberger is first Steelers rookie to start at QB since Bubby Brister in 1986. He's first QB in NFL to win first four starts of rookie season since Phil Simms in 1979. ... Steelers RB Jerome Bettis has seven TDs in 2004, but only 64 yards rushing. ... Patriots lead AFC with 19 sacks. Steelers are tied for second with 17.
CINCINNATI at TENNESSEE
Time: 1 p.m.TV: WKBN (27), WOIO (19)Record vs. spread: Bengals 1-4, Titans 2-5Series history: Titans lead 37-30-1. Titans beat Bengals 30-24 on Oct. 27, 2002, at Cincinnati.Key matchup: Bengals RB Rudi Johnson vs. Titans DE Kevin Carter. Last week Johnson ran for 119 yards and 36-yard TD. He has at least 98 yards in three of last four games. Titans lost stalwart DE Jevon Kearse to free agency. His Tennessee replacements have been so ineffective Carter had to move back from tackle to end. Injuries have piled up on Titans as well, making Carter's performances more important.
DETROIT at DALLAS
Time: 1 p.m.Record vs. spread: Lions 4-2, Cowboys 2-4Series history: Tied 9-9. Cowboys beat Lions 38-7 on Oct. 19, 2003, at Detroit.Key matchup: Lions WR Roy Williams vs. Cowboys CBs Terence Newman and Jacques Reeves. Williams, taken No. 7 overall in draft, leads all rookies with five TDs and ranks third with 24 receptions for 362 yards receiving. He's also Detroit's leading receiver. at 6-foot-2, he's 3 inches taller than both Cowboys CBs. Packers WR Javon Walker, listed at 6-foot-3, had 129 yards receiving against Dallas last week, and Williams will look to do the same, if he's not hampered by sore ankle (questionable).
GREEN BAY at WASHINGTON
Time: 1 p.m.Radio: WBBW-AM (1240)Record vs. spread: Packers 3-4, Redskins 2-4Series history: Packers lead 16-13-1. Packers beat Cowboys 30-9 on Oct. 20, 2002, at Green Bay.Key matchup: Packers' wounded secondary vs. Redskins QB Mark Brunell. Packers might have to play with four starters who weren't in starting lineup last season. SS Darren Sharper and CB Al Harris sprained knees last week. Bhawoh Jue would start in Sharper's spot opposite newcomer Mark Roman. If Harris can't play, first choices to start opposite left CB Ahmad Carroll are fellow rookies Joey Thomas and Jason Horton. Brunell has not been stellar with 69.8 passer rating.
ARIZONA at BUFFALO
Time: 1 p.m.Record vs. spread: Cardinals 4-2, Bills 3-3Series history: Bills lead 4-3. Bills beat Cardinals 31-21 on Dec. 19, 1999, at Arizona.Key matchup: Cardinals secondary vs. Bills QB Drew Bledsoe. In his last 20 games, Bledsoe has not had 300-yard game and he's thrown more interceptions (18) than touchdowns (14). Bledose threw four INTs last week. Cardinals have intercepted eight passes, tied for fourth in league. If Bledsoe's line doesn't give him time, Cardinals will likely add to their total.
JACKSONVILLE at HOUSTON
Time: 1 p.m.Record vs. spread: Jaguars 5-2, Texans 3-3Series history: Tied 2-2. Jaguars beat Texans 27-0 on Dec. 7, 2003, at Jacksonville.Key matchup: Jaguars CBs Juran Bolden and Rashean Mathis vs. Texans WR Andre Johnson. Johnson leads AFC with 591 yards receiving. Among players with 25 or more receptions, Johnson's 17.9 average tops NFL. Jaguars are susceptible to pass -- they've allowed more than 300 yards passing in last three games. Mathis, in his second year, and Bolden have but one INT between them.
INDIANAPOLIS at KANSAS CITY
Time: 1 p.m.Record vs. spread: Colts 4-1, Chiefs 2-4Series history: Colts lead 10-6. Colts beat Chiefs 38-31 on Jan. 11 at Kansas City in divisional playoff game.Key matchup: Colts MLB Rob Morris vs. Chiefs RBs Priest Holmes and Derrick Blaylock. Last week Chiefs set NFL record with eight TDs rushing -- four each from Holmes (questionable, ankle) and Blaylock. And they did it against the NFL's top rushing defense. Colts took Morris No. 28 overall in 2000 draft. It's taken him a few years to match expectations and he's one of few bright spots on shaky defense. While they rank sixth against run, that's in part because teams can pass so well against them.
BALTIMORE at PHILADELPHIA
Time: 1 p.m.Record vs. spread: Ravens 4-2, Eagles 5-1Series history: Tied 0-0-1. Ravens tied Eagles 10-10 on Nov. 16, 1997, at Baltimore.Key matchup: Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Eagles WR Terrell Owens. Owens was initially traded from 49ers to Ravens in offseason, but he protested trade, refused to show up for physical and insisted he wanted to play in Philadelphia. Three teams agreed to deal that sent him to Eagles. Lewis and Owens have had testy exchanges since. Lewis is two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Owens is third in NFL with 596 yards receiving and tied for first with eight TDs.
NEW YORK GIANTS at MINNESOTA
Time: 1 p.m.TV: WYFX (17/62), WJW (8), WPGH (53)Record vs. spread: Giants 4-2, Vikings 4-2Series history: Vikings lead 10-9. Giants beat Vikings 29-17 on Oct. 26, 2003, at Minnesota.Key matchup: Giants DE Michael Strahan vs. Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper. Culpepper leads NFL in completion percentage (73.3), touchdown passes (19), and passer rating (124.0). He's second in league with 1,949 yards passing. He's also been sacked 18 times in six games, among higher totals in league. Strahan leads Giants with three sacks, and has 117 in career, most among active players.
CAROLINA at SEATTLE
Time: 4:05 p.m.Record vs. spread: Panthers 2-4, Seahawks 3-3Series history: Panthers lead 1-0. Panthers beat Seahawks 26-3 on Oct. 8, 2000, at Carolina.Key matchup: Panthers RB Brad Hoover vs. Seattle front seven. Panthers, defending NFC champions, have been decimated by injuries. RB DeShaun Foster won't play again this season due to broken collarbone. Usual starter Stephen Davis missed his fourth game of season last week, and No. 3 back Rod Smart is also out with knee problem. Last week, Hoover, usually a fullback, ran for 99 yards on career-high tying 24 carries. Seahawks allow just over 100 yards per game, eighth best in league. With its offensive line also in tatters, Panthers will look to use Hoover against Seahawks.
ATLANTA at DENVER
Time: 4:05 p.m.Record vs. spread: Falcons 2-5, Broncos 2-3Series history: Broncos lead 8-3. Broncos beat Falcons 42-14 on Sept. 10, 2000, at Denver.Key matchup: Falcons DT Ed Jasper vs. Broncos C Tom Nalen. Falcons entered last week with league's No. 1 rushing defense, and were embarrassed by Chiefs, who ran for 271 yards and record eight TDs. Falcons' run defense fell to No. 9. This week they're facing Broncos' talented offensive line, anchored by Nalen, who was All-Pro last season. Denver's line has helped RB Reuben Droughns rush for 479 yards in last three games, and he'll look to break 100 for fourth straight time.
OAKLAND at SAN DIEGO
Time: 4:15 p.m.Record vs. spread: Raiders 1-6, Chargers 5-1Series history: Raiders lead 55-32-2. Chargers beat Raiders 21-14 on Dec. 28, 2003, at San Diego.Key matchup: Raiders MLB Danny Clark vs. Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson. In last game against Raiders, Tomlinson had career-best 243 yards rushing on 35 carries with two TDs. In his last four games against Oakland, Tomlinson has 640 yards on 116 carries for 5.5-yard average, five TDs rushing, one TD receiving, and even one passing. He's tied for third in NFL with six TDs rushing. Clark leads Raiders in tackles, and as middle linebacker will have to chase Tomlinson to keep him from having another big day.
SAN FRANCISCO at CHICAGO
Time: 8:30 p.m.TV/radio: ESPN, WBBW-AM (1240)Record vs. spread: 49ers 4-2, Bears 2-4Series history: 49ers lead 30-26-1. 49ers beat Bears 49-7 on Sept. 7, 2003, at San Francisco.Key matchup: Bears P Brad Maynard vs. 49ers P Andy Lee. In matchup of two NFL's worst teams, field position could determine outcome. Bears average just 14.2 points per game, 49ers average 17.5. Maynard has punted 37 times in six games, among most in league. His 40.2-yard net average is tied for second in NFL. Lee, who has punted 33 times, has net average of only 34.3 yards.
Associated Press