Philadelphia, PA -- Some NFL observers lament the lack of player movement at the trade deadline.

While teams in the NBA, NHL, and Major League Baseball generate excitement by freely swapping mercenaries during this period, the NFL rarely sees any significant personnel change hands.

The reason for this, of course, is the difficulty of immediately weaving a new player, particularly an offensive player, into the fabric of an NFL team. The complexity of an NFL playbook is not something that can be absorbed in a crash course, and for a skill player, the learning curve is even sharper.

Which is why the handful of trading deadline moves we saw in 2004, most of which involved wide receivers, shouldn't elicit a great deal of enthusiasm.

Quarterbacks and receivers need time and repetitions together to build a rapport. Six days is certainly not long enough, and some would argue that it requires more than a full season in the same offense to be on the same page. A quick scan of some of this past offseason's prominent wide receiver signings bears this fact out.

Apart from Terrell Owens (Eagles) and perhaps Marcus Robinson (Vikings), both of whom were placed into fully-developed offensive systems, most wideouts to change addresses have been slow to generate an impact. Kevin Johnson (Ravens), Justin McCareins (Jets), Marty Booker (Dolphins), Keyshawn Johnson (Cowboys), Dez White (Falcons) and Tai Streets (Lions) are all starting in the first season with their current clubs, and all are have performed below expectations. This week's wideout pickups don't figure to fare much better:

Jerry Rice to the Seahawks? As a number of media members have pointed out, this seems a lot like Willie Mays playing out the string for the Mets in the early '70s. By the time Rice learns the Seattle playbook and gets in sync with Matt Hasselbeck, the injured Bobby Engram and suspended Koren Robinson will both be back on the field. That will make Rice the fourth receiver on a team that already relies heavily on Shaun Alexander and the running game. If Rice sticks with Seattle next year, his role figures to be that of an assistant coach.

Keenan McCardell to the Chargers? Yes, he caught 84 passes and a career-high eight touchdowns for the Bucs last year, but he hasn't played a snap in 10 months, which means something when you're 34. At 3-3 and a couple of games behind Denver in the AFC West, the Chargers don't have time to be patient. And if Drew Brees finally turns back into a pumpkin and rookie Philip Rivers becomes the starter, McCardell will have a whole new set of problems.

Antonio Bryant to the Browns? He didn't like being the third receiver behind Terry Glenn and Keyshawn Johnson in Dallas, so how do you think he'll feel about being No. 3 behind Andre' Davis and Dennis Northcutt?

Quincy Morgan to the Cowboys? He had 21 catches in his last 12 games for the Browns, and couldn't keep a handle on the No. 2 receiver job despite the team's desires for him to emerge in that role. He'll be no better than the fourth passing option in Dallas, behind Glenn, Johnson, and tight end Jason Witten.

It has been said that football is the ultimate team game, a claim that is particularly apt in this situation. Mid-season trades rarely work for the same reason that pickup football games hardly ever break out - it takes a lot of sweat and toil for a large group of individuals to develop into a coherent whole. Looks like trade fans will have to wait until February, when the NBA is bound to have a juicy nine-player, three-team swap, for some enticing deadline moves.

Let's take a look at the week that was, and the week that will be, in the National Football League:

BEAR MARKET Jonathan Quinn's era as starting quarterback of the Chicago Bears has begun to take on many qualities as those of predecessors like Cade McNown, Erik Kramer, and Peter Tom Willis. Quinn was booed lustily by Soldier Field faithful during Chicago's 13-10 loss to Washington last week, a game in which Quinn completed 10 of 22 passes for 65 yards and an interception, and was sacked four times. Trouble is, the two guys playing behind Quinn, who took over for an injured Rex Grossman in Week 4, are Craig Krenzel and Chad Hutchinson. Krenzel is a rookie fifth-round draft choice that the team was hoping to sit for the entire season. Hutchinson once started for the Cowboys and was picked up with the idea that he would be the No. 2 after Grossman went down, but he has reportedly been slow to pick up the offense. That leaves Quinn to assume the controls for Chicago again this week, and teammates like No. 1 wideout David Terrell have been a little slow in their support of the journeyman. "Whoever is quarterbacking is the quarterback and we don't care," Terrell told the Chicago Sun-Times. Don't look for this chapter in Bears QB history to end well.

GRANT EXPIRED First the Seahawks' supposedly revamped defense gives up 64 points in two games, now this. Defensive end and heralded offseason acquisition Grant Wistrom will be on the shelf for four-to-six weeks with a cracked bone in his left knee suffered in last week's loss to the Patriots. "I'm hoping more for the four side," said Wistrom, who ranks third on the team with 2.5 sacks. Veteran Antonio Cochran, who started 23 games over the past two years for Mike Holmgren's team, is expected to get the start in Wistrom's place.

SHELVED The Oakland Raiders' quickly-careening-out-of-control season took another blow early this week, when it was learned that starting quarterback Rich Gannon would be lost for the remainder of the year with a cervical vertebra fracture sustained against Tampa Bay on Sept. 26. Gannon, 38, did not rule out retirement, telling the Oakland Tribune "When we get all the information and I'm able to sort through it with our people, hopefully we'll be able to make a decision that's best for everybody involved." The Raiders were 2-1 in games the Delaware alumnus started this season, and are 0-3 since his injury. No. 2 starter Kerry Collins (846 passing yards, 2 TD, 8 INT) has struggled in relief of Gannon.

NFL POWER POLL The Sports Network's updated NFL Power Poll,

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page=nfl/misc/nfl- poll.htm

which ranks all 32 teams in the league according to strength, is available on Tuesday of each week.

GAME OFF For the only time in the 2004 regular season, the Sunday schedule will not include the customary 8:30pm ESPN contest. The network will be showing a poker tournament in deference to the World Series, and will broadcast the reality show "I'd Do Anything" on ESPN2. Non-baseball fans who mistakenly turn to the worldwide leader in sports for something pertaining to athletics might want to instead turn to NFL Network, which will be showing an episode of "Football America" dealing with Red Grange and the Pottsville Maroons of the early NFL.

HAMSTRUNG It appears that the Minnesota Vikings could be without their most electrifying player for an extended period of time, as it was discovered this week that wideout Randy Moss has a significant strain of his right hamstring. Moss sustained the injury in the first half of last Sunday's win over the New Orleans Saints, and reports out of Minnesota are that he could miss forthcoming contests against Tennessee and the Giants. Minnesota head coach Mike Tice told reporters that he has not ruled out using Moss on a limited basis this week, but that his main priority is having the Pro Bowl wideout back for a Nov. 8 Monday night game against Indianapolis. Against the Saints, the Vikings racked up 17 points and 317 yards of offense without Moss. Moss has 26 catches, including eight touchdowns, in 2004.

ODDS ARE Updated Super Bowl odds were revealed this week by the Stardust Casino in Las Vegas, and the Patriots (5/2) and Eagles (5/2) continue to rank as the safest picks with the Colts (4/1), Vikings (9/2) and Seahawks (6/1) close behind. Interestingly, the Patriots are the only member of that group to win a Super Bowl in the past three decades. Longest odds belong to the Dolphins (1000/1), followed by the 49ers (400/1), Cardinals (300/1), Browns (100/1) and Bears (100/1).

THE GAMES I was 9-5 in my picks last week, but just 6-7-1 against the spread. The Jets and Falcons, who won but didn't cover, both drove me to the brink of insanity (and over it, according to some). My mark of picking winners improved to 50-38 (.568), and the record when the line is included dipped to 42-43-3 (.494). As Minneapolis Star-Tribune Columnist Patrick Reusse astutely pointed out this week, "Predictions are right, or they are wrong, but the cutoff line for them being taken as vitally important should be age 14."

Atlanta (5-1) at Kansas City (1-4), Sunday, 1:00 (Kansas City -3) The last time the Chiefs faced impending doom, they went to Baltimore and dominated the Ravens on a Monday night. Doom makes its return to Arrowhead Stadium this week, as Kansas City attempts to pull out of its 2004 doldrums against the ascending Falcons. Dick Vermeil's team mishandled what should have been a win against Jacksonville last Sunday, as kicker Lawrence Tynes made a big contribution to the loss with a missed field goal and point-after in the fourth quarter. The defense was porous in the endgame, as the Jaguars punctuated an eight-play, 67-yard drive with a touchdown pass from Byron Leftwich to Cortez Hankton with 45 seconds left. Quarterback Trent Green (23-33 passing, 315 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT) played well, but running back Priest Holmes (19 carries, 75 yards, 1 receiving TD) was average. The Falcons were on the other end of a comeback last week, spotting the Chargers a 17-7 fourth- quarter lead before waking from their slumber. Michael Vick (12-21 passing, 218 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT) rushed for a touchdown to pull the team within three, then threw a 32-yard strike to Dez White for the game-winning touchdown. The league's top-ranked rushing offense was held to 93 yards, and is now the league's third-ranked rushing offense (147.2 yards per game). The Atlanta "D" will key on Holmes one week after shutting down San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson (23 carries, 64 yards). As a guy who sat in the press box watching Kansas City toy with the Ravens, it is still hard for me to believe this team isn't about to go on a run. The Chiefs are at least as talented as Atlanta on paper, will have more urgency to win this game, and are playing at home. Chiefs 24, Falcons 16.

Buffalo (1-4) at Baltimore (3-2), Sunday, 1:00 (Baltimore -5½) Life without Jamal Lewis begins for the Ravens this week, when Brian Billick's team will look to keep the heat on the AFC North-leading Steelers by taking down Buffalo. The man of the hour for Baltimore is Chester Taylor, the third- year pro out of Toledo who will take Lewis' spot in the backfield. Taylor has 164 yards on 28 carries this season (5.9 yards per game), including 43 on seven totes in a 17-10 win over the Redskins in Week 5. Despite a continued lack of flow on offense, Baltimore won that game on the back of a defense that gave up nine first downs, 107 total yards, and forced a pair of turnovers. While the Ravens were off last Sunday, the Bills' season finally took off, as a 20-13 win over the Dolphins handed head coach Mike Mularkey his first win. Running back Willis McGahee, subbing for an injured Travis Henry (sprained left arch), bolted for 111 yards on 26 carries in his first NFL start. Mularkey has indicated that Henry will remain the starter, and he should be in the lineup this week. The Buffalo pass rush, which had been non-existent in the team's four losses, came alive for five sacks against beleaguered Miami. Defensive end Aaron Schobel chipped in with 2.5 of them. The reflex for many here will be to pick Buffalo to upset a Ravens team that will be without its only consistent offensive weapon. But I'm not biting. A very similar-looking Baltimore club went 10-6 without Lewis in the 2001 season, and routinely beat the teams they were supposed to beat at home. I'm betting Taylor will be better than Terry Allen was, and that the Ravens will play surprisingly well. Ravens 17, Bills 7.

Chicago (1-4) at Tampa Bay (1-5), Sunday, 1:00 (Tampa Bay -6) This game generally stunk when both of these teams implausibly resided in the NFC Central, and it stinks now. The Buccaneers stumble home following a 28-21 loss to St. Louis on Monday night, a contest Jon Gruden's team could have won minus the four turnovers and two missed field goals that the team surrendered. Quarterback Brian Griese (27-40 passing, 286 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT) was effective in his first Tampa Bay start, and will be back in command this week. Rookie wideout Michael Clayton (8 receptions, 142 yards) was Griese's favorite target. That degree of offense would have been accepted as manna from heaven by Chicago fans, who watched their team sputter and stammer to a 13-10 loss to Washington last week. Running back Thomas Jones (24 carries, 97 yards) was the team's only offense, unless you count the 70-yard interception return for a score by cornerback Jerry Azumah, who was making his return to the field after missing four games due to a neck injury. Quarterback Jonathan Quinn (10-22, 65 yards, 1 INT) will be on a short leash this week, and the Brian Urlacher-led run defense, which allowed Clinton Portis to rush for a season-high 171 yards, will have to be better. Don't forget that the Bears have played reasonably well on the road thus far, beating the Packers in Lambeau and taking the Vikings to the wire at the Metrodome. But that was with Rex Grossman under center, not the mighty Quinn. Chicago is going nowhere fast, and the Bucs look like they might be ready to turn the corner. Buccaneers 24, Bears 10.

Detroit (3-2) at N.Y. Giants (4-1), Sunday, 1:00 (N.Y. Giants -6) Can anyone explain how the calendar reads October 20-something and the Giants and Lions have combined for seven wins? Detroit, which ranks 31st in both NFL passing and rushing offense, had taken the David Copperfield route to 3-1 before Green Bay swatted them away in a 38-10 trouncing last week. Steve Mariucci's team had, count 'em, five first downs for the game against a team that let the Titans run all over them one week prior. Quarterback Joey Harrington (12-23, 101 yards, 1 INT) looked lost without top receiver Roy Williams (ankle), and three Detroit running backs combined for 18 yards. Williams should be back this week. The NFL's 28th-best passing defense (258.6 yards per game) will set its sights on the Giants' Kurt Warner, who was sharp (18-33 passing, 217 yards, 1 TD) in his team's 26-10 road victory over Dallas in Week 6. Warner was smart enough to get the ball in the hands of running back Tiki Barber (122 rushing yards, 76 receiving yards, 1 TD), who consistently ran through the Cowboy defense. The New York defense surprisingly gave up 166 rushing yards to formerly pass-happy Dallas, but forced a couple of turnovers as well. Despite their strong start, the Giants are a soft 20th in the NFL against the run (124 yards per game). Stats can be deceiving, but if you are next-to-last in passing and rushing through five games, your offense simply isn't very good. I'm guessing the Detroit attack will continue to stall, Tom Coughlin's team will continue to force turnovers, and Warner and Barber will display continued efficiency in a Giants win. Giants 20, Lions 13.

Jacksonville (4-2) at Indianapolis (4-1), Sunday, 1:00 (Indianapolis -9) This "Cardiac Cats" thing is getting out of hand. The Jacksonville Jaguars have four wins, all of which were in doubt in the final minute, and have been helped along by four opponents that have made major fourth-quarter blunders. Last week, Kansas City gifted the Jags to a 22-16 win with a missed field goal and extra point in the fourth quarter, and failed to pick up a vital first down that would have sealed the game. With the door swung wide open for Jacksonville quarterback Byron Leftwich (24-36 passing, 298 yards, 2 TD), the second-year signal-caller busted through. Leftwich was hobbled by an ankle sprain last week, but is expected to play in Indianapolis on Sunday. Leftwich might need some additional help from running back Fred Taylor (394 yards, 1 TD), who once again came up empty in a quest to post a 100-yard outing. The Jacksonville defense, which had struggled to stop San Diego's running game one week prior, allowed the Chiefs' Priest Holmes to amass just 75 yards on 19 carries. The Colts had a bye in Week 6, which was preceded by a 35-14 smack- down of the Raiders. Indianapolis posted its best defensive performance of the year in the win, picking off Oakland quarterback Kerry Collins three times and holding the Raiders to 53 rushing yards. Offensively, running back Edgerrin James (136 yards, 1 TD) led the charge, and quarterback Peyton Manning (16-26 passing, 198 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT) was his efficient self. The Jags played well in a 24-17 home loss to Indianapolis in Week 4, and some are expecting another close game in the dome. But I'm not sold on a Jaguars team that should probably be .500 or worse, while I think the Colts have Super Bowl potential. In light of this gap, I see Indy running away. Colts 35, Jaguars 17.

Philadelphia (5-0) at Cleveland (3-3), Sunday, 1:00 (Philadelphia -7½) Say what you will about the Browns, but Butch Davis' team has more wins than the Panthers and Chiefs combined. Cleveland moved to 3-0 at home for the first time since 1973 with last week's 34-17 manhandling of Cincinnati, and can extend that perfect mark by taking down the mighty Eagles this Sunday. Browns quarterback Jeff Garcia, who has refrained from picking up on a war of words with Eagles wideout and former teammate Terrell Owens, comes off his best day as the starter in Cleveland (16-23 passing, 310 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT). Running backs William Green (25 carries, 115 yards) and Lee Suggs (5 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD) were both part of the offense last Sunday, and the defense limited Cincinnati to 11 first downs on the day. Philadelphia comes off a week in which it amassed only 10 first downs, but still rolled to a 30-8 victory over Carolina. A defense that forced Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme into four interceptions, including two from cornerback Lito Sheppard, was the main story. Owens (4 receptions, 123 yards) was the team's most productive offensive player, and quarterback Donovan McNabb (14-26 passing, 209 yards, 1 INT) and running back Brian Westbrook (13 rushes, 64 yards, 1 INT) generated less of an impact. I am on the record as saying that the Eagles are a special team, and special teams win games on the road against average-at-best opponents. Look for Philadelphia to bounce back from a less-than-spectacular offensive showing, and win its sixth straight by double digits. Eagles 31, Browns 12.

San Diego (3-3) at Carolina (1-4), Sunday, 1:00 (Carolina -3) Four of the past five Super Bowl runners-up have posted a losing record the next season. Make that five of six. The injury-riddled Carolina Panthers, who play host to the Chargers this week, come off a 30-8 whipping at the hands of Philadelphia last Sunday. Quarterback Jake Delhomme (24-42 passing, 205 yards, 1 TD, 4 INT) suffered through his worst day as a pro, and running back Stephen Davis (15 carries, 66 yards) couldn't bail the offense out. Davis returned from a knee injury last week, but his status is questionable after experiencing soreness following the game. Defensively, the club gave up too many big plays to wideout Terrell Owens (4 receptions, 123 yards). This week's job could be to slow new San Diego wideouts Keenan McCardell (trade from Tampa Bay) and Bobby Shaw (from waivers), who could see time in Carolina. Without those players, the Chargers endured a 21-20 defeat to Atlanta last week, blowing a 17-7 fourth-quarter lead to fall to .500. Quarterback Drew Brees (23-31, 227 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) continued to play well, but running back LaDainian Tomlinson's (23 carries, 64 yards, 1 TD) inconsistent season continued. The Charger defense gave up one too many big plays to Atlanta's Michael Vick (12-21 passing, 218 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 35 rushing yards, 1 TD) in the endgame. The Panthers were taken to the woodshed last week, but they did manage to slow running back Brian Westbrook, and I think they can pull off the same feat with Tomlinson. The difference between Philadelphia and San Diego is that the Chargers don't have a game-changing receiver like Owens, and that could be the difference. In addition, I don't see Marty Schottenheimer's team making a second consecutive cross-country trip and coming up with a win. Panthers 20, Chargers 16.

St. Louis (4-2) at Miami (0-6), Sunday, 1:00 (St. Louis -6½) You better believe the Dolphins are praying at the altar of the Monday night hangover this week. Four of the five Monday night winners in 2004 have lost their next game, and winless Miami will this Sunday take on the sixth Monday night victor, St. Louis. The Dolphins matched their season-high with 13 points in last week's 20-13 loss to Buffalo, but fell prey to familiar problems. Dave Wannstedt's team couldn't protect the quarterback (Jay Fiedler was sacked five times), committed ugly and untimely turnovers (Fiedler threw a screen pass directly to Buffalo linebacker Takeo Spikes, who trotted 11 yards for a touchdown), and was soft against the run (the Bills' Willis McGahee rushed for 111 yards in his first career start). One highlight was the running of Sammy Morris, who went for 91 yards on 18 carries. The Rams, meanwhile, come off a 28-21 win over the Buccaneers, a victory that gave them possession of first place in the NFC West. Quarterback Marc Bulger (18-30 passing, 264 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT) hooked up for a pair of touchdowns with wideout Torry Holt (6 receptions, 124 yards, 2 TD), and the St. Louis "D" forced four key turnovers. Cornerback Jeremetrius Butler had an interception and a fumble return in the contest. I am honestly worried about this game. First off, I believe in the Monday night hangover. Second, Miami and its top-rated pass defense matches up generally well with the Rams and their aerial attack. Plus the Dolphins are desperate, and the game is in Miami. Having said all that, I still can't bring myself to pick them to win. I believe that St. Louis will be good enough to score around 20 points, which we all know is plenty against the Dolphins. Rams 21, Dolphins 10.

Tennessee (2-4) at Minnesota (4-1), Sunday, 1:00 (Minnesota -6½) Is Mike Tice for real? Can the Vikings coach actually be considering resting a less-than-100 percent Randy Moss for a couple of games because he wants him to be healthy in November? Will he actually put games against the Titans and Giants - who are not the Dolphins and Bears, by the way - at risk because his offense ran up and down the field against the Saints without Moss? Last time I checked, the 49ers, Cardinals, and Buccaneers ran up and down the field against the Saints. Washington Junior High in Topeka, Kansas could run up and down the field against the Saints. But Moss' strained hamstring could be bad enough for Tice to keep him out of the lineup this week, and the Titans' secondary is busy licking its chops. The Vikings' main offensive contributions last week came from quarterback Daunte Culpepper (26-37 passing, 425 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT), who set an NFL record by throwing five TD passes for the third time in one season, along with rookie running back Mewelde Moore (109 rushing yards, 7 receptions) and wideouts Nate Burleson (6 receptions, 134 yards) and Marcus Robinson (4 receptions, 32 yards, 2 TD). The Viking defense was mostly just watching, but did get its first interception of the year from cornerback Antoine Winfield. Meanwhile in Tennessee, the Titans were busy dropping to 0-3 at home with a 20-10 loss to Houston. Quarterback Steve McNair (19-41 passing, 210 yards, 1 TD, 4 INT) had his worst game in recent memory, running back Chris Brown (13 carries, 52 yards) went down with a bruised shoulder, and the defense gave up one too many big plays by Houston QB David Carr (16-26, 266 passing yards). Brown is expected to be in action this week. The last-place Titans have been inconsistent this year, but this is the same team that went to Green Bay two weeks ago and looked unstoppable against the Packers. I see the offense doing similar things against the Viking "D," and the defense will make Tice pay for the insult of considering resting Moss. An upset at the Metrodome is in order. Titans 31, Vikings 28.

N.Y. Jets (5-0) at New England (5-0), Sunday, 4:05 (New England -7) It is only Wednesday at the time of this writing, but shouldn't there be a little more fanfare about this week's Jets/Patriots battle? Two undefeated teams haven't met this late in the season since 1973, yet I haven't heard word one from Kornheiser and Wilbon on the importance of this game. The Byrds broke up in 1973, and if they were playing a reunion concert this week, I guarantee it would be big news. One reason for the lack of enthusiasm could be that the Jets, who were 22-14 winners over San Francisco last week, have taken down five teams with a combined record of 6-22. Herman Edwards' crew dug itself a 14-0 hole against the Niners, but came back on the strength of Curtis Martin's running (25 carries, 111 yards, 2 TD), Chad Pennington's passing (20-30, 222 yards) and a defense that pitched a second-half shutout. Guards Pete Kendall, Brandon Moore, and wide receiver Santana Moss, all of whom missed last week's game due to injury, will be back this week. The Jets will need them against a Patriots team gunning for its NFL-record 18th straight regular season win. New England built a 20-3 second quarter lead before having to stave off a late rally, with the running of Corey Dillon (23 carries, 105 yards, 2 TD) helping to drive the win. Quarterback Tom Brady (19-30 passing, 231 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) had a quiet day, but spread the ball to eight different receivers. The New England defense allowed Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck to pass for 349 yards, but also picked him off twice. It is very difficult to pick against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium, especially with their well-chronicled abilities in big games. But there are reasons to expect the Jets to keep it close. First, New York wants to shut up the people who are dismissing its start due to a weak schedule. Expect them to show some desire. Second, the Patriots don't blow people out, as all of their wins have been close going into the fourth quarter. Third, the Jets are actually pretty good - winning five straight in the NFL isn't easy, just ask the 29 teams that haven't done it in 2004. In the end, the Patriots will win, because Bill Belichick and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis are better than Edwards and Paul Hackett. But it will go down to the wire. Patriots 27, Jets 24.

Dallas (2-3) at Green Bay (2-4), Sunday, 4:15 (Green Bay -4) The weather will be 62 degrees and party cloudy at Lambeau Field on Sunday, so the "Ice Bowl" comparisons can stop there. And lest we forget, that storied Dallas/Green Bay game was for the 1967 NFL Championship, and this one features a pair of teams on the south side of .500. But any Packers/Cowboys game is intriguing, so I'll cease the naysaying. The Cowboys have never won at Lambeau Field, nor has Parcells, and changing that trend would mean an 0-4 start for Green Bay at their home palace (I genuinely fear for the life of Packers coach Mike Sherman if that happens, by the way). Dallas endured its second straight home defeat last week, a 24-20 clunker against the Steelers. The Cowboys looked to be in control late, but a 20-10 fourth quarter lead turned into a loss thanks to some shoddy play from the defense (which allowed rookie Ben Roethlisberger to complete 21 of 25 passes and throw two touchdowns) and quarterback Vinny Testaverde (whose late fumble helped gift-wrap the Steelers' game-winning touchdown). The Dallas running game that had looked rejuvenated against the Giants one week earlier was back to its meandering ways (28 yards on 10 carries from Eddie George). Meanwhile in Packerland, all was peaches and cream. Green Bay shook off its four-game losing skid by torching Detroit, 38-10, winning with a suffocating defense (the Lions had 125 total yards and five first downs on the day) and the right arm of quarterback Brett Favre (25-38 passing, 257 yards, 2 TD). Favre hooked up for two scoring strikes to Donald Driver (9 receptions, 110 yards). This line of thinking has hurt me before, but I honestly can't foresee the Packers losing four straight games at Lambeau. In an effort to erase the remnants of the Monday night fiasco in Week 5, they'll come out focused. And if the Cowboys aren't beating the Giants and Steelers at home, I don't see them beating any one of note on the road. I'll take Green Bay. Packers 23, Cowboys 16.

New Orleans (2-4) at Oakland (2-4), Sunday, 4:15 (Oakland -3) The Saints and Raiders aren't the two worst teams in the NFL, but they have to be on top of the scale of dysfunction. The Raiders are so together that Hall of Famers are jumping ship in the middle of the season, and the Saints get along worse than Fleetwood Mac during the recording of Rumours. This week they play. Someone might win. The Saints' flag football defense gave up 605 yards to the Vikings in last week's 38-31 loss. New Orleans' defense now ranks 31st in the league against the run (151.2 yards per game) and 29th against the pass (263 yards per game). The offense received some encouraging play from quarterback Aaron Brooks (22-38 passing, 249 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) and running back Deuce McAllister (18 carries, 78 yards, 2 TD), but failed in matching Minnesota score-for-score. The Raiders would have killed for the Saints' offensive proficiency in last week's 31-3 loss to Denver. Oakland and quarterback Kerry Collins (15-31 passing, 136 yards, 1 INT) were good for just nine first downs and 145 yards, while the defense let Jake Plummer throw three touchdown strikes and allowed running back Rueben Droughns' (176 rushing yards, 1 TD) star to continue its ascent. This one figures to be sloppy. The Saints didn't show up in Arizona the last time they took to the road, and I see no reason why they should find their heart in Oakland. The Raiders will want to put the mess of three straight losses in its past, and will win before the hungry home fans. Raiders 34, Saints 24.

Seattle (3-2) at Arizona (1-4), Sunday, 4:15 (Seattle -6) The Cardinals cannot catch a break. They suffer a multitude of injuries in the preseason, lose three straight before giving Dennis Green a win, then look to be on the way to a second consecutive victory before tightening up in a 31-28 overtime loss to the 49ers two weeks ago. After a much-needed bye, their reward is an angry group of Seahawks, who have lost two straight and seen their hold on first-place go up in smoke. Seattle showed heart in a 30-20 loss to New England last week, rebounding from a 17-0 deficit to make it a game but ultimately coming up short. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (27-50 passing, 349 yards, 2 INT) played well despite two picks, hooking up often with wideout Koren Robinson (9 receptions, 150 yards). Robinson, who leads the league in dropped passes, looks to be on the verge of a four-game NFL suspension, which places his availability in doubt for this week. Future Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, acquired via trade from Oakland, could see plenty of time in Robinson's place. The once-staunch Seattle defense will be without end Grant Wistrom (knee) for four-to-six weeks. The Cardinals' most recent on-field vision was of San Francisco quarterback Tim Rattay throwing for 417 yards against them, helping turn a 28-12 fourth-quarter lead into a confounding defeat. The defense's weak effort in the endgame helped ruin the best game of the season for quarterback Josh McCown (19-34 passing, 231 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT), who threw his first three scoring strikes of the year. I think the Cardinals will be a better team in the second half of this season, but I don't see them standing up to a still-strong Seattle team for 60 minutes. Look for a determined effort on both sides of the ball from the Seahawks. Seahawks 26, Cardinals 6.

Denver (5-1) at Cincinnati (1-4), Monday, 9:00 (Denver -5½) The first Monday Night battle in Cincinnati since the 1989 season isn't quite what ABC expected it to be, since this year's Bengals team looks frighteningly similar to the ones the network didn't deem suitable for broadcast in the last decade-plus. Marvin Lewis' club will welcome Denver to the Queen City fresh off a 34-17 loss to Cleveland that sent the team to a new low. Quarterback Carson Palmer (20-36 passing, 148 passing, 1 TD, 1 INT) presided over an offense that managed just 11 first downs on the day, and running back Rudi Johnson (16 carries, 57 yards) was again a non-factor. The defense received a spark in the form of a fumble return for a score from safety Kevin Kaesviharn, but was also torched by the Browns duo of quarterback Jeff Garcia (310 passing yards, 4 TD) and running back William Green (25 carries, 115 yards). Defensive strength was not an issue for Denver last week, as the Broncos allowed nine first downs and 145 total yards to Oakland in a 31-3 win. The Raiders gained just 31 ground yards on the day. Offensively, running back Rueben Droughns (38 carries, 176 yards, 1 TD) led the day, and quarterback Jake Plummer (11-20, 190 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT) chipped in with three scoring strikes. Some will expect the Bengals to play with emotion on Monday night, and that could happen, but I'm going to side with talent in this case. Denver is a veteran club that generally plays well on the big stage, and I see Mike Shanahan's club taking down an inexperienced and somewhat battered Cincy team. Broncos 27, Bengals 17.