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Week 17 NFL Preview |
| Teams
| Key Stat | Key Matchup
| Player to Watch |
Vikings (14-1) at
Oilers (8-7)
Sat., 12:35 p.m.
Stat matchups
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Vikings need 12 points to set NFL season scoring record and can tie record with their 15th win.
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Vikes kicker Gary Anderson, seeking historic perfect season, vs. Oilers (opponents have missed four FGs).
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Robert Smith needs 153 rushing yards to break his own Vikings record of 1,266 he set last season.
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Chiefs (6-9) at
Raiders (8-7)
Sat., 4:05 p.m.
Stat matchups
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Raiders' Lance Johnstone (11) and Darrell Russell (10) are the AFC's only double-digit sack duo.
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Chiefs' Derrick Thomas (7 sacks in last 2 vs. OAK) vs. Raiders offensive line (NFL-high 61 sacks).
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Raiders rookie Charles Woodson is expected to line up as a receiver for the first time this season.
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Packers (10-5) at
Bears (4-11)
Sun., 1:01 p.m.
Stat matchups
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Packers have won 9 straight vs. Bears, longest streak in series history, including a win two weeks ago.
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Pack's Antonio Freeman (NFL-high 1,359 yards) vs. Bears' Walt Harris (team-high 4 interceptions).
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Green Bay's Reggie White can become the first player to lead the NFL in sacks three times ('87-88).
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Bills (9-6) at
Saints (6-9)
Sun., 1:01 p.m.
Stat matchups
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Buffalo's Eric Moulds needs just 35 yards to break Andre Reed's team receiving record (1,312).
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Bills' Bruce Smith (9 sacks this year) vs. Saints QB Kerry Collins, never sacked by Smith before.
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Saints' La'Roi Glover trails John Randle by only half-sack for lead among NFL defensive tackles.
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Lions (5-10) at
Ravens (5-10)
Sun., 1:01 p.m.
Stat matchups
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Baltimore's Corey Harris and Detroit's Terry Fair both lead their conference in punt return average.
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Lions' Herman Moore, with TDs in four straight games, vs. Ravens' Rod Woodson (team-high 6 INTs).
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Barry Sanders needs 50 rushing yards to extend NFL record of five straight seasons over 1,500.
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Dolphins (10-5) at
Falcons (13-2)
Sun., 1:01 p.m.
Stat matchups
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Falcons' Jamal Anderson needs 16 carries to set NFL record, held by James Wilder (407 in '84).
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Falcons, needing 23 points to set team record, vs. Dolphins, allowing NFL-low 15.1 points per game.
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O.J. McDuffie has NFL-high 85 catches and seeks to be first Dolphin to lead league or conference.
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Patriots (9-6) at
Jets (11-4)
Sun., 1:01 p.m.
Stat matchups
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Jets are one of four teams (Falcons, Broncos, 49ers) with two players over 1,000 receiving yards.
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Jets' Johnson vs. Patriots' Ty Law and Lawyer Milloy, all first-time Pro Bowlers this season.
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Jets' Curtis Martin needs 147 rushing yards to break Freeman McNeil's team record of 1,331 yards.
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Panthers (3-12) at
Colts (3-12)
Sun., 1:01 p.m.
Stat matchups
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Carolina has held opponents to NFL-low 90 punt return yards all season; Colts have totaled 336.
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Panthers' Muhsin Muhammad (941 receiving yards) vs. Raghib Ismail (915), both chasing the team record of 1,002.
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Colts' Marshall Faulk needs 122 receiving yards to give him 1,000 rushing and receiving in '98.
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Buccaneers (7-8) at
Bengals (3-12)
Sun., 1:01 p.m.
Stat matchups
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Bengals receiver Darnay Scott has averaged 38.9 yards on his seven touchdowns this season.
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Bucs' Warrick Dunn, needing 63 yards for 1,000, vs. Bengals rookie LB Takeo Spikes (team-high 101 tackles).
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Bucs' Jacquez Green must raise his punt return average from 15.1 to 15.6 to overtake Deion for NFL lead.
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Rams (4-11) at
49ers (11-4)
Sun., 4:05 p.m.
Stat matchups
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49ers, playing 16th game of '98, have won 16 straight against Rams and 16 straight home games overall.
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49ers pass offense (2nd in NFL in yards/game) vs. Rams pass defense, tops in NFL at 170.3 yards/game.
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Rams' Kevin Carter needs 2.5 sacks to pass Kevin Greene for team's best season total in 1990s.
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Giants (7-8) at
Eagles (3-12)
Sun., 4:05 p.m.
Stat matchups
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Eagles average 14.8 points/game (still NFL low)with Koy Detmer at QB, after getting 8.4 in first 11 games.
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Giants defense (NFL-best 53 sacks) vs. Eagles offensive line, which has allowed 54 (3rd-highest in league).
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Retiring Irving Fryar, only player with 50-plus catches in last eight years, needs five for 50 in '98.
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Seahawks (8-7) at
Broncos (13-2)
Sun., 4:15 p.m.
Stat matchups
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Seahawks have NFL-record 13 return TDs in '98, including three INTs by Pro Bowler Shawn Springs.
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Broncos, winners of 24 straight regular-season games at home, vs. Seahawks, 2-5 on road this year.
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Terrell Davis needs 170 rushing yards to be the fourth player ever to reach 2,000 in a season.
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Chargers (5-10) at
Cardinals (8-7)
Sun., 4:15 p.m.
Stat matchups
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Chargers QB Ryan Leaf, who's taken to napping in meetings, enters game with passer rating of 39.0.
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Chargers rush defense (no 100-yard rushers in '98) vs. Cards' Adrian Murrell (3 100-yard games in '98).
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Cards QB Jake Plummer, he of $15 million signing bonus, gets trip to playoffs if he can win.
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Redskins (6-9) at
Cowboys (9-6
Sun., 8:20 p.m.
Stat matchups
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With win, Cowboys will be first NFC East team to go 8-0 in division play ('97 Giants went 7-0-1).
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Redskins' Dan Wilkinson (career-best 7.5 sacks) vs. Cowboys' offensive line (NFL-low 17 sacks in '98).
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In last eight games, Trent Green has 15 TDs and 3 INTs, leading Redskins to NFC East-best 6-2 record.
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Steelers (7-8) at
Jaguars (10-5)
Sun., 8:20 p.m.
Stat matchups
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Pittsburgh's Jerome Bettis has just three TDs, tying career low, and is averaging just 3.6 yards/carry.
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Jags rookie QB Jonathan Quinn (1 TD last week) vs. Steelers QB Kordell Stewart (1 TD in last four games).
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Jags' Fred Taylor has 15 total TDs, putting him one behind Vikings' Randy Moss for NFL rookie lead.
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