WEEK 10 PRIMER

GAME OF THE WEEK

Miami (7-1) at Buffalo (6-3). The Bills handed the Dolphins their only defeat, and did it in Miami. Four teams in the AFC East appear playoff-bound. The Dolphins have not allowed a touchdown in 14 quarters. The line: Buffalo by 3.

UPSET OF THE WEEK

New Orleans (1-7) over San Francisco (3-5). The Saints have dropped seven in a row, which makes them look pretty good stacked up against the 49ers. San Francisco will start Steve Stenstrom at quarterback. Stenstrom doesn’t have the arm to throw a Hail Mary, so New Orleans may never have a better chance to win. The line: San Francisco by 1.

POTENTIAL STAR OF THE WEEK

New Orleans running back Ricky Williams. Everyone else passes to take advantage of the 49ers’ woeful secondary, but the Saints use their quarterbacks to hand off to Williams, who is on pace to become the first 1,000-yard rusher for New Orleans in a decade, despite having ankle and leg injuries.

POTENTIAL STIFF OF THE WEEK

Kansas City quarterback Elvis Grbac. Grbac has thrown five touchdown passes and no interceptions in his last three games. That is testing the limits of believability, and if the Buccaneers get ahead, Grbac will throw to someone playing for Tampa Bay.

THIS WEEK’S TREND

Look for the AFC to continue its march toward an all-time record for interconference victories. AFC teams have won 24 of 36 games against the NFC this season, putting the AFC on pace to win 40 interconference games. The AFC won 36 of 52 against the NFC in 1979.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT

Kurt Warner of the St. Louis Rams has been the league’s biggest surprise, passing for at least three touchdowns in all but one of the Rams’ eight games. “The man obviously didn’t take the elevator,” said Carolina Panther linebacker Kevin Greene. “He took the stairs, and he started at the very bottom of the staircase. Then they put him in the basement, and he still came back up.”

AND FINALLY

Warner is on pace to equal Dan Marino’s record of 48 touchdown passes, set in 1984, and his 119.2 passer rating is better than Steve Young’s record 112.8, set in 1994.

ON TV

* Carolina at St. Louis, 10 a.m., Ch. 11

The Rams try to right themselves--and maintain control of division--after two losses.

Line: St. Louis by 10.

* San Diego at Oakland, 1 p.m., Ch. 2

The perfect .500 team: All Raider games have been decided by less than a touchdown.

Line: Oakland by 7.

* Green Bay at Dallas, 1:15 p.m., Ch. 11

Brett Favre, 1-6 against Cowboys, is predicting an 8-0 run to playoffs for the Pack.

Line: Green Bay by 3.

* Denver at Seattle, 5:15 p.m., ESPN

Galloway or no Galloway, the Seahawks know the way. Miller time is bad time for Broncos.

Line: Seattle by 5 1/2.

* N.Y. Jets at New England, Monday, 6 p.m., Ch. 7

Latest version of “Tuna Bowl” is no great catch for Al Michaels, Boomer & Co.

Line: New England by 6.

THE REST

Cleveland at Pittsburgh, 10 a.m.

Line: Pittsburgh by 14 1/2.

Indianapolis at N.Y. Giants, 10 a.m.

Line: Indianapolis by 3.

Kansas City at Tampa Bay, 10 a.m.

Line: Tampa Bay by 3.

Miami at Buffalo, 10 a.m.

Line: Buffalo by 3.

Minnesota at Chicago, 10 a.m.

Line: Minnesota by 6 1/2.

San Francisco at New Orleans, 10 a.m.

Line: San Francisco by 1.

Tennessee at Cincinnati, 10 a.m.

Line: Tennessee by 10.

Washington at Philadelphia, 10 a.m.

Line: Washington by 6.

Baltimore at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

Line: Jacksonville by 13.

Detroit at Arizona, 1:15 p.m.

Line: Detroit by 5 1/2.