TIMES NFL WRITER T.J. SIMERS POSES--AND ANSWERS--THE BURNING QUESTIONS ON : GAME DAY

1. Question: OK, which is it? Chris or Cindy?

Answer: Cindy.

Last week after Minnesota kicker Eddie Murray made his 235th consecutive extra point for an NFL record, Fox TV focused on a man and a woman in the Metrodome crowd. Announcer Paul Kennedy identified them as Murray’s wife, “Chris,” and his father.

This was a surprise, since Murray’s wife is named Cindy and she was sitting home in Detroit--watching TV.

“It’s pretty wild to make that stuff up without actually asking,” Murray said. “The women who they called my wife is a friend of [punter] Mitch Berger’s girlfriend. My father-in-law, my brother, sister in California, all called me. They all got the game [on television] and they were asking, ‘Who is this Chris?’ ”

Later Sunday night, ESPN showed highlights of the game and called the same pair “family members.”

This week Murray plans to go home to Michigan to visit his wife.

“I’ll go home and see Cindy, not Chris,” Murray said.

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2. Q. Who gets the blame for naming the Arizona Cardinals’ starting quarterback today “Stoney.”

A. His mother. Stoney Case was named for his mother’s favorite 1960s rodeo star, Stoney Burke.

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3. Q. Why is “time of possession” a useless statistic?

A. The Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Oilers rank 1-2 in the AFC, and they have a combined record of 2-10.

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4. Q. So what’s the most ridiculous statistic in the NFC this year?

A. The Saints and Falcons are 1-2 in the NFC in sacks with 29 each. New Orleans is 2-5 and Atlanta is 1-5.

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5. Q. Can the New York Giants stop Barry Sanders?

A. Maybe.

The Giants have limited Sanders to 79.7 yards a game, and Sanders has averaged 97.7 against the rest of the league. The Giants held him to 47 yards last year in a 35-7 victory.

“You have to swarm tackle,” linebacker Corey Miller said. “He’s a guy you can’t try to get a kill shot on. Everybody has to run to the football.”

Said linebacker Jessie Armstead: “When you play against the best, that’s when you can get notoriety from everybody. It’s a challenge we’re looking forward to. You can make a name off Barry more than he can make a name off you.”

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TODAY’S GAMES

TV GAMES

Jacksonville at Dallas

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* TV: Channel 4.

* Records: Jaguars 5-1; Cowboys 3-3

* Storyline: The young Jaguars get their first taste of big-time regular season football against a dying dynasty. Is there anything left in the Cowboys? Oddly enough the game doesn’t mean all that much because it’s a non-conference tilt, yet Jacksonville has to be thinking about home-field advantage throughout the playoffs should Denver slip, and Dallas needs a breakout game with contests in Philadelphia and San Francisco the next two weeks.

* The Line: Cowboys by 4 1/2.

* The Pick: Cowboys.

San Francisco at Atlanta

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* TV: Channel 11.

* Records: Falcons 1-5; 49ers 5-1.

* Storyline: Why sure, this is fair. The Falcons finally win a game against probably the only team they can beat--New Orleans--and now they have to get trounced. The 49ers’ defense just keeps getting better and better, or are they just playing some of the worst teams in football week after week?

* The Line: 49ers by 10 1/2.

* The Pick: 49ers.

Denver at Oakland

* Kickoff: 1 p.m.

* TV: Channel 4.

* Records: Broncos 6-0; Raiders (2-4)

* Storyline: The Raiders suspended cornerback Larry Brown this week for trying to walk off the practice field and then showing disrespect to Coach Joe Bugel. Shoot, why didn’t everyone just walk off the field? The Broncos have defeated the Raiders four straight times, look like they are now the best team in football, and are catching Oakland after their worst performance of the season.

* The Line: Broncos by 5 1/2.

* The Pick: The upset special of the week: Raiders.

THE REST

Washington at Tennessee

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Redskins (4-2); Oilers (2-4)

* Storyline: Looks like a setup. The Redskins won’t have running back Terry Allen and wide receiver Michael Westbrook, and they have the kind of defense that could get flattened by Oilers’ running back Eddie George. Can Tennessee’s defense, which until last week couldn’t stop anyone from throwing the ball, contend with Gus Frerotte? Yes.

* The Line: Pick.

* The Pick: Oilers.

Miami at Baltimore

* Kickoff: 1 p.m.

* Records: Dolphins 4-2); Ravens (3-3).

* Storyline: The Dolphins aren’t really that good, but the Ravens are worse. Jimmy Johnson has been stealing wins after goosing Dan Marino, and if he can get anything out of Karim Abdul-Jabbar, he will keep Vinny Testaverde & Co. off the field. Come to think of it, is that really a good thing?

* The Line: Dolphins by 1 1/2.

* The Pick: Dolphins.

Carolina at New Orleans

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Panthers 2-4; Saints 2-5.

* Storyline: Kerry Collins is back in command of the Panthers and now Danny Wuerffel is in control for New Orleans. Go cut the grass, take the kids for some ice cream, anything but watch this tussle. Wuerffel is your prototype exhibition game quarterback, who can lead fourth-quarter comebacks against guys who are going to be cut a week later.

* The Line: Panthers by 5.

* The Pick: Panthers.

New England at N.Y. Jets

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Patriots 5-1; Jets 4-3.

* Storyline: Tuna Bowl II. The last time--well, the first time--Parcells went against his former team he scared the self-respect out of every Patriots’ fan waiting to boo his return to New England. Fortunately, the Jets’ kicker missed a chip shot to win, and the Patriots’ kicker didn’t, and now the rematch in Parcells’ new backyard. Was that initial Jets’ showing against the Patriots a fluke? Yes.

* The Line: Patriots by 3 1/2.

* The Pick: Patriots.

Arizona at Philadelphia

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Cardinals 1-5; Eagles 2-4.

* Storyline: The Eagles have made the switch from Ty Detmer to Rodney Peete, but Philadelphia citizens are not rushing to make Super Bowl reservations in San Diego. Another three or four losing weeks and Coach Ray Rhodes will be switching to Bobby Hoying. The Cardinals have to win sometime, but they couldn’t do it at home last week against the Giants, so they better hope they get a date with the Colts or Bears.

* The Line: Eagles by 8 1/2.

* The Pick: Eagles.

Seattle at St. Louis

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Seahawks 3-3; Rams (2-4).

* Storyline: The Seahawks have added zip to their offense ever since Warren Moon replaced John Friesz, and the Rams continue to disappoint. Quarterback Tony Banks has failed to make the big jump, Lawrence Phillips has been bothered by a sore toe and all that talent stockpiled at wide receiver has been a no-show.

* The Line: Seahawks by 2.

* The Pick: Seahawks.

N.Y. Giants at Detroit

* Kickoff: 1 p.m.

* Records: Giants (4-3); Lions (4-3).

* Storyline: Things are looking up for the Giants because they are 4-3 and the Lions remain inconsistent at 4-3. Go figure. Well, the Giants are playing over their head, and have Danny Kanell at quarterback, and the Lions look good when Barry Sanders busts free, awful when Scott Mitchell has to play.

* The Line: Lions by 6 1/2.

* The Pick: Lions.

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati

* Kickoff: 1 p.m.

* Records: Steelers (4-2); Bengals (1-5).

* Storyline: There has actually been an outcry, OK, a whimper for Boomer Esiason in Cincinnati. Forget it, Jeff Blake is still the future, and if he can get the ball to Carl Pickens, Cincinnati might not be such a disappointment. The Steelers escaped against Indianapolis with a win, and draw a second-straight desperate opponent.

* The Line: Steelers by 5.

* The Pick: Bengals.