ATLANTA (CNN/SI) -- Week 6 of the NFL season gives us an opportunity to see Dan Marino and Drew Bledsoe rifle the ball on the same field. The Miami Dolphins (3-1), fresh from a Marino-led comeback win over the Indianapolis Colts, visit the New England Patriots (4-1) in a pivotal AFC East contest.
And, continuing the strength of the AFC theme, Peyton Manning and the Colts (2-2) hope to hammer another nail in the coffin of the (1-4) New York Jets.
In the ho-hum NFC, the best matchup appears to be the St. Louis Rams (4-0) at the Atlanta Falcons (1-4), which pretty much says it all. Can Kurt Warner keep up his torrid touchdown-pass pace, which is busting passer-rating formulas left and right? Before the season began, Green Bay (3-1) at Denver (1-4) would have been a marquee matchup. Now, the main intrigue revolves around the Broncos ability to keep slogging through adversity.
| Week 6 NFL Preview |
| Eagles (1-4) at Bears (3-2), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
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8: Number of touchdown passes thrown by Bears QB Shane Matthews this season.
Stats matchup
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| Key Matchup |
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Eagles' secondary, which allows only 183.4 passing yards per game, vs. the Bears' surprisingly effective passing game, which is averaging 238 yards per contest.
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| Player to Watch |
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Duce Staley: Eagles' feature back seems to be gaining strength as the season progresses. Gained 110 yards on 29 carries in the Eagles' upset of the Cowboys.
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| Titans (4-1) at Saints (1-3), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
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212: Number of penalty yards given up by the Titans against the Ravens, a game the Titans won 14-11.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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Saints defense against the run vs. Titans' ground game, which is averaging only 64 yards.
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| Player to Watch |
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Kevin Dyson: Titans wide receiver is among the top 10 in the league in receptions, with 26.
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| Browns (0-5) at Jaguars (4-1), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
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0: The number of major statistical categories in which the Browns lead the Jaguars.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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Jaguars league-leading defense vs. Browns pitiful offense, the worst in the league. Will the Browns be shut out?
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| Player to Watch |
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Tim Couch: Browns' rookie QB has his work cut out for him against the tough Jaguar defense.
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| Steelers (2-3) at Bengals (1-4), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
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54.4: Passing percentage of Akili Smith, the Bengals rookie QB who started his first game in Week 5.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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Bengals' rushing defense vs. Steelers' RB Jerome Bettis, who is averaging only 3.3 yards per run and is due to break out.
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| Player to Watch |
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Kordell Stewart: Steelers QB turned in a solid performance against the Bills in a losing cause. On the season, has more interceptions (5) than TDs (3).
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| Rams (4-0) at Falcons (1-4), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
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4: Number of field goals missed by Morten Andersen in eight attempts.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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Rams QB Kurt Warner, the surprise of the '99 season, vs. Ray Buchanan and the Falcons secondary, which is yielding 207 passing yards per game.
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| Player to Watch |
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Isaac Bruce: Rams receiver comes off a torrid game against the 49ers, with four TD catches. Has 22 receptions and six touchdowns on the season.
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| Raiders (2-3) at Bills (4-1), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
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361: The number of total offensive yards averaged by the Raiders in their first five games, sixth best in the league.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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Oakland's offense vs. Bills defense, which has been giving up an average of 14 points per game.
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| Player to Watch |
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Tim Brown: Raider receiver's 32 catches are third-best in the league.
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| Vikings (2-3) at Lions (2-2), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
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8: Number of TD passes and number of interceptions thrown by Vikings quarterback Randall Cunningham.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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Vikings WR Randy Moss vs. Lions cornerbacks Bryant Westbrook and Terry Fair, who like to press.
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| Player to Watch |
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Ron Rivers: Lions running back has 405 combined yards on the season. |
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| Colts (2-2) at Jets (1-4), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
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369: Number of rushing yards by Jets running back Curtis Martin.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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Colts QB Peyton Manning, the best young signal-caller in the game, vs. Jets secondary, which gives up an average of only 227 yards per game in the air.
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| Player to Watch |
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Terrence Wilkins: Colts rookie wide receiver scored two touchdowns in the Indianapolis loss to the Dolphins -- one on a pass reception and another on a kickoff return. |
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| Dolphins (3-1) at Patriots (4-1), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
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37: Number of receptions by league-leading receiver Terry Glenn of the Patriots.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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Dolphins rookie running back Cecil Collins vs. Patriots defensive line, which is giving up an average of 100 yards per game.
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| Player to Watch |
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Lawyer Milloy: Patriots safety has 29 tackles and will need to provide strong run support against the Dolphins. |
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| Seahawks (3-1) at Chargers (3-1), 4:05 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
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0: Number of rushing touchdowns by the Seahawks, the only team without one after five weeks of the season.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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Seahawks running game, led by Ricky Watters and Reggie Brown, vs. Chargers defense against the run, the third-best in the league.
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| Player to Watch |
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Natrone Means: Chargers running back has only 164 yards on 60 rushing attempts and is over due for a break out. |
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| Panthers (1-3) at 49ers (3-2), 4:15 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
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366: Number of rushing yards by Panthers' Tim Biakabutuka, who has the highest average per carry (10.8) of any of the league's leading rushers.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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49ers struggling defense, which allows 254 passing yards per game, vs. Panthers passing offense, with QB Steve Beuerlein generating Broncos struggling rushing attack against the Jets defense, which is allowing 130.0 yards per game on the ground.
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| Player to Watch |
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Jeff Garcia: 49ers backup QB is acquitting himself well in the absence of Steve Young. Needs to cut down on interceptions.
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| Packers (3-1) at Broncos (1-4), 4:15 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
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105: Number of yards rushing by Broncos leading ground gainer, Derek Loville.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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Brett Favre and Packers passing offense, averaging 310 yards per game, vs. Broncos passing defense, which yields only 180 aerial yards per game.
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| Player to Watch |
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Ed McCaffrey: Broncos WR, who has 21 receptions and our touchdowns, will be expected to step it up with Shannon Sharpe out with a broken collar bone.
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| Redskins (3-1) at Cardinals (2-3), 8:20 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
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0: Number of interceptions thrown by Redskins QB Brad Johnson through four games.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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The Redskins high-powered passing game vs. Cardinals stingy defense, which is giving up only 154 aerial yards per game.
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| Player to Watch |
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Michael Westbrook: Redskins WR is averaging 21 yards per reception. He has 21 catches and four touchdowns.
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| Cowboys (3-1) at Giants (2-3), 9 p.m. Monday night |
| Key Stat |
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37: Number of tackles by the Giants linebacker Jesse Armstead, which is fourth in the NFL.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith, who has 409 yards rushing, vs. Giants defensive line and linebackers, who give up an average of 84 yards per game on the ground.
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| Player to Watch |
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Amani Toomer: Giants WR has 29 receptions on the season, becoming the possession receiver for Kerry Collins and Kent Graham.
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