Today’s Games

TV GAMES

Dallas at Philadelphia

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* TV: Channel 11.

* Records: Cowboys 4-3, Eagles 3-4.

* Storyline: To make a comparison between the Cowboys and cockroaches wouldn’t be fair to one of them, but they do share a common trait: There’s no getting rid of them. The Jaguars had the chance last week, the Eagles had it earlier this season and get one more try before packing their bags, and next week the 49ers get their shot. Rodney Peete can’t beat Dallas, but Ricky Watters can. Forget it.

* The Line: Pick ‘em.

* The Pick: Cowboys.

*

Denver at Buffalo

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* TV: Channel 4.

* Records: Broncos 6-1, Bills 4-3.

* Storyline: The Bills escaped a trap in Indianapolis, beating the winless Colts, who were trying to change their losers’ image on Monday night. Now they have to tackle the agitated Broncos, who absorbed their first defeat of the season. Come on, they couldn’t score a touchdown against the Colts.

* The Line: Broncos by 7.

* The Pick: Broncos.

*

Oakland at Seattle

* Kickoff: 1 p.m.

* TV: Channel 4.

* Records: Raiders 3-4, Seahawks 4-3.

* Storyline: The Seahawks have done a remarkable job fighting back into contention, still have that easy schedule and need only win games such as this to draw a wild card. But the Raiders look as if they have the same kind of stretch run in mind, and better players.

* The Line: Seahawks by 2.

* The Pick: Raiders.

*

Atlanta at Carolina

* Kickoff: 5 p.m.

* TV: TNT.

* Records: Falcons 1-6, Panthers 3-4.

* Storyline: The Falcons look as if they are trying to play hard under Coach Dan Reeves, but they lack the quarterback to put them over the top in the fourth quarter. The Falcons roughed up the league’s No. 1 defense last week in the 49ers, and the Panthers haven’t been much, giving this upset special possibilities. Only possibilities.

* The Line: Panthers by 8 1/2.

* The Pick: Panthers.

THE REST

San Francisco at New Orleans

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: 49ers 6-1, Saints 2-6.

* Storyline: The 49ers will play the University of Redlands next week. Coach Mike Ditka spent this week telling everyone, yeah, sure the team’s record might be the same as it was under Coach Jim Mora, but this team is better. He’s also the guy who picked Heath Shuler and Danny Wuerffel as his team’s future quarterbacks. The guy has lost it.

* The Line: 49ers by 14.

* The Pick: 49ers.

*

Kansas City at St. Louis

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Chiefs 5-2, Rams 2-5.

* Storyline: Imagine the excitement in Missouri. They will probably shut down the 7-Elevens, close the doors to Denny’s and cancel all shopping at Wal-Mart for this one. Next to Christmas and Easter, it doesn’t get any bigger for people living in this state.

* The Line: Chiefs by 5 1/2.

* The Pick: Chiefs.

*

Baltimore at Washington

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Ravens 3-4, Redskins 4-3.

* Storyline: Both teams play their games in Maryland stadiums, only one plays them well--the Redskins. The Ravens are 7-16 over the past two years, have a running back who might be headed to jail and a quarterback lacking only the ability to win. The Redskins are still beaten up, but all they have to do is show up.

* The Line: Redskins by 6.

* The Pick: Redskins.

*

Minnesota at Tampa Bay

* Kickoff: 1 p.m.

* Records: Vikings 5-2, Buccaneers 5-2.

* Storyline: Well now, another quickie quiz for the Buccaneers to see if they’re going to hang around for the playoff race. The Vikings have been explosive with quarterback Brad Johnson, running back Robert Smith and wide receivers Jake Reed and Cris Carter, but that plays into Tampa’s strength. Can the Vikings put a stop to Warrick Dunn?

* The Line: Buccaneers by 3.

* The Pick: Vikings.

*

Jacksonville at Pittsburgh

* Kickoff: 1 p.m.

* Records: Jaguars 5-2, Steelers 5-2

* Records: The Steelers have been riding Jerome Bettis hard, but the wild card remains Kordell Stewart. If he’s on, the opposition has no chance. The Jaguars stumbled in Dallas, haven’t had the chance to play well because of injuries to their quarterbacks and had to compensate for an ankle injury to Natrone Means. If they ever get the opportunity to play as a unit . . .

* The Line: Steelers by 3.

* The Pick: Steelers.

*

Indianapolis at San Diego

* Kickoff: 1 p.m.

* Records: Colts 0-7, Chargers 3-4.

* Storyline: If the Colts couldn’t win Monday night at home against a low-scoring Buffalo team, where will they win? San Diego. The Chargers remain inconsistent, the byproduct of a new head coach and staff. The losing streak comes to an end: Marshall Faulk runs wild on the field where he played his college ball, and Jim Harbaugh operates without any pressure.

* The Line: Chargers by 6.

* The Pick: Bonus upset special, the Colts.

*

Tennessee at Arizona

* Kickoff: 1 p.m.

* Records: Oilers 3-4, Cardinals 1-6.

* Storyline: The good news is they are playing the game in Arizona, so someone might be there to document the result. But who cares? The Cardinals are turning the ball over to rookie Jake Plummer, who probably will promptly turn it over to the Oilers.

* The Line: Cardinals by 1 1/2.

* The Pick: Oilers.

* Last week’s record: 9-4.

* Season record: 67-40.

* Upset special record: 5-8.