Sun, Dec 19, 2004 - Page 23 News List

Rookie quarterbacks set to battle

NY TIMES NEWS SERVICE , NEW YORK

Only two of the Jets' nine victories have come against winning teams, and running back LaMont Jordan said gloomily, "Against good teams, we don't do anything."

Jacksonville (7-6) at

Green Bay (8-5)

The Packers lead their division by a game over the Vikings. The Jaguars are a long shot for the playoffs and need plenty of help. Jacksonville can play stifling defense and showed it against the Bears, stopping their passing game with five sacks and holding their running game to 31 yards.

In beating the Lions, Brett Favre of the Packers played a bad first half and a great second half. After that game, Favre said, "We should feel good about this win, but we're not good enough to feel that good."

Denver (8-5) at Kansas City (5-8)

The Broncos have won four of their last five games, and their playoff hopes are alive. Still, their home crowds are booing even when they win, and coach Mike Shanahan may need to get his team deep into the playoffs to keep his job.

Trent Green, who leads the league with six 300-yard passing games, quarterbacks a big-time Chiefs offense. But their defense can be bad, and as running back Larry Johnson said, "We're going to play the season out and have some momentum going into next season."

Minnesota (7-6) at Detroit (5-8)

The Vikings have lost five of their last seven games, they are struggling to stay in the playoff picture and coach Mike Tice's job is not secure.

Shades of last season, when the Vikings started 6-0 and finished 3-7. The Lions have uncovered a superb runner in Kevin Jones, who has 551 yards in the past four games. That includes 196 and 156 yards in the last two weeks, often against eight men in the box. Defenses are ganging up on him because the Lions' passing game often looks amateurish.

Dallas (5-8) at Philadelphia (12-1)

The Eagles are soaring with a five-game winning streak, a division title and a first-round playoff bye.

The Cowboys are inconsistent, and coach Bill Parcells said, "It doesn't look like we're going very far."

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