Today’s matchups

Saints at Falcons

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Falcons by 3.

Records: Saints (6-4); Falcons (5-5).

Last meeting: Saints won, 23-3, at New Orleans on Sept. 25.

Key stat: Falcons have lost 3 straight, scoring only 37 points.

Fantasy factor: Deuce McAllister has rushed for at least 100 yards in 4 of last 5 vs. Falcons. Michael Vick has 12 TDs in last 6 games vs. Saints (6 passing, 6 rushing)

The Buzz: Falcons know how to handle Saints, who have lost 2 straight. Vick will make enough plays.

Steelers at Ravens

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Ravens by 3.

Records: Steelers (4-6); Ravens (8-2).

Last meeting: Ravens won, 16-13 (OT), at Baltimore on Nov. 20, 2005.

Key stat: Ravens have won last 3 vs. Steelers at home.

Fantasy factor: Willie Parker has rushed for 259 yards last 2 weeks, but can he keep it up against Ravens’ defense? Mark Clayton emerging as major threat for Ravens (46 catches, 3 TDs).

The Buzz: Ravens have won 4 straight with uncharacteristic balance between offense and defense. Steelers have won 2 straight, but that stops here.

Jaguars at Bills

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Jaguars by 3.

Records: Jaguars (6-4); Bills (4-6).

Last meeting: Jaguars won, 13-10, at Buffalo on Sept. 12, 2004.

Key stat: Jaguars 1-3 on road, beating only Eagles.

Fantasy factor: Fred Taylor averaging healthy 4.5 yards per carry for Jags. Anthony Thomas getting 3.8 per attempt for Bills.

The Buzz: Bills have played well in last 3 since week off (only loss 1-pointer at Indianapolis). Lee Evans, with 55 catches and 4 TDs, will make difference again.

Bengals at Browns

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Bengals by 3.

Records: Bengals (5-5); Browns (3-7).

Last meeting: Bengals won, 34-17, at Cincinnati on Sept. 17.

Key stat: Bengals have won last 4 meetings, and 2 of last 3 in Cleveland.

Fantasy factor: Bengals’ Rudi Johnson has averaged 160.5 yards rushing with 6 TDs in last 4 meetings. Browns tight end Kellen Winslow has 60 catches, 3 for TDs.

The Buzz: Browns are increasingly competitive, but Bengals have too many weapons and should win Ohio rivalry.

Cardinals at Vikings

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Vikings by 6.

Records: Cardinals (2-8); Vikings (4-6).

Last meeting: Cardinals won, 18-17, at Tempe, Ariz., on Dec. 29, 2003.

Key stat: It’s Vikings’ No. 1 rushing defense vs. Cardinals’ No. 32 rushing offense.

Fantasy factor: Anquan Boldin (55 catches, 3 TDs) will need big day. Travis Taylor leads Vikings with 37 catches (1 TD).

The Buzz: It’s pretty simple. Vikings can run and throw vs. Cardinals; Arizona has little chance of running.

Texans at Jets

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Jets by 4 1/2 .

Records: Texans (3-7); Jets (5-5).

Last meeting: Jets won, 29-7, at New York on Dec. 5, 2004.

Key stat: Jets have scored only 30 points in last 3 games.

Fantasy factor: Andre Johnson leads NFL with 74 catches, and has 4 TD catches. Leon Washington getting 4.2 yards per carry for Jets.

The Buzz: Chad Pennington should be able to move ball through air against Texans’ 25th-ranked pass defense.

49ers at Rams

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Rams by 5.

Records: 49ers (5-5); Rams (4-6).

Last meeting: 49ers won, 20-13, at San Francisco on Sept. 17.

Key stat: 49ers have won last 3 meetings.

Fantasy factor: Alex Smith has made steady progress, and has thrown 10 TD passes vs. 7 INTs for 49ers. Rams’ Marc Bulger quietly having big year with 13 TD passes vs. 3 INTs.

The Buzz: 49ers have emerged as unlikely playoff contender, and are going for fourth straight win. But Bulger and Torry Holt are playing well, and Rams have home-dome advantage.

Panthers at Redskins

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Panthers by 4.

Records: Panthers (6-4); Redskins (3-7).

Last meeting: Panthers won, 20-17, at Carolina on Nov. 16, 2003.

Key stat: It’s Panthers’ No. 21 offense vs. Redskins’ No. 30 defense.

Fantasy factor: Rookie DeAngelo Williams beginning to help Panthers’ running game, gaining 114 yards last week. Redskins’ Jason Campbell gets second start after throwing 2 TDs in first.

The Buzz: After slow start, Panthers have gone 2-0 since week off to take control of NFC South. Redskins have to prove they can win with Campbell.

Raiders at Chargers

Time: 1:05 p.m. Line: Chargers by 13.

Records: Raiders (2-8); Chargers (8-2).

Last meeting: Chargers won, 27-0, at Oakland on Sept. 11.

Key stat: Chargers have won 4 straight by average score of 39-29.

Fantasy factor: Justin Fargas, averaging 3.7 yards per carry, is getting chance to carry Raiders’ rushing load. Chargers’ LaDainian Tomlinson just keeps going with 19 TDs (16 rushing) in last 6 games.

The Buzz: Raiders’ defense continues to play tough, but stopping Chargers is another matter. Raiders just can’t score enough to keep up.

Giants at Titans

Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: Giants by 3.

Records: Giants (6-4); Titans (3-7).

Last meeting: Titans won, 32-29 (OT), at New York on Dec. 1, 2002.

Key stat: Titans 1-3 at home, beating only Texans.

Fantasy factor: Tiki Barber getting 5.0 yards per carry for Giants but has only 1 TD. Travis Henry getting 4.6 for Titans with 5 TDs.

The Buzz: Giants’ Eli Manning has been ineffective in consecutive losses to Bears and Jaguars. If he gets his game straightened out, Giants will get back on track.

Bears at Patriots

Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: Patriots by 3 1/2 .

Records: Bears (9-1); Patriots (7-3).

Last meeting: Patriots won, 33-30, at Champaign on Nov. 10, 2002.

Key stat: Bears 5-0 on road, winning by 11.6 points per game.

Fantasy factor: Pats rookie Laurence Maroney, averaging 4.2 yards per carry. Bears’ Mark Bradley has emerged as serious threat with a TD in each of last 2 games.

The Buzz: Patriots in position to exploit Bears’ one significant weakness, 10th-ranked rushing defense. And there’s always Tom Brady to deal with.

Eagles at Colts

Time: 5:15 p.m. Line: Colts by 9.

Records: Eagles (5-5); Colts (9-1).

Last meeting: Colts won, 35-13, at Philadelphia on Nov. 10, 2002.

Key stat: Colts 5-0 at home but winning by only 8.4 points per game.

Fantasy factor: Brian Westbrook, with 4 rushing TDs and 3 receiving scores, is focus of Eagles’ offense. Colts’ Peyton Manning leads NFL in TD passes (20) and passer rating (100.5).

The Buzz: With Donovan McNabb done for year, Jeff Garcia gets chance to pull off upset. After losing at Dallas last week, Colts should be on game.

Terry Bannon, Chicago Tribune