Capsules

Picks by T.J. Simers; Researched by Houston Mitchell.

Simers’ Record: Last week, 7-7; Overall, 49-38.

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Chicago at Tampa Bay

10 a.m.

* The line: Tampa Bay by 8.

* Key injuries: CHI--Quarterback Shane Matthews (hamstring, out); wide receiver Curtis Conway (ankle, out).

* Key elements: Bear running back Curtis Enis ranks third in NFC in yards from scrimmage, 597. Bears’ 20 sacks lead NFC. Buccaneers’ 18 sacks rank third.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

BT Chi TB Points scored 17.3 16.4 Points allowed 17.8 15.8 Passing O 238.3 141.0 Rushing O 92.7 131.0 Total O 331.0 272.0 Passing D 239.7 182.6 Rushing D 113.7 66.2 Total D 353.3 248.6

*--*

* The pick: Tampa Bay. Buccaneers have No. 2 NFL defense, second against the run, which will stop Enis and force Cade McNown to throw, and right now that’s not good.

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Cincinnati at Indianapolis

10 a.m.

* The line: Indianapolis by 10 1/2.

* Key injuries: None.

* Key elements: Five of last seven meetings have been decided by seven points or fewer. Colts outscore opponents in first quarter, 34-9. Colt offensive line has allowed NFL-low two sacks.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Cin Ind Points scored 12.7 26.6 Points allowed 28.2 22.2 Passing O 186.5 277.0 Rushing O 128.0 94.0 Total O 314.5 371.0 Passing D 216.8 252.6 Rushing D 98.2 97.2 Total D 315.0 349.8

*--*

* The pick: Indianapolis. Bengals can stop either Edgerrin James or Peyton Manning, but they can’t stop both.

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Cleveland at Saint Louis

10 a.m.

* The line: St. Louis by 19.

* Key injuries: None.

* Key elements: Browns have lost last four games by 9.3 points a game vs. 30 in first two losses. Rams have scored 40-plus points in two consecutive games for first time since 1958. Rams’ eight turnovers are tied for second fewest in NFC.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Cle StL Points scored 8.3 36.6 Points allowed 24.5 12.0 Passing O 110.7 258.6 Rushing O 75.8 119.4 Total O 186.5 378.0 Passing D 249.0 200.2 Rushing D 151.8 67.6 Total D 400.8 267.8

*--*

* The pick: St. Louis. The Browns have the 30th-ranked defense, and should be No. 31 after getting pasted by the Rams.

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Denver at New England

10 a.m., Channel 2

* The line: New England by 3 1/2.

* Key injuries: DEN--Tight end Shannon Sharpe (collarbone, out); quarterback Bubby Brister (hip, questionable); running back Derek Loville (hamstring, questionable).

* Key elements: Broncos have won last 10 vs. Patriots. Bronco Coach Mike Shanahan has never lost to Patriots (5-0).

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Den NE Points scored 16.8 23.3 Points allowed 20.2 20.7 Passing O 219.7 288.5 Rushing O 99.0 73.8 Total O 318.7 362.3 Passing D 169.3 207.5 Rushing D 108.3 102.7 Total D 277.7 310.2

*--*

* The pick: New England. Miami got the Patriots’ attention last week, and 10 consecutive losses to Denver guarantee that New England will come out stoked.

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Detroit at Carolina

* The line: Carolina by 4 1/2.

* Key injuries: DET--Wide receiver Herman Moore (knee, doubtful). CAR--Wide receiver Rae Carruth (ankle, out).

* Key elements: Lions have two fumble giveaways this season, tied for fewest in NFC. Panthers lead NFL with seven yards per first-down play.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Det Car Points scored 21.4 24.8 Points allowed 21.8 22.2 Passing O 194.4 232.8 Rushing O 104.4 114.8 Total O 298.8 347.6 Passing D 228.8 213.6 Rushing D 92.8 144.8 Total D 321.6 358.4

*--*

* The pick: Carolina. Two of the NFL’s so-what teams. One week they win, the next they lose. So what? This week the Panthers win.

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New Orleans at New York Giants

* The line: New York Giants by 3.

* Key injuries: NO--Quarterback Billy Joe Hobert (neck, questionable). NYG--Kicker Brad Daluiso (knee-injured reserve).

* Key elements: Saints have been outscored in fourth quarter this season, 51-8. Saint running back Ricky Williams leads NFC rookies with 292 yards rushing. Giants have given up 27.5 yards rushing per game in last two.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

NO NYG Points scored 17.6 14.0 Points allowed 19.2 19.7 Passing O 227.2 189.0 Rushing O 102.2 79.7 Total O 329.4 268.7 Passing D 171.2 191.0 Rushing D 110.8 74.5 Total D 282.0 265.5

*--*

* The pick: New York. It has to be a pretty bad team on the other side of the field to select the Giants, who cannot score.

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Philadelphia at Miami

* The line: Miami by 9.

* Key injuries: PHI--Defensive end Hugh Douglas (biceps-injured reserve). MIA--Quarterback Dan Marino (upper back, questionable).

* Key elements: Eagles won first road game in 20 tries and first ever in Chicago. Eagles’ 13 interceptions lead NFL.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Phi Mia Points scored 12.8 28.0 Points allowed 18.7 24.2 Passing O 121.0 251.4 Rushing O 88.7 90.2 Total O 209.7 341.6 Passing D 193.0 202.8 Rushing D 132.7 72.8 Total D 325.7 275.6

*--*

* The pick: Miami. The Eagles have their two wins for the year. They write this one off as a vacation trek to Florida.

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San Francisco at Minnesota

10 a.m., Channel 11

* Key injuries: SF--Quarterback Steve Young (concussion, out). MIN--Running back Robert Smith (abdomen, out).

* Key elements: Vikings lead NFC with 122 first downs, 79 of them passing. 49er receiver Jerry Rice has 50 catches for 874 yards and 10 touchdowns in nine games vs. Vikings.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

SF Min Points scored 21.3 20.0 Points allowed 27.8 20.3 Passing O 188.2 262.8 Rushing O 112.3 90.0 Total O 300.5 352.8 Passing D 258.7 260.0 Rushing D 94.0 102.8 Total D 352.7 362.8

*--*

* The pick: Minnesota. The 49ers are a shambles, and the Vikings figure this is the start to a new season with Jeff George lighting up the scoreboard.

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Washington at Dallas

* The line: Dallas by 2.

* Key injuries: DAL--Wide receiver Michael Irvin (neck, out).

* Key elements: Redskins and Cowboys tied for fewest sacks allowed in NFC with seven. Redskin receivers Michael Westbrook (159) and Albert Connell (137) had career highs in yards receiving in Week 1 vs. Cowboys.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Was Dal Points scored 34.8 24.0 Points allowed 25.6 15.0 Passing O 277.6 213.0 Rushing O 134.4 117.6 Total O 412.0 330.6 Passing D 275.0 207.4 Rushing D 126.6 94.2 Total D 401.6 301.6

*--*

* The pick: Washington. Dallas has the home-field advantage, the motivation to account for a Monday night loss, but lacks the weapons to keep up with the Redskins.

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Green Bay at San Diego

* The line: Green Bay by 3.

* Key injuries: None.

* Key elements: Packer running back Dorsey Levens leads NFL running backs with 25 receptions for 240 yards and is second in NFC with 631 yards from scrimmage. Charger run defense allows only 2.6 yards a carry. Chargers have not allowed 100-yard rusher in 24 games.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

GB SD Points scored 20.4 21.4 Points allowed 24.2 13.6 Passing O 270.8 183.8 Rushing O 87.0 67.8 Total O 357.8 251.6 Passing D 220.0 212.4 Rushing D 131.2 66.0 Total D 351.2 278.4

*--*

* The pick: Green Bay. The Chargers could have crept up on the Packers had Green Bay not been embarrassed a week ago. Pros who have been to the Super Bowl don’t like to be embarrassed.

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Buffalo at Seattle

* The line: Seattle by 2 1/2.

* Key injuries: BUF-Wide receiver Eric Moulds (hamstring, out).

* Key elements: Game features former CFL Grey Cup MVP Doug Flutie and NFL Europe World Bowl MVP Jon Kitna. Flutie leads NFL quarterbacks with 214 yards rushing. Kitna tops AFC with 106.0 third-down passer rating.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Buf Sea Points scored 19.7 19.0 Points allowed 15.5 17.0 Passing O 208.7 203.0 Rushing O 125.8 71.4 Total O 334.5 274.4 Passing D 189.2 220.6 Rushing D 84.5 112.4 Total D 273.7 333.0

*--*

* The pick: Buffalo. It’s all working against the Bills because Seattle needs the win, they are home and Bills are coming all the way across the country. But Seattle looks punchless on offense.

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New York Jets at Oakland

1:15 p.m., Channel 2

* The line: Oakland by 6 1/2.

* Key injuries: NYJ--Safety Steve Atwater (hamstring, questionable).

* Key elements: Jets hold opponents to average drive start of 22-yard line, tops in AFC. Raiders’ plus-six turnover differential is tied for first in NFL. Raiders have AFC-high 12 red-zone touchdowns.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

NYJ Oak Points scored 15.2 20.7 Points allowed 19.8 19.0 Passing O 176.3 218.0 Rushing O 113.5 140.0 Total O 289.8 358.0 Passing D 224.7 243.2 Rushing D 121.8 70.7 Total D 346.5 313.8

*--*

* The pick: Oakland. The Raiders have been looking for a break after six tight games. They get a chance to record a blowout.

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Atlanta at Pittsburgh

Monday, 6 p.m., Channel 7

* The line: Pittsburgh by 5 1/2.

* Key injuries: PIT--Center Dermontti Dawson (hamstring, questionable).

* Key elements: Falcon punter Dan Stryzinski has had only eight punts returned for NFL-low 29 yards. Steelers’ red-zone defense tied for second in AFC (five touchdowns in 15 trips).

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--*

Atl Pit Points scored 12.3 19.5 Points allowed 25.5 15.5 Passing O 225.0 167.7 Rushing O 72.7 121.0 Total O 297.7 288.7 Passing D 188.8 160.0 Rushing D 136.7 90.5 Total D 325.5 250.5

*--*

* The pick: Pittsburgh. Jerome Bettis and Kordell Stewart get the Monday night spotlight, although the Falcons hang around awhile to keep it close.