The Week Ahead

Giants at 49ers. Three years ago this week, New York was coming off a home win over an AFC West opponent ( Denver) and heading west with a 10-2 record for a Monday-night matchup with San Francisco. The Giants stayed in Palo Alto and practiced at Stanford the day before the game. New York prevailed 21-17 and went on to win the Super Bowl. This week the Giants are again coming off a home win over an AFC West opponent ( Seattle, 15-3) and heading west, with a 9-2 record, for a Monday-night game against the 49ers. They'll again stay in Palo Alto and practice at Stanford the day before the game. And the winner will....

Bengals at Bills. Last year, the difference between Buffalo and AFC champion Cincinnati may have been the home-field advantage. The Bengals won at home against the Bills in Week 13. Six weeks later, in the AFC title game, the Bengals again defeated the Bills in Cincinnati. Now Cincy is a so-so 6-5, and the 7-4 Bills and their 80,000 loony fans are the hosts. Besides seeking to avenge its 1988 losses, Buffalo is fighting for the home-field advantage in this season's playoffs. The Bills are 13-1 at home since the beginning of '88. "We're just better here," says center Kent Hull.

Rams at Saints. New Orleans might have gotten its wake-up call too late. Although the Saints have won five of their last six games, they're only 6-5, and one more defeat could make them the best team to miss the playoffs for the second straight year. In Week 7 they routed the Rams, who were 5-1 at the time, 40-21 in Anaheim, Calif. "Football is a game of confidence," says New Orleans linebacker Sam Mills, "and that game gave us confidence." A victory this week would be another huge boost.