>Game of the day

Steelers (10-3) at Ravens (9-4)

TV: Ch. 4, 4 p.m.

The line: Ravens (-2 1/2).

The scoop: Steelers are tied for first in sacks with Dallas with 45, and James Harrison is third in NFL with 15. . . . Pitt QB Ben Roethlisberger has been sacked 39 times already. . . . Ravens have won seven of eight, losing only to Giants. . . . Ravens running back by committee has surpassed 140 yards eight times and has topped 100 in 12 games. Team has scored five TDs on INT returns. . . . Steelers in midst of string of games that goes from Patriots to Cowboys to Ravens to Titans.

Outlook: Steelers get worn down. Ravens, 13-10.

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>Top attractions

Buccaneers (9-4) at Falcons (8-5)

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

The line: Falcons (-3).

The scoop: Tampa Bay run defense, which had allowed just one TD and one 100-yard game, gashed by Panthers last week for 299 yards and four TDs. Now comes Atlanta's Michael Turner, who is tied for first in league with 14 TDs and is second with 1,269 yards. . . . Bucs working on short week after losing last Monday night. Tampa Bay won first meeting, forcing Atlanta QB Matt Ryan into worst game of season. . . . Bucs have two DTs with injured knees -- Chris Hovan and Jovan Haye -- and QB Jeff Garcia has been limited in practice.

Outlook: Injuries catch up to Bucs. Falcons, 21-17.

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Giants (11-2) at Cowboys (8-5)

TV: Ch. 2, 8:15 p.m.

The line: Cowboys (-3).

The scoop: Giants held to season lows in yards and time of possession by Eagles last week. . . . Giants featured back Brandon Jacobs will miss game due to injury, while Cowboys RB Marion Barber is a game-time decision. WR Domenik Hixon has not practiced with Giants. . . . Dallas QB Tony Romo missed first meeting, a 35-14 romp by Giants.

Outlook: Dallas is desperate. Cowboys, 27-23.

*

Vikings (8-5) at Cardinals (8-5)

TV: Ch. 29, 4 p.m.

The line: Cardinals (-3).

The scoop: Vikings tied for fourth in sacks (37) and are fourth in TD passes allowed (12). Have almost as many INTs, 11, as TDs allowed. . . . Vikes tied for first in yards allowed per rushing attempt (3.2) and facing only team that has not passed 1,000 yards on the ground. . . . Tarvaris Jackson gets call at QB for Vikings. . . . Potent Cardinals won first division title since 1975.

Outlook: Cardinals party like it's 1975; Vikings play like it's crunch time. Vikings, 19-17.

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Broncos (8-5) at Panthers (10-3)

Kickoff: 4:15 p.m.

The line: Panthers (-7 1/2).

The scoop: Peyton Hillis became fifth running back placed on IR by Denver. He had five rushing and one receiving TD in six games. Last month Broncos signed RB Tatum Bell, who had been selling cell phones; he will start. Broncos have won four of five. They have allowed only eight sacks, giving Jay Cutler time to throw 23 TD passes. . . . Panther running game coming on behind rebuilt offensive line. In the last six games, DeAngelo Williams has five 100-yard rushing games and has scored 11 touchdowns. Jonathan Stewart has gone over 100 yards twice with three scores.

Outlook: Panthers one of two teams never to beat Broncos. Cards will be only one after Carolina prevails, 31-21.

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>Best of the rest

Bills (6-7) at Jets (8-5)

TV: Ch. 4, 1 p.m.

The line: Jets (-7 1/2).

The scoop: Brett Favre hasn't thrown a TD pass in nine quarters as Jets have lost last two. . . . Bills haven't scored a TD in two games and they have lost six of seven. . . . J.P. Losman to start for Bills at QB. . . . Jets allowing only 83.5 yards rushing per game.

Outlook: Unable to turn loose Marshawn Lynch, Bills get beasted, 20-10.

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Niners (5-8) at Dolphins (8-5)

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

The line: Dolphins (-6).

The scoop: Niners lead league with 13 fumbles lost and DeShaun Foster may start at RB with Frank Gore suffering from a sprained ankle. Foster lost a fumble in six straight games before ending the streak last week. . . . Niners beat Jets and Bills in last two weeks, so Dolphins control playoff destiny. . . . Miami's turnover margin of plus-12 is the league's best.

Outlook: Dolphins take away a victory, 21-17.

*

Titans (12-1) at Texans (6-7)

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

The line: Titans (-3).

The scoop: Titans have run for more than 200 yards in each of last two games, and Texans rank 24th in stopping the run. . . . Texans run game also strong with Steve Slaton, who has reached the 100-yard mark in three of the last four games and has 1,024 rushing yards on the season. . . . Texans (6-8) averaging 381.5 yards of offense, third best in league.

Outlook: Tennessee too strong on both sides of ball. Titans, 24-17.

*

Packers (5-8) at Jaguars (4-9)

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

The line: Packers (-2 1/2).

The scoop: Jacksonville has lost six of seven and the Packers five of six. . . . Jacksonville lost WR Matt Jones (65 catches, 761 yards) to a drug suspension and RB Fred Taylor to torn thumb ligaments), and may be without WR Jerry Porter (groin). . . . QB Aaron Rodgers has completed 64.4 percent of his passes for 1,068 yards and nine touchdowns while throwing six interceptions in his last four games but Packer defense hasn't been able to close out opponents.

Outlook: Maurice Jones-Drew will find room against weak GB run defense, but not enough for a victory. Pack stays in playoff race, 20-16.

*

Lions (0-13) at Colts (9-4)

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

The line: Colts (-17).

The scoop: QB Daunte Culpepper has a sprained shoulder so Lions quarterbacking will fall to Dan Orlovsky, who has been out since Nov. 2 with an injured wrist. . . . Good luck. The Colts have given up just four passing touchdowns all season, on pace to break the 16-game NFL record of nine. . . . Colts have won six straight. . . . Lions fourth team in era of 16-game schedule to start 0-13. Only the Saints, quarterbacked by Archie Manning, Peyton Manning's father, fell to 0-14.

Outlook: Archie gets company. Colts, 31-3.

*

Redskins (7-6) at Bengals (1-11-1)

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

The line: Redskins (-7).

The scoop: Approval rating for Redskins, who have lost four of five, dropping below President Bush's. RB Clinton Portis averaged 118 yards in the first eight games but averaged barely half that -- 63.2 yards -- in the last five. He'll run behind patchwork O-line, which lost Chris Samuels and Justin Geisinger to season-ending injuries and had to sign guards D'Anthony Batiste and Will Montgomery and tackle Devin Clark. . . . Bengals have been outscored 69-6 the last two weeks and twice have used third-string QB Jordan Palmer to replace Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has struggled filling in for Carson Palmer. Bengals haven't scored TD in 11 quarters.

Outlook: Bengals put up a fight before falling, 17-13.

*

Chargers (5-8) at Chiefs (2-11)

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

The line: Chargers (-5 1/2).

The scoop: Kansas City tied for eighth in the NFL with 24 takeaways (13 fumbles, 11 interceptions), and picked off Philip Rivers twice in earlier one-point loss. . . . Rivers having a career season, completing 63.9 percent of his passes for 3,169 yards and 26 TDs against 10 interceptions, but RB LaDainian Tomlinson having worst season with only 885 yards.

Outlook: Chiefs' defense cures LT. Chargers, 31-21.

*

Patriots (8-5) at Raiders (3-10)

Kickoff: 4:15 p.m.

The line: Patriots (-6 1/2).

The scoop: Matt Cassel back after spending time with family following death of his father and will start for Pats. . . . New England had to call Junior Seau out of retirement to patch up LB corps. Defense hit hard by injuries. Safety Rodney Harrison and LB Adalius Thomas are out for the season, defensive linemen Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork are questionable this week, and LBs Tedy Bruschi and Pierre Woods have been hurt in recent weeks. . . . A defeat makes the Raiders the first NFL team with six straight 11-loss seasons. . . . Raiders have been held under 20 points in nine of last 10 games.

Outlook: Pats struggle before pulling out 14-13 victory.

*

Browns (4-9) at Eagles (7-5-1)

TV: ESPN, Monday, 8:30 p.m.

The line: Eagles (-14).

The scoop: Browns beat Eagles in first NFL game in 1950 and have owned the series since. . . . However, Cleveland hasn't scored a TD since beating Bills in last Monday night appearance. Ken Dorsey will start second straight for Cleveland at QB. . . . Browns, who rank 28th in run defense, will have hard time containing Brian Westbrook, who has 329 yards in last two weeks and nine TDs overall.

Outlook: Scoring slump continues for Cleveland. Eagles, 28-9.

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>Dog of the day

Seahawks (2-11) at Rams (2-11)

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

The line: Seahawks (-2 1/2).

The scoop: Seahawks have won seven in a row in series, including 37-13 blowout in September. Seneca Wallace likely to start for QB Matt Hasselbeck, who is out with bulging disk. Top OT Walter Jones placed on IR. . . . The Seahawks are allowing 25.7 points a contest after surrendering 18.1 in 2007 despite returning every starter. . . . The Rams have committed 21 turnovers the last six games, five of them blowout losses.

Outlook: Seahawks showing signs of life near end of Mike Holmgren's tenure, nearly beating Pats last week. They prevail, 17-13.

e-mail: fdoyle@buffnews.com