Capsules

Picks by T.J. SIMERS; Research by JIM BARRERO

ARIZONA at GREEN BAY

10 a.m.

* The line: Green Bay by 7 1/2.

* Key injuries: ARI--Running back Michael Pittman (toe, doubtful), defensive tackle Eric Swann (knee, doubtful). GB--Running back De’Mond Parker (knee, out), defensive end Vaughn Booker (pneumonia, questionable).

* Key elements: Cardinals’ nine fumble giveaways tie them for second fewest in NFC. Packer running back Dorsey Levens needs 112 yards for 1,000-yard season.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Ari GB Points scored 14.7 20.5 Points allowed 22.2 21.1 Passing O 161.3 240.1 Rushing O 75.1 89.5 Total O 236.4 329.6 Passing D 190.5 208.0 Rushing D 139.3 114.9 Total D 329.8 323.0

*--*

* The pick: Green Bay. The Packers thump the Cardinals, then gather around the TV to cheer Giants over Cowboys.

BALTIMORE at NEW ENGLAND

10 a.m.

* The line: Baltimore by 1 1/2.

* Key injuries: BAL--Wide receiver Justin Armour (knee-hip, questionable). NE--Wide receiver Terry Glenn (team suspension, out).

* Key elements: Ravens have not allowed a 100-yard rusher this season. Patriot wide receiver Shawn Jefferson had four catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns in last meeting with Ravens.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Bal NE Points scored 21.4 18.6 Points allowed 17.1 18.7 Passing O 188.7 235.6 Rushing O 109.0 91.8 Total O 297.7 327.4 Passing D 192.6 187.9 Rushing D 78.8 111.7 Total D 271.4 299.7

*--*

* The pick: New England. Baltimore has allowed only three touchdowns rushing in the last 43 quarters. That’s OK, Drew Bledsoe throws for the win.

CINCINNATI at JACKSONVILLE

10 a.m.

* The line: Jacksonville by 9.

* Key injuries: CIN--Running back Corey Dillon (knee, questionable). JAC--Quarterback Mark Brunell (knee, out).

* Key elements: Bengal wide receiver Darnay Scott leads NFL with 507 yards receiving on third down. Jaguars have NFL-low 17 turnovers and are tied for tops in NFL with 54 sacks.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Cin Jac Points scored 18.4 24.8 Points allowed 29.1 14.0 Passing O 206.7 212.7 Rushing O 129.4 130.4 Total O 336.1 343.1 Passing D 232.9 184.3 Rushing D 104.3 88.9 Total D 337.1 273.2

*--*

* The pick: Jacksonville. The Jaguars, like everyone else in the AFC Central, celebrate the news that Bruce Coslet will be back as the Bungles’ coach.

DETROIT at MINNESOTA

10 A.M.

* The line: Minnesota by 7.

* Key injuries: DET--Wide receiver Desmond Howard (ribs, doubtful).

* Key elements: Lion quarterbacks have thrown 13 interceptions, tied for second fewest in NFC. Viking running back Robert Smith needs 82 yards for third consecutive 1,000-yard season.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Det Min Points scored 20.3 25.0 Points allowed 19.9 21.2 Passing O 226.7 249.8 Rushing O 81.9 111.1 Total O 308.6 360.9 Passing D 234.5 246.3 Rushing D 92.9 106.7 Total D 327.5 353.0

*--*

* The pick: Minnesota. The Vikings have no defense, which doesn’t bode well for making it through the playoffs, but they don’t need any against the Lions.

INDIANAPOLIS at BUFFALO

10 a.m.

* The line: Indianapolis by 2 1/2.

* Key injuries: BUF--Running back Sam Gash (ribs, questionable).

* Key elements: Colt quarterback Peyton Manning needs 28 yards passing for 4,000 this season. Bill wide receiver Andre Reed needs five catches to move into second in all-time receptions.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Ind Buf Points scored 27.8 19.3 Points allowed 20.1 14.9 Passing O 258.9 200.4 Rushing O 107.7 127.2 Total O 366.7 327.6 Passing D 214.6 166.2 Rushing D 105.5 88.4 Total D 320.1 254.6

*--*

* The pick: Indianapolis. You’re Rob Johnson and you’ve been sitting on the bench all year and now you get the call to start in this ice box in relief of Doug Flutie. Forget it.

NEW ORLEANS at CAROLINA

10 a.m.

* The line: Carolina by 8 1/2.

* Key injuries: None.

* Key elements: Saint quarterback Jake Delhomme was 16 for 27 for 278 yards in first NFL start. Panthers’ Steve Beuerlein is only 10th quarterback with at least 4,000 yards passing and 30 touchdowns in a season.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

NO Car Points scored 16.5 25.1 Points allowed 25.9 24.5 Passing O 204.2 258.2 Rushing O 105.7 97.2 Total O 309.9 355.4 Passing D 217.1 2225.0 Rushing D 113.8 119.5 Total D 330.9 344.5

*--*

* The pick: Carolina. The Panthers had a playoff berth all wrapped up, knowing they would be finishing in New Orleans, but forgot to beat Pittsburgh.

OAKLAND at KANSAS CITY

10 a.m.

* The line: Kansas City by 4 1/2.

* Key injuries: OAK--Tackle Lincoln Kennedy (calf, doubtful).

* Key elements: Raider wide receiver Tim Brown has 56 catches for 780 yards in last eight games against Chiefs. Chief quarterback Elvis Grbac has never lost a start to the Raiders (4-0).

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Oak KC Points scored 23.3 23.5 Points allowed 19.4 18.7 Passing O 220.5 199.9 Rushing O 131.9 126.2 Total O 352.3 326.1 Passing D 205.4 212.0 Rushing D 91.3 96.7 Total D 296.7 308.7

*--*

* The pick: Kansas City. The Raiders will either play the role of spoilers or quitters. Well, that’s really no contest.

ST. LOUIS at PHILADELPHIA

10 a.m.

* The line: St. Louis by 8 1/2.

* Key injuries: PHI--Cornerback Bobby Taylor (jaw-injured reserve, out).

* Key elements: Ram running back Marshall Faulk is only the second player to gain 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in one season. Eagles lead NFC with 39 takeaways, 24 of them interceptions.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

StL Phi Points scored 33.0 15.6 Points allowed 13.6 21.7 Passing O 274.3 128.5 Rushing O 123.9 113.0 Total O 398.1 241.5 Passing D 223.5 214.8 Rushing D 75.9 120.0 Total D 299.4 334.8

*--*

* The pick: St. Louis. Dick Vermeil returns to Philadelphia and cries. Then he returns to St. Louis and cries. If you had to live in those cities, you’d cry too.

SEATTLE at NEW YORK JETS

10 a.m.

* The line: N.Y. Jets by 1 1/2.

* Key injuries: SEA--Running back Ricky Watters (knee, questionable).

* Key elements: Seahawk receiver Joey Galloway had 57- and 70-yard touchdown catches in last game against Jets. Jet receiver Keyshawn Johnson has 15 catches for 182 yards in two games against Seahawks.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Sea NYJ Points scored 21.9 19.3 Points allowed 18.6 20.0 Passing O 210.9 172.6 Rushing O 91.7 118.9 Total O 302.6 291.5 Passing D 219.3 229.5 Rushing D 117.1 111.3 Total D 336.5 340.9

*--*

* The pick: Seattle. The popular opinion is, the Jets will rise up and smite the Seahawks. But Mike Holmgren will send Bill Parcells into retirement with a defeat.

TAMPA BAY at CHICAGO

10 a.m.

* The line: Tampa Bay by 3 1/2.

* Key injuries: CHI--Running back Curtis Enis (shoulder, out), quarterback Cade McNown (side, questionable), wide receiver Marcus Robinson (thigh, questionable).

* Key elements: Buccaneer running back Mike Alstott needs 115 yards rushing for first 1,000-yard season. Bobby Engram’s 13 catches last week were the most by a Bear since 1964.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

TB Chi Points scored 16.7 17.7 Points allowed 15.3 21.4 Passing O 153.5 263.3 Rushing O 108.9 87.7 Total O 262.4 351.1 Passing D 179.1 243.1 Rushing D 89.1 115.9 Total D 268.2 359.1

*--*

* The pick: Chicago. The Buccaneers can wrap up the division title and secure a bye with a win, which means they lose.

NEW YORK GIANTS at DALLAS

1 p.m., Channel 11

* The line: Dallas by 6 1/2.

* Key injuries: NYG--Running back Joe Montgomery (ribs, questionable).

* Key elements: Giant quarterback Kerry Collins has passed for 1,449 yards and seven touchdowns in last five games. Cowboy receiver Raghib Ismail has career highs in catches, 73, and yards receiving, 1,035.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

NYG Dal Points scored 18.7 21.7 Points allowed 22.1 17.2 Passing O 227.4 189.3 Rushing O 89.1 126.8 Total O 316.5 316.1 Passing D 208.9 206.0 Rushing D 94.1 91.3 Total D 302.9 297.3

*--*

* The pick: Dallas. The Cowboys thought they were dead a week ago. They still are, although they live another week to lose in the playoffs.

MIAMI at WASHINGTON

1:15 p.m., Channel 2

* The line: Washington by 3.

* Key injuries: MIA--Running back J.J. Johnson (hamstring, questionable), wide receiver Tony Martin (ribs, questionable). WASH--Running back Stephen Davis (ankle, out).

* Key elements: Dan Marino has 147 victories and needs one more to tie John Elway for most. Quarterback Brad Johnson needs 70 yards to become first Redskin with 4,000 since 1986.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Mia Wash Points scored 21.1 28.1 Points allowed 21.0 24.5 Passing O 214.3 250.7 Rushing O 88.9 128.9 Total O 303.3 379.7 Passing D 184.2 230.8 Rushing D 91.4 123.6 Total D 275.6 354.4

*--*

* The pick: Miami. Dan Snyder changes mind at halftime and fires Norv Turner. At the same time, Jimmy Johnson benches Marino.

SAN DIEGO at DENVER

1:15 p.m.

* The line: Denver by 7.

* Key injuries: SD--Linebacker Junior Seau (abdomen, out).

* Key elements: Charger receiver Jeff Graham has three 100-yard games in last five. Broncos have averaged 33.4 points in last five games against Chargers.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

SD Den Points scored 17.1 20.5 Points allowed 20.7 20.4 Passing O 210.7 215.2 Rushing O 70.1 121.3 Total O 280.8 336.5 Passing D 226.2 188.9 Rushing D 85.1 102.9 Total D 311.3 291.7

*--*

* The pick: Denver. The Broncos wouldn’t mind locking up the fifth-place schedule and getting an easy road back to the Super Bowl, but that would mean losing to San Diego.

TENNESSEE at PITTSBURGH

1:15 p.m.

* The line: Tennessee by 3 1/2.

* Key injuries: TENN--Safety Marcus Robertson (face cut, out). PIT--Wide receiver Courtney Hawkins (ankle, out).

* Key elements: Titan running back Eddie George has 315 yards in last three games against Steelers. Steeler running back Jerome Bettis had 33 carries for 137 yards last week against Carolina.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Tenn Pit Points scored 23.0 18.7 Points allowed 19.2 18.2 Passing O 218.8 172.5 Rushing O 111.4 123.5 Total O 330.2 296.1 Passing D 226.7 181.5 Rushing D 94.1 121.2 Total D 320.8 302.7

*--*

* The pick: Pittsburgh. The Titans had their Super Bowl win over Jacksonville last week. Now they join the rest of the mediocre pack.

SAN FRANCISCO at ATLANTA

Monday, 6 p.m., Channel 7

* The line: Atlanta by 6 1/2.

* Key injuries: SF--Running back Charlie Garner (ribs, questionable).

* Key elements: 49ers have gained 1,691 yards and scored 100 points in last four games. Falcon defense gave up only 77 yards rushing in victory over Arizona last week.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

SF Atl Points scored 17.7 16.7 Points allowed 27.9 23.4 Passing O 194.8 202.7 Rushing O 130.1 77.3 Total O 324.9 279.9 Passing D 250.8 185.9 Rushing D 105.5 128.6 Total D 356.3 314.5

*--*

* The pick: Atlanta. They don’t get any bigger than this. A Monday night clash between two of the game’s top teams to close out the season. A playoff appetizer, if you will.