Bears (1-4) at Seahawks (4-1)
Time: 3:15 p.m. Sunday, WFLD-Ch. 32, WBBM-AM 780.
Line: Seahawks by 11.
Last meeting: Seahawks won 14-13 at Chicago on Sept. 19, 1999.
Key stat: Seahawks lead NFL with turnover differential of plus 10; Bears are minus 7.
Players to watch: Chris Chandler gets first start of season for Bears. Matt Hasselbeck has won 8 of his last 11 starts, with 19 TD passes vs. 10 interceptions in that span.
The buzz: The loss of Anthony Thomas and possibly Marty Booker is more than the Bears can make up, even if Chandler gives the offense a spark. Adrian Peterson gets a chance to show what he can do.
Pick: Seahawks 27, Bears 13.
Saints (2-4) at Falcons (1-5)
Time: Noon.
Line: Saints by 1 1/2.
Last meeting: Falcons won 24-17 at Atlanta on Nov. 17, 2002.
Key stat: Falcons have won three of last four vs. Saints.
Players to watch: Former Illinois quarterback Kurt Kittner gets his first NFL start. Saints’ Aaron Brooks has thrown 7 TD passes vs. 4 interceptions.
The buzz: As Michael Vick continues to heal, Falcons are scrambling for answers. Kittner gets his chance to show everyone he should have been drafted before the fifth round last year. That won’t help the Falcons stop Deuce McAllister.
Pick: Saints 23, Falcons 17.
Titans (4-2) at Panthers (5-0)
Time: Noon.
Line: Panthers by 1 1/2.
Last meeting: Panthers won 31-6 at Houston on Nov. 24, 1996.
Key stat: Panthers trying to match franchise record with seventh straight victory
Players to watch: Titans’ Steve McNair is the NFL’s top passer (11 TDs, 2 interceptions, 107.8 rating). Jake Delhomme off to a modest start for Panthers (5 TDs, 5 interceptions, 71.8 rating).
The buzz: After an emotional victory at Indianapolis, Carolina has to guard against a letdown and shut down the McNair-to-Derrick Mason combination. Panthers have to generate a better passing game.
Pick: Titans 24, Panthers 21.
Ravens (3-2) at Bengals (1-4)
Time: Noon.
Line: Ravens by 2.
Last meeting: Ravens won 27-23 at Cincinnati on Dec. 1, 2002.
Key stat: Ravens have won 9 of last 10 vs. Bengals.
Players to watch: Jamal Lewis leads NFL with 742 yards rushing and is averaging 6.5 yards per carry. Bengals’ Corey Dillon, averaging 3.7 yards, is due back in the lineup.
The buzz: Although the Ravens have virtually no passing game with rookie Kyle Boller, their running game and defense have done the job. Unless Dillon comes around, Ravens should squeak out another one against the Bengals and coach Marvin Lewis, their former defensive coordinator.
Pick: Ravens 17, Bengals 13.
Chargers (0-5) at Browns (3-3)
Time: Noon.
Line: Browns by 5 1/2.
Last meeting: Browns won 20-16 at Cleveland on Oct. 7, 2001.
Key stat: Chargers haven’t held anybody under 24 points.
Players to watch: Browns end Courtney Brown already has a career-high 5 sacks. Chargers’ LaDainian Tomlinson averaging 5.1 yards per carry.
The buzz: Chargers haven’t been able to stop anybody, so why should they start now? Browns know running back William Green is the key to their offense.
Pick: Browns 24, Chargers 17.
Cowboys (4-1) at Lions (1-4)
Time: Noon.
Line: Cowboys by 3.
Last meeting: Lions won 9-7 at Detroit on Nov. 3, 2002.
Key stat: Lions have averaged 10.5 points the last four games.
Players to watch: Cowboys’ Quincy Carter has thrown only 4 TD passes, but his development is one of the stories of the season. Lions’ Joey Harrington has thrown 7 TD passes vs. 8 interceptions.
The buzz: Under Bill Parcells, the Cowboys have learned how to win, at least against the soft schedule they have played so far. After this game, Cowboys face mostly contenders, but they’re on their way to their first 5-1 start since 1995.
Pick: Cowboys 20, Lions 16.
Patriots (4-2) at Dolphins (4-1)
Time: Noon.
Line: Dolphins by 5 1/2.
Last meeting: Patriots won 27-24 in OT at New England on Dec. 29, 2002.
Key stat: Dolphins have won last five meetings in Miami.
Players to watch: Miami’s Ricky Williams is carrying the ball a stunning 27 times a game, averaging 3.4 yards per carry. New England’s Kevin Faulk averaging 4.5 yards per carry.
The buzz: Since losing their opener to the Texans, Dolphins have been amazingly consistent, winning by 11, 10, 13 and 14 points–and not allowing more than 10. Patriots will make it interesting.
Pick: Dolphins 24, Patriots 17.
Eagles (2-3) at Giants (2-3)
Time: Noon.
Line: Giants by 2 1/2.
Last meeting: Giants won 10-7 in OT at New York on Dec. 28, 2002.
Key stat: Eagles have won 19 of last 26 on the road (1-1 this year).
Players to watch: The struggling quarterbacks: Eagles’ Donovan McNabb has thrown 2 TD passes vs. 5 interceptions; Giants’ Kerry Collins has 6 TD passes vs. 9 interceptions.
The buzz: It’s still early, but loser of this game will have trouble climbing back into the playoff race. Giants have scored just 16 points in two losses since their week off and their special teams are a mess.
Pick: Eagles 20, Giants 17.
Packers (3-3) at Rams (3-2)
Time: Noon, WFLD-Ch. 32.
Line: Rams by 4.
Last meeting: Rams won NFC divisional playoff game 45-17 at St. Louis on Jan. 20, 2002.
Key stat: Rams have won nine straight home games.
Players to watch: Marc Bulger, 9-2 as the Rams’ starter, has thrown 7 TD passes vs. 5 interceptions. In the last three games, Brett Favre has completed 72 percent of his passes with 7 TD passes and 2 interceptions.
The buzz: Will Packers still be reeling from blowing that 17-point lead to the Chiefs? Given Favre’s 11-19 regular-season record in games in domes, will it matter?
Pick: Rams 28, Packers 23.
Redskins (3-3) at Bills (3-3)
Time: Noon.
Line: Bills by 3.
Last meeting: Bills won 34-17 at Washington on Nov. 7, 1999.
Key stat: Bills have averaged only 11.3 points in last four games (1-3).
Players to watch: The quarterbacks: Bills’ Drew Bledsoe has thrown 5 TDs vs. 4 interceptions; Redskins’ Patrick Ramsey has thrown 7 TDs vs. 6 interceptions.
The buzz: If the Redskins’ Trung Canidate can match his season average of 4.8 yards per carry, Washington should be able to control the ball and the game. Bills’ offense in trouble.
Pick: Redskins 23, Bills 20.
Jets (1-4) at Texans (2-3)
Time: 3:05 p.m.
Line: Jets by 3.
Last meeting: First meeting between these franchises.
Key stat: Texans have allowed at least 20 points in every game.
Players to watch: Jets’ Vinny Testaverde having a solid season (5 TDs vs. 2 interceptions). Texans’ David Carr has thrown only 5 TD passes vs. 8 interceptions.
The buzz: Last week’s victory at Buffalo may not have turned the season around, but it showed the Jets can move the ball. Texans continue to put up the good fight but Carr is throwing interceptions.
Pick: Jets 27, Texans 17.
Bucs (3-2) at 49ers (2-4)
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Line: Bucs by 3 1/2.
Last meeting: Bucs won 13-6 at Tampa on Aug. 31, 1997.
Key stat: Bucs have scored an average of 34 points the last three games (2-1).
Players to watch: Tampa Bay’s Simeon Rice leads NFL with 8 sacks. Linebacker Julian Peterson leads 49ers with 3 sacks.
The buzz: Only Indianapolis has been able to do anything against the Bucs’ defense, and the struggling 49ers don’t figure to pile up the points. With a league-high 12 TD passes, Brad Johnson directs an improving offense.
Pick: Bucs 27, 49ers 20.
Chiefs (6-0) at Raiders (2-4)
Time: 8 p.m. Monday, WLS-Ch. 7, WSCR-AM 670.
Line: Chiefs by 3 1/2.
Last meeting: Raiders won 24-0 at Oakland on Dec. 28, 2002.
Key stat: Raiders have won 6 of last 7 vs. Chiefs.
Players to watch: Priest Holmes leads Chiefs in receiving (27 catches) as well as rushing (564 yards). Charlie Garner averaging 4.7 yards per carry for Raiders.
The buzz: Normally, the Raiders could be expected to beat an AFC West rival in a Monday night game. But these Raiders have beaten only the Chargers and Bengals and have a severe case of post-Super Bowl-losing malaise, a sometimes fatal condition.
Pick: Chiefs 27, Raiders 17.
GAME OF THE WEEK: BRONCOS (4-1) AT VIKINGS (5-0)
With Culpepper back, Vikings have big edge
Time: Noon, WBBM-Ch. 2.
Line: Vikings by 3 1/2.
Last meeting: Vikings won 23-20 at Denver on Oct. 31, 1999.
Key stat: Vikings winning by an average of 13.4 points.
Players to watch: Daunte Culpepper, who returns from a back injury that forced him to miss two games, has thrown 5 TD passes and zero interceptions in 69 passes. Clinton Portis averaging 5.7 yards for Broncos.
The buzz: Jake Plummer’s broken foot and linebacker Ian Gold’s season-ending knee injury take some of the glitter off this matchup. Veteran backup Steve Beuerlein is capable, but Broncos need big plays to pull off this upset. Vikings built a complete team quickly.
Pick: Vikings 30, Broncos 17.
———-
Last week (straight up): 9-5
Season (straight up): 58-30
