Lions (1-5) at Bears (1-5)
Time: Noon Sunday, WFLD-Ch. 32.
Line: Bears by 3.
Last meeting: Bears won 20-17 in OT at Champaign on Nov. 24, 2002.
Key stat: Bears have been outscored 43-6 in the first quarter.
Players to watch: After completing 19-of-34 against Seattle, the Bears’ quarterback job is Chris Chandler’s to lose. Detroit is sticking with struggling Joey Harrington (7 TDs vs. 10 interceptions).
The buzz: Only a rash of injuries stands between the Bears and their second victory of the season. For all the problems the Bears have, the Lions have more, including a 19-game road losing streak.
Pick: Bears 23, Lions 17.
Panthers (5-1) at Saints (3-4)
Time: Noon.
Line: Saints by 2.
Last meeting: Panthers won 19-13 at Carolina on Oct. 5.
Key stat: Saints have beaten Bears and Falcons by a combined score of 65-30 the last two weeks.
Players to watch: Saints’ Aaron Brooks has climbed to third in the NFC in passing with 10 TD passes and 4 interceptions. Ex-Saint Jake Delhomme returns home having thrown 7 TD passes vs. 5 interceptions.
The buzz: Saints can counter the running of Panthers’ Stephen Davis with Deuce McAllister, and they should know how to exploit the weaknesses of Delhomme, who was their backup before signing with the Panthers.
Pick: Saints 20, Panthers 17.
Browns (3-4) at Patriots (5-2)
Time: Noon.
Line: Patriots by 5 1/2.
Last meeting: Patriots won 27-16 at New England on Dec. 9, 2001.
Key stat: Patriots have won 15 of last 20 at home, where they are 3-0 this season.
Players to watch: Browns’ William Green averaging 3.9 yards per carry. Patriots safety Eugene Wilson, a rookie from Illinois, leads team and NFL rookies with 3 interceptions.
The buzz: Patriots have beaten AFC contenders Miami and Tennessee. Only a letdown following OT victory over Dolphins should stop Patriots against a struggling Cleveland offense.
Pick: Patriots 23, Browns 14.
Broncos (5-2) at Ravens (3-3)
Time: Noon.
Line: Ravens by 1 1/2.
Last meeting: Ravens won 34-23 at Baltimore on Sept. 30, 2002.
Key stat: Ravens are 3-0 vs. Broncos under coach Brian Billick.
Players to watch: Thanks to injuries, Broncos’ Danny Kanell makes his first NFL start in almost three years. Ravens’ Jamal Lewis leads NFL with 843 yards rushing, averaging 6.3 yards per carry.
The buzz: With Jake Plummer and Steve Beuerlein out, it’s up to Kanell, who was unemployed a few weeks ago. Ravens’ offense is limited to Lewis, but that should be enough against Kanell.
Pick: Ravens 20, Broncos 16.
Giants (2-4) at Vikings (6-0)
Time: Noon.
Line: Vikings by 5 1/2.
Last meeting: Giants won 27-20 at Minnesota on Nov. 10, 2002.
Key stat: Vikings lead NFL with turnover differential of plus 13.
Players to watch: Vikings’ Daunte Culpepper leads NFL in passing, mainly because he has thrown 7 TD passes and 0 interceptions. Giants’ Kerry Collins has thrown 7 TD passes vs. 9 interceptions.
The buzz: Giants were expected by some to be the class of the NFC East, but they have scored only 26 points in three games (all losses) since their open date. Vikings, who haven’t been held to less than 23 points all season, should cruise to their 10th straight victory.
Pick: Vikings 30, Giants 17.
Seahawks (5-1) at Bengals (2-4)
Time: Noon.
Line: Seahawks by 1 1/2.
Last meeting: Seahawks won 37-20 at Seattle on Nov. 7, 1999.
Key stat: Seahawks have converted 46.6 percent of third downs, second in the NFL.
Players to watch: Shaun Alexander averaging 4.5 yards per carry for Seahawks; Corey Dillon only 3.3 for Bengals.
The buzz: Dillon has earned some kind of timing award, saying he wants to leave Cincinnati now that the Bengals have won two of their last three. Bengals are rallying around new coach Marvin Lewis, but Mike Holmgren has Seahawks winning close games.
Pick: Seahawks 20, Bengals 17.
Rams (4-2) at Steelers (2-4)
Time: Noon.
Line: Steelers by 1 1/2.
Last meeting: Steelers won 42-6 at Pittsburgh on Nov. 3, 1996.
Key stat: Since their open date, Rams have outscored Falcons and Packers 70-24.
Players to watch: Rams’ Torry Holt leads NFL with 45 catches (36 for first downs) and 7 TD receptions. Steelers giving Jerome Bettis, averaging 2.9 yards per carry, another shot as featured running back.
The buzz: Rams are coming together under Marc Bulger, who has thrown 10 TD passes vs. 7 interceptions. Does Bettis have anything left? Rams finally get a road victory.
Pick: Rams 21, Steelers 17.
Titans (5-2) at Jaguars (1-5)
Time: Noon.
Line: Titans by 3 1/2.
Last meeting: Titans won 28-10 at Jacksonville on Dec. 22, 2002.
Key stat: Titans have won last three meetings.
Players to watch: Titans’ Jevon Kearse is second in AFC with 6 1/2 sacks. Tony Brackens leads Jaguars with 4, one in each of the last two games.
The buzz: With Steve McNair enjoying a huge season (12 TD passes vs. 2 interceptions), the Titans look like a Super Bowl team. Kearse and fellow end Kevin Carter, who had three sacks in last two vs. Jaguars, will be too much for rookie QB Byron Leftwich.
Pick: Titans 27, Jaguars 17.
49ers (3-4) at Cardinals (1-5)
Time: 3:05 p.m.
Line: 49ers by 6 1/2.
Last meeting: 49ers won 17-14 at Arizona on Dec. 21, 2002.
Key stat: 49ers have won last five meetings.
Players to watch: Garrison Hearst averaging 4.8 yards per carry for 49ers; Cardinals getting 3.7 per attempt from Marcel Shipp.
The buzz: Three of the 49ers’ losses have come by a total of five points, meaning they could still get back into the NFC West race. Last week’s victory over Bucs means there may be more here than the record shows. Unless the heat gets to them, it’s a 49ers victory.
Pick: 49ers 27, Cardinals 21.
Texans (2-4) at Colts (5-1)
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Line: Colts by 13.
Last meeting: Colts won 19-3 at Indianapolis on Dec. 1, 2002.
Key stat: Texans didn’t score a touchdown in two losses to Colts last season.
Players to watch: Edgerrin James, who averaged 3.7 yards per carry before injuring his back, is due back in Colts’ lineup. Rookie Domanick Davis is rushing for 4.8 yards per attempt and has taken over as Texans’ featured back.
The buzz: The Colts have done just fine without James; now they have to make sure his return doesn’t break up their chemistry on offense. A home game against the Texans is a good time for the Colts to adjust.
Pick: Colts 27, Texans 16.
Jets (2-4) at Eagles (3-3)
Time: 3:15 p.m., WBBM-Ch. 2.
Line: Eagles by 3.
Last meeting: Eagles won 21-20 at New York on Dec. 14, 1996.
Key stat: Eagles are last in total offense and passing offense.
Players to watch: Jets’ Shaun Ellis leads NFL with 8 sacks; Eagles’ Donovan McNabb has thrown only 2 TD passes vs. 6 interceptions.
The buzz: Will the return of Chad Pennington from a wrist injury spark the Jets’ offense? In his first game back, winning on the road may be asking too much, even against the struggling Eagles’ offense.
Pick: Eagles 20, Jets 16.
Bills (4-3) at Chiefs (7-0)
Time: 7:30 p.m., ESPN.
Line: Chiefs by 6 1/2.
Last meeting: Chiefs won 17-16 at Kansas City on Nov. 17, 2002.
Key stat: Chiefs lead NFL with 20 takeaways, including AFC-best 13 interceptions.
Players to watch: Travis Henry averaging 4.8 yards per carry for Bills. Priest Holmes getting 4.6 for Chiefs, and leads NFL with 9 rushing TDs.
The buzz: Bills’ Travis Henry will have to run like Priest Holmes usually does for the Chiefs to pull off this upset. Chiefs’ opportunistic defense could make it a long night for Drew Bledsoe.
Pick: Chiefs 24, Bills 20.
Dolphins (4-2) at Chargers (1-5)
Time: 8 p.m. Monday, WLS-Ch. 7, WSCR-AM 670.
Line: Dolphins by 3.
Last meeting: Dolphins won 30-3 on Nov. 24, 2002 at Miami.
Key stat: Dolphins have a league-high 37 victories (30 losses) on Monday night football.
Players to watch: LaDainian Tomlinson, who has had rushing days of 200 and 187 yards this season, is averaging 5.7 yards per carry for Chargers. Ricky Williams getting 3.4 for Dolphins.
The buzz: Chargers are the kind of team that is capable of giving the Dolphins fits, but Miami has been resilient on the road this year–3-0, with victories over Giants, Jets and Jaguars. Williams will do enough.
Pick: Dolphins 24, Chargers 20.
Last week (straight up): 9-5.
Season (straight up): 67-35.
GAME OF WEEK: COWBOYS (5-1) AT BUCS (3-3)
Dallas’ 1st challenge: Bucs will be ready
Time: Noon.
Line: Bucs by 6 1/2.
Last meeting: Bucs won 10-6 at Dallas on Sept. 9, 2001.
Key stat: It’s Cowboys’ No. 1 defense vs. Bucs’ third-ranked offense.
Players to watch: Terry Glenn leads Cowboys with 23 catches, 4 for TDs. Bucs’ Brad Johnson leads NFL with 13 TD passes vs. only 6 interceptions.
The buzz: This is a chance for the Cowboys to show they can beat a good team; this is the Bucs’ chance to show they are getting back to the business of defending their Super Bowl title. Bucs are fighting injuries, but Cowboys aren’t ready to win a game like this yet.
Bannon’s pick: Bucs 24, Cowboys 17.
