TODAY’S GAMES

ON TV

Miami at Atlanta

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* TV: Channel 2.

* Records: Dolphins 10-5; Falcons 13-2.

* Story line: After holding league rushing leader Terrell Davis to 29 yards, 40 fewer than his previous season low, in Monday night’s victory over the Broncos, the Dolphins go up against another force: Jamal Anderson. The Falcons’ workhorse has rushed for a club-record 1,743 yards in 392 carries, only 15 short of the NFL record for attempts set by James Wilder of the Buccaneers in 1984. The Falcons are NFC West champions for the first time since 1980.

* Line: Falcons by 3

Green Bay at Chicago

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* TV: Channel 11.

* Records: Packers 10-5; Bears 4-11.

* Story line: Despite their problems, the Packers have made the playoffs for the sixth season in a row and could host a playoff game--if they win today and the 49ers lose to the Rams. That’s not likely, meaning that defensive end Reggie White probably played his last home game last week at Lambeau Field. “I hated to walk off that field,” said White, whose 16 sacks are his most since he had 18 with the Eagles in 1988.

* Line: Packers by 6 1/2

Seattle at Denver

* Kickoff: 1:15 p.m.

* TV: Channel 2.

* Records: Seahawks 8-7; Broncos 13-2.

* Story line: The Broncos hope to retain their edge after consecutive losses on the road to the Giants and Dolphins. They’ve won their last 23 regular-season home games and are 29-2 at Mile High Stadium under Coach Mike Shanahan. “I really feel good about our team and who we have, what type of character we have,” Shanahan said. The Seahawks might be playing their last game under Coach Dennis Erickson.

* Line: Broncos by 10

Washington at Dallas

* Kickoff: 5:15 p.m.

* TV: ESPN.

* Records: Redskins 6-9; Cowboys 9-6.

* Story line: The Cowboys are NFC East champions for the sixth time in seven years, thanks mostly to a 7-0 record against division rivals. The race might have been more competitive if the Redskins had turned their season around a few weeks earlier. After a 0-7 start, they’ve won six of eight and seem to have found their quarterback of the future in Trent Green, who has passed for 15 touchdowns, with only three interceptions, in the last eight games.

* Line: Redskins by 1 1/2

THE REST

Tampa Bay at Cincinnati

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Buccaneers 7-8; Bengals 3-12.

* Story line: The Buccaneers have an outside chance to make the playoffs, but they won’t know their fate until about three hours after the game. The Cardinals, whose game against the Chargers will be starting just as the Buccaneers and Bengals are finishing, must lose to open the door for the Buccaneers. If the Buccaneers lose, they’ll end the suspense that much earlier. They can start working toward next season.

* Line: Buccaneers by 6 1/2

Detroit at Baltimore

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Lions 5-10; Ravens 5-10.

* Story line: Both teams carry three-game losing streaks into the game. The Lions’ Barry Sanders needs 50 yards rushing to extend his NFL record of consecutive 1,500-yard seasons to five.

* Line: Ravens by 1 1/2

Buffalo at New Orleans

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Bills 9-6; Saints 6-9.

* Story line: This game doesn’t mean much to either team--win or lose, the Bills are in the playoffs and the Saints are out--but that doesn’t mean the quarterbacks won’t be motivated. The Bills’ Doug Flutie would like to show his old coach, Mike Ditka, how far he has come since the two were together in the mid-’80s, and Kerry Collins would like to show the Saints that they should bring him back next season.

* Line: Bills by 3

Carolina at Indianapolis

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Panthers 3-12; Colts 3-12.

* Story line: Steve Beuerlein has been a pleasant surprised in a dismal season for the Panthers. The Colts’ Peyton Manning has passed for more than 3,500 yards and a rookie-record 25 touchdowns, and he has yet to face the league’s 30th-ranked defense. He’ll do that today.

* Line: Colts by 5

New England at New York Jets

* Kickoff: 10 a.m.

* Records: Patriots 9-6; Jets 11-4.

* Story line: Vinny Testaverde is 11-1 as the Jet starter and with 25 touchdown passes needs two to claim the club record from Al Dorow and Joe Namath. On third down, he has passed for nine touchdowns and no interceptions.

* Line: Jets by 6 1/2

New York Giants at Philadelphia

* Kickoff: 1 p.m.

* Records: Giants 7-8; Eagles 3-12.

* Story line: Of the three teams still battling to make the playoffs, the Giants face the longest odds. Their season continues only if they win today, the Cardinals lose and the Buccaneers lose or tie. The Giants have staved off elimination by winning four of five games. “I believe in miracles,” defensive end Michael Strahan says, “and I believe that we do have a chance and that we have a legit shot to make it.”

* Line: Giants by 4

St. Louis at San Francisco

* Kickoff: 1 p.m.

* Records: Rams 4-11; 49ers 11-4.

* Story line: Win or lose, the 49ers will face playoff nemesis Green Bay in a wild-card game next weekend. But if the Packers win earlier in the day, the 49ers must win their 17th in a row over the Rams to avoid having to play at Green Bay. Steve Young is hurting, but the 49ers are 15-0 at home under Coach Steve Mariucci.

* Line: 49ers by 12 1/2

San Diego at Arizona

* Kickoff: 1:15 p.m.

* Records: Chargers 5-10; Cardinals 8-7.

* Story line: Unlike the other two teams fighting for the final NFL wild-card spot--the Giants and Buccaneers--the Cardinals control their fate. A victory over the disappointing Chargers, who have lost four in a row, puts the Cardinals in the playoffs for the first time since 1982. The Cardinals’ Jake Plummer, one of the league’s highest-paid players after signing a new four-year contract, has orchestrated eight comeback victories in his two seasons, the most recent last week against the Saints.

* Line: Cardinals by 7 1/2