THIS WEEK’S TREND

Look for the NFL to keep reminding us: Just because the old guard is struggling doesn’t mean every other team is no good. In fact, through Sunday, six teams--the Jacksonville Jaguars, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts--were 8-2 or better--the first time that has happened in 23 years.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT

Plan ahead: Other than the annual induction day each summer, the busiest day of the year at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, is the day after Thanksgiving.

AND FINALLY

By midnight Sunday, the Rams could be NFC West champions. If they beat the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at St. Louis and the Carolina Panthers lose to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night at Charlotte, N.C., the Rams will clinch their first division title since 1985 and their first playoff berth since 1989. “We’ve caught up,” Coach Dick Vermeil said. “Teams never stay where they are.”

ON TV

* New England at Buffalo, 10 a.m., Ch. 2

Third consecutive game for Patriots against an AFC East foe. They lost the first two.

Line: Buffalo by 4.

* New Orleans at St. Louis, 10 a.m., Ch. 11

Rams could match ’85 Bears, ’97 49ers for earliest clinch of title in 16-game era.

Line: St. Louis by 14.

* Kansas City at Oakland, 1:15 p.m., Ch. 2

Loser probably won’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of reaching the playoffs.

Line: Oakland by 3 1/2.

* Atlanta at Carolina, 5:15 p.m., ESPN

Ram fans cheering for a Panther loss and five-game tuneup for the playoffs.

Line: Carolina by 4 1/2.

* Green Bay at San Francisco, Mon., 6 p.m., Ch. 7

Favre vs. 49ers when they were good: 1,566 yards passing, 10 touchdowns, 5-1 record.

Line: Green Bay by 6.

THE REST

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

Line: New York by 4 1/2.

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, 10 a.m.

Line: Pittsburgh by 10.

Jacksonville at Baltimore, 10 a.m.

Line: Jacksonville by 7.

Philadelphia at Washington, 10 a.m.

Line: Washington by 10.

San Diego at Minnesota, 10 a.m.

Line: Minnesota by 13 1/2.

Tennessee at Cleveland, 10 a.m.

Line: Tennessee by 10 1/2.

Tampa Bay at Seattle, 1 p.m.

Line: Seattle by 5 1/2.

N.Y. Jets at Indianapolis, 1:15 p.m.

Line: Indianapolis by 7.