Houston (3-9) at Pittsburgh (7-4-1)
Time: 1 p.m. today.
TV: Ch. 13.
Line: Steelers by 13 1/2 .
Key stat: The Steelers are 6-1-1 since their 1-3 start.
Worth watching: QB Tommy Maddox (16 TDs vs. 11 interceptions) returns to Steelers' lineup. Texans rookie QB David Carr has thrown nine TD passes vs. 11 interceptions.
Outlook: Thanks to Maddox, the Steelers are back among the AFC's elite. He gets to ease his way back into the lineup against the Texans, who can't score.
San Francisco (8-4) at Dallas (5-7)
Time: 1 p.m. today.
Line: 49ers by 4 1/2 .
Key stat: 49ers have turned the ball over a league-low 11 times.
Worth watching: Cowboys rookie QB Chad Hutchinson has thrown five TD passes vs. two interceptions in five starts. 49ers WR Terrell Owens leads NFC in catches (80), receiving yards (1,102) and TD receptions (10).
Outlook: San Francisco continues its push for home-field advantage, but must be wary because with Hutchinson, the Cowboys aren't making big mistakes. A 49ers win and a Rams loss would give San Francisco the NFC West title.
Buffalo (6-6) at New England (7-5)
Time: 1 p.m. today.
Line: Patriots by 4 1/2 .
Key stat: Patriots have won past four vs. Bills.
Worth watching: The quarterbacks, who are having big years: Bills' Drew Bledsoe (21 TDs vs. 10 interceptions); Patriots Tom Brady (NFL-leading 24 TDs vs. 11 interceptions).
Outlook: Bledsoe can return to New England with his head held high; he has been more than worth the first-round pick the Bills gave up for him. But Brady has led the Patriots to four wins in the past five games.
St. Louis (5-7) at Kansas City (6-6)
Time: 1 p.m. today.
Line: Chiefs by 5.
Key stat: It's Chiefs' No. 2 offense vs. Rams' No. 7 defense.
Worth watching: Jamie Martin is the last healthy Rams quarterback. Chiefs QB Trent Green has thrown 20 TD passes vs. 11 interceptions.
Outlook: Both teams are clinging to the slimmest of playoff hopes, so the matchup between Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil and his old team provides the only intrigue. The Rams likely won't contain RB Priest Holmes (1,322 rushing yards).
Indianapolis (8-4) at Tennessee (7-5)
Time: 1 p.m. today.
Line: Titans by 1 1/2 .
Key stat: Titans have won six of seven; Colts have won four straight.
Worth watching: Colts WR Marvin Harrison, who leads NFL with 109 catches, had 11 in first game vs. Titans. Eddie George, averaging 3.4 yards per carry, had 95 yards in first meeting.
Outlook: Two of the league's hottest teams meet, and the winner will be on the way to the AFC South title. The Titans have won four of the past five meetings in the series.
Cincinnati (1-11) at Carolina (4-8)
Time: 1 p.m. today.
Line: Panthers by 3.
Key stat: Bengals have scored at least 20 points in six straight games.
Worth watching: Bengals QB Jon Kitna has thrown 12 TD passes vs. four interceptions in past seven games. Panthers QB Rodney Peete has thrown nine TDs vs. 12 interceptions this season.
Outlook: Thanks to their defense and the Bengals' ineptitude, the Panthers should win their second in a row.
Cleveland (6-6) at Jacksonville (5-7)
Time: 1 p.m. today.
Line: Jaguars by 2.
Key stat: Browns have won four of six road games.
Worth watching: Browns rookie RB William Green is averaging 3.1 yards per carry. Jaguars RB Fred Taylor has rushed for 317 yards and four TDs in two games vs. Browns.
Outlook: The Browns' slim playoff hopes are on the line, and the Jaguars' soft rushing defense could provide an opening for Green.