TODAY’S GAMES

TV GAMES

Redskins (4-4) at Bears (1-7)

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* TV: Channel 11.

* Records: Redskins 4-4, Bears 1-7.

* Storyline: The Redskins beat Dallas and then called it a season. If Terry Allen needed any leverage for future contract negotiations he has gotten it in the last two weeks, demonstrating the acute need for his talents. The Redskins are 3-1 with him, 1-3 without, and get him back this week. The Bears, meanwhile, have character, says Coach Dave Wannstedt. But why did it take them eight games to display it?

* The Line: Washington by 3.

* The Pick: Redskins.

*

Patriots (5-3) at Vikings (6-2)

* Time: 10 a.m.

* TV: Channel 4.

* Records: Patriots 5-3, Vikings 6-2.

* Storyline: Minnesota Coach Dennis Green has proved himself to be an excellent salesman, drumming up interest in his new book with an outlandish scheme to buy the team. He is kidding, isn’t he? No book deal for New England Coach Pete Carroll, who lasted one year on the job with the Jets and is trying to prove it was no fluke.

* The Line: Minnesota by 1.

* The Pick: Vikings.

*

Cowboys (4-4) at 49ers (7-1)

* Kickoff: 1 p.m.

* TV: Channel 11.

* Records: Cowboys 4-4, 49ers 7-1.

* Storyline: The Concussion Bowl. Will the real champions please step forward? The 49ers get the chance to prove that they do not require an NAIA schedule, while the Cowboys struggle to avoid extinction. The 49ers appear to have one of the league’s best defenses, which is hardly necessary when playing the Cowboys.

* The Line: San Francisco by 6 1/2.

* The Pick: 49ers.

*

Lions (4-4) at Packers (6-2)

* Kickoff: 5 p.m.

* TV: TNT.

* Records: Lions 4-4, Packers 6-2.

* Storyline: The Lions defeated the Packers once already this season, and Coach Bobby Ross fired up his troops during the bye week with talk that they were still very much in the race. Shouldn’t he have spent more time trying to make a quarterback of Scott Mitchell? This could be a massacre.

* The Line: Green Bay by 10.

* The Pick: Packers.

THE REST

Dolphins (5-3) at Bills (4-4)

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Dolphins 5-3, Bills 4-4.

* Storyline: The Bills are going to try their own Jake Plummer experiment. Like Plummer, Alex Van Pelt will get the chance to sweat all week in preparing for a starting assignment. And like Plummer he probably will be a dud.

* The Line: Buffalo by 2.

* The Pick: Dolphins.

*

Raiders (3-5) at Panthers (4-4)

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Raiders 3-5, Panthers 4-4.

* Storyline: The Raiders have become the modern-day Don Coryell Chargers: all offense, no defense, no chance of being around at season’s end. Somehow Carolina has climbed even after losing three games at home and Kerry Collins has regained command. But as wretched as the Raider defense has been--can the Panthers outscore the Raiders?

* The Line: Carolina by 3.

* The Pick: Raiders.

*

Chargers (4-4) at Bengals (1-7)

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Chargers 4-4, Bengals 1-7.

* Storyline: Bengal quarterback Jeff Blake is turning over tables and other players are threatening to fight one another. Let that be a lesson to all you youngsters: It doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it’s just how stupidly you act after the game. The Chargers epitomize what is happening in this league this year: good one week, bad the next.

* The Line: Pick ‘em.

* The Pick: Bengals.

*

Ravens (4-4) at Jets (5-3)

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Ravens 4-4, Jets 5-3.

* Storyline: The Jets really aren’t that good, but they don’t want to make their coach mad. The Ravens probably had this circled as a victory when the schedule came out, and now they are pegged as underdogs, and Bam Morris isn’t in jail--yet.

* The Line: N.Y. Jets by 5.

* The Pick: Jets.

*

Rams (2-6) at Falcons (1-7)

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Rams 2-6, Falcons 1-7.

* Storyline: The Falcons are favored. As bad as the Rams were under Rich Brooks, who is now Atlanta’s defensive coordinator, were they ever underdogs to the Falcons?

* The Line: Atlanta by 3.

* The Pick: Rams.

*

Buccaneers (5-3) at Colts (0-8)

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Buccaneers 5-3, Colts 0-8.

* Storyline: Two teams trying to get on track for different reasons. The Buccaneers have lost three in a row, reminding everyone they are still the Buccaneers, but as troubled as they are, they will not say anything bad about the Colts lest someone punch them in the nose.

* The Line: Tampa Bay by 5 1/2.

* The Pick: Buccaneers.

*

Seahawks (5-3) at Broncos (7-1)

* Kickoff: 1 p.m.

* Records: Seahawks 5-3, Broncos 7-1.

* Storyline: Time to be slapped back. The Seahawks, with the help of a rising Warren Moon and obliging schedule, recovered from a horrendous start, but now must tangle with the Broncos. To beat the Broncos you need a strong running game. The Seahawks no longer run the ball.

* The Line: Denver by 9.

* The Pick: Broncos.

*

Jaguars (5-3) at Oilers (4-4)

* Kickoff: 1 p.m.

* Records: Jaguars 5-3, Oilers 4-4.

* Storyline: Scary contest for the Jaguars, left emotionally devastated by last week’s overtime loss to Pittsburgh. The Oilers, forgotten because of their listless presence in Tennessee, have quietly climbed back into contention with the overnight development of quarterback Steve McNair. Word of note here: The Jaguars can’t stop the run and now must meet Eddie George.

* The Line: Jacksonville by 2.

* The Pick: Jaguars.

*

Eagles (4-4) at Cardinals (1-7)

* Kickoff: 1 p.m.

* Records: Eagles 4-4, Cardinals 1-7.

* Storyline: A new concept in professional football--neither team will start a quarterback. Rodney Peete, who has been starting for the Eagles, is 14-5 as a starter, one of those statistics that defies sane explanation. The Cardinals look like the upset choice. But without a quarterback?

* The Line: Philadelphia by 4.

* The Pick: Eagles.

* Last week’s record: 7-7.

* Season record: 74-47.

* No more bonus upset specials: You people just don’t appreciate it.

* Upset special season record: 5-10.