NFL PREVIEW \ TODAY'S GAMES

CLEVELAND at CINCINNATI
Time: 1 p.m.TV/radio: (27) (19) WKBN-AM (570), WNCD (93.3)Key matchup: Cleveland run defense vs. RB Rudi Johnson. In Johnson's past two games against the Browns, he has rushed for 328 yards on 52 carries (6.3 average) with three touchdowns. Cleveland has allowed 129.1 yards per game on the ground, fourth worst in the AFC.Streaks, stats and notes: Cleveland is 1-5 on the road. ... RB Reuben Droughns became the first Cleveland back to break 1,000 yards in a season since Browns returned to league in 1999. ... Rookie WR Braylon Edwards will miss the rest of the season with a torn knee ligament. Edwards finishes the season with 32 receptions for 512 yards. ... In his first NFL start last week, rookie QB Charlie Frye posted NFL's third-highest passer rating of the week (136.7), completing 13 of 20 (65.0 percent) for 226 yards with two TDs. ... K Phil Dawson is 17-of-19 on career FGs against Cincinnati. ... Cincinnati can clinch the AFC North with a win and a Pittsburgh loss. ... Carson Palmer leads the league with 26 touchdown passes, ranks second with 3,149 yards and passer rating (106.6). He has thrown only seven interceptions in 399 attempts and has completed 68.7 percent of his passes, best in the NFL. ... Bengals, led by Deltha O'Neal's eight, lead the NFL with 26 INTs. ... Odell Thurman leads team with 112 tackles and has five INTs to tie for most by an NFL LB and leads all rookies. ... In past two vs. Browns, WRs Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh have combined for 362 yards receiving on 28 catches with three TDs.
CHICAGO at PITTSBURGH
Time: 1 p.m.TV/radio: (17/62) WBBG-FM (106.1)Key matchup: Chicago run defense vs. Pittsburgh run defense. They rank first (Pittsburgh, 3.3) and second (Chicago, 3.4) in the league in yards allowed per rush. The Steelers are averaging 84 yards rushing during their three-game losing streak. The Bears average 133.3 yards rushing per game, fifth in NFL. Chicago's Thomas Jones has increased his rushing total in every season since 2000, his rookie year. He has his first career 1,000-yard season and is averaging 127.3 yards per game vs. AFC opponents this year. Pittsburgh's Willie Parker is averaging 65.2 yards per game and only 48.8 per game since Oct. 1.Streaks, stats and notes: Chicago is two games up in first place in the NFC North, has not allowed more than 10 points in each of the past four games. ... Bears have eight-game winning streak, their longest in 20 years. ... Chicago has returned eight interceptions for TDs in coach Lovie Smith's first two seasons, including three this year. ... Bears rank first in NFL, allowing 4.1 yards per play, and hold opponents to a 20.0 red zone TD percentage (6 TDs, 30 trips), also tops in NFL. ... Pittsburgh trails Cincinnati by two games and would lose a tiebreaker. The Steelers are fourth in a four-team race for two wild-card spots that also involves the Jaguars, Chargers and Chiefs. ... No team in Pittsburgh Steelers history has missed out on the playoffs after winning seven of its first nine. ... QB Ben Roethlisberger is 9-2 as home starter with a home passer rating of 99.4 with 17 TDs vs. nine INTs. ... Clark Haggans is tied for NFL lead in sacks by LB (7).
Time: 1 p.m.TV/radio: (17/62) WBBG-FM (106.1)Key matchup: Chicago run defense vs. Pittsburgh run defense. They rank first (Pittsburgh, 3.3) and second (Chicago, 3.4) in the league in yards allowed per rush. The Steelers are averaging 84 yards rushing during their three-game losing streak. The Bears average 133.3 yards rushing per game, fifth in NFL. Chicago's Thomas Jones has increased his rushing total in every season since 2000, his rookie year. He has his first career 1,000-yard season and is averaging 127.3 yards per game vs. AFC opponents this year. Pittsburgh's Willie Parker is averaging 65.2 yards per game and only 48.8 per game since Oct. 1.Streaks, stats and notes: Chicago is two games up in first place in the NFC North, has not allowed more than 10 points in each of the past four games. ... Bears have eight-game winning streak, their longest in 20 years. ... Chicago has returned eight interceptions for TDs in coach Lovie Smith's first two seasons, including three this year. ... Bears rank first in NFL, allowing 4.1 yards per play, and hold opponents to a 20.0 red zone TD percentage (6 TDs, 30 trips), also tops in NFL. ... Pittsburgh trails Cincinnati by two games and would lose a tiebreaker. The Steelers are fourth in a four-team race for two wild-card spots that also involves the Jaguars, Chargers and Chiefs. ... No team in Pittsburgh Steelers history has missed out on the playoffs after winning seven of its first nine. ... QB Ben Roethlisberger is 9-2 as home starter with a home passer rating of 99.4 with 17 TDs vs. nine INTs. ... Clark Haggans is tied for NFL lead in sacks by LB (7).
Time: 4:05 p.m.Key matchup: San Francisco QB Alex Smith vs. Seattle defense. Smith and the 49ers managed just 10 points against one of the NFL's most generous defenses last week. Arizona had just six interceptions all season before Smith threw three in the second half. Smith has thrown eight interceptions and no touchdown passes. The Seahawks, using big plays on defense, including interception returns for touchdowns by Andre Dyson and rookie Lofa Tatupu, and smaller ones from their top-ranked offense, routed the Eagles. It was the Eagles' worst home loss since they were beaten 49-0 by Green Bay in 1962.
OAKLAND at NEW YORK JETS
Time: 1 p.m.Key matchup: Oakland QB Marques Tuiasosopo vs. New York secondary. Tuiasosopo probably will get his shot as starting quarterback. The 26-year-old Tuiasosopo has been a backup since the Raiders drafted him out of Washington in 2001. Starter Kerry Collins has completed 245 of 446 passes for 3,118 yards and 16 touchdowns, but he has thrown 10 interceptions and been sacked 32 times. Seven of his 10 interceptions have come in the past four games, including three in a 31-17 home loss to Denver on Nov. 13. The Jets have no takeaways in their last two games.
HOUSTON at TENNESSEE
Time: 1 p.m.Key matchup: Houston offense vs. Houston defense. The Texans need their offense and defense to play well in the same game. Two weeks ago in an overtime loss to St. Louis, the offense had it's best outing of the year. Last week, the Texans had zero touchdowns, David Carr threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown and Andre Johnson dropped a would-be touchdown pass. Against the Rams, the defense played well early and then allowed the Rams and a rookie third-string quarterback to rally from a 21-point deficit for the win. The defense was the star against Baltimore, allowing a season-low 238 yards, just 73 rushing.
NEW ENGLAND at BUFFALO
Time: 1 p.m.Key matchup: New England RB Corey Dillon vs. Buffalo's run defense. New England dominated time of possession and total yards, outgaining the Jets 397-164. Dillon, the Patriots' leading rusher (506 yards), scored the game's only touchdown and finished with 65 yards after sitting out the previous two games. Buffalo gives up an average of 140.3 yards per game on the ground, second worst in the league.
ST. LOUIS at MINNESOTA
Time: 1 p.m.Key matchup: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Minnesota secondary. Fitzpatrick will get his second start for the Rams, even though the rookie quarterback from Harvard struggled in his first. The Rams called almost four times as many pass plays as runs, putting the game in the rookie's hands. Fitzpatrick passed for just 163 yards. The Vikings have 18 interceptions, tied for second in the NFL. The defense has allowed 16 points per game in a five-game win streak vs. the 27.6 in first seven games. S Darren Sharper has five interceptions in past four games and is tied for second in NFL with seven.
INDIANAPOLIS at JACKSONVILLE
Time: 1 p.m.Radio: WBBW-AM (1240)Key matchup: Jacksonville first half vs. Jacksonville second half. The Jaguars have scored 96 second-half points in the last five games, and have their first five-game winning streak since the 1999 season. They scored just 30 first-half points in those same games and trailed at halftime in three of them. That said, the Jaguars' fifth-ranked NFL defense (283.3) will face a Peyton Manning-led offense that has won by at least 17 points in seven of its last nine games. The Colts have not trailed in a game since Week 6, and Manning has seven consecutive games of at least a 100.0 passer rating.
TAMPA BAY at CAROLINA
Time: 1 p.m.Key matchup: Tampa Bay defense vs. Carolina offense. The Bucs have allowed one touchdown in the past two weeks (and that a 1-yard drive after a turnover). Cornerback Ronde Barber comes off a three-interception for 70 yards performance against New Orleans. Carolina's Steve Smith is tied for the NFL lead with 82 receptions and leads the league with 1,226 yards and 10 touchdowns. Smith averages 102.2 yards receiving per game. The Panthers found a ground game last week. DeShaun Foster became the first Carolina RB to pass the 100-yard mark this season when he bulldozed his way through the Falcons for 131 yards.
WASHINGTON at ARIZONA
Time: 4:05 p.m.Key matchup: Washington defensive line vs. Arizona offense. The Redskins' defense harassed rookie quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, making his first NFL start, and allowed only 191 total yards. The Cardinals committed 11 penalties against the 49ers, including seven by offensive linemen. Injuries have forced two natural tackles to play guard. The Redskins need to apply pressure and keep the ball out of the hands of a lethal receiver tandem. Arizona's Anquan Boldin has 992 yards, waiting to join Fitzgerald in a 1,000-yard season. Fitzgerald, the team receptions leader (82), has 1,128 yards after a 129-yard, eight-catch game.
NEW YORK GIANTS at PHILADELPHIA
Time: 4:05 p.m.Key matchup: New York defensive line vs. Philadelphia QBs Mike McMahon and QB Koy Detmer. Through 12 games, Michael Strahan has 91/2 sacks, good for sixth in the NFL, and at 34 he is the oldest player in the top 20. Teammate Osi Umenyiora, one of Strahan's proteges, is tied for the league lead with Oakland's Derrick Burgess with 11. The Eagles, who had six turnovers, were shut out for the first time since 2003 and took worst home loss since 1962. McMahon, who started his third game, was benched after throwing two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns. Detmer wasn't much better, throwing two picks and losing a fumble.
KANSAS CITY at DALLAS
Time: 4:15 p.m.TV/radio: (27) (19) (2) WBBW-AM (1240)Key matchup: Kansas City RB Larry Johnson vs. Dallas run defense. Johnson, with his team record-tying fifth straight 100-yard game, rolled up 140 yards against a Denver defense that was ranked No. 1 against the run, giving up just under 80 yards per game. Johnson's 470 yards in the last three games is the best three-game total in team history. Dallas allows just over 100 yards per game (101.8) on the ground. Kansas City is second in the league in time of possession at 32:26. The league leader: Dallas at 33:05.
MIAMI at SAN DIEGO
Time: 4:15 p.m.Key matchup: Miami vs. first quarter. Slow starts have been a season-long problem for the Dolphins, who have been outscored 77-30 in the first quarter. Nick Saban sensed a laxity in warm-ups and gave his players a locker-room tongue-lashing before last week, but it did no good: Buffalo led 21-0 after 13 minutes. Miami rallied to win. San Diego has outscored its opponents 69-29 in the first quarter.
BALTIMORE at DENVER
Time: 4:15 p.m.Key matchup: Baltimore RB Jamal Lewis vs. Denver run defense. Lewis has been effective in December games. He averages 4.6 yards per carry (327 attempts) and has 11 touchdowns in 16 career games in the month. Last week, Larry Johnson rolled up 140 yards against a Denver defense that was ranked No. 1 against the run, giving up just under 80 yards per game.
DETROIT at GREEN BAY
Time: 8:30 p.m.TV/radio: ESPN, WBBW-AM 1240Key matchup: Detroit defense vs. Green Bay QB Brett Favre. Favre has a 13-0 record as starter at home vs. Lions, with 24 touchdown passes and seven interceptions. The 36-year-old three-time MVP, who has started an NFL record for quarterbacks 217 consecutive games, got banged up against the Bears. Sherman may have a banged-up quarterback who has thrown an NFL-leading 21 interceptions on a team that is suffering its first losing season in years, but he has no plans to sit Favre any time soon. Favre leads the NFC with 2,991 yards passing and is second with 19 touchdown passes.
Associated Press
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