ON TVNew England at Pittsburgh* Kickoff: 10...

ON TV

New England at Pittsburgh

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* TV: Channel 2.

* Records: Patriots 7-5; Steelers 7-5.

* Story line: The Steelers have won six in a row over the Patriots, but the streak is in jeopardy against a team playing with a great deal of confidence after two dramatic Drew Bledsoe-led victories in as many games. The Steelers have been inconsistent, but they’ve lost only once in six home games, and they may need to win today to keep their playoff hopes alive.

* Line: Steelers by 4 1/2

*

San Francisco at Carolina

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* TV: Channel 11.

* Records: 49ers 9-3; Panthers 2-10.

* Story line: The 49ers’ top-ranked offense continues to hum along, piling up 466 yards in Monday night’s 31-7 rout of the Giants. But the defense was dealt a blow when tackle Bryant Young suffered a broken leg. The Panthers seemed to be improving before last week’s disaster against the Jets, winning two of four games and losing only 25-23 last month at San Francisco.

* Line: 49ers by 9 1/2

*

Kansas City at Denver

* Kickoff: 1:15 p.m.

* TV: Channel 2.

* Records: Chiefs 5-7; Broncos 12-0.

* Story line: Expect some bad blood to flow at Mile High Stadium. When the Broncos ripped the Chiefs last month at Kansas City, 30-7, the final quarter was marred by a series of cheap shots directed at the Broncos by Derrick Thomas and Chester McGlockton. Said Bronco linebacker Bill Romanowski in the aftermath: “It’s fun beating a team as selfish as that.” John Elway passed for four touchdowns last week against the Chargers, but had three passes intercepted.

* Line: Broncos by 13 1/2

*

Chicago at Minnesota

* Kickoff: 5:15 p.m.

* TV: ESPN.

* Records: Bears 3-9; Vikings 11-1.

* Story line: The Vikings haven’t played since they rolled over the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day, so they should be well rested and hungry. Randy Moss continued his spectacular play, catching touchdown passes of 51, 56 and 56 yards against the Cowboys. The Bears are hurting without Erik Kramer. They’ve lost four in a row. Steve Stenstrom starts at quarterback today.

* Line: Vikings by 16

THE REST

Buffalo at Cincinnati

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Bills 7-5; Bengals 2-10.

* Story line: The Bengals, losers of six of their last seven games, have gone back to Neil O’Donnell, who replaced starter Paul Justin early in last week’s 34-17 loss to the Jaguars. The Bills’ Doug Flutie passed for an NFL career-high 339 yards last week, but was deprived of a victory by the Patriots’ miracle comeback.

* Line: Bills by 4 1/2

*

Dallas at New Orleans

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Cowboys 8-4; Saints 5-7.

* Story line: Is it something in the turkey? The Cowboys are 22-8 in games played the week after Thanksgiving. The Saints’ Kerry Collins had three passes intercepted in last week’s 30-10 loss to the Dolphins, but maybe he can take advantage of a Cowboy secondary that is without Kevin Smith and, perhaps, Deion Sanders.

* Line: Cowboys by 6 1/2

*

Detroit at Jacksonville

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Lions 5-7; Jaguars 9-3.

* Story line: The Lions, perhaps poised for another late-season run to the playoffs, didn’t sit on their tails after the Thanksgiving coin-flip controversy, taking advantage to drive to the winning field goal and their third consecutive victory. The Jaguars have won 19 of their last 21 at home.

* Line: Jaguars by 7

*

Indianapolis at Atlanta

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Colts 2-10; Falcons 10-2.

* Story line: The Colts are 10-0 against the Falcons, the best record in any NFL series, but they’re 0-6 on the road this season. The Falcons were led last week by 44-year-old Steve DeBerg, but Chris Chandler may return today.

* Line: Falcons by 12 1/2

*

San Diego at Washington

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Chargers 5-7; Redskins 3-9.

* Story line: Trent Green has passed for 606 yards and seven touchdowns, with one interception, in the Redskins’ last two games. The Chargers’ Craig Whelihan has won two of his last three starts, but he had five passes intercepted in last week’s loss to the Broncos.

* Line: Redskins by 3

*

Seattle at New York Jets

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Seahawks 6-6; Jets 8-4.

* Story line: The Seahawks’ Jon Kitna, MVP of NFL Europe’s 1997 World Bowl, is 2-0 as an NFL starter and looked good enough in last week’s victory over the Oilers to lead the Seahawks to the playoffs. The Jets have won their last five home games; the Seahawks are 2-4 on the road.

* Line: Jets by 7

*

New York Giants at Arizona

* Kickoff: 1 p.m.

* Records: Giants 4-8; Cardinals 6-6.

* Story line: Despite last week’s loss to the Chiefs, the Cardinals control their fate as they push toward a playoff berth. The Giant offense ranks among the league’s worst, and their defense was torched by the 49ers last week.

* Line: Cardinals by 4 1/2

*

Miami at Oakland

* Kickoff: 1:15 p.m.

* Records: Dolphins 8-4; Raiders 7-5.

* Story line: The Raiders have fallen on hard times in the last month, as evidenced by last week’s stunning loss to the Redskins--their third loss in four games. And quarterback Jeff George may be sidelined for the season. The Dolphins opened up the offense a little for Dan Marino last week against the Saints, and Marino responded by passing for 255 yards and three touchdowns.

* Line: Dolphins by 2 1/2

*

Baltimore at Tennessee

* Kickoff: 1:15 p.m.

* Records: Ravens 5-7; Oilers 6-6.

* Story line: The Ravens have won three of four, and their pass rush--led by defensive end Michael McCrary, who is second in the AFC with 13 1/2 sacks--might make Oiler quarterback Steve McNair wish he weren’t playing on a sore ankle. The Oilers have lost two in a row, and home cooking apparently doesn’t sit too well with them. They’re 2-4 at home.

* Line: Oilers by 6