NFL PREVIEW | Today's games

DETROIT at CLEVELAND
Time: 1 p.m.TV/radio: (17/62) WKBN-AM (570)Key matchup: Detroit QBs vs. Cleveland pass defense. One day after Detroit lost 21-20 to Carolina, a game in which defense scored both Lions touchdowns, coach Steve Mariucci did not rule out starting Jeff Garcia or Dan Orlovsky this week. Garcia would be obvious candidate to replace Harrington -- Orlovsky has never taken regular-season snap -- but he is still recovering from preseason broken leg. Doctors cleared Garcia to play this week. After throwing for less than 100 yards in win over Baltimore, Joey Harrington was 17-for-28 for 201 yards -- 86 on one pass to Marcus Pollard -- against Panthers, but turned over ball three times. Cleveland has allowed only 318 yards passing over last two games.Streaks, stats and notes: Detroit has 10 INTs, tied for third in the NFL. ... WR Kevin Johnson, who played with Cleveland 1999-2003, leads Lions with 17 receptions (133 yards). ... Last week, Lions returned two interceptions for scores -- LB Boss Bailey and S Kenoy Kennedy -- for first time since 1976. ... Cleveland has only eight trips inside opponents' 20 and has come away with just one TD. ... QB Trent Dilfer is 36-17 as starter at home. ... Last week, offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon didn't send in running play until second quarter. ... S Michael Jameson had contract terminated, one week after finishing four-game NFL suspension for violating league's substance abuse policy.
PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI
Time: 1 p.m.TV/radio: (27) WBBG-FM (106.1)Key matchup: Quarterbacks. A meeting of top two passers and two of youngest in NFL. Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger leads league with passer rating of 123.8, the only starting quarterback who has yet to throw interception. Cincinnati's Carson Palmer is second at 113.6, with 13 touchdowns and only two interceptions. He has completed league-best 72.6 percent of passes, a remarkable figure for second-year starter. Roethlisberger returns after sitting out last Sunday with hyperextended left knee.Streaks, stats and notes: Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher is 19-7 against Cincinnati. ... Steelers have won eight of last 10 meetings with Bengals. ... Steelers aren't certain whether Pro Bowl receiver Hines Ward (hamstring) will play after sitting out a game for first time in his eight-year career last week. ... A win would give Steelers 10-game road win streak, longest in team history. ... Steelers were last team to hold Palmer under 100.0 passer rating. ... Cincinnati leads NFL with 21 takeaways and plus-16 turnover differential. ... Palmer has tied Peyton Manning's NFL record with nine straight game with passer rating of 100 or above. ... K Shayne Graham leads AFC kickers with 53 points. ... Bengals lead AFC in offense with 381.7 average. ... Chad Johnson leads AFC with 39 receptions (561 yards, 5 TDs). ... If Bengals beat Steelers, they'll be only team in division with winning record.
INDIANAPOLIS at HOUSTON
Time: 1 p.m.Key matchup: Houston QB David Carr vs. Indianapolis defensive line. Defensive ends Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney anchor Colts line that has compiled league-leading 21 sacks. Mathis is tied for NFL lead with seven and Freeney, who had NFL-best 16 in 2004, has five. Seattle sacked Carr three times; he has been dumped 30 times through six games. He's on pace to break his own single-season NFL record of 76 from rookie season of 2002. Last week, Texans lost starting guard Zach Wiegert. That left Houston with three new first-teamers on its offensive line.
NEW ORLEANS at ST. LOUIS
Time: 1 p.m.Key matchup: New Orleans RBs Antowain Smith and Aaron Stecker vs. St. Louis defensive line. Last week, Deuce McAllister's playing time was split between Stecker and Smith. Smith rushed for 88 yards (7.3 per carry). His two TDs rushing for New Orleans were his first since 2001. Stecker rushed for personal season-high 86 yards as Saints had season-high 211 yards on ground. Rams have allowed a combined 126 points last three weeks.
SAN FRANCISCO at WASHINGTON
Time: 1 p.m.Key matchup: San Francisco kickoff/punt coverage teams vs. Washington returners. 49ers have held opponents to NFL-low 17.5 kick return average. Washington's offense this season has had too far to go when it gets ball because defense can't take it away and returns teams are average. Washington has 6.7 punt return average and a 22.2 kickoff return average. Redskins' best starting field position in 11 drives last Sunday was own 33. Of Washington's 54 drives this season, only three have started in opponent's territory.
SAN DIEGO at PHILADELPHIA
Time: 1 p.m.Key matchup: San Diego RB LaDainian Tomlinson vs. Philadelphia RB Brian Westbrook. Two of most versatile backs in league square off. Tomlinson leads NFL with 11 TDs (10 rushing). He is first player in NFL history to have at least 10 TDs rushing in each of his first five seasons. He can break Lenny Moore's NFL record of scoring TD in 18 straight games with one this week. Tomlinson is 4-for-5 with three TD passes in his career. Last week he became first player to pull off the touchdown trifecta -- running, catching and throwing for score in one game -- since David Patten did it for New England in 2001. Westbrook is only NFL player with 10 first downs rushing (11) and receiving (14). He leads NFL running backs with 292 yards receiving (25 catches) and three touchdowns.
GREEN BAY at MINNESOTA
Time: 1 p.m.Key matchup: Green Bay QB Brett Favre vs. the Metrodome. Favre has career record of 136-74 and is 13-12 lifetime against Vikings. However, he is 4-9 at Metrodome. He has won his last two appearances there. He comes into game with wide receivers and running backs banged up. Favre has thrown league-leading 12 touchdown passes. Patchwork Packers are trying to join 1992 San Diego Chargers as only teams to overcome 0-4 start to make postseason.
DALLAS at SEATTLE
Time: 4:05 p.m.Key matchup: Dallas offensive line vs. Seattle defensive front seven. Dallas suffered major blow with season loss of left tackle Flozell Adams (knee). Offensive line has been big reason for success of quarterback Drew Bledsoe. Bledsoe's blind side will now be protected by Torrin Tucker. Tucker lost his job as starting right tackle in training camp to sixth-round pick. Seattle linebackers Lofa Tatupu and LeRoy Hill are only rookie tandem in NFL with two sacks apiece. Rocky Bernard is second among NFL defensive tackles with 4 1/2 sacks.
BALTIMORE at CHICAGO
Time: 4:15 p.m.TV: (27)Key matchup: Placekickers. A battle of No. 2 and No. 3 defenses in NFL. Each team allowed only a field goal last week. Minnesota settled for one field goal on three trips inside Bears 20 and Chicago has NFL's best defense inside the 20, allowing one TD and four FGs in 12 trips. Baltimore has allowed only five touchdowns in 10 trips inside its 20. Baltimore's Matt Stover has 27 points and is 7-of-10 on field goals. Chicago cut veteran K Doug Brien and replaced him with Robbie Gould for last week's game. Gould didn't have any field goal attempts last week and is 1-of-2 on season.
DENVER at NEW YORK GIANTS
Time: 4:15 p.m.Radio: WBBW-AM (1240)Key matchup: Denver secondary vs. QB Eli Manning. Denver's young secondary -- missing injured Champ Bailey for most of second half -- allowed Tom Brady and Patriots to pull within 28-20 late after leading by 25. Denver allows 245 yards per game in air. Manning in five games has thrown 10 touchdowns with only three interceptions. His 92 passer rating is fourth best in NFC. Giants have relied this season on passing attack that has consistently produced big plays.
TENNESSEE at ARIZONA
Time: 4:15 p.m.Key matchup: Tennessee defensive line vs. Arizona QBs Josh McCown and Kurt Warner. Tennessee's 18 sacks ties for fourth in NFL. DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, a former Cardinal (2001-04), is second in league with 6 1/2 sacks. Arizona coach Dennis Green won't make his choice of who will start public until shortly before Sunday's kickoff. Warner started first three games, but has been sidelined by groin strain. In Warner's absence, McCown threw for career highs of 385 yards in victory over San Francisco and 398 in home loss to Carolina. Off week gave Warner added time for rehabilitation, and he was taking some snaps with first unit this week. All seven of Green's victories (7-14) since coming to Cardinals have come with McCown at quarterback.
BUFFALO at OAKLAND
Time: 4:15 p.m.Key matchup: Buffalo pass defense vs. QB Kerry Collins. Buffalo has No. 1 defense against pass (136.8 yards) in NFL. Collins is third in AFC with 1,383 yards passing. He has six touchdowns and one interception on season. Receiver Randy Moss is unlikely to play after sustaining bruised ribs, strained groin and bruised pelvic area in hard fall while trying to make leaping catch vs. Chargers. Moss had no catches in game for just third time in career. Brought in from Minnesota to add big-play element to Oakland's offense, Moss has just 19 catches for 466 yards and two touchdowns through five games. Jerry Porter likely will pick up more of offensive load and TE Courtney Anderson could play bigger role.
Associated Press