CAPSULES

ARIZONA at N.Y. GIANTS

* The line: N.Y. Giants by 5 1/2.

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

* Key elements: Cardinals have rushed for 100-plus yards in each of last two games. Giants held Cardinals to 206 total yards, 31 rushing, in Week 5.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Ari NYG Points scored 12.8 (29) 17.0 (22) Points allowed 19.6 (15) 18.8 (13) Passing O 177.6 (27) 225.0 (12) Rushing O 80.4 (28) 89.5 (26) Total O 258.0 (29) 314.5 (19) Passing D 196.0 (7) 205.5 (9) Rushing D 134.3 (29) 97.6 (13) Total D 330.3 (18) 303.1 (8)

*--*

The pick: Arizona. The Cardinals, coming off an emotional win over the Cowboys, will overwhelm the Giants’ new starting quarterback, Kerry Collins, for the second time this season.

CINCINNATI at PITTSBURGH

* The line: Pittsburgh by 10.

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

* Key elements: Bengal quarterback Jeff Blake has 1,699 yards passing and a 91.5 quarterback rating in last seven games vs. Steelers. Steelers have given up only five touchdowns in last 20 quarters.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Cin Pit Points scored 14.6 (28) 18.2 (18) Points allowed 30.5 (31) 14.0 (4) Passing O 220.1 (14) 167.3 (29) Rushing O 112.5 (13) 125.2 (7) Total O 332.6 (14) 292.5 (25) Passing D 223.5 (16) 172.2 (1) Rushing D 109.7 (20) 100.1 (15) Total D 333.2 (20) 272.3 (4)

*--*

The pick: Pittsburgh. The Steelers are having a bad year, but not bad enough to lose to the Bengals. Jerome Bettis has gotten into triple figures rushing in six of his last seven against Cincinnati. Make that seven of eight after today.

JACKSONVILLE at BALTIMORE

* The line: Jacksonville by 7.

* Key injuries: JAC--Running back Fred Taylor (hamstring, questionable).

* Key elements: Jaguars’ plus-14 turnover differential is second in NFL, and eight giveaways are fewest in NFL. Raven defense has given up one rushing touchdown in last 23 quarters.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Jac Bal Points scored 25.7 (4) 17.3 (20) Points allowed 10.2 (1) 18.1 (9) Passing O 217.5 (17) 181.0 (26) Rushing O 132.1 (2) 111.5 (14) Total O 349.6 (10) 292.5 (26) Passing D 187.0 (4) 181.2 (2) Rushing D 88.0 (6) 84.4 (4) Total D 275.0 (5) 265.6 (1)

*--*

The pick: Jacksonville. Mark Brunell against Tony Banks at quarterback? If this were a horse race, Brunell would be required to carry extra weight. A ton of weight.

NEW ENGLAND at BUFFALO

* The line: Buffalo by 4.

* Key injuries: None.

* Key elements: Patriot quarterback Drew Bledsoe is 7-2 with 2,191 yards passing and 16 touchdowns in last nine starts vs. Bills. Bills have won eight of last 11 home games vs. Patriots.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

NE Buf Points scored 22.5 (9) 19.2 (16) Points allowed 20.1 (19) 15.1 (5) Passing O 268.5 (5) 213.5 (21) Rushing O 89.9 (25) 127.7 (6) Total O 358.4 (8) 341.3 (13) Passing D 208.1 (11) 185.6 (3) Rushing D 113.0 (22) 82.9 (3) Total D 321.1 (11) 268.5 (2)

*--*

The pick: Buffalo. Bledsoe is mired in a slump that has included eight interceptions in his last two games. Buffalo in November against the Bill defense is not the place to get well.

NEW ORLEANS at ST. LOUIS

* The line: St. Louis by 14.

* Key injuries: NO--Quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver (knee, out); running back Ricky Williams (toe, doubtful).

* Key elements: Saints have given up 94 first downs passing, fifth-fewest in NFC. Rams are 5-0 vs. division this season and have won six games by 20 points or more.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

NO StL Points scored 17.0 (21) 32.3 (1) Points allowed 22.6 (25) 13.5 (2) Passing O 222.5 (13) 270.1 (4) Rushing O 119.6 (10) 123.6 (8) Total O 342.1 (12) 393.7 (1) Passing D 216.3 (13) 229.7 (21) Rushing D 111.1 (21) 77.9 (1) Total D 327.4 (16) 307.6 (9)

*--*

The pick: St. Louis. The Rams proved last week against the 49ers that they can get up for bad teams. The Saints keep proving they are a bad team.

PHILADELPHIA at WASHINGTON

* The line: Washington by 10 1/2.

* Key injuries: PHI--Wide receiver Charles Johnson (knee, out).

* Key elements: Eagles’ 28 take- aways lead NFC, 18 interceptions rank second and 10 fumble recoveries tie for third. Redskins’ plus-seven turnover differential is tops in NFC.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Phi Wash Points scored 15.1 (27) 31.0 (2) Points allowed 23.3 (26) 27.0 (29) Passing O 141.7 (31) 257.2 (8) Rushing O 108.8 (15) 128.9 (4) Total O 250.5 (30) 386.1 (2) Passing D 226.0 (18) 260.8 (30) Rushing D 134.4 (30) 128.9 (28) Total D 360.4 (26) 389.7 (31)

*--*

The pick: Washington. Redskin Coach Norv Turner is fighting to keep his job. If he could play the Eagles every week, he’d have a chance.

SAN DIEGO at MINNESOTA

* The line: Minnesota by 13 1/2.

* Key injuries: SD--Quarterback Erik Kramer (neck-injured reserve, out).

* Key elements: Chargers gave up 4.08 yards per first-down play, second in NFL. Vikings are 8-2 after bye weeks and are averaging 29.3 points in last four victories.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

SD Min Points scored 15.6 (26) 23.7 (5) Points allowed 21.7 (23) 19.9 (18) Passing O 213.7 (20) 274.9 (3) Rushing O 66.3 (31) 102.0 (19) Total O 280.0 (28) 376.9 (4) Passing D 229.7 (20) 266.4 (31) Rushing D 91.8 (9) 108.0 (19) Total D 321.5 (12) 374.4 (29)

*--*

The pick: Minnesota. It doesn’t seem fair for the hapless Chargers to have to face the Vikings in Minnesota when the Vikings have had a week off to rest.

TENNESSEE AT CLEVELAND

* The line: Tennessee by 10 1/2.

* Key injuries: None.

* Key elements: Titans have won 12 consecutive division games, most ever by AFC Central team. Browns’ 55 penalties are second fewest in AFC.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Tenn Cle Points scored 20.6 (13) 10.5 (31) Points allowed 18.1 (10) 25.8 (28) Passing O 219.3 (15) 164.5 (30) Rushing O 96.5 (21) 72.8 (29) Total O 315.8 (18) 237.3 (31) Passing D 231.8 (23) 217.6 (14) Rushing D 98.3 (14) 168.5 (31) Total D 330.1 (17) 386.1 (30)

*--*

The pick: Tennessee. The Titans last played at Cleveland in 1995. They were the Oilers and the Browns weren’t an expansion team. It was 37-10 Oilers then. It won’t be any better for the Browns now.

TAMPA BAY at SEATTLE

* The line: Seattle by 5 1/2.

* Key injuries: None.

* Key elements: Buccaneers have given up 20 or fewer points in five consecutive games. Seahawks’ plus-10 turnover differential is third in NFL and their 21 interceptions lead NFL.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

TB Sea Points scored 15.8 (25) 23.6 (6) Points allowed 13.8 (3) 16.4 (6) Passing O 183.9 (25) 217.1 (18) Rushing O 122.6 (9) 94.6 (22) Total O 306.5 (22) 311.7 (20) Passing D 188.4 (5) 253.5 (27) Rushing D 82.6 (2) 105.1 (18) Total D 271.0 (3) 358.6 (25)

*--*

The pick: Seattle. The Buccaneers can’t win if they can’t score. And so far this season, they have struggled to score.

KANSAS CITY at OAKLAND

* The line: Oakland by 3 1/2.

* Key injuries: OAK--Safety Eric Turner (calf, out).

* Key elements: Chiefs’ plus-17 turnover differential is first in NFL. Raider wide receiver Tim Brown has 51 catches for 697 yards in last seven games vs. Chiefs.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

KC Oak Points scored 21.9 (11) 20.6 (14) Points allowed 16.7 (7) 18.9 (14) Passing O 213.9 (19) 236.1 (10) Rushing O 115.5 (12) 128.9 (5) Total O 329.4 (16) 365.0 (6) Passing D 230.1 (22) 233.5 (24) Rushing D 91.8 (10) 89.5 (7) Total D 321.9 (13) 323.0 (14)

*--*

The pick: Oakland. The loser can start making off-season plans for January. The winner has a thread of hope for postseason plans.

N.Y. JETS at INDIANAPOLIS

* The line: Indianapolis by 7.

* Key injuries: None.

* Key elements: Matchup features AFC’s top two rushers, Colts’ Edgerrin James (1,006 yards) and Jets’ Curtis Martin (959).

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

NYJ Ind Points scored 16.7 (23) 29.4 (3) Points allowed 17.4 (8) 19.8 (17) Passing O 175.5 (28) 278.2 (1) Rushing O 132.2 (1) 107.0 (17) Total O 307.7 (21) 385.2 (3) Passing D 234.1 (25) 228.4 (19) Rushing D 104.2 (17) 103.9 (16) Total D 338.3 (21) 332.3 (19)

*--*

The pick: Jets. New York runs into a juggernaut, but Bill Parcells has his team playing at a season peak.

ATLANTA at CAROLINA

* The line: Carolina by 4 1/2.

* Key injuries: WR Rae Carruth (personal, out).

* Key elements: Falcons held Panthers to 63 yards rushing and had three interceptions in Week 8. Also in that game, Panthers limited Falcons to 176 yards passing.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Atl Car Points scored 12.7 (30) 22.7 (8) Points allowed 23.5 (27) 22.1 (24) Passing O 219.1 (16) 259.3 (7) Rushing O 71.1 (30) 105.5 (18) Total O 290.2 (27) 364.8 (7) Passing D 197.2 (8) 222.0 (15) Rushing D 126.5 (26) 122.8 (25) Total D 323.7 (15) 344.8 (23)

*--*

The pick: Carolina. The Panthers’ Steve Beuerlein and Tshimanga Biakabutuka are trouble for any Falcon hopes of an upset.

GREEN BAY at SAN FRANCISCO

* The line: Green Bay by 6.

* Key injuries: SF--Linebacker Charles Haley (knee, questionable).

* Key elements: Packer quarterback Brett Favre is 5-1 vs. 49ers and has 1,566 yards passing and 10 touchdowns against them. But 49ers had five interceptions vs. Favre in ’98 matchups.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

GB SF Points scored 19.2 (17) 16.3 (24) Points allowed 20.9 (22) 28.1 (30) Passing O 265.6 (6) 188.1 (24) Rushing O 87.8 (27) 117.9 (11) Total O 353.4 (9) 306.2 (24) Passing D 209.2 (12) 247.4 (26) Rushing D 128.3 (27) 116.7 (24) Total D 337.5 (21) 364.1 (27)

*--*

The pick: Green Bay. The 49ers don’t figure to come out of their uncharacteristic fog any time soon. Favre could beat this group without a thumb.