Picks by ROBYN NORWOOD, Research by ROY...

Picks by ROBYN NORWOOD, Research by ROY JURGENS

SEATTLE (4-8) AT ATLANTA (3-10), 10 a.m.

* The line: Pick.

* Key injuries: SEA--QB Brock Huard (kidney, doubtful). ATL--None.

* Key elements: These two teams are out of playoff contention and have a combined 7-18 record. Seattle RB Ricky Watters has 683 total yards and four touchdowns in his last five games. Showing a remarkable lack of discipline for a Mike Holmgren team, Seattle has committed 46 turnovers in its last 19 games (5-14). Atlanta has been held to 14 or fewer points in five consecutive games.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS SEA ATL Points scored 18.0 (24) 15.8 (27) Points allowed 24.8 (26) 26.7 (28) Passing Off. 172.6 (25) 178.5 (23) Rushing Off. 102.6 (21) 70.9 (29) Passing Def. 254.3 (30) 221.6 (23) Rushing Def. 148.8 (T28) 135.3 (27) Time of Poss. 26:52 (30) 28:49 (25) Turnover Ratio -10 (T27) -4 (T21) Red Zone TD% 55.9 (T7) 34.5 (31)

*--*

* The pick: Seattle. Atlanta can’t expect much from rookie quarterback Doug Johnson, starting ahead of Chris Chandler, demoted to No. 3.

MIAMI (9-3) AT BUFFALO (7-5), 10 a.m.

* The line: Buffalo by 3.

* Key injuries: MIA--QB Jay Fiedler (shoulder, questionable); WR O.J. McDuffie (toe, questionable); RB Lamar Smith (hamstring, questionable). BUF--LB Sam Cowart (ankle, out); RB Sammy Morris (ankle, questionable).

* Key elements: Including playoffs, the Dolphins are 3-12 in their last 15 visits to Orchard Park where the Bills have won 17 of last 21. Dolphins top NFL with 22 interceptions and lead the NFL with the top defensive QB rating in NFL (56.1).

*--*

THE MATCHUPS MIA BUF Points scored 19.8 (T19) 19.8 (T19) Points allowed 13.3 (2) 19.8 (14) Passing Off. 150.2 (30) 231.4 (10) Rushing Off. 124.2 (11) 108.8 (19) Passing Def. 186.4 (8) 185.3 (7) Rushing Def. 108.9 (14) 82.5 (4) Time of Poss. 30:55 (13) 32:36 (4) Turnover Ratio +15 (T1) +10 (T6) Red Zone TD% 60.7 (4) 46.2 (18)

*--*

* The pick: Miami. Bills’ injured players--among them leading tackler Cowart--give Dolphins a good chance on the road.

ARIZONA (3-9) AT CINCINNATI (2-10), 10 a.m.

* The line: Cincinnati by 4.

* Key injuries: AZ--QB Dave Brown (shoulder, questionable), CIN--None.

* Key elements: This could be called the battle of who couldn’t care less as these two teams are a combined 5-19. Arizona RB Michael Pittman has 1,085 yards from scrimmage and leads all NFL RBs with 61 catches. KR MarTay Jenkins leads the NFL with 27.4 yards return average and needs 118 yards to break the season record of 1,791. Bengal RB Corey Dillon has 17 career 100-yard games and needs one to break James Brooks’ club record.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS AZ CIN Points scored 14.8 (28) 11.2 (30) Points allowed 28.5 (30) 23.4 (23) Passing Off. 202.8 (16) 116.9 (31) Rushing Off. 84.3 (26) 146.2 (2) Passing Def. 212.9 (17) 218.2 (22) Rushing Def. 148.8 (T28) 124.1 (24) Time of Poss. 27:01 (29) 27:24 (28) Turnover Ratio -17 (30) -14 (29) Red Zone TD% 38.2 (26) 36.4 (29)

*--*

* The pick: Arizona. This game’s not worth picking, much less watching.

DENVER (8-4) AT NEW ORLEANS (8-4), 10 a.m.

* The line: New Orleans by 1 1/2.

* Key injuries: DEN--CB Ray Crockett (hamstring, out); QB Brian Griese (shoulder, out); RB Terrell Davis (leg, out). NO--DT Norman Hand (foot, questionable).

* Key elements: The Broncos don’t particularly enjoy playing at the Superdome, where they are 0-3, including two Super Bowl losses, by a combined score of 124-20. The Saints lead the NFL with 55 sacks and are on pace for an NFL-record 73.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS DEN NO Points scored 30.9 (2) 21.3 (11) Points allowed 24.4 (25) 17.2 (9) Passing Off. 286.1 (2) 187.9 (20) Rushing Off. 140.4 (5) 138.8 (7) Passing Def. 243.1 (27) 188.0 (9) Rushing Def. 96.7 (8) 80.0 (3) Time of Poss. 33:55 (1) 32:23 (5) Turnover Ratio +11 (5) +7 (9) Red Zone TD% 52.3 (12) 54.1 (11)

*--*

* The pick: New Orleans. Broncos have more experienced backups at quarterback and running back, but Saint defense wins out.

TENNESSEE (9-3) AT PHILADELPHIA (9-4), 10 a.m.

* The line: Tennessee by 3.

* Key injuries: TEN--QB Steve McNair (thumb, questionable). PHI-None.

* Key elements: The Eagles are 6-0 all-time vs. the Titans/Oilers. Titan RB Eddie George has four touchdowns in the last two games and ranks second in the AFC with 1,463 yards from scrimmage. Titan WR-KR Derrick Mason has 2,125 all-purpose yards and is on pace for an NFL-record 2,833. The Titans lead AFC with 40 sacks. The Eagles have won four games in a row and six of seven.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS TEN PHI Points scored 20.1 (T17) 22.1 (9) Points allowed 14.6 (3) 15.3 (5) Passing Off. 201.1 (17) 183.5 (22) Rushing Off. 123.7 (12) 126.7 (9) Passing Def. 169.5 (2) 176.2 (6) Rushing Def. 94.8 (7) 116.1 (17) Time of Poss. 32:57 (3) 29:31 (20) Turnover Ratio 0 (T16) 0 (T16) Red Zone TD% 43.9 (22) 48.8 (14)

*--*

* The pick: Tennessee. Coach Jeff Fisher and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will find a way to slow the McNabb show.

OAKLAND (10-2) AT PITTSBURGH (6-6), 10 a.m.

* The line: Oakland by 3.

* Key injuries: OAK--None. PIT--WR Courtney Hawkins (knee, questionable).

* Key elements: The Raiders lead this once great rivalry, 7-5. Raider QB Rich Gannon leads AFC QBs with 404 yards rushing. Oakland RB Tyrone Wheatley has 13 touchdowns in his last 13 games. Steeler QB Kordell Stewart is in the midst of a comeback, accounting for seven touchdowns in last two games. The Steelers have given up a whopping 449 yards rushing in their last two games.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS OAK PIT Points scored 29.3 (3) 19.3 (23) Points allowed 19.6 (13) 15.1 (4) Passing Off. 209.9 (14) 152.5 (29) Rushing Off. 147.3 (1) 139.3 (6) Passing Def. 243.8 (28) 172.8 (4) Rushing Def. 90.8 (5) 117.8 (20) Time of Poss. 32:11 (17) 30:57 (12) Turnover Ratio +12 (T3) +10 (T6) Red Zone TD% 57.1 (6) 45.5 (19)

*--*

* The pick: Oakland. Raiders on their way to home-field advantage in playoffs.

DALLAS (4-8) AT TAMPA BAY (7-5), 10 a.m.

* The line: Tampa Bay by 10.

* Key injuries: DAL--C Mark Stepnoski (knee, out); TE Jackie Harris (knee, questionable). TB--FB Mike Alstott (knee, out).

* Key elements: The Cowboys lead this series 6-0. Dallas RB Emmitt Smith needs 96 yards rushing for his 10th 1,000-yard season in a row, tying Barry Sanders for most all-time. Tampa Bay DE Warren Sapp has career-high and club-record 13 1/2 sacks. The Buccaneers have a club-record 49 sacks and are on pace for 65. Tampa Bay has 19 turnovers in its last nine games (4-5).

*--*

THE MATCHUPS DAL TB Points scored 20.2 (T15) 24.4 (6) Points allowed 22.8 (20) 16.4 (7) Passing Off. 184.8 (21) 163.8 (27) Rushing Off. 119.8 (14) 120.3 (13) Passing Def. 175.8 (5) 195.6 (12) Rushing Def. 170.8 (31) 102.2 (11) Time of Poss. 29:01 (24) 29:49 (18) Turnover Ratio -10 (T27) +5 (10) Red Zone TD% 51.4 (13) 63.6 (1)

*--*

* The pick: Tampa Bay. Last easy game in Buccaneers’ fight to make playoffs.

N.Y. GIANTS (8-4) AT WASHINGTON (7-5), 10 a.m.

* The line: Washington by 6.

* Key injuries: NYG--WR Ike Hilliard (sternum/lung, out). WAS--RB Larry Centers (knee, questionable); WR Albert Connell (knee, questionable).

* Key elements: The Redskins aim for a fifth consecutive victory against the Giants for the first time since they won six in a row from 1981-84. The RB duo of Tiki Barber and Ron Dayne face a Redskin defense that has held the Giants to 248 yards rushing in the last three games. Redskins have given up four rushing touchdowns this season, tops in NFL. Giants lead the all-time series 75-56-4.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS NYG WAS Points scored 20.3 (14) 19.8 (T19) Points allowed 15.9 (6) 16.8 (8) Passing Off. 204.8 (15) 234.5 (7) Rushing Off. 135.1 (8) 119.7 (15) Passing Def. 215.4 (19) 172.5 (3) Rushing Def. 77.9 (2) 97.2 (9) Time of Poss. 31:30 (8) 32:19 (6) Turnover Ratio +4 (11) +2 (12) Red Zone TD% 55.9 (7) 47.5 (17)

*--*

* The pick: Washington. The Redskins are better than their record. The Giants aren’t.

ST. LOUIS (8-4) AT CAROLINA (5-7), 10 a.m.

* The line: St. Louis by 7 1/2.

* Key injuries: STL--K Jeff Wilkins (thigh, questionable). CAR--RB William Floyd (ribs, out).

* Key elements: Despite their recent troubles, the Rams still lead league with 436 points scored and are on pace for NFL-record of 581. Ram RB Marshall Faulk needs 169 yards rushing for his fourth consecutive and sixth career 1,000-yard season. St. Louis has committed 15 turnovers and given up 25 sacks in its last six games (2-4).

*--*

THE MATCHUPS STL CAR Points scored 36.3 (1) 20.1 (T17) Points allowed 30.6 (31) 18.2 (10) Passing Off. 348.4 (1) 224.1 (12) Rushing Off. 103.8 (20) 83.8 (27) Passing Def. 248.6 (29) 227.5 (25) Rushing Def. 103.9 (12) 119.0 (21) Time of Poss. 30:58 (T10) 30:41 (14) Turnover Ratio -4 (T21) -3 (T18) Red Zone TD% 63.3 (2) 40.4 (23)

*--*

* The pick: St. Louis. Rams have starters back and four games to get it together for the playoffs.

SAN FRANCISCO (4-8) AT SAN DIEGO (1-11), 1 p.m.

* The line: San Francisco by 2 1/2.

* Key injuries: SF--WR Terrell Owens (toe, questionable). SD--DE Neil Smith (knee, doubtful).

* Key elements: Both teams are experiencing a reversal of fortune recently, as the 49ers have given up 6.5 points a game in their last two games, compared to 32.3 points a game in the first 10. The Chargers are averaging 27 points in their last two games compared to 15.2 in their first 10. San Diego’s four losses by two points or less tie an NFL record for most in a season.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS SF SD Points scored 24.2 (7) 17.2 (25) Points allowed 28.0 (29) 25.6 (27) Passing Off. 259.5 (T4) 210.2 (13) Rushing Off. 124.6 (10) 68.2 (30) Passing Def. 268.4 (31) 226.3 (24) Rushing Def. 110.9 (15) 91.4 (6) Time of Poss. 29:35 (19) 29:08 (22) Turnover Ratio +1 (T13) -20 (31) Red Zone TD% 62.2 (3) 37.9 (28)

*--*

* The pick: San Francisco. Chargers don’t get to play a 44-year-old quarterback this week.

INDIANAPOLIS (7-5) AT N.Y. JETS (8-4), 1:15 p.m.

* The line: New York Jets by 2.

* Key injuries: IND--None. NYJ--WR Laveranues Coles (knee, out).

* Key elements: QB Peyton Manning leads the sputtering Colt offense into the Meadowlands against a Jet defense that has given up only one TD in the last 10 quarters. The Colts have recent history on their side, as they have won four in a row and 21 of last 27 meetings. Colts are 14-2 when RB Edgerrin James has 100 yards rushing. The Jets have outscored opponents, 139-83, in the second half of games this season.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS IND NYJ Points scored 26.4 (4) 21.7 (10) Points allowed 21.3 (17) 19.1 (12) Passing Off. 280.2 (3) 224.3 (11) Rushing Off. 119.1 (16) 95.7 (23) Passing Def. 217.8 (21) 191.7 (11) Rushing Def. 120.9 (23) 115.4 (16) Time of Poss. 29:52 (17) 30:06 (16) Turnover Ratio -9 (26) +1 (T13) Red Zone TD% 60.0 (5) 54.8 (10)

*--*

* The pick: Colts. Maybe it’s a foolish pick, but it once would have seemed obvious.

CLEVELAND (3-10) AT JACKSONVILLE (5-7), 1:15 p.m.

* The line: Jacksonville by 15.

* Key injuries: CLE--QB Doug Pederson (ribs, questionable). JAC--LB Hardy Nickerson (knee, out).

* Key elements: The Jaguars are 5-0 against the Browns all-time. In what may be a case of too little too late, the Jaguars are shooting for their fourth win in five games. Jaguar RB Fred Taylor has 782 yards rushing in his last six games and aims for a seventh consecutive 100-yard game against a Brown defense that has given up 140 or more yards rushing in two consecutive games.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS CLE JAC Points scored 10.5 (31) 19.7 (22) Points allowed 24.0 (24) 22.7 (19) Passing Off. 159.5 (28) 231.6 (9) Rushing Off. 67.1 (31) 115.8 (17) Passing Def. 191.5 (10) 214.2 (18) Rushing Def. 154.5 (30) 116.4 (19) Time of Poss. 25:58 (31) 30:58 (T10) Turnover Ratio +1 (T13) -3 (T18) Red Zone TD% 44.4 (20) 35.9 (30)

*--*

* The pick: Jacksonville. Jaguars might finish 9-7.

KANSAS CITY (5-7) AT NEW ENGLAND (3-9), Monday, 6 p.m.

* The line: Kansas City by 1.

* Key injuries: KC--QB Elvis Grbac (finger, questionable). NE--QB Drew Bledsoe (thumb, questionable); WR Troy Brown (leg, questionable); RB J.R. Redmond (ribs, questionable).

* Key elements: Both teams are in midst of hard-luck seasons, as Chiefs’ last two losses came by total of five points, and seven of Patriots’ nine losses have come by eight points or less. New England has been held to 16 or fewer points in four games in a row. Chiefs are giving up 124.8 yards a game rushing.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS KC NE Points scored 23.6 (8) 16.0 (26) Points allowed 22.8 (T20) 21.1 (16) Passing Off. 259.5 (T4) 188.2 (19) Rushing Off. 78.8 (28) 85.1 (25) Passing Def. 216.0 (20) 208.6 (16) Rushing Def. 124.8 (25) 119.7 (22) Time of Poss. 27:51 (27) 29:04 (23) Turnover Ratio +10 (T6) -3 (T18) Red Zone TD% 55.8 (9) 39.5 (25)

*--*

* The pick: Kansas City. But there’s no reason to watch.

GREEN BAY (5-7) AT CHICAGO (3-9), 5:30 p.m.

* The line: Green Bay by 2.

* Key injuries: GB--WR Corey Bradford (knee, out); DT Santana Dotson (knee, out); RB Dorsey Levens (knee, out); CHI--QB Cade McNown (shoulder, questionable).

* Key elements: Chicago leads the most-played series in NFL history, 83-70-6. However, Green Bay has won six in a row and is 7-1 in its last eight trips to Soldier Field. In 17 games vs. the Bears, Packer QB Brett Favre is 13-4, with 4,019 yards passing, 35 touchdowns, 18 interceptions and a 93.9 QB rating.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS GB CHI Points scored 20.8 (12) 13.6 (29) Points allowed 21.8 (18) 22.8 (T20) Passing Off. 232.4 (8) 174.7 (24) Rushing Off. 95.4 (24) 115.5 (18) Passing Def. 208.2 (15) 204.8 (13) Rushing Def. 106.3 (13) 127.6 (26) Time of Poss. 30:11 (15) 28:17 (26) Turnover Ratio -8 (T24) -6 (23) Red Zone TD% 48.7 (16) 40.0 (24)

*--*

* The pick: Green Bay. Packers can’t be as bad as they were against Carolina.