THE KEY GAMES IN THE NFL

MIAMI (4-2) at PHILADELPHIA (4-2)

* KICKOFF: Sunday, 10 a.m., Channel 4.

* STORYLINE: Will Jimmy Johnson be looking past the Eagles to next week’s game against Dallas, his former team? Maybe, but he won’t be playing, and his players don’t care about the Cowboys--only about pleasing Johnson, who cuts folks who don’t play well. The Eagles won with Ty Detmer at quarterback, but they were playing the Giants.

* DOLPHIN UPDATE: Dan Marino has returned to practice after breaking his right ankle, but there’s only a 50% chance he will be ready to play this week.

* EAGLE UPDATE: The Dolphins have a five-game winning streak over the Eagles but have not faced a Ray Rhodes-coached team.

* EDGE TO: The team with the best running game on this day.

* THE LINE: Philadelphia by 3.

KEY GAMES

PITTSBURGH (5-1) at HOUSTON (4-2)

* KICKOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m.

* STORYLINE: The Steelers mauled the Oilers earlier this season, 30-16, in a game that also featured an all-out brawl ignited by Pittsburgh quarterback Mike Tomczak. Fight or no fight, the Steelers have won the last five games in the series and are on a five-game winning streak this season.

* STEELER UPDATE: Pittsburgh running back Jerome Bettis has topped the 100-yard mark in five consecutive games. The Steelers, who have been savaged by injuries the last few years, have lost starting right guard Brenden Stai for the next month because of an elbow injury.

* OILER UPDATE: Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George had the third 100-yard game of his rookie year.

* EDGE TO PITTSBURGH: If the groin injury suffered by Houston quarterback Chris Chandler forces little-used Steve McNair to start.

* THE LINE: Pittsburgh by 1 1/2.

*

OAKLAND (3-4) at SAN DIEGO (4-2)

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

* STORYLINE: The Chargers are coming off a bye and a depressing loss to the Broncos. The Raiders have found a renewed hope with successive victories. The Chargers have a two-game winning streak over the Raiders but must hope the Monday night atmosphere can make up for a lack of running game and a defense, which ranks No. 30.

* RAIDER UPDATE: Suspended defensive end Anthony Smith will not be reinstated for the Charger game.

* CHARGER UPDATE: Starting center Courtney Hall, because of shoulder and knee injuries, and cornerback Dwayne Harper, because of a hamstring injury, two key figures in the team’s lineup, will not play.

* EDGE TO SAN DIEGO: If the Chargers can keep the Raider defensive line from planting quarterback Stan Humphries into the San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium turf.

* THE LINE: San Diego by 3 1/2.

*

NEW ENGLAND (3-3) at INDIANAPOLIS (5-1)

* KICKOFF: Sunday, 10 a.m.

* STORYLINE: The Colts continue to play tough despite a number of bumps and bruises. Six of the last eight games between these rivals have been decided by six points or fewer.

* PATRIOT UPDATE: Keith Byars signed with New England and will be switched back to fullback from the tight end role he filled with the Dolphins.

* COLT UPDATE: Quarterback Jim Harbaugh, who has been sacked 20 times this season, had to check into a hospital last week to let his body rest. He will be starting, but the Patriots aren’t much of a threat.

* EDGE TO INDIANAPOLIS: The Colts have a 10-3 mark against AFC East opponents.

* THE LINE: Indianapolis by 3 1/2.

DOG GAMES

TAMPA BAY (1-5) at ARIZONA (2-4)

* KICKOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m.

* STORYLINE: The Cardinals probably circled this game when the schedule came out thinking this might be their only win, but Arizona has already exceeded expectations. So have the Buccaneers.

* BUCCANEER UPDATE: An item for Ripley’s “Believe It or Not”: Trent Dilfer, who had one touchdown pass and 10 interceptions, threw three touchdown passes a week ago with no interceptions.

* CARDINAL UPDATE: The Battle of Crummy Quarterbacks--Dilfer against Kent Graham. Graham has five touchdown passes and one interception in his last three games.

* EDGE TO ARIZONA: Tampa has won only three of its last 15 games.

* THE LINE: Arizona by 3.

*

JACKSONVILLE (3-4) at ST. LOUIS (1-5)

* KICKOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m.

* STORYLINE: The Rams have gone 4-14 since a 4-0 start last season, and how long before St. Louis asks for ticket refunds? How long before Coach Rich Brooks and General Manager Steve Ortmayer are asked to consider new lines of work? Maybe Monday morning.

* JAGUAR UPDATE: The Rams had the chance to trade for quarterback Mark Brunell two years ago but let him get away, and now he has become one of the rising stars in the game for Jacksonville. The Jaguars are the league’s most-penalized team. “We’re trying like heck to get these things out of our system and not be involved with what I call the energy-sappers, the momentum-beaters,” Coach Tom Coughlin said. “Obviously, we’re not there.”

* RAM UPDATE: Quarterback Tony Banks left last week’s game because of an elbow injury, but he’s expected to be back for another beating this week.

* EDGE TO ST. LOUIS: The Rams have 28 more years remaining on their lease, and how uncomfortable will it be if the losing continues?

* THE LINE: Jacksonville by 2.

THE LINE ON THE REST

Atlanta plus 15 at Dallas

N.Y. Giants plus 7 1/2

at Washington

New Orleans plus 7 at Carolina

Baltimore plus 10 1/2 at Denver

Cincinnati plus 14 1/2

at San Francisco

N.Y. Jets plus 7 at Buffalo