TODAY

HOUSTON AT NEW ENGLAND, 1 p.m.

Statistics show that Tom Brady was sacked five times last week, not including the one by former girlfriend and actress Bridget Moynahan. Or maybe that sack should credited to Brady? Whatever. Don't expect the Pats to take this game lightly, especially because it's their last regular-season home game this season and their final two games are against two of the hotter teams in the AFC (Jacksonville and Tennessee).

MIAMI AT BUFFALO, 1 p.m.

Why would the NFL have Buffalo play Miami in Miami in September and then have Miami play Buffalo in Buffalo in December? Inquiring minds want to know.

N.Y. JETS AT MINNESOTA, 1 p.m.

It doesn't bode well for the Vikings in that as they enter this game today, AFC East teams are 11-4 vs. NFC North teams this season.

DETROIT AT GREEN BAY, 1 p.m.

The Frozen Tundra continues to be a myth.

TAMPA BAY AT CHICAGO, 1 p.m.

How bad has the Buccaneers' offense been this season? Try this on for size: The Bucs' touchdown leader is WR Joey Galloway with five, one less than the Bears' Devin Hester, a defensive back who returns kicks.

JACKSONVILLE AT TENNESSEE, 1 p.m.

And when the dust had lifted and we saw what had occurred, there was Jacksonville still in second place, Tennessee still in third.

CLEVELAND AT BALTIMORE, 1 p.m.

Oh Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? The question should be "Where willith Romeo (Crennel) be coaching next year?" after another disastrous season in Cleveland.

WASHINGTON AT NEW ORLEANS, 1 p.m.

After all these years, the Saints have finally figured out that a good quarterback is necessary for a team's success. This year it's been a Brees.

PITTSBURGH AT CAROLINA, 1 p.m.

Steelers LB Joey Porter was fined $10,000 by the league this week for remarks he made about Cleveland Browns TE Kellen Winslow following the Dec. 7 game between the two teams. So what's the big deal? Porter can pay the penalty with the playoff money the Steelers will earn this . . . What was he thinking?

DENVER AT ARIZONA, 4:05 p.m.

Do you think Jake Plummer likes returning to Arizona wearing a different uniform? Not as much as the Arizona fans do.

PHILADELPHIA AT N.Y. GIANTS, 4:15 p.m.

Both teams control their own postseason hopes. If either team wins out, they'll make the playoffs either as the NFC East winner or a wild card team. There should be a little extra in the Christmas stocking for the person who had the smarts to sign Jeff Garcia as backup to Donovan McNabb. Garcia has thrown seven TDs and zero interceptions since taking over for the injured McNabb last month.

ST. LOUIS AT OAKLAND, 4:15 p.m.

It'll be a long time before the NFL puts another team in Los Angeles thanks to these two losers.

KANSAS CITY AT SAN DIEGO, 8:15 p.m.

While L.T. (LaDainian Tomlinson) and L.J. (Larry Johnson) will get much of the attention in this game, L.H. (Lamar Hunt) should be on the minds of many football fans today. The Chiefs owner and founder of the AFL, who played a major role in the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, passed away last week. R.I.P. Mr. Hunt.

TOMORROW

CINCINNATI AT INDIANAPOLIS, 8:30 p.m.

Break out your calculators for this one. I'll bet the point total at game's end will be so large it might even outnumber the amount of Bengals' players arrested in 2006.