PREVIEW | Today's games

PITTSBURGH at CLEVELAND
Time: 1 p.m.TV/radio: (27) (19) (2) WKBN-AM (570), WNCD-FM (93.3), WBBG-FM (106.1)Key matchup: Pittsburgh defense vs. Cleveland QB Charlie Frye. Frye, a rookie, passed for 198 yards in his first win as an NFL starter last week. In his first three career starts, Frye has an 89.9 passer rating with three touchdowns, two interceptions and a TD rushing. The Cleveland offense has entered the opponent's red zone just 35 times, third worst in the NFL. Its 28.6 TD rate (10 TDs, 19 FGs) is the worst in the league. The Steelers' defense has bounced back, beating two teams on long winning streaks (Bears, Vikings) after losing to the Ravens, Colts and Bengals in succession.Streaks, stats and notes: Pittsburgh has won in Cleveland each of the last four seasons. ... Steelers can go 11-5 with two wins. Only one team with an 11-5 record -- the Broncos in 1985 -- has missed the playoffs since the NFL went to a 16-game season in 1978. There's a mathematical chance of it happening this season. ... RB Willie Parker needs 63 yards in the final two games to become the Steelers' first 1,000-yard rusher since Jerome Bettis in 2001. ... QB Ben Roethlisberger is 20-3 as career starter and is third in NFL with a 102.0 passer rating. ... Cleveland has surpassed its 2004 win total. ... Five of Browns' losses have been by seven points or less. ... C Jeff Faine will miss the final two games of the season with a torn right biceps. ... Browns defense is No. 2 in AFC inside red zone, allowing only 19 TDs on 42 trips (45.2 percent). ... RB Reuben Droughns (1,156) is AFC's fifth-leading rusher and needs 85 yards to surpass career-high of 1,240 (2004, Denver). K Phil Dawson is 13-of-13 in career FGs vs. Pittsburgh inside 40 yards.
BUFFALO at CINCINNATI
Time: 1 p.m.Key matchup: Buffalo run defense vs. Cincinnati RB Rudi Johnson. In his last two home games , Johnson has rushed for 283 yards on 57 carries for 5.0 average and three touchdowns. Johnson needs 103 yards to surpass his club record of 1,454 (2004). His 1,352 yards ranks third in the AFC. Buffalo, last in the NFL against the run, allows 144.3 yards per game.
SAN FRANCISCO at ST. LOUIS
Time: 1 p.m.Key matchup: San Francisco QB Alex Smith vs. St. Louis defense. In his five starts, all losses, Smith has thrown 10 interceptions and no touchdowns. He has passed for 585 yards while completing just 46.7 percent of his passes, leading to a 26.6 passer rating. Last week, the Rams got an unaccustomed strong showing from a defense that limited Philadelphia to 201 total yards. St. Louis still has the second-worst defense (357.9) in the NFC. Only San Francisco is worse at 399.0.
TENNESSEE at MIAMI
Time: 1 p.m.Key matchup: Tennessee DE Kyle Vanden Bosch vs. Miami DE Jason Taylor. Two of the best at their position. Vanden Bosch is tied for second in NFL with 12 1/2 sacks. Taylor had three sacks last week for sixth time in career, tying career high. Taylor has 11 sacks on season, reaching 10 or more for the fourth time in his career. Taylor may have a tougher game this week -- Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair threw for 310 yards and wasn't sacked by a defense that came in leading the NFL with 45 sacks.
DETROIT vs. NEW ORLEANSat San Antonio
Time: 1 p.m.Key matchup: Detroit DB Dre' Bly vs. New Orleans QB Todd Bouman. Bouman will be making his second outing as the team's starting quarterback. Last week, he threw four interceptions and fumbled once. The Saints switched to Bouman with the benching of Aaron Brooks, who has thrown more interceptions (17) than touchdowns (13) and has his worst quarterback rating (70.0) since becoming the starter in 2000. Since entering the league in 1999, Bly ranks third with 30 interceptions, including six this season.
NEW YORK GIANTS at WASHINGTON
Time: 1 p.m.Key matchup: New York RB Tiki Barber vs. Washington's run defense. Barber, running behind a patchwork offensive line last week against Kansas City, set a Giants single-game record with 220 yards on 29 carries and scored two touchdowns. His previous career best was 206 yards, set this season against Washington. He has already broken his franchise record of 1,518 yards in a season, set in 2004. Washington allows 106.5 yards rushing per game. The defense has allowed just three touchdowns in the past three games and yields 15.9 first downs per game, third in the NFL.
DALLAS at CAROLINA
Time: 1 p.m.Radio: WBBW-AM (1240)Key matchup: Dallas offense vs. Carolina defense. Last week, the Cowboys had four turnovers, gave up seven sacks and had plenty of costly penalties. The Cowboys have lost three of their last four games, never leading in the losses. Defenses have figured out how to exploit the offensive line, sacking Drew Bledsoe 15 times the last three games. Carolina has held nine straight opponents to fewer than 300 yards and allows 16 points per game, third fewest in the NFL.
JACKSONVILLE at HOUSTON
Time: 1 p.m.Key matchup: Jacksonville pass defense vs. Houston QB David Carr. The Jaguars' defense (42) is tied for the third-most sacks in the league and is second allowing NFL opponents a third-down conversion rate of 30.3 (54 of 178). The team has won five of its last six road games. Carr is 4-2 as starter against the Jaguars. In 15 home starts since start of 2004, QB Carr has 17 TDs vs. 10 INTs for 88.9 passer rating. However, Carr also has been sacked an NFL-worst 68 times this season.
SAN DIEGO at KANSAS CITY
Time: 1 p.m.Key matchup: San Diego TE Antonio Gates vs. Kansas City pass defense. Gates had 10 catches for 145 yards and three scores on Oct. 30. In three career games, Gates has 20 catches for 286 yards and six touchdowns vs. KC. Gates is second in the AFC with 82 receptions (1,026 yards). The Chiefs are next-to-last in passing defense, giving up an average 243.0 yards per game.
ATLANTA at TAMPA BAY
Time: 1 p.m.Key matchup: Atlanta running game vs. Tampa Bay defense. The Falcons are first in the league averaging 169.0 yards rushing per game and 4.9 yards per rush. Warrick Dunn has 1,328 yards rushing with 5.1 average, tops among running backs with 150-plus carries. QB Michael Vick, who had 306 yards passing last game against the Bucs, has 534 yards rushing and 5.9 per rush average. The Bucs have the No. 2 defense in the league (275.5) and yield just 92.1 yards rushing per game. They are third in NFL allowing 3.4 yards per rush.
PHILADELPHIA at ARIZONA
Time: 4:05 p.m.TV: (17/62)Key matchup: Philadelphia rushing offense vs. Arizona rushing offense. A pair of teams struggling to find any consistency in their running games. The Cardinals need 66 yards in the final two games to reach 1,000 as a team. Arizona has failed to rush for 100 yards in any game this season, is averaging an NFL-worst 3.1 yards per carry and has only two touchdowns rushing in 14 games. Philadelphia averages 92.4 yards per game on the ground. Ryan Moats starting in place of the injured Brian Westbrook, had a 59-yard touchdown run, but had only 19 yards on his 11 other carries last week.
INDIANAPOLIS at SEATTLE
Time: 4:15 p.m.Key matchup: Indianapolis offensive line vs. Seattle defensive line. The Colts' offensive line was overwhelmed in their loss to San Diego. Quarterback Peyton Manning was sacked only 12 times before Sunday, but the Chargers took him down four times, forced him into a critical intentional grounding penalty late in the game, and constantly harassed him. The line must play better at Seattle, which leads the NFL with 45 sacks and can wrap up home-field advantage in the NFC with a win.
OAKLAND at DENVER
Time: 4:15 p.m.Radio: WBBW-AM (1240)Key matchup: Oakland running game vs. Denver run defense. Oakland may be without running back LaMont Jordan for this game. Jordan is listed as doubtful after injuring his right big toe last week. The Raiders' leading rusher with 1,025 yards and nine touchdowns, Jordan also tops the team in catches with 70 and has 563 yards receiving and two TDs receiving. If Jordan is unable to go, veteran Zack Crockett will likely get the start. Crockett has rushed 30 times for 120 yards and one touchdown this season. If Jordan does play, how effective will he be against a defense that allows just 84.6 yards per game on the ground?
Associated Press