GAME OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (4-3) at MIAMI (4-3)

* KICKOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m., Channel 11.

* STORYLINE: Just another game if you believe Jimmy, Barry and Jerry. Ask yourself, should you believe anything Jimmy, Barry and Jerry have to say? Barry Switzer has to win because he has Jerry Jones to please. Jimmy Johnson has to win because he has his own ego to massage. And Jerry Jones has to win because his reputation rests on who’s better, Barry or Jimmy. Barry has a 5-3 edge on Jimmy in college confrontations, but then Jimmy’s on a three-game winning streak against Barry, the last victory culminating in a national championship.

* COWBOY UPDATE: Starting tackle Mike Tuinei has a sprained right knee and, based on last week’s performance by backup George Hegamin, Troy Aikman is risking his neck by going back to pass. Defensive end Charles Haley has a back problem but might get a chance to run down Dan Marino.

* DOLPHIN UPDATE: Marino’s foot is still sore, but he says he’s going to start against the Cowboys. Jimmy’s orders? Figure it out--Miami is 1-9 in 10 games without Marino.

* EDGE TO DALLAS: The Cowboys’ superior talent should overcome Barry and Jerry.

* THE LINE: Dallas by 3.

KEY GAMES

KANSAS CITY (5-2) at DENVER (6-1)

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

* STORYLINE: The AFC West Division lead is on the line, and possibly the home-field advantage through the playoffs if the winner continues to prosper. The Chiefs prevailed in Arrowhead Stadium last month, 17-14, and have won the last three games in the series.

* CHIEF UPDATE: Kansas City still has Steve Bono at quarterback; better luck during next season’s free-agent shopping spree.

* BRONCO UPDATE: Todd Kinchen, noted coach-killer with the Rams, lost his punt-returning job in Denver to Rod Smith, because--surprise, surprise--he fumbles a lot.

* EDGE TO DENVER: The Broncos not only rank first in offense in the NFL, but an impressive third on defense, which should render Bono ineffective for Kansas City.

* THE LINE: Denver by 3 1/2.

*

INDIANAPOLIS (5-2) at WASHINGTON (6-1)

* KICKOFF: Sunday, 10 a.m.

* STORYLINE: The Colts remain battered and bruised, whereas the Redskins are still just lucky. The Redskins rank 28th on defense and have played the Jets, the Giants twice, the Bears and the Rams--teams with some of the worst offenses in the league.

* COLT UPDATE: Running back Marshall Faulk--yes, he’s still with the Colts--remains on the sideline because of a sore toe.

* REDSKIN UPDATE: The Colts are starting to look erratic on offense, but the Redskins remain steady on offense with a league-low five turnovers.

* EDGE TO WASHINGTON: The Colts have used up all their magic to compensate for a battered lineup.

* THE LINE: Washington by 2 1/2.

*

CAROLINA (5-2) at PHILADELPHIA (5-2)

* KICKOFF: Sunday, 10 a.m.

* STORYLINE: Ty Detmer saved the day for the Eagles a week ago against the Dolphins and now must prove it was no fluke. That’s something the Panthers can relate to.

* PANTHER UPDATE: Carolina is first in the NFC in defense, giving up only 13 points a game.

* EAGLE UPDATE: Detmer’s offensive explosion last week eliminated any interest Philadelphia had in Jeff George, who was released this week by Atlanta. But there may be an update after this game.

* EDGE TO PHILADELPHIA: Carolina may be good on defense, but no team has been able to shut down Eagle running back Ricky Watters.

* THE LINE: Philadelphia by 4 1/2.

*

BUFFALO (5-2) at NEW ENGLAND (4-3)

* KICKOFF: Sunday, 5 p.m., TNT.

* STORYLINE: The up-and-down Patriots, who have yet to make their intentions known--also-ran or playoff contender--are positioned ideally to make a big run, catching the lifeless Jim Kelly at home.

* BILL UPDATE: The Kelly watch continues. Will he look young ever again, or will Marv Levy have to go to Todd Collins?

* PATRIOT UPDATE: Wide receiver Vincent Brisby, who factored into Drew Bledsoe’s success in recent years, is still plagued by hamstring injuries.

* EDGE TO NEW ENGLAND: The Patriots have scored 154 points in going 4-1 in their last five games.

* THE LINE: New England by 4.

*

SAN FRANCISCO (5-2) at HOUSTON (5-2)

* KICKOFF: Sunday, 10 a.m., Channel 11.

* STORYLINE: Second consecutive great matchup for the football fans in Houston, who will be watching all their pro football on TV in the next year or two. The 49ers have been hammered at quarterback, but a limping Steve Young was enough to get by the Bengals. The Oilers offer a tougher challenge, and have the incentive of sharing the AFC Central lead with Pittsburgh for the first time since 1992. “Those guys feel they’re going to try to make a statement,” 49er wide receiver Jerry Rice said. “They’re trying to say that they’re going to win a lot of games. They are 5-2 and so are we. It should be quite a game.”

* 49ER UPDATE: Young will start, much to the relief of Jeff Brohm, who earlier looked like the team’s only uninjured quarterback. Gino Torretta, a former 49er, has been signed again, just in case.

* OILER UPDATE: Can Houston avoid a major letdown after scoring an emotional victory over Pittsburgh last week?

* EDGE TO SAN FRANCISCO: Houston can’t avoid a major letdown after scoring an emotional victory over Pittsburgh last week.

* THE LINE: San Francisco by 5.

THE LINE ON THE REST

St. Louis plus 6 1/2 at Baltimore

Pittsburgh minus 5 1/2 at Atlanta

N.Y. Giants plus 10 at Detroit

Tampa Bay plus 17 1/2 at Green Bay

Jacksonville plus 3 at Cincinnati

San Diego minus 1 1/2 at Seattle

N.Y. Jets plus 4 1/2 at Arizona

Monday Night

Chicago plus 6 1/2 at Minnesota