GAMES AT A GLANCE : INTERCONFERENCE

San Francisco at Kansas City

Time: 10 a.m.

Only one thing could make this game more appealing: Playing it in San Francisco. It should be all that is expected, but the 49ers have the potential to dominate. Much depends on how well Joe Montana can keep his former defense off balance. That defense has some new looks that looked mean Monday night: Ken Norton Jr., Richard Dent and Rickey Jackson. Also, the Chiefs can be had through the air. Chief Coach Marty Schottenheimer has never beaten the 49ers. But with Marcus Allen and Montana, he has a team that can rise to the occasion.

Miami vs. Green Bay

Time: 10 a.m.

Dan Marino will get a better test against the Packers at Milwaukee. His five touchdown passes in a comeback victory over the Patriots shouldn’t be taken lightly, but the Patriots don’t have anyone like the Packers’ Reggie White or Sean Jones. Look for Miami to run traps and delays that were effective in the exhibition game between these teams. The Packers do have injuries on defense which Marino will try to exploit. Brett Favre can be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFC when he has time to throw. He probably will. Miami’s defense will be better on a dry field, but it still will be another high-scoring game. That’s why Miami is pursuing Deion Sanders and Vaughan Johnson--a former Pro Bowl linebacker with the Saints.

Houston at Dallas

Time: 1 p.m.

Maybe some Texas pride can save the Oilers in this one, but don’t count on it. The Cowboys devoured the Steelers last week. The Oilers were run over by Marshall Faulk and the Colts. If they couldn’t stop Faulk, how are they going to stop Emmitt Smith? Of course nobody has really solved that. The Oilers have plenty of questions that won’t be answered today. Oiler quarterback Cody Carlson is listed as questionable because of a sore shoulder. In a sense, that could be true of the whole offense. Houston’s three turnovers turned into three touchdowns for the Colts. If Carlson can’t play, Bucky Richardson will step in. Who is Bucky Richardson? Exactly.

Indianapolis at Tampa Bay

Time: 10 a.m.

Marshall Faulk left. Marshall Faulk right. If something works, you go with it. Last week the Colts went with Faulk’s 143 yards and three touchdowns and humiliated the Oilers. Faulk’s running allowed quarterback Jim Harbaugh to be effective--he completed nine of 12 passes with three touchdowns. The Buccaneers need to develop consistency. The Buccaneers’ offense has proven big-play quality, but it had only three field goals against the Bears. The defense has great potential but needs to gel with seven new starters. Faulk was a blur to Houston on the artificial turf, and he could be slowed on the Tampa grass--especially if rain makes the field slick.

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

Denver at N.Y. Jets

Time: 1 p.m.

The Jets were impressive in their victory over Buffalo last week. The defense shut down a good offense and the offense put together time-consuming drives. It was quite a contrast to last year’s no-huddle offense and an injury-plagued defense. The Broncos proved they can score fast and often, but can they keep a lead? Not yet. Still, as long as John Elway is in the game and there is time on the clock, the other team’s lead isn’t safe either. Shannon Sharpe, who caught nine passes for 97 yards and a touchdown, will miss the game because of a knee injury. For the Jets, running back Brad Baxter has an injured foot and could miss up to three weeks.

Buffalo at new England

Time: 10 a.m.

This game should tell if the Bills have really slipped. Chances are they will bounce back if only because it seems impossible that Thurman Thomas can be held to five yards (in seven carries) again. Jim Kelly might not have the same kind of day that Marino did against the Patriots, but he will see their cracks on the film. Drew Bledsoe looked positively Marino-esque against the Dolphins, but it’s hard to imagine Coach Bill Parcells not trying to establish more of a running game this week.

Pittsburgh at Cleveland

Time: 10 a.m.

In the Steelers’ last trip to Cleveland, Eric Metcalf returned two punts for touchdowns to lead the Browns to victory. Last week, Metcalf was at it again, returning one for a touchdown as the Browns beat the Bengals. There might not be a more exciting running back in the game. Pittsburgh’s defense was toyed with by the Cowboys last week. Not many teams could have stopped the Cowboys that day, so expect a rebound of sorts. On offense, the Steelers need to get the ball to their big guys: Barry Foster and Eric Green.

Cincinnati at San Diego

Time: 1 p.m.

The Bengals’ defense might keep them in a few games. Rookie tackle Dan Wilkinson had only two tackles, but drew enough attention to free up others. The Bengals’ offense is never all there. Quarterback David Klingler gets hit too often and does not hit his receivers enough. Despite quality backs, the Bengals do not have a reliable running game. After spotting Denver an 18-point halftime lead, the Chargers bolted back to win the game. Stan Humphries led the charge with three touchdown passes and Natrone Means pounded out 96 yards rushing. Linebacker Junior Seau is San Diego’s defense.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Detroit at Minnesota

Time: 10 a.m.

The Vikings’ offense was a big disappointment against the Packers last week. Warren Moon watched two of his passes go off the hands of receivers for interceptions and running back Terry Allen found little room to run in his return from a knee injury. The Lions’ formula of give-Barry-Sanders-the-ball-and-enjoy worked like a charm again. Sanders had 120 yards rushing. New quarterback Scott Mitchell looked good and former Viking receiver Anthony Carter caught two touchdown passes.

N.Y. Giants at Arizona

TV: TNT, 5 p.m.

Giant quarterback Dave Brown’s first start was solid enough, but this week he will face a defense specifically designed to stop the quarterback. The Rams beat the Cardinals by trying to run the ball, with marginal effectiveness. No doubt, the Giants will try to do that with Rodney Hampton and Dave Meggett, but both need room to run. The Cardinals’ offense didn’t do anything well against the Rams. Hey Buddy, maybe the run-and-shoot wasn’t so bad after all.

Washington at New Orleans

Time: 1 p.m.

Both teams should be able to fix their poor running games: The Redskins are 27th against the run in the NFL and the Saints 24th. The Redskins’ Reggie Brooks will find bigger holes despite an inconsistent offensive line. Derek Brown and Mario Bates should fare better for the Saints. John Friesz will again start at quarterback for Washington. New Orleans quarterback Jim Everett is regaining confidence and--with the help of Michael Haynes--showed he can move the offense when the running game fails. It could happen again.