Winning Is Central Here

It’s a clash for first place in the AFC Central with the Jaguars holding the tiebreaker hammer because of an earlier victory in Jacksonville. The Jaguars avoided a last-second Steeler victory by blocking a field goal and returning it for a touchdown in a Monday night game.

This game features the passing of Mark Brunell versus the running of Jerome Bettis. Brunell has been confined to the pocket because of a knee injury during an exhibition game, limiting his effectiveness. Bettis, meanwhile, has been picking up steam while Kordell Stewart continues to learn on the run.

If Brunell and Bettis get in a scoring duel, the outcome might very well hinge on each team’s glaring weakness. The Steelers are vulnerable in the secondary. Injuries have softened the Jacksonville run defense, especially up the gut.

So what does it look like? Another game settled by a fluke play.

Anybody’s game.

The line: Pittsburgh by 3.

Five Things to Look For:

1. San Francisco safety Merton Hanks to get two interceptions against the Saints on Sunday.

In eight games this season, five opposing defensive backs have recorded at least two interceptions against New Orleans: Carolina cornerback Eric Davis, St. Louis safety Keith Lyle, Atlanta cornerback Michael Booker, San Francisco cornerback Tyronne Drakeford and San Francisco cornerback Rod Woodson, who had three interceptions.

2. “Saturday Night Live” if you’re a Saints’ fan. Chris Farley and George Wendt taped a “Da Bears” skit earlier this week with New Orleans Coach Mike Ditka, which will air Saturday night. It should deliver a whole lot more than Danny Wuerffel and Heath Shuler the next day.

3. More interceptions from Wuerffel and Shuler. Shuler is averaging an interception every 14 passes. That’s terrible. But then there’s Wuerffel, who is averaging one every 10.3. The Saints play the 49ers, who lead the league in interceptions with 11.

4. Trouble in Chicago. The Bears listed defensive end Alonzo Spellman as questionable for this week’s game against Miami because of a sore rotator cuff; Spellman listed himself as out, and maybe for the season.

The Bears’ organization is not happy. Ki-Jana Carter has a torn rotator cuff and is playing running back for the Bengals.

Spellman, meanwhile, hasn’t been talking to the media or his teammates for several weeks and has sat out the last three games.

5. The hex to continue on the Browns/Ravens. This week marks the second anniversary of Art Modell’s signed deal to leave Cleveland for Baltimore. Before announcing the move, the Browns had won 15 of their previous 24 games. Since then they have compiled an 8-25 mark.

ON TV

* Denver (6-1) at Buffalo (4-3), 10 a.m., Channel 4: How did Buffalo get to be 4-3? Marv Levy really is one darn good coach. The Broncos should not be affected by a loss to Oakland.

The line: Denver by 7.

* Dallas (4-3) at Philadelphia (3-4), 10 a.m., Channel 11: The last gasp for the Eagles, or just maybe for the Cowboys, who travel to San Francisco next week. Dallas won the first meeting between the two teams when holder Tom Hutton couldn’t get the ball down for a Chris Boniol chip shot to win the game.

The line: Pick ‘em.

* Oakland (3-4) at Seattle (4-3), 1 p.m., Channel 4: The Raiders relied on the running of Napoleon Kaufman to beat the Broncos, resting the NFL’s No. 1 passing game for the Seahawks. Seattle throws the ball too, so this game might never end.

The line: Seattle by 2 1/2.

* Atlanta (1-6) at Carolina (3-4), 5 p.m., TNT: If we’re lucky, there will be a World Series Game 7 to keep everyone from this debacle.

The line: Carolina by 8 1/2.

SUNDAY’S OTHER GAMES * San Francisco at New Orleans, 10 a.m.

The line: San Francisco by 14

* Kansas City at St. Louis, 10 a.m.

The line: Kansas City by 5 1/2

* Baltimore at Washington, 10 a.m.

The line: Washington by 6

* Cincinnati at N.Y. Giants, 10 a.m.

The line: N.Y. Giants by 5 1/2

* Minnesota at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

The line: Tampa Bay by 3

* Chicago at Miami, 1 p.m.

The line: Miami by 9 1/2

* Jacksonville at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.

The line: Pittsburgh by 3

* Indianapolis at San Diego, 1 p.m.

The line: San Diego by 6

* Tennessee at Arizona, 1 p.m.

The line: Arizona by 1 1/2

AROUND THE AFC / WEST

Run, Buffalo, Run

And what will the Bills be doing on offense Sunday when they play the Broncos? “Run,” said Denver Coach Mike Shanahan. “I would, wouldn’t you? When you’re giving up 5.7 yards per rushing attempt, if they went in there with 35, 40 throws, I’d think they were completely insane.” . . . Further indictment of just how bad Denver’s run defense is: “We looked at the film and saw there was a chance to gain maybe 300 yards if I just missed a guy here or broke a tackle there,” said Raider running back Napoleon Kaufman after running for 227 yards against the Broncos. . . . Kansas City quarterback Elvis Grbac and wide receiver Andre Rison are becoming one of the most potent offensive tandems in the league with 41 completions and five touchdowns. “[Grbac] certainly looks to him,” Charger Coach Kevin Gilbride said after Rison caught eight passes and scored two touchdowns. You’d think he would have noticed that on videotape before playing the Chiefs. . . . The Chargers have been good at stopping the run, but will be without inside linebacker Kurt Gouveia (ruptured disk) for the rest of the year. “It’s a devastating loss,” Gilbride said. . . . Steve Broussard starts at running back for the Seahawks, showing just how far Chris Warren has fallen out of favor in Seattle.

Telling move: The Broncos switched Gary Zimmerman from right to left tackle last week with an eye on this weekend and Buffalo’s Bruce Smith. Although Smith has 148 1/2 sacks in his career, he has only one against Zimmerman in two games against Denver.

Who cares? Larry Brown does. The Raider cornerback, suspended for four games for arguing with Raider Coach Joe Bugel, is losing $56,250 per week.

AROUND THE AFC / CENTRAL

Ravens Are Miracle Cure

Play the Ravens and cure all your ills. “Teams that can’t throw, when they hit us, we get them well,” Baltimore Coach Ted Marchibroda said. “Teams that can’t run, when they hit us, we make them well.” The Ravens were outscored, 35-10, in the second half against Pittsburgh, had a bye week to regroup, and were outscored, 21-3, in the first half by Miami. After losing to Miami, Raven owner Art Modell said, “To say I’m disappointed would be the understatement of the century.” . . . The Jaguars ranked No. 2 on offense a year ago, but now stand No. 18. . . . The Steelers have been relying on Jerome Bettis, who is within reach of joining Eric Dickerson and O.J. Simpson as the only backs to gain 2,000 yards in a season. “I would love to get 2,000 yards,” Bettis said. “My second year in the league, that was my battle cry--2,000 or bust. But I can’t focus on that because if I did, I’d let 53 guys down.” . . . Tennessee has won two in a row because of the improvement in Steve McNair, who has completed 29 of 51 passes for 391 yards with three touchdowns, no interceptions and no fumbles.

Telling move: A year ago, the Bengals came from behind in the second half five times to win. This year they’ve allowed the opposition to open the third quarter with a touchdown in five of seven games.

Who cares? Bam Morris should. He faces a bail revocation hearing Nov. 25 that could land him in jail. “It’s not a distraction,” Morris said. Oh.

AROUND THE AFC / EAST

Who’s the Man for Denver?

Denver has John Elway, but Buffalo has other concerns. “Terrell Davis is definitely the man on their offense,” linebacker Damien Covington said. The Bills faced standout Minnesota running back Robert Smith earlier this year and limited him to 19 yards in 16 carries. . . . Colt owner Jim Irsay continues to support Coach Lindy Infante despite a 0-7 start. “I can only say that I’m the owner of this football team and I am philosophically opposed to making a change in midseason,” Irsay said. He didn’t say anything about the end of the season. . . . Paul Justin starts in place of Jim Harbaugh (ankle sprain). Harbaugh has directed 70 drives this year and produced four touchdowns. . . . Brett Perriman, released by Kansas City, will start for the Dolphins when they go to four wide receivers, replacing Brian Manning. . . . The Jets are 5-3, their best midseason record since they were 7-1 in 1986.

Telling move: Miami Coach Jimmy Johnson, apparently concerned about a letdown, was hyping the Bears: “The Bears are better than half the teams we have played,” Johnson said.

Who cares? Colt running back Marshall Faulk returns to San Diego where he played his college ball, but there’s no reason to hold a parade. He has run 117 times for 393 yards this season.

AROUND THE NFC / WEST

Chandler Has Few Friends

Falcon fans booed quarterback Chris Chandler in pregame warmups, irritated that he was unable to avoid injury in three previous starts at home. And then he got hurt again, suffering a concussion. Former Falcon Bill Fralic, doing the radio broadcast, said, “Chris has to be tougher. He needs to stick it out for the Falcons to have any chance of winning.” If he isn’t tougher, Coach Dan Reeves announced Tony Graziani will replace Chandler rather than Billy Joe Tolliver. . . . Tshimanga Biakabutuka will make his first start for the Panthers since suffering a knee injury last season. Carolina hasn’t had a 100-yard rusher since Anthony Johnson topped the mark in the season-opener, and it now ranks No. 24 in rushing. Biakabutuka, of course, has yet to have a 100-yard game in two-year career. . . . It’s not surprising that the 49ers have beaten the Saints eight times in the last 10 meetings in the Superdome, but their margin of victory has been only 5.5 points a game. . . . The 49ers’ best defensive player, Bryant Young, will sit out the game to rest a sore ankle and knee and will be replaced by Junior Bryant. “Without Bryant Young in there you think it would be an advantage,” New Orleans Coach Mike Ditka said. “But them missing one man isn’t going to bother them nearly as much as what we are going through.” . . . The Rams haven’t scored an offensive touchdown in 10 quarters, which means they haven’t scored on offense since September.

Telling move: What did Danny Wuerffel bring to the New Orleans Saints? An end to the team’s 139-game streak of never being shut out at home--dating to Dec. 9, 1979.

Who cares? The Saints have the No. 3-ranked defense in the NFL.

AROUND THE AFC / CENTRAL

Proehl Has Zero Tolerance

Bear wide receiver Ricky Proehl, unhappy with being demoted from starter to inactive roster, wants out of Chicago. If you can’t make an impact with a 0-7 team, where do you go? . . . Detroit’s Barry Sanders leads the NFL with 893 rushing yards after six consecutive 100-yard performances, yet Bobby Ross isn’t happy. “Right now we’re running the ball fairly well, but our consistency isn’t what we would like it to be,” Ross said. Is Ross losing it? . . . The Packers were 14-point picks in New Orleans to beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl, and now the Patriots are favored by two points in New England on Monday night. The Packers have been favorites in 39 of their last 45 games. . . . Pro Bowl ballots to be distributed to fans arrived this week in Tampa, and while there are the names of 27 Buccaneers on it, team sack leader Chidi Ahanotu is missing.

Telling move: The Bears have benched Rick Mirer, and now Mirer’s father has lashed out at the team: “He has no one,” Ken Mirer said. “He can’t trust his coaches. He can’t trust people around him. It has been a tough situation because he never has been in that position before in his life. Even in Seattle, I don’t think he felt as betrayed as he has felt in Chicago.”

Who cares? For the first time since the season opener in Green Bay, the Bears expect to have their offensive line together.

AROUND THE AFC / EAST

Fans Call for Plummer

An Arizona newspaper ran a poll asking fans to pick the starting quarterback for the Cardinals. It was close: 77 votes for Stoney Case, 56 for Kent Graham and 1,664 for Jake Plummer, the former Arizona State standout. . . . Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman is starting to look for Stepfret Williams more than starter Anthony Miller. “I’m not disappointed in Anthony,” Coach Barry Switzer said. “He’s on a pace to do what Alvin Harper and those other guys did, which is catch about 30 balls.” Miller is on a pace to catch 35--which would be the lowest number in his career. . . . It just sounds ridiculous: “We’re starting to catch some people’s eyes,” Giant quarterback Danny Kanell said. “People should start to realize that we’re contenders.” The Giants are 5-3 and host Cincinnati (1-6), travel to Tennessee (3-4), and entertain Arizona (1-6) in their next three games. Just ridiculous. . . . Philadelphia wide receiver Irving Fryar continues to be impressive despite playing with erratic quarterbacks. Fryar caught five passes for 85 yards against the Pro Bowl coverage of Cardinal cornerback Aeneas Williams.

Telling move: The Giants were going nowhere with Dave Brown at quarterback, but he pulls a stomach muscle, Kanell is forced to play and now the Giants are in first place.

Who cares? The New York Giants are the most penalized team in the NFC East, proving crime does pay.