CAPSULES

MINNESOTA at NEW YORK GIANTS

10 A.M. Channel 11

* The line: Minnesota by 2 1/2.

* Key injuries: MIN--Wide receiver Cris Carter (ankle, questionable). NYG--Linebacker Corey Widmer (back, questionable).

* Key elements: Wide receiver Randy Moss has tied Viking record with six 100-yard games this season. Giant quarterback Kerry Collins has 1,152 yards passing and six touchdowns in last four games.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Min NYG Points scored 24.4 (6) 18.9 (20) Points allowed 21.5 (23) 21.3 (21) Passing O 273.6 (3) 243.0 (10) Rushing O 106.6 (19) 90.0 (23) Total O 380.3 (3) 333.0 (17) Passing D 258.1 (30) 220.9 (14) Rushing D 108.9 (18T) 88.4 (7) Total D 367.1 (29) 309.3 (7T)

*--*

* The pick: Minnesota. The Giants have the defense to rattle Jeff George but don’t have the firepower to score points. Besides, Minnesota is going to the Super Bowl, so it has to win this game.

CHICAGO at ST. LOUIS

10 A.M.

* The line: St. Louis by 10.

* Key injuries: None.

* Key elements: Bear wide receiver Marcus Robinson leads NFC with 1,223 yards receiving and leads team with nine touchdowns. Rams have scored a club-record seven defensive touchdowns.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Chi StL Points scored 18.1 (21) 32.9 (1) Points allowed 20.5 (17) 13.7 (2) Passing O 268.9 (5) 281.6 (1) Rushing O 89.1 (24) 124.5 (7) Total O 358.0 (9) 406.1 (1) Passing D 252.9 (29) 235.5 (20) Rushing D 116.0 (25) 76.4 (1) Total D 368.9 (30) 311.9 (10)

*--*

* The pick: St. Louis. The Rams claim they get no respect--a shaky performance against the Bears will not help their cause. But it’s going to be tough for Ram Coach Dick Vermeil to work up a good cry after this laugher.

KANSAS CITY at SEATTLE

1 P.M. Channel 2

* The line: Seattle by 3.

* Key injuries: None.

* Key elements: Chief wide receiver Derrick Alexander has 22 catches for 351 yards in last four games vs. Seahawks. Seahawk running back Ricky Watters has 212 yards rushing and five touchdowns in last two games vs. Chiefs.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

KC Sea Points scored 24.1 (7) 21.9 (9) Points allowed 18.4 (7T) 18.9 (9) Passing O 208.0 (24) 226.9 (15) Rushing O 130.1 (5) 93.9 (22) Total O 338.1 (13) 320.8 (21) Passing D 230.6 (17) 234.2 (19) Rushing D 99.4 (13) 120.4 (27) Total D 329.9 (14) 354.6 (25)

*--*

* The pick: Seattle. Kansas City has won four in a row--not bad for a one-dimensional team. The Seahawks have lost four in a row, and Mike Holmgren hasn’t had any answers. But Seattle is under the dome, and the noise will get to the Chiefs.

BUFFALO at NEW ENGLAND

10 A.M.

* The line: Buffalo by 3.

* Key injuries: BUF--Wide receiver Andre Reed (chest, questionable). NE--Cornerback Ty Law (hand, out).

* Key elements: Bills’ Doug Flutie has 546 yards passing, four touchdowns in last two games vs. Patriots. Drew Bledsoe is 7-3 with 2,396 yards and 17 touchdowns in last 10 starts vs. Bills.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Buf NE Points scored 19.7 (17T) 19.2 (19) Points allowed 15.2 (3) 19.1 (10T) Passing O 212.8 (22) 269.7 (4) Rushing O 124.3 (8) 87.1 (26) Total O 337.1 (14) 356.8 (10) Passing D 186.1 (1) 201.3 (6) Rushing D 83.4 (3) 107.7 (16) Total D 269.6 (1) 309.0 (6)

*--*

* The pick: New England. Buffalo has No. 1 pass defense in NFL, but Patriots have No. 2 pass attack in AFC, even though Bledsoe looks like a robot programmed to throw interceptions.

CINCINNATI at BALTIMORE

10 A.M.

* The line: Baltimore by 7.

* Key injuries: BAL--Wide receiver Qadry Ismail (knee-back, questionable).

* Key elements: Bengals are averaging 36.5 points over last four games vs. 13 over their first 10. Raven quarterback Tony Banks has 1,386 yards passing and 14 touchdowns in past five games.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Cin Bal Points scored 19.2 (17T) 21.4 (12) Points allowed 29.6 (31) 18.4 (7T) Passing O 226.9 (14T) 208.7 (23) Rushing O 132.0 (4) 107.5 (17) Total O 358.9 (8) 316.2 (22) Passing D 251.6 (28) 213.4 (11) Rushing D 102.4 (14) 77.8 (2) Total D 354.1 (24) 291.1 (5)

*--*

* The pick: Cincinnati. Baltimore has been playing like a playoff team. The magic dust has to wear off sooner or later. The Bengals are just dreadful, but weren’t the Ravens that way only a few weeks ago?

GREEN BAY at TAMPA BAY

1:15 P.M., Channel 11

* The line: Tampa Bay by 3 1/2.

* Key injuries: None.

* Key elements: Packers have allowed 89 yards rushing in last two games. Buccaneer defensive tackle Warren Sapp has 12 1/2 sacks and needs one more to set the club record.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

GB TB Points scored 21.3 (14) 15.8 (26) Points allowed 20.6 (18) 15.6 (4) Passing O 256.2 (7) 175.2 (30) Rushing O 95.1 (21) 107.8 (16) Total O 351.3 (11) 283.0 (28) Passing D 224.6 (15) 195.3 (3) Rushing D 114.3 (23) 94.6 (11) Total D 338.9 (16) 289.9 (3)

*--*

* The pick: Green Bay. Hard to pick against the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay with their defense, but hard to believe the Packers won’t play with the heart of postseason champions. Besides, Tampa Coach Tony Dungy is 1-7 versus Green Bay.

INDIANAPOLIS at CLEVELAND

10 A.M.

* The line: Indianapolis by 13 1/2.

* Key injuries: CLE--Quarterback Tim Couch (ankle, out).

* Key elements: Colt wide receiver Marvin Harrison needs three catches for first 100-catch season in team history. Brown wide receiver Kevin Johnson needs 43 yards receiving to become 13th rookie with 1,000.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Ind Cle Points scored 27.7 (3) 12.6 (31) Points allowed 19.6 (13T) 27.2 (29) Passing O 266.0 (6) 188.3 (27) Rushing O 106.9 (18) 67.3 (31) Total O 372.9 (4) 255.5 (30) Passing D 236.8 (22) 212.1 (10) Rushing D 103.0 (15) 174.4 (31) Total D 339.8 (17) 386.5 (31)

*--*

* The pick: Indianapolis. The Browns are playing their final game, getting a bye in the final week. That means all those folks who bought personal seat licenses will go home without having seen their team win at home.

OAKLAND at SAN DIEGO

1 P.M.

* The line: Oakland by 3.

* Key injuries: None.

* Key elements: Raider quarterback Rich Gannon is 38 for 57 for 558 yards with five touchdowns in last two games vs. Chargers. Chargers allowed only 53 yards rushing in loss to Miami last week.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Oak SD Points scored 23.5 (8) 16.7 (25) Points allowed 19.1 (10T) 20.7 (19) Passing O 232.9 (12) 222.1 (18) Rushing O 138.0 (1) 71.6 (30) Total O 370.9 (6) 293.7 (27) Passing D 218.7 (13) 240.7 (23) Rushing D 94.4 (10) 87.9 (6) Total D 313.1 (11) 328.6 (13)

*--*

* The pick: Oakland. It’s going to be tough for the Chargers to be up emotionally for the game after being eliminated from the playoffs last week. Hey, they lasted 15 weeks longer than some people thought.

JACKSONVILLE at TENNESSEE

10 A.M.

* The line: Jacksonville by 3.

* Key injuries: JAC--Wide receiver Reggie Barlow (knee, out). TENN--Wide receiver Yancey Thigpen (ankle, questionable).

* Key elements: Jaguars have won 11 in a row and can clinch AFC Central with a win or tie.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Jac Ten Points scored 25.6 (4) 21.7 (10) Points allowed 12.1 (1) 19.6 (13T) Passing O 228.8 (13) 219.9 (19) Rushing O 135.1 (2) 108.8 (15) Total O 363.9 (7) 328.6 (18T) Passing D 199.6 (4) 249.6 (24) Rushing D 84.7 (4) 96.9 (12) Total D 284.3 (2) 346.5 (21)

*--*

* The pick: Jacksonville. Tennessee isn’t that good. The Jaguars haven’t played like they are any good, but they have the potential to explode at any time. Titans beat Jaguars earlier this season, but that was with Neil O’Donnell at quarterback.

WASHINGTON at SAN FRANCISCO

5:15 P.M., ESPN

* The line: Washington by 7.

* Key injuries: WASH--Running back Stephen Davis (ankle, questionable).

* Key elements: Redskin wide receiver Michael Westbrook leads club with 1,041 yards receiving, most of any Redskin player since ’94. In last three games 49ers have totaled 1,273 yards and 80 points.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Wash SF Points scored 28.3 (2) 17.6 (24) Points allowed 24.8 (27) 28.1 (30) Passing O 247.6 (8T) 213.2 (21) Rushing O 134.1 (3) 121.6 (9) Total O 381.7 (2) 334.8 (15) Passing D 250.4 (26) 251.3 (27) Rushing D 114.6 (24) 108.9 (18) Total D 364.9 (28) 360.2 (26)

*--*

* The pick: Washington. The 49ers might try to make it tough, but unless Washington agrees not to throw the ball and embarrass San Francisco, this one is not a fair fight.

CAROLINA at PITTSBURGH

10 A.M.

* The line: Carolina by 3 1/2.

* Key injuries: CAR--Running back Tshimanga Biakabutuka (ankle, questionable). PIT--Defensive tackle Joel Steed (knee, out).

* Key elements: Panthers’ Wesley Walls leads NFL tight ends with 10 touchdowns and needs three for tight end single-season record. Steeler running back Jerome Bettis needs 107 yards for fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Car Pit Points scored 25.4 (5) 17.9 (22T) Points allowed 24.1 (25T) 18.1 (6) Passing O 275.9 (2) 193.9 (26) Rushing O 95.6 (20) 117.3 (11) Total O 371.5 (5) 311.2 (24) Passing D 250.2 (25) 192.0 (2) Rushing D 113.0 (21) 121.4 (28) Total D 363.2 (27) 313.4 (12)

*--*

* The pick: Pittsburgh. Carolina’s on a roll, but the Steelers have been embarrassed. Mike Tomczak will outplay Steve Beuerlein; it’s been that kind of season.

ARIZONA at ATLANTA

10 A.M.

* The line: Atlanta by 2.

* Key injuries: ARI--Running back Michael Pittman (toe, questionable). ATL--Quarterback Chris Chandler (ribs-shoulder, questionable).

* Key elements: Cardinal wide receiver Frank Sanders leads NFC with 27 third-down receptions. Cardinal defensive end Simeon Rice has 14 1/2 sacks, second in NFL.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Ari Atl Points scored 14.8 (30) 15.3 (29) Points allowed 21.1 (20) 24.1 (25T) Passing O 176.6 (29) 225.4 (16) Rushing O 75.0 (28) 71.8 (29) Total O 251.6 (31) 297.1 (26) Passing D 203.2 (9) 201.4 (7) Rushing D 137.6 (30) 132.3 (29) Total D 340.8 (18) 333.6 (15)

*--*

* The pick: Arizona. The Cardinals have proved to be a bust, but the Falcons attempt to play each week without a talented quarterback. Come to think of it, that’s what the Cardinals are doing too.

NEW YORK JETS at MIAMI

Monday, 6 P.M., Channel 7

* The line: Miami by 3 1/2.

* Key injuries: MIA--Wide receiver Oronde Gadsden (ribs, questionable), tight end Troy Drayton (knee, out).

* Key elements: Jet quarterback Ray Lucas has thrown one interception in last 164 attempts. Dolphin quarterback Dan Marino has thrown for 8,333 yards and 69 touchdowns in career vs. Jets.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

NYJ Mia Points scored 17.9 (22T) 20.4 (16) Points allowed 19.2 (12) 19.8 (15) Passing O 185.7 (28) 223.9 (17) Rushing O 120.2 (10) 8.1 (25) Total O 305.9 (25) 312.0 (23) Passing D 235.8 (21) 200.3 (5) Rushing D 112.1 (20) 90.7 (8) Total D 347.9 (22) 291.0 (4)

*--*

* The pick: Miami. The Jets have won six of seven games in December, but they will be sweating in Miami. And although Dolphins look averse to scoring touchdowns, they have something to play for.