Raiders (2-2) at Bears (0-3)
Time: Noon Sunday, WBBM-Ch. 2, WBBM-AM 780.
Line: Raiders by 4.
Last meeting: Raiders won 24-17 at Oakland on Sept. 26, 1999.
Key stat: Bears’ losses have come by average of 22.7 points per game.
Players to watch: Anthony Thomas, averaging 6.1 yards per carry after 67-yard TD run vs. Green Bay, may be getting back to 2001 form. Raiders’ Rich Gannon has thrown only one interception in 138 passes.
The buzz: The Bears haven’t rushed the passer well and haven’t been opportunistic in the secondary. Gannon should have plenty of time to find Jerry Rice and Tim Brown open. Bears’ best hope is to control the ball with Thomas.
Bannon’s pick: Raiders 27, Bears 17.
Cardinals (1-3) at Cowboys (2-1)
Time: Noon.
Line: Cowboys by 7.
Last meeting: Cardinals won 9-6 in OT at Arizona on Oct. 20, 2002.
Key stat: Cowboys have beaten Cardinals 12 straight at home.
Players to watch: Cardinals’ Emmitt Smith, averaging a modest 3.3 yards per carry, goes back to Dallas. His replacement, Troy Hambrick, isn’t making them forget Smith, averaging 3.9 per attempt.
The buzz: Arguably the biggest surprise of the season so far is that Dallas leads the league in total offense even though Quincy Carter has thrown only 2 TD passes. Cowboys also fourth against the run, so Smith is unlikely to enjoy his homecoming.
Bannon’s pick: Cowboys 30, Cardinals 20.
Dolphins (2-1) at Giants (2-1)
Time: Noon.
Line: Pick ’em.
Last meeting: Giants won 17-7 at Miami on Dec. 8, 1996.
Key stat: It’s Dolphins’ No. 13 offense vs. Giants’ No. 32 defense.
Players to watch: Giants’ Kerry Collins off to the fastest start of his career with 6 TD passes in first three games. Ricky Williams averaging a modest 3.7 yards per carry for Dolphins.
The buzz: Giants have overcome offensive line injuries to get off to a good start while Dolphins have played well since opening loss to Houston. If Tiki Barber continues to average 4.7 yards per carry, Giants can control this one.
Bannon’s pick: Giants 20, Dolphins 17.
Vikings (4-0) at Falcons (1-3)
Time: Noon
Line: Vikings by 4.
Last meeting: Falcons won 30-24 in OT at Minnesota on Dec. 1, 2002.
Key stat: Vikings are second in NFL with turnover differential of plus 8.
Players to watch: Vikings’ Moe Williams is averaging 4.7 yards per carry. Falcons’ T. J. Duckett is averaging 5.6, but on only 29 carries.
The buzz: Gus Frerotte has done a better job replacing Daunte Culpepper than Doug Johnson has done filling in for Michael Vick. And the Vikings should be able to run the ball at will anyway.
Bannon’s pick: Vikings 24, Falcons 17.
Seahawks (3-0) at Packers (2-2)
Time: Noon.
Line: Packers by 2.
Last meeting: Seahawks won 27-7 at Green Bay on Nov. 1, 1999.
Key stat: Seahawks lead NFL with turnover differential of plus 12.
Players to watch: Matt Hasselbeck, who has 18 TD passes vs. 8 interceptions in last nine starts, faces the team that traded him. Packers’ Ahman Green is averaging 5.7 yards per carry.
The buzz: Mike Holmgren brings his team back to his old neighborhood for the second time, this time with a hot quarterback. Green is capable of huge plays, as the Bears found out.
Bannon’s pick: Packers 27, Seahawks 24.
Broncos (4-0) at Chiefs (4-0)
Time: Noon.
Line: Chiefs by 3 1/2.
Last meeting: Broncos won 31-24 at Denver on Dec. 15, 2002.
Key stat: Chiefs have won 7 of last 10 vs. Broncos at home.
Players to watch: Jake Plummer has thrown 7 TD passes and no interceptions in the last three games. Chiefs’ Trent Green has 4 TD passes vs. 5 interceptions this season.
The buzz: Early-season showdown for first place in the AFC West. Two high-powered offenses meet, and Chiefs’ Priest Holmes will be the difference. He already has run for 7 TDs.
Bannon’s pick: Chiefs 30, Broncos 27.
Bengals (1-3) at Bills (2-2)
Time: Noon.
Line: Bills by 8.
Last meeting: Bills won 27-0 at Buffalo on Dec. 29, 2002.
Key stat: Bills have won last five meetings.
Players to watch: Bengals’ quarterback Jon Kitna has thrown 4 TD passes vs. zero interceptions in last seven quarters. Bills linebacker Takeo Spikes lines up for the first time against the team with which he refused to re-sign.
The buzz: If Travis Henry returns from a rib injury, Bills should shake out of their offensive slump–they scored just 20 points in losing two straight and have rushed for a total of only 105 yards the last three. Bengals expected to go without banged-up Corey Dillon.
Bannon’s pick: Bills 24, Bengals 17.
Saints (1-3) at Panthers (3-0)
Time: Noon.
Line: Panthers by 6 1/2.
Last meeting: Panthers won 10-6 at New Orleans on Dec. 29, 2002.
Key stat: Panthers are going for their first 4-0 start in their nine-season history.
Players to watch: Deuce McAllister is averaging 4.3 yards per carry for Saints. Ex-New Orleans backup QB Jake Delhomme (4 TD passes, 4 interceptions) makes third start for Panthers.
The buzz: Panthers go for their third victory of the season against an NFC South rival and should get it behind the running of Stephen Davis, who is averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
Bannon’s pick: Panthers 27, Saints 14.
Titans (3-1) at Patriots (2-2)
Time: Noon.
Line: Titans by 1.
Last meeting: Titans won 24-7 at Tennessee on Dec. 16, 2002.
Key stat: Titans are 38-30 on the road under coach Jeff Fisher.
Players to watch: Titans’ Steve McNair leads NFL in passing and has thrown 8 TD passes vs. 1 interception. Patriots’ Tom Brady is struggling with sore elbow and has thrown 5 TD passes vs. 7 interceptions.
The buzz: While other teams get more attention, Titans are floating along with 14 victories in their last 17 games. Titans may even get Eddie George and the running game going against beat-up Patriots defense.
Bannon’s pick: Titans 23, Patriots 17.
Chargers (0-4) at Jaguars (0-4)
Time: 3:05 p.m.
Line: Jaguars by 3.
Last meeting: First meeting between these franchises.
Key stat: Chargers losing by 13.5 points per game, Jaguars by 9.0.
Players to watch: Running backs are these teams’ hopes: Fred Taylor is averaging 4.7 yards per carry for Jaguars, LaDainian Tomlinson 5.2 for Chargers.
The buzz: Early-season showdown to determine AFC’s worst team. Both have been competitive at times. Although Mark Brunell says he’s healthy enough to play, Jaguars going with rookie QB Byron Leftwich, whose fumble set up Texans’ game-winning drive last week.
Bannon’s pick: Jaguars 17, Chargers 16.
Lions (1-3) at 49ers (1-3)
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Line: 49ers by 7.
Last meeting: 49ers won 21-13 at San Francisco on Nov. 4, 2001.
Key stat: Lions haven’t held an opponent to less than 20 points yet.
Players to watch: Terrell Owens leads 49ers with 25 catches for 12-yard average but only one TD. Lions rookie Charles Rogers has 18 catches for 10.7 average and three TDs.
The buzz: The post-Steve Mariucci era isn’t going well in San Francisco. The 49ers have lost three straight since beating the Bears in the opener. Mariucci’s Lions came within 20-16 of the Broncos in Denver last week. Can they win one for Mooch? Almost.
Bannon’s pick: 49ers 24, Lions 23.
Redskins (3-1) at Eagles (1-2)
Time: 3:15 p.m., WFLD-Ch. 32.
Line: Eagles by 5 1/2.
Last meeting: Eagles won 34-21 at Philadelphia on Dec. 15, 2002.
Key stat: Eagles have won last three meetings.
Players to watch: Redskins’ Trung Canidate is averaging a hefty 5.4 yards per carry. Can Brian Westbrook, whose 62-yard run clinched last week’s victory, solve Eagles’ offensive problems?
The buzz: Pivotal early-season NFC East game. All of Redskins’ games have been decided by three points or less, so they’re not as good as their record. Eagles finally showed life last week with victory at Buffalo.
Bannon’s pick: Eagles 24, Redskins 20.
Browns (1-3) at Steelers (2-2)
Time: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, ESPN, WSCR-AM 670.
Line: Steelers by 7.
Last meeting: Steelers won 23-20 at Cleveland on Nov. 3, 2002.
Key stat: Steelers have won last five meetings.
Players to watch: Steelers’ Hines Ward leads NFL with 31 catches, three for TDs. Tim Couch, who threw for 2 TDs in first start of the year a week ago but couldn’t guide Browns past Bengals, gets another chance.
The buzz: Steelers’ defense, second in the NFL and first in the AFC, should dominate this game. Browns’ 14 points against Bengals marked a season-high. It doesn’t seem to matter who plays quarterback for Browns–they can’t score.
Bannon’s pick: Steelers 24, Browns 10.
Last week (straight up): 11-3.
Season (straight up): 40-20.
TO: total offense; RO: Rushing offense; PO: passing offense; TD: total defense; RD: rushing defense; PD: passing defense.
GAME OF THE WEEK: COLTS (4-0) AT BUCCANEERS (2-1)
Bucs’ No. 1 `D’ can contain Indy air show
Time: 8 p.m. Monday, WLS-Ch. 7, WSCR-AM 670.
Line: Bucs by 4 1/2.
Last meeting: Bucs won 31-28 at Indianapolis on Nov. 2, 1997.
Key stat: It’s Colts’ No. 15 offense vs. Bucs’ No. 1 defense.
Players to watch: Peyton Manning leads NFL with 9 TD passes (3 interceptions). Bucs’ Simeon Rice has 4 sacks.
The buzz: If the Bucs hadn’t had an extra point blocked at Carolina, this would be a battle of unbeatens. It remains a possible Super Bowl preview as Colts’ coach Tony Dungy visits his old team. Dungy has rebuilt Colts’ defense, but the one he left behind can contain Manning, et al.
Bannon’s pick: Bucs 23, Colts 17.
