WEEKEND’S BEST GAMES

NEW ENGLAND (6-0) vs. PITTSBURGH (5-1)

* Kickoff: 1:15 p.m. PST, at Pittsburgh.

* TV: None.

* The line: New England by 3.

* New England update: Going for their 22nd straight victory, the Patriots have their work cut out for them today in the first game of what promises to be a difficult two-week stretch on the road, including next Sunday’s matchup with the Rams at St. Louis. Then again, the Patriots have won seven straight road games in their streak.

* Pittsburgh update: Duce Staley, who signed with the Steelers in the off-season, has rushed for 582 yards and averaged 4.6 yards a carry. Plus, he’s a load to tackle. Rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has played more like a seasoned veteran and the Steelers are 4-0 when he has started.

* The story line: It’s the streak, as usual. This one may be decided at the line of scrimmage, where Pittsburgh’s mobile, bruising -- and healthy -- offensive line tries to open holes for Staley and where the Patriot defensive line will try to plug them up.

* The pick: New England. The Patriots are accustomed to having it their way and this one will be no different, although it could be a low-scoring struggle.

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ATLANTA (5-2) vs. DENVER (5-2)

* Kickoff: 1 p.m., at Denver.

* TV: None.

* The line: Denver by 7.

* Atlanta update: New Orleans is the only team in the NFC South that has given up more points than the Falcons, a statistic due largely to last week’s 56-10 pasting of the Falcons by Kansas City. They need to forget that one quickly. Quarterback Michael Vick, who has thrown for 1,138 yards, is also the team’s second-leading runner, with 348 yards, an average of 6.6 yards per carry.

* Denver update: Undefeated at home in three games, the Broncos also need a memory lapse to help overcome any lingering mental hangover from Monday night’s upset loss at Cincinnati. The Broncos have a one-game lead over San Diego in the AFC West and will try to stop the Falcons behind quarterback Jake Plummer, who has thrown for 1,549 yards, and running back Reuben Droughns, who has rushed for 479 yards in his last three games.

* The story line: Not only is it a battle of first-place teams, it’s also a rematch of Super Bowl XXXIII in 1999, which the Broncos won, 34-19.

* The pick: Denver. Only New England and Baltimore have given up fewer points than the Broncos, but against Vick, the defense can’t rest.

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N.Y. GIANTS (4-2) vs. MINNESOTA (5-1)

* Kickoff: 10 a.m., at Minneapolis.

* TV: Channel 11.

* The line: Minnesota by 7.

* New York update: The Giants, who are coming off a disappointing loss at home to the Detroit Lions, remain one of the biggest surprises as the season nears its halfway point. Quarterback Kurt Warner conducts an offense that is fairly basic, handing the football to Tiki Barber (647 yards rushing and a 5.5-yard average) or throwing it to him (26 catches for 342 yards).

* Minnesota update: The Vikings are 3-0 at home and have a chance to increase their lead over Detroit in the NFC North the next two weeks, with the woeful Chicago Bears coming in next Sunday. Wide receiver Randy Moss, who injured his hamstring at New Orleans two weeks ago, was able to practice this week and is expected to play in his 103rd straight game.

* The story line: The Giants, 2-1 on the road, have a chance to show whether they’re real. The Vikings must show they can beat a team with a winning record.

* The pick: Minnesota. The Vikings have shown they can win big (38-31 over New Orleans) and small (20-3 over Tennessee). This should be somewhere in the middle.

-- Thomas Bonk