NFL Week 4: Today's Games

St. Louis (3-0) at Atlanta (2-1)

Time: 1 p.m., Ch. 5.

Line: Rams by 6 1/2 .

Vs. spread: Rams 0-2; Falcons 2-1.

Series: Rams lead 41-23-2.

Last meeting: Rams won, 41-13, on Oct. 17, 1999, at Atlanta.

Outlook: The Super Bowl champion Rams are flying on offense but have been scorched on defense, allowing nearly 400 yards a game and no fewer than 24 points in each of their three games. Atlanta was outscored 76-20 in two games against St. Louis last year. That is an average score of 38-10. It should be a little closer this time, but expect similar results.

Notable: Rams QB Kurt Warner is on pace to pass for more than 6,500 yards, or 1,700 more than Dan Marino's single-season NFL record.

Injuries:

RAMS: Out-DT D'Marco Farr (knee). Doubtful-RB Trung Canidate (foot). Questionable-LB Leonard Little (ankle); S Devin Bush (toe); WR Ricky Proehl (hamstring). Probable-RB Marshall Faulk (knee); RB Robert Holcombe (groin); DT Jeff Zgonina (ankle).

FALCONS: Out-WR Tim Dwight (appendicitis). Questionable-LB Chris Draft (hamstring); WR Jammi German (ankle); QB Danny Kanell (finger); LB Jeff Kelly (knee). Probable-S Ronnie Bradford (leg); DT Ed Jasper (ankle); LB Reggie Kelly (shoulder); LB Jessie Tuggle (neck).

Detroit (2-1) at Chicago (0-3)

Time: 1 p.m.

Line: Bears by 2.

Vs. spread: Lions 2-1; Bears 1-2.

Series: Bears lead 78-57-5.

Last meeting: Bears won, 28-10, on Dec. 18, 1999, at Chicago.

Outlook: Chicago began the season with high hopes. Now there are rustlings about replacing QB Cade McNown with Jim Miller or Shane Matthews. The problem may be the hopes were too high - the Bears were outgained 407-222 by the Giants last week. Despite their record, the Lions have just one offensive TD this year. But QB Charlie Batch, who had no training camp, should be getting better every week.

Notable: Lions are 6-2 when Batch completes more than 60 percent of his passes.

Injuries:

LIONS: Doubtful-G Stockar McDougle (knee); G Tony Semple (ankle). Questionable-G Kerlin Blaise (knee); LB Stephen Boyd (back); CB Terry Fair (knee).

BEARS: Out-LB Ty Hallock (abdominal); C Olin Kreutz (knee); S Frankie Smith (hamstring); S Shawn Wooden (hamstring). Questionable-LB Rosevelt Colvin (knee); DE Clyde Simmons (finger). Probable-CB Jerry Azumah (ankle); DE Phillip Daniels (quad); G Rex Tucker (back).

San Francisco (0-3) at Dallas (1-2)

Time: 1 p.m.

Line: Cowboys by 6 1/2 .

Vs. spread: 49ers 0-2; Cowboys 2-1.

Series: 49ers lead 12-7-1.

Last meeting: 49ers won, 17-10, on Nov. 2, 1999, at San Francisco.

Outlook: These teams have met in six NFC championship games, but both are nowhere near that caliber anymore. Is this Dallas team, not as talented as others, better off with the more mobile and athletic Randall Cunningham at quarterback than Troy Aikman? The 49ers have been scoring, but the 115 points they've allowed are 21 more than any other NFL team.

Notable: Cowboys have won seven of their past nine home games.

Injuries:

49ERS: Out-DT Junior Bryant (neck). DE Chike Okeafor (hamstring). Questionable-RB Travis Jervey (back). Probable-TE Greg Clark (knee); RB Terry Jackson (knee); LB Ken Norton Jr. (back); LB Pierson Prioleau (knee); LB Jeff Ulbrich (shoulder).

COWBOYS: Out-CB Charlie Williams (knee). Doubtful-WR Wane McGarity (ankle); Dat Nguyen (knee). Questionable-QB Troy Aikman (concussion); WR Raghib Ismail (hamstring). Probable-T Flozell Adams (ankle); CB Dwayne Goodrich (hamstring); G Solomon Page (hamstring).

New England (0-3) at Miami (2-1)

Time: 1 p.m.

Line: Dolphins by 4.

Vs. spread: Patriots 1-2; Dolphins 2-1.

Series: Dolphins lead 40-26.

Last meeting: Patriots won, 27-17, on Nov. 21, 1999, at Miami.

Outlook: The Miami defense is clicking. It has three players with at least two interceptions, is allowing 6.3 points a game and has allowed only one TD. It is fast, quick and decisive. Credit coach Dave Wannstedt and his staff for massaging this defense into a force. The struggling Patriots knew their offense was in trouble, just not how much. The last time the Patriots opened the season 0-3, they finished 5-11, so things are looking bleak for New England.

Notable: Dolphins have not lost a September home game in seven years (12-0).

Injuries:

PATRIOTS: Out-S Larry Whigham (knee). Doubtful-LB Matt Chatham (shoulder). Questionable-G Max Lane (hand); LB Willie McGinest (leg).

DOLPHINS: Out-DT Daryl Gardener (back); CB Ray Hill (ankle). Questionable-WR Tony Martin (foot); T Richmond Webb (knee-ankle). Probable-WR Oronde Gadsden (hamstring); S Greg Jeffries (hamstring); CB Ben Kelly (knee); RB Rob Konrad (concussion); LB Twan Russell (concussion); CB Jerry Wilson (thumb).

Philadelphia (1-2) at New Orleans (1-2)

Time: 1 p.m.

Line: Saints by 1 1/2 .

Vs. spread: Eagles 2-1; Saints 1-2.

Series: Eagles lead 12-8.

Last meeting: Eagles won, 15-10, on Oct. 1, 1995, at New Orleans.