The 2001 NFL regular season ends this weekend, a week later than scheduled because of the postponements forced by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.Time to look at the candidates for the two major awards: MVP and coach of the year.

        The top three MVP candidates are Rams running back Marshall Faulk and quarterback Kurt Warner and Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart.

        My vote goes to Stewart. Faulk and Warner are two pieces — important pieces — of a machine that would work almost as well if one of them was out.

        In Pittsburgh, the league's top running back, Jerome Bettis, missed the past four games. And Stewart picked up the slack, leading the Steelers to three consecutive victories before last week's wake-up call against the Bengals. The Steelers would not be 12-3 without Stewart.

        The pool of coach of the year candidates consists of Pittsburgh's Bill Cowher, Chicago's Dick Jauron and New England's Bill Belichick.

        Strong cases can be made for Cowher and Jauron, but Belichick had the least to work with, and he has proven correct in the quarterback controversy. It's hard to sit a franchise player such as Drew Bledsoe, but Tom Brady has validated Belichick's faith by going 10-3 as the starter.

        CARDINALS (7-8) at REDSKINS (7-8): Both teams aim to finish .500. Arizona QB Jake Plummer set career high with 18 touchdown passes. Washington RB Stephen Davis needs 122 rushing yards against bad Arizona defense for a career high; he had 1,405 in '97. REDSKINS 26-20.

        FALCONS (7-8) at RAMS (13-2): St. Louis isn't sure which quarterback it will face, Chris Chandler or Michael Vick. The Rams think it will be Vick. But it won't matter. St. Louis can clinch home field throughout the NFC playoffs with victory, so the Rams won't let up. RAMS 42-24.

        BILLS (3-12) at DOLPHINS (10-5): Miami quarterback Jay Fiedler plays well against Buffalo (seven touchdown passes and one interception in past three games), but the Bills' improved running game with rookie Shawn Bryson could give Dolphins some problems. DOLPHINS 20-13.

        BROWNS (7-8) at STEELERS (12-3): It's the 98th game between the two teams. Pittsburgh needs this one to rebound from overtime loss to Bengals. Browns QB Tim Couch had 336 yards passing in win over Titans last week, and Steelers gave up 411 to Jon Kitna. STEELERS 17-9.

        COWBOYS (5-10) at LIONS (1-14): Dallas has won three of past five games. It has NFC's top pass defense, which should neutralize about the only thing Detroit can do well offensively. COWBOYS 24-17.

        BRONCOS (8-7) at COLTS (5-10): Meeting is first since 1993 and first in Indianapolis since 1989. Colts defense can't stop anybody. Look for Denver wide receiver Rod Smith to pad his 106-catch total. BRONCOS 34-30.

        PACKERS (11-4) at GIANTS (7-8): Best news for New York is, game isn't in Green Bay, where Brett Favre can't be beat. These teams met for five NFL championships between 1938 and 1962, with Packers winning four. Green Bay needs win and Chicago loss for division title. PACKERS 24-21.

        JAGUARS (6-9) at BEARS (12-3): Bears can win first NFC Central title since 1990 with victory. A low-scoring game favors the Bears, who want to run the ball against Jacksonville's solid rush defense. Chicago is 12-0 in games in which it scores 13 or more points. BEARS 17-13.

        CHIEFS (6-9) at SEAHAWKS (8-7): Seattle must win, combined with a Jets loss or a Ravens loss, to make the playoffs. Mike Holmgren has postseason-tested Trent Dilfer to play quarterback. SEAHAWKS 25-20.

        PATRIOTS (10-5) at PANTHERS (1-14): Overall team rankings and numbers don't show how New England can win first AFC East crown since 1997. But Patriots play smart and make big plays at right time. They went 4-0 in December and could win sixth in a row today against a Carolina team trying to be first to lose 15 in a row in the same season. PATRIOTS 23-13.

        JETS (9-6) at RAIDERS (10-5): New York needs to control the ball and the clock with Curtis Martin running and catching dump passes from Vinny Testaverde. In spite of 4-4 slump, Raiders have too much firepower in pass offense. Winning at Oakland is too tall of an order for Jets, who'll need Seattle loss to get in. RAIDERS 21-20.

        49ERS (11-4) at SAINTS (7-8): QB Aaron Brooks' interception run (six in last two games) has led to three consecutive losses. San Francisco has chance of having home wild-card game with victory. 49ERS 31-27.

        EAGLES (10-4) at BUCCANEERS (9-6): Philadelphia plays at Tampa Bay, the team it will host a week later in a wild-card game. This game was not the Sunday night game when originally scheduled for Sept. 16, but is now. Now, with both teams locked in, starters and injured players could get a lot of rest, making this a potential dud. Noteworthy is Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber, whose 10 interceptions are an NFL first since Mark Carrier in 1990. BUCS 17-14.

        VIKINGS (5-10) at RAVENS (9-6): Baltimore defense should usher team into playoffs by feeding on Minnesota quarterback Spergon Wynn. This is Ravens' first home Monday night game, but Monday night is when Vikings WR Randy Moss must feel like playing: 10 of 39 catches were for touchdowns in seven games. RAVENS 23-14.

        BENGALS (5-10) at TENNESSEE (7-8): TITANS 20-17.

Improving Bengals offer hope for next season Sept. 11 changed schedule, stakes Keys to the game Today could be Chad Johnson's day Bengals-Titans by the numbers Who's got the edge? Titans' Matthews coy about retirement Mark Curnutte's NFL picks NFL power ratings

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