The Seahawks head to East Rutherford for the second straight year looking to extend their narrow edge in this series.

While Seattle owns an 8-6 advantage in this series, the Jets have prevailed in three straight and six of the last seven meetings dating back to 1985, including a controversial 32-21 win a year ago (Week 14) at Giants Stadium as Jets QB Vinny Testaverde ran five yards for the 'game-winning touchdown' with just :20 remaining. Replays clearly showed he fell short of the goal line.

While Seattle owns a 5-3 road mark in this series, all five of those victories came at Shea Stadium as Seahawks are just 1-6 lifetime at the Meadowlands (1-3 vs. Giants, 0-3 vs. Jets) dating back to 1976.

Numbers: Seahawks QB Jon Kitna has thrown seven touchdown passes and eight interceptions in his last five games (1-4), after 16 TD passes and just six interceptions in his first nine contests (7-2) in '99. The Seahawks have committed 14 turnovers in their last five games (1-4), this after committing 17 turnovers in their first 10 contests (8-2) in '99. The Seahawks have allowed three or more sacks in three straight games. WR Derrick Mayes has scored at least one touchdown in three straight games. The Seahawks have limited the opposition to 17 or fewer points in 8-of-15 contests in '99. Since 1996, the Seahawks have allowed 140 or more yards rushing in 23-of-63 games, 180-plus yards rushing in nine of those contests.

In his last four games (3-1), Jets QB Ray Lucas has thrown 11 touchdown passes and just one interceptions, throwing two or more TD passes in four straight games. Including playoffs, the Jets have committed just 24 turnovers in 20 wins, 28 turnovers in 13 losses dating back to 98. Including playoffs, the Jets have allowed just 292 points in 20 wins (17 or fewer points in 14 of those contests) while giving up 321 points in 13 losses dating back to '98. The Jets have allowed 36 sacks in 15 games in '99, this after allowing just 25 sacks in 16 games in '98. They have forced two or more turnovers in three straight games.

Things to look for: Poetic justice would surely have the Seahawks scrape out a victory here on unusual circumstances given the team's memorable last visit to the New Jersey swamps. More importantly, Mike Holmgren's needs his defensive unit to regain its opportunistic touch and come up with some big plays as improving Jets' QB Ray Lucas figures to give the Seattle secondary fits with his arm and his feet.

Etc.: With a victory, the Seahawks can clinch their first NFC West title since 1988, which also marks the last time Seattle made the playoffs, the longest-current playoff drought in the NFL. The Jets have won three straight games and are 6-2 in their last eight contests after opening 1-6 in '99.

Jets head coach Bill Parcells owns a 38-20 regular-season record in December/January (18-12 with Giants from 1983-90, 12-5 with Patriots from 1993-96, 8-3 with Jets from 1997-99), including 35-13 since 1986.