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Fourteen of 16 AFC teams are still alive for playoff spots in Week 16. The two that aren't are the expansion Texans and the Bengals, who have the NFL's worst record and can clinch the first overall pick in April's draft with a loss today against New Orleans.

Not one AFC team has clinched a playoff spot, a scenario that has not unfolded since 1987.

What's more, across the league, 21 of the 32 teams still have Super Bowl dreams alive. The 21 playoff-hopeful teams are just one behind the record of 22 at this point in the season, set in 1994.

The featured game this week occurs just 90 miles up Interstate 74, in Indianapolis.

GIANTS (8-6) at COLTS (9-5): Indianapolis has won five of its last six games and can make the playoffs with a win, and a loss or tie by one of several other teams. The Giants remain in contention in the NFC. The key is which team can maintain possession the most and keep its defense off the field. Besides the quarterbacks, the key offensive players are Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison (1,566 receiving yards) and Giants running back Tiki Barber (NFC best 1,643 yards from scrimmage and 75 first downs). COLTS 23-20.

LIONS (3-11) at FALCONS (8-5-1): Atlanta should be able to run at will against Detroit. Michael Vick has 697 yards and eight touchdowns rushing. FALCONS 27-16.

BEARS (4-10) at PANTHERS (5-9): Chicago put quarterback Jim Miller on injured reserve this week and could have another one heading that way in Chris Chandler. Carolina is second in the league with 44 sacks, 34 by the defensive line, and Chandler has been sacked 21 times in just 153 attempts. Ouch. PANTHERS 20-17.

BILLS (7-7) at PACKERS (11-3): The snow and cold should not affect Buffalo, but Green Bay is going for the 11th undefeated home schedule in franchise history. Buffalo will try to keep the ball from Brett Favre by running Travis Henry early and often. PACKERS 27-24.

TITANS (9-5) at JAGUARS (6-8): This game might take just 2:30 to play. Both teams want to run the ball with their productive one-two running back combinations. The difference today will be Tennessee's ability to stop the run. TITANS 20-13.

CHARGERS (8-6) at CHIEFS (7-7): San Diego's struggling offense meets the team that can make it feel better. The Chiefs will have trouble stopping Pro Bowl running back LaDainian Tomlinson (1,485 yards, 14 TDs). Tomlinson's ability to run will take pressure off cold quarterback Drew Brees. Kansas City won't have its normal offensive power with running back Priest Holmes out because of an injury. CHARGERS 23-21.

TEXANS (4-10) at REDSKINS (5-9): Houston's David Carr has been sacked 70 times. Washington, under new-age offensive genius Steve Spurrier, is scoring just 2.6 points a game more than it did under dinosaur Marty Schottenheimer. REDSKINS 12-5.

RAMS (6-8) at SEAHAWKS (5-9): Quarterback Marc Bulger, undefeated in six career starts, will get a test today without Marshall Faulk in the backfield because of injuries. St. Louis is better than its record. RAMS 27-21.

BROWNS (7-7) at RAVENS (7-7): Baltimore quarterback Jeff Blake has won four of his past six starts and is in playoff contention in December for the first time in his career. (He spent six seasons with the Bengals.) Cleveland is 5-2 on the road. The deciding factor could be the coaching. Brian Billick wins close games. Butch Davis loses more of them than he wins. RAVENS 21-20.

BRONCOS (8-6) at RAIDERS (9-5): Oakland's defense should be able to subdue the suddenly powerful Denver run game of Clinton Portis. Denver won't be able to handle the wild crowd. Oakland can win its third consecutive AFC West title with a victory and a San Diego loss or tie. RAIDERS 30-25.

JETS (7-7) at PATRIOTS (8-5): Bill Belichick won't get out-coached two games in a row. New England will concentrate on stopping Curtis Martin on the ground and making quarterback Chad Pennington throw. PATRIOTS 23-16.

STEELERS (8-5-1) at BUCS (11-3): Tampa Bay has clinched. Pittsburgh can clinch the AFC North with a win. The Steelers match up well with the power-running Bucs but will have to stop the pass. Pittsburgh's biggest edge could be running right into teeth of the Tampa defense. STEELERS 23-21.

Looking ahead to Saturday, Philadelphia will win at the Giants, and Oakland is a home winner against Kansas City.

LAST WEEK (not counting Dec. 21 games): 11-5. SEASON (not counting Dec. 21 games): 142-81-1.

Curnutte's Power Rankings

	Last week	Record	Comment
1. Buccaneers	1	11-3	Trade for Gruden looking good.
2. Packers	2	11-3	Have 34-0 record under Favre when under 34 degrees.
3. Eagles	3	11-3	30 rushing attempts in 9 of last 10 games.
4. Dolphins	6	9-6	DE Jason Taylor leads league with 17 sacks.
5. Raiders	4	9-5	In hunt for third consecutive division title.
6. Saints	5	9-5	Need to watch for letdown in Cincinnati.
7. Colts	10	9-5	Time to mention Tony Dungy for AFC Coach of the Year.
8. 49ers	7	9-5	13 turnovers tied for fewest in NFL.
9. Titans	13	9-5	Steve McNair deserves MVP consideration.
10. Patriots	8	8-6	Outscoring division foes 122-57.
11. Steelers	12	8-5-1	Record should be better, given talent level.
12. Chargers	9	8-6	Brees has 0 TDs, four interceptions in past four games.
13. Falcons	11	8-5-1	Need more takeaways to generate more points.
14. Broncos	14	8-6	Time to put a fork in them. They're done.
15. Giants	19	8-6	17-5 in December games under Jim Fassel.
16. Chiefs	15	7-7	No Priest, no prayer for playoffs.
17. Ravens	20	7-7	Billick's best job in Baltimore, better than 2000
18. Browns	16	7-7	Blew big lead in biggest game in four years.
19. Bills	18	7-7	Bledsoe thanks teammates for Pro Bowl nod.
20. Jets	17	7-7	Curtis Martin needs 95 yards for eighth straight 1,000.
21. Rams	21	6-8	Bulger seeks fourth 7-0 career start for QB since '70.
22. Jaguars	23	6-8	1-9 in Dec.-Jan. against teams with winning records.
23. Panthers	22	5-9	Need upgrade from QB Peete to compete in '03.
24. Cowboys	24	5-9	Fans wore Emmitt jerseys Saturday to say goodbye.
25. Redskins	25	5-9	Spurrier admits NFL is harder than SEC.
26. Cardinals	26	5-9	1-7 since losing first game to 49ers on Oct. 27.
27. Seahawks	27	5-9	Shaun Alexander again goes over 1,000 rushing yards.
28. Texans	28	4-10	Inaugural season has been a success.
29. Bears	30	4-10	88 catches, 1,444 yards get WR Booker to Pro Bowl.
30. Vikings	31	5-10	No warm welcome for Dolphins WR Cris Carter.
31. Lions	29	3-11	Only Bengals challenger for first overall pick.
32. Bengals	32	1-13	Likely to set franchise record with 14th loss.

On the air

1 p.m. - New York Giants at Indianapolis Colts - Chs. 19, 45.

1 p.m. - Buffalo Bills at Green Bay Packers - Ch. 7

4 p.m - Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens - Chs. 12, 7.

8:30 p.m. - New York Jets at New England Patriots - ESPN.

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