With Sunday’s Rams-New York Jets game limited...

With Sunday’s Rams-New York Jets game limited to Channel 36 in Palm Springs and Channel 39 in San Diego, most Southland professional football fans will be turning their attention to the Raiders’ quest to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 1985.

Needing wins in their final two games to be assured of a wild-card playoff berth, the Raiders (8-6) face the Seattle Seahawks Sunday at 5 p.m. on Channel 11 and ESPN. The Raiders’ task may not be an easy one. They have lost six of their last seven games in Seattle’s Kingdome and are 1-5 on the road.

Ram fans may be spared from seeing one of their tormentors from Monday night’s 30-27 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Joe Montana, who threw for a career-high 458 yards against the Rams, is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills (1 p.m., Channel 4) because of bruised ribs. If Montana is unable to play, Steve Young will start in his place.

The NFL also begins its Saturday regular season action today with two games figuring to be mismatches. The New York Giants (10-4) play host to the Dallas Cowboys (1-13) at 9:30 a.m. on Channels 2 and 8, while the Denver Broncos (10-4) visit the Phoenix Cardinals (5-9) at 1 p.m. on Channels 4, 36 and 39.

In college basketball, today’s eight-game schedule is highlighted by the 1 p.m. contest between No. 5 Illinois and Temple on Channels 7, 3, 10 and 42. Of games involving area teams, Pepperdine has a 4 p.m. SportsChannel date against Kansas, while San Diego State takes on UC Irvine at 7:30 p.m. on Prime Ticket. On Sunday, Prime Ticket telecasts the UCLA-Notre Dame contest at 1 p.m.