Only in the AFC Central Division is there a tie for first place. The Oilers and Steelers are both 4-2. Elsewhere, division leaders will stay leaders no matter what happens this weekend.
Playoff teams are beginning to emerge as the halfway point approaches.
In the NFC, it will be hard to catch the Cowboys, Eagles, Redskins, Vikings, 49ers and Saints.
In the AFC, the Dolphins, Bills, Oilers, Broncos and Chiefs already look like locks, with the Steelers, Raiders and Browns vying for the sixth spot.
There are few surprises and the season isn`t half done. Last year`s playoff surprises-the Lions, Jets and Falcons-have fallen flat on their faces, a combined 4-15. No substitute surprises have emerged.
Games of the week
Redskins (4-2) at Vikings (5-1)
To demonstrate the respect the NFC East enjoys, the Redskins are slight favorites to beat the Vikings in the Metrodome. That means the Vikings have a chance to convince outsiders they are for real. New coach Dennis Green hired offensive coordinator Jack Burns from the Redskins, and the offense resembles Washington`s one-back sets. Noon.
Cowboys (5-1) at Raiders (3-4)
The Cowboys have enjoyed the comfort of home in four of their first six games. The Raiders have won three in a row and still are mired in third place in the AFC West. This marks the first week the Cowboys have been alone in first place in the NFC East since 1985. 3 p.m.
Colts (3-3) at Dolphins (6-0)
In the next three weeks, the Dolphins get the Colts twice sandwiched around the Jets. That gives the Dolphins a fair shot at 9-0 and more talk about another unbeaten season. 3 p.m. Ch. 5.
Steelers (4-2) at Chiefs (4-3)
Kansas City coach Marty Schottenheimer gave Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher his first shot in the business. Cowher says the game won`t mean anything special, proving he has learned how to mask his feelings very early in his career. 6:30 p.m. TNT.
Games worth a peek
Bears (3-3) at Packers (2-4)
Two games behind the Vikings and one behind in the NFC playoff picture, the Bears don`t have any leeway for an upset. The Packers, on the other hand, have nothing to lose. Coach Mike Holmgren still is looking for his first NFC Central victory. Brett Favre is the new Don Majkowski. Noon. Ch. 2.
Bengals (2-4) at Oilers (4-2)
The Bengals are 2-4 going on 2-14. The Oilers already got surprised at home by Pittsburgh, so they are in second place in the AFC Central on the tiebreaker. Their schedule is too easy not to grab home field this time. Noon. Ch. 5.
Broncos (5-2) at Chargers (2-4)
Everybody says the Broncos are the worst 5-2 team in the league. It is strange that they are the only winning team that has been outscored (100-130). But if it`s close at the end, John Elway is having a banner year. 3 p.m.
Bills (4-2) at Jets (1-5)
Two losses in a row and one week off to think about them should be enough to rejuvenate the Bills. It may be too late for anything to help the Jets, whose main fear is the fires their fans started in Giants Stadium in a Monday night game against the Bills two years ago. 8 p.m. Monday. Ch. 7.
Games of the weak
Seahawks (1-6) at Giants (2-4)
It could be worse, but the Seahawks and Patriots aren`t scheduled this season. Seattle has scored 43 points in seven games. That`s two field goals a game with an extra point thrown in. Six kickers have outscored them. Yet they won`t be the team that is booed in Giants Stadium, where NBC commentator Bill Parcells will cover his first Giants game from the booth. Noon.
Cardinals (1-5) at Eagles (4-2)
Coming off two losses, the beat-up Eagles will welcome the Cardinals at the airport. Safeties Andre Waters and Wes Hopkins are out and the Eagles still are the day`s biggest favorites. Noon.
Lions (1-5) at Buccaneers (3-3)
”We know we have as good a chance as anybody-3-3 is a good spot for teams that eventually end up in the playoffs,” Tampa Bay`s Sam Wyche said. But after this week, the Bucs have New Orleans, Minnesota and the Bears on tap. The Bucs will play without rookie tight end Tyji Armstrong, whose mother died during the Bears-Bucs game last Sunday and was buried Saturday. Noon.
Browns (3-3) at Patriots (0-6)
The Browns shut out the Patriots last year, and if they do it again or hold the Pats without a touchdown, they will have played 17 quarters without giving up a touchdown. That would tie them for second on the all-time list with the 1988 Vikings and 1970 Cardinals. The 1976 Steelers went 22 quarters without giving up a touchdown. 3 p.m.
