The Dallas Cowboys will find out Sunday whether Tony Romo, back from his broken pinkie, can be as effective against one of the NFL's elite teams as he has been against also-rans.

Dallas has won three straight since Romo returned, but the last two have been at home against San Francisco and Seattle, who have won six games between them. This week, the Cowboys go to Pittsburgh to take on the AFC North-leading Steelers (9-3), who beat the Patriots 33-10 in Foxborough last week when they forced five straight turnovers to start the second half.

Romo seems fine now, but two of Dallas' best players have injury problems: linebacker DeMarcus Ware and running back Marion Barber. Ware injured a knee and Barber a foot in the Thanksgiving Day win over the Seahawks, although both say they expect to play.

While they've won only one more game than Dallas (8-4), the Steelers are in a better position in the standings, a game up on Baltimore with four to go in the AFC North. They can clinch a playoff spot with a win and a combination of other developments. The Cowboys trail the Giants by three in the NFC East and are basically playing for a wild-card playoff spot; one more win by New York clinches the division.

"I think we are kind of a nicely boring team," Pittsburgh defensive end Aaron Smith said. "We just come out and find a way to win."

That might apply to the Pittsburgh offense. But not the defense, where outside linebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley have accounted for 25 1/2 sacks between them. Harrison has 14 sacks, one off the team record, and six forced fumbles, two of them last week against New England.

Still, Dallas' three straight wins after four losses in six games have the Cowboys in a positive frame of mind. Their theme for the last month has been reversing what happened last year, when they got home-field advantage for the playoffs, lost to the Giants in their first playoff game, then watched New York go on to win the Super Bowl.

"I think the physical health is getting better, but mentally we've got the right approach," tight end Jason Witten said. "That doesn't guarantee wins, but what it does for us is help us understand what the challenges are. I think this team is excited about the opportunity it has, and really it's almost kind of like we're the underdog during the whole thing."

Including Sunday against the Steelers.

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The weekend began with San Diego's 34-7 win over Oakland. The Chargers (5-8) snapped a three-game losing streak and won for just the second time in seven games. It was San Diego's 11th straight win over the Raiders. Oakland (3-10) reached double digit losses for the sixth straight year.

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The Giants, Arizona and Tennessee can clinch their divisions this week.

New York wins the NFC East by beating Philadelphia at home or if Dallas loses to Pittsburgh. The Giants also clinch a first-round playoff bye with a win.

Arizona wins the NFC West with a win at home over St. Louis or a San Francisco loss at home to the New York Jets. Tennessee clinches the AFC South with a victory at home against Cleveland or an Indianapolis loss at home to Cincinnati.

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In other Sunday games, Minnesota is at Detroit; Houston at Green Bay; Atlanta at New Orleans; Jacksonville at Chicago; Miami vs. Buffalo at Toronto; New England at Seattle; and Washington at Baltimore

Tampa Bay is at Carolina on Monday night.

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Philadelphia (6-5-1) at New York Giants (11-1)

The game itself is overshadowed by Plaxico Burress' suspension by the Giants following his arrest on gun possession charges this week. In fact, New York has won the three games Burress has missed this season by a total of 62 points.

"Every time Plaxico doesn't play, those receivers sure seem to play well," Eagles coach Andy Reid says.

The Eagles put themselves in desperation mode by tying the lowly Bengals and losing to Baltimore after Reid benched Donovan McNabb at halftime. So they probably have to win out to have a shot at a wild-card berth. Not easy against a team that's won seven straight, six over winning teams, including a 36-31 victory in Philadelphia less than a month ago.

Tampa Bay (9-3) at Carolina (9-3) (Monday night)

For the NFC South lead. If the Bucs win, they get what is essentially a 1 1/2-game lead because they beat the Panthers 27-3 in Tampa on Oct. 12.

The Bucs also have a 3-1 record within the division, another tiebreaker that could come into play in a three-way race with the Falcons. Next week, they are at Atlanta, a game behind the two leaders.

Steve Smith, whose remarkable catch set up the winning touchdown in a 35-31 shootout in Green Bay last week, took that win lightly. Not this game.

"It just means we're 9-3," Smith said of the Green Bay win. "It's nothing to go start making T-shirts about. It's just a record. We've got a very good opponent coming in our house Monday night. That's our next focus."

Atlanta (8-4) at New Orleans (6-6)

The other half of the NFC South, a division that might send three teams to the playoffs _ something that was supposed to happen in the NFC East.

Matt Ryan, the Falcons' remarkable rookie quarterback, is probably the leading candidate for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year right now. But he's been so good _ bunched with Eli Manning and Aaron Rodgers in the passer ratings _ that there is talk now of him as an MVP candidate.

That was supposed to be the province of Drew Brees, who remains on track to surpass Dan Marino's mark of 5,084 yards passing in a season. But it's hard to win an MVP from last place in your division.

Washington (7-5) at Baltimore (8-4)

The Beltway rivalry, moved from daytime to prime time, is a critical game to the playoff hopes of both teams.

The Ravens have a decent shot at winning the AFC North because they still have a home game with the Steelers and both teams have difficult closing schedules. Joe Flacco, a remarkable rookie quarterback like Ryan, has been holding up well.

The Redskins made the postseason at 9-7 last season, but that probably won't be good enough in the NFC this year. Right now, they are chasing the Cowboys and the NFC South teams for a wild-card berth and Clinton Portis, their main offensive weapon, has been playing hurt.

New York Jets (8-4) at San Francisco (4-8)

Miami (7-5) vs Buffalo (6-6) (at Toronto)

New England (7-5) at Seattle (2-10)

The AFC East in capsule, with the top three teams all legitimate contenders for the division title and wild-card spots.

The Jets let Miami back in the race by losing to the Broncos last week. That means the season finale, when the Dolphins come to the Meadowlands, could be for the division title. .

The Dolphins also get something of an advantage by going to Toronto for their game with the Bills. For one, it will be played inside, giving Miami a better chance than it might have had in December weather in Buffalo. For another, Toronto is home to a lot of Dolphins fans, which means the cheering sections will be more equal than they would be two hours to the south. Continued...