RATING THE GAMES

**** Makings of a classic

*** Smash-mouth football

** Good for an end around

* Strictly fantasy fodder

** Seattle (4-9) at Atlanta (8-4-1), 10 a.m.: So far Tampa Bay is the only team to really stop Michael Vick, holding him to 16 yards rushing last week. Seahawks have league’s worst run defense. Hmmm ... wonder what’s going to give? LINE: Atlanta by 9 1/2.

** New York Jets (7-6) at Chicago (3-10), 10 a.m., KNX (1070): Said Jet linebacker Marvin Lewis: “No one in this league stinks.” Except for maybe Cincinnati and Chicago and Minnesota and Detroit and Carolina and Washington and.... LINE: New York by 6 1/2.

**** Oakland (9-4) at Miami (8-5), 10 a.m., Channel 2, KMPC (1540): Dolphins apparently won’t be motivated to help save Dan Marino’s single-season passing record. Said defensive end Jason Taylor: “If [Raider quarterback Rich] Gannon throws for 310 yards and we win the ballgame -- sorry Dan.” LINE: Miami by 1 1/2.

** Tampa Bay (10-3) at Detroit (3-10), 10 a.m.: Lions were 0-3 and New Orleans was 3-0 when they played earlier. Lions won, 37-31. Said Warren Sapp: “Nothing is a mismatch because it’s mano-a-mano, snot on snot.” Yes, “snot.” LINE: Tampa Bay by 8 1/2.

** Baltimore (6-7) at Houston (4-9), 10 a.m.: Texan quarterback David Carr continues on record pace with 68 sacks, four short of Randall Cunningham’s NFL mark (72). LINE: Baltimore by 3.

** San Diego (8-5) at Buffalo (6-7), 10 a.m.: If the cold weather doesn’t turn out to be the great equalizer, consider this, just in case the Bill offense doesn’t seem to have that crispness: Buffalo is 0-6 when Drew Bledsoe throws an interception. LINE: Buffalo by 3.

** Carolina (5-8) at Pittsburgh (7-5-1), 10 a.m.: After loss to Houston, will Steelers step up or wilt? Remember the Jerome Bettis coin-toss fiasco in 1998? Pittsburgh was 7-4, lost that game in OT to Detroit, and lost last five in a row. LINE: Pittsburgh by 8 1/2.

** Minnesota (3-10) at New Orleans (9-4), 10 a.m.: Saint running back Deuce McAllister hopes ankle injury doesn’t keep him out: “Nobody wants to miss a game now. This is a fun time.” We think he was talking about the playoff push, not the fact that Vikings are on the agenda this week. LINE: New Orleans by 7.

** Washington (5-8) at Philadelphia (10-3), 10 a.m., Channel 11: Redskin guard Tre’ Johnson wants it both ways when supporting the case for Patrick Ramsey at quarterback. “Patrick is ripe,” he says in one breath before adding, “I don’t think he’s been around long enough to know fear yet.” LINE: Philadelphia by 7 1/2.

* Jacksonville (5-8) at Cincinnati (1-12), 10 a.m.: Said Fred Taylor of Jaguars: “It’s a bad feeling in your gut that you’re losing. I’m pretty sure a lot of guys up there in Cincinnati understand that same type of feeling.” Pretty sure? LINE: Jacksonville by 3.

*** Indianapolis (8-5) at Cleveland (7-6), 10 a.m.: Hopefully, Tim Couch won’t try too hard to impress Peyton Manning in first meeting. That was his downfall in a three-interception, 30-7 loss to Brett Favre and the Packers last season. LINE: Indianapolis by 2.

*** Kansas City (7-6) at Denver (7-6), 1 p.m.: Denver has lost four of five. Kansas City, since a 37-34 overtime loss to Broncos, held Oakland, San Francisco, Buffalo and St. Louis offenses to 17 points or less in winning four of last six. LINE: Denver by 3 1/2.

** Dallas (5-8) at New York Giants (7-6), 1:15 p.m., KLSX-FM (97.1): Dave Campo, 15-30 in his Cowboy coaching career, remains positive: “We see signs that we are getting better.” What exactly does he mean by “we?” LINE: New York by 5.

**** Green Bay (10-3) at San Francisco (9-4), 1:15 p.m., Channel 11, KNX (1070): Both teams are in playoffs, but there’s still plenty to play for. For openers, the psychological games in what could be a postseason rematch. LINE: San Francisco by 3.

** Arizona (5-8) at St. Louis (5-8), 5:30 p.m., ESPN, KLSX-FM (97.1): Kurt Warner-backer Mike Martz showing cracks in his allegiance. Will Marc Bulger compete to be the starter next season? “Oh, absolutely,” Martz said. LINE: St. Louis by 11.

**** New England (8-5) at Tennessee (8-5), Monday, 6 p.m., Channel 7, KNX (1070): Is Steve McNair angling to get Joe Namath’s autograph? Says Patriot quarterback Tom Brady: “It’s almost like he lays on his deathbed all week, then gets up and goes and plays.” It almost worked for Bobby. LINE: Tennessee by 2 1/2.

-- Jim Barrero