The Patriots have a couple of streaks on their side. New England has won the last six times it played on Monday Night Football. Also, the Pats have won 17 consecutive regular-season games against the NFC.

More important and most intriguing: Monday night's game might be a preview of Super Bowl XLIV.

>Game of the day

Patriots (7-3) at Saints (10-0)

TV: ESPN, Monday, 8:30 p.m.

The line: Saints (-2)

The scoop: Last time the Patriots faced the Saints in New Orleans was in 1998, when they won, 30-27, on an Adam Vinatieri field goal with three seconds remaining. Teams have not met since 2005 when Tom Brady passed for three TDs in a 24-17 New England victory. . . . This should be an offensive shootout because each team is averaging more than 400 yards a game in total offense. The Saints (420.5) lead the league, the Patriots (416.1) are next. . . . Pats are an AFC-best plus-12 in turnovers while the Saints are plus-10. . . . QB Drew Brees of the Saints leads the league with 22 touchdown passes and is second with a 105.6 passer rating. Brady of the Pats has 20 TD passes and 100.4 rating. . . . Saints can wrap up NFC South with a win and an Atlanta loss or tie.

Outlook: Statistically, the Patriots have the edge on defense. New England, 40-35.

***

>Top attractions

Colts (10-0) at Texans (5-5)

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

The line: Colts (-3)

The scoop: Indianapolis will wrap up AFC South with a win and a Jacksonville loss. . . . Colts won first meeting, 20-17. . . . In last visit to Houston, Oct. 5, 2008, Indy overcame a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit with help from turnovers by Texans QB Sage Rosenfels for 31-27 win. . . . Houston must rebound from bitter loss to Titans on Monday night. Colts stayed unbeaten by squeaking by Ravens in Baltimore, 17-15, thanks to a Gary Brackett INT.

Outlook: Texans are 1-14 in all-time series against Colts, but have recent history of playing close games with Indy. Houston, 28-27.

*

Steelers (6-4) at Ravens (5-5)

TV: Ch. 2, 8:15 p.m.

The line: No line

The scoop: A rematch of last AFC Championship Game won by Steelers, 23-14. . . . QB Ben Roethlisberger will not play for Pittsburgh because of concussion-related injury suffered in loss to Kansas City last week. With Roethlisberger out, inexperienced Dennis Dixon will get the start.

Outlook: Battle of two desperate teams on wild card bubble. Ravens, 20-17.

*

Cardinals (7-3) at Titans (4-6)

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

The line: Titans (-2 1/2)

The scoop: Kurt Warner sat out second half of win at St. Louis last week after taking a shot to the head and Cards almost blew a 21-3 lead. Warner is expected to play today. . . . Titans won fourth in a row (all with Vince Young at QB) in 20-17 win at Houston on Monday night. . . . Cards are 5-0 on road. . . . Titans RB Chris Johnson leads league with 1,242 yards and is averaging 6.2 per attempt.

Outlook: Titans on a roll. Tennessee, 24-21.

*

Bears (4-6) at Vikings (9-1)

TV: Ch. 29, 4 p.m.

The line: Vikings (-11)

The scoop: Rival QBs Jay Cutler of Bears and Brett Favre of Vikings are two of the biggest stories of the year so far. Cutler for disappointing Bears fans and Favre for leading Vikings to domination of NFC North.

Outlook: Favre is 22-10 in career against Chicago. Make it 23-10. Vikings, 31-17.

***

>Best of the rest

Dolphins (4-6) at Bills (3-7)

TV: Ch. 4, 1 p.m.

The line: Dolphins (-3 1/2)

The scoop: Miami has won last three in rivalry since Tony Sparano became head coach. . . . Dolphins seem to improve even with injuries. . . . Bills carry on despite crippling injuries in offensive line and at linebacker, but they are just too talent thin.

Outlook: Dolphins outscrap Bills , 20-13.

*

Panthers (4-6) at Jets (4-6)

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

The line: Jets (-3)

The scoop: Opposing quarterbacks in this one are turnover machines. Jake Delhomme of Panthers has thrown 14 INTs while rookie Mark Sanchez of Jets has 16.

Outlook: Opponents have book on Sanchez now. Panthers, 27-20.

*

Buccaneers (1-9) at Falcons (5-5)

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

The line: Falcons (-12)

The scoop: Tight ends will be featured in this one because a TE leads each team in receiving -- Kellen Winslow (47 catches, five TDs) for Bucs and Tony Gonzalez (52, five TDs) for Falcons. . . . Atlanta rallied at Giants last week, then lost OT coin flip and lost the game. With Michael Turner out, Jason Snelling had 76 yards and two TDs as fill-in last week.

Outlook: Game falls in middle of tough stretch for Falcons. Atlanta, 31-24.

*

Browns (1-9) at Bengals (7-3)

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

The line: Bengals (-13 1/2)

The scoop: Bengals can complete their first 6-0 sweep of AFC North with a win. Browns, however, have won last two visits to Paul Brown Stadium.

Outlook: Browns' resiliency not enough. Bengals, 17-13.

*

Redskins (3-7) at Eagles (6-4)

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

The line: Eagles (-9)

The scoop: Eagles won first meeting of NFC East rivals this season, 27-17. . . . With Redskins RB Clinton Portis (concussion) out, third-stringer Rock Cartwright had to take over last week after Ladell Betts suffered season-ending knee injury.

Outlook: Two-score victories are a rout when NFC East teams meet. Eagles, 21-12.

*

Chiefs (3-7) at Chargers (7-3)

Kickoff: 4:05 p.m.

The line: Chargers (-13 1/2)

The scoop: San Diego won first meeting, 37-7. . . . After finally overtaking Broncos for AFC West lead, Chargers have to guard against a letdown against Chiefs, who have won twice on the road. . . . Chance for Chris Chambers, released by Chargers, to come back and haunt Bolts.

Outlook: Chargers will have letdown, but not enough to matter. San Diego, 30-20.

*

Jaguars (6-4) at 49ers (4-6)

Kickoff: 4:05 p.m.

The line: 49ers (-3)

The scoop: The Jaguars were not impressive in an 18-15 win over the Bills for their third win in a row. . . . First trip to San Francisco for Jaguars. . . . TE Vernon Davis of 49ers has 29 catches for 339 yards, five TDs in last five games.

Outlook: Jags caught sightseeing. Niners, 23-16.

***

>Dog of the day

Seahawks (3-7) at Rams (1-9)

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

The line: Seahawks (-4)

The scoop: Seattle's only win in last five was over Detroit. . . . Rams haven't quit, but after win over Detroit and throwing scares into Saints and Cardinals they lose QB Marc Bulger.

Outlook: Seahawks allowed three TD drives of 80 yards or more at Minnesota but Rams are not the Vikings. Seattle, 28-10.

Last week: 12-3 straight up; 9-5 versus spread.

Season's record: 105-52 straight up; 75-76 versus spread.

e-mail: mnorthrop@buffnews.com