RATING THE GAMES

**** Makings of a classic

*** Smash-mouth football

** Good for an end around

* Strictly fantasy fodder

** Miami (7-4) at Buffalo (5-6), 10 a.m., KNX (1070): The last time Ray Lucas played the Bills, he completed only 13 of 33 passes, threw four interceptions and lost two fumbles, calling it “the worst game in history.” No argument here. LINE: Miami by 2 1/2.

** Chicago (3-8) at Green Bay (8-3), 10 a.m., Channel 11: Brian Urlacher had better be alert this week. There’s no telling if Packer Coach Mike Sherman is ready to take his postgame confrontations to the next level. LINE: Green Bay by 9 1/2.

** Tennessee (6-5) at New York Giants (6-5), 10 a.m.: Running back Tiki Barber says, “It’s not quite desperate, but it’s as close to desperate as you can get.” He was talking about the playoff race, not the prospect of watching this on TV. LINE: New York by 3.

** Arizona (4-7) at Kansas City (5-6), 10 a.m.: Cardinal Coach Dave McGinnis says, “Losing five in a row, it makes me sick.” We’d hate to see the kind of shape he’d be in if he were Dick LeBeau. LINE: Kansas City by 9 1/2.

Baltimore (5-6) at Cincinnati (1-10), 10 a.m.: Bengals have amassed more than 350 yards of offense in five consecutive games. The last time they had such a streak was 1988 ... the year they went to the Super Bowl. LINE: Baltimore by 3.

** Carolina (3-8) at Cleveland (6-5), 10 a.m.: We’ll see if these Browns are more focused than last year’s. In 2001, Cleveland was 6-5, but closed with a 1-4 record to miss the playoffs. LINE: Cleveland by 8.

*** Pittsburgh (6-4-1) at Jacksonville (5-6), 10 a.m.: Not that you’d want to rush Tommy Maddox back from a serious injury, but Kordell Stewart usually doesn’t play well against the Jaguars, having thrown 10 interceptions for a 68.8 passer rating. LINE: Pittsburgh by 3.

** Atlanta (7-3-1) at Minnesota (3-8), 10 a.m.: Last time the Falcons went to the Metrodome, they upset the Vikings and made it to the Super Bowl. But this is the same underachieving Viking team that defeated visiting Green Bay two weeks ago. LINE: Atlanta by 3 1/2.

** Houston (3-8) at Indianapolis (7-4), 1 p.m.: The week after each of their last two victories, the Texans suffered their two worst losses. The suddenly hot Colts are trying their hardest to ignore this fact. LINE: Indianapolis by 11 1/2.

**** Denver (7-4) at San Diego (7-4), 1 p.m., Channel 2: This AFC West December clash might turn out to be an elimination game between two of the three division teams with the same records and realistically still in line for the playoffs. LINE: Denver by 3.

*** St. Louis (5-6) at Philadelphia (8-3), 1:15 p.m., Channel 11, KNX (1070): Eagles turn to No. 3 QB A.J. Feeley, who quickly inspires confidence by saying, “I’m not going to do anything out of the ordinary for me.” Is that why he’s a No. 3? LINE: St. Louis by 2 1/2.

** Seattle (4-7) at San Francisco (7-4), 1:15 p.m.: Seahawk John Randle declares the team is way past Sharpie-gate, saying players don’t want to “lose track of what we’re trying to do here.” At 4-7, it seems they already have. LINE: San Francisco by 9.

**** Tampa Bay (9-2) at New Orleans (7-4), 5:30 p.m., ESPN, KLSX-FM (97.1): Buccaneers can start putting away their two NFC South division foes and inching closer to earning home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Next week, it’s Atlanta. LINE: Pick.

*** New York Jets (6-5) at Oakland (7-4), Monday, 6 p.m., Channel 7, KNX (1070): Raiders exacted playoff revenge on the Patriots recently and now it’s time for the Jets to get their crack at the team that sent them packing from the playoffs less than a year ago. LINE: Oakland by 6.

-- Jim Barrero