An interesting battle between two potential NFC wild-card teams is on tap this week as the Giants and Lions meet in Detroit. Meanwhile, New England gets back on the field after a week off to try for 10-0, but is Buffalo upset-minded at home? Here’s a look at this week’s games. All times are Pacific.
Last week: 6-8
Season record: 90-54
Sunday, Nov. 18
Tampa Bay 5-4
at Atlanta 3-6, 10 a.m.
Last Meeting: Falcons won 17-6 at Tampa Bay last December.
Stats & Stuff: Atlanta has won two straight after starting 1-6. Buccaneers lead the NFC South by a game over Carolina and New Orleans.
Game Day: Bucs need a win to stay alone in first place.
Pick: Buccaneers 20, Falcons 13
Cleveland 5-4
at Baltimore 4-5, 10 a.m.
Last Meeting: Browns won 27-13 on Sept. 30.
Stats & Stuff: Joshua Cribbs had more yards on kickoff returns (204) than Browns’ offense had in total yards (163) in loss to Pittsburgh. Baltimore has scored just seven points in each of its last two games.
Game Day: Derek Anderson threw two TD passes in the first meeting this season for the Browns. Baltimore, which didn’t have a sack in that game, needs to put more pressure on the quarterback.
Pick: Browns 24, Ravens 20
Arizona 4-5
at Cincinnati 3-6, 10 a.m.
Last Meeting: Cardinals won 17-14 at home in 2003.
Stats & Stuff: LB Karlos Dansby had two INTs, forced fumble for Arizona in win over Lions. Bengals’ Shayne Graham had team-record seven field goals in win over Ravens in Week 10.
Game Day: Cincinnati defense comes in with confidence after allowing fewest points this season and forcing six turnovers.
Pick: Bengals 27, Cardinals 20
N.Y. Giants 6-3
at Detroit 6-3, 10 a.m.
Last Meeting: Lions won 28-13 at New York in 2004.
Stats & Stuff: Giants’ six-game winning streak ended against Dallas. Detroit had minus-18 yards rushing in Week 10.
Game Day: Both teams are coming off setbacks and hope to become the early wild-card leader in the NFC.
Pick: Giants 24, Lions 21
Carolina 4-5
at Green Bay 8-1, 10 a.m.
Last Meeting: Panthers won 32-29 at home in 2005.
Stats & Stuff: Carolina is 4-1 on the road. Green Bay is 4-1 at home.
Game Day: Packers try to stay on pace for Nov. 29 showdown at Dallas for NFC’s best record.
Pick: Packers 30, Panthers 23
New Orleans 4-5
at Houston 4-5, 10 a.m.
Last Meeting: Saints won 31-10 at home in 2003.
Stats & Stuff: New Orleans’ four-game winning streak was snapped by Rams in Week 10. Texans’ offense ranks ninth in the NFL, defense ranks 18th.
Game Day: After getting embarrassed by the winless Rams at home, the Saints try to rebound.
Pick: Saints 34, Texans 28
Kansas City 4-5
at Indianapolis 7-2, 10 a.m.
Last Meeting: Chiefs won 45-35 at home in 2004.
Stats & Stuff: Kansas City is ranked 18th in pass defense. Colts are sixth in pass offense.
Game Day: Colts’ offense is beat up, but they should get by at home.
Pick: Colts 24, Chiefs 15
San Diego 5-4
at Jacksonville 6-3, 10 a.m.
Last Meeting: Chargers won 34-21 at home in 2004.
Stats & Stuff: Chargers’ Darren Sproles had scoring kick returns of 89 and 45 yards in Week 10 for his first two career TDs. Jacksonville racked up 166 rushing yards vs. NFL’s best run defense at Tennessee.
Game Day: Stopping the run will be a key for the Chargers, who held Indianapolis to just 75 yards on the ground.
Pick: Chargers 21, Jaguars 17
Oakland 2-7
at Minnesota 3-6, 10 a.m.
Last Meeting: Raiders won 28-18 at home in 2003.
Stats & Stuff: Oakland is fifth in rushing offense in the league. Vikings are third in run defense.
Game Day: Even without injured RB Adrian Peterson, Minnesota should cruise.
Pick: Vikings 19, Raiders 10
Miami 0-9
at Philadelphia 4-5, 10 a.m.
Last Meeting: Eagles won 34-27 at Miami in 2003.
Stats & Stuff: Miami has lost five games by three points. Brian Westbrook had 183 all-purpose yards for Eagles in victory over Washington.
Game Day: Time for Philadelphia to make a run at the playoffs, but Dolphins are improving.
Pick: Eagles 27, Dolphins 20
Pittsburgh 7-2
at N.Y. Jets 1-8, 1:05 p.m.
Last Meeting: Steelers won 20-17 at home in 2004 divisional playoff.
Stats & Stuff: Pittsburgh defense is No. 1, allowing 229.4 yards per game. Jets’ offense is No. 29 at 290.2.
Game Day: Steelers rarely lose to the Jets. They are 15-2 all-time, with the only defeats in 2003 and 1988, both on the Jets’ home turf.
Pick: Steelers 31, Jets 14
Washington 5-4
at Dallas 8-1, 1:15 p.m.
Last Meeting: Redskins won 22-19 at home in November 2006.
Stats & Stuff: Washington RB Clinton Portis is third in NFL rushing with 766 yards. Marion Barber and Julius Jones have combined for 970 rushing yards for Dallas.
Game Day: In this rivalry that dates to 1960, Dallas leads 55-35-2. The Cowboys shouldn’t have any problem adding to it on Sunday.
Pick: Cowboys 35, Redskins 20
St. Louis 1-8
at San Francisco 2-7, 1:15 p.m.
Last Meeting: 49ers won 17-16 at St. Louis on Sept. 16.
Stats & Stuff: Rams snapped eight-game losing streak in Week 10. San Francisco has lost seven straight.
Game Day: The last time these teams met was the last time the 49ers won, despite getting outgained 392-186. A repeat of that will result in the Rams’ second victory of the season.
Pick: Rams 27, 49ers 13
Chicago 4-5
at Seattle 5-4, 1:15 p.m.
Last Meeting: Bears won 27-24 in OT at home in divisional playoff last January.
Stats & Stuff: Stepping in for injured Brian Griese, Rex Grossman went 7-of-14 for 142 yards, TD, in Bears’ win over Raiders. Matt Hasselbeck was 27-of-40 for 278 yards, two TDs in Seattle’s victory over 49ers.
Game Day: You can bet the Seahawks are ready for revenge after Chicago kept them from reaching the NFC title game last season. Grossman might be back as starting QB or could see significant playing time.
Pick: Seahawks 20, Bears 10
New England 9-0
at Buffalo 5-4, 5:15 p.m.
Last Meeting: Patriots won 38-7 at home on Sept. 23.
Stats & Stuff: Patriots give up 90.6 rushing yards per game, sixth in league. Buffalo’s Marshawn Lynch averages 83 rushing yards per game.
Game Day: New England is ready to resume its quest for an undefeated season after a bye week. The Patriots have won eight straight over Buffalo by an average score of 29-9.
Pick: Patriots 34, Bills 14
Monday, Nov. 19
Tennessee 6-3
at Denver 4-5, 5:30 p.m.
Last Meeting: Broncos won 37-16 at Tennessee in 2004.
Stats & Stuff: Titans are 3-1 on the road. Denver is 2-3 at home.
Game Day: Tennessee QB Vince Young had career-high 257 yards passing in loss to Jaguars but was sacked four times with two INTs. So look for him to hand off more to LenDale White.
Pick: Broncos 23, Titans 20