SUNDAY, TIME, QUICK HIT
Minnesota at BEARS, Noon BEARS by 3
Vikes lead 47-39-2 including 21-20-2 in Chicago, but Bears have won last 3 at home. Preview on BACK PAGE.
Cleveland at Baltimore, Noon Balt by 6
Browns forced a turnover in league-high 17 straight gms; Ravens have worst TO margin in AFC with minus 9.
N.Y. Giants at Dallas, Noon Dal by 3
Dallas stopped Eagles’ offense; NYG QB Eli Manning is 4th in NFL with 97.8 rating–5 spots better than Payton.
Carolina at Detroit, Noon Det by 1
Key matchup will be Carolina rushing defense (82.8 ypg) vs. Detroit RB Kevin Jones (107 ypg, 4.8 per carry).
Washington at Kansas City, Noon KC by 6
Joe Gibbs, Dick Vermeil meet for 1st time since 11-28-1982; Gibbs leads 3-1 and needs 1 win for 150 career.
Atlanta at N. Orleans*, Noon Atl by 5 1/2
Who will fill Deuce’s shoes? NO QB Aaron Brooks better beware–Falcons have 18 sacks, 2nd best in the league.
Jacksonville at Pittsburgh, Noon Pitt by 3
Pitt WR Hines Ward may join QB Ben Roethlisberger on sidelines. Tommy Maddox replaces Big Ben as starter.
Miami at Tampa Bay, Noon TB by 4
Big story: RB Ricky Williams back from 4-week susp. and 1-year retirement; Miami is 1-9 in last 10 road games.
Cincinnati at Tennessee, Noon Cin by 3
Bengals’ sideline issues: WR Johnson (5 catches, 52 yds last wk) says QB Palmer didn’t get him enough touches.
N.Y. Jets at Buffalo, 3:15 Buf by 3
NYJ QB Vinny Testaverde went 13 of 19 for 163 yards, INT last week; has won 6 of last 8 starts against Buffalo.
New England at Denver, 3:15 Den by 3
New England is 22-1 vs. teams with winning record (Denver 4-1); Patriots play 4th road game of season.
San Diego at Oakland, 3:15 SD by 1 1/2
Chargers most efficient team in AFC inside opponent’s 20: 14 TDs, 4 FGs in 19 trips; Oakland: 5 TDs in 12 trips.
Houston vs. Seattle, 7:30 Sea by 9 1/2
Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck hasn’t thrown INT in 146 straight pass attempts; Texans only winless team in NFL.
*–in San Antonio
OFF: ARIZONA, GREEN BAY, PHILADELPHIA, SAN FRANCISCO
MONDAY
St. Louis at Indianapolis, 8 Ind by 13 1/2
Colts #1 in scoring def. (5.8 ppg), compiled NFL-high 20 sacks (LB Robert Mathis has 6); Rams won 42-17 in 2001.
