RATING THE GAMES

**** Makings of a classic

*** Smash-mouth football

** Good for an end around

* Strictly fantasy fodder

*--* ** Detroit (3-11) at Atlanta (8-5-1), 10 a.m.: After a couple of listless performances by Falcon quarterback Michael Vick, this seems like a good time for him to build some momentum for the playoffs, considering Lions have lost 15 in a row on the road. LINE: Atlanta by 10 1/2 *** Buffalo (7-7) at Green Bay (11-3), 10 a.m.: “I can’t fathom losing at home,” Green Bay Coach Mike Sherman says, in general. Neither can Packers, who are 80-12 at Lambeau Field since Brett Favre became quarterback in 1992. Cold-weather Bills do seem to be an ideal opponent to crack the armor. LINE: Green Bay by 6 1/2 * Houston (4-10) at Washington (5-9), 10 a.m.: Texans motivated to win one for General Manager Charley Casserly and the 15 other former Redskin front-office employees who escaped Daniel Snyder to work in Houston. How do you think Snyder would feel having the same number of victories as an expansion team? LINE: Washington by 6 1/2 * Chicago (4-10) at Carolina (5-9), 10 a.m.: We know Bear quarterback Chris Chandler has had his share of concussions, but couldn’t he have articulated his feelings a little better about what a victory will mean? “A win is the best deodorant. There is some saying about that, that it makes everything smell better.” LINE: Carolina by 3 *** New York Giants (8-6) at Indianapolis (9-5), 10 a.m., Channel 11: Giants have won five of seven since Coach Jim Fassel took over play-calling from offensive coordinator Sean Payton. No truth to rumor that Lawrence Taylor will be brought in to make calls on defense the last two games. LINE: Indianapolis by 5 *** Tennessee (9-5) at Jacksonville (6-8), 10 a.m.: Don’t count on Titan cornerback Samari Rolle trying to knock Jaguar quarterback Mark Brunell from the game again. Five of Rolle’s 15 interceptions have come against Brunell. LINE: Tennessee by 3 *** San Diego (8-6) at Kansas City (7-7), 10 a.m., Channel 2, KNX (1070): Preemptive strike by Charger Coach Marty Schottenheimer, who will make his return to Kansas City and will be subjected to a vocal crowd against him: “Kansas City and their fans are as fine a group as I’ve ever been around.” That’ll soften ‘em up. LINE: Kansas City by 1 1/2 * New Orleans (9-5) at Cincinnati (1-13), 10 a.m.: Burning question of the week: Can someone explain how giving away unwanted Bengals’ tickets to underprivileged kids in the Cincinnati area actually improves their quality of life? LINE: New Orleans by 7 ** St. Louis (6-8) at Seattle (5-9), 1 p.m., KXTA (1150), XTRA (690): Marc Bulger of Rams will try to become only the fourth NFL quarterback since 1970 to start his career 7-0. But, on second thought, does he want to join a group that includes Dieter Brock, Daunte Culpepper and Mike Tomczak? LINE: Seattle by 1 **** Denver (8-6) at Oakland (9-5), 1:15 p.m., Channel 2, KMPC (1540), KNX (1070): Lincoln Kennedy says, “We’re fighting for our life.” Charles Woodson says, “We still got some things to shoot for.” No, these aren’t desperate tactics against Raider fans who have turned on them. The players simply know how much is on the line this week. LINE: Oakland by 4 *** Cleveland (7-7) at Baltimore (7-7), 1:15 p.m.: Finally a matchup between these two teams that doesn’t shove the Art-Modell-taking-the-old-Browns-to-Baltimore card in everyone’s face as the primary source for motivation. There are actual playoff implications this time. LINE: Baltimore by 3 *** New York Jets (7-7) at New England (8-6), 5:30 p.m., ESPN, KLSX-FM (97.1): Jets coming off a loss to the 4-10 Chicago Bears. Patriots coming off their worst game in a loss to Tennessee. Good to see that these AFC teams are heading into the postseason on a roll. LINE: New England by 4 *** Pittsburgh (8-5-1) at Tampa Bay (11-3), Monday, 6 p.m., Channel 7, KNX (1070): Buccaneers, or “paper champions” as Steeler Lee Flowers likes to call them, have their best chance yet to quiet the critics. Or as receiver Keenan McCardell says: “The only way to shut people up is go out and put it on them.” LINE: Tampa Bay by 4

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-- Jim Barrero