Chargers (1-6) at Bears (2-5)
Time: Noon Sunday, WBBM-Ch. 2, WBBM-AM 780.
Line: Bears by 2 1/2.
Last meeting: Bears won 23-20 in OT at San Diego on Nov. 21, 1999.
Key stat: Chargers haven’t held anyone below 20 points all season.
Players to watch: The running backs: Chargers’ LaDainian Tomlinson averaging 5.1 yards per carry, Bears’ Anthony Thomas 5.5.
The buzz: Thomas is due back after missing two games with a foot injury, and with him the Bears can control the ball. Bears’ improving run defense has a shot at containing Tomlinson. Chris Chandler has been steady in first two starts.
Pick: Bears 23, Chargers 17.
Raiders (2-5) at Lions (1-6)
Time: Noon.
Line: Raiders by 3.
Last meeting: Raiders won 37-21 at Oakland on Oct. 13, 1996.
Key stat: Four of Raiders’ losses have been by seven points or less.
Players to watch: Marques Tuiasosopo makes his first start for Raiders. Joey Harrington has thrown only 8 TDs vs. 12 interceptions for Lions.
The buzz: Raiders are 0-4 on the road but had their off week to prepare for the Lions. As if they needed it. Tuiasosopo should have a smooth ride in place of the injured Rich Gannon.
Pick: Raiders 21, Lions 17.
Giants (3-4) at Jets (2-5)
Time: Noon.
Line: Giants by 2 1/2.
Last meeting: Giants won 41-28 at New York (Giants’ home game) on Dec. 5, 1999.
Key stat: Giants have held last three opponents to 17 points or less (one victory).
Players to watch: Giants’ Jeremy Shockey leads NFL tight ends with 37 catches (10.9 avg.). Curtis Martin averaging 4.0 yards per carry for Jets.
The buzz: Giants ended three-game losing streak with upset of Vikings and have chance to build momentum and make a run at a playoff berth. Can Chad Pennington make some big plays for Jets?
Pick: Giants 21, Jets 20.
Panthers (6-1) at Texans (2-5)
Time: Noon.
Line: Panthers by 6 1/2.
Last meeting: First meeting.
Key stat: One of the Panthers’ victories was by 20 points; the other five by an average of 3.2 points.
Players to watch: Panthers’ end Mike Rucker leads AFC with 8 sacks. Texans’ rookie Domanick Davis goes for his third straight 100-yard rushing game.
The buzz: David Carr is out with an ankle injury so Texans have to go with Tony Banks, who hasn’t been able to generate much offense. Panthers’ Stephen Davis could improve his 5.1-yard rushing average.
Pick: Panthers 21, Texans 13.
Jaguars (1-6) at Ravens (4-3)
Time: Noon.
Line: Ravens by 7.
Last meeting: Ravens won 17-10 at Baltimore on Oct. 20, 2002.
Key stat: Ravens have scored 26 points in all three games (two wins) since their week off.
Players to watch: The struggling rookie quarterbacks: Jaguars’ Byron Leftwich (6 TDs vs. 9 INTs) is 25th in passing, Ravens’ Kyle Boller (5 TDs vs. 7 INTs) is 30th.
The buzz: Ravens’ Jamal Lewis, who leads NFL with 977 yards rushing (5.9 avg.), faces a respectable running defense but usually finds a way to get his yards. Ravens remain the best of the weak AFC North.
Pick: Ravens 17, Jaguars 13.
Saints (3-5) at Bucs (4-3)
Time: Noon.
Line: Bucs by 8.
Last meeting: Saints won 23-20 in OT on Dec. 1, 2002.
Key stat: Saints won both meetings last season.
Players to watch: Saints’ Deuce McAllister has rushed for at least 100 yards in last five games. Michael Pittman leads Bucs with 465 yards rushing, averaging 4.3 yards per carry.
The buzz: The Bucs, who have lost twice in OT, are the best 4-3 team the NFL has seen in quite a while. The defense is capable of stopping McAllister, and Brad Johnson can beat the Saints with the short passing game.
Pick: Bucs 24, Saints 17.
Steelers (2-5) at Seahawks (5-2)
Time: 3:05 p.m.
Line: Seahawks by 4 1/2.
Last meeting: Seahawks won 29-10 at Pittsburgh on Sept. 26, 1999.
Key stat: Steelers have lost four straight by an average of 13 points.
Players to watch: Steelers’ Hines Ward is second in AFC in receptions (46) and TD receptions (5). Shaun Alexander averaging 4.4 yards per carry for Seahawks.
The buzz: Steelers continue to fade away in weak AFC North as Tommy Maddox disappoints. Steelers haven’t been able to run the ball and they probably won’t start doing it this week.
Pick: Seahawks 21, Steelers 13.
Bengals (3-4) at Cardinals (2-5)
Time: 3:05 p.m.
Line: Bengals by 3.
Last meeting: Bengals won 24-13 at Cincinnati on Dec. 3, 2000.
Key stat: Bengals have won two straight (Ravens, Seahawks) since their open date.
Players to watch: Marcel Shipp establishing himself as Cardinals’ running back after rushing for 165 yards in last week’s victory over 49ers. Bengals’ Chad Johnson averaging 18.4 yards per reception.
The buzz: Revitalized Bengals hit the road after two home victories over playoff contenders. Cardinals aren’t headed to the playoffs, but the development of Shipp gives them an edge.
Pick: Cardinals 24, Bengals 21.
Redskins (3-4) at Cowboys (5-2)
Time: 3:15 p.m., WFLD-Ch. 32
Line: Cowboys by 4.
Last meeting: Redskins won 20-14 at Washington on Dec. 29, 2002.
Key stat: It’s Cowboys’ No. 1 defense vs. Redskins’ No. 18 offense.
Players to watch: Trung Canidate averaging 4.8 yards per carry for Redskins; Troy Hambrick getting only 3.2 for Cowboys.
The buzz: Redskins coach Steve Spurrier and owner Dan Snyder are feuding again, which doesn’t help heading into an old rivalry game. Although Patrick Ramsey is having a decent year, the Dallas defense should control the game.
Pick: Cowboys 24, Redskins 17.
Eagles (4-3) at Falcons (1-6)
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Line: Eagles by 4 1/2.
Last meeting: Eagles won NFC divisional playoff 20-6 at Philadelphia on Jan. 11.
Key stat: Eagles have won four of five since their week off.
Players to watch: Peerless Price, the Falcons’ big free-agent acquisition, has 31 catches, only 1 TD. James Thrash leads Eagles with 23 catches but has no TDs.
The buzz: It was a week of distractions for Atlanta, with coach Dan Reeves and quarterback Michael Vick publicly disagreeing about how soon he can come back from his broken leg. Eagles are improving gradually and if Correll Buckhalter can produced his second straight 100-yard rushing game, Eagles will cruise.
Pick: Eagles 24, Falcons 16.
Rams (5-2) at 49ers (3-5)
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Line: Rams by 3.
Last meeting: Rams won 27-24 in OT at St. Louis on Sept. 14.
Key stat: Rams have won 8 of last 9 vs. 49ers.
Players to watch: Rams have won 11-of-13 starts by Marc Bulger, who has thrown 11 TDs vs. 7 interceptions this season. Terrell Owens, who has 46 catches this season, has had four 100-yard receiving games vs. Rams.
The buzz: This is 49ers’ last chance to jump back in the NFC West race, but they’re catching the Rams at the wrong time. Having shown they can win an outdoor road game, they should make it two in a row if Bulger hooks up with Torry Holt often enough.
Pick: Rams 27, 49ers 21.
Packers (3-4) at Vikings (6-1)
Time: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, ESPN, WMVP-AM 1000, WTMJ-AM 620
Line: Vikings by 4 1/2.
Last meeting: Vikings won 30-25 at Green Bay on Sept. 7.
Key stat: Vikings have won 4 of last 5 home games vs. Packers.
Players to watch: Vikings’ Randy Moss, who leads NFL with 8 TD catches, has had seven 100-yard receiving days vs. Packers in his six seasons. Running back Ahman Green leads Packers with 30 receptions.
The buzz: Vikings can all but end the NFC North race with a victory. Packers have allowed 74 points in last two weeks to similar pass-oriented teams, the Chiefs and Rams. Packers must regroup to chase a wild-card.
Pick: Vikings 30, Packers 24.
Patriots (6-2) at Broncos (5-3)
Time: 8 p.m. Monday, WLS-Ch. 7, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Broncos by 2.
Last meeting: Broncos won 24-16 at New England on Oct. 27, 2002.
Key stat: Patriots have won four in a row, the last three by an average score of 15-7.
Players to watch: With Jake Plummer still out, Danny Kanell gets a chance to do better than his 28-of-49, two-interception showing in last week’s loss. Broncos defense has allowed only 13.3 points per game in three home games.
The buzz: Patriots have climbed to first in AFC East despite an onslaught of injuries. But Tom Brady is standing and directing an efficient offense.
Pick: Patriots 16, Broncos 13.
Off: Buffalo, Tennessee, Cleveland, Kansas City.
Last week (straight up): 10-4.
Season (straight up): 77-39.
GAME OF THE WEEK: COLTS (6-1) AT DOLPHINS (5-2)
James challenged by top rushing defense
Time: Noon Sunday.
Line: Dolphins by 3.
Last meeting: Dolphins won 21-13 at Indianapolis on Sept. 15, 2002.
Key stat: Road team has won six of last seven meetings in this one-time AFC East rivalry.
Players to watch: Dolphins’ Brian Griese has a sore thumb but will get a chance to repeat the 3-TD pass performance he had Monday. Peyton Manning leads NFL with 15 TD passes.
The buzz: It will be strength vs. strength when Edgerrin James goes up against Dolphins’ top-ranked rushing defense. Can Manning pass to win against Dolphins and cornerback Patrick Surtain, who leads NFL with six interceptions?
Bannon’s pick: Dolphins 23, Colts 21.
