CAPSULES

* The line: Washington by 5 1/2.

* Key injuries: ARI--Running back Michael Pittman (toe, questionable).

* Key elements: Cardinal defensive end Simeon Rice is tied for NFL lead in sacks with 13. Redskin defensive back Champ Bailey had three interceptions against Arizona in Week 6.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Ari Wash Points scored 15.2 (30) 28.9 (2) Points allowed 19.8 (14) 26.7 (29) Passing O 183.8 (26) 253.2 (8) Rushing O 77.2 (28) 124.9 (4) Total O 261.1 (29) 378.2 (4) Passing D 201.2 (7) 255.0 (30) Rushing D 128.4 (30) 121.9 (26) Total D 329.7 (17) 376.9 (31)

*--*

* The pick: Arizona. The Cardinals have won four in a row. Now they match quarterback Jake Plummer against the malfunctioning Redskin defense. Seems like a mismatch.

* The line: Pittsburgh by 1 1/2.

* Key injuries: BAL--Running back Errict Rhett (chest, questionable).

* Key elements: Raven quarterback Tony Banks has thrown for 820 yards and eight touchdowns in the last three games. Steeler running back Jerome Bettis has 559 yards rushing in six games vs. Baltimore.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Bal Pit Points scored 19.8 (16) 17.3 (22) Points allowed 18.8 (10) 15.6 (5) Passing O 196.3 (24) 180.6 (27) Rushing O 109.3 (15) 118.8 (12) Total O 305.7 (23) 299.4 (26) Passing D 205.4 (10) 189.2 (2) Rushing D 80.8 (2) 112.4 (21) Total D 286.2 (4) 301.7 (6)

*--*

The pick: Baltimore. Coach Bill Cowher has tried Kordell Stewart and Mike Tomczak at quarterback. Who’s next, Terry Bradshaw? Doesn’t matter, Ravens win.

* The line: Green Bay by 8.

* Key injuries: GB--Running back Dorsey Levens (rib, questionable).

* Key elements: Panther defensive end Kevin Greene needs one sack for his 10th 10-sack season. Packers have NFL’s top December record since 1994 at 18-3.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Car GB Points scored 23.5 (6) 20.6 (14) Points allowed 23.6 (26) 19.2 (13) Passing O 260.1 (5) 253.9 (7) Rushing O 103.0 (19) 95.4 (21) Total O 363.1 (7) 349.3 (10) Passing D 241.5 (24) 209.4 (11) Rushing D 117.1 (25) 125.9 (28) Total D 358.6 (26) 335.3 (19)

*--*

The pick: Green Bay. Panther quarterback Steve Beuerlein has, with little notice, been playing very impressively. Unfortunately for him, he runs into a Packer team rounding into playoff form.

* The line: Cincinnati by 7.

* Key injuries: CIN--Quarterback Akili Smith (toe, out).

* Key elements: Brown wide receiver Kevin Johnson tops NFL rookies in catches (53), yards receiving (768) and touchdowns (eight). Bengals averaging 34 points over last three games after 13 over first 10.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Cle Cin Points scored 11.3 (31) 17.8 (20) Points allowed 26.2 (28) 29.7 (31) Passing O 173.5 (29) 230.5 (14) Rushing O 71.2 (31) 120.7 (8) Total O 244.7 (31) 351.2 (9) Passing D 210.3 (12) 245.8 (26) Rushing D 165.8 (31) 109.5 (19) Total D 376.2 (30) 355.2 (25)

*--*

The pick: Cincinnati. Who cares? In the National Parity League, it’s sometimes hard to find a game where neither team has anything to play for, but this is one of them.

* The line: Indianapolis by 7.

* Key injuries: None.

* Key elements: In last six games vs. Colts, Patriot quarterback Drew Bledsoe has 15 touchdowns and one interception. Colts have had a 100-yard rusher and receiver in the same game five times this season.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

NE Ind Points scored 20.4 (15) 28.7 (3) Points allowed 18.7 (9) 19.8 (15) Passing O 255.5 (6) 270.0 (3) Rushing O 91.7 (24) 108.2 (16) Total O 347.2 (11) 378.2 (3) Passing D 204.2 (9) 224.9 (17) Rushing D 107.1 (17) 102.8 (14) Total D 311.3 (10) 327.8 (15)

*--*

The pick: Indianapolis. The Patriots are stumbling on offense with Drew Bledsoe at the controls; Peyton Manning has the Colts soaring.

* The line: Buffalo by 8.

* Key injuries: NYG--Cornerback Jason Sehorn (leg, out).

* Key elements: Giant wide receiver Ike Hilliard has 14 catches for 294 yards in last three games. Bills have won last 10 games vs. NFC East.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

NYG Buf Points scored 19.6 (17) 19.0 (19) Points allowed 20.8 (20) 14.4 (4) Passing O 240.8 (10) 213.0 (21) Rushing O 91.6 (25) 125.4 (3) Total O 332.3 (16) 338.4 (14) Passing D 215.8 (13) 187.2 (1) Rushing D 88.3 (7) 83.7 (3) Total D 304.2 (7) 270.9 (1)

*--*

The pick: Buffalo. Having run up 41 points against the Jets, the Giants will go for the state championship today. Forget it. This is not the Jet defense, ranked 14th in AFC. These are the Bills, ranked second.

* The line: Dallas by 9.

* Key injuries: DAL--Cornerback Kevin Smith (hamstring, questionable).

* Key elements: Eagles lead NFC with 31 takeaways and are tied for third with 20 interceptions. Cowboys have won seven in a row at home.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Phi Dal Points scored 15.4 (29) 21.8 (10) Points allowed 22.8 (24) 16.2 (6) Passing O 145.2 (31) 195.3 (25) Rushing O 114.3 (14) 122.8 (6) Total O 259.5 (30) 318.1 (20) Passing D 221.8 (16) 219.6 (15) Rushing D 125.1 (27) 90.7 (9) Total D 346.8 (22) 310.2 (9)

*--*

The pick: Dallas. The beat-up Cowboys don’t have much of an offense left. But Emmitt Smith and newly acquired kicker Eddie Murray ought to be enough to polish off the Eagles.

* The line: St. Louis by 11.

* Key injuries: STL--Cornerback Todd Lyght (groin, questionable).

* Key elements: Rams have won four in a row by an average score of 34-13. Saints have lost three in a row by a combined score of 119-47.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

StL NO Points scored 33.3 (1) 16.2 (27) Points allowed 14.0 (3) 25.3 (27) Passing O 273.1 (2) 219.8 (18) Rushing O 124.1 (5) 120.6 (9) Total O 397.2 (1) 340.3 (12) Passing D 236.3 (20) 217.4 (14) Rushing D 78.0 (1) 114.0 (22) Total D 314.3 (11) 331.4 (18)

*--*

The pick: St. Louis. Supposedly, 60% of the Saints want to see Coach Mike Ditka fired. That will rise to 75% after today’s game.

* The line: Seattle by 9 1/2.

* Key injuries: SEA--Running back Ahman Green (hamstring, questionable).

* Key elements: Chargers are giving up 3.2 yards a carry, tied for tops in AFC. Seahawk defense is tied for NFL lead with 22 interceptions and has 11 in its last two games vs. Chargers.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

SD Sea Points scored 17.2 (23) 21.7 (11) Points allowed 21.8 (23) 17.5 (7) Passing O 225.2 (16) 217.8 (20) Rushing O 72.5 (30) 93.8 (22) Total O 297.7 (27) 311.5 (21) Passing D 237.0 (21) 239.2 (22) Rushing D 91.8 (10) 109.8 (20) Total D 328.8 (16) 349.0 (24)

*--*

The pick: Seattle. Coach Mike Holmgren said he thought his defensive line was stealing its pay after Sunday’s performance. If he thinks that’s stealing, wait until he sees the Chargers.

* The line: Miami by 3.

* Key injuries: NYJ--Linebacker Bryan Cox (abdomen, out).

* Key elements: Dolphin cornerback Sam Madison leads NFL with seven interceptions. Jet running back Curtis Martin has seven touchdowns in seven games vs. Dolphins.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Mia NYJ Points scored 21.1 (13) 16.8 (24) Points allowed 20.0 (16) 19.0 (11) Passing O 219.2 (19) 178.4 (28) Rushing O 92.3 (23) 121.8 (7) Total O 311.5 (22) 300.2 (25) Passing D 199.7 (6) 240.0 (23) Rushing D 95.8 (12) 108.5 (18) Total D 295.4 (5) 348.5 (23)

*--*

The pick: Miami. With the Jets having given up 41 points to Kerry Collins and the Giants last week, one shudders to think what Dan Marino, looking for vindication after two tough losses, will do.

* The line: Tampa Bay by 4.

* Key injuries: TB--Quarterback Trent Dilfer (shoulder, out).

* Key elements: Lions’ 39 sacks rank second in NFC and their plus-nine turnover differential is best in conference. Buccaneers have plus-eight turnover differential in last three games with 12 takeaways.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Det TB Points scored 22.7 (7) 16.5 (25) Points allowed 13.2 (2) 19.2 (12) Passing O 247.7 (9) 167.8 (30) Rushing O 86.6 (27) 119.5 (10) Total O 334.2 (15) 287.3 (28) Passing D 254.7 (29) 196.0 (4) Rushing D 87.1 (6) 83.8 (4) Total D 341.8 (21) 279.8 (3)

*--*

The pick: Tampa Bay. This one is for the lead in the NFC Central. With one game as a starter and that tough defense behind him, Buccaneer quarterback Shaun King is ready to win a big game.

* The line: Atlanta by 3.

* Key injuries: None.

* Key elements: Falcons are 3-0 when they rush for at least 100 yards. 49ers have lost eight in a row for their worst streak in 19 years, clinching their first losing season since 1982.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Atl SF Points scored 15.8 (28) 16.3 (26) Points allowed 23.4 (25) 28.8 (30) Passing O 228.2 (15) 209.4 (23) Rushing O 75.2 (29) 118.4 (13) Total O 303.4 (24) 327.8 (18) Passing D 197.8 (5) 253.7 (28) Rushing D 128.3 (29) 116.4 (23) Total D 326.1 (14) 370.1 (29)

*--*

The pick: Atlanta. If the 49ers had any pride left, they would win this game. That’s why we are going with the Falcons.

* The line: Kansas City by 1.

* Key injuries: None.

* Key elements: Vikings have given up only nine red-zone touchdowns in 33 trips, best in NFL. Chiefs have won their last nine games vs. NFC opponents.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Min KC Points scored 24.1 (5) 22.7 (8) Points allowed 20.8 (21) 17.6 (8) Passing O 281.9 (1) 212.3 (22) Rushing O 103.4 (18) 119.2 (11) Total O 385.3 (2) 331.5 (17) Passing D 263.4 (31) 230.0 (18) Rushing D 103.8 (16) 92.4 (11) Total D 367.2 (27) 322.4 (12)

*--*

The pick: Minnesota. Tampa Bay was able to shut down a Viking pass offense that has taken apart other defenses. Can the Chiefs do the same thing? No.

* The line: Jacksonville by 9.

* Key injuries: None.

* Key elements: Bronco wide receiver Ed McCaffrey has 518 yards receiving in last six games. Jaguars have won nine in row and quarterback Mark Brunell has three consecutive 300-yard games.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Den Jac Points scored 19.2 (18) 25.6 (4) Points allowed 20.2 (17) 10.9 (1) Passing O 234.1 (13) 235.1 (12) Rushing O 105.5 (17) 129.1 (2) Total O 339.6 (13) 364.2 (6) Passing D 203.8 (8) 189.8 (3) Rushing D 103.0 (15) 85.3 (5) Total D 306.8 (8) 275.2 (2)

*--*

The pick: Jacksonville. This looked like a great game for “Monday Night Football” back in the summer. But that was before the Broncos found out there was no life after Elway.