THE MATCHUPS

TODAY

* Atlanta (7-4) at Carolina (8-3) -- Carolina has won four straight at home, scoring more than 30 points in the last three. Michael Vick has a 117.2 rating in his two starts at Carolina.

* Buffalo (4-7) at Miami (4-7) -- This game is for sole possession of second place in the AFC East. Buffalo is 0-5 on the road.

* Cincinnati (8-3) at Pittsburgh (7-4) -- The Steelers have beaten the Bengals three consecutive times, including 27-13 at Cincinnati in Week 7. The Bengals’ Carson Palmer has thrown at least two touchdown passes in seven consecutive road games.

* Dallas (7-4) at N.Y. Giants (7-4) -- The Cowboys’ Drew Bledsoe is 4-0 against the Giants and has completed at least 65% of his passes in each of those games. The Giants have won six of seven home games.

* Green Bay (2-9) at Chicago (8-3) -- The Packers have won 11 straight at Chicago. The Bears have won their last four home games and are trying to win four consecutive division games for the first time since 1991.

* Houston (1-10) at Baltimore (3-8) -- Houston is 0-5 on the road and has been out-rushed, 794-459, in those games. The Ravens have two rushing touchdowns, tied for last in the league with Arizona.

* Jacksonville (8-3) at Cleveland (4-7) -- Jaguar quarterback David Garrard will be making his fourth start in four seasons. Cleveland has won its last two home games but is 1-12 at home in December since 1999.

* Minnesota (6-5) at Detroit (4-7) -- The Vikings have beaten Detroit in 11 of the last 12 meetings. Lion interim Coach Dick Jauron makes his debut in place of fired Steve Mariucci.

* Tampa Bay (7-4) vs. New Orleans (3-8) at Baton Rouge, La. -- Each of the last six meetings between these teams was decided by six points or fewer. The Buccaneers are trying to win consecutive division games for the first time since 2002.

* Tennessee (3-8) at Indianapolis (11-0) -- The Colts could join the 1998 Denver Broncos, 1934 and ’85 Chicago Bears and 1972 Miami Dolphins as the only teams to start 12-0. The Titans have lost seven of their last eight road games.

* Arizona (3-8) at San Francisco (2-9) -- Arizona is averaging 275.2 yards passing a game, best in franchise history. The Cardinals’ Kurt Warner is 5-0 versus the 49ers, averaging 306.6 yards passing a game.

* Washington (5-6) at St. Louis (5-6) -- The Redskins have lost 19 of their last 25 road games, including the last four. The Rams have won their last 12 home games in December dating back to 1998.

* Denver (9-2) at Kansas City (7-4) -- The Broncos are 1-12 at Kansas City in December since 1970, and Jake Plummer is 0-4 at Arrowhead Stadium with three touchdown passes and seven interceptions.

* N.Y. Jets (2-9) at New England (6-5) -- The Jets have lost eight straight on the road and have been held without a touchdown in four of those. But the Patriots have given up 400-plus yards of offense in seven of their last eight games, including their last four.

* Oakland (4-7) at San Diego (7-4) -- LaDainian Tomlinson has averaged 145 yards rushing in his last seven games against the Raiders, scoring 10 touchdowns and passing for two. Oakland has lost 13 of its last 14 division games, including six of seven on the road.

MONDAY

* Seattle (9-2) at Philadelphia (5-6) -- Seattle has won seven consecutive games but has lost its last three Monday night games. The Eagles also have lost their last three Monday games -- two this season.

-- SAM FARMER