Early last season, New England had a 21-game home winning streak stopped by San Diego. It set off a chain reaction _ the Patriots are just 2-3 at Gillette Stadium this year and 5-0 on the road.

No one can explain it, although the players are trying as they prepare for Sunday's home game against Chicago, which at 9-1 is three games better than any other NFC team.

``Sometimes you take the mentality of me against the world,'' defensive lineman Richard Seymour said of New England's road success, which includes a 35-0 win in Green Bay last Sunday.

In New England this year, it actually has been ``me against the field,'' and the field finally lost. This game will be the first played on synthetic FieldTurf instead of the scruffy, torn-up grass that's been in place all season.

For the Bears, this is the final game of a three-week Northeast road trip. They won the first two in the Meadowlands against the Giants and Jets, struggling early in the first and shutting down the Jets 10-0 last week with the help of an ill-conceived onside kick by New York after a scoreless first half.

A win could give Chicago the NFC North title with five games left, if the struggling Vikings and Packers lose.

But the division crown has been a foregone conclusion since the start of the season _ none of the other teams in their division is better than two games under .500. The more important goal also is achievable soon, because the Bears are three games ahead in the race for home-field advantage in the playoffs. Of course, that didn't help last season, when they were beaten badly by Carolina at home in their first post-season game.

Despite some early success by Rex Grossman, Chicago is still a team carried by its league-leading defence, which has allowed just a little over 250 yards a game, 25 yards better than second-ranked Baltimore.

It could get tested now that Tom Brady is back on track after two tough games. Brady had four touchdown passes in Green Bay and has the quick release to negate Chicago's pass rush.

For the Bears, there's a constant need to prove themselves because of their weak division.

``We knew it would be a tough task,'' coach Lovie Smith said of the road trip. ``We got two of the wins. Now, we're down to one team.''

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Three games were scheduled for Thursday: Miami beat Detroit 27-10 in the early game. Tampa Bay at Dallas was scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. ET. Denver at Kansas City was the night game, and the first game to be televised by the NFL Network.

In other games Sunday, Houston is at the New York Jets; Arizona at Minnesota; New Orleans at Atlanta; Carolina at Washington; Pittsburgh at Baltimore; San Francisco at St. Louis; Jacksonville at Buffalo; Cincinnati at Cleveland; Oakland at San Diego; the New York Giants at Tennessee; and Philadelphia at Indianapolis.

Green Bay is at Seattle on Monday night.

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Philadelphia (5-5) at Indianapolis (9-1)

This was the game NBC chose as part of its ``flex'' schedule for Sunday night. So the Colts lost last week and the Eagles fell to Tennessee and lost Donovan McNabb for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee.

Jeff Garcia starts in McNabb's place, giving them more experience and skill than last season, when Mike McMahon finished after McNabb underwent surgery for a sports hernia.

The Colts' loss takes the ``unbeaten'' spotlight off a team whose coach, Tony Dungy, has always maintained he cares about titles, not records.

``You learn a lot more when you lose than when you win,'' middle linebacker Gary Brackett says. ``Sometimes when you win, the other team outplays you and it's hard to learn from your mistakes.''

Green Bay (4-6) at Seattle (6-4) (Monday night)

After injuring an elbow against New England, Brett Favre is expected to play for the Packers, making this his record 252nd straight start at quarterback. Matt Hasselbeck may finally be back for the Seahawks, who suddenly find themselves only a game ahead of San Francisco after losing to the 49ers last week.

The usually even-keel Mike Holmgren lit into the Seahawks after that loss, which featured three interceptions by backup QB Seneca Wallace.

``It was bad,'' Holmgren said. ``I don't like doing that, I really don't. And I said some things I wasn't too proud of. ... It was a little grim in there.''

Pittsburgh (4-6) at Baltimore (8-2)

The Steelers have won two straight _ they are on a mission to win their final eight and get a chance to defend their Super Bowl title. They rallied for 21 points in the fourth quarter last week to overtake Cleveland, 24-20.

This will be tough against a team that holds a three-game lead in the AFC North and is winning in different ways each week. Last week, the Ravens were sparked by B.J. Sams, who had 212 return yards in a 24-10 win over Atlanta.

Carolina (6-4) at Washington (3-7)

The Panthers are playing well now after an erratic start and are tied with the Saints for the lead in the NFC South, a division Carolina was favoured to win when the season started. One reason is a defence which had seven sacks in a 15-0 shutout over the Rams last week _ stunningly, none from Julius Peppers, who leads the NFL with 11.

The Redskins got a decent performance from Jason Campbell in his first start at quarterback: 196 yards and two touchdown passes without an interception. But they lost 20-17 in Tampa, another loss in what once again has become a rebuilding year.

New Orleans (6-4) at Atlanta (5-5)

Two teams in decline. The Falcons have lost three straight and the Saints have two consecutive losses and three in four games.

Drew Brees threw for 510 yards for New Orleans last week, but also had three interceptions, including two in the end zone in a loss to the Bengals . He also lost rookie Marques Colston, who led the NFL in yards receiving entering the game. Colston has been day to day with a sprained ankle.

One of Atlanta's problems is injuries. Another is the decline of a running game that dominated everyone in the early weeks of the season.

New York Giants (6-4) at Tennessee (3-7)

The Giants have two straight losses after five straight wins. Some of it is due to injury _ seven starters remain out _ but some is due to Eli Manning's 49 per cent completion percentage over the last four games..

The Titans might have won in Philadelphia even if McNabb hadn't gone out early. Vince Young's passing numbers are nothing special, but his mobility (49 yards rushing in Philly) is causing trouble for opponents, and Travis Henry (18 carries for 143 yards) is giving Tennessee a running game.

San Francisco (5-5) at St. Louis (4-6)

The 49ers have been a very pleasant surprise with three straight wins that have moved them to within a game of Seattle in the NFC West. The star is second-year running back Frank Gore, who rushed for 212 yards against the Seahawks.

``I'm not there yet,'' coach Mike Nolan says of the playoff talk. ``Our goal starting out this season was not just to win five games. We've won five, but that's not our goal.''

The Rams, who lost in San Francisco in Week 2, are going in the other direction with five straight losses. Their offence, nominally the strong point, was shut out last week in Carolina.

Jacksonville (6-4) at Buffalo (4-6)

A dangerous game for the Jaguars, who are chasing a wild-card berth in the AFC. They are just 1-3 on the road and are on a short week in a cold climate against a team that has proven it can play defence.

Before last week's game in Houston, wide receiver Lee Evans said of the Bills' offense: ``It's awful.'' Then Evans caught two 83-yard touchdown passes less than six minutes apart and Buffalo beat Houston 24-21.

Cincinnati (5-5) at Cleveland (3-7)

The Bengals ended a three-game losing streak in New Orleans last week, staying alive for a wild-card playoff spot. Chad Johnson has come alive in the last two games with 17 catches for 450 yards and five touchdowns, three more scores than he had in the first seven games.

The Browns surrendered 21 points in the fourth quarter and lost to the Steelers after holding a 20-10 lead. ``I want to cry right now,'' said Joshua Cribbs, whose 92-yard kickoff return interrupted the Pittsburgh scoring binge.

Houston (3-7) at New York Jets (5-5)

The Texans, who lost to the Giants at the Meadowlands three weeks ago, have only one win against a team other than Jacksonville.

The Jets have been much better than that, but lost their chance last week when Eric Mangini elected to try an onside kick after a scoreless half against the Bears. Chad Pennington has been coming under fire lately after subpar games in losses to Cleveland and Chicago.

Oakland (2-8) at San Diego (8-2)

The Chargers, who won 27-0 in Oakland, are the first team ever to come back in consecutive weeks from 21- and 17-point deficits. The first game was in Cincinnati, the second in Denver, giving them the lead in the AFC West over the Broncos.

Oakland finally got Aaron Brooks back at quarterback last week. The Raiders still lost, 17-13 to Kansas City, and running back LaMont Jordan went down with a knee injury that could sideline him for the rest of the season.

Arizona (2-8) at Minnesota (4-6)

The Vikings actually have a longer losing streak than the Cardinals, who broke an eight-game skid last week by beating Detroit 17-10, Matt Leinart's first win as an NFL starter. Minnesota has lost four in a row despite a run defence that's allowed just 2.8 yards per carry and 60 yards a game, both best in the NFL.

Denver (7-3) at Kansas City (6-4) (Thursday)

The second- and third-place teams in the AFC West, the NFL's strongest division. Both could get wild-card spots, although the winner here will have an edge. Denver won the first game, 9-6 in overtime.

This Thursday night game also is the first of eight to be televised live by the NFL Network and exists in part because of the desire among other teams, besides Detroit and Dallas, to host Thanksgiving games.

Tampa Bay (3-7) at Dallas (6-4) (Thursday)

The Cowboys' win over the Colts moved them into a tie with the Giants in the NFC East and made them 3-1 since Tony Romo he took over for Drew Bledsoe. So far, he's shown a lot of positives and few negatives.

Bruce Gradkowski got the victory against Washington last week, one of three rookie quarterbacks to win (Leinart and Young were the others.) It was the first time that's happened since 1983, when Hall of Famers John Elway and Dan Marino, plus Tony Eason all had victories in the same week.

Miami (4-6) at Detroit (2-8) (Thursday)

Joey Harrington's return to Detroit is the main attraction. He and the Dolphins have won three straight, although the running of Ronnie Brown and the defence _ especially Jason Taylor _ are the main reasons.

Harrington was booed continually when he was Lions QB, and cornerback Dre' Bly blamed him last season when coach Steve Mariucci was fired after a Thanksgiving Day loss. ``I ain't talking this week,'' Bly said.