Rating the Games

**** Makings of a classic

*** No remote needed

** Good to keep checking

* Strictly fantasy fodder

** Minnesota (2-0) at Detroit (1-1), 10 a.m. If you like watching exciting plays featuring great athletes, then tune in to see the Vikings’ Daunte Culpepper and Randy Moss, who should have a highlight game against the Lions’ weak defense. LINE: Vikings by 3 1/2.

* Tampa Bay (1-1) at Atlanta (1-1), 10 a.m. Channel 11, KLSX-FM (97.1). In sweeping the Falcons last season, the Buccaneers dominated play so much that they even made Michael Vick boring. Just imagine what type of challenge Atlanta backup Doug Johnson is going to give them. LINE: Buccaneers by 4.

* Kansas City (2-0) at Houston (1-1), 10 a.m. Until the Texans develop some type of personality, every game they play this season will be a low priority on the DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket package. LINE: Chiefs by 7 1/2.

** New Orleans (1-1) at Tennessee (1-1), 10 a.m. Even if the Titans’ Steve McNair had his leg in a cast, you get the feeling that he would still find a way to play every Sunday. LINE: Titans by 4 1/2.

** N.Y. Jets (0-2) at New England (1-1), 10 a.m. Channel 2. If the weather holds up, expect a pass-fest in a key AFC East matchup featuring the Jets’ Vinny Testaverde and Patriots’ Tom Brady. LINE: Patriots by 6 1/2.

** Jacksonville (0-2) at Indianapolis (2-0), 10 a.m. This may not be a matchup to plan your day around, but the Colts play an upbeat type of game when they are in the RCA Dome. LINE: Colts by 7 1/2.

** Pittsburgh (1-1) at Cincinnati (0-2), 10 a.m. The Bengals did not look too bad in their loss at Oakland last week and may be able to pump up their fans at home against the Steelers. LINE: Steelers by 4 1/2.

*** St. Louis (1-1) at Seattle (2-0), 1 p.m. KLSX-FM (97.1). Does this sound right to you? Marc Bulger vs. Matt Hasselbeck. Marshall Faulk vs. Stephen Alexander. Rams vs. Seahawks in a key early season NFC West showdown. LINE: Seahawks by 3.

*** N.Y. Giants (1-1) at Washington (2-0), 1 p.m. The Giants should be even more fired up to knock off the unbeaten Redskins after losing to Dallas in overtime last Monday. LINE: Redskins by 2 1/2.

** Green Bay (1-1) at Arizona (0-2), 1 p.m. Question for NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue: If Brett Favre and Emmitt Smith both fell down at the same time in Sun Devil Stadium, would anyone notice? LINE: Packers by 7 1/2.

** Baltimore (1-1) at San Diego (0-2), 1:15 p.m. KMPC (1540), KFMB (760), XEXX (1420). Interesting game because you will either see the Ravens’ Jamal Lewis challenge his new rushing record or the Chargers finally come together as a team. LINE: Ravens by 1.

** Cleveland (0-2) at San Francisco (1-1), 1:15 p.m. Channel 2, XPRS (1090). It’s always a treat to watch Coach Butch Davis have tirades on the Browns’ sideline and the 49ers may make his day a long one. LINE: 49ers by 7.

*** Buffalo (2-0) at Miami (1-1), 5:30 p.m. ESPN, KLSX-FM (97.1). The Dolphins are upset because they claim that the Bills’ Eric Moulds was spitting on them in a game last season. Moulds denies it. LINE: Dolphins by 3.

*** Oakland (1-1) at Denver (2-0), Monday, 6 p.m. Channel 7, KMPC (1540). Did we mention spitting? The Raiders’ Bill Romanowski is the spit king and he’ll surely be in the middle of the action against the Broncos and tight end Shannon Sharpe. LINE: Broncos by 5.

-- Lonnie White