Packers (1-2) at Bears (0-2)
Time: 8 p.m. Monday, WLS-Ch. 7, WBBM-AM 780.
Line: Packers by 4.
Last meeting: Packers won 30-20 at Green Bay on Dec. 1, 2002.
Key stat: Bears have lost nine straight home games to Packers.
Players to watch: Which slumping quarterback will get his game together: Brett Favre has thrown 4 touchdown passes vs. 6 interceptions; Kordell Stewart has thrown 2 touchdown passes vs. 3 interceptions.
The buzz: Once the party atmosphere of opening a new stadium wears off, the Bears will have to deal with reality. Their rushing defense is last in the league, and Ahman Green is averaging 4.5 yards per carry.
Bannon’s pick: Packers 24, Bears 17.
Cardinals (1-2) at Rams (1-2)
Time: Noon.
Line: Rams by 10 1/2.
Last meeting: Rams won 30-28 at St. Louis on Dec. 15, 2002.
Key stat: Rams haven’t held an opponent to less than 23 points yet.
Players to watch: Rams’ Lamar Gordon, averaging 5.1 yards per carry in limited action, takes over from injured Marshall Faulk. Emmitt Smith averaging only 3.6 yards per carry for Cardinals.
The buzz: No Kurt Warner. No Marshall Faulk. These are not the Rams you have known. Despite last week’s upset of the Packers, these are pretty much the Cardinals you have known, although Jeff Blake-to-Anquan Boldin is a solid passing combination.
Bannon’s pick: Rams 27, Cardinals 20.
Titans (2-1) at Steelers (2-1)
Time: Noon.
Line: Steelers by 3.
Last meeting: Titans won AFC divisional playoff at Nashville, 34-31 in OT, on Jan. 11, 2003.
Key stat: Titans have zero interceptions.
Players to watch: Both quarterbacks are off to good starts: Steve McNair has thrown 5 touchdown passes vs. 1 interception; Tommy Maddox has thrown 5 touchdown passes vs. 4 interceptions while completing 70-of-110.
The buzz: Titans’ Jeff Fisher vs. Steelers’ Bill Cowher has become one of the NFL’s top coaching matchups, and Tennessee has won 10 of the last 13 meetings. Can Steelers control the ball with the running of Amos Zereoue and Jerome Bettis?
Bannon’s pick: Steelers 24, Titans 23.
Jaguars (0-3) at Texans (1-2)
Time: Noon.
Line: Jaguars by 3.
Last meeting: Jaguars won 24-21 at Houston on Nov. 17, 2002.
Key stat: Jaguars have been outscored 61-30 in last two losses (Bills, Colts).
Players to watch: Jaguars may give rookie quarterback Byron Leftwich his first start. Texans giving playing time to rookie running back Tony Hollings.
The buzz: Mark Brunell’s elbow injury may give Leftwich, who has looked good in garbage time, a chance. Except for the first half of the opener, Jaguars have looked like one of the NFL’s worst teams.
Bannon’s pick: Texans 21, Jaguars 20.
Eagles (0-2) at Bills (2-1)
Time: Noon.
Line: Bills by 3.
Last meeting: Bills won 26-0 at Buffalo on Sept. 26, 1999.
Key stat: Eagles have won 21 of last 23 when they score 20 points.
Players to watch: Can the Bills’ Drew Bledsoe bounce back from an off game at Miami to continue a season that looks promising? Will Eagles’ Donovan McNabb throw his first touchdown pass (3 interceptions)?
The buzz: Eagles had a week off to contemplate their offensive offense, which has produced 10 points in two games. Bills may have trouble running the ball if Travis Henry is slowed by a rib injury, but Bledsoe can move the offense anyway.
Bannon’s pick: Bills 23, Eagles 16.
Patriots (2-1) at Redskins (2-1)
Time: Noon, WBBM-Ch. 2.
Line: Redskins by 3.
Last meeting: Redskins won 27-22 at New England on Oct. 13, 1996.
Key stat: Pats’ victories have come over teams with combined 0-5 record (Jets, Eagles).
Players to watch: Redskins’ Laveranues Coles has had at least 100 yards receiving in all three games. Running back Kevin Faulk leads Pats with 10 catches for 96 yards.
The buzz: Patriots’ defense has been devastated by injuries and is running out of linebackers, which may prompt the return to a 4-3 alignment. Pats’ Tom Brady has an injured elbow; Redskins’ Patrick Ramsey has thrown for a league-high 889 yards.
Bannon’s pick: Redskins 27, Patriots 17.
Bengals (0-3) at Browns (1-2)
Time: Noon.
Line: Browns by 4 1/2.
Last meeting: Browns won 27-20 at Cincinnati on Nov. 17, 2002.
Key stat: Browns have beaten the Bengals three straight.
Players to watch: Bengals’ Corey Dillon has rushed for 941 yards and 5 touchdowns in eight games vs. Browns. Browns’ Kevin Johnson has 44 receptions for a 16.3-yard average in eight games vs. Bengals.
The buzz: Tim Couch replaces the injured Kelly Holcomb and gets another chance to show he can be the Browns’ starter. Bengals still winless under Marvin Lewis, but were competitive vs. Raiders and Steelers.
Bannon’s pick: Browns 20, Bengals 17.
49ers (1-2) at Vikings (3-0)
Time: Noon, WFLD-Ch. 32.
Line: Off.
Last meeting: Vikings won 40-16 at Minnesota on Oct. 24, 1999.
Key stat: Vikings are the 10th team since 1970 to begin the season with three division victories.
Players to watch: Two of the NFL’s top receivers: Terrell Owens leads 49ers with 20 catches for 12.2 avg. and 1 touchdown. Randy Moss has 16 catches for 16.4-avg. and 1 touchdown.
The buzz: Daunte Culpepper leads the NFL in passing but a sore back may keep him out. Enter Gus Frerotte, who threw 1 touchdown in relief of Culpepper last week. San Francisco’s offensive line still fighting injuries.
Bannon’s pick: Vikings 23, 49ers 17.
Chargers (0-3) at Raiders (1-2)
Time: 3:05 p.m.
Line: Raiders by 7.
Last meeting: Raiders won 27-7 at Oakland on Dec. 8, 2002.
Key stat: Raiders have won 9 of last 11 vs. Chargers.
Players to watch: Chargers’ Drew Brees struggling with 3 touchdown passes vs. 6 interceptions. Raiders’ Rich Gannon hasn’t thrown an interception in 95 passes, but has thrown for only 516 yards.
The buzz: Raiders were embarrassed in 21-point loss at Denver on Monday night and will make the Chargers pay. San Diego isn’t generating much offense and is losing by a gaudy 17 points per game.
Bannon’s pick: Raiders 30, Chargers 13.
Cowboys (1-1) at Jets (0-3)
Time: 3:05 p.m.
Line: Jets by 3.
Last meeting: Jets won 22-21 at Dallas on Dec. 19, 1999.
Key stat: Jets have scored only 39 points in three games.
Players to watch: Cowboys’ Joey Galloway has 10 catches for 18.2-yard average in first two games. Jets’ Shaun Ellis is second in the NFL with four sacks.
The buzz: After a week off, Bill Parcells brings his team back to the Meadowlands, where it beat the Giants two weeks ago. Until Jets find a way to score, they will have trouble winning, even at home.
Bannon’s pick: Cowboys 17, Jets 13.
Falcons (1-2) at Panthers (2-0)
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Line: Panthers by 6.
Last meeting: Falcons won 41-0 at Carolina on Nov. 24, 2002.
Key stat: Falcons have beaten the Panthers six straight.
Players to watch: Panthers’ Mike Rucker has three sacks in two games. Falcons’ Doug Johnson has thrown 4 touchdown passes vs. 6 interceptions.
The buzz: Carolina is in position to start 3-0 for the second straight year. Stephen Davis, averaging 4.6 yards per carry, should find room against Atlanta’s 26th-ranked rushing defense.
Bannon’s pick: Panthers 20, Falcons 13.
Lions (1-2) at Broncos (3-0)
Time: 3:15 p.m., WFLD-Ch. 32.
Line: Broncos by 12.
Last meeting: Broncos won 17-7 at Detroit on Dec. 25, 1999.
Key stat: Broncos have beaten Bengals, Chargers and Raiders by an average of 21 points.
Players to watch: Rookie Charles Rogers leads Lions with 14 catches but is averaging only 9.3 yards per reception. Broncos’ Bertrand Berry leads NFL with 4 1/2 sacks.
The buzz: Broncos are taking advantage of a soft early schedule to establish Jake Plummer as their quarterback and should breeze past Lions, who have lost 17 straight on the road.
Bannon’s pick: Broncos 30, Lions 16.
Colts (3-0) at Saints (1-2)
Time: 7:30 p.m., ESPN, WSCR-AM 670.
Line: Colts by 1 1/2.
Last meeting: Saints won 34-20 at New Orleans on Nov. 18, 2001.
Key stat: It’s Saints’ No. 25-ranked offense vs. Colts’ No. 5-ranked defense.
Players to watch: Can Colts’ Edgerrin James improve his average of 3.7 yards per carry? Can Saints’ Deuce McAllister do better than 3.8 yards per carry?
The buzz: Saints’ only victory came in their only home game, against Houston. Colts might be ripe for an upset after fast start. But their defense has allowed only 26 points in three games and Saints haven’t shown much offensive spark.
Bannon’s pick: Colts 23, Saints 14.
GAME OF THE WEEK: CHIEFS (3-0) AT RAVENS (2-1)
Dueling backfields in Chiefs’ first test
Time: 3:05 p.m. Sunday.
Line: Chiefs by 3.
Last meeting: Chiefs won 35-8 at Baltimore on Oct. 21, 1999.
Key stat: Chiefs have won by an average of 20.7 points per game.
Players to watch: Priest Holmes, a former Raven, is averaging 4.8 yards per carry for Chiefs. Jamal Lewis leads NFL with 496 yards rushing and is averaging 7.3.
The buzz: Chiefs have emerged as one of the NFL’s top teams, but this is the first in a series of games that will test their mettle–next up is Denver, then at Green Bay and Oakland, then back home vs. Buffalo. Can Ravens’ defense carry the team as rookie quarterback Kyle Boller learns? Not in this one
Bannon’s pick: Chiefs 27, Ravens 23.
Last week’s record (straight up): 10-4.
Season-to-date (straight up): 29-17.
