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Kansas at Buffalo City Bills Chiefs ( 3- 5) ( 5- 3) Sunday, 1 p. m. ET

Surface: AstroPlay Sheridan’s line: Bills by 3

Keys to the game: With RB Priest Holmes out for the season, keys to Chiefs’ running game have been turned over to Larry Johnson. Kansas City’s ground game has lost some of its punch with LT Willie Roaf injured, but the Chiefs will still attack a Bills run defense allowing 150.8 yards a game. Buffalo has injury concerns on O- line, and Bills like to build their game plan around RB Willis McGahee. But don’t be surprised if QB Kelly Holcomb takes a few early shots vs. league’s No. 31- ranked pass defense.

Fast facts: Home team has won nine of the past 10 meetings. Chiefs: Coach Dick Vermeil is 4-0 vs. Buffalo. Bills: 4- 10 vs. AFC West since 1997.

Injuries: Chiefs: Out: DT Ryan Sims ( foot), CB Jerome Woods ( hamstring), RB Priest Holmes ( concussion). Questionab­le: CB Dexter McCleon ( groin), WR Samie Parker ( knee), T Kevin Sampson ( shoulder), CB Patrick Surtain ( knee), CB Eric War6eld ( hip). Probable: WR Marc Boerigter ( ill), DT John Browning ( knee), FS Greg Wesley ( back). Bills: Out: T Greg German ( ankle). Questionab­le: CB Terrence McGee ( hamstring). Houston Texans ( 1- 7) at Indianapol­is Colts ( 8-0) Sunday, 1 p. m. ET

Surface: FieldTurf Sheridan’s line: Colts by 171⁄ 2

Keys to the game: Considerin­g the sad state of the Texans’ offensive line and that the Colts have recorded : ve sacks in each of the past three meetings, Houston must get a strong game from RB Domanick Davis. WR Andre Johnson is also healthy, and Texans need to control clock to protect their defense. Colts coach Tony Dungy has been warning his team against a letdown all week. The Colts’ offense has too much balance and too much : repower for the Texans to contend with.

Fast facts: Texans:

Offense hasn’t scored more than two TDs for 13 consecutiv­e games. Colts: Are 17- 4 vs. AFC South opponents.

Injuries: Texans: Out: C Drew Hodgdon ( foot). Doubtful: CB Demarcus Faggins ( hamstring), G Zach Wiegert ( ankle). Questionab­le: RB Domanick Davis ( knee), WR Jerome Mathis ( hamstring), C Todd Washington ( neck). Probable: WR Corey Bradford ( hand), WR Andre Johnson ( hamstring), LB Antwan Peek ( shoulder), DE Robaire Smith ( back), DE Gary Walker ( shoulder). Colts: Questionab­le: WR Harry Williams ( knee) DT Vincent Burns ( knee/shoulder), TE Bryan Fletcher ( concussion), LB Rob Morris ( head), LB Keith O’Neil ( shoulder), DE Josh Thomas ( chest), TE Ben Utecht ( chest). Probable: S Mike Doss ( shoulder), DE Dwight Freeney ( foot), S Joseph Jefferson ( toe), LB Cato June ( groin/knee), DE Robert Mathis ( toe), G Jake Scott ( back), K Mike Vanderjagt ( calf). Baltimore Ravens ( 2- 6) at Jacksonvil­le Jaguars ( 5- 3) Sunday, 1 p. m. ET

Surface: Grass Sheridan’s line: Jags by 61⁄ 2

Keys to the game: Jaguars QB Byron Leftwich is coming off a game in which he completed all 11 of his second- half passing attempts, and he might need similar ef : ciency if RB Fred Taylor’s ankle injury keeps him sidelined. QB Kyle Boller returns to start for the Ravens for the : rst time since the season opener. Baltimore isn’t looking for him to win the game, just to make enough plays down : eld to force the Jaguars to respect the passing attack. With DT Marcus Stroud battling a sore ankle, Ravens RB Jamal Lewis will likely run more inside than most opponents attempt to against the Jaguars.

Fast facts: Ravens: Only team not to score 20 points in a game this season. Jaguars: DE Reggie Hayward has 18.0 sacks in 27 career starts.

Injuries: Ravens: Out: LB Ray Lewis ( thigh), S Ed Reed ( ankle). Questionab­le: CB Dale Carter ( thigh), LB Terrell Suggs ( thigh), S B. J. Ward ( thigh), TE Daniel Wilcox ( neck). Probable: RB Ovie Mughelli ( ankle). Jaguars: Doubtful: RB Fred Taylor ( ankle). Questionab­le: WR Cortez Hankton ( hamstring). Probable: S Deke Cooper ( shoulder), C Brad Meester ( knee), DT Marcus Stroud ( ankle). at Minnesota New York Vikings Giants ( ( 3- 6- 5) 2) Sunday, 1 p. m. ET

Surface: FieldTurf Sheridan’s line: Giants by 91⁄ 2

Keys to the game: With their already beleaguere­d secondary minus injured CB Fred Smoot, the Vikings must : nd a way to deal with Giants TE Jeremy Shockey. To prevent QB Eli Manning & Co. from moving through the air at will, the Vikings, back to a 4- 3 alignment, must get a strong pass rush. Vikes QB Brad Johnson must make some plays down : eld because Giants’ D is far stronger vs. run than pass.

Fast facts: Vikings:

RB Michael Bennett rushed for a career- high 167 yards vs. Giants on Nov. 10, 2002. Giants: Seek third 7- 2 start since 1990. They reached the Super Bowl the previous two times.

Injuries: Vikings: Out: CB Fred Smoot ( shoulder). Doubtful: G Toniu Fonoti ( hand), DT Spencer Johnson ( knee), RB Moe Williams ( knee/back). Probable: RB Mewelde Moore ( wrist), WR Troy Williamson ( illness). Giants: Out: CB William Peterson ( back). Questionab­le: LB Carlos Emmons ( pectoral), LB Nick Greisen ( back), DE Justin Tuck ( ankle), WR David Tyree ( elbow), S Shaun Williams ( hamstring). Probable: DT Kenderick Allen ( quadriceps) Washington Redskins ( 5- 3) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers ( 5- 3) Sunday, 4: 15 p. m. ET

Surface: Grass Sheridan’s line: Redskins by 1

Keys to the game: Game plan for Bucs sounds simple: Run the ball on offense and get after the passer on defense. In Tampa Bay’s three losses, it has averaged just 57 rushing yards, and the Redskins will do everything they can to stuff rookie RB Carnell Williams and force the game onto the arm of struggling QB Chris Simms. The Bucs’ defense is ranked No. 1 overall, but they have just seven intercepti­ons and 16 sacks. Tampa Bay is looking for more big plays out of its defense.

Fast facts: Redskins:

7- 1 when Clinton Portis rushes for at least 100 yards. Bucs: 3- 20 over past two yearswhen they lose turnover margin.

Injuries: Redskins: Questionab­le: DT Cornelius Grif : n ( hip), DT Cedric Killings ( ankle), S Omar Stoutmire ( hamstring). Probable: QB Mark Brunell ( calf), DE Phillip Daniels ( ankle), DT Joe Salave’a ( foot), T Chris Samuels ( knee), S Sean Taylor ( ankle). Buccaneers: Questionab­le:

WR Michael Clayton ( knee), S Dexter Jackson ( hamstring), RB Michael Pittman ( shoulder). Probable: T Anthony Davis ( knee). at Cleveland Pittsburgh Browns Steelers ( 3- 5) ( 6- 2) Sunday night, 8: 30 ET

Surface: DD Grassmaste­r

Sheridan’s line: Steelers by 8

Keys to the game: Steelers QB Ben Roethlisbe­rger will miss his second consecutiv­e game, and the Brownswoul­d love nothing more than to force the game onto the arm of backup Charlie Batch. But that requires a Cleveland run defense allowing 129.4 yards a game to slow Pittsburgh’s powerful running attack. Offensivel­y, Browns’ O- line will have its hands full vs. Steelers, whose complex 3- 4 alignment will bring pressure from anywhere. Browns need RB Reuben Droughns to run well to keep offense out of obvious passing situations.

Fast facts: Browns:

Have forced at least one turnover in NFL- high 21 consecutiv­e games. Steelers: Scored on all 28 red- zone possession­s this season.

Injuries: Browns: Doubtful: G Cosey Coleman ( knee), RB William Green ( ankle). Questionab­le: G Joe Andruzzi ( knee), CB Daylon McCutcheon ( ankle), DE Alvin McKinley ( elbow), CB Ray Mickens ( groin), RB Lee Suggs ( thumb). Probable: S Chris Crocker ( shoulder). Steelers: Out: S Mike Logan ( hamstring), QB Ben Roethlisbe­rger ( knee). Doubtful: LB James Farrior ( knee). Questionab­le: RB Jerome Bettis ( quadriceps), RB Willie Parker ( ankle), LB Joey Porter ( knee). Probable: LB Clark Haggans ( groin), LB James Harrison ( knee), DE Travis Kirschke ( back), RB Dan Kreider ( calf). Denver at Oakland Broncos Raiders ( 6- 2) ( 3- 5) Sunday, 4: 05 p. m. ET

Surface: Grass Sheridan’s line: Broncos by 3

Keys to the game: Raiders’ mind- set following last Sunday’s heartbreak­ing loss to Kansas City will be critical. They can’t afford to come out F at against a Broncos team coming off its bye week and seeking to put a strangleho­ld on AFC West. Oakland’s offense is at its best when RB LaMont Jordan gets lots of carries, which would set up play- action pass for QB Kerry Collins to test Denver’s shaky secondary. If Broncos build a lead, they’ll pound awaywith RBs Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell. QB Jake Plummer will then take shots at Raiders’ beat- up secondary.

Fast facts: Broncos: 12- 4 in games following a bye week. Raiders: All three wins have come in games in which Jordan has had at least 20 carries.

Injuries: Broncos: Probable: CB Champ Bailey ( hamstring), S Sam Brandon ( shoulder), TE Mike Leach ( 6nger).

Raiders: Out: G Langston Walker ( abdomen), CB Charles Woodson ( 6 bula). Questionab­le: DE Bobby Hamilton ( ankle), CB Renaldo Hill ( hip), WR Randy Moss ( groin/ ribs). Probable: G Brad Badger ( knee), S Jarrod Cooper ( hamstring), RB Zack Crockett ( ankle), LB DeLawrence Grant ( ankle), DE Tommy Kelly ( ankle), G Ron Stone ( ribs). Green at Atlanta Bay Falcons Packers ( ( 6- 1- 2) 7) Sunday, 4: 15 p. m.

Surface: FieldTurf Sheridan’s line: Falcons by 91⁄ 2

Keys to the game: Packers must : nd a way to run the ball. The starting job will likely go to undrafted rookie free- agent RB Samkon Gado, but whoever gets the bulk of the carries needs to take advantage of a Falcons run defense allowing 4.6 yards a carry. Atlanta wants to bring heat to force QB Brett Favre into mistakes down : eld If Atlanta gets an early lead and can grind the game out, it should roll to an easy victory.

Fast facts: First meeting in Atlanta since ’ 92. Packers: Current 71.9 rushing yards a game average would break franchise record low of 85.6 set in 1990. Falcons: 11- 2 at home under coach Jim Mora.

Injuries: Packers: Out: DT Corey Williams ( calf). Doubtful: RB Tony Fisher ( rib). Questionab­le: WR Robert Ferguson ( knee), TE David Martin ( groin). Probable: T Chad Clifton ( ankle), C Mike Flanagan ( hernia). Falcons: Questionab­le: DE Chauncey Davis ( knee), RB T. J. Duckett ( ankle), WR Michael Jenkins ( ankle), RB Fred McCrary ( shoulder), DE Brady Smith ( toe).

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