PITTSBURGH STEELERS (3-3) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (3-3)
  STEELERS RAVENS
LEADER 8-4  
STREAKS Past 5 on road  
COACHES VS. OPP. Cowher: 9-4 Billick: 3-3
LAST WEEK W 28-10 vs. Colts W 17-10 vs. Jaguars
LAST GAME 12/16/01: Steelers 26 at Ravens 21. Pittsburgh QB Kordell Stewart throws for 333 yards & 2 TDs while rushing for 55 yards & WR Plaxico Burress has 8 catches for 164 yards & 1 TD.
LAST GAME AT SITE 12/16/01
TV CBS (1:00 PM ET): Gus Johnson, Brent Jones

�02 STAT LEADERS
PASSING Maddox: 64-99-794-7-5-91.9 Redman: 97-182-1,034-7-3-76.1
RUSHING Bettis: 83-326-3.9-5 J. Lewis: 134-576-4.3-3
RECEIVING Ward: 38-431-11.3-6 (T1L) J. Lewis (RB): 26-180-6.9-0
OFFENSE 341.7 267.7
TAKE/GIVE -5 +2
DEFENSE 333.7 349.0
SACKS Porter: 6.0 (T1C) Boulware: 4.0
INTs Porter: 3 (T3C) R. Lewis, Reed (R): 2
PUNTING Miller: 43.1 Zastudil (R): 40.7
KICKING Peterson: 34 (16/16 PAT; 6/10 FG) Stover: 38 (11/11 PAT; 9/11 FG)

STEELERS NOTES
Have won past 5 at Baltimore. Head coach BILL COWHER has 9-4 career record (.692) vs. Ravens, including 5-1 (.833) mark on road. Cowher has .500-record or better against 23 of 30 NFL teams he has coached against. ... RB JEROME BETTIS rushed for 91 yards in last game vs. Balt. (11/4/01). Needs 35 yards to pass O.J. SIMPSON into 11th place all-time in career rushing yards. In playoff, RB AMOS ZEREOUE rushed for 63 yards & 2 TDs. Had career-high 73 rushing yards in last regular season meeting. ... WR PLAXICO BURRESS has TD reception in each of past 3 vs. Ravens, including playoff. Had career-best 164 yards (career high-tying 8 catches, 1 TD) in last regular season game vs. Balt. ... Defense limited Ravens last year to 121 rushing yards, 540 total yards & had 5 INTs in 3 meetings. ... S BRENT ALEXANDER has 3 INTs in past 3 vs. Balt. including Divisional Playoff. ... In past 4, including Divisional Playoff, LB JOEY PORTER has 5.0 sacks. ...

RAVENS NOTES
Club has won 18 of past 23 home games (incl. playoffs) & have won 3 of past 4 after 0-2 start. ... QB CHRIS REDMAN makes second career division start. Is 1-0 vs. AFC North with 106.0 passer rating after completing 19 of 30 passes (63.3 pct.) for 208 yards with 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs in 10/6/02 win over Cleveland. ... In last game vs. Pitt. (10/29/00), RB JAMAL LEWIS rushed for 93 yards & added 53 receiving yards, accounting for 146 of team�s 274 yards (53.3 pct.). Club is 7-0 when he rushes for 100 yards. ... LB ED HARTWELL led team in tackles in each of past 2 games (23). LB BERNARDO HARRIS posted 9 tackles & INT vs. Jax last Sunday. LB PETER BOULWARE recorded 10 tackles & 1.5 sacks last year in regular season vs. Pitt. Defense posted 6 sacks in 3 meetings last year. Held Steelers to 143 passing yards in playoff.


 DETROIT LIONS (2-4) AT BUFFALO BILLS (4-3)
  LIONS BILLS
LEADER 3-2-1  
STREAKS 2 of past 3  
COACHES VS. OPP. Mornhinweg: 0-0 Williams: 0-0
LAST WEEK W 23-20 (OT) vs. Bears W 23-10 at Dolphins
LAST GAME 10/5/97: Lions 13 at Bills 22. Buffalo RB Antowain Smith rushes for 56-yard TD to ice game 2 plays after Bills record safety to take lead.
LAST GAME AT SITE 10/5/97
TV FOX (1:00 PM ET): Ron Pitts, Tim Green

�02 STAT LEADERS
PASSING Harrington (R): 83-159-1,009-5-6-66.8 Bledsoe: 182-282-2,198 (1L)-15 (T1C)-5-98.7 (2C)
RUSHING Stewart: 86-420-4.9-2 Henry: 132-631-4.8-7 (T2L)
RECEIVING Hakim: 24-334-13.9-1 Moulds: 48 (2C)-662 (1L)-13.8-5 (T3L)
OFFENSE 286.3 389.9 (3L)
TAKE/GIVE -2 +1
DEFENSE 366.5 345.3
SACKS Eight tied: 1 Schobel: 4.5
INTs Claiborne: 3 (T2C) Clements: 3 (T3C)
PUNTING Jett: 44.9 (3C) Moorman: 48.0 (1L)
KICKING Hanson: 42 (15/15 PAT; 9/10 FG) Hollis: 61 (T2C) (22/22 PAT; 13/16 FG)

LIONS NOTES
Club aims for consecutive victories for first time since 11/19-11/23/00. ... Rookie first-round draft pick (No. 3)QB JOEY HARRINGTON seeks third win in fifth NFL start. Compiled 9-2 (.818) road record as college starter at Oregon. ... RB JAMES STEWART rushed for career-high 172 yards last week vs. Bears. Has 12 career 100-yard rushing games, including 6 with Lions, & his team has 9-3 record in those games. Averaging career-best 4.9 yards per carry. RB AVEION CASON had career-high 57 yards receiving (3 catches) vs. Bears. ... WR BILL SCHROEDER has TDs in 2 of past 5 games vs. AFC. ... TE MIKHAEL RICKS leads NFC tight ends with 216 yards receiving. ... KR-PR DESMOND HOWARD has 8 career PR-TDs & needs 2 to tie ERIC METCALF for most all-time. ... K JASON HANSON connected on 3 second-half FGs vs. Bears, including 48-yard OT game-winner. ... P JOHN JETT punted 5 times vs. Bears & had 3 downed inside 10 yard-line. ...

BILLS NOTES
Special teams coordinator DANNY SMITH was Detroit�s tight ends coach (1999-2000). Are 19-6 (.760) in past 25 home games vs. NFC. Rank No. 2 in NFL in pass defense (289.9) & No. 3 in NFL total offense (389.9). ... QB DREW BLEDSOE has 2-0 record & completed 63 of 85 passes (74.1 pct.) for 791 yards with 7 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 130.1 passer rating vs. NFC this year. In 3 career games vs. Lions (w/ NE), has passed for 638 yards. ... With 100 rush yards this week, RB TRAVIS HENRY becomes 1st Bills RB since THURMAN THOMAS (1994) with 3 consecutive 100-yard rush games. ... At home in 2002, WR ERIC MOULDS has 343 yards (114.3 yards per game), 2 TDs & 6 catches of 20+ yards. WR PEERLESS PRICE is 3rd in AFC with 47 catches & 639 receiving yards. ... Club scored 17 points off 6 takeaways in last week�s win at Miami. ... CB NATE CLEMENTS tied club record with 3 INTs last week, including 29-yard INT-TD. LB LONDON FLETCHER had 1.0 sack & 5 tackles in last game vs. Detroit (10/8/01 w/ StL). Leads team with 77 tackles. Club tied for 2nd in AFC in sacks (19). ... P BRIAN MOORMAN leads NFL with 48.0 punting avg.


 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (5-2) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (3-4)
  BUCCANEERS PANTHERS
LEADER 2-1  
STREAKS 2-1  
COACHES VS. OPP. Gruden: 1-0 Fox: 0-0
LAST WEEK L 20-10 at Eagles L 30-0 at Falcons
LAST GAME 10/18/98: Panthers 13 at Buccaneers 16. Tampa Bay QB Trent Dilfer scores 1 TD & throws game-winning pass to WR Karl Williams with 1:39 remaining for comeback victory.
LAST GAME AT SITE 12/1/96: Panthers 24, Buccaneers 0. Carolina�s defense causes 4 turnovers & is responsible for 21 points as Panthers register first shutout in franchise history.
TV FOX (1:00 PM ET): Dick Stockton, Troy Aikman, Cris Collinsworth

�02 STAT LEADERS
PASSING B. Johnson: 145-239-1,544-7-5-80.6 or
R. Johnson: 4-7-31-0-0-68.2		 Weinke: 10-21-140-0-0-69.5 or
Fasani (R): 6-18-100-0-1-29.9
RUSHING M. Pittman: 102-358-3.5-0 L. Smith: 147-513-3.5-6 (2C)
RECEIVING M. Pittman (RB): 33-263-8.0-0 S. Smith: 28-436-15.6-1
OFFENSE 305.9 301.3
TAKE/GIVE +5 +3
DEFENSE 253.3 (1L) 282.1
SACKS Sapp: 7.0 (T1L) Peppers (R): 7.0 (T1L)
INTs Brooks: 4 (T1L) Grant: 3 (T2C)
PUNTING Tupa: 44.3 Sauerbrun: 46.1 (1C)
KICKING Gramatica: 49 (16/16 PAT; 11/16 FG) Graham: 16 (4/4 PAT; 4/6 FG)

BUCCANEERS NOTES
Defense has scored 5 TDs & surrendered 6 in 2002. Club has allowed NFL-low 76 points & seeks to hold opposing offense without TD for fourth time in past 5 games. Defense holds opponents to NFL best 16.7 redzone TD pct. (12 trips, 2 TDs). ... QB BRAD JOHNSON has 46-27 record (.630) as starter, including 3-0 all-time vs. Car. Has thrown 6 TDs & 1 INT all-time vs. Car. Needs 50 yards passing to become sixth player in franchise history to pass for 5,000 yards. ... DT WARREN SAPP has 6.0 sacks in past 5 games. His 7.0 sacks are most among NFL DTs.. ... LB DERRICK BROOKS scored on 11-yard fumble return TD last week & has 4 TDs in 2002. Needs 1 TD to tie NFL record for most TDs on turnovers in season (5, KEN HOUSTON, 1971). ... Needs 1 INT-TD to become fourth player in NFL history with 4 in season. ...

PANTHERS NOTES
Defense leads NFL with 25 sacks, including 22 by defensive line. Need 2 sacks vs. Bucs to surpass 2001 season total (26). Club has not allowed 100-yard rusher in past 9 games. ... QB CHRIS WEINKE was Heisman Trophy winner at Florida State. Rookie fifth-round draft pick QB RANDY FASANI made NFL debut last week, passing for 100 yards & team-leading 58 yards rushing. ... RB LAMAR SMITH has 6 TD runs in 2002, most by Panthers RB since TSHIMANGA BIAKABUTUKA�s 6 in 1999. Needs 2 TD runs to pass FRED LANE (7) for most in single-season in club history. Rookie second-round pick RB DE SHAUN FOSTER could make NFL debut . ... Club has INT in 7 of past 8 games. ... Rookie first-round pick (No. 2 overall) DE JULIUS PEPPERS tied for NFL lead with 7.0 sacks. Has 2 3.0-sack games & needs 1 more to become first rookie in NFL history with 3 3.0-sack games in single-season. DE MICHEAL RUCKER needs 3.0 sacks vs. Bucs to tie career high (9.0, 2001). ...


 TENNESSEE TITANS (2-4) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-6)
  TITANS BENGALS
LEADER 36-29-1  
STREAKS 7 of past 8  
COACHES VS. OPP. Fisher: 10-4 LeBeau: 1-3
LAST WEEK Bye (Wk 6: W 23-14 vs. Jaguars) Bye (Wk 6: L 34-7 vs. Steelers)
LAST GAME 1/6/02: Bengals 23 at Titans 21. Cincinnati�s Neil Rackers kicks 34-yard FG with 20 seconds remaining to lift Bengals to victory.
LAST GAME AT SITE 11/18/01: Titans 20, Bengals 7. Tennessee QB Steve McNair completes 16 of 25 attempts for 172 yards & 1 TD as WR Derrick Mason returns opening kickoff 101 yards for TD.
TV CBS (1:00 PM ET): Don Criqui, Steve Tasker

�02 STAT LEADERS
PASSING McNair: 141-216-1,471-9-9-81.4 Kitna: 72-113-602-1-7-54.5
RUSHING George: 112-331-3.0-4 Dillon: 110-464-4.2-3
RECEIVING Wycheck (TE): 25-209-8.4-1 Dillon (RB): 22-144-6.5-0
OFFENSE 322.8 266.2
TAKE/GIVE -4 -10
DEFENSE 344.2 342.3
SACKS Carter: 6.0 (T1C) T. Williams: 3.0
INTs A. Dyson: 3 (T3C) Five tied: 1
PUNTING Hentrich: 44.2 Harris: 40.9
KICKING Nedney: 32 (11/11 PAT; 7/8 FG) Rackers: 15 (6/6 PAT; 3/5 FG)

TITANS NOTES
Since 1992, club is 24-15 (.615) in October & 7-6 (.538) following bye. Aim for 5th consecutive win at Cincinnati & 8th win in past 9 games vs. Bengals. ... Head coach JEFF FISHER has career 10-4 (.714) record vs. Cincinnati . ... QB STEVE MC NAIR (8-2 as starter vs. Cincy) has career-high 17 TD passes vs. Bengals (vs. 3 INTs). In career, has completed 157 of 264 passes (59.5 pct.) for 2,077 yards with 17 TDs vs. 3 INTs for 101.2 passer rating. Also has rushed for 252 yards & 5 TDs. ... RB EDDIE GEORGE has 7 TDs in past 6 vs. Cincinnati. Has career-best 1,075 rush yards & five 100-yard games vs. Bengals (12 games). Titans are 9-3 (.750) vs. Cincy when George plays. ... WR-KR-PR DERRICK MASON has 764 all-purpose yards (405 receiving, 98 PR, 260 KR, 1 rushing) & 2 TDs in past 3 against Bengals (254.7 yards per game). Mason had career-high 186 receiving yards (1/6/02) & career-long 101-yard KR-TD (11/18/01) last year vs. Cincinnati. ... DE JEVON KEARSE has 4.0 sacks in past 5 vs. Bengals. ... LB KEITH BULLUCK has led team in tackles past 2 games. ... KR coverage tied for 1st in NFL, allowing 17.4 yards per return. Coverage unit forcing opponents� avg. drive start at 20.2, ranking No. 1 in league. ...

BENGALS NOTES
RB COREY DILLON has 861 rushing yards, 11 TD runs & 4.6 yards per carry average in 10 career games vs. Titans (187 attempts). In past 2 games, Dillon has 221 yards on 40 carries (5.5 avg.) & 3 rushing TDs. Ranks 8th among AFC rush leaders with 464 yards on 110 attempts (4.2). Ranks 13th in AFC in total scrimmage yards (608) for 101.3 per game. Leads team with 22 receptions. Dillon�s 33 1st downs are 15th-most in NFL. Is 4-for-4 in converting 3rd & 1 rushing situations into 1st downs. ... WR CHAD JOHNSON has 13 catches for 143 yards in past 2 games. Caught career-high 7 passes vs. Pittsburgh. ... Club is tied for 3rd in AFC in fewest fumbles (3). ... DT TONY WILLIAMS leads club & is tied for 2nd among AFC interior line sack leaders with 3.0. ... Defense ranks 2nd in AFC in avg. yards per 1st down play (4.91).


 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (1-5) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (3-4)
  SEAHAWKS COWBOYS
LEADER   5-2
STREAKS   Past 2 of 3
COACHES VS. OPP. Holmgren: 2-4 Campo: 0-1
LAST WEEK L 37-20 at Rams L 9-6 (OT) at Cardinals
LAST GAME 12/16/01: Cowboys 3 at Seahawks 29. Seattle RB Ricky Watters rushes for 104 yards & 1 TD in victory.
LAST GAME AT SITE 11/22/98: Cowboys 30, Seahawks 22. Dallas QB Troy Aikman passes for 2 TDs as Cowboys win fourth consecutive game.
TV FOX (12:00 PM CT): Pat Summerall, Daryl Johnston

�02 STAT LEADERS
PASSING Dilfer: 87-156-1,136-4-5-74.1 Hutchinson (R): (Pre) 38-60-383-1-0-87.0
RUSHING Alexander: 105-375-3.6-5 (T3C) Smith: 107-447-4.2-1
RECEIVING Jackson: 28-335-12.0-0 Galloway: 35-506-14.5-2
OFFENSE 293.7 310.9
TAKE/GIVE +1 -4
DEFENSE 398.8 337.1
SACKS C. Brown: 5.0 Ellis: 5.5
INTs Tongue: 2.0 Five tied : 1
PUNTING Feagles: 43.6  -- --
KICKING Lindell: 35 (14/14 PAT; 7/11 FG) Cundiff (R): 28 (10/10 PAT; 6/9 FG)

SEAHAWKS NOTES
QB TRENT DILFER has won 19 of past 26 starts & has 99.7 passer rating in only career game vs. Cowboys (with Ravens, W 27-0, 11/19/00). ... RB SHAUN ALEXANDER has 5 career 100-yard rushing games & club is 5-0 in those contests. Has 21 career rushing TDs & needs 2 to pass RICKY WATTERS in fourth in club history. Seeks second TD in second career game vs. Cowboys. ... WR KOREN ROBINSON had first career 100-yard receiving game vs. Rams last week (166 yards) including 79-yard TD & career-long 83-yard reception. WR DARRELL JACKSON has 2,129 yards receiving & needs 160 yards to pass MIKE PRITCHARD (2,288) in seventh on club�s all-time list. ... Rookie second-round draft pick KR MAURICE MORRIS scored first career TD on 97-yard KR TD vs. Rams. Leads all NFC rookies with 25.0 KR avg. ... Rookie DT ROCKY BERNARD has 4.0 sacks & needs 0.5 sacks to set club single-season record for rookies (BRIAN BOSWORTH, 1987; MICHAEL MC CRARY, 1993; SAM ADAMS, 1994). ... P JEFF FEAGLES has held opponents to 40 PR yards in 2002, second-fewest in NFL. ...

COWBOYS NOTES
RB EMMITT SMITH has 16,634 career yards rushing & needs 93 yards to surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer WALTER PAYTON (16,726) as all-time NFL leading rusher. Needs 1 rushing TD to become first player in NFL history with 150 rushing TDs. Has scored 3 TDs in 3 career games vs. Seahawks & seeks first career 100-yard rushing game vs. Seattle. Has 479 career receptions & needs 1 to pass TONY HILL in third on club�s all-time list. ... Rookie free agent QB CHAD HUTCHINSON makes first career start. ... Rookie second-round draft pick WR ANTONIO BRYANT had career-long 78-yard TD catch vs. Cards last week. Seeks TD in fourth consecutive game. WR JOEY GALLOWAY looks for third 100-yard receiving game in past 4. Drafted by Seattle in first-round of 1995 NFL Draft & spent 1995-99 seasons with club, topping 1,000 yards receiving 3 times. ... Club ranks third in NFC holding opponents to avg. drive start of 25.1 yard-line.


 OAKLAND RAIDERS (4-2) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (3-4)
  RAIDERS CHIEFS
LEADER 41-40-2  
STREAKS Past 5  
COACHES VS. OPP. Callahan: 0-0 Vermeil: 1-4
LAST WEEK L 27-21 (OT) vs. Chargers L 37-34 (OT) vs. Broncos
LAST GAME 12/9/01: Chiefs 26 at Raiders 28. Oakland DE Regan Upshaw sacks Chiefs QB Trent Green on potential game-tying 2-point conversion with 1:38 remaining.
LAST GAME AT SITE 9/9/01: Raiders 27, Chiefs 24. Oakland�s Sebastian Janikowski kicks game-winning 31-yard FG with 15 seconds remaining. Raiders QB Rich Gannon passes for 341 yards & 2 TDs.
TV CBS (12:00 PM CT): Dick Enberg, Dan Dierdorf, Bonnie Bernstein (Field reporter)

�02 STAT LEADERS
PASSING Gannon: 179-259-2,048 (2L)-14 (T3C)-6-101.0 (1C) Green: 136-214-1,656-15 (T1C)-8-95.1 (3C)
RUSHING Garner: 57-419-7.4-3 Holmes: 167-766 (2L)-4.6-12 (1L)
RECEIVING Rice: 40-559-14.0-3 Holmes (RB): 45-347-7.7-2
OFFENSE 433.8 (1L) 390.4 (2L)
TAKE/GIVE +4 (2C) +6 (1C)
DEFENSE 337.2 441.0
SACKS Barton: 4.0 Hicks: 5.0
INTs R. Woodson: 3 (T3C) Wesley: 4 (T1L)
PUNTING Lechler: 47.7 (2L) Stryzinski: 40.1
KICKING Janikowski: 46 (25/25 PAT; 7/11 FG) Andersen: 71 (1L) (26/26 PAT; 15/16 FG)

RAIDERS NOTES
QB RICH GANNON was member of Chiefs from 1995-98. Is 5-0 with 1,346 passing yards & 12 TD passes in past 5 vs. KC. With 300 pass yards Sunday, becomes 3rd QB in NFL history with 6 consecutive 300-yard games (KURT WARNER, STEVE YOUNG). ... In 3 road games in �02, RB CHARLIE GARNER has 384 scrimmage yards on 38 touches for 10.1 avg. Is 6th in AFC in scrimmage yards (796). RB TYRONE WHEATLEY has 422 scrimmage yards & 5 TDs in past 5 vs. Chiefs. ... WR TIM BROWN has 1,754 receiving yards vs. Chiefs � his most vs. any club. In last meeting at KC, Brown had 8 receptions for 133 yards & 1 TD. WR JERRY RICE needs 1 TD to become 1st in NFL history to score 200 in career. On road in 2002, Rice is averaging 101.3 yards per game (304 yards in 3 games) & has 4 catches of 20+ yards. ... Defense has sacked KC QB Green 7 times in 3 career meetings. ...

CHIEFS NOTES
Team�s 239 points scored after 7 games is most in club history, besting previous mark of 237 in 1966 when team advanced to Super Bowl I. ... QB TRENT GREEN has thrown 6 TDs vs. 2 INTs in 3 career starts vs. Oakland. ... RB PRIEST HOLMES had career highs in scrimmage yards (277) & receiving yards (109) in last meeting vs. Raiders. Rushed for 168 yards & 1 TD and had 5 receptions for 109 yards, including career-long 67-yard TD catch. Leads NFL in scrimmage yards (1,113) & is 2nd in NFL in rushing (766). Has 14 TDs through 7 games � most in NFL history after 7 games since HOFer JIM BROWN (15) in 1958. ... TE TONY GONZALEZ has TD catch in 5 of past 7 vs. Raiders. In only career meeting vs. Oakland (10/13/96 w/ Det.), WR JOHNNIE MORTON had 8 receptions for 109 yards (13.6 avg.) & 1 TD. ... DE ERIC HICKS tied for 5th in AFC in sacks (5.0).


 CHICAGO BEARS (2-4) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1-5)
  BEARS VIKINGS
LEADER   44-35-2
STREAKS Past 3  
COACHES VS. OPP. Jauron: 4-3 Tice: 0-1
LAST WEEK L 23-20 (OT) at Lions L 20-7 at Jets
LAST GAME 9/8/02: Vikings 23 at Bears 27. Chicago S Mike Brown sets up winning drive with INT in fourth quarter. WR David Terrell catches go-ahead TD with 28 seconds left.
LAST GAME AT SITE 11/25/01: Bears 13, Vikings 6. Chicago RB James Allen rushes for 107 yards & Bears defense keeps Minnesota out of end zone.
TV FOX (12:00 PM CT): Sam Rosen, Bill Maas

�02 STAT LEADERS
PASSING Miller: 104-177-1,217-10-6-84.4 or
Chandler: 16-25-163-1-1-79.3		 Culpepper: 142-231-1,562-7-12-69.9
RUSHING Thomas: 136-425-3.1-3 Bennett: 78-336-4.3-1
RECEIVING Booker: 38-580 (3C)-15.3-4 (T2C) Moss: 40-404-10.1-2
OFFENSE 301.2 383.5 (1C)
TAKE/GIVE -1 -14
DEFENSE 359.3 391.3
SACKS Colvin: 7.0 (T1L) Johnstone: 4.0
INTs Austin : 2 Chavous : 2
PUNTING Maynard: 42.2 Richardson: 43.0
KICKING Edinger: 42 (15/15 PAT; 9/12 FG) Anderson: 20 (5/7 PAT; 5/7 FG)

BEARS NOTES
QB JIM MILLER aims for third consecutive win as starter vs. Vikings. In past 4 vs. Min, has passed for 7 TDs & 3 INTs. Passed for career-high 422 yards vs. Vikings on 11/14/99. QB CHRIS CHANDLER made first career start for Bears last week. Passed for 340 yards & 3 TDs vs. Vikes in 1998 NFC Championship Game (with Falcons). ... WR MARTY BOOKER has led club in receiving yards in 7 of past 9 games. Needs 100 yards receiving for career-best 3 100-yard games in single-season. Had career-best 198 yards (8 catches, 1 TD) in last game vs. Vikes. Needs 8 catches to pass JIM DOOLEY (211) in tenth in club history. WR MARCUS ROBINSON has at least 7 catches in 5 of past 6 games vs. Vikings. ... TE JOHN DAVIS has 13 receptions with 3 TDs in 2002. ... Club has recorded takeaways in 24 consecutive games. ... LB ROSEVELT COLVIN has 11.0 sacks in past 9 games. ...

VIKINGS NOTES
QB DAUNTE CULPEPPER has thrown 54 TD passes & needs 5 to pass WARREN MOON (58) for fourth in club history. Has connected with WR RANDY MOSS for 23 career TDs & needs 4 to become most prolific scoring tandem in club history (Moon/CRIS CARTER). Has rushed for most career yards (179) & TDs (4) vs. Bears. ... RB MOE WILLIAMS needs 87 yards for career high (291, 2001). ... WR Moss seeks fourth 100-yard receiving game vs. Bears. Has 53 career catches vs. Chicago, second-most vs. any NFL club. Posted career-high 12 receptions & 204 yards vs. Bears (11/14/99).  WR D�WAYNE BATES spent 1999-2001 seasons with Bears. WR DERRICK ALEXANDER looks for second 100-yard game vs. Bears in past 3. Had 6 receptions for 154 yards, including 86-yard TD catch vs. Chi. (with Chiefs, 9/12/99). ... Vikings have 4 native Minnesotans on roster: C MATT BIRK & G CORBIN LACINA (Cretin-Derham Hall HS), QB TODD BOUMAN (Russell-Tyler-Ruthton HS) & T ADAM HAAYER (Forest Lake HS).


 ATLANTA FALCONS (3-3) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (6-1)
  FALCONS SAINTS
LEADER 38-27  
STREAKS   3 of past 4
COACHES VS. OPP. Reeves: 10-6 Haslett: 3-1
LAST WEEK W 30-0 vs. Panthers W 35-27 vs. 49ers
LAST GAME 12/9/01: Saints 28 at Falcons 10. New Orleans WR Joe Horn & RB Deuce McAllister each score fourth quarter TDs to help Saints beat Falcons.
LAST GAME AT SITE 10/21/01: Falcons 20, Saints 13. Atlanta WR Shawn Jefferson catches a 39-yard TD pass from QB Chris Chandler to break a 10-10 tie in the fourth quarter.
TV FOX (12:00 PM CT): Curt Menefee, Tim Ryan

�02 STAT LEADERS
PASSING Vick: 68-111-764-4-0-93.8 (3C) Brooks: 137-233-1,643 (2C)-16 (1L)-7-90.8 (3C)
RUSHING Vick (QB): 31-276-8.9-2 McAllister: 154-721 (1C)-4.7-5 (T3C)
RECEIVING Finneran: 22-265-12.0-3 Horn: 44 (2C)-609 (2C)-13.8-4 (T2C)
OFFENSE 314.3 347.4
TAKE/GIVE +2 +5
DEFENSE 292.5 356.4
SACKS Kerney: 4.0 Howard: 3
INTs Six tied: 1 S. Knight: 3 (T2C)
PUNTING Mohr: 42.0 Gowin: 42.1
KICKING Feely: 52 (13/13 PAT; 13/16 FG) Carney: 55 (T2C) (19/19 PAT; 12/14 FG)

FALCONS NOTES
Club 26-10 (.722) all-time under head coach DAN REEVES when leading at halftime. ... QB MICHAEL VICK has thrown 139 consecutive passes without an interception, longest current streak in NFL. Leads all QBs with 276 yards rushing. Made first start since Oct. 6 (shoulder) last week & had 297 yards of total offense, including 44-yard TD run. ... First-round draft pick (No. 18) RB T.J. DUCKETT leads all NFC rookies with 273 yards rushing. ... WR BRIAN FINNERAN has 3 TD receptions & needs 1 for career high. Has 22 receptions, 15 for first downs. WR SHAWN JEFFERSON has averaged 21.8 yards per reception in past 2 vs. Saints. ... DE TRAVIS HALL needs 3.5 sacks to pass LESTER ARCHAMBEAU (36.5) in fifth place on club�s all-time list. ... DE PATRICK KERNEY had 2.0 sacks vs. Panthers. ... CB ASHLEY AMBROSE spent 1999 season with Saints & led club with 6 INTs. ... K JAY FEELY leads NFC with 10 touchbacks on KOs. ...

SAINTS NOTES
Club seeks 7-1 start, best since 1991. ... Offense ranks first in NFC with 66.7 redzone TD pct. (24 trips, 16 TDs). ... QB AARON BROOKS looks for eighth consecutive game with 200 yards passing. ... RB DEUCE MC ALLISTER has 5 100-yard rushing games in 2002 & club is 5-0 in those games. Needs 100 yards vs. 49ers to tie RUEBEN MAYES (6) with second-most 100-yard games in single-season in club history. Leads NFL with 3 runs of at least 50 yards (62, 52, 53) this season. ... WR JOE HORN seeks third career 100-yard receiving game vs. Falcons. Has 12 100-yard games with Saints & club is 11-1 in those games. Has 3,214 yards receiving with Saints & needs 11 to pass HENRY CHILDS in fifth place in club history. Rookie WR DONT� STALLWORTH has TD catch in first 4 games before missing past 3 (hamstring). With TD catch vs. Falcons, ties CHARLIE BROWN (5, 1982) for most consecutive games with TD catch to start career.  Needs 2 TD catches to tie DANNY ABRAMOWICZ (6, 1967) for most by rookie in club-history.


 CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-4) AT NEW YORK JETS (2-4)
  BROWNS JETS
LEADER 9-6  
STREAKS   2 of past 3
COACHES VS. OPP. Davis: 0-0 Edwards: 0-0
LAST WEEK W 34-17 vs. Texans W 20-7 vs. Vikings
LAST GAME 10/2/94: Jets 7 at Browns 27. Cleveland QB Vinny Testaverde throws for 257 yards & Browns rookie WR Derrick Alexander has 7 receptions for 105 yards.
LAST GAME AT SITE 9/16/90: Jets 24, Browns 21. New York RBs Freeman McNeil, Johnny Hector & Brad Baxter each run for TD as Jets defeat Cleveland.
TV CBS (1:00 PM ET): Kevin Harlan, Randy Cross, Beasley Reece (Field reporter)

�02 STAT LEADERS
PASSING Couch: 109-176-985-5-6-72.3 Pennington: 72-105-913-3-3-93.1
RUSHING White: 73-365-5.0-2 Martin: 74-287-3.9-2
RECEIVING White (RB): 37-218-5.9-0 Coles: 28-345-12.3-1
OFFENSE 311.6 294.3
TAKE/GIVE -3 -2
DEFENSE 359.3 414.3
SACKS Word: 5.0 J. Abraham, Evans, J. Ferguson: 2.0
INTs Griffith: 2 D. Abraham, Robinson: 2
PUNTING Gardocki: 44.2 Turk: 42.3
KICKING P. Dawson: 51 (15/15 PAT; 12/14 FG) Hall: 31 (7/7 PAT; 8/11 FG)

BROWNS NOTES
Defensive coordinator FOGE FAZIO was Jets� linebackers coach for 5 years (1990-94). ... Under head coach BUTCH DAVIS (2001-present), Cleveland is 9-3 (.750) when scoring 20+ points in game. ... QB TIM COUCH is 30 of 49 (61.2 pct.) in 4th-quarter passing for 220 yards with 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 92.2 rating. ... RB JAMEL WHITE ranks 2nd among AFC RBs in receptions (37). ... Rookie WR ANDR� DAVIS attended Niskayuna (NY) High School. Recorded 95-yard KR-TD last week; 1st Browns rookie with KR-TD since CARL WARD (1967). Is 3rd among AFC rookies in receptions (21). One of 2 teams (Buffalo) to have 5 players with 20+ catches. ... Last QB to pass for 300+ yards vs. club was Chicago's SHANE MATTHEWS (357) on 11/4/2001 (16 games). Defense had 9 sacks in Wk. 7 vs. Hou, tied for 2nd-most in team history & most since 12/5/93 vs. N.O. ... One of 4 teams with TDs on both PR & KR. ...

JETS NOTES
Have not lost to Browns at home since 1979 (2-0). Club has won 5 of past 7 in series. ... Offensive coordinator PAUL HACKETT was Browns� QB coach for 2 seasons (1981-82). ... QB CHAD PENNINGTON has career 114.8 passer rating in October. Has completed 54 of 71 passes (76.4 pct.) for 621 yards with 4 TDs vs. 1 INT. Against Minn. in Wk. 7, had career highs in comp. pct. (82.8 pct., 24 of 29), yards (324) & passer rating (124.7). ... RB CURTIS MARTIN made NFL debut vs. Cleveland (9/3/95 w/ NE). Rushed for 102 yards on 19 carries (5.4 avg.) & 1 TD. Jets are 19-6 when Martin rushes for 100+ yards. ... WR SANTANA MOSS set career-high with 111 receiving yards on 5 receptions last week. ... Only 3 current Jets were with team last time clubs met (10/2/94): RB RICHIE ANDERSON and LBs MARVIN JONES & MO LEWIS. ... CB AARON BEASLEY had 40-yard FR-TD last year vs. Browns (9/30/01).


 ARIZONA CARDINALS (4-2) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4-2)
  CARDINALS 49ERS
LEADER   17-9
STREAKS   Past 6 at home
COACHES VS. OPP. McGinnis: 0-0 Mariucci: 2-0
LAST WEEK W 9-6 (OT) vs. Cowboys L 35-27 at Saints
LAST GAME 10/1/00: Cardinals 20 at 49ers 27. San Francisco RB Charlie Garner rushes for 2 TDs as 49ers win second consecutive game.
LAST GAME AT SITE 10/1/00
TV FOX (1:05 PM PT): Kenny Albert, Brian Baldinger
 

�02 STAT LEADERS
PASSING Plummer: 104-212-1,144-6-5-65.1 Garcia: 110-175-1,146-6-4-83.7
RUSHING T. Jones: 91-378-4.2-1 Hearst: 73-386-5.3-3
RECEIVING Boston: 25-415-16.6-1 Owens: 28-346-12.4-4 (T2C)
OFFENSE 309.3 343.5
TAKE/GIVE +6 (T2L) +6 (T2L)
DEFENSE 334.3 324.3
SACKS Vanden Bosch: 2.5 Carter: 5.0
INTs Wilson : 3 Bronson: 3 (T2C)
PUNTING Player: 44.1 Baker 40.9
KICKING Gramatica: 40 (10/10 PAT; 10/15 FG) Cortez: 50 (14/14 PAT; 12/14 FG)

CARDINALS NOTES
Club�s 4-2 start best since 1988 & win vs. 49ers gives team best start since 1976. ... QB JAKE PLUMMER has engineered game-winning drive in club�s final possession past 2 weeks. ... RB THOMAS JONES has rushed for 378 yards & needs 3 yards for career-high (380, 2001). Seeks TD in second career-game vs. 49ers. ... WR DAVID BOSTON seeks second consecutive 100-yard receiving game after posting 110 yards (6 catches) vs. Cowboys last week. WR FRANK SANDERS has 473 career receptions & needs 8 to pass JACKIE SMITH (480) in third on club�s all-time list. ... Club seeks to surrender 1 TD or less for fourth consecutive game (6 vs. Dal; 13 vs. Car; 7 vs. NYG). Team�s 4 INT vs. Cowboys last week most since 4 on 12/27/98 (W 16-13 vs. SD) . ... DE KYLE VANDEN BOSCH has at least 0.5 sacks in 3 of past 4 games. ... S ADRIAN WILSON had career-high 3 INTs vs. Dal last week. ... K BILL GRAMATICA has connected on game-winning field goal in past 2 games (40 yards vs. Dal; 50 yards vs. Car). ...

49ERS NOTES
QB JEFF GARCIA leads NFL with 118.0 third-down passer rating, including 4 TDs & 0 INTs. ... RB GARRISON HEARST has 14 career 100-yard rushing games with 49ers & will move into second place in club history (ROGER CRAIG) with 100-yard outing vs. Cards. Club has 13-1 (.929) record when he rushes for 100 yards. Drafted No. 3 overall by Arizona in 1993 & spent 1993-95 seasons with club, including first career 1,000-yard rushing season (1,070, 1995). Plays first game vs. former club. Hearst & RB KEVAN BARLOW (320) are only RB tandem in NFL to each have 300 yards rushing. ... WR TERRELL OWENS has 64 career TDs & needs 3 to pass Craig for second in club history. Has 16 career 100-yard receiving games & needs 100 yards vs. Cards to tie GENE WASHINGTON for second-most 100-yard games in club history (JERRY RICE, 66). WR TAI STREETS had career-high 6 catches (80 yards) vs. Saints last week. ... S TONY PARRISH needs 1 INT to tie career-high (3, 2000-01). ... K JOSE CORTEZ has connected on 11 consecutive FGs.


 HOUSTON TEXANS (1-5) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (3-3)
  TEXANS JAGUARS
LEADER --  
STREAKS --  
COACHES VS. OPP. Capers: 0-1 Coughlin: 0-0
LAST WEEK L 34-17 at Browns L 17-10 at Ravens
LAST GAME --
LAST GAME AT SITE --
TV CBS (4:15 PM ET): Ian Eagle, Solomon Wilcots

�02 STAT LEADERS
PASSING Carr (R): 78-157-1,004-6-6-66.9 Brunell: 97-162-1,180-5-4-82.3
RUSHING Allen: 70-257-3.7-0 Taylor: 130-597-4.6-4
RECEIVING Bradford: 20-428-21.4-5 (T3L) J. Smith: 29-400-13.8-1
OFFENSE 244.3 339.7
TAKE/GIVE -2 +3 (T3C)
DEFENSE 316.2 337.5
SACKS Posey: 4.5 Henderson (R): 4.0
INTs Glenn: 2 McCree: 2
PUNTING Stanley: 41.3 Hanson: 46.3 (3L)
KICKING K. Brown: 27 (9/9 PAT; 6/8 FG) -- --

TEXANS NOTES
Selected 3 Jaguars in expansion draft: T TONY BOSELLI (No. 1) and DTs GARY WALKER (No. 4) & SETH PAYNE (No. 8). Team acquired former Jaguar DE JEFF POSEY (4.5 sacks, tied for 7th-best in AFC) as UFA. Club has 16 players who played high school football in Texas. ... As head coach of 2 expansion teams in career, DOM CAPERS owns record of 32-40 (.444). ... Rookie QB DAVID CARR has reached career-bests in passing yards in 3 consecutive games (188, 218, 267, respectively). Has not thrown INT in past 9 quarters. ... WR COREY BRADFORD tied for 2nd in NFL in TD receptions (5) & has 20 catches for 428 yards for NFL-best 21.4 receiving avg. among players with at least 18 receptions. Second-round draft pick (No. 33) WR JABAR GAFFNEY attended Raines High School (Jacksonville, Fla.) & was consensus All-America selection at Florida. ... Defensive line � DEs Walker, Payne & NT JERRY DELOACH � have started all 6 of club�s games. In AFC, club is No. 3 in pass defense (194.3), No. 5 in total defense (316.2) & tied for 5th in sacks (15). ...

JAGUARS NOTES
Since 1996, club tied for NFL�s 4th-best home record (37-14, .725). ... QB MARK BRUNELL is 35-20 (.636) in career in division games. ... In past 16 games with at least 15 carries, RB FRED TAYLOR has rushed for 1,905 yards (119.1 yards per game) & 15 TDs. Team is 30-16 (.652) when Taylor plays. Club tied for NFL�s 2nd-fewest fumbles lost (2). ... WR JIMMY SMITH has 45 catches for 528 yards & 4 TDs in past 6 home division games. Has more receiving yards than any NFL player over past 7 seasons (8,372). Has more career receptions than 14 of 19 Hall of Fame WRs & is 19 catches from surpassing RAYMOND BERRY (631). Has played in 117 of 118 games in Jaguars� history. WR-PR BOBBY SHAW leads AFC with 14.3 PR avg. Club is NFL�s 2nd-best on 4th down conversions (7 of 9, 77.8 pct.). ... Team has sack in 30 games in row, longest streak in AFC & 4th-longest in NFL. ... KR coverage unit gives foes NFL�s 3rd-poorest avg. drive start (24.2).


 DENVER BRONCOS (5-2) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3-3)
  BRONCOS PATRIOTS
LEADER 21-14  
STREAKS 11 of past 13  
COACHES VS. OPP. Shanahan: 5-2 Belichick: 1-5
LAST WEEK W 37-34 (OT) at Chiefs Bye (Wk 6: L 28-10 vs. Packers)
LAST GAME 10/28/01: Patriots 20 at Broncos 31. Denver QB Brian Griese passes for 2 TDs as Broncos rally from 10-point deficit to win.
LAST GAME AT SITE 10/24/99: Patriots 24, Broncos 23. New England RB Terry Allen rushes for 106 yards & 2 TDs as Patriots build 24-14 lead & hold off Broncos.
TV CBS (4:15 PM ET): Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms, Armen Keteyian (Field reporter)

�02 STAT LEADERS
PASSING Griese: 169-261-1,887 (3L)-12-8-88.7 Brady: 170-260-1,749-14 (T3C)-9-88.1
RUSHING Portis (R): 88-451-5.1-2 A. Smith: 86-385-4.5-1
RECEIVING Smith: 42-487-11.6-2 Branch (R): 37-408-11.0-2
OFFENSE 381.3 374.2
TAKE/GIVE +1 -2
DEFENSE 283.9 (1C) 299.0 (2C)
SACKS Pryce: 6.0 (T1C) Four tied: 2.0
INTs O�Neal: 3 (T3C) Buckley: 2
PUNTING Rouen: 43.2 Walter: 37.9
KICKING Elam: 61 (T2C) (19/19 PAT; 14/18 FG) Vinatieri: 42 (15/15 PAT; 9/10 FG)

BRONCOS NOTES
Club has won 11 of past 13 vs. NE. Have 25-16 (.610) record in October since 1992. ... Head coach MIKE SHANAHAN has 5-2 (.714) career record vs. Patriots (2-1 on road). ... QB BRIAN GRIESE has 960 passing yards in past 3 vs. NE (320.0 per game). Has passed for 300+ yards in 4 consecutive games & aims to become 6th player in NFL history with 5 300-yard passing games in row. ... WR ROD SMITH has 33 catches for 550 yards (3 100s) in past 5 vs. Patriots (110.0 yards per game). ... In past 3 vs. Pats, WR ED MC CAFFREY has 21 catches for 299 yards & 2-point conversion. TE SHANNON SHARPE set single-game receiving yard record for TE with 214 in Wk. 7 vs. KC. Surpassed HOFer DAVE CASPER as 2nd-leading TD-scoring TE all-time with 53 (JERRY SMITH, 60, Wash. �65-77). ... Defense intercepted Pats QB TOM BRADY 5 times in last meeting. CB DENARD WALKER had 2 INTs, including 39-yard INT-TD. ...

PATRIOTS NOTES
Are 6-1 (.857) in past 7 at home, including playoffs. ... QB TOM BRADY has 17-6 (.739) career record (including postseason). Is NFL�s 3rd-highest rated passer in 4th quarter (110.3), completing 37 of 57 passes (64.9 pct.) for 441 yards with 5 TDs vs. 1 INT. ... RB ANTOWAIN SMITH has 148 rush yards & 5.3 avg. in 2 career games vs. Denver. ... WR TROY BROWN has 19 catches for 291 yards & 4 TDs in past 3 vs. Broncos. Has 21 receptions for 213 yards in past 2 at home. ... WR-KR DEION BRANCH leads NFL rookies in 3rd down catches (12), tied for 5th in NFL overall. First round draft pick (No. 21) TE DANIEL GRAHAM was All-Colorado at Thomas Jefferson H.S. (Denver, Co.). Was unanimous 1st team All-American & John Mackey Award winner (best TE) at Colorado. ... Club leads NFL in pass defense (155.7). CB TERRELL BUCKLEY leads team with 2 INTs. Led Broncos with 6 INTs in 2000.