TODAY’S GAMES

JACKSONVILLE at N.Y. GIANTS

9:30 a.m., Channel 2

* The line: Giants by 3 1/2.

* Story line: The Giants need a victory to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Jaguars are headed to the golf course and would like nothing more than to spoil New York’s plans. After a disastrous 2-6 start, Jacksonville has finished the season strong, winning five of its last seven games.

* Keys to the game: Jacksonville’s receivers versus New York’s secondary: The Jaguars will try to take advantage of New York’s aggressive run defense, drawing Giant safety Sam Garnes close to the line of scrimmage by running Fred Taylor up the middle. That should put Jaguar receivers Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell in single coverage where they can do the most damage. Weather: Bad weather gives the run-oriented Giants a 12th man. Jacksonville had all sorts of trouble in the muck at Cincinnati on Sunday.

* Injury report: JAC--WR Keenan McCardell (knee, questionable). NYG--WR Joe Jurevicius (knee, out).

*--*

THE MATCHUPS JAC NYG Points scored 22.8 (T8) 20.0 (16) Points allowed 19.9 (14) 14.7 (4) Passing Off. 226.7 (10) 210.6 (14) Rushing Off. 130.8 (9) 130.7 (9) Passing Def. 191.1 (10) 218.8 (18) Rushing Def. 107.0 (11) 72.2 (2) Time of Poss. 32:04 (T5) 31:28 (8) Turnover Ratio +2 (15) +6 (T9) Red Zone TD% 46.3 (21) 52.3 (12)

*--*

Robyn Norwood’s pick: Giants. They’re playing for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, and the Jaguars showed distaste for frigid conditions in loss to Cincinnati last week.

SAN FRANCISCO at DENVER

1:15 p.m., Channel 11

* The line: Denver by 7.

* Story line: The final regular-season game at Mile High Stadium is an important one as the Broncos need a victory to get a shot at the AFC West title. Bronco LB Bill Romanowski gets an opportunity to share warm Christmas greetings with all of his buddies on the 49ers.

* Keys to the game: The passing game: It’ll be bombs away as the vastly inferior secondaries on both squads will have their hands full defending against the likes of Terrell Owens, Jerry Rice, J.J. Stokes, Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey. This could be Rice’s last game in a 49er uniform so look for them to get him the ball often. RB Charlie Garner: The 49ers must establish the running game early as Denver gives up 4.7 yards a carry, third worst in the NFL. Ball control: The Broncos need to resist getting into a shootout and let RB Mike Anderson shoulder the workload.

* Injury report: SF--S Lance Schulters (knee, out). DEN--RB Terrell Davis (lower leg, out); QB Brian Griese (shoulder, questionable).

*--*

THE MATCHUPS SF DEN Points scored 25.3 (6) 29.8 (2) Points allowed 25.6 (26) 24.0 (24) Passing Off. 265.3 (5) 269.3 (3) Rushing Off. 119.9 (14) 144.3 (3) Passing Def. 260.5 (31) 253.3 (30) Rushing Def. 114.0 (16) 103.5 (10) Time of Poss. 30:21 (16) 33:04 (3) Turnover Ratio +3 (T13) +18 (2) Red Zone TD% 60.0 (3) 55.6 (T8)

*--*

Norwood’s picks: Denver. Goodbye, Mile High--unless Broncos host a playoff game. Emotions run high, and Brian Griese returns too.

BUFFALO at SEATTLE

5:30 p.m., ESPN

* The line: Seattle by 3.

* Story line: This time a year ago, the Seahawks and Bills were on the rise and in the playoffs. The 2000 season has been a return to mediocrity. Seattle has come on strong lately (4-2 in last six), but Buffalo has suffered a glut of injuries and dropped four in a row.

* Keys to the game: RB Ricky Watters versus Buffalo’s front seven: The Bills’ battered defense has surrendered an average of 139 yards rushing over the last three games. QB Doug Flutie versus Seattle’s pass rush: The mobile Flutie has been the victim of only 10 sacks.

* Injury report: BUF--LB Sam Cowart (ankle, out); QB Rob Johnson (head, questionable); RB Sammy Morris (ankle, questionable). SEA--None.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS BUF SEA Points scored 18.2 (23) 19.8 (18) Points allowed 21.8 (19) 24.2 (25) Passing Off. 214.0 (12) 184.9 (21) Rushing Off. 113.9 (17) 106.3 (22) Passing Def. 178.7 (6) 238.1 (27) Rushing Def. 95.5 (6) 149.4 (28) Time of Poss. 32:17 (4) 27:33 (28) Turnover Ratio +4 (T11) -8 (23) Red Zone TD% 43.8 (23) 60.5 (2)

*--*

Norwood’s pick: Seattle. Doug Flutie plays instead of Rob Johnson, but Bills became a horrible team weeks ago.