TODAY’S GAMES

ON TV

Denver at Cincinnati

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* TV: Channel 2.

* Records: Broncos 7-0; Bengals 2-5.

* Story line: The Broncos’ Terrell Davis, who has already rushed for 1,001 yards and scored 12 touchdowns, could be in for another big day against a defense that ranks last in the league against the run. Jim Brown in 1958 and O.J. Simpson in 1973 and 1975 also reached 1,000 yards rushing in seven games. John Elway needs 255 yards passing to join Dan Marino as the only players to pass for 50,000 yards.

* Line: Broncos by 11

*

Minnesota at Tampa Bay

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* TV: Channel 11.

* Records: Vikings 7-0; Buccaneers 3-4.

* Story line: The Vikings’ Randall Cunningham, making his sixth start in place of the injured Brad Johnson, threw his first two interceptions of the season in last week’s 34-13 victory over the Lions but still leads the NFL with a 111.8 quarterback rating. The Buccaneers, 31-7 losers at Minnesota on Sept. 6, have not scored a touchdown in the first half.

* Line: Vikings by 6 1/2

*

San Francisco at Green Bay

* Kickoff: 1:15 p.m.

* TV: Channel 11.

* Records: 49ers 6-1; Packers 5-2.

* Story line: The road to the Super Bowl may run through Minneapolis this season, but this is still a huge game for the 49ers, who have lost four in a row to Green Bay, and to the Packers, who have lost two of their last three games. While the 49ers’ Steve Young, 37, is enjoying one of his best seasons--he leads the league with 20 touchdown passes--the Packers’ Brett Favre, 29, has been struggling. The three-time MVP has had 11 passes intercepted in his last four games.

* Line: Packers by 3

*

Oakland at Seattle

* Kickoff: 5:15 p.m.

* TV: ESPN.

* Records: Raiders 5-2; Seahawks 4-3.

* Story line: The Raiders have won four in a row behind a defense that ranks No. 1 in the league after finishing last a year ago. They’re up against a Seahawk team that has yet to beat a team with a winning record this season, but they’re also without quarterback Jeff George, who will sit out for the third game in a row. His replacement, Donald Hollas, passed for two touchdowns in last week’s 27-10 victory over the Bengals--his first since 1992, when he played for Cincinnati.

* Line: Seahawks by 7

THE REST

Arizona at Detroit

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Cardinals 3-4; Lions 2-5.

* Story line: With quarterback Charlie Batch continuing to struggle, the Lions may rely even more heavily on Barry Sanders against a defense that is without standout tackle Eric Swann, who is sidelined for a month after knee surgery. Sanders leads the NFC with 765 yards rushing.

* Line: Lions by 6

*

Jacksonville at Baltimore

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Jaguars 5-2; Ravens 2-5.

* Story line: The Jaguars have lost two in a row, including last week’s 37-24 decision against the Broncos, but they’re 5-0 against the Colts, who have lost three in a row. The Jaguars beat the Ravens, 24-10, on Sept. 20 at Jacksonville.

* Line: Jaguars by 3 1/2

*

Miami at Buffalo

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Dolphins 5-2; Bills 4-3.

* Story line: Doug Flutie will test his magic against a Dolphin defense that is fourth in the league against the pass and has given up an NFL-low 11.3 points a game. Last week, the Dolphins failed to score a touchdown for the first time since 1983 but still beat the Patriots, 12-9. They beat the Bills, 13-7, on Sept. 13 at Miami.

* Line: Bills by 2 1/2

*

New England at Indianapolis

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Patriots 4-3; Colts 1-6.

* Story line: The Patriots walked over the Colts, 29-6, on Sept. 13 at Foxboro, Mass., but they’ve since looked vulnerable while the Colts seem to be improving. Colt rookie Peyton Manning enjoyed his best game last week, passing for three touchdowns without an interception in a 34-31 loss to the 49ers.

* Line: Patriots by 6

*

New Orleans at Carolina

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Saints 4-3; Panthers 0-7.

* Story line: Former Panther quarterback Kerry Collins is not expected to play against his former team, leaving it to Billy Joe Tolliver to face one of the league’s worst defenses. Meanwhile, Steve Beuerlein, who replaced Collins as the Panthers’ quarterback, goes against a Saint defense that is 29th in the league against the pass.

* Line: Panthers by 3

*

N.Y. Giants at Washington

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Giants 3-4; Redskins 0-7.

* Story line: The Giants hope to get their struggling running game untracked against a defense that ranks among the league’s worst against the run. Trent Green will start at quarterback for the Redskins, who lost to the Giants, 31-24, on Sept. 6 at East Rutherford, N.J.

* Line: Giants by 2 1/2

*

St. Louis at Atlanta

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Rams 2-5; Falcons 5-2.

* Story line: Chris Chandler returns for the Falcons after sitting out last week’s 28-3 loss to the Jets, in which Steve DeBerg, 44, became the oldest starting quarterback in league history. The Rams are reeling from injury and ineptitude.

* Line: Atlanta by 7

*

Tennessee at Pittsburgh

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Oilers 3-4; Steelers 5-2.

* Story line: Both teams feature powerful running games and inconsistent passers--the Oilers’ Steve McNair and the Steelers’ struggling Kordell Stewart. The Steelers’ Jerome Bettis ran for 119 yards last Monday night in a 20-13 victory over the Chiefs at Kansas City.

* Line: Steelers by 5 1/2

*

N.Y. Jets at Kansas City

* Kickoff: 1 p.m.

* Records: Jets 4-3; Chiefs 4-3.

* Story line: With Vinny Testaverde leading the AFC with a 107.0 passing efficiency rating, the Jets have turned their season around by winning four of their last five games. The Chiefs have lost two in a row as Elvis Grbac has struggled.

* Line: Chiefs by 5