ATLANTA (5-1) AT N.Y. JETS (3-3)
Time: 1: 01 p.m.
Line: Jets by 6 1/2 .
Vs. spread: Falcons 5-1; Jets 4-2.
Outlook: The only other time the Falcons began a season 5-1, they lost five of the next six and missed the playoffs. The chances of repeating the past go up exponentially if QB Chris Chandler can't play due to injury. With Chandler, the Falcons are a playoff team. Without him, they're stuck with ancient Steve DeBerg, who didn't play in the AFL but probably could have. The Jets are .500, but QB Vinny Testaverde is undefeated, not to mention the AFC's No. 1 passer with a 108.8 rating. Still, the key to the Jets is RB Curtis Martin. When he doesn't run effectively, well, the AFC's 13th-ranked defense isn't going to win many games for you.
Notable: Falcons have outscored foes 110-46 in the second half.
Injuries:
FALCONS: Out: LB Henri Crockett (wrist). Questionable: QB Chris Chandler (shoulder); CB Randy Fuller (hamstring); DT Travis Hall (ankle-knee); DE Chuck Smith (quadriceps). Probable: Ronnie Bradford (abdomen); DT Shane Dronett (knee); LB Craig Sauer (knee).
JETS: Out: TE Fred Baxter (knee). Doubtful: LB Chad Cascadden (hamstring). Questionable: S Chris Hayes (leg).
JACKSONVILLE (5-1) AT DENVER (6-0)
Time: 4: 15 p.m., chs. 13, 9.
Line: Broncos by 8.
Vs. spread: Jaguars 3-2; Broncos 4-2.
Outlook: Jacksonville is the AFC's second-best team, with a terrific array of offensive talent, especially up front. But the defense isn't anywhere near as stout, ranking 12th among the 15 AFC teams. Against most teams, the offense is enough to carry the Jaguars to victory. Against a team that can score like Denver, which averages almost 34 points a game, that may not be enough. QB John Elway returned for the Broncos two weeks ago and looked a bit rusty in a win over Seattle. Given the bye week to get back into full-scale practice, Elway should be sharper than ever. RB Terrell Davis is already sharp -- he's on pace for a record 2,300-yard season and is averaging 6.0 yards a carry.
Notable: Broncos have outscored foes 87-7 in the first quarter.
Injuries:
JAGUARS: Out: RB Tavian Banks (foot); DT Seth Payne (shoulder). Doubtful: RB Chris Howard (ankle). Probable: LB Brant Boyer (ankle); LB Bryce Paup (knee); DT Kelvin Pritchett (ankle); LB Bryan Schwartz (knee); RB Fred Taylor (shoulder); CB Dave Thomas (groin).
BRONCOS: Probable: G David Diaz-Infante (knee); G Mark Schlereth (knee); DE Alfred Williams (triceps).
MINNESOTA (6-0) AT DETROIT (2-4)
Time: 1: 01 p.m., Ch. 5.
Line: Vikings by 5 1/2 .
Vs. spread: Vikings 4-2; Lions 2-4.
Outlook: The Vikings can beat you in every way possible, even with defense -- they've picked off a league-high 12 passes. Not that Minnesota needs defense the way QB Randall Cunningham is playing. He has thrown 12 touchdown passes and no interceptions for a phenomenal 121.3 rating. The Lions have Barry Sanders in the backfield and big-play threat Herman Moore at wide receiver. They're going to need all the offense they can get in the back end of a rugged two-game stretch against the NFC Central's two best teams. The Lions passed the first test with a win over Green Bay on Oct. 15 and had three extra days to prepare for the Vikings. Sense an upset here?
Notable: Sanders needs one rushing touchdown to become the sixth NFL player with 100.
Injuries:
VIKINGS: Out: QB Brad Johnson (ankle). Questionable: DT Tony Williams (groin). Probable: LB Dwayne Rudd (shoulder).
LIONS: Out: G Jeff Hartings (knee). Doubtful: RB Brock Olivo (back). Questionable: S Mark Carrier (hip); P John Jett (rib).
SAN FRANCISCO (5-1) AT ST. LOUIS (2-4)
Time: 1: 01 p.m.
Line: 49ers by 9 1/2 .
Vs. spread: 49ers 2-4; Rams 3-3.
Outlook: The 49ers have rung up 2,883 yards, an average of 480.5 per game. For those of you without a calculator, that projects to 7,688 yards in a 16-game season. The record for total offense in a season is 6,936, set by Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins in 1984. But not all is terrific in San Francisco. In two of their past three games, the 49ers have fallen behind far less talented teams and once didn't make it all the way back. The Rams rank a solid second in the NFC in total defense and third against the pass. But given the 49ers' recent struggles, there's a bit of hope for the Rams, who have one of the most talented receivers in the game in Isaac Bruce, yet one of the most erratic quarterbacks in Tony Banks.
Notable: The Rams have lost 15 straight against the 49ers.
Injuries:
49ERS: Out: T Dave Fiore (knee). Questionable: CB Antonio Langham (ankle). Probable: DE Roy Barker (knee); CB Darnell Walker (rib).
RAMS: Out: S Toby Wright (knee). Doubtful: C Ryan Tucker (neck). Questionable: G Zach Wiegert (knee).
CHICAGO (2-5) AT TENNESEE (3-3)
Time: 4: 05 p.m., Ch. 45.
Line: Oilers by 6.
Vs. spread: Bears 5-2; Oilers 3-3.
Outlook: Chicago's league-worst 22 giveaways and minus-10 turnover margin offset all the good things the Bears have done, including the pitch-and-catch combination of QB Erik Kramer (61 percent passing) to WR Bobby Engram (18.4 yards per catch). But the Bears showed some grit in rallying to beat the Cowboys, a game in which they managed to hang onto the ball. Nashville, please welcome RB Eddie George, who must have had trouble finding the Oilers' new home since it took him so long to show up. Now, though, the 238-pound bruiser is coming off his second straight 100-yard performance, which neatly coincided with his team's second straight win.
Notable: Oilers are 8-1 when QB Steve McNair gets a rushing touchdown.
Injuries:
BEARS: Out: G Greg Huntington (back). Doubtful: DE Mark Thomas (knee). Probable: G Todd Perry (calf).
OILERS: Out: WR Yancey Thigpen (hip). Questionable: WR Willie Davis (chest); WR Kevin Dyson (ankle); CB Steve Jackson (concussion); LB Lenoy Jones (ankle); LB Lenoy Joney (ankle); WR Joey Kent (hamstring); QB Steve McNair (elbow).
SEATTLE (3-3) AT SAN DIEGO (3-4)
Time: 4: 15 p.m.
Line: Seahawks by 6 1/2 .
Vs. spread: Seahawks 4-1; Chargers 2-3.
Outlook: Having proved they can't quite make it in the big leagues, the Seahawks will go back to feasting on the lesser teams. Hello, Chargers. They are last in the league in total offense and next-to-last in the AFC in passing offense. Rookie QB Ryan Leaf has one touchdown pass against 12 interceptions and has the league's worst rating at 33.3, so the smart thing to do is give the ball to RB Natrone Means. With Means controlling the ball and LB Junior Seau leading the league's top-ranked defense, the Chargers have enough to win some games, if Leaf doesn't get in the way.
Notable: Seahawks are allowing 13.1 points per game, second in NFL to Miami (11.6).
Injuries:
SEAHAWKS: Questionable: DE Matt LaBounty (back); QB Warren Moon (rib); LB Anthony Simmons (knee). Probable: CB Fred Thomas (hamstring).
CHARGERS: Out: RB Terrell Fletcher (knee); CB Dwayne Harper (neck); T Vaughn Parker (leg); DT Jamal Williams (knee). Doubtful: DE William Fuller (calf). Questionable: CB Paul Bradford (knee); TE John Burke (knee); G Aaron Taylor (foot). Probable: CB Terrance Shaw (knee).
NEW ENGLAND (4-2) AT MIAMI (4-2)
Time: 1: 01 p.m.
Line: Dolphins by 1 1/2 .
Vs. spread: Patriots 4-2; Dolphins 3-2.
Outlook: Despite Monday's loss, the Patriots are a formidable team. There's QB Drew Bledsoe and WR Terry Glenn leading the AFC's best passing game, and RB Robert Edwards has been a nice addition, setting a rookie record with touchdowns in each of his first six games. Now the Pats need to show some heart in a huge AFC East game on the road. Certainly the Dolphins' defense will be ready, but then, that's not news this year in Miami, where the Dolphins have allowed a mere 11.6 points per game and have given up just seven points in three home starts, including a pair of shutouts. The Dolphins have collected 21 sacks, led by linemen Trace Armstrong, Jason Taylor and Lorenzo Bromell, who have combined for 15.
Notable: Bledsoe needs 146 passing yards to reach 20,000.
Injuries:
PATRIOTS: Out: WR Vincent Brisby (finger); WR Troy Brown (ankle); LB Bernard Russ (jaw-injured reserve). Questionable: RB Tony Carter (knee); WR Terry Glenn (hamstring); DE Willie McGinest (groin).
DOLPHINS: Probable: G Jeff Buckley (back); CB Sam Madison
(knee); P Klaus Wilmsmeyer (groin).
TAMPA BAY (3-3) AT NEW ORLEANS (3-3)
Time: 1: 01 p.m.
Line: Bucs by 3.
Vs. spread: Bucs 2-4; Saints 4-2.
Outlook: Tampa Bay is finally on its first winning streak of the year, a mini-run of two in a row. The Bucs continue to struggle offensively, however, and have to find a way to score with erratic QB Trent Dilfer, who seems to have reverted to pre-1997 form. The Saints have lost three straight, but have managed to look a lot better than they should, losing a three-point heartbreaker to New England in Week 4 and a tough one in Atlanta last weekend. The big question every week is at quarterback, where coach Mike Ditka can go with the armless Danny Wuerffel, the gutless Kerry Collins or the winless Billy Joe Tolliver. This week, look for Tolliver -- and another loss.
Notable: Bucs have surrendered fewest total (89) and passing first downs (53) in NFC.
Injuries:
BUCS: Out: CB Donnie Abraham (knee); DE Chidi Ahanotu (shoulder). Probable: WR Jacquez Green (shoulder); S John Lynch (shoulder); DE Steve White (ear); WR Karl Williams (calf).
SAINTS: Out: QB Heath Shuler (toe). Doubtful: RB Lamar Smith (ankle). Questionable: DE Brady Smith (groin). Probable: G-T Keno Hills (shoulder); P Mark Royals (ankle).
CINCINNATI (2-4) AT OAKLAND (4-2)
Time: 4: 15 p.m.
Line: Raiders by 2 1/2 .
Vs. spread: Bengals 2-3; Raiders 3-3.
Outlook: The Bengals are the league's best at taking care of the ball -- they have just two turnovers all year, four fewer than the next best teams -- but can't seem to figure out how to win. It's not the fault of the offense, which boasts not only RB Corey Dillon's 4.7 yards per carry but QB Neil O'Donnell's 102.2 passer rating and WR Carl Pickens' 577 receiving yards, second-most in the NFL. The Raiders have matched last year's win total and are emerging as real playoff contenders under new coach Jon Gruden. The key has been the defense, which ranks third in the league and is led by sack-artist DE Lance Johnstone and rookie CB Charles Woodson.
Notable: Bengals have committed an NFL-low 27 penalties.
Injuries:
BENGALS: Out: G Mike Goff (knee). Questionable: LB James Francis (groin); LS Greg Truitt (neck). Probable: G Rich Braham (knee).
RAIDERS: Out: T Pat Harlow (back); S Eric Turner (foot); QB Jeff George (groin); RB Jon Ritchie (knee). Questionable: TE Jeremy Brigham (foot); LB James Folston (hamstring). Probable: RB John Henry Mills (hamstring).
BUFFALO (3-3) AT CAROLINA (0-6)
Time: 8: 20 p.m., ESPN.
Line: Panthers by 1 1/2 .
Vs. spread: Bills 4-1; Panthers 1-3.
Outlook: With DE Bruce Smith, deep-threat WR Eric Moulds and ball-hawking S Kurt Schulz playing terrific football, the Bills have won three in a row, two against the 49ers and Jaguars. And with QB Doug Flutie around, who knows what magic is still to come? In two games since Steve Beuerlein took over at quarterback, the Panthers have gotten to the verge of victory, only to watch it slip away in the fourth quarter. The culprit has been the defense, which was the strength of the Carolina team that advanced to the NFC championship game in 1996. LB Kevin Greene leads the league with 11 sacks, but opponents have run at will on the Panthers.
Notable: Bills haven't won four straight games since 1996.
Injuries:
BILLS: Questionable: DE Shawn Price (calf); QB Rob Johnson (ribs); S Kurt Schulz (leg).
PANTHERS: Out: G Matt Campbell (knee); WR Rae Carruth (foot); S Mike Minter (knee). Doubtful: T Blake Brockermeyer (knee). Questionable: LB Kinnon Tatum (thumb); TE Wesley Walls (hand). Probable: LB Mike Barrow (ankle); WR Mark Carrier (nausea); RB Mike Dulaney (calf); G Frank Garcia (toe); DE Sean Gilbert (groin).
Pub Date: 10/25/98