GAME OF THE WEEK

SAN DIEGO (4-1) at DENVER (4-1)

* KICKOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m., Channel 4

* STORYLINE: There is a three-way tie for command of the AFC West among the Chargers, Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs, leaving the Seattle Seahawks and Oakland Raiders behind to contemplate yet another rebuilding year. San Diego is coming off an emotional win over Kansas City, and Denver continues to confound the experts with success via its running game and defense. Denver has the No. 1 offense, despite nothing impressive from quarterback John Elway, and San Diego has the No. 30 defense with an impressive Junior Seau.

* CHARGER UPDATE: The team survived the loss of cornerback Dwayne Harper the last two weeks because of a hamstring injury and now gets him back to shadow Denver’s Anthony Miller.

* BRONCO UPDATE: Fullback Aaron Craver, who has helped free Terrell Davis with his blocking, will try to play with a partially torn posterior cruciate knee ligament. Starting guard Mark Schlereth is limping on a sore ankle and starting tackle Gary Zimmerman has a torn shoulder muscle, but will play.

* EDGE TO DENVER: The Chargers choked against the Green Bay Packers, so they should be left gasping by Mile High’s thin air.

* THE LINE: Denver by 3 1/2.

KEY GAMES

CAROLINA (3-1) at MINNESOTA (4-1)

* KICKOFF: Sunday, 10 a.m.

* STORYLINE: This looked like the game of the week until both teams suffered their first losses, and now the Panthers must prove their three-game win streak was no fluke. Minnesota has won its last six home games, and there’s no reason to believe it can’t run that streak to seven.

* PANTHER UPDATE: Running back Tim Biakabutuka is out for the season because of a knee injury and will be replaced by recently signed Leroy Hoard, who couldn’t gain ground in Baltimore. Kerry Collins, coming off a knee injury, starts at quarterback. Coach Dom Capers also has rearranged three of his offensive lineman after a shoddy performance against Jacksonville. Right tackle Blake Brockemeyer switches positions with left tackle Mark Dennis and Matt Elliott replaces the injured Frank Garcia at left guard.

* VIKING UPDATE: Warren Moon needs 145 passing yards to move past Dan Fouts into third place on the NFL’s all-time list, and wide receiver Cris Carter needs one more catch to become the 14th player to have 600 receptions. They each should be taking a bow by halftime. Minnesota also leads the NFC and are second in the league with 19 sacks, including 12 in the last two games. Defensive tackle John Randle is second in the league with 6 1/2.

* EDGE TO MINNESOTA: The Panthers simply can’t be that good.

* THE LINE: Minnesota by 6.

*

GREEN BAY (4-1) at CHICAGO (2-3)

* KICKOFF: Sunday, 10 a.m.

* STORYLINE: The Packers have won four in a row over the Bears, are averaging 33 points a game against all opponents this season and get a Chicago team without starting quarterback Erik Kramer and averaging a little more than 14 points a game. Just how much does Green Bay want to win by?

* PACKER UPDATE: Running back Edgar Bennett has rushed for more than 100 yards five times in 69 games--three times against the Bears.

* BEAR UPDATE: How’s this for the most misleading stat of the week? Chicago starting quarterback Dave Krieg is 5-0 against the Bears.

* EDGE TO GREEN BAY: The Bears are no match for the Packers with Krieg at quarterback.

* THE LINE: Green Bay by 7 1/2.

*

INDIANAPOLIS (4-0) at BUFFALO (3-1)

* KICKOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m.

* STORYLINE: The Bills have defeated the Colts in 10 of their last 13 meetings, but Indianapolis has been touched by magic and gets Buffalo without starting quarterback Jim Kelly.

* COLT UPDATE: A week off has allowed them to get sound, most notably with the return of running back Marshall Faulk.

* BILL UPDATE: Buffalo will keep Kelly on the sideline because of a hamstring injury, and will start Todd Collins, who has a sore ankle, at quarterback.

* EDGE TO INDIANAPOLIS: It hasn’t started snowing yet, so the Bills, with Collins, can’t contend with the miracle Colts.

* THE LINE: Buffalo by 2.

*

PITTSBURGH (3-1) at KANSAS CITY (4-1)

* KICKOFF: Monday, 6 p.m., Channel 7.

* STORYLINE: This was supposed to be a replay of last year’s AFC championship game, but the Chiefs went to pieces during the playoffs, and the Steelers had to fight off the Colts to advance to the Super Bowl. Pittsburgh has what it takes to damage the Chiefs’ defense with reinvigorated running back Jerome Bettis, but if the game is on the line, does quarterback Mike Tomczak have what it takes to withstand the loud crowd and boisterous Monday night atmosphere in Arrowhead Stadium? No.

* STEELER UPDATE: Pittsburgh is 8-1 on Monday night TV with Bill Cowher as head coach. So after the game, Pittsburgh will be 8-2 on Monday night TV with Bill Cowher as head coach.

* CHIEF UPDATE: Linebacker Tracy Rogers is recovering from thumb surgery and will probably sit out the game, giving Bettis even a better chance to star.

* EDGE TO KANSAS CITY: The Chiefs have won 12 in a row at home.

* THE LINE: Kansas City by 4.

THE LINE ON THE REST

San Diego plus 3 1/2 at Denver

N. England minus 2 at Baltimore

Seattle plus 7 1/2 at Miami

Green Bay minus 8 at Chicago

Atlanta plus 10 at Detroit

Oakland minus 3 1/2 at N.Y. Jets

Carolina plus 6 at Minnesota

S.F. minus 10 1/2 at St. Louis

Indianapolis plus 2 at Buffalo

Jacksonville plus 2 at N. Orleans

Houston plus 1 at Cincinnati