NFL PREVIEW Today’s games

CLEVELAND (9-5) at CINCINNATI (5-9)

Game time: 1 p.m.
Opening line: Browns by 2. Record vs. spread: Browns 11-3; Bengals 4-9-1.
Series record: Series tied 34-34 (Bengals lead 10-7 since 1999). Last meeting: Cleveland 51, Bengals 45, Sept. 16, 2007 at Cleveland.
Notebook: Upset? Earthtones can clinch first playoff berth since ’02 with a win or loss by Titans, but Bengals may be primed here for spoiler role. Cincy has won six of past nine in intrastate series including three in row at home. Clevers won 51-45 shootout in September, but are 3-4 on road, and with awful pass-D vs. Carson Palmer.

NEW YORK GIANTS (9-5) at BUFFALO (7-7)

Game time: 1 p.m.
Opening line: Giants by 3. Record vs. spread: Giants 8-6; Bills 9-5.
Series record: Bills lead series 6-4. Last meeting: Bills 24, Giants 7, Nov. 30, 2003 at New York.
Notebook: “AAWWK!” carols the Upset Bird. “Jingle bells, jingle baawwk, Trent Edwards all the way!” Emotion can’t always write a happy ending, witness Washington losing (to Buffalo, coincidentally) in ’Skins’ first game after Sean Taylor’s death. But emotion will help carry Buffs here as near-paralyzed Kevin Everett attends team’s home finale — walking. Bills will be sky-high. Beyond that, Williams are on 6-1 series run, and Biggies bring depleted offense and distraction of hosting Patriots next. “The partridge in the pear tree is my cousin,” notes U-Bird, apropos of nothing. “A gallinaceous game bird commonly known as a ruffed grouse. AAWWK!’

GREEN BAY (12-2) at CHICAGO (5-9)

Game time: 1 p.m.
Opening line: Packers by 8. Record vs. spread: Packers 11-2-1; Bears 5-9.
Series record: Bears lead series 89-79-6. Last meeting: Bears 27, Packers 20, Oct. 7, 2007 at Green Bay.
Notebook: Give the Hibernators a big upset shot at home. They’ve beaten Pack in four of past five meetings, including 27-20 in October, and they’ll bring a peck o’ wounded pride into this bitter rivalry. You know what, though? I’m done doubting Cheesers. They’re 16-2 since late last season and 6-1 on road. Besides: Brett Favre vs. Kyle Orton.

KANSAS CITY (4-10) at DETROIT (6-8)

Game time: 1 p.m.
Opening line: Lions by 5. Record vs. spread: Chiefs 5-8-1; Lions 6-7-1.
Series record: Chiefs lead series 7-3. Last meeting: Chiefs 45, Lions 17, Dec. 14, 2003 at Kansas City.
Notebook: Why the Dog tag? This game is one of only two this week in which both teams are mathematically, scientifically and theologically eliminated from playoff contention. And both stagger in with six-game losing streaks. Buddy, that’s a pure bred Dog! Give Injuns an upset shot (based mostly on the fact Lions stink), but think not because KC is mistake-prone and Detroit — for all its serious defensive putridity — leads NFC with 33 takeaways. Make it a venue call, but closer than the line. Oh, and we hereby challenge Chiefs coach Herm Edwards to come up with a new insult after recently apologizing for advising disappointed KC fans to “get over it.”

HOUSTON (7-7) at INDIANAPOLIS (12-2)

Game time: 1 p.m.
Opening line: Colts by 9. Record vs. spread: Texans 7-7; Colts 8-6.
Series record: Colts lead series 10-1. Last meeting: Colts 30, Texans 24, Sept. 23, 2007 at Houston.
Notebook: Fast fact: Colts, Pats, Pack and ’Boys are 50-6 (.892); season record for best-four marks is 55-9 (.859) in ’98. Indy is 10-1 in all-time series, but the line is modest with reason. Colts only beat Houston 30-24 early in season, and with first-round bye they have little to play for beyond not getting guys more hurt than they already are.

OAKLAND (4-10) at JACKSONVILLE (10-4)

Game time: 1 p.m.
Opening line: Jaguars by 13. Record vs. spread: Raiders 6-8; Jaguars 10-4.
Series record: Jaguars lead series 2-1. Last meeting: Jaguars 13, Raiders 6, Jan. 2, 2005 at Oakland.
Notebook: Jags, playing as well as any team in AFC lately, need win (or loss by Titans or Browns) to clinch playoff spot. J-villagers’ face letdown after big win over Pitt, but should dominate anyway. Fred Taylor, Maurice Jones-Drew and that big run offense vs. Oak’s 31st-ranked run-D may be Week 16’s single biggest mismatch.

PHILADELPHIA (6-8)
at NEW ORLEANS (7-7)

Game time: 1 p.m.
Opening line: Saints by 3. Record vs. spread: Eagles 7-7; Saints 6-8.
Series record: Eagles lead series 15-10. Last meeting: Saints 27, Eagles 24, NFC divisional playoff, Jan. 13, 2007 at New Orleans.
Notebook: N’Awlins must win out and then get some luck to claim final wild-card spot. Combine that greater need, venue and Phils facing a letdown after upsetting rival Dallas and make it a nervous call for Saints. Nervous because Birds have been better on road (4-3) than home, and present a strong secondary to hot Drew Brees.

ATLANTA (3-11) at ARIZONA (6-8)

Game time: 4:05 p.m.
Opening line: Cardinals by 101⁄2. Record vs. spread: Falcons 6-8; Cardinals 7-6-1.
Series record: Cardinals lead series 13-10. Last meeting: Falcons 32, Cardinals 10, Oct. 1, 2006 at Atlanta.
Notebook: All things considered, Falcons would edge Dolphins for the NFL Lousiest Year Cup. ’Lanta has won four straight in series including 32-10 last year, but forget that. Falcs have lost five in a row overall and are 1-6 on road, and ’Zona’s Kurt Warner is 6-1 in his career against Atlanta, with a fat 119.9 passer rating.

TAMPA BAY (9-5)
at SAN FRANCISCO (4-10)

Game time: 4:05 p.m.
Opening line: Buccaneers by 7. Record vs. spread: Buccaneers 9-5; 49ers 4-9-1.
Series record: 49ers lead series 14-4. Last meeting: 49ers 15, Buccaneers 10, Oct. 30, 2005 at San Francisco.

Another of these situations that confound the prognostication process: Tampa has clinched its division and cannot clinch more, so how long will its starters play? How long will Jeff Garcia go in first meeting with longtime ex-team? Plus, Niners are 14-3 in all-time series with seven straight W’s at home. A game to avoid or play close.

MIAMI (1-13) at NEW ENGLAND (14-0)

Game time: 1 p.m.
Opening line: Patriots by 23. Record vs. spread: Dolphins 4-8-2; Patriots 10-4.
Series record: Dolphins leads series 48-36. Last meeting: Patriots 49, Dolphins 28, Oct. 21, 2007 at Miami.
Notebook: In a stunning flurry, newly hired Dolphins VP of savior operations Bill “Big Tuna” Parcells leaves his stadium suite in fourth quarter, scissors through the sleet down onto the field, grabs the headset from Cam Cameron and dramatically geniuses Miami past the Patriots — valiantly preserving the distinction of Miami’s 1972 Perfect Season — in the biggest NFL upset in decades! No? OK. Back to reality: Pats plow routinely to an unprecedented 15-0 and Dolphs’ one-game win streak hits wall. The good news? Wintry conditions (high 30s, chance of rain) will deter Tom Brady more than Miami’s defense, serving to keep the score down and help Dolphins cover the point spread.

BALTIMORE (4-10) at SEATTLE (9-5)

Game time: 4:15 p.m.
Opening line: OFF. Record vs. spread: Ravens 2-12; Seahawks 8-5-1.
Series record: Ravens lead series 2-0. Last meeting: Ravens 44, Seahawks 41 in OT, Nov. 23, 2003 at Baltimore.
Notebook: Game stayed off bet-board because Kyle Boller’s concussion put Ravens rook Troy Smith on standby for first start. Seattle has clinched its division and hasn’t more to gain here, so you wonder about effort. Still, imagine what Matt Hasselbeck will do to a Crows secondary that made a 315-yard player of the week of Cleo Lemon.

NEW YORK JETS (3-11) at TENNESSEE (8-6)

Game time: 4:15 p.m.
Opening line: Titans by 91⁄2. Record vs. spread: Jets 5-8-1; Titans 7-7.
Series record: Titans lead series 21-15-1. Last meeting: Jets 23, Titans 16, Sept. 10, 2006 at Tennessee.
Notebook: Any old-timers recall that Jets’ original franchise name was Titans? Anyway, this is huge game for Tennessee, which needs wins and luck for AFC wild-card ticket. Like Titans’ ground game vs. Planes’ run-D, but see score close. NYJ has won three straight in series, and Chad Pennington is better, right now, than Kellen Clemens.

WASHINGTON (7-7) at MINNESOTA (8-6)

Game time: 8:15 p.m.
Opening line: Vikings by 61⁄2. Record vs. spread: Redskins 5-7-2; Vikings 7-5-2.
Series record: Redskins lead series 10-8. Last meeting: Vikings 19, Redskins 16, Sept. 11, 2006 at Washington.

Notebook: Weak week for Game of the Week, underlined by startling fact no game this week — not one! — matches two teams with winning records. This prime-time show plays huge in NFC playoff chase, with Vikes and ’Skins currently sixth and seventh in hunt for six spots. Minny has averaged 31.8 points in its five-game win streak; too much offense for Washers to overcome. Purples’ great run-stoppage led by Pro Bowl DTs Kevin and Pat Williams will erase Clinton Portis and force unearthed mummy Todd Collins to win with his arm. Uh oh. Twin Cities celebrate first playoff team since 2004, build 80-foot snowman in likeness of Adrian Peterson.

Wire reports