Dolphins and 49ers Can Feel a Draft

The Times’ rating scale for this week’s games:

**** -- Don’t miss a down.

*** -- Could be good.

** -- Who let the dogs out?

* -- Stupor Bowl.

How’s this for an upside-down game: When Miami plays at San Francisco on Sunday, the winner will be the loser, and the loser will be the winner.

After all, this showdown of 1-9 teams could ultimately determine which team gets the No. 1 pick in next spring’s draft.

It’s early to be handing out consolation prizes, but neither the 49ers nor the Dolphins look as if they’ll pull out of their tailspin.

“They’re in the same situation as us,” Miami defensive end Jason Taylor said. “They’ve lost a lot of games and have had chances to win and haven’t.”

*** Philadelphia (9-1) at New York Giants (5-5), Sunday, 10 a.m. -- With a victory, the Eagles will clinch their fourth consecutive NFC East title. Terrell Owens leads the NFL with 13 touchdown receptions, and quarterback Donovan McNabb has thrown for more than 300 yards in each of his last two games against the Giants, collecting six touchdowns, no interceptions and a 136.2 rating. Eli Manning had a decent debut as a starter against Atlanta despite at least seven dropped passes by his receivers.

** Cleveland (3-7) at Cincinnati (4-6), Sunday, 10 a.m. -- The Browns made the rare move of sending out a news release this week that attempted to shoot down rumors Coach Butch Davis was on his way out. But his future is very much in doubt. The Browns have lost four in a row, scoring fewer points in each successive game during the slide, and they are 0-4 on the road. The Bengals are 1-7 at home against division opponents since the start of the 2002 season.

** Tennessee (4-6) at Houston (4-6), Sunday, 10 a.m. -- Earlier this season, Houston defeated Tennessee for the first time, intercepting four passes by Titan quarterback Steve McNair. McNair has a 66.4 rating this season, which, according to STATS Inc., is the lowest of any reigning MVP since John Brodie in 1971.

** Tampa Bay (4-6) at Carolina (3-7), Sunday, 10 a.m. -- After wallowing through the first half of the season, the Panthers have come alive in the last two weeks, notching consecutive victories. Jake Delhomme has 10 touchdown passes and two interceptions in his last four games, and he faces a Tampa Bay team that is 1-4 on the road. Buccaneer quarterback Brian Griese has a career-high rating of 104.4.

*** San Diego (7-3) at Kansas City (3-7), Sunday, 10 a.m. -- The Chargers have won four in a row and are looking for their first five-game winning streak since they had seven consecutive victories in 1995-96. They haven’t won in their last seven trips to Kansas City. The Chiefs get into shootouts on a weekly basis. Although they’re 3-7, they have outscored opponents, 276-265. Eddie Kennison has three touchdown catches in the last two games.

*** Jacksonville (6-4) at Minnesota (6-4), Sunday, 10 a.m. -- The Viking rushing defense has broken down in recent weeks. Minnesota has given up an average of 166 yards in its last four games, 70 more yards than it allowed in its first six games. Establishing the run will be key for Jacksonville, which should be getting quarterback Byron Leftwich back for the game. Half of Jacksonville’s 10 games have been decided by three points or fewer.

*** Washington (3-7) at Pittsburgh (9-1), Sunday, 10 a.m. -- The Steelers have won seven consecutive home games, and the Redskins are 0-3 against the AFC this season. That doesn’t mean things will be easy for Pittsburgh, which will be facing one of the league’s best defenses. The Redskins are having a difficult time reaching the end zone, though, and are averaging only 13.1 points a game and are on pace for their lowest point total since 1961.

** New Orleans (4-6) at Atlanta (8-2), Sunday, 1:05 p.m. -- Atlanta has won six of its last seven home games, and the Falcons are coming off a big road victory over the New York Giants. Running back Warrick Dunn has averaged 119 yards rushing in his last four games against the Saints. New Orleans beat the Falcons twice last season and has won three of its last four games in Atlanta.

**** Baltimore (7-3) at New England (9-1), Sunday, 1:15 p.m. -- Leaning on their top-shelf defense, the Ravens have won three of their last four road games, limiting opponents to an average of 12.8 points in those games. Putting the clamps on the Patriots will be tough, especially at Gillette Stadium, where New England has won 16 consecutive games. The Patriots have given up 13 points in their last two home games and haven’t allowed a passing touchdown in the last three home games.

** Buffalo (4-6) at Seattle (6-4), Sunday, 1:15 p.m. -- This is the first time Buffalo’s Drew Bledsoe will play an NFL game in Washington, his home state. He’ll have a tough time emerging victorious. The Bills have lost 14 of their last 16 road games, and Seattle has won 12 of 13 at home.

** New York Jets (7-3) at Arizona (4-6), Sunday, 1:15 p.m. -- The Cardinals’ Emmitt Smith is the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, and the Jets’ Curtis Martin recently became the second player in league history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first 10 seasons, joining Detroit great Barry Sanders. Smith and Martin have combined for 30,817 yards rushing -- more than 17 miles -- the most ever by opposing running backs entering a game.

** Oakland (3-7) at Denver (7-3), Sunday, 5:30 p.m. -- Once a marquee matchup, the Raiders at Broncos hasn’t been much of a game lately. The Raiders have lost eight of their last nine games in Denver, and, until winning two weeks ago, were riding a 13-game road losing streak. Denver’s Reuben Droughns needs 156 yards rushing for 1,000. That would make him the fifth different 1,000-yard rusher for the Broncos in the last seven seasons.

*** St. Louis (5-5) at Green Bay (6-4), Monday, 6 p.m. -- Quarterback Brett Favre will be making his 200th consecutive start, an NFL record. He has thrown a touchdown pass in 35 consecutive games. The Packers have won five games in a row, squeaking by in each of the last two by three points. The Rams are 7-2 on “Monday Night Football” since 2001, although they have lost four of their last five games at Lambeau Field.