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Week 15 NFL Preview |
| Teams
| Key Stat | Key Matchup
| Player to Watch |
Patriots (8-5) at
Rams (3-10)
1:01 p.m. ET
Stat matchup
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Underdog Rams have beaten the Jets and Bills in '98, who have each beaten the Patriots this year.
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Rams' Keith Lyle, who led NFL in '97 with 8 INTs, vs. Pats' Ty Law, who leads NFL in '98 with 8 INTs.
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Rams receiver Ricky Proehl needs one catch to reach 50 for the seventh time in his nine-year NFL career.
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Saints (6-7) at
Falcons (11-2)
1:01 p.m. ET
Stat matchup
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Falcons' Jamal Anderson has nine games with 100 rushing yards, while defense has allowed just one.
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Falcons defense (NFL-high 19 fumble takeaways) vs. Saints defense (NFC-high 18 interceptions).
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Falcons QB Chris Chandler needs two touchdown passes to give him 21, setting a new career high.
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Bears (3-10) at
Packers (8-5)
1:01 p.m. ET
Stat matchup
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After one interception in past two seasons, Tyrone Williams leads the Packers with four this year.
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Bears secondary, burnt for 4 TDs by Vikings last week, vs. Packers' dinged-up receiving corps.
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Bobby Engram needs 132 yards to become seventh Bear to reach 1,000 receiving yards in a season.
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Raiders (7-6) at
Bills (8-5)
1:01 p.m. ET
Stat matchup
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Bills can become only fifth team in NFL history to open season 0-3 and advance to playoffs.
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Bills QB Doug Flutie vs. Raiders CB Charles Woodson in battle of Heisman Trophy winners.
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Raiders QB Donald Hollas' 6 INTs last week are more than Testaverde's thrown in 342 attempts in '98.
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Colts (2-11) at
Bengals (2-11)
1:01 p.m. ET
Stat matchup
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Marshall Faulk and Darnay Scott combined for 10,410 yards at San Diego State, best teammate total in NCAA history.
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Colts rookie QB Peyton Manning (21 TD passes) vs. Bengals defense, starting three rookies.
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Bengals QB Jeff Blake gets first start in 13 months, against a defense that's allowed 23 TD passes.
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Steelers (7-6) at
Buccaneers (6-7)
1:01 p.m. ET
Stat matchup
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At 2-4, Steelers have worst road record of any NFL team above .500; Bucs are 5-2 at home in '98.
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Bucs offense (25.5 points/game in last 6) vs. Steelers defense, NFL's toughest in red zone (10 TDs in 27 trips).
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Half of Bucs rookie Jacquez Green's 216 receiving yards have come on touchdowns of 64 and 44 yards.
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Cardinals (6-7) at
Eagles (3-10)
1:01 p.m. ET
Stat matchup
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Eagles have won two straight at home and have held three of last four home opponents under 20 points.
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Young Eagles QB Koy Detmer (4 TDs in 2 games) vs. Arizona defense, recovering 17 opponents' fumbles.
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Cards' Adrian Murrell had season-best 145 yards, including 25-yard TD, against Eagles in Week 3.
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Broncos (13-0) at
Giants (5-8)
1:01 p.m. ET
Stat matchup
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Broncos' Terrell Davis must average 115 rushing yards over final three games to reach 2,000 for season.
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Broncos offense (66 points in last two games) vs. Giants lackthereof (59 points in last five games).
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Davis needs six touchdowns in final three games to break Emmitt Smith's record of 25 rushing TDs.
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Redskins (4-9) at
Panthers (2-11)
1:01 p.m. ET
Stat matchup
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Carolina WRs Raghib Ismail (56) and Muhsin Muhammad (59) are chasing Mark Carrier's team record of 66.
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Former backup QBs: Redskins' Trent Green (19 TD passes) vs. Panthers' Steve Beuerlein (13 TD passes).
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After 69 total yards in Carolina's previous 20 games, RB Tim Biakabutuka rushed for 81 last week.
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Oilers (7-6) at
Jaguars (10-3)
1:01 p.m. ET
Stat matchup
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Jaguars' Jamie Martin becomes 12th former World League quarterback to start an NFL game.
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Oilers, 28th in NFL with just 25 sacks, vs. Jags' offensive line, allowing 30 sacks this season.
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Jags tailback Fred Taylor is tied with Randy Moss for NFL rookie lead with 14 total touchdowns.
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Chargers (5-8) at
Seahawks (6-7)
4:05 p.m. ET
Stat matchup
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Seahawks have 10 returns for touchdowns this year, one behind '92 Chiefs for most since 1970.
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Seahawks QB Jon Kitna, making 4th NFL start, vs. Chargers defense, allowing NFL-low 262.5 yards/game.
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Chargers' Terrell Fletcher has 4 TDs in last 4 games and rushed for career-best 122 yards last week.
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Cowboys (8-5) at
Chiefs (5-8)
4:15 p.m. ET
Stat matchup
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Chiefs have scored 30-plus points in three straight games, longest in-season streak for team since 1967.
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Cowboys' running game (8 yards last week) vs. Chiefs defense, which has given up AFC-high 19 rushing TDs.
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Chiefs RB Bam Morris has five touchdowns in last three games, after zero in first two months of 1998.
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Vikings (12-1) at
Ravens (5-8)
4:15 p.m. ET
Stat matchup
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Randall Cunningham's passer rating of 111.8 challenges best ever, 112.8 by Steve Young in 1994.
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Ravens (past 5 games decided by 7 or less) vs. Vikings (won four straight by at least 10 each).
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Vikings receiver Randy Moss leads NFL in receiving yards (1,120) and TDs (14, NFL rookie record).
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Jets (9-4) at
Dolphins (9-4)
8:20 p.m. ET
Stat matchup
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Curtis Martin's next 100-yard game will be his 8th this year, breaking Freeman McNeil's team record.
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Jets passing offense (tops in AFC, 249 yards/game) vs. Dolphins scoring defense (NFL-low 14.2 points/game).
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Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino has 17 touchdown passes, 7 INTs in last seven games against Jets.
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Lions (5-8) at
49ers (10-3)
Mon., 8:20 p.m. ET
Stat matchup
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Lions rookie QB Charlie Batch has gone 127 passes without an INT, with 6 TDs in his last 4 games.
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Lions' Barry Sanders (no TDs in seven games) vs. 49ers defense, sorely missing injured Bryant Young.
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Garrison Hearst needs 259 yards in last three games to break Roger Craig's 49ers record of 1,502 yards.
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