WEEK 6 MATCHUPS

MATCHUP: BUFFALO (2-3)

AT DETROIT (0-5)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: A league-worst rushing attack averaging 59.6 yards a game has hampered the Lions, who rank 28th in the league in offense. That’s two spots better than Buffalo, despite Willis McGahee’s leading the AFC with 439 yards rushing.

PETER YOON’S PICK: Detroit. The Lions are better than their record: Four of their losses have been by nine points or fewer.

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MATCHUP: HOUSTON (1-3)

AT DALLAS (2-2)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Drew Bledsoe’s three-interception game last week has the quarterback under fire, but an offensive line that gave up seven sacks is equally to blame. The Texans have no quarterback problem. David Carr leads the NFL with a 108.9 passer rating.

PETER YOON’S PICK: Dallas. Bledsoe should rebound against a defense that gives up nearly 300 yards passing per game.

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MATCHUP: CAROLINA (3-2)

AT BALTIMORE (4-1)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The Ravens have yet to give up more than 14 points and have the league’s No. 2 defense, but their offense is No. 29 at 267 yards per game. Julius Peppers leads the NFL with six sacks, but Carolina’s offense converts a league-worst 18.6% on third down.

PETER YOON’S PICK: Carolina. But with these offenses facing these defenses, it could very well be a 0-0 tie.

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MATCHUP: N.Y. GIANTS (2-2)

AT ATLANTA (3-1)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The Falcons’ defense has given up only one touchdown, is second in the NFC in scoring average at 10.5 points and has held opponents to an average of 69.2 yards rushing. The Giants counter with the NFL’s No. 2 offense, which averages 396.2 yards.

PETER YOON’S PICK: Falcons. The Giants gave up more than 30 points per game before stuffing Washington last week.

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MATCHUP: TENNESSEE (0-5)

AT WASHINGTON (2-3)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Washington has been vulnerable to the big play -- giving up 21 passes of 20 yards or more. Only the Packers (28) have given up more. With Vince Young at quarterback, the Titans rushed for a season-best 214 yards last week and nearly upset Indianapolis.

PETER YOON’S PICK: Washington. Clinton Portis should score against a defense giving up 172.4 yards rushing a game.

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MATCHUP: CINCINNATI (3-1)

AT TAMPA BAY (0-4)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The Bengals are looking to reestablish themselves as a top team, but they must fix a defense that has given up 344.8 yards per game, including more than 200 rushing in each of the last two. Tampa Bay is averaging only 12 points.

PETER YOON’S PICK: Cincinnati. Though a victory over Tampa Bay hardly qualifies as reestablishing an elite level.

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MATCHUP: SEATTLE (3-1)

AT ST. LOUIS (4-1)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Shaun Alexander is still sidelined because of a broken foot -- bad news for the Seahawks, who have yet to score a touchdown in two road games. The Rams have forced a league-best 15 turnovers but still give up 334 yards per game.

PETER YOON’S PICK: Seattle. Rams opponents are a combined 2-13, yet all four victories were by eight points or fewer.

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MATCHUP: PHILADELPHIA (4-1)

AT NEW ORLEANS (4-1)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Donovan McNabb is leading the league with 1,602 yards passing and 11 touchdowns and the Eagles are averaging 417 yards a game -- tops in the NFL. The New Orleans pass defense is third in the NFC, giving up only 182.2 yards per game.

PETER YOON’S PICK: Philadelphia. The Eagles aren’t popular for handing the Saints their first post-Katrina Superdome loss.

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MATCHUP: SAN DIEGO (3-1)

AT SAN FRANCISCO (2-3)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers had a breakthrough game last week with 242 yards and two touchdowns in a comeback against Pittsburgh. 49ers running back Frank Gore is the NFL’s surprise rushing leader with 465 yards.

PETER YOON’S PICK: San Diego. The Chargers’ pass rush will wreak havoc on second-year 49ers quarterback Alex Smith.

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MATCHUP: KANSAS CITY (2-2)

AT PITTSBURGH (1-3)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Seven of Ben Roethlisberger’s passes have been intercepted, and he doesn’t have a touchdown pass. Running back Larry Johnson returned to Chiefs practice Thursday and is expected to play despite a sore neck.

PETER YOON’S PICK: Pittsburgh. It’s just not feasible that the defending Super Bowl champions will start 1-4 ... is it?

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MATCHUP: MIAMI (1-4)

AT N.Y. JETS (2-3)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The Jets are trying to rebound from an embarrassing loss in which Chad Pennington passed for a career-low 71 yards. The Dolphins switched to Joey Harrington at quarterback but have yet to record 300 yards in total offense or more than 17 points.

PETER YOON’S PICK: New York. Miami, Detroit and Cleveland the next three weeks will help the Jets forget Jacksonville.

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MATCHUP: OAKLAND (0-4)

AT DENVER (3-1)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The Broncos’ defense has given up only one touchdown, but their offense, averaging 12.2 points, will eventually have to score more. With 14 turnovers this season, the Raiders have problems of their own. They’re averaging a league-worst 11.8 points.

PETER YOON’S PICK: Denver. The Broncos won’t get much resistance in extending their league-best home win streak to 14.

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MONDAY: CHICAGO (5-0)

AT ARIZONA (1-4)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The Bears are the best team in the NFL on both sides of the ball, averaging 31.2 points while giving up 7.2. That defense figures to challenge Arizona quarterback Matt Leinart, especially since receiver Larry Fitzgerald is out because of a bad hamstring.

PETER YOON’S PICK: Chicago. A trip to the desert should end the Bears’ string of four consecutive Monday night losses.