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Showdowns, Grudge Matches Top NFL Fare

NEW YORK -- Philadelphia visits Dallas on Sunday to decide first place in the National Football Conference Eastern division, while Deion Sanders' Atlanta homecoming is shaping up as a grudge match that offers pole position in the NFC West to the winner.


In the American Football Conference, hot-handed Stan Humphries will try to maintain San Diego's unbeaten record when it visits New Orleans, as other teams try to keep pace with the surprising Cleveland Browns, who reached 5-1 for the first time since 1965 with an 11-8 victory on the road over the Houston Oilers on Thursday night.


The defending Super Bowl champion Cowboys are coming off a 38-3 divisional thrashing of Arizona last week. The Eagles, who beat the Redskins 21-17 last week, will give the ball to running back Charlie Garner, bidding for his third consecutive 100-yard game.


Sanders, the three-time Pro Bowl cornerback who spent five seasons in Atlanta, returns to the Georgia Dome on Sunday when the 49ers meet the Falcons. Both teams are 4-2 and tied for the top spot in the NFC West.


"Hopefully, I'll get booed,'' said Sanders, playing in his fifth game since signing with the 49ers on Sept. 15. "There'll be some mixed emotions, but I'm sure I'll get booed.''


Linebacker Jessie Tuggle said he and others resented the special status afforded Sanders, who was allowed to miss the first few weeks of football season to finish his baseball duties with the Cincinnati Reds.


Atlanta receiver Andre Rison -- who will match up against Sanders on Sunday -- also was critical of his former teammate, saying Sanders wasn't much of a team player.


In other games Sunday, Cincinnati tries for its first win of the season at Pittsburgh, Indianapolis takes on Buffalo, the Raiders visit Miami, New England battles the Jets, the Rams host the Giants, and Arizona and Washington duke it out for last place in the NFC East.


On Thursday night, Cleveland used Vinny Testaverde's 25-yard touchdown pass to Mark Carrier, a two-point conversion and a field goal for an 11-8 victory over Houston. The Browns won their fourth straight game. The Oikers only avoided their first shutout loss in 18 years on a touchdown with 28 seconds remaining. (AP., MT)

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