| Game of the week | Sunday night | Monday night | Rest of the week
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Jets (0-3) at Broncos (0-3)
4:15 p.m. ET, CBS, Broncos by 5½
Preview |  War Room preview | Baxter's Bits
| Why to watch |
Who to watch |
Numbers game |
| This rematch of the AFC Championship Game has lost a lot of its luster, but it's now a battle of two desperate teams that can't afford another early-season loss. The winner might be able to salvage something of the season, although both teams have extremely tough schedules. The loser is basically out of the playoff race. |
Jets RB Curtis Martin is averaging 4.5 yards per carry, and he should get plenty of work against the NFL's 29th-ranked run defense. Broncos RB Terrell Davis has been held to less than 80 yards in all three games. Broncos WRs Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey will look to provide a big-play spark against Jets CBs Aaron Glenn and Ray Mickens. |
353: Rushing yards allowed in the last two games by the Jets. That's a very good sign for the struggling Davis.
5: Total touchdowns scored by the Broncos offense in the first three weeks. Denver scored 12 offensive TDs in the first three games of '98.
1: TD passes for Jets QB Rick Mirer since 1996. |
Cardinals (1-2) at Cowboys (2-0)
1 p.m. ET, Fox, Cowboys by 7
Preview | War Room preview | Baxter's Bits
| Why to watch |
Who to watch |
Numbers game |
| Because this is a rematch of last season's NFC wild-card game, and it's one the Cowboys have been thinking about for a long time. The Cardinals' 20-7 upset in Dallas left a bitter taste with the 'Boys, and they've had this NFC East showdown marked on their calenders. Dallas got two weeks to prepare after last week's bye, while Arizona had a short week after playing Monday night. |
Cowboys CB Deion Sanders will see his first action of the season after battling a serious toe injury. Cowboys CB Kevin Smith also might return. Cowboys RB Emmitt Smith is averaging 109 yards per game, and he faces a Cardinals run defense that's been vulnerable at its interior. Cardinals QB Jake Plummer has thrown nine INTs, but WRs Frank Sanders and David Boston should test Sanders and the Dallas secondary. |
160: Rushing yards per game for Dallas, the most in the NFL.
143.7: Average rushing yards allowed by the Cardinals defense, which ranks 28th against the run.
16: Wins for Dallas in the last 18 regular-season meetings between these two teams. |
Bucs (2-1) at Vikings (1-2)
1 p.m. ET, Fox, Vikings by 7
Preview | War Room preview | Baxter's Bits
| Why to watch |
Who to watch |
Numbers game |
| To watch the terrific matchup between the dominating Bucs defense and the explosive Vikings offense. Tampa Bay has allowed only one offensive TD this season, and the Bucs are giving up a meager 143.3 yards per game. Minnesota's record-setting offense is struggling (327 yards per game), but the Vikes must avoid their second consecutive loss to an NFC Central opponent. |
Bucs DT Warren Sapp is questionable with a broken hand. If he plays, he will challenge Vikings G Randall McDaniel in a matchup of Pro Bowlers. Vikings WR Jake Reed has put together back-to-back 100-yard games while opposing secondaries focus on Randy Moss. Bucs QB Trent Dilfer is on a short leash, but he will hand the ball often to bruising FB Mike Alstott. |
1: Number of offensive plays for Minnesota that have gained 40 yards or more this season.
2: Broken bones in Sapp's left hand, but he hopes to play with a cast on it.
234: Rushing yards for the Bucs in their Week 9 win over Minnesota last season. That was the Vikings' only regular-season loss. |
Titans (3-0) at 49ers (2-1)
4:15 p.m. ET, CBS, no line
Preview | War Room preview | Baxter's Bits
| Why to watch |
Who to watch |
Numbers game |
| To judge whether the Titans are for real. Tennessee is one of only two 3-0 teams in the NFL and comes off a huge victory at Jacksonville. A win in San Francisco could be a possible springboard to a 7-0 start for the Titans. The Niners will be without Steve Young, who suffered a concussion in their
Monday night victory at Arizona. |
With Young sitting out at least a week, Niners QB Jeff Garcia will make his first career start. Niners RBs Charlie Garner and Lawrence Phillips will try to make things easier for the young QB. Titans QB Neil O'Donnell has filled in admirably for Steve McNair. Still, Tennessee will look to run first with RB Eddie George following FB Lorenzo Neal. |
28: NFL ranking for the 49ers' passing offense. And that was with Young at the helm.
20: Catches this season for Titans WR Kevin Dyson, who caught only 21 passes as a rookie last season.
0: Number of 4-0 starts for the Titans franchise in its history. |
Keep the clicker handy
Saints (1-1) at Bears (1-2)
1 p.m. ET, Fox, Saints by 1
Preview | War Room preview | Baxter's Bits
| Why to watch |
Who to watch |
Numbers game |
| To witness another return to Chicago for Mike Ditka, who remains a revered figure in the Windy City. To following the never-ending saga of Saints rookie RB Ricky Williams, who has been slowed by ankle and elbow injuries in his first two NFL games. To determine if either of these teams might be a surprise team. To check out Chicago's new wide-open offense. |
Saints WRs Keith Poole and Eddie Kennison will challenge the NFL's 28th-ranked pass defense. Bears RB Curtis Enis has bounced back from the knee injury that ruined his rookie season to score a TD in all three '99 games. Bears QBs Shane Matthews and Cade McNown will face a Saints defense that's collected 12 sacks in its first two games. |
30: Penalties committed by the Bears in their last two games, both losses.
7: Number of Saints with at least one sack this season.
11: NFL ranking for New Orleans' rushing offense, which was the NFL's worst in 1998. |
Chiefs (2-1) at Chargers (1-1)
4:15 p.m. ET, CBS, Chargers by 1½
Preview | War Room preview | Baxter's Bits
| Why to watch |
Who to watch |
Numbers game |
| To determine if either of these teams can be a factor in an AFC West race that appears wide-open because of Denver's struggles. Kansas City has won two in a row after a season-opening loss in Chicago. The Chargers started with an impressive victory in Cincinnati, but lost their home opener to Indianapolis last week. |
Chiefs WR Derrick Alexander is averaging 113.3 receiving yards per game, and he will face a Chargers secondary that was torched by Marvin Harrison last week. Chiefs RBs Donnell Bennett and Rashaan Shehee face the NFL's No. 3 run defense. San Diego will mix the safe passing of QB Jim Harbaugh with the power running of RB Natrone Means. |
Plus-6: The turnover differential for the Chiefs, tied for the best in the NFL. K.C. has forced eight turnovers and only given up two.
13-6: The Chiefs' record against the Chargers in the 1990s.
2-7: Kansas City's road record over the last two seasons. |
Mow the lawn
Panthers (1-2) at Redskins (2-1)
4:05 p.m. ET, Fox, Redskins by 8
Preview | War Room preview | Baxter's Bits
| Why to watch |
Who to watch |
Numbers game |
| To see if the Redskins can continue their strong start and run their winning streak to three games. Washington needs to head into its bye week with a victory before hitting the road for key NFC East games at Arizona and Dallas. To find out if Carolina can pull an upset and win two in a row under new coach George Seifert. |
Redskins RB Stephen Davis leads the NFL with 328 rushing yards and eight TDs. Panthers RB Tshimanga Biakabutuka comes off a 132-yard performance, and he faces a 'Skins defense that has been vulnerable to the run. 'Skins DE Kenard Lang had three sacks last week. 'Skins WR Michael Westbrook is averaging 100.7 yards per game. |
0: Interceptions for 'Skins QB Brad Johnson, who has thrown for 854 yards and five TDs.
4: Redskins players with at least 10 receptions.
2: Runs of more than 60 yards last week for Biakabutuka.
3-0: Washington's record in this series.
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Patriots (3-0) at Browns (0-3)
1 p.m. ET, CBS, Patriots by 12
Preview | War Room preview | Baxter's Bits
| Why to watch |
Who to watch |
Numbers game |
| To find out if New England can run its record to 4-0 and finally win a game in impressive fashion. The Pats' first three wins were by a combined total of seven points. To see if Cleveland can stay close and somehow pull a stunner. To see if Browns fans are still enthusiastic for their struggling team. |
Patriots QB Drew Bledsoe is off to an outstanding start, having completed 66 percent of his passes for 872 yards and five TDs. Pats WR Terry Glenn has caught 19 passes for 330 yards. Pats RB Terry Allen carries the ground game. Browns QB Tim Couch needs some help from his RBs -- Couch has run for 89 of the team's 183 yards. |
6.3: Average points per game for the Browns.
167.7: Rushing yards per game allowed by Cleveland, the most in the NFL.
2: TDs for the Browns this season, both scored by rookie WR Kevin Johnson. |
Eagles (0-3) at Giants (1-2)
1 p.m. ET, Fox, Giants by 9½
Preview | War Room preview | Baxter's Bits
| Why to watch |
Who to watch |
Numbers game |
| To see what gives when two of the NFL's worst offenses get together. The Eagles rank 30th in the NFL in total offense, while the Giants are No. 28. To find out if the Giants can take care of business and get back to .500. To see if the Eagles can end a winless drought on the road that dates back to 1996. |
Eagles QB Doug Pederson has been replaced in the last two games by rookie Donovan McNabb. RB Duce Staley is Philly's most reliable offensive performer, but he was held to six yards on 10 carries last week. Giants RB Gary Brown is expected to return to the lineup, and that should be a big help for QB Kent Graham. |
0-16-1: The Eagles' road record since their 21-20 victory over the Jets on Dec. 14, 1996.
11: Consecutive quarters in which Philly has failed to score a touchdown.
3: Touchdowns scored in the first quarter of the season for the Eagles. |
Rams (2-0) at Bengals (0-2)
1 p.m. ET, Fox, Rams by 3½
Preview | War Room preview | Baxter's Bits
| Why to watch |
Who to watch |
Numbers game |
| To find out if the Rams will continue to be one of the NFL's most pleasant surprises. St. Louis' first two wins came at home, so a road test -- albeit one in Cincy -- should test the mettle of this young team. To see if the lowly Bengals can awaken from their slumbering start and pull an upset. |
Rams QB Kurt Warner is one of only two passers to throw six TD passes in his first two starts -- Dan Marino is the other. Rams RB Marshall Faulk has run for 159 yards and caught 12 passes for another 139 yards. Speedy Rams WRs Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt will test the Bengals secondary. |
9-51: The Bengals' record in September and October since 1991.
113: Rushing yards last week for Bengals RB Corey Dillon, who has been held to 103 yards in the first two games.
61-10: Margin of defeat for the Cincinnati in its last two games. |
Ravens (1-2) at Falcons (0-3)
1 p.m. ET, Fox, no line
Preview | War Room preview | Baxter's Bits
| Why to watch |
Who to watch |
Numbers game |
| To find out if the agony will finally end for the defending NFC champion Falcons, who have been ravaged by injuries in their dreadful start to this season. To see if the Ravens will be able to build off the first victory of the Brian Billick era and begin working their way back toward respectability. |
Falcons QB Chris Chandler is questionable with a bad hamstring. If he can't go, Tony Graziani will make his second start. Ravens RB Errict Rhett has put together back-to-back 100-yard games. Ravens QB Stoney Case threw three INTs, but ran for two TDs in his second career start last week. |
7.5: Average yards per play allowed by the Falcons defense in last week's 35-7 loss at St. Louis.
50: Rushing yards on 17 carries for Falcons RB Byron Hanspard, who is trying to carry the load with Jamal Anderson out. |
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ALSO SEE
Week 4 injury report
Week 4 picks
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