TWO-MINUTE DRILL

By JIM RHODE

Dec. 18, 2000 12 AM PT

at NEW ORLEANS 23, ATLANTA 7

A playoff berth still isn’t in the bag, but Saints are a certainly long way from being the ‘Aints.

at SAN FRANCISCO 17, CHICAGO 0

It looked like a love-in: Jerry Rice hugging teammatexs and blowing kisses to the crowd. He’ll never be a Raider.

INDIANAPOLIS 20, at MIAMI 13

Colts have overcome a lot the last two weeks to stay alive for a playoff berth. But even if they get into the postseason, they won’t overcome the “Mora Factor.”

DETROIT 10, at NEW YORK JETS 7

Lions have really got the hang of winning ugly as offensive lineman falls on a goal-line fumble for the game-deciding touchdown.

TENNESSEE 24, at CLEVELAND 0

Eddie George skated across the frozen tundra so well that the Predators might give him a stick and put him on their first line.

at KANSAS CITY 20, DENVER 7

Until this game, the Chiefs’ running game resembled a tractor pull. Next season, they’ll unveil a monster truck backfield.

BALTIMORE 13, at ARIZONA 7

The Raven defense continues to be motivated by the fact it can’t allow more than one touchdown if the team is to win with Trent Dilfer at quarterback.

GREEN BAY 33, at MINNESOTA 28

OK, so the ‘Pack isn’t back to where it was three seasons ago. Victory is still a heartbeat away with Brett Favre.

at CINCINNATI 17, JACKSONVILLE 14

Bengals devise plan to slow down Fred Taylor and Co.--don’t re-sod the field for two weeks or cover it overnight with an impending storm. Call this win a snow job.

NEW ENGLAND 13, at BUFFALO 10 (OT)

“Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.” Or is that disgruntled Doug Flutie muttering under his breath, “Let me go, let me go, let me go.”

at CAROLINA 30, SAN DIEGO 22

Chargers could have broken out into a pregame chant of “Fight on for old Ri-ley,” but they know that rah-rah stuff doesn’t work in the NFL.

NEW YORK GIANTS 17, at DALLAS 13

Next time, Expressway Jim Fassel should make a bolder guarantee like Broadway Joe Namath.

OPEN DATE: PHILADELPHIA

This was actually the second open date the Eagles have had--they played the Browns in Week 15.

SATURDAY: PITTSBURGH 24, WASHINGTON 3; SEATTLE 27, OAKLAND 24

Day goes from crying a Three Rivers of tears in Pittsburgh to the Raiders crying foul in Seattle.