PREVIEWS | Sunday's games

ARIZONA at ATLANTA
Time: 1 p.m.
Record vs. spread: Cardinals 1-1. Falcons 1-1.
Series history: Cardinals lead 13-8. Last meeting -- Falcons beat Cardinals 34-14 on Sept. 30, 2001, at Arizona.
Key matchup: Cardinals defense vs. QB Michael Vick. Vick rushed for 109 yards on 12 carries last week, while completing 14 passes for 179 yards. Cardinals are allowing 174 yards per game on ground, third worst in NFL, and have worst overall defense. Vick's speed will be tough for Cardinals to handle, and if they dedicate too many defenders to keeping him in pocket, Vick can beat them with long pass.
PHILADELPHIA at DETROIT
Time: 1 p.m.
Record vs. spread: Eagles 2-0. Lions 2-0.
Series history: Tied 12-12-2. Last meeting -- Eagles beat Lions 10-9 on Nov. 8, 1998, at Philadelphia.
Key matchup: Eagles CBs Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard vs. Lions WR Roy Williams. Williams, the No. 7 pick in draft, had two TD receptions last week and leads NFC, averaging 17.8 yards per catch. At 6-foot-3, Williams is big target, towering over Brown and Sheppard, who are both 5-10. Despite short stature, Brown and Sheppard held Randy Moss to 69 yards last week. In two wins, Philly defense has struggled against pass, allowing 287.5 yards per game -- second worst in league.
HOUSTON at KANSAS CITY
Time: 1 p.m.
Record vs. spread: Texans 0-2. Chiefs 0-2.
Series history: Chiefs lead 1-0. Last meeting -- Chiefs beat Texans 42-14 on Sept. 21, 2003, at Houston.
Key matchup: Texans QB David Carr vs. Chiefs CB Eric Warfield. Carr is one of several passers with NFL-worst three INTs after two games. He's also been sacked seven times, tied for second most in league. Warfield is tied for NFL lead with two INTs. Texans have outgained opponents in each game, but have been done in by turnovers. They have NFL-worst minus-6 turnover differential and their seven giveaways are second only to Washington.
NEW ORLEANS at ST. LOUIS
Time: 1 p.m.
Record vs. spread: Saints 0-2. Rams 0-2.
Series history: Rams lead 36-29. Last meeting -- Rams beat Saints 34-21 on Dec. 17, 2001, at New Orleans.
Key matchup: Saints CBs Ashley Ambrose and Fred Thomas vs. Rams WR Isaac Bruce. Bruce is tied for NFL lead with 17 receptions and is third with 214 yards. In 13 career games against Saints, Bruce has 71 receptions for 1,263 yards and 11 TDs, his most TDs against any opponent. Ambrose, in 13th season, is tied for NFL lead with two INTs.
JACKSONVILLE at TENNESSEE
Time: 1 p.m.
Record vs. spread: Jaguars 2-0. Titans 1-1.
Series history: Titans lead 12-7. Last meeting -- Titans beat Jaguars 10-3 on Nov. 16, 2003, at Tennessee.
Key matchup: Jaguars front seven vs. Titans RB Chris Brown. Brown, who replaced Eddie George, has 252 yards rushing in two games, third in NFL -- including 152 last week against Colts. Titans average 167.5 yards per game on ground, while Jaguars allow only 100.5 per game and held Denver's Quentin Griffin to 66 yards last week. Titans have had 100-yard rusher in 11 of past 19 games. Jaguars have not allowed 100-yard rusher in 17 games, NFL's longest such streak.
BALTIMORE at CINCINNATI
Time: 1 p.m.
Record vs. spread: Ravens 1-1. Bengals 0-1.
Series history: Ravens lead 11-5. Last meeting -- Ravens beat Bengals 31-13 on Dec. 7, 2003, at Baltimore.
Key matchup: Ravens RB Jamal Lewis vs. Bengals front seven. Lewis rushed for at least 100 yards in each of six career games against Bengals. He had 2,066 yards rushing last year, second most in history. Though Lewis has been held to just 119 yards in two games, Ravens average 130 yards rushing with help from RB Chester Taylor. Bengals will key to stop run against Ravens, who have one of NFL's worst passing games, made worse by loss of TE Todd Heap (doubtful; ankle).
CHICAGO at MINNESOTA
Time: 1 p.m.
Record vs. spread: Bears 1-1. Vikings 1-1.
Series history: Vikings lead 46-38-2. Last meeting -- Bears beat Vikings 13-10 on Dec. 14, 2003, at Chicago.
Key matchup: Bears CBs Todd McMillon, Nathan Vasher, and R.W. McQuarters vs. Vikings WR Randy Moss. Bears secondary is depleted, with FS Mike Brown out for season (Achilles' tendon), CB Charles Tillman out at least seven weeks (knee) and CB Jerry Azumah out (neck). McMillon and rookie Vasher will split time on one side. Moss has only 12 catches for 96 yards this season, but has three TDs and is among top WRs in NFL. Moss has 75 receptions for 1,005 yards and eight TDs in 12 career games against Bears.
SAN DIEGO at DENVER
Time: 4:05 p.m.
Record vs. spread: Chargers 1-1. Broncos 1-1.
Series history: Broncos lead 49-38-1. Last meeting -- Broncos beat Chargers 37-8 on Nov. 16, 2003, at Denver.
Key matchup: Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson vs. Broncos defensive line. Tomlinson, second-team All-Pro, was held to 29 yards rushing in last meeting. In game against Denver in 2002, he rushed for 220 yards with three TDs. He has 208 yards already this year. He'll face Denver line missing star DE Trevor Pryce (back) and has been shuffled around due to injuries and new signings.
GREEN BAY at INDIANAPOLIS
Time: 4:15 p.m.
TV: WYFX (17/62), WJW (8), WPGH (53)
Record vs. spread: Packers 1-1. Colts 1-0.
Series history: Packers lead 20-19-1. Last meeting -- Packers beat Colts 26-24 on Nov. 19, 2000, at Green Bay.
Key matchup: Packers QB Brett Favre vs. Colts QB Peyton Manning. Since 1999, Favre and Manning have each won 52 regular-season games, most wins by any QB in that span. Last year, Favre led NFL with 32 TD passes, while Manning was second with 29. Favre has started 191 consecutive games, most in NFL history by quarterback. Manning, with 98 consecutive starts, is fourth in NFL history. Manning is second in AFC with 104.9 passer rating, and is tied for second with four TD passes. Favre threw one TD and two INTs last week in loss to Bears.
SAN FRANCISCO at SEATTLE
Time: 4:15 p.m.
Record vs. spread: 49ers 2-0. Seahawks 2-0.
Series history: 49ers lead 6-4. Last meeting -- Seahawks beat 49ers 24-17 on Dec. 27, 2003, at San Francisco.
Key matchup: 49ers QB Ken Dorsey vs. Seahawks SS Michael Boulware. Dorsey made first career start last week, completing 18 of 32 passes for 205 yards with two INTs. Boulware, taken in the second round (No. 53 overall) in April draft, has INT in each of first two NFL games. Seahawks have allowed only 13 points total in their two wins, and will look to keep that total low against inexperienced Dorsey.
TAMPA BAY at OAKLAND
Time: 8:30 p.m.
TV/radio: ESPN, WBBW-AM (1240)
Record vs. spread: Buccaneers 0-2. Raiders 0-2.
Series history: Raiders lead 4-2. Last meeting -- Buccaneers beat Raiders 48-21 in Super Bowl on Jan. 26, 2003, at San Diego.
Key matchup: Buccaneers defense vs. Raiders offense. So far this season, Bucs defense has provided team's only touchdown, 9-yard fumble return by CB Ronde Barber in Week 1. Martin Gramatica kicked PAT and has three FGs to account for rest of Tampa's 16 points. Bucs average 61 yards rushing per game, third worst in league, and only 159 yards passing. Raiders shut down two other weak offenses this season, and Bucs defense may have to run back more fumbles if team is to score points.
Associated Press
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