MillerLite

(Courtesy of USAToday.com/sports)

TOP GAMES
Indianapolis Colts (7-0) at New England Patriots (6-1)

Sunday, 8:15 ET, NBC

Surface: Grass. Sheridan's line: Patriots by 3.

Keys to the game: The Colts' run defense allowed 227 yards in Denver last Sunday. New England has a bruising combination in RBs Corey Dillon and Laurence Maroney. The Colts must slow the ground game so DE Dwight Freeney can become a factor again. Peyton Manning torched New England for 321 yards and three touchdowns last season.


Cincinnati Bengals (4-3) at Baltimore Ravens (5-2)

Sunday, 1 ET, CBS

Surface: Grass. Sheridan's line: Ravens by 3.

Keys to the game: The matchup is between a Ravens defense that likes to blitz and a Bengals offense that isn't shy about trying to hit on big pass plays. QB Carson Palmer may test secondary rookies Dawan Landry and Ronnie Prude. Offensively, expect Baltimore RB Jamal Lewis to attack Cincinnati's 25th-ranked run defense.

RETRO MATCHUP

Denver leads the series 11-6-1, but the rivalry centers around the playoffs. The Broncos won at Pittsburgh in the 1997 AFC title game on their way to winning Super Bowl XXXII. The wild-card Steelers won 34-17 at Denver last season on the way to winning Super Bowl XL.

Denver Broncos (5-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (2-5)

Sunday, 4:15 ET, CBS

Surface: DD Grassmaster. Sheridan's line: Steelers by 3.

Keys to the game: The Steelers need a better performance from QB Ben Roethlisberger, coming off a four-interception game. Pittsburgh is a run-first team, but the Broncos can limit the ground game and make the Steelers throw. Expect Roethlisberger to attack CB Darrent Williams. Denver RB Tatum Bell is ailing, but rookie Mike Bell looked good vs. Indianapolis.

BEST OF THE REST

Miami Dolphins (1-6) at Chicago Bears (7-0)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Surface: Grass. Sheridan's line: Bears by 13½.

Keys to the game: QB Joey Harrington's thrown seven interceptions while throwing 146 passes over the past three games. Chicago's pass defense is too strong, and the Bears have blown too many opponents out in the first half for Miami to keep relying so heavily on the passing game. The Dolphins must stick with RB Ronnie Brown, even if the ground game isn't reeling off big chunks of yardage. The Bears have been explosive at home. QB Rex Grossman has posted a passer rating of 100.5 or better in all four games at Soldier Field this season.

Dallas Cowboys (4-3) at Washington Redskins (2-5)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox

Surface: Grass. Sheridan's line: Cowboys by 3.

Keys to the game: WR Santana Moss is likely to miss the game with a strained hamstring, so it becomes even more critical for the Redskins to get a big effort out of RB Clinton Portis. The Cowboys will load up against Portis. Dallas will focus on its own running game as well in an effort to avoid putting too much pressure on QB Tony Romo in his second career start. The Redskins' defense has struggled, but it has been stronger against the run (3.8 yards a carry) and the secondary should have CBs Shawn Springs and Carlos Rogers together for the first time this season.

Green Bay Packers (3-4) at Buffalo Bills (2-5)

Sunday, 1 ET, Fox

Surface: AstroPlay. Sheridan's line: Bills by 3.

Keys to the game: The Packers are beat up at the skill positions, and lead blocker FB Brandon Miree and backup RB Vernand Morency, who was getting significant carries, are unlikely to play. But with Green Bay's starting receivers nicked up as well, coach Mike McCarthy said he intends to continue to lean on the ground game. A lack of success in the running game is a big reason why the Bills made changes to three spots along the offensive line during their bye week. Buffalo needs more consistent production from RB Willis McGahee to help protect QB J.P. Losman, who has already been sacked 21 times.


Kansas City Chiefs (4-3) at St. Louis Rams (4-3)

Sunday, 1 ET, CBS

Surface: FieldTurf. Sheridan's line: Rams by 2½.

Keys to the game: The Chiefs are averaging just 9.7 points on the road and can't afford to fall behind. QB Damon Huard has proven to have a firm grasp of the offense, but Kansas City's offensive success still begins with RB Larry Johnson setting up Huard to pick apart secondaries off play-action. Johnson is coming off a 39-carry game and figures to get another heavy workload with the Rams allowing 134.9 rushing yards a game. If St. Louis' defense can get off the field, the offense should be able to move the ball consistently. The Rams get into trouble when they fall behind because they don't protect QB Marc Bulger well, but they are averaging 29.0 points at home.

Tennessee Titans (2-5) at Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3)

Sunday, 1 ET, CBS

Surface: Grass. Sheridan's line: Jaguars by 9½.

Keys to the game: Both teams are expected to lean heavily on their ground games. As rookie QB Vince Young develops, the Titans are attempting to ease the pressure on the passing game by giving significant carries to RBs Travis Henry and LenDale White. The Jaguars are minus three key defensive starters but must be disciplined because Young has scored a rushing touchdown in four consecutive games. Jaguars RB Fred Taylor appears re-invigorated with rookie Maurice Jones-Drew spelling him throughout the game. Taylor has 11 carries for 10 or more yards in the past three games, helping to make up for a struggling passing game. The Titans' secondary is without CB Adam "Pacman" Jones, who was suspended one game by the team.

New Orleans Saints (5-2) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-5)

Sunday, 1 ET, Fox

Surface: Grass. Sheridan's line: Saints by 1.

Keys to the game: The Saints needed a Reggie Bush punt return for a touchdown to avoid an upset in the first meeting, in large part because Bucs RB Carnell Williams rushed for a season-high 112 yards to help Tampa Bay control the clock. The Bucs get in trouble when the offense is consistent and produces three-and-outs because the defense has struggled to stop the run all season and eventually wears down. That includes giving up 143 rushing yards to New Orleans on Oct. 8. The Saints fell way behind against Baltimore last weekend and turned one-dimensional, so expect New Orleans to come out looking to re-establish its ground game.

Minnesota Vikings (4-3) at San Francisco 49ers (2-5)

Sunday, 4:05 ET, Fox

Surface: Grass. Sheridan's line: Vikings by 4½.

Keys to the game: The 49ers don't have the personnel to spread the field and take advantage of the Vikings' secondary the way New England did Monday night. San Francisco must run the ball well behind RB Frank Gore. But that's a tough proposition against the league's No. 2 run defense. Offensively, the Vikings must avoid the turnovers that doomed them against the Patriots. QB Brad Johnson was benched in the second half Monday, but he gets the start this Sunday and simply can't do the 49ers any favors. Expect a heavy dose of RB Chester Taylor to set up a controlled passing game off play-action.

Cleveland Browns (2-5) at San Diego Chargers (5-2)

Sunday, 4:15 ET, CBS

Surface: Grass. Sheridan's line: Chargers by 12½.

Keys to the game: The Chargers figure to feature the run heavily against a Browns defense allowing 136.1 rushing yards a game. San Diego wants to avoid turnovers because its defense should dominate the game even without suspended OLB Shawne Merriman. The issue for Cleveland will be in running the ball well enough to set up shots against San Diego's weaker secondary. Chargers DT Jamal Williams has a 50-pound advantage on Browns C Hank Fraley and should be able to clog up the middle, meaning Browns RB Reuben Droughns will have a difficult time running between the tackles.

OTHER MATCHUPS

Houston Texans (2-5) at New York Giants (5-2)

Sunday, 1 ET, CBS

Surface: FieldTurf. Sheridan's line: Giants by 13.

Keys to the game: QB David Carr gets the start for the Texans after being benched in the second half last Sunday. The onus falls on rookie RB Wali Lundy, who has produced career highs in rushing yards each of the last two games. Houston must sustain drives and avoid turnovers. QB Eli Manning will attempt to exploit the Texans' vulnerable secondary. Houston has stepped up its defensive effort in recent games, but the unit needs to create more turnovers.

Atlanta Falcons (5-2) at Detroit Lions (1-6)

Sunday, 1 ET, Fox

Surface: FieldTurf. Sheridan's line: Falcons by 5½.

Keys to the game: The Falcons lead the league with an average of 210.9 rushing yards a game, 25% more than the second-best team. Despite Falcons QB Michael Vick throwing for seven touchdowns in his last two games, the Lions' main priority is to stop Vick and RB Warrick Dunn on the ground. Detroit's run defense will be short-handed without Ts Shaun Rogers and Dan Cody. The Lions' best defense might be their own ground game. They have complemented their running game by incorporating RB Kevin Jones as a receiver in the short passing game. If the Falcons get a lead, they will make turn the Lions one-dimensional.


Oakland Raiders (2-5) at Seattle Seahawks (4-3)

Monday, 8:30 ET, ESPN

Surface: FieldTurf. Sheridan's line: Seahawks by 7.

Keys to the game: The Seahawks are without QB Matt Hasselbeck and RB Shaun Alexander. Raiders QB Andrew Walter is the AFC's lowest-rated passer at 49.0. Oakland needs the power running game to set up the play-action pass and attack a Seattle secondary that has struggled with big pass plays. Oakland has vaulted to the top of the league by allowing only 159.1 passing yards a game.