Today’s Games

ON TV

Atlanta at St. Louis

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* TV: Channel 11.

* Records: Falcons 9-2; Rams 3-8.

* Story line: The Falcons are one of the league’s hottest teams, with seven victories in their last eight games, and can clinch a playoff berth with a victory. But they might be without Chris Chandler, who is doubtful after suffering a sprained right knee and ankle in last week’s 20-13 victory over the Bears. Says backup quarterback Steve DeBerg: “I think we’re good enough to win without Chris, but we’re definitely not as good a team when he’s not in there.”

* Line: None

***

Buffalo at New England

* Kickoff: 1 p.m.

* TV: Channel 2.

* Records: Bills 7-4; Patriots 6-5.

* Story line: This is obviously a big game for Doug Flutie, who squares off against the team that told him he wasn’t good enough to play in the NFL. But for the rest of the Bills? “When you start 0-3, every game’s a must win,” Coach Wade Phillips said. The Patriots may have saved their season with Monday’s 26-23 victory over the Dolphins, but at what price? Drew Bledsoe suffered a broken finger on the game-winning drive and is questionable today.

* Line: None

***

Washington at Oakland

* Kickoff: 1:15 p.m.

* TV: Channel 11.

* Records: Redskins 2-9; Raiders 7-4.

* Story line: Jeff George is expected back, and the Raiders could use him after Donald Hollas threw three interceptions in last week’s 40-14 loss to the Broncos. The Redskins’ comeback from a 31-0 deficit last week was impressive, but it fell short in a 45-42 loss to the Cardinals. “Let’s not kid ourselves,” Coach Norv Turner said. “People want to see us win. We want to see us win. A lot of plays were made. Guys competed. In the second half we did make the game exciting. But we’re playing to win.”

* Line: Raiders by 7

***

Denver at San Diego

* Kickoff: 5:15 p.m.

* TV: ESPN.

* Records: Broncos 11-0; Chargers 5-6.

* Story line: Returning to the scene of their greatest triumph, last January’s Super Bowl victory over Green Bay, the Broncos can become only the fourth team in NFL history to open the season with 12 consecutive victories. The Chargers, 27-10 losers at Denver three weeks ago, are 2-0 since Craig Whelihan took over at quarterback for Ryan Leaf. Their defense is first in the league against the run and No. 1 overall.

* Line: Broncos by 13

THE REST

Arizona at Kansas City

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Cardinals 6-5; Chiefs 4-7.

* Story line: The Cardinals, hoping to make the playoffs for the first time since 1982, have won three of four . The Chiefs have lost six in a row.

* Line: Chiefs by 3 1/2

***

Carolina at N.Y. Jets

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Panthers 2-9; Jets 7-4.

* Story line: A major reason for the Jets’ emergence as a contender in the AFC East has been the play of former USC receiver Keyshawn Johnson, who leads the AFC with eight touchdown receptions. The Panthers, after an 0-7 start, have won two of their last four games.

* Line: Jets by 8 1/2

***

Indianapolis at Baltimore

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Colts 2-9; Ravens 4-7.

* Story line: Priest Holmes ran for 227 yards in the Ravens’ 20-13 victory over the Bengals last week. The Colts’ Peyton Manning has passed for a touchdown in eight consecutive games, most by a rookie since Joe Namath in 1965.

* Line: Ravens by 6

***

Jacksonville at Cincinnati

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Jaguars 8-3; Bengals 2-9.

* Story line: Despite last week’s loss at Pittsburgh, the Jaguars have a chance to move two games up on the Steelers in the AFC Central after Pittsburgh’s overtime loss to Detroit on Thanksgiving. But they will have to get a better performance out of Mark Brunell, who threw three interceptions last week.

* Line: Jaguars by 7

***

Tampa Bay at Chicago

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Buccaneers 4-7; Bears 3-8.

* Story line: The Buccaneers defeated the Bears, 27-15, two months ago at Tampa, but they’re not the same team on the road. The Bears’ starting quarterback, Erik Kramer, is questionable because of a strained rotator cuff and tendinitis in his throwing shoulder.

* Line: Buccaneers by 3 1/2

***

Tennessee at Seattle

* Kickoff: 1 p.m.

* Records: Oilers 6-5; Seahawks 5-6.

* Story line: Seahawk quarterback Warren Moon, who played 10 seasons for the Oilers in Houston, has been benched in favor of Jon Kitna, who has played in one quarter this season. The Oilers have won four of their five road games. In their 24-3 loss to the Jets last week, they were held to 223 total yards and 12 first downs, and quarterback Steve McNair was sacked four times.

* Line: Seahawks by 2 1/2

***

New Orleans at Miami

* Kickoff: 1 p.m.

* Records: Saints 5-6; Dolphins 7-4.

* Story line: The Dolphins are 5-0 and have given up only three touchdowns at Pro Player Stadium, where they hope to shake off the effects of Monday’s heartbreaking loss to the Patriots that left them in a three-way tie for the division lead. “I’ve seen games like this have a lingering effect,” Coach Jimmy Johnson says. “It’s going to be very important that the coaching staff get the players back in a positive frame of mind.”

* Line: Dolphins by 7 1/2

***

Philadelphia at Green Bay

* Kickoff: 1:15 p.m.

* Records: Eagles 2-9; Packers 7-4.

* Story line: The Packers no longer rule the NFC Central, but they need only to look at the Eagles to see that it could be a lot worse. The Eagles are winless in their last 15 road games, including six this season. Bobby Hoying’s quarterback rating of 45.6 is the NFC’s worst, and the Eagles have been shut out three times, most recently by against the Giants last week.

* Line: Packers by 18