NFL: Weekend preview

Patriots (6-2) at Colts (8-0), 7:20 p.m.
• TV: NBC
• Line: Colts by 2½
• Key stat: The Colts’ Dwight Freeney has sacks in nine straight games, one short of the NFL record.
• Lowdown: Savor it any time there’s a Tom Brady-Peyton Manning matchup. It’s Unitas-Starr quality. Manning last week became the first quarterback in league history to throw for 40,000 yards within a decade. He’s won a Super Bowl with the Colts this decade, and Brady’s got three (and been in four). Dominance in a decade equals a ticket to the Hall of Fame. Since 2003, both teams are an NFL-best 83-21 and have played each year in the regular season. The winner of that game has won the AFC title four of the past six years.
• Prediction: Colts 28-24

Bills (3-5) at Titans (2-6), Noon
• Line: Titans by 8
TV: None
• Key stat: Bills safety Jairus Byrd is the first in 49 years to have 2+ INTS in 3 straight games.
• Lowdown: Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher (and owner Bud Adams) perhaps made the right decision to reinstate Vince Young as the starting quarterback. He has been clutch twice in as many weeks, getting the Titans in the end zone for victories. The Bills, coming off their bye week, may get QB Trent Edwards (concussion) back.
• Prediction: Titans 17-10

Broncos (6-2) at Redskins (2-6), Noon
• Line: Broncos by 3
• TV: None
• Key stat: Washington has failed to score more than 17 points for eight straight games.
• Lowdown: Broncos coach Josh McDaniels plans to start former Husker guard Russ Hochstein, one of his soldiers from their Patriots days, in trying to spark the offense. The Broncos’ sack corps, led by Elvis Dumervil, will be looking forward to this one. Redskins QB Jason Campbell, behind a patched-up offensive line, was sacked five times in the first half of last week’s loss to the Falcons.
• Prediction: Broncos 23-14

Bucs (1-7) at Dolphins (3-5), Noon
• Line: Dolphins by 10
• TV: None
• Key stat: The Buccaneers are 3 for 9 on field-goal attempts, worst in the league.
• Lowdown: The battle of Florida could be fun to watch, with the shaky defenses. What will Bucs rookie QB Josh Freeman do for an encore after winning his first start? Can the Bucs’ defense, which gave up 170 ground yards to the Packers, contain Ronnie, Ricky and the Dolphins’ wildcat? It’s halfway through the season, but aren’t the Dolphins already in a must-win situation?
• Prediction: Dolphins 32-21

Jaguars (4-4) at Jets (4-4), Noon
• Line: Jets by 6½
• TV: None
• Key stat: Jags’ Mike Sims-Walker had career-high 147 yards receiving last week.
• Lowdown: The bye week couldn’t have come at a better time for the Jets, after their kick teams were staggered Nov. 1 by Dolphin Ted Ginn’s pair of 100-yard touchdowns. New York will have to work in rookie Shonn Greene to complement top back Thomas Jones. And the Jets got a steal when they acquired receiver Braylon Edwards from the Browns.
• Prediction: Jets 29-21

Bengals (6-2) at Steelers (6-2), Noon
• Line: Steelers by 7
• TV: KMTV
• Key stat: Steeler Hines Ward has caught at least one pass in 170 consecutive games.
• Lowdown: Yes, with a victory, the Bengals would achieve a season sweep of Pittsburgh and be in control of the AFC North. Except for mid-December games at Minnesota and San Diego, the schedule is favorable. The Steelers’ defense is also a threat to score. A great contrast here in the Bengals’ heavy-duty runner Cedric Benson and the Steelers’ second-year flier Rashard Mendenhall.
• Prediction: Steelers 20-14

Saints (8-0) at Rams (1-7), Noon
• Line: Saints by 14
• TV: None
• Key stat: Saints DE Anthony Hargrove forced a fumble and recovered two last week.
• Lowdown: The only question here is: Will the Saints have proper motivation? (After all, NFL stands for “Not For Logic.”) Coming from behind to win their past three is a good sign for the Saints. New Orleans will have to concentrate on stopping Rams star back Steven Jackson. He’s about all St. Louis has, and you wonder when he’ll start to wear down.
• Prediction: Saints 45-23

Falcons (5-3) at Panthers (3-5), Noon
• Line: Falcons by 1½
• TV: None
• Key stat: Carolina’s minus-9 turnover margin is the NFC’s worst.
• Lowdown: Game-breaking back Michael Turner and the Falcons did what you’d expect last week with the one-dimensional Redskins: toy with them, then KO their defense late. The Panthers, whose only consistent strength is running the ball, will try to prevent a season series sweep. End Julius Peppers and the defense must rise up, or Carolina’s season is in jeopardy.
• Prediction: Falcons 26-21

Lions (1-7) at Vikings (7-1), Noon
• Line: Vikings by 17
• TV: KPTM
• Key stat: Brett Favre has only three INTs, his lowest first-half total since ’93.
• Lowdown: Talk about a charmed life. The Vikings get the Lions today, then the Seahawks and Bears in an effort to put a lock on the NFC North. If they get way ahead early, perhaps QB Brett Favre can get a breather. One downer: Cornerback Antoine Winfield (foot) isn’t ready to return. Detroit’s growing pains continue after wasting a big lead at Seattle with Matthew Stafford’s five INTs.
• Prediction: Vikings 37-19

Chiefs (1-7) at Raiders (2-6), 3:05 p.m.
• Line: Raiders by 2
• TV: None
• Key stat: Chris Chambers caught two TD passes in his Chiefs debut last week.
• Lowdown: The new era in Kansas City continues to evolve — without running back Larry Johnson. The Chiefs lost a heartbreaker to the Raiders earlier in the season and could be hard-pressed in this one. Oakland running back Darren McFadden, left guard Robert Gallery and right tackle Cornell Green are back from injuries and expected to play.
• Prediction: Chiefs 16-13

Cowboys (6-2) at Packers (4-4), 3:15 p.m.
• Line: Cowboys by 3
• TV: KPTM
• Key stat: The Packers have 18 takeaways, third highest in the league.
• Lowdown: Big-play receiver Miles Austin and the sizzling Cowboys have an opportunity to be sitting pretty come December — if they handle the Packers today — with Washington and Oakland to follow. Mark Tauscher’s knee problems aren’t helping the Pack’s ailing, porous O-line. The erratic defense may not have LB Aaron Kampman (concussion).
• Prediction: Cowboys 35-28

Eagles (5-3) at Chargers (5-3), 3:15 p.m.
• Line: Chargers by 1
• TV: None
• Key stat: The Chargers’ Vincent Jackson leads AFC WRs with seven TD catches.
• Lowdown: While they may get RB Brian Westbrook (concussion) back, the Eagles are hurting on defense. Akeem Jordan’s knee injury will cause more linebacker shuffling. Two players have to fill the void left by CB-KR Ellis Hobbs’ neck injury. It’s a golden opportunity for the Chargers to tighten up the AFC West.
• Prediction: Chargers 24-20

Seahawks (3-5) at Cardinals (5-3), 3:15 p.m.
• Line: Cardinals by 8
• TV: None
• Key stat: The Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald had 13 catches against Seattle on Oct. 18.
• Lowdown: Why have the Cardinals been so turnover-prone at home? It’s the same offense that scored on its first six possessions last week at Chicago, something the Cardinals hadn’t done since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. Seattle’s 14 yards rushing in a 27-3 loss to the Cards on Oct. 18 were the fewest in franchise history.
• Prediction: Cardinals 34-23


* * *

• Open date: Giants, Texans.
• Monday’s game: Ravens at Browns (7:30 p.m., ESPN).
• Capsules and predictions by John Rodino.
• Predictions not related to point spreads.
• Record last week: 8-5
• Season: 90-39
• Information from the Associated Press was used in this outlook.