PREVIEW | This weekend's games

TODAYDENVER (12-3) At SAN DIEGO (9-6)
Time: 4:30 p.m. (CBS).Key matchup: Denver RB Tatum Bell vs. San Diego's run defense. The Broncos have secured a first-round bye and have nothing to play for, while the Chargers are out of the playoff race. Coach Mike Shanahan can rest several starters, including quarterback Jake Plummer, running back Mike Anderson and banged-up cornerback Champ Bailey. Tatum Bell, 131 yards shy of 1,000, expects to start in Anderson's place. Bell, who averages 5.6 yards per carry, faces the NFL's best defense against the run (79.5 yards per game).
NEW YORK GIANTS (10-5)at OAKLAND (4-11)
Time: 8 p.m.Key matchup: Giants vs. Oakland QB Kerry Collins. The Giants face Collins for the first time since he brought them to the 2001 Super Bowl. Collins was a Giant from 1999-2003 and stands as the franchise's third-leading passer (16,875 yards). Collins (3,428) needs 72 yards passing for his fourth 3,500-yard season in past six years. However, Collins was benched in favor of backup Marques Tuiasosopo for one game earlier this month. With a win or tie, the Giants are NFC East champs and would be guaranteed a home playoff game in the wild-card round.
SUNDAY
BALTIMORE (6-9) at CLEVELAND (5-10)
Time: 1 p.m.TV: (27) (19).Key matchup: Baltimore QB Kyle Boller vs. Cleveland pass defense. By throwing three touchdown passes in each of his last two games, Boller has provided the Ravens with evidence he can be an effective NFL quarterback. Ravens coach Brian Billick needs more and wants to see how the former No. 1 draft pick fares in Cleveland before making any commitment. Over the last two games, Boller is 43-for-61 for 542 yards with six TDs and only one interception. The Browns have the sixth-best defense against the pass, allowing just 181.9 yards per game.
DETROIT (5-10) at PITTSBURGH (10-5)
Time: 1 p.m.TV: (17/62), (53).Key matchup: Detroit QB Joey Harrington vs. Pittsburgh defense. Harrington, who had been benched twice this season, struggled most of last week's game before connecting with Roy Williams for two big completions on the Lions' final drive to snap a five-game losing streak. Harrington was 17-of-30 for 210 yards in his third crack as the starter. Harrington gets to face a defense that has allowed only one meaningless touchdown and 12 points in the last three games, including its first shutout in five years.
BUFFALO (5-10)at NEW YORK JETS (3-12)
Time: 1 p.m.Key matchup: Buffalo kickoff return team vs. New York kickoff coverage. Last week, CB-KR Terrence McGee became the first NFL player to score touchdowns on a kickoff return (99 yards) and interception return (46 yards) in same game. McGee had five kickoff returns for 220 yards and leads the NFL with a 31.0-yard kickoff return average. He can be the first player to lead the AFC in that category for consecutive seasons.
CAROLINA (10-5) at ATLANTA (8-7)
Time: 1 p.m.Key matchup: Carolina vs. the Georgia Dome. The Panthers must win at Atlanta, where they are 1-9, to get into the playoffs. Carolina's last win in Atlanta was 1997 (9-6). Mathematically, Panthers can still win the division title -- but they'd need Tampa Bay to lose at home against struggling New Orleans. Carolina can even lose to the Falcons and still get in as long as Dallas loses at home to St. Louis or Washington loses at Philadelphia.
ARIZONA (5-10) at INDIANAPOLIS (13-2)
Time: 1 p.m.Key matchup: Indianapolis vs. losing streak. Colts coach Tony Dungy and his wife, Lauren, buried their eldest son Tuesday following an emotional two-hour service attended by NFL stars, past and present, a contingent of league officials including commissioner Paul Tagliabue, and the entire Colts team. Jim Caldwell who ran the Colts in Dungy's absence, said they will treat the regular-season finale as a preseason game.
SEATTLE (13-2) at GREEN BAY (3-12)
Time: 1 p.m.Key matchup: Seattle pass defense vs. Green Bay QB Brett Favre. The Seahawks must repair an injury-depleted secondary. Seattle's defense looked great with successive wins over Philadelphia and San Francisco by a combined 83-3. But the Eagles and 49ers together are 9-21. There have been injuries to starting defensive backs Kelly Herndon, Andre Dyson, Ken Hamlin and now Marcus Trufant. He bruised his lower back last week and may not play.
MIAMI (8-7) at NEW ENGLAND (10-5)
Time: 1 p.m.
Key matchup: Miami's defense vs. New England QB Tom Brady. The quarterback is 6-3 against the Dolphins, even though they befuddle him like no other opponent -- some of his lowest regular-season yardage performances have come against Miami. He managed only a career-worst 76 yards passing on Oct. 14, 2004, yet the Patriots put together a 24-10 win.
CINCINNATI (11-4) at KANSAS CITY (9-6)
Time: 1 p.m.
Key matchup: Cincinnati's run defense vs. Kansas City RB Larry Johnson. Johnson got his eighth straight 100-yard rushing day -- 131 yards -- winning a showdown against the league's best defense against the run. The Chargers had not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 16 games before Johnson ran over, around and through them. Johnson, who has 1,549 yards, started the season backing up Priest Holmes, who suffered a season-ending neck injury on Oct. 30. Johnson has 17 touchdowns rushing this season, the third-highest total in KC history.
NEW ORLEANS (3-12)at TAMPA BAY (10-5)
Time: 1 p.m.Key matchup: New Orleans run defense vs. Tampa Bay RB Carnell "Cadillac" Williams. Williams has topped 100 yards rushing in six games, and is the only rookie to run for more than 1,000 yards this season. He's coming off a 150-yard effort against Atlanta. Williams could do the same against a run defense that ranks 27th in the league, giving up 133.1 yards per game.
HOUSTON (2-13)at SAN FRANCISCO (3-12)
Time: 4:05 p.m.Key matchup: Houston vs. the second half. The Texans have led at halftime five times, but have only won one of those games and have been outscored 139-45 in the fourth quarter this season. The Texans have a bad habit of falling apart late in games. You name it: missed field goals, dropped interceptions, penalties on both sides of the ball have hurt Houston. Though the Texans remain focused on getting another win, they have the worst record in the NFL and control the No. 1 pick (USC's Reggie Bush?) in April's draft.
TENNESSEE (4-11)at JACKSONVILLE (11-4)
Time: 4:05 p.m.Key matchup: Tennessee run defense vs. Jacksonville RB Fred Taylor. Taylor has more yards rushing (803) vs. Titans than any other team in his career. The Tennessee defense has been shredded by a rusher for at least 100 yards in each of the past four games. Edgerrin James, Domanick Davis, Shaun Alexander and Ricky Williams have exposed the Titans' weakness. Jacksonville has the AFC's No. 5 seed in the playoffs locked up.
CHICAGO (11-4) at MINNESOTA (8-7)
Time: 4:15 p.m.Key matchup: 2005 Bears vs. 1986 Bears. Chicago has held opponents to 168 points, so it could break the 1986 squad's 16-game franchise record of 187. The 168 points are the fewest allowed in the NFL this year. The Bears' defense ranks first overall (274.2), third vs. pass (175.0) and eighth against run (99.2). Minnesota's offense has also struggled to convert third downs and run the ball lately.
WASHINGTON (9-6)at PHILADELPHIA (6-9)
Time: 4:15 p.m. (17/62).Key matchup: Washington RB Clinton Portis vs. Philadelphia run defense. Giving the ball to Portis has been paying dividends. He's gained at least 100 yards in each of the past four games, wins at St. Louis and at Arizona, and at home against NFC East rivals Dallas and New York. Though Washington is unsure who will start at quarterback -- Mark Brunell or Patrick Ramsey -- the Eagles can be certain they'll see a lot of Portis.
ST. LOUIS (5-10) at DALLAS (9-6)
Time: 8:30 p.m.Key matchup: Dallas PK Sean Suisham vs. St. Louis PK Jeff Wilkins. Dallas released kicker Billy Cundiff after he was 1-for-3 on field goals the last two weeks and re-signed Suisham, who appeared in Weeks 8 and 10. Suisham is 2-for-2, both inside the 30-yard line.
Associated Press