RATING THE GAMES

**** Makings of a classic

*** Smash-mouth football

** Good for an end around

* Strictly fantasy fodder

* Cincinnati (1-11) at Carolina (4-8), 10 a.m.: Panther tight end Wesley Walls thinks he has the outcome figured out: “It will ... come down to who makes one or two plays in the game.” That might be asking one or two plays too many. LINE: Carolina by 3.

** San Francisco (8-4) at Dallas (5-7), 10 a.m.: 49er Terrell Owens provides so much bulletin-board material for the Cowboys that there has been a reported shortage of push pins in the greater Dallas area this week. LINE: San Francisco by 4 1/2.

** Cleveland (6-6) at Jacksonville (5-7), 10 a.m.: Jaguar players updating their resumes. Said cornerback Jason Craft, explaining his motivation now that the playoffs are a longshot: “Every time you’re out there, it’s a job interview.” LINE: Jacksonville by 2.

** St. Louis (5-7) at Kansas City (6-6), 10 a.m.: Brenda Warner no longer taking credit for getting former Ram coach Dick Vermeil the Kansas City job. LINE Kansas City by 5.

*** Buffalo (6-6) at New England (7-5), 10 a.m., Channel 2: Drew Bledsoe returns to New England, but in a new stadium, and he still won’t know the answer to that burning question: Are the fans yelling “Drew” or “boo”? LINE: New England by 4 1/2.

** Houston (3-9) at Pittsburgh (7-4-1), 10 a.m.: The last two seasons with expansion teams (Cleveland in 1999, Jacksonville in ‘95), Steelers managed only to split the season series with each. This is their only game against Houston. LINE: Pittsburgh by 13 1/2.

**** Atlanta (8-3-1) at Tampa Bay (9-3), 10 a.m., Channel 11: Falcons 7-0-1 since losing to Buccaneers Oct. 6, when Tampa Bay quarterback Brad Johnson outrushed Michael Vick, two yards to one. Don’t bet on a repeat. LINE: Tampa Bay by 4.

*** Indianapolis (8-4) at Tennessee (7-5), 10 a.m.: This is Colts’ first game at Coliseum in Nashville. Titans are 16-2 against teams making a first trip to their stadium. LINE: Tennessee by 1 1/2.

** New York Giants (6-6) at Washington (5-7), 10 a.m., KNX (1070): Steve Spurrier already on cruise control, taking the month slow and getting his Gators ready for that Jan. 1 bowl game. Habits are hard to break, even for him. LINE: Washington by 3.

* Detroit (3-9) at Arizona (4-8), 1 p.m.: After 49-0 loss to Chiefs, Arizona Coach Dave McGinnis regretted that “that film is going around the league to my contemporaries.” Eddie Murphy said the same thing after “The Adventures of Pluto Nash.” LINE: Arizona by 1.

*** New Orleans (8-4) at Baltimore (6-6), 1 p.m.: Raven quarterback Jeff Blake, who lost job in New Orleans to Aaron Brooks, receives Who’s Kidding Whom award after being asked if he has extra motivation today: “This is not about me.” LINE: New Orleans by 2 1/2.

** Philadelphia (9-3) at Seattle (4-8), 1 p.m.: With their success using backup quarterbacks, Eagles aren’t worried about something happening to A.J. Feeley, having signed Keanu Reeves and Warren Beatty to practice squad. LINE: Philadelphia by 3.

*** Denver (7-5) at New York Jets (6-6), 1:15 p.m., KLSX-FM (97.1): It’s desperation time in playoff race, especially for these teams in bottom half of division standings. Another loss for either figures to punch the vacation clock. LINE: Denver by 1 1/2.

**** Oakland (8-4) at San Diego (8-4), 1:15 p.m., Channel 2, KNX (1070), KMPC (1540): Is Chargers’ Drew Brees auditioning for Raiders? Of San Diego fans, he says, “Let’s win some of those fights in the stands.” LINE: Oakland by 3.

** Minnesota (3-9) at Green Bay (9-3), 5:30 p.m., ESPN, KLSX-FM (97.1): December night in Wisconsin. Brett Favre 33-0 at home when it’s 34 degrees or less at kickoff. Vikings on 16-game road losing streak. Do the math. LINE: Green Bay by 9 1/2.

** Chicago (3-9) at Miami (7-5), Monday, 6 p.m., Channel 7, KNX (1070): Dolphins’ Patrick Surtain must be a Lou Holtz disciple. The Bears, he says, “played a lot of close games. They could be 9-3 easily.” LINE: Miami by 10.

-- Jim Barrero