Nfl Week 13 : Today's Games

Buffalo (7-4) at Tampa Bay (6-5)

Time: 1 p.m.

Line: Bucs by 3 1/2 .

Vs. spread: Bills 6-5; Bucs 5-6.

Series: Bucs lead 4-2.

Last meeting: Bills won, 17-10, on Sept. 22, 1991, at Tampa Bay.

Outlook: QBs Rob Johnson and Doug Flutie still may not like each other. But they might help Buffalo get to the playoffs. Johnson was very good in last week's win over the Chiefs, and if he plays badly, Flutie is usually wonderful off the bench. Tampa Bay could use either Flutie or Johnson after the 13-10 loss to Chicago last week, in which the Bucs lost FB Mike Alstott and SS John Lynch.

Notable: Bills have won four consecutive games, three of which have been decided by four points or fewer.

Injuries:

BILLS: Out: DB Antoine Winfield (shoulder-IR). Questionable: T John Fina (knee); DB Donovan Greer (ankle); DE Phil Hansen (knee); RB Sammy Morris (ankle); G Joe Panos (knee). Probable: NT Ted Washington (neck); LB John Holecek (thumb).

BUCS: Out: RB Mike Alstott (knee). Doubtful: S Eric Vance (ankle); DE Steve White (ankle). Questionable: S John Lynch (shoulder). Probable: DE Chidi Ahanotu (knee); G Frank Middleton (shoulder).

NFL rankings:

OFFENSE DEFENSE

Total Rush Pass Total Rush Pass

Buffalo 11 20 10 5 3 11

Tampa Bay 21 14 25 6 12 9

Chicago (3-8) at N.Y. Jets (7-4)

Time: 1 p.m.

Line: Jets by 7.

Vs. spread: Bears 5-6; Jets 6-4.

Series: Bears lead 4-2.

Last meeting: Jets won, 23-15, on Oct. 16, 1997, at Chicago.

Outlook: Jets coach Al Groh has warned his team about being fooled by the Bears' poor record. Indeed, Chicago is a dangerous team, mainly because of LB Brian Urlacher, who leads the Bears with 118 tackles. He'll cause the Jets major problems. This probably will be a low-scoring game, likely won by the Jets because they're at home, and because the players are sure to heed Groh's warning.

Notable: Jets have outscored opponents 139-73 in the second half.

Injuries:

BEARS: Out: T Rex Tucker (calf). Questionable: QB Cade McNown (shoulder).

JETS: Out: TE Fred Baxter (hand-IR); WR Laveraneus Coles (knee). Questionable: QB Ray Lucas (shoulder); RB Curtis Martin (gluteus maximus). Probable: RB Richie Anderson (ankle); TE Anthony Becht (knee); LB Bryan Cox (toe); T Jumbo Elliott (back); LB James Farrior (toe); NT Jason Ferguson (ankle); LB Dwayne Gordon (foot); K John Hall (quadriceps); LB Marvin Jones (knee); RB Bernie Parmalee (hamstring); G Randy Thomas (ankle).

NFL rankings:

OFFENSE DEFENSE

Total Rush Pass Total Rush Pass

Chicago 20 19 22 18 27 13

N.Y. Jets 16 22 12 12 17 12

New Orleans (7-4) at St. Louis (8-3)

Time: 1 p.m.

Line: Rams by 13 1/2 .

Vs. spread: Saints 6-5; Rams 4-6.

Series: Rams lead 34-26.

Last meeting: Rams won, 30-14, on Dec. 12, 1999, at New Orleans.

Outlook: At one point, this would have been a marquee matchup, but now New Orleans is without its best runner in Ricky Williams and its starting QB in Jeff Blake. Who gets the start for the Saints? Aaron Brooks, not exactly a household name. The Saints still have weapons, like WR Joe Horn, and a defense ranked first in the NFC. But there is no way New Orleans can keep up with the firepower of the Rams, who average a league-leading 468 yards of offense a game.

Notable: Saints lead NFL with 49 sacks and are on pace for 71.

Injuries:

SAINTS: Out: QB Jeff Blake (foot-IR); WR Jake Reed (fibula); RB Ricky Williams (fibula). Questionable: LB Phil Clarke (ankle); CB Michael Hawthorne (ankle); CB Fred Thomas (hamstring/foot). Probable: LB Donta Jones (knee); RB Fred McAfee (hamstring); LB Keith Mitchell (knee); RB Jerald Moore (ribs).

RAMS: Out: WR Tony Horne (toe). Doubtful: QB Kurt Warner (finger). Questionable: S Devin Bush (hamstring); K Jeff Wilkins (quadriceps). Probable: WR Torry Holt (thigh); RB Justin Watson (hip).

NFL rankings:

OFFENSE DEFENSE

Total Rush Pass Total Rush Pass

New Orleans 14 3 21 4 4 7

St. Louis 1 17 1 27 8 29

Pittsburgh (5-6) at Cincinnati (2-9)

Time: 1 p.m.

Line: Steelers by 4.

Vs. spread: Steelers 7-4; Bengals 5-6.

Series: Steelers lead 34-26.

Last meeting: Steelers won, 15-0, on Oct. 15 at Pittsburgh.

Outlook: The Steelers' 34-24 loss to Jacksonville last Sunday night was devastating. The defeat basically knocked the team out of the playoff race. Pittsburgh should not have a problem beating the woeful Bengals today, but the Steelers will regret the loss to the Jaguars for months.

Notable: Steelers RB Jerome Bettis has 1,032 yards rushing in 10 career games vs. Bengals. He needs 74 today to record his fifth straight 1,000-yard season.

Injuries:

STEELERS: Out: C Dermontti Dawson (hamstring); RB Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala (foot). Doubtful: DB Jason Simmons (hamstring). Questionable: RB Jerome Bettis (leg); WR Courtney Hawkins (knee); DE Kevin Henry (groin). Probable: DB Lee Flowers (knee); T Wayne Gandy (shoulder); WR Hines Ward (calf).

BENGALS: Out: RB Clif Groce (knee); T John Jackson (hamstring); RB Curtis Keaton (ankle). Questionable: QB Scott Mitchell (knee). Probable: DE Vaughn Booker (knee); RB Corey Dillon (groin); LB Adrian Ross (ankle).

NFL rankings:

OFFENSE DEFENSE