CAPSULES

ST. LOUIS at KANSAS CITY 10 a.m.

* The line: St. Louis by 7.

* Key injuries: STL--None. KC--RB Donnell Bennett (foot, questionable).

* Key elements: Ram QB Kurt Warner has six consecutive 300-yard games, and needs one more to break Steve Young’s NFL record. St. Louis has scored 41 or more points in five of six games. Chief TE Tony Gonzalez has scored at least one touchdown in each of the last three games. The Chiefs have won their last 10 games at home against NFC opponents.

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THE MATCHUPS STL KC Points scored 43.7 (1) 22.3 (9) Points allowed 29.0 (28) 18.8 (13) Passing Off. 379.2 (1) 223.3 (10) Rushing Off. 130.2 (9) 82.7 (26) Passing Def. 258.3 (30) 194.5 (12) Rushing Def. 89.8 (6) 130.2 (24) Time of Poss. 31:09 (12) 28:53 (22) Turnover Ratio +3 (T11) +7 (T3) Red Zone TD% 64.5 (5) 68.4 (2)

*--*

The pick: St. Louis. There is some upset potential, with a loud Arrowhead and banged-up Ram offensive line . . . but stick with the defending champs.

ARIZONA at DALLAS 10 a.m.

* The line: Dallas by 6 1/2.

* Key injuries: None.

* Key elements: Because of Troy Aikman’s five-interception performance vs. the Giants last Sunday, fans in Dallas are questioning whether he should remain the starting QB, especially with Randall Cunningham waiting. The Cowboys should have an easier time against the Cardinals; Dallas has won the last 10 regular-season meetings in Dallas. Arizona has lost its last five road games.

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THE MATCHUPS AZ DAL Points scored 19.0 (15) 21.1 (12) Points allowed 27.0 (26) 27.8 (27) Passing Off. 222.0 (12) 175.3 (26) Rushing Off. 89.0 (22) 105.8 (19) Passing Def. 210.2 (17) 167.7 (4) Rushing Def. 149.2 (30) 182.3 (31) Time of Poss. 27:08 (29) 27:16 (28) Turnover Ratio -8 (26) -10 (T27) Red Zone TD% 47.4 (T15) 64.7 (5)

*--*

The pick: Dallas. If the Cowboys don’t want to see Aikman’s career end sadly, it’s time to rally ‘round and help.

BUFFALO at MINNESOTA 10 a.m.

* The line: Minnesota by 6 1/2.

* Key injuries: BUF--QB Rob Johnson (shoulder, out); TE Jay Riemersma (knee, questionable). MIN--DE Bryce Paup (knee, out).

* Key elements: Minnesota RB Robert Smith is averaging 28.8 yards per touchdown run (highest since 1970 among players with at least 20 touchdowns), but he might find it rougher going against a Buffalo front seven that yields only 2.7 yards per carry. Bill QB Doug Flutie takes over for Rob Johnson.

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THE MATCHUPS BUF MIN Points scored 18.8 (16) 25.5 (6) Points allowed 20.3 (17) 18.3 (12) Passing Off. 225.5 (8) 222.8 (11) Rushing Off. 106.5 (18) 158.2 (1) Passing Def. 185.0 (9) 216.8 (22) Rushing Def. 72.7 (4) 99.2 (11) Time of Poss. 31:43 (8) 31:46 (7) Turnover Ratio +2 (T14) -3 (T20) Red Zone TD% 44.4 (22) 50.0 (T12)

*--*

The pick: Minnesota. Flutie has his ways, but Buffalo performance against San Diego doesn’t inspire confidence.

CHICAGO at PHILADELPHIA 10 a.m.

* The line: Philadelphia by 6 1/2.

* Key injuries: CHI--RB Curtis Enis (shoulder, out). PHI--None.

* Key elements: Eagle QB Donovan McNabb can look forward to facing a secondary that has given up three or more touchdown passes in three consecutive games. Eagle RBs Darnell Autry, Stanley Pritchett and Brian Mitchell combined for 109 yards and two touchdowns in place of injured Duce Staley at Arizona last Sunday. Chicago rookie LB Brian Urlacher has one sack in each of the last five games.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS CHI PHI Points scored 14.4 (29) 24.0 (8) Points allowed 27.0 (25) 14.4 (5) Passing Off. 188.0 (20) 187.4 (21) Rushing Off. 116.0 (15) 136.3 (5) Passing Def. 214.9 (19) 175.7 (6) Rushing Def. 145.0 (29) 107.7 (16) Time of Poss. 27:52 (25) 29:43 (20) Turnover Ratio -6 (25) +3 (T11) Red Zone TD% 46.2 (18) 56.5 (9)

*--*

The pick: Philadelphia. Eagles look like a pretty good team sometimes. Bears, not so much.

DENVER at CINCINNATI 10 a.m.

* The line: Denver by 9 1/2.

* Key injuries: DEN--RB Terrell Davis (ankle/foot, out); RB Howard Griffith (knee, questionable). CIN-None.

* Key elements: Denver QB Brian Griese has an NFL-best 14-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. The Broncos are aiming for their ninth successive victory against Cincinnati. The Bengals have scored only 37 points, and Denver scored 44 last week. Scott Mitchell takes over at QB for Akili Smith.

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THE MATCHUPS DEN CIN Points scored 31.0 (2) 6.2 (31) Points allowed 21.0 (19) 23.8 (22) Passing Off. 260.0 (4) 135.7 (31) Rushing Off. 135.4 (6) 104.3 (20) Passing Def. 238.4 (25) 191.5 (11) Rushing Def. 65.1 (2) 138.3 (27) Time of Poss. 33:34 (2) 26:07 (31) Turnover Ratio +14 (2) -10 (T27) Red Zone TD% 48.0 (14) 22.2 (31)

*--*

The pick: Denver. Smith and Peter Warrick don’t know how much longer they can stand Bengals’ losing. It might be a very long time.

NEW ENGLAND at INDIANAPOLIS 10 a.m.

* The line: Indianapolis by 8 1/2.

* Key injuries: None.

* Key elements: Patriot QB Drew Bledsoe is 7-1 in his last eight starts vs. Indianapolis, but his woeful offensive line has yielded 30 sacks. In addition, the Colts have had four or more sacks in each of the last four games. Indianapolis is 11-1 when Edgerrin James rushes for 100 or more yards.

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THE MATCHUPS NE IND Points scored 17.1 (T23) 28.7 (3) Points allowed 20.1 (16) 21.7 (20) Passing Off. 191.7 (17) 307.7 (2) Rushing Off. 81.4 (27) 117.8 (14) Passing Def. 215.9 (20) 208.7 (16) Rushing Def. 111.3 (18) 112.7 (20) Time of Poss. 27:39 (26) 31:18 (11) Turnover Ratio +2 (T14) -5 (T23) Red Zone TD% 43.5 (23) 59.1 (7)

*--*

The pick: Indianapolis. Just doesn’t seem as if Patriots will beat the Colts again. Don’t think Peyton Manning will throw three interceptions, either.

NEW ORLEANS at ATLANTA 10 a.m.

* The line: New Orleans by 2.

* Key injuries: NO--WR Jake Reed (leg, out). ATL--WR Shawn Jefferson (back, questionable).

* Key elements: Saint RB Ricky Williams has had four consecutive 100-yard games and should have his fifth. The Saints have the best defense in the NFL. They have totaled three or more sacks in each of their last five games. Dan Reeves is 6-0 against the Saints as Falcon coach.

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THE MATCHUPS NO ATL Points scored 18.3 (T19) 18.6 (18) Points allowed 16.3 (9) 31.0 (30) Passing Off. 182.0 (24) 191.0 (18) Rushing Off. 138.8 (3) 64.7 (30) Passing Def. 146.5 (1) 258.3 (29) Rushing Def. 74.2 (5) 129.0 (23) Time of Poss. 32:36 (4) 29:10 (21) Turnover Ratio -2 (T17) -2 (T17) Red Zone TD% 47.1 (17) 25.0 (30)

*--*

The pick: New Orleans. Falcons rank 30th in total defense--good news, Ricky Williams. Bad news for the Falcons: The Saints rank No. 1 in total defense.

SAN FRANCISCO at CAROLINA 10 a.m.

* The line: Carolina by 3.

* Key injuries: SF--DT Bryant Young (ribs, questionable). CAR--TE Wesley Walls (ribs, questionable); DE Chuck Smith (knee, out).

* Key elements: 49er QB Jeff Garcia leads NFL with 19 touchdown passes and is on pace for a team-record 43. The Panthers invested millions in defensive linemen Chuck Smith, Reggie White, Eric Swann and Jay Williams, but the pass rush has a mere nine sacks.

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THE MATCHUPS SF CAR Points scored 28.3 (4) 18.3 (T19) Points allowed 32.0 (31) 16.7 (10) Passing Off. 269.4 (3) 217.8 (13) Rushing Off. 130.7 (8) 87.2 (23) Passing Def. 288.4 (31) 189.2 (10) Rushing Def. 118.7 (21) 135.2 (25) Time of Poss. 30:08 (19) 30:12 (17) Turnover Ratio +3 (T11) -3 (T20) Red Zone TD% 74.1 (1) 36.8 (25)

*--*

The pick: San Francisco. The 49ers and Garcia are much better than they were in a 38-22 loss in Week 2. The Panthers are not.

TENNESSEE at BALTIMORE 10 a.m.

* The line: Baltimore by 1.

* Key injuries: TEN--WR Derrick Mason (ankle, questionable); G Bruce Matthews (knee, questionable); WR Carl Pickens (hamstring, questionable). BAL-DT Sam Adams (groin, questionable).

* Key elements: The Ravens are 2-1 in their last three games without a touchdown. Titan defense has held foes to fewer than 15 points in three consecutive games. Titan RB Eddie George has 125 or more yards rushing in each of the last three games.

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THE MATCHUPS TEN BAL Points scored 21.8 (10) 18.3 (T19) Points allowed 15.2 (7) 10.7 (2) Passing Off. 228.3 (6) 171.9 (28) Rushing Off. 131.2 (7) 122.6 (12) Passing Def. 158.2 (2) 202.1 (14) Rushing Def. 100.3 (12) 57.9 (1) Time of Poss. 34:39 (1) 32:28 (5) Turnover Ratio -2 (T17) +15 (1) Red Zone TD% 45.5 (19) 29.2 (29)

*--*

The pick: Tennessee. Tough call. Always go with the team that scores touchdowns.

SEATTLE at OAKLAND 1:05 p.m.

* The line: Oakland by 7 1/2.

* Key injuries: SEA--QB Brock Huard (groin, questionable). OAK-None.

* Key elements: The Raiders try for their fourth consecutive victory and first 6-1 start since 1990. Oakland RB Tyrone Wheatley has scored at least one touchdown in each of the last three games. It appears Jon Kitna will start at QB for Seattle. Raider rookie K Sebastian Janikowski also leads the AFC with nine touchbacks.

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THE MATCHUPS SEA OAK Points scored 16.9 (25) 26.6 (5) Points allowed 24.1 (23) 20.8 (18) Passing Off. 162.9 (29) 204.8 (16) Rushing Off. 102.9 (21) 130.0 (10) Passing Def. 244.1 (26) 250.3 (27) Rushing Def. 137.9 (26) 108.3 (17) Time of Poss. 26:56 (30) 31:20 (10) Turnover Ratio -12 (31) +6 (7) Red Zone TD% 47.4 (T15) 60.0 (6)

*--*

The pick: Oakland. Raiders appear headed for playoffs for first time since they left Los Angeles. Holmgren magic not working in Seattle.

CLEVELAND at PITTSBURGH 1:05 p.m.

* The line: Pittsburgh by 12 1/2.

* Key injuries: CLE--QB Tim Couch (thumb, out). PIT-None.

* Key elements: Steeler RB Jerome Bettis is a lock for 100 yards against a Cleveland rush defense that has given up more than 140 yards in each of the last three games. Bettis needs 14 rushing yards to become 15th with 9,000 or more. Doug Pederson will take over at QB for Browns against a Pittsburgh defense that has not given up a touchdown in two games.

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THE MATCHUPS CLE PIT Points scored 13.6 (30) 16.5 (27) Points allowed 25.0 (24) 13.0 (3) Passing Off. 206.0 (14) 173.2 (27) Rushing Off. 73.7 (29) 136.7 (4) Passing Def. 216.1 (21) 197.5 (13) Rushing Def. 141.9 (28) 90.7 (7) Time of Poss. 27:35 (27) 31:38 (9) Turnover Ratio -5 (T23) +7 (T3) Red Zone TD% 52.6 (10) 45.0 (T20)

*--*

The pick: Pittsburgh. Pederson replacing Couch just means a different player gets sacked.

WASHINGTON at JACKSONVILLE 1:15 p.m.

* The line: Washington by 4.

* Key injuries: WAS--CB Darrell Green (calf, out); WR Irving Fryar (neck, out). JAC--LB Hardy Nickerson (hamstring, questionable).

* Key elements: QB Mark Brunell continues to struggle as the Jaguar offense has been held to 14 points or fewer in five consecutive games. Redskin defense has held its last four foes to an average of 10 points.

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THE MATCHUPS WAS JAC Points scored 16.3 (28) 18.0 (22) Points allowed 14.1 (4) 22.1 (21) Passing Off. 223.9 (9) 227.7 (7) Rushing Off. 124.3 (11) 87.1 (24) Passing Def. 163.3 (3) 213.1 (18) Rushing Def. 94.0 (8) 112.4 (19) Time of Poss. 32:40 (3) 30:10 (18) Turnover Ratio +2 (T14) -4 (22) Red Zone TD% 42.9 (24) 30.4 (28)

*--*

The pick: Washington. The only thing to bet on here is how many sacks the Redskins’ Marco Coleman will get against the sorry Jaguar offensive line.

MIAMI at NEW YORK JETS, MONDAY, 6 p.m.

* The line: New York Jets by 3.

* Key injuries: MIA--WR Tony Martin (foot, out); LB Zach Thomas (ankle, questionable). NYJ--C Kevin Mawae (foot, doubtful).

* Key elements: In nine career games vs. Miami, Jet RB Curtis Martin has carried 198 times for only 664 yards, an average of 3.4 yards per carry. The Dolphins have limited opponents to fewer than 17 points in six consecutive games.

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THE MATCHUPS MIA NYJ Points scored 18.7 (17) 20.8 (13) Points allowed 8.5 (1) 17.2 (11) Passing Off. 143.2 (30) 190.3 (19) Rushing Off. 119.0 (13) 107.0 (17) Passing Def. 175.0 (5) 178.5 (8) Rushing Def. 106.2 (15) 100.8 (13) Time of Poss. 30:29 (14) 30:47 (13) Turnover Ratio +7 (T3) +5 (8) Red Zone TD% 57.1 (8) 50.0 (T12)

*--*

The pick: Jets. In this battle for first place in the AFC East, Miami’s 28th-ranked offense is the weak link. Jets need to keep Trace Armstrong away from Vinny Testaverde, though.

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Picks by ROBYN NORWOOD; Research by ROY JURGENS