SUNDAY’S GAMES

Minnesota (4-0) at St. Louis (0-4)

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Vikings -10 Total: 41

TV: None RADIO: KWWN-AM (1100)

Facts: St. Louis QB Marc Bulger (shoulder) was limited in practice all week and is questionable, which means Kyle Boller could start again. He steered the Rams to a 35-0 loss last week. ... Minnesota’s eight sacks against Green Bay on Monday, including 4½ by Jared Allen, were the most by a team since the Eagles had nine against Pittsburgh in Week 3 last year. ... Flashback: In 2002, a 0-5 Rams team was an 8-point home underdog to the 4-0 Raiders. St. Louis won, 28-13. ... Vikings QB Brett Favre, who has eight TD throws and one interception, threw a career-high six interceptions in St. Louis’ dome in a 45-17 playoff loss with Green Bay in 2001.

Analysis: Even though humiliated teams are 36-21 against the line when coming off a loss of 30-plus points the past four years, none of them was led by Boller, who essentially was called an excuse-making mental midget by his former coach, Brian Billick, on the NFL Network.

Forecast: Vikings 21, Rams 7

Dallas (2-2) at Kansas City (0-4)

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Cowboys -8 Total: 42

TV: Fox (Channel 5)

Weather: Low 50s, 30 percent chance of rain

Facts: Roy Williams (ribs, doubtful) leads Dallas with 214 receiving yards. That’s 61 fewer than New Orleans’ Darren Sharper has had returning interceptions. ... Go figure: the Chiefs are 9-for-51 converting third downs, a league-worst 17.6 percent, but are 8-for-11 on fourth down. ... Dallas is averaging 6.0 yards per rush, ahead of the league record 5.74 by the Cleveland Browns with Jim Brown in 1963. ... When not playing Oakland, the Chiefs have been outgained by 258 yards a game.

Analysis: Dallas QB Tony Romo spent part of his week defending his ineffective offense and apparent brain freeze against Denver last week. The Chiefs, meanwhile, showed moxie by rallying against the Giants. If only they would design plays in which linebackers were blocked.

Forecast: Cowboys 19, Chiefs 16

Washington (2-2) at Carolina (0-3)

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Panthers -3½ Total: 37½

TV: None

Weather: Low 70s, 10 percent chance of rain

Facts: Carolina has played only three games but already has a league-worst minus-8 turnover differential. But that’s doesn’t necessarily spell doom. The Giants were at minus-9 when they were Super in 2007. ... What’s the opposite of Murderers’ Row? The Redskins are amid a cozy stretch against the Rams, Lions, Bucs, Panthers and Chiefs, who are a cumulative 1-18. ... Redskins QB Jason Campbell’s favorite target last week was Chris Cooley with five catches for 65 yards. Unfortunately, Tampa Bay DB Aqib Talib was his next-best target, making three picks for 61 yards.

Analysis: Washington’s offensive line has been ravaged by injury, which has stalled the running game and caused Campbell to be more reckless than usual with this throws. And what’s with this infighting on the team?

Forecast: Panthers 24, Redskins 10

Tampa Bay (0-4) at Philadelphia (2-1)

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Eagles -14½ Total: 41½

TV: None

Weather: Mid-60s, 10 percent chance of rain

Facts: Underdogs of 15 points or more are 8-0 against the line since Week 13 of 2007. But earlier that year the Patriots were 5-0 as gigantic favorites. ... When these teams last met in 2006, the Bucs’ Matt Bryant won the game 23-21 with a last-second 62-yard field goal, third longest in NFL history. His replacement Mike Nugent is 0-for-3 from 40 to 49 yards this year. ... Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (rib, probable) seems ready to retake his duties from Kevin Kolb. Also, RB Brian Westbrook (ankle) is probable.

Analysis: TV commentators are swooning over new Bucs QB Josh Johnson, but he showed little last week against Washington, leading his team on only one TD drive, which was 10 yards. The Eagles’ sophisticated blitz package should make his head explode.

Forecast: Eagles 31, Buccaneers 6

Oakland (1-3) at N.Y. Giants (4-0)

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Giants -15 Total: 37½

TV: CBS (Channel 8)

Weather: Mid-60s, 70 percent chance of rain

Facts: The league’s No. 1 defense (Giants) is matched against the league’s worst offense (Raiders). That scenario played out twice last season, with powerhouse Pittsburgh beating Cincinnati 38-10 and 27-10. ... Oakland is playing the dreaded early jet-lag game, but was 3-1 against the spread in this spot last season. ... Giants opponents have averaged only 2.2 and 2.4 yards per pass attempt the past two games. The worst for a team this year was Oakland’s 1.8 norm in Week 3 against Denver.

Analysis: The Giants say they’ll wait until Sunday to decide whether QB Eli Manning (heel, questionable) will start, but backup David Carr isn’t garbage. At this time three years ago, he was the league’s top-rated QB while running for his life in Houston.

Forecast: Giants 23, Raiders 3

Cleveland (0-4) at Buffalo (1-3)

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Bills -6 Total: 40½

TV: None

Weather: Low 50s, 10 percent chance of rain

Facts: The Browns hasn’t won since Week 11 last year at Buffalo, 29-27, in QB Brady Quinn’s first start in place of Derek Anderson. Starting again, Anderson led Cleveland to two offensive touchdowns last week, one more than in its previous nine games combined. ... Buffalo had six sacks last week in a 38-10 loss in Miami, becoming the only team (out of 11) this season to lose while having five-plus sacks in a game.

Analysis: A key for Cleveland could be the insertion of speedy Joshua Cribbs as a special teams returner. The Browns also should benefit from the continuing absence of RB Jamal Lewis (questionable, hamstring) and traded WR Braylon Edwards. RB Jerome Harrison rushed for 121 rushing yards last week.

Forecast: Browns 21, Bills 19

Cincinnati (3-1) at Baltimore (3-1)

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Ravens -8½ Total: 42

TV: None

Weather: High 60s, 10 percent chance of rain

Facts: Baltimore WR Derrick Mason, who has 12 catches for 206 yards and two TDs over the past two weeks, is probable (neck). ... Teams are 1-18 this year when their average starting field position is at least 10 yards worse than their opponent. That victory was by Cincinnati at Cleveland last week, when the Browns had a 39-20 edge. ... By this point last season, the Bengals had only two sacks. Today they are tied for fourth in the NFL with 12. ... Cincinnati’s Cedric Benson has rushed for at least 74 yards in each game. No other runner has done that this season.

Analysis: The Bengals have won three of their past five visits to Baltimore, so there won’t be any panic in their step. And that suddenly potent pass rush should have prolific Ravens QB Joe Flacco in more of a hurry than normal.

Forecast: Ravens 26, Bengals 24

Pittsburgh (2-2) at Detroit (1-3)

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Steelers -10½ Total: 44

TV: None

Facts: The league’s most accurate passer, Ben Roethlisberger (73.2 percent) faces the team allowing the highest completion percentage (72.5). ... Detroit QB Matthew Stafford (knee, questionable) will be a game-time decision, and WR Calvin Johnson is probable with a thigh injury. He has seven catches of 20 or more yards, tied for most in the NFL. ... Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall had 165 yards against San Diego on Sunday, the most by a Pittsburgh rusher the past three seasons.

Analysis: Besides their awful pass defense, the Lions’ special teams have been a train wreck, and now Detroit’s offense probably will have to make something happen with lead-footed QB Daunte Culpepper at the controls. FYI: Double-digit favorites have covered six of seven this season.

Forecast: Steelers 35, Lions 9

Atlanta (2-1) at San Francisco (3-1)

Time: 1:05 p.m. Line: 49ers -2½ Total: 40

TV: None

Weather: Mid-60s

Facts: In a 35-0 victory over St. Louis last week, the 49ers had three defensive/special teams scores, the first time a team had done so since the Bears had three in a 48-41 victory against Minnesota in Week 7 last year. ... Good news, Atlanta: Over the previous seven seasons, teams coming off byes against teams that played the week before are 111-84-3 (.569) against the line. ... The Wynn Race & Sports Book this week listed the 49ers at 30-1 to win the Super Bowl. They opened at 50-1.

Analysis: San Francisco is building a reputation for trouble-making defense, but has been pedestrian on offense against the dregs of the NFC West, especially without Frank Gore (ankle, out). Facing Falcons QB Matt Ryan is a step up in class.

Forecast: Falcons 27, 49ers 24

New England (3-1) at Denver (4-0)

Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: Patriots -3 Total: 41

TV: CBS (Channel 8) RADIO: KWWN-AM (1100)

Weather: Mid-50s

Facts: Patriots RB Fred Taylor (ankle surgery) is probably out for the season. He’s the only New England rusher to reach 100 yards in a game this year. No one else has had more than 32. ... Since the Patriots first turned Super in 2001, they are 2-5 against Denver. ... The Broncos, Saints and 49ers are the lone teams perfect against the spread this season. ... For the fifth straight week, the Patriots are facing a team that enters unbeaten. That streak ends next week (Tennessee).

Analysis: New England QB Tom Brady hasn’t completed a pass for 40-plus yards this season; he had 15 during that magical 2007 season. So it appears the long game can be contained by the Broncos’ savvy secondary. It won’t hurt that Denver has speed-rushing Elvis Dumervil (eight sacks), either.

Forecast: Broncos 23, Patriots 17

Houston (2-2) at Arizona (1-2)

Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: Cardinals -5½ Total: 49½

TV: None

Weather: High 80s

Facts: Kurt Warner and the Cardinals have lost two of their first three games, but if they win Sunday, they’ll match the team’s fastest start in the past 24 years. ... Through three weeks, Houston was on pace to become the first team since the 1978 Bills to allow more than 200 yards rushing per game in a season. But then the Texans shut down Oakland (22 carries, 45 yards). ... In both of Arizona’s losses, they abandoned the run, rushing 17 times against San Francisco in Week 1 and 12 in its last game, a 31-10 loss to Indianapolis.

Analysis: Arizona is lousy on third-down conversions (27 percent) and holding onto the ball (eight fumbles), and its pass defense is allowing 1.8 more yards per catch this year than last, the third worst drop in the league. Houston WR Andre Johnson could flourish.

Forecast: Texans 34, Cardinals 27

Jacksonville (2-2) at Seattle (1-3)

Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: Seahawks -2½ Total: 42½

TV: None

Weather: Mid-50s

Facts: Jacksonville started a league season-high seven drives inside enemy territory in its 37-17 victory against Tennessee last week. All last year the Jaguars had a league-low 12 drives open inside the 50. ... Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck (rib) is probable. He has been ailing since his ill-fated run near the goal line at San Francisco. ... Last week the Jaguars held Titans QB Kerry Collins to 29-for-48 (60.4 percent) and two interceptions. That’s a big deal since all other foes completed at least 74 percent of their throws against them.

Analysis: If Hasselbeck’s ready, this is a perfect matchup. The Jaguars’ secondary can’t cover, and as long as Hasselbeck doesn’t gallivant outside the pocket, he should feel safe. Jacksonville is at the bottom of the sack chart with three.

Forecast: Seahawks 21, Jaguars 14

Indianapolis (4-0) at Tennessee (0-4)

Time: 5:20 p.m. Line: Colts -4 Total: 46

TV: NBC (3) RADIO: KWWN-AM (1100)

Weather: High 60s, 10 percent chance of rain

Facts: The Titans aren’t the first team to open 4-0 and then start 0-4 the next season. Tampa Bay knows the drill. From 2004 to 2006, it went from 0-4 to 4-0 to 0-4. ... Titans RB Chris Johnson is setting the NFL rushing pace with 434 yards (6.3 per carry). The last time a rushing champion came from a losing team was Priest Holmes with the Chiefs in 2001. ... Tennessee’s best field position in last week’s 37-17 loss at Jacksonville was its 23, the worst for any team in a game this season.

Analysis: The Colts lead the league in 80-plus-yard TD drives and will be facing one of the surprisingly cushy defenses of 2009. There’s no reason to think the Colts will stall here.

Forecast: Colts 28, Titans 20

MONDAY’S GAME

N.Y. Jets (3-1) at Miami (1-3)

Time: 5:30 p.m. Line: Jets -2 Total: 36½

TV: ESPN (30) RADIO: KWWN-AM (1100)

Weather: High 80s, 10 percent chance of rain

Facts: The Jets acquired WR Braylon Edwards just in time. In the past two seasons, he has three 100-yard games, all on “Monday Night Football.” ... New Orleans has 15 offensive TDs, tied for most in the NFL, but only one against the Jets last week. ... Miami rolled up 250 rushing yards last week against Buffalo.

Analysis: When Jets coach Rex Ryan was in charge of Baltimore’s defense last season, the Ravens beat the Dolphins 27-13 in Week 6, holding Miami to its lowest point total during an 11-3 closing run. Plus, his schemes should flummox QB Chad Henne, who takes way too much looking for receivers.

Forecast: Jets 24, Dolphins 14

Byes: Chicago, Green Bay, New Orleans, San Diego

Last week: 6-8 vs. spread; 8-6 straight up

Season total: 26-35-1 vs. spread; 35-29 straight up