The Times from Shreveport, Louisiana • Page 42

nj "ty ii ngr mnnumTpnn i.irrtr..f yp- "t-Tgr (( 4D SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1996 THE TIMES NFL AMERICAN CONFERENCE "iimdLT'i NATIONAL CONFERENCE NewEnglnd ..9 Buffalo 9 Indnplis 8 Miami 6 NY Jets 1 4 4 6 7 12 Pet PF .692 355 .692 267 .571 269 .462 285 .077 221 PA 269 215 284 266 368 Home 5- 2-0 6- 1-0 6-2-0 3-3-0 0-5-0 Away 4-2-0 3-3-0 2- 4-0 3- 4-0 1-6-0 AFC 8-3-0 5-4-0 5-5-0 5-5-0 0-9-0 NFC 1-1-0 4-0-0 3-1-0 1-2-0 1-2-0 Dlv 5-2-0 4-3-0 4-4-0 4-2-0 0-6-0 Dallas 8 Washington .8 Phila 8 Arizona 6 NY Giants ...5 0 0 0 0 0 Pet PF .615 254 .615 291 .571 313 .462 248 .385 200 PA 201 251 302 332 250 Home 5-2-0 4-3-0 4-3-0 4-2-0 3-3-0 Away 3- 3-0 4- 2-0 4-3-0 2-5-0 2-5-0 AFC 1-2-0 3-1-0 1-2-0 0- 4-0 1- 1-0 NFC 7-3-0 5- 4-0 7-4-0 6- 3-0 4-7-0 Div 4-2-0 3- 3-0 4- 3-0 3-2-0 2-6-0 2 3 Pet PF .692 299 .538 291 .462 263 .385 299 .308 320 PA 211 254. 288 318 369 Home 6-O-0 2-4-0 5-1-0 4-2-0 4-3-0 Away AFC 3-4-0 7-4-0 5-2-0 5-4-0 1-6-0 5-5-0 1-6-0 3-6-0 0-6-0 2-8-0 Pittsbrgh ....9 Houston 7 Jacksonvla .6 Cincinnati 5 Baltimore 4 NFC 2-0-0 2-2-0 1- 2-0 2- 2-0 2-1-0 Dlv 4-4-0 4-1-0 4-3-0 3-3-0 1-5-0 Pet PF PA Home Away AFC NFC Dlv y-GreenBay 10 3 0 .769 346 191 6-0-0 4-3-0 2-1-0 8-2-0 5-1-0 Minnesota ...7 6 0 .538 243 245 4-3-0 3-3-0 1-3-0 6-3-0 3-2-0 Chicago 5 8 0 .385 202 248 4-2-0 1-6-0 1-2-0 4-6-0 3-4-0 Detroit 5 8 0 .385 263 289 4-2-0 1-6-0 1-3-0 4-5-0 3-3-0 Tampa Bay ..4 9 0 .308 153 243 3-3-0 1-6-0 2-2-0 2-7-0 1-5-0 3 Pet PF PA Home Away AFC .923 351 199 5-1-0 3 4 9 11 11 0 0 0 0 0 Pet PF .769 325 .692 292 .308 246 .154 234 .154 184 PA 198 164 334 393 291 AFC 3-0-0 1- 1-0 2- 2-0 0- 3-0 1- 3-0 NFC 7- 3-0 8- 3-0 2-7-0 2-8-0 1-7-0 Dlv 6-1-0 6-1-0 2-4-0 2-4-0 0-5-0 Home 5- 1-0 6- 0-0 3-4-0 2-5-0 2-4-0 Away 5-2-0 3-4-0 1-5-0 0-6-0 0-6-0 Today's game WHO: Dallas at Arizona. WHEN: 3 p.m. WHERE: Tempe, Ariz. RADIOTV: KFLO-AM 1300; Fox (KMSS).

9-1-0 5- 4-0 6- 4-0 5-4-0 NFC 3- 0-0 4- 0-0 1-2-0 1- 3-0 2- 2-0 Dlv 5-1-0 4-3-0 4-3-0 2-3-0 1-6-0 San Fran ...10 Carolina 9 St. Louis 4 Atlanta 2 New Orleans .2 x-Denver ...12 Kan. City 9 San Diego .7 Oakland 6 Seattle 5 7-0-0 5-2-0 4-3-0 3-3-0 3-4-0 .692 262 .538 277 .462 274 .385 250 230 323 234 317 4-2-0 3-3-0 3-4-0 2-4-0 3-6-0 y-clinched playoff spot. x-clinched division title. THURSDAY'S RESULT Indianapolis 37, Philadelphia 10 TODAY'S GAMES AND VEGAS LINE Washington at Tampa Bay, noon New York Jets at New England, 3 p.m.

Buffalo at Seattle, 3 p.m. Carolina at San Francisco, 3 p.m. Dallas at Arizona, 3 p.m. Minnesota at Detroit, 7 p.m. Washington by 2 "2 New England by 13 Buffalo by 4 "2 San Francisco by 10 Dallas by 10 Detroit by 2 Atlanta at New Orleans, noon Baltimore at Cincinnati, noon Denver at Green Bay, noon Jacksonville at Houston, noon New York Giants at Miami, noon St.

Louis at Chicago, noon San Diego at Pittsburgh, noon New Orleans by 2 Cincinnati by 2 "2 no line Houston by 6 no line Chicago by 6 "2 Pittsburgh by 10 MONDAY'S GAME AND VEGAS LINE Kansas City at Oakland, 8 p.m. Oakland by 2 The Associated Press TEMPE, Ariz. The carnival is coming to town. The Dallas Cowboys could accomplish a number of things against the Arizona Cardinals: Stay in the chase for their fifth straight NFC East title; set a franchise record for consecutive victories over an opponent; and get one more win past Nov. 24, when the New York Giants upset them.

But the Cowboys (8-5), who have beaten Arizona 12 straight times, may be out of focus after their latest scandal, the one-year suspension of defensive tackle Leon Lett for violating the NFL's drug policy. "It must be a three-ring circus down there," the Cardinals' Boomer Esiason said. Esiason wasn't naive enough to read anything into the Cowboys' struggles, though. "When you look at their Giants game, I think they had five turnovers and only lost 20-6," he said. "If that was us and we had five turnovers, we probably would have lost 55-10 or something; it would have been ridiculous.

It just shows you how good they really are on defense." Some considered Lett the best player on the No. 1 defensive unit, but Esiason said there wouldn't be much dropoff with Tony Casillas moving from backup at left tackle to Lett's spot at right tackle. Arizona left guards Duval Love and Rob Selby are injured, and rookie center Aaron Graham likely will start there, trying to deal with Casillas at a position he's never played. "In practice, Casillas was annoying, because he was going 100 mph, and he's that way in a game," said Esiason, who knows him from the New York Jets. "I'm sure he thinks this is the greatest thing in the world that he gets to play against a rookie." "You get a better feel for the game when you start," said Casillas, an 11-year veteran.

Cowboys coach Barry Switzer ridiculed opinion pieces about him presiding over a fading dynasty. "We didn't look like a team crumbling," Switzer said of a 21-10 humbling of the Washington Redskins on Thanksgiving Day. "We looked like a pretty damn good football team. But I talked to the team about these things. The foundation cracks from within." The Cowboys fell short of the Super Bowl in 1994, when offensive lineman Erik Williams wrecked his car after drinking alcohol, then had to settle out of court with a 17-year-old topless dancer who claimed he sexually assaulted her.

But Dallas won its third NFL championship in four years last season despite the distraction of losing cornerback Clayton Holmes after he failed a drug test. Not having Michael Irvin for the first five games this season affected the Cowboys more they and the Cardinals were 2-3 until Oct. 13, when Irvin returned and the Cowboys beat Arizona 17-3. "We should have learned our lesson the first five weeks of the season, but teams play well 1 against us," Emmitt Smith said. "They're professionals like we are.

They have talent, we have tal- -ent. It just boils down to the team that plays the best on that particular day." Smith, whose 108 touchdowns rushing leave him two short of Walter Payton for second place on the career list behind still-active Marcus Allen, is the Cowboys' hole card against any fenvs? -V hi m4 ihf Atlanta at New Orleans WHEN: noon, Fox (KMSS). KEY STATS: It's Saints' No. 28 offense versus Falcons' No. 28 defense.

WORTH WATCHING: Saints QB Jim Everett is questionable because of a concussion, and would be replaced by Doug Nussmeier. OUTLOOK: Saints close their home season against an old rival, but the cavernous Super-dome will look empty again. Falcons will extend Saints' losing streak to seven as they remain winless under interim coach Rick Ven-turi. INJURIES: Falcons: Out: CB Juran Bolden (elbow), CB Tim McKyer (arm); Doubtful: LB Cornelius Bennett (quadricep). Saints: Out: TE Irv Smith (knee); Doubtful: WR Michael Haynes (foot).

Dallas at Arizona WHEN: 3 p.m., Fox (KMSS). KEY STATS: Cowboys have beaten the Cardinals 12 straight. WORTH WATCHING: Can Cardinals QB Boomer Esiason continue his hot streak against NFL's No. 1 defense? OUTLOOK: The Cowboys are recovering from yet another setback, the loss of DT Leon Lett to a drug suspension. Tony Casillas takes his place.

Cowboys need this one desperately because they finish against New England and Washington. INJURIES: Cowboys: Out: DE Charles Haley (back), Brock Marion (shoulder), TE Jay No- Falcons, Saints know losing much too well 1 Washington at Tampa Bay WHEN: Noon, KEY STATS: Redskins' plus-12 turnover differential is second in the NFC. WORTH WATCHING: Washington RB Terry Allen still leads the NFL with 17 TDs, but has none in last three games. Bucs need more than 3.0 yards a carry from Errict Rhett. OUTLOOK: The Bucs had a three-game winning streak snapped last week at Carolina, and are now trying to finish strongly under rookie coach Tony Dungy.

The Redskins have lost two straight (San Francisco, Dallas) and four of five. Tampa has always been a place to get warm and well. INJURIES: Redskins: Out: DE Sterling Palmer (knee), Ed Simmons (knee); Doubtful: WR Michael Westbrook (knee). Buccaneers: none. Buffalo at Seattle WHEN: 3 p.m.

KEY STATS: The Bills have two of the last three against the Seahawks. WORTH WATCHING: Chicagoans get chance to see their possible QB of the future, Rick Mirer, guide the Seahawks. OUTLOOK: The Bills are playing for the AFC East title, and should get Jim Kelly back as QB, although RB Thurman Thomas (ankle) may sit out. But the Seahawks have nothing to play for. INJURIES: Bills: Doubtful: LB Bryce Paup (groin), WR Steve Tasker (knee), RB Tim Tin-dale (knee).

Seahawks: Out: WR Brian Blades (rib-shoulder), RB Steve Broussard (hamstring). Carolina at San Francisco WHEN: 3 p.m. KEY STATS: San Francisco is third in the NFC in defense; Carolina, fifth. WORTH WATCHING: Two key players are ex-teammates who will have to face each other. San Francisco WR Jerry Rice (1 1 .9 yards a catch, 6 TDs) and Carolina CB Eric Davis (four interceptions in the last six games).

OUTLOOK: Carolina has won two of three from San Francisco, and can grab the rail in the race for home-field advantage in NFC with a victory. But 49ers can wrap up fifth straight NFC title with a victory. With Steve Young back from concussion, 49ers have more offensive weapons and slightly better defense. INJURIES: Panthers: none. 49ers: Out: LB Anthony Peterson (knee); Doubtful: LB Daved Bene-field (knee).

Minnesota at Detroit WHEN: 7 p.m., ESPN. KEY STATS: Despite injuries to QB Warren Moon and RB Robert Smith, Vikings are 10th in NFL in offense. WORTH WATCHING: Vikings QB Brad Johnson is coming off a four-TD pass game in a victory over Arizona, and is in process of displacing Warren Moon. The Lions will try to keep Vikings offense off the field by giving the ball to Barry Sanders. OUTLOOK: The Vikings have a good shot at a wild-card spot, with home game versus Tampa Bay next before finishing up at Green Bay.

Lions usually tough at home, but the Vikings have something to play for. INJURIES: Vikings: none. Lions: Out: LB Stephen Boyd (abdomen); Doubtful: LB Tracy Scroggins (ankle). Kansas City at Oakland WHEN: 8 p.m., Monday, ABC (KTBS). KEY STATS: Chiefs have beaten Raiders seven straight and 13 of last 14.

WORTH WATCHING: Rich Gannon gave the Chiefs' offense a boost in the 28-24 Thanksgiving Day victory at Detroit. Raiders QB Jeff Hostetler is having a good year (19 TDs, 12 interceptions). OUTLOOK: The Raiders have traditionally been tough at home on Monday nights, though the Broncos beat them in Oakland this year. But Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer knows how to beat the Raiders. INJURIES: Chiefs: Out: LB Tony Richardson (wrist).

Raiders: Out: CB Larry Brown (heel). Today's game WHO: Atlanta at New Orleans. WHEN: noon. WHERE: Superdome, New Orleans. RADIOTV: KEEL-AM 710; Fox (KMSS).

Washington's Terry Allen hasn't scored in three weeks but leads league with 17 touchdowns entering today's game against the Tampa Bay Bucanneers. New York Giants at Miami WHEN: Noon. KEY STATS: Despite a losing record, Dolphins are second in AFC with a plus-10 turnover differential. WORTH WATCHING: Dolphins rookie RB Karim Abdul-Jabbar is just a yard short of the Dolphins rookie rushing record of 793 yards. Giants increasingly relying on running back Tyrone Wheatley.

OUTLOOK: Unlike the Giants, the Dolphins are clinging to slim playoff hopes. The Miami running game has been struggling, but could get well against the Giants. INJURIES: Giants: Out: RB Keith Elias (knee), Brian Williams (back-flu). Dolphins: Out: RB Jer-ris McPhail (arm). St.

Louis at Chicago WHEN: Noon. KEY STATS: Don't look for many touchdowns: Bears are 24th in offense; Rams, 29th. WORTH WATCHING: Rams WR Isaac Bruce is second in the NFL with 1,169 receiving yards, and is averaging 16.2 yards a catch with six TDs. Raymont Harris has taken over as the Bears' starting tailback, and is averaging 4.1 yards a carry- OUTLOOK: The Bears' improving defense, combined with Chicago weather in December, should contain the Rams' offense, even if Bruce comes up with the occasional big play. INJURIES: Rams: none.

Bears: none. New York Jets at New England WHEN: 3 p.m. KEY STATS: The Jets are sixth in offense; the Patriots, seventh. WORTH WATCHING: With Neil O'Donnell injured again, the Jets give Glenn Foley his first career start at QB. The Patriots look for Drew Bledsoe to continue his big season (24 TD passes, only nine interceptions).

OUTLOOK: If talent weren't the difference here, incentive would be. The Patriots need a victory to maintain division tiebreaker edge over Buffalo in the AFC East race. That could give them a home playoff game. INJURIES: Jets: Out: QB Neil O'Donnell (calf); Doubtful: WR Jeff Graham (toe). Patriots: none.

Baltimore at Cincinnati WHEN: Noon. KEY STATS: Bengals are 4-2 under coach Bruce Coslet. WORTH WATCHING: Game features two of AFC's top receivers, Ravens' Derrick Alexander and Bengals' Carl Pickens. OUTLOOK: Resurgent Bengals face a Ravens team fresh off an upset of Pittsburgh. But the Jeff Blake-Pickens combination should outscore Ravens.

INJURIES: Ravens: Out: DE Rob Burnett (knee), LB Mike Caldwell (knee), LB Craig Powell (shoulder); Doubtful: LB Jerrol Williams (knee); Bengals: none. vacek (back). Cardinals: none.1 San Diego at Pittsburgh WHEN: Noon. KEY STATS: Steelers have won six of last seven from Chargers. WORTH WATCHING: Chargers go with QB Sean Salisbury in place of Stan Humphries (concussion).

Steelers once again rely on RB Jerome Bettis (1,341 yards, 4.5 10 TDs). OUTLOOK: The Chargers are scrambling to stay in the AFC wild-card race, but Three Rivers Stadium in December is not the place to be doing that. Steelers can clinch the AFC Central with a victory and a Houston loss or tie. The Steelers will hold up their end of the deal. INJURIES: Chargers: Out: CB Dwayne Harper (hamstring), QB Stan Humphries (head), TE Alfred Pupunu (ankle).

Steelers: Out: Carnell Lake (knee), WR Yancey Thigpen (foot). Denver at Green Bay WHEN: Noon, NBC (KTAL). KEY STATS: Packers lead the NFC with a turnover differential of plus-14. WORTH WATCHING: How much, and how effectively, Denver QB John Elway plays. He's questionable with a sore hamstring.

Can Packers wide receiver Antonio Freeman put up big numbers against any team other than the Bears? OUTLOOK: A few weeks ago, this looked like a Super Bowl preview. But Broncos have clinched home field throughout the AFC playoffs and, with Elway ailing, shouldn't take many risks. The Packers want to win to be assured of home field through the NFC playoffs. The Broncos have struggled against their first three NFC opponents, beating the Bucs by 4, the Bears by 5, and the Vikings by 4. INJURIES: Broncos: Out: Gary Zimmerman (shoulder).

Packers: none. Jacksonville at Houston WHEN: Noon. KEY STATS: It's Jacksonville's No. 2 offense versus Houston's No. 8 defense.

WORTH WATCHING: Houston's second-year QB Steve McNair starts again in place of injured Chris Chandler. He threw for two TDs against Jets last week. OUTLOOK: Houston has won twice in last five weeks, but only against New Orleans and Jets. Jacksonville, with two straight victories and Seattle and Atlanta up the next two weeks, has a chance at a winning season in its second year of existence. INJURIES: Jaguars: Out: Brian DeMarco (knee).

Oilers: none. The Associated Press NEW ORLEANS When you're 2-11, about all you can expect are jeering jokes, caustic comments, sarcastic statements. The Atlanta Falcons know it. So do the New Orleans Saints. Both have that dismal record.

Today, one of the NFL's worst teams will earn the right to look down on someone else a rare treat for teams that until now could only act snooty to the New York Jets. "It's a game that may not mean a lot to a lot of other people, but it's still a big deal to us," said Saints kicker Doug Brien. "Everyone always asks if everyone is playing 100 percent since our records are so bad. What they don't understand is that every game is the Super Bowl to us. We need every win we can get, every game, every play.

These games are as important to us as the games are for playoff teams." For the players maybe, but the fans don't share the feeling. They can clearly see the difference between playing to escape the cellar and playing for a playoff spot. The Saints drew their smallest crowd ever for last week's game against the St. Louis Rams. They've averaged just over 38,000 a game for seven games this year in the Superdome, which seats Even the teams have to deal with the dismal records when they plan for today.

"It's harder to get up for games, but once you're in the game it's no different from any other," said assistant coach Bruce Arians, who calls plays for the Saints. "If you're not playing for the love of the game, you shouldn't be playing anyway. Now the love of the game is about all we have, but it's still what gets us up when we step on the field." The Saints rank 28th in offense, 18th in defense. The Falcons rank 19th in offense, 28th in defense. New Orleans is favored to win, which would end a six-game losing streak, the franchise's longest since 1985, when the Saints lost six straight and finished 5-11.

"Both teams are in the same category, you just play for pride and character reasons," said Falcons coach June Jones, who is in his third season with the Falcons and has an 18-27 record. "You play for each other out of respect" FREE TOWING IN CITY WITH REBUILD 6 MONTH WARRANTY 700, AOD 200-4R OVERDRIVE TRANSMISSIONS A $443 EXCHANGE $433 INSTALLED IrabuiUaM units onfc) IMPERIAL Best I'nce Anywhere On Completely Rebuilt Overdrives WE INSTALL FLYWHEELS STO CLUTCHES a CVAXLES; PAINT SERVICE $1499 Free Written Estimates 3611 687-3171 W. 70th St. Nearjewella 31 8-742-7754 Bossier or 318-747-4546 vzi Trucks Vans Slightly Higher i..