Nfl Matchups

Arizona at New England

Line: Patriots by 10.

Last meeting: Patriots won 23-21 at Arizona on Oct. 10, 1993.

Key stats: Cardinals have won four of last five from the Patriots.

Worth watching: Arizona WR Frank Sanders and RB Larry Centers each have 15 receptions already. The Patriots are waiting for second-year RB Curtis Martin (113 yards, 2.9 avg.) to regain his ‘95 form.

Outlook: New England QB Drew Bledsoe has completed less than half his passes (40 of 84), but could find his game against Arizona’s No. 22-ranked defense. The Cardinals will have a chance if they can generate a pass rush with Eric Swann and Simeon Rice, who picked up his first career sack last week. Cardinals sticking with Boomer Esiason at QB.

Baltimore at Houston

Line: Oilers by 3-1/2.

Last meeting: Oilers won 37-10 in Cleveland.

Key stats: Resurgent Oilers have the NFL’s No. 8 offense.

Worth watching: Houston rookie RB Eddie George leads the AFC in rushing and is fourth in the league with 193 yards. Baltimore’s Matt Stover has made 52 of his last 56 FG attempts.

Outlook: Houston’s running attack, led by George, will try to pound away at the Ravens’ No. 20 defense. The Oilers’ aggressive defensive scheme shouldn’t have much trouble containing Baltimore.

Detroit at Philadelphia

Line: Eagles by 1.

Last meeting: Eagles won 58-37 in Philadelphia in playoffs last season.

Key stats: It’s early, but here’s a mismatch: Detroit’s No. 2 rushing offense vs. Philadelphia’s No. 29 rushing defense.

Worth watching: Detroit RB Barry Sanders leads the NFL with 288 yards rushing, and is gaining a whopping 6.5 yards per carry. Perhaps his presence will inspire the Eagles’ Ricky Watters, who has only 124 yards and is averaging 4.4 yards per carry.

Outlook: This is a rematch of playoff blowout of last season, Eagles embarrassed the Lions in a game that wasn’t nearly as close as 58-37 makes it sound. Eagles trying to bounce back from Monday night’s embarrassment in Green Bay and will have to control the ball to do it.

Minnesota at Chicago

Line: Bears by 3-1/2.

Last meeting: Bears won 14-6 at Minnesota Oct. 30, 1995.

Key stats: Minnesota is going for its first 3-0 start since 1975.

Worth watching: Vikings QB Warren Moon returns to the starting lineup after missing the last game with ankle injury. Minnesota won without him, and if he struggles early, will Minnesota coach Dennis Green stick with him? Vikings RB Robert Smith off to a strong start with 203 yards and 3.9-yard average.

Outlook: Can the Bears’ offense get in gear? Erik Kramer and Curtis Conway have to be effective as they were a year ago. Conway is averaging only 10.2 yards per catch and hasn’t scored a TD.

New Orleans at Cincinnati

Line: Bengals by 3.

Last meeting: Saints won 20-13 at New Orleans on Jan. 2, 1994.

Key stats: Cincinnati’s No. 26 offense faces New Orleans’ No. 11 defense.

Worth watching: Game features two hot defenders. Saints DT Wayne Martin has three sacks and Bengals CB Ashley Ambrose leads NFL with three interceptions.

Outlook: Home opener offers a big test for Bengals and coach Dave Shula. After showing signs of being a team ready to make a move last season, they’re 0-2. Bengals need QB Jeff Blake, who has completed only 37 of 73 passes, to come around. Saints can win if they get a pass rush.

N.Y. Jets at Miami

Line: Dolphins by 12-1/2.

Last meeting: Jets won 17-16 at New York on Nov. 22, 1995.

Key stats: Dolphins lead league with turnover differential of plus-6.

Worth watching: Miami has rookie-of-the-year candidates on both sides of the ball in RB Karim Abdul-Jabbar (3.7 yards per carry) and MLB Zach Thomas. Jets’ WR Keyshawn Johnson, the top pick in the draft, makes his first start for Jets.

Outlook: With Abdul-Jabbar, the Dolphins may finally have a running threat to complement Dan Marino’s passing. Dolphins should roll, but Jets’ offense may get a boost from the return of offensive tackles David Williams and Jumbo Elliott from injuries.

San Diego at Green Bay

Line: Green Bay by 8-1/2.

Last meeting: Green Bay won 20-13 at San Diego on Dec. 12, 1993.

Key stats: Green Bay is No. 1 in the NFL in offense: San Diego is No. 2.

Worth watching: Green Bay’s amazing offensive machine just keeps on rolling. Brett Favre leads the NFL in passing. Edgar Bennett is averaging 5.2 yards per carry. San Diego WR Tony Martin leads AFC with 16 catches for 10.1-yard average and 2 TDs.

Outlook: What can San Diego do to pull off an upset? Hope the defense can get a few key turnovers and put John Carney in position to boom game-winning field goal? Sounds good. Won’t happen.

Indianapolis at Dallas

Line: Cowboys by 10.

Last meeting: Cowboys won 27-3 at Indianapolis Oct. 10, 1993.

Key stats: Dallas has the NFL’s No. 3 defense. Worth watching: Two of the game’s top quarterbacks - Colts’ Jim Harbaugh and Cowboys’ Troy Aikman. Harbaugh has won of the game’s top young tight ends in Illinois product Ken Dilger (10 catches, 18.2 yard avg.).

Outlook: The Colts have picked the wrong week to have depth on the injury report. RB Marshall Faulk probably won’t play because of a foot injury. Cornerback Ray Buchanan is questionable. And LB Trev Alberts and DE Elliss Johnson are out. And the Cowboys’ Emmitt Smith is regaining his health.

Jacksonville at Oakland

Line: Raiders by 6-1/2.

Last meeting: This is their first meeting.

Key stats: Second-year Jaguars have NFL’s No. 5 offense.

Worth watching: Jaguars rookie Kevin Hardy from Illinois has a sack in each of his first two games. Raiders WR Tim Brown has 12 catches, two for touchdowns.

Outlook: Raiders plan a Saturday block party to re-introduce fans to renovated Oakland Coliseum and try and get them to buy more tickets. But the way the Raiders have played under Mike White (eight straight losses), don’t expect them to sell more soon.

Washington at N.Y. Giants

Line: Redskins by 2.

Last meeting: Giants won 20-13 in New York on Dec. 10, 1995.

Key stats: Giants are 29th in offense and 30th in defense.

Worth watching: Washington’s Terry Allen is third in the NFL with 194 yards rushing, including the 28-yard jaunt that beat the Bears. Washington QB Dave Brown likes to face the Redskins: in four games against them, he’s thrown 4 TDs, 0 INTs in four Giant wins.

Outlook: Giants’ mastery of Redskins is about to end. Washington has built a respectable defense, led by DT Sean Gilbert (2 sacks) and LB Ken Harvey. Giants can’t get their running game going - Rodney Hampton leads team with just 94 yards.

Tampa Bay at Denver

Line: Broncos by 13-1/2.

Last meeting: Buccaneers won 17-10 at Denver on Dec. 26, 1993.

Key stats: The Broncos look like a complete team: they’re third in offense and second in defense.

Worth watching: Denver’s Terrell Davis leads the AFC with 243 yards from scrimmage (183 rushing, 60 receiving). Tampa Bay QB Trent Dilfer still hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass.

Outlook: Denver has the balance to give John Elway one more shot at a Super Bowl. Bucs going nowhere without holdout RB Errict Rhett.