Steelers (11-5-1) at Titans (11-5)
TV/radio: WBBM-Ch. 2, WMVP-AM 1000, 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
Line: Titans by 4.
Last meeting: Titans won 31-23 at Nashville on Nov. 17.
Key stat: Titans have won eight of last 10 vs. Steelers.
Worth watching: Steelers’ Hines Ward, who was second in NFL with 112 catches, added 11 in wild-card win over Cleveland. Titans’ Eddie George, averaging a modest 3.4 yards per carry this season, has averaged 108 yards in five playoff games.
Outlook: With 10 wins in their last 11 games, no playoff team is hotter than the Titans. Steelers were very fortunate to get by an average Cleveland team in the first round. Titans are a veteran–but not old–team with Super Bowl experience. And quarterback Steve McNair can make the big plays if needed.
Terry Bannon’s pick: Titans 27, Steelers 17.
How they match up
CATEGORY PITT TENN
Total offense 372.0 (5) 329.5 (17)
Scoring offense 24.4 (8) 22.9 (13)
Rushing offense 132.5 (8) 122.0 (10)
Passing offense 239.5 (7) 207.5 (20)
Total defense 302.1 (7) 310.2 (10)
Scoring defense 21.6 (16) 20.2 (11)
Rushing defense 85.9 (1) 89.0 (2)
Passing defense 216.2 (20) 221.2 (25)
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Note: Regular-season statistics
NFL rank in parentheses
Steelers injuries
OUT: S Mike Logan (injured reserve-knee).
QUESTIONABLE: LB Kendrell Bell (ankle); CB Chad Scott (thumb).
PROBABLE: CB Chidi Iwuoma (knee); G Kendall Simmons (shoulder); DE Kimo Von Oelhoffen (calf); WR Hines Ward (quadricep).
Titans injuries
QUESTIONABLE: T Brad Hopkins (knee); DE Jevon Kearse (foot); CB Donald Mitchell (ankle/foot); G Zach Piller (calf); CB Samari Rolle (ribs); DT Robaire Smith (knee/shoulder); DT John Thornton (ankle).
Falcons (10-6-1) at Eagles (12-4)
TV/radio: WFLD-Ch. 32, WSCR-AM 670, 7 p.m. Saturday.
Line: Eagles by 7 1/2.
Last meeting: Eagles won 38-10 at Philadelphia on Oct. 1, 2000.
Key stat: It’s Eagles’ No. 4-ranked defense vs. Falcons’ No. 14 offense.
Worth watching: How well can Donovan McNabb (17 TD passes vs. six interceptions) play after missing the last six games with an ankle injury? Will Michael Vick (16 TD passes vs. eight interceptions) be able to make his usual assortment of plays against this defense?
Outlook: The Eagles’ defense, led by Hugh Douglas (12 1/2 sacks), should dominate. Despite Vick, Falcons managed just 16 points in two games against Tampa Bay’s defense, which is almost as dominant as Philadelphia’s. McNabb shouldn’t have to bail the Eagles out.
Bannon’s pick: Eagles 20, Falcons 13.
CATEGORY ATL PHI
Total offense 345.9 (14) 350.3 (10)
Scoring offense 25.1 (5) 25.9 (4)
Rushing offense 148.0 (4) 138.8 (7)
Passing offense 197.9 (23) 211.5 (19)
Total defense 333.3 (20) 297.2 (4)
Scoring defense 19.6 (8) 15.1 (2)
Rushing defense 127.9 (23) 103.8 (9)
Passing defense 205.4 (16) 193.4 (7)
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Note: Regular-season statistics
NFL rank in parentheses
Falcons injuries
DOUBTFUL: DT Ellis Johnson (ankle).
QUESTIONABLE: C Roberto Garza (knee).
PROBABLE: G Travis Claridge (concussion).
Eagles injuries
DOUBTFUL: DE Derrick Burgess (foot).
PROBABLE: S Blaine Bishop (groin); QB Donovan McNabb (ankle); WR Todd Pinkston (toe).
Sunday’s games
49ers (11-6) at Buccaneers (12-4)
TV/radio: WFLD-Ch. 32, WSCR-AM 670, noon Sunday.
Line: Bucs by 6.
Last meeting: Bucs won 13-6 at Tampa on Aug. 31, 1997.
Key stats: Bucs 6-2 at home; 49ers 5-3 on the road.
Worth watching: Bucs’ Brad Johnson set team records with 22 TD passes, 62.3 completion percentage and 92.9 passer rating. But will his sore back hold up? San Francisco’s Jeff Garcia threw 21 TD passes vs. 10 interceptions.
Outlook: Thanks to Garcia and Terrell Owens, 49ers can keep up with anyone. But at home, Tampa Bay’s No. 1-ranked defense has been suffocating. Can 49ers block Simeon Rice (14 1/2 sacks)?
Bannon’s pick: Bucs 24, 49ers 17.
How they match up
CATEGORY SF TB
Total offense 356.3 (8) 312.6 (24)
Scoring offense 22.9 (13) 21.6 (17)
Rushing offense 140.2 (6) 97.3 (26)
Passing offense 216.1 (14) 215.3 (15)
Total defense 322.3 (14) 252.7 (1)
Scoring defense 21.9 (18) 12.2 (1)
Rushing defense 103.2 (7) 97.1 (6)
Passing defense 219.1 (22) 155.6 (1)
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Note: Regular-season statistics
NFL rank in parentheses
49ers injuries
QUESTIONABLE: CB Jason Webster (ankle).
PROBABLE: S Zack Bronson (foot); T Derrick Deese (ankle); DE Sean Moran (Achilles); WR Terrell Owens (groin); LB Saleem Rasheed (thigh); G Ron Stone (ankle).
Buccaneers injuries
QUESTIONABLE: WR Charles Lee (foot).
Jets (10-7) at Raiders (11-5)
TV/radio: WBBM-Ch. 2, WMVP-AM 1000, 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
Line: Raiders by 5 1/2.
Last meeting: Raiders won 26-20 at Oakland on Dec. 2.
Key stat: Raiders have won four of five vs. Jets in last four seasons.
Worth watching: The NFL’s top-ranked passers: Jets’ Chad Pennington (22 TDs vs. six interceptions, 104.2 rating) and Raiders Rich Gannon (26 TDs, 10 interceptions, 97.3 rating).
Outlook: Pennington has taken the Jets on quite a ride since losing to the Bears, beating the Patriots, Packers and Colts by a combined 113-34. Raiders’ banged-up secondary could give him some chances. But Gannon will guide the No. 1-ranked offense in what figures to be a shootout.
Bannon’s pick: Raiders 34, Jets 30.
How they match up
CATEGORY NYJ OAK
Total offense 314.7 (22) 389.8 (1)
Scoring offense 22.4 (14) 28.1 (2)
Rushing offense 101.1 (21) 110.1 (17)
Passing offense 213.6 (17) 279.7 (1)
Total defense 341.4 (24) 311.2 (11)
Scoring defense 21.0 (14) 19.0 (6)
Rushing defense 123.3 (18) 90.8 (3)
Passing defense 218.1 (21) 220.4 (23)
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Note: Regular-season statistics
NFL rank in parentheses
Jets injuries
PROBABLE: P Matt Turk (stomach).
Raiders injuries
DOUBTFUL: TE Roland Williams (knee/toe).
QUESTIONABLE: DE Trace Armstrong (groin); T Lincoln Kennedy (groin); RB Tyrone Wheatley (ankle); CB Charles Woodson (leg).
Last week’s record (straight up): 1-3.
Season to date (straight up): 157-102-1.
