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The Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, both with the NFL's best records at 8-2, will meet in today's marquee game.

Split up this season by the league's realignment, the former NFC Central rivals have played 46 times, with Green Bay holding a 28-17-1 edge. Today's game figures to be their last meeting until 2008.

The rivalry has taken on the personalities of the teams' highest-profile players, Packers quarterback Brett Favre and Buccaneers defensive tackle Warren Sapp. Favre has been sacked eight times by Sapp.

"I'm not going to miss them much," Favre said of the Buccaneers. "As long as those guys - Sapp, (safety) John Lynch and the other guys - are there, they're going to be tough to deal with. No team is easy, but they've always been tough."

PACKERS (8-2) at BUCS (8-2): Green Bay needs a victory and a Minnesota loss or tie to clinch the NFC North title. Tampa Bay has the league's No.1 overall defense and No.1 pass defense (21 interceptions to boot), but Favre might be able to pick on cornerback Rhone Barber (sprained ankle). The Bucs would be helped considerably if their 28th-ranked rush offense can move against the Packers' 30th-ranked rush defense. BUCS 20-17.

TITANS (6-4) at RAVENS (4-6): Baltimore needs to establish ball control early with leading rusher Jamal Lewis (828 yards). That will keep the score close and open up the passing game for Jeff Blake. Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis will be a game-time decision due to various injuries. RAVENS 22-18.

FALCONS (6-3-1) at PANTHERS (3-7): Watching Carolina's fast defensive line chase Atlanta QB Michael Vick will be entertaining. Points will be few and far between in this game. FALCONS 17-13.

LIONS (3-7) at BEARS (2-8): Detroit is seeking its first two-game series sweep of Chicago since 1997. Bears quarterback Chris Chandler has been sacked 16 times on 93 passing attempts, an average of one sack for every 5.8 passes, a figure that will get worse because of the beat-up offensive line. LIONS 23-16.

JAGUARS (5-5) at COWBOYS (3-7): Dallas' solid run defense will get a major test from Fred Taylor (828 yards) and Stacey Mack. Jacksonville has a chance to make a playoff run. JAGUARS 21-12.

CHARGERS (7-3) at DOLPHINS (6-4): Something has to give here. These teams pride themselves on running the ball well on offense and stopping the run on defense. The team that stops the run will force the other quarterback to throw the ball, which has led to interceptions. Drew Brees has 11 picks for San Diego, and Ray Lucas has six for Miami. DOLPHINS 17-13.

VIKINGS (3-7) at PATRIOTS (5-5): This game provides a much-needed break, of sorts, for New England. It's the Pats' first home game since Oct.27. Minnesota has lost 15 in a row on the road, dating to Thanksgiving 2000. The Vikings don't like to play on grass or in the cold. PATRIOTS 27-17.

BROWNS (5-5) at SAINTS (7-3): Cleveland can put more pressure on New Orleans quarterback Aaron Brooks if running back Deuce McAllister is out, as expected. The differences should be Saints' team speed and the Browns' relatively weak pass defense. SAINTS 31-21.

BILLS (5-5) at JETS (5-5): Both teams are back where they started with .500 records. New York's defense is vastly improved, but Buffalo's offense is balanced. N.Y. must control the ball. JETS 24-23.

RAMS (5-5) at REDSKINS (4-6): Kurt Warner is expected to make his first start as St.Louis' quarterback since Sept.29, even though stand-in Marc Bulger won five consecutive starts. But at least the Rams have a more stable quarterback situation than Washington, where Steve Spurrier has dumped Shane Matthews (again). RAMS 27-20.

RAIDERS (6-4) at CARDINALS (4-6): Arizona couldn't get any pressure on Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb last week, and McNabb was playing with a broken fibula. Oakland's Rich Gannon should add to his 10-game total of 3,195 passing yards. He has 300-plus yards passing in seven of last nine games. RAIDERS 38-17.

CHIEFS (5-5) at SEAHAWKS (3-7): Seattle is the first team Kansas City will face this season that has a losing record at kickoff. Time to give Dick Vermeil some credit for another outstanding coaching job. CHIEFS 30-20.

GIANTS (6-4) at TEXANS (2-8): Houston has yet to recover from the 38-3 butt-whippin' administered by the Bengals. The Texans have scored 20 points only three times. GIANTS 24-10.

COLTS (6-4) at BRONCOS (7-3): Indianapolis' defense is 28th against the run, which means backup Denver quarterback Steve Beuerlein will turn and hand the ball to rookie running back Clinton Portis at least 20 times. Portis leads all rookies with 748 yards and five touchdowns. BRONCOS 27-23.

EAGLES (7-3) at 49ERS (7-3): Philadelphia had enough problems playing in San Francisco last time (a 13-3 loss) even with McNabb. Backup QB Koy Detmer has thrown only 17 passes in the past three seasons, and he will need the Eagles' No.3-ranked run offense to take the pressure off. 49ERS 21-16.

LAST WEEK: 12-4.

SEASON: 101-58-1.

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