THE OTHER NFL GAMES

GAME OF THE DAY

Indianapolis (8-7) at New Orleans (8-7), 10 a.m.

Go figure: An 8-7 team playing for nothing meeting one playing for everything. The Saints never recovered from a 1-4 start, though the emergence of quarterback John Fourcade has turned New Orleans into some kind of giant-killer. Or Eagle-killer and Giant-helper. They have no more at stake than they did in beating Philadelphia Monday night or Buffalo the week before, but the Saints apparently like the role of spoilers. For the third year in a row, Indianapolis faces a season finale it must win to make the playoffs. The Colts won the previous two, though they missed postseason play last year in agonizing fashion--sitting victorious in a locker room while Cleveland rallied to beat Houston to lock out the Colts. There’s no such problem this year. If Eric Dickerson runs well enough today, Indianapolis is a playoff team as a wild card. INTERCONFERENCE GAMES

Pittsburgh (8-7) at Tampa Bay (5-10), 10 a.m.

The Steelers entered the season with quarterback Bubby Brister brashly predicting playoff potential, then opened it by being beaten, 51-0, by Cleveland, but can close it with a winning record and a near-miss at making the playoffs. The Buccaneers are battered, and among the more beaten up is quarterback Vinny Testaverde, who will be replaced by ancient Joe Ferguson. Pittsburgh’s defense has given up 10 points in the last two weeks.

AFC GAMES

Kansas City (7-7-1) at Miami (8-7), 10 a.m.

As the weekend began, this was a game between teams with playoff prospects. Kansas City’s tenuous bid for a spot was aborted Saturday when Buffalo and Cleveland won. Miami lost its possibility when the Browns beat Houston. What is left is two teams trying to finish with a winning season. The key is Miami quarterback Dan Marino’s passing against the AFC’s best secondary. Three weeks ago in Kansas City, he threw three touchdown passes after missing practice all week. “Is he practicing this week?” asked Chief Coach Marty Schottenheimer, who took his club to Vero Beach, Fla., to prepare. Marino’s lot is enhanced by Deron Cherry’s absence from the Chief secondary because of an injury.

Denver (11-4) at San Diego (5-10), 1 p.m.

This is a warm-up for the Broncos, who will take a week off afterward, before going into the playoff business. San Diego’s future apparently is emerging with Marion Butts, who followed a 72-yard day in his first start against Washington with a 176-yard performance against Kansas City. And quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver is keeping Jim McMahon on the bench. Denver’s attack has turned into a coach’s delight--a near 50-50 proposition, with John Elway averaging 29 passes a game and Bobby Humphrey averaging 25 carries. Elway has passed for more than 3,000 yards for the fifth consecutive year, and rookie Humphrey is averaging 97 yards for each of the last seven games.

NFC GAMES

Chicago (6-9) at San Francisco (13-2), 1 p.m.

TV: Channel 2.

Harken back to early September, a pro football eon ago, and consider this game in light of television bombast: “A Preview of the NFC Championship Game.” It is best left to Bear Coach Mike Ditka to assess the game in present terms: “I never thought it would be this meaningless.” That’s because the Bears are 2-9 since losing defensive end Dan Hampton and his impact on the pass rush. A question today is how long 49er quarterback Joe Montana will play, and he will because he didn’t last week--Steve Young did in a 21-10 victory over Buffalo--and he won’t next week because the 49ers have won the NFC West.

Phoenix (5-10) at Philadelphia (10-5), 10 a.m.

Philadelphia’s lot is simple: Win and hope that the Raiders beat the Giants. That makes the Eagles the NFC East champion. If the Giants beat the Raiders and Philadelphia wins, it is a wild-card playoff team. If the Eagles lose and Minnesota and Green Bay win, Philadelphia will have gone from NFC East leader to out of the playoffs in 13 days. “I like the Raiders,” said Eagle Coach Buddy Ryan, making his rooting interests known. “They’re the same kind of team we are, physical.” Phoenix is 0-4 since firing Coach Gene Stallings because he was 5-6.

Detroit (6-9) at Atlanta (3-12), 10 a.m.

This is the only game in which neither team has an eye toward the playoffs. Detroit’s incentive is its fifth straight victory, and since the Lions haven’t done that in 19 years, it may be incentive enough. Former Glendale College quarterback Bob Gagliano is likely to start for the Lions with Rodney Peete ailing. Atlanta’s incentive is getting the season over with and finding a new coach.

Green Bay (9-6) at Dallas (1-14), 10 a.m.

The Packers had three players--receiver Sterling Sharpe, quarterback Don Majkowski and linebacker Tim Harris--make the Pro Bowl, an indication of how far the franchise has come. Previously, no one had been selected since 1985. A Green Bay victory today and a Viking loss Monday night gives the Packers the NFC Central title. Green Bay also can get a wild-card spot with a combination of several unlikely events. Against Dallas, Green Bay faces Troy Aikman, whom it coveted in the draft. The Packers won their final two games a year ago--a situation that drew mixed reaction from fans--and lost the No. 1 choice to Dallas. Faced with making do with what it had, Green Bay turned to Majkowski, who has passed for 4,086 yards and 25 touchdowns. His play caused Bear center Jay Hilgenberg to wax enthusiastic, if hyperbolic: “That guy is unbelievable. He looks like a young Joe Montana, except a better athlete.”

MONDAY NIGHT

Cincinnati (8-7) at Minnesota (9-6)

TV: Channel 7, 6 p.m.

ABC got half of its Christmas wish when Cleveland beat Houston Saturday. The other half comes if Green Bay beats Dallas today, as expected. The combination of the two events would mean both Cincinnati and Minnesota need this victory to keep playing awhile longer. If both happen, this could be a wild one. The Bengals’ Boomer Esiason is coming off a four-touchdown performance in a controversial 61-7 victory over Houston. Minnesota was beaten up in its overtime loss to Cleveland, with linebacker Mike Merriweather the most battered.

NOTE: All times Pacific. Standings, C15.