ON TVSan Francisco at New England* Kickoff:...

ON TV

San Francisco at New England

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* TV: Channel 11.

* Records: 49ers 11-3; Patriots 8-6.

* Story line: This game is much less attractive than it once looked because of the Patriots’ injury situation. The Patriots, in desperate need of a victory to stay in the wild-card race, will be without three of their best players--quarterback Drew Bledsoe, wide receiver Terry Glenn and linebacker Ted Johnson. The 49ers had to travel cross country after playing Monday night, but they’ll be motivated because they’re still battling the Falcons for the NFC West title.

* Line: 49ers by 7

*

Oakland at San Diego

* Kickoff: 1 p.m.

* TV: Channel 2.

* Records: Raiders 7-7; Chargers 5-9.

* Story line: The Raiders have lost their last four games and are on the verge of missing the playoffs for the fifth year in a row. Their collapse is reminiscent of 1995, when they lost their last six games after an 8-2 start. The Chargers, playing for a lame-duck coach in Hawaii-bound June Jones, had seven passes intercepted in last week’s 38-17 loss to the Seahawks. Craig Whelihan, who had five picked off, starts again today.

* Line: Chargers by 3

*

Philadelphia at Dallas

* Kickoff: 1:15 p.m.

* TV: Channel 11.

* Records: Eagles 3-11; Cowboys 8-6.

* Story line: The Cowboys are 6-0 against NFC East opponents, 2-6 against everybody else, including losses in their last three games. And they haven’t won in December since beating the Vikings in a wild-card playoff game in 1996. For the Eagles, Koy Detmer has provided a boost with five touchdown passes in his three starts, but Philadelphia still ranks last in the league in passing and total offense.

* Line: Cowboys by 10 1/2

*

Jacksonville at Minnesota

* Kickoff: 5:15 p.m.

* TV: ESPN.

* Records: Jaguars 10-4; Vikings 13-1.

* Story line: Third-string quarterback Jonathan Quinn will have to be the Mighty Quinn for the Jaguars to slow the NFL’s hottest team. The explosive Vikings have scored 132 points in their last three games--46, 48 and 38--and can clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a victory.

* Line: Vikings by 13 1/2

THE REST

Baltimore at Chicago

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Ravens 5-9; Bears 3-11.

* Story line: In his first trip back to Soldier Field, former Bear quarterback Jim Harbaugh takes on a team that sure could use him. The Bears, who have lost their last six games, are down to third-string quarterback Steve Stenstrom.

* Line: Even

*

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Bengals 2-12; Steelers 7-7.

* Story line: The Steelers have lost three games in a row, failed to score a touchdown in their last two and watched their quarterback blow up after being benched last week. The Bengals have lost nine in a row since they beat the Steelers, 25-20, two months ago at Cincinnati.

* Line: Steelers by 10 1/2

*

Kansas City at New York Giants

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Chiefs 6-8; Giants 6-8.

* Story line: The Chiefs, who have come alive in their last three games, almost ruined the Broncos’ unbeaten season two weeks ago. A week ago, the Giants pulled off the upset, defeating the Broncos, 20-16, behind Kent Graham. The Chiefs have won 11 in a row against NFC opponents, but they’re 1-5 on the road.

* Line: Giants by 1 1/2

*

St. Louis at Carolina

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Rams 4-10; Panthers 2-12.

* Story line: With Tony Banks sidelined after suffering a season-ending knee injury, Steve Bono starts at quarterback for the Rams against a defense that ranks among the league’s worst against the pass. The Panthers won last month at St. Louis, 24-20, but they’re 1-6 at home. Steve Beuerlein has brought life to the Panther offense, but the added spark hasn’t translated into victories.

* Line: Panthers by 3

*

Tennessee at Green Bay

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Oilers 8-6; Packers 9-5.

* Story line: The Oilers are 5-2 on the road and can win the AFC Central with two victories and two Jaguar losses. The Packers are 6-1 at Lambeau Field, but they’re beaten up and they’ve defeated only one team with a winning record. Positive sign for Packers: Running back Dorsey Levens, in his third game back since returning from a broken leg that sidelined him for three months, rushed for 105 yards last week.

* Line: Packers by 6 1/2

*

Indianapolis at Seattle

* Kickoff: 1 p.m.

* Records: Colts 3-11; Seahawks 7-7.

* Story line: The Seahawks have an outside chance to make the playoffs. Peyton Manning, who has taken every snap for the Colts, has a chance to become only the eighth quarterback since 1970 to make all of his team’s pass attempts. He has eight touchdown passes in his last three games and leads the AFC with 24.

* Line: Seahawks by 7

*

New Orleans at Arizona

* Kickoff: 1:15 p.m.

* Records: Saints 6-8; Cardinals 7-7.

* Story line: The Cardinals need to win to keep their playoff hopes alive and the Saints are 0-3 on grass. The Cardinals’ last four victories, including 20-17 in overtime over the Eagles last week, have been by three points or fewer. The Saints, last in the league in rushing, were limited to 52 yards rushing and 216 total yards in last week’s loss to the Falcons. But their defense scored two touchdowns, running its season total to eight.

* Line: Cardinals by 3 1/2

*

Atlanta at Detroit

* Kickoff: 1:15 p.m.

* Records: Falcons 12-2; Lions 5-9.

* Story line: The Falcons, trying to hold off the 49ers in a spirited race for the NFC West title, will play under the guidance of Rich Brooks while Dan Reeves recuperates from quadruple bypass surgery. They can clinch the division title and a first-round playoff bye with a victory. Falcon quarterback Chris Chandler suffered a sprained ankle last week but returned to the game. The Falcons’ Jamal Anderson leads the NFC with 1,596 yards rushing. The Lions’ Barry Sanders is third with 1,355.

* Line: Falcons by 6 1/2