Bears (3-5) at Lions (2-6)
Time: Noon Sunday, WFLD-Ch. 32, WBBM-AM 780.
Line: Lions by 2.
Last meeting: Bears won 24-16 at Soldier Field on Oct. 26.
Key stat: Bears have lost 11 straight road games.
Players to watch: Marty Booker’s return after missing three games with ankle injury will help offense. Lions’ Joey Harrington has thrown an NFL-high 13 interceptions (vs. 9 TDs).
The buzz: Since the Bears’ victory over the Lions, Booker, running back Anthony Thomas and linebacker Warrick Holdman have returned from injuries. The Lions’ best player, cornerback Dre’ Bly, is not expected to play because of a hamstring injury.
Pick: Bears 20, Lions 16.
Cardinals (3-5) at Steelers (2-6)
Time: Noon.
Line: Steelers by 7 1/2.
Last meeting: Steelers won 26-20 in OT at Arizona on Nov. 30, 1997.
Key stat: Steelers have lost three straight at home by an average of 16.3 points.
Players to watch: Cardinals’ Marcel Shipp goes for his third straight 100-yard rushing game. Steelers’ Hines Ward having a solid year with 54 catches, 6 for TDs.
The buzz: After consecutive home victories over 49ers and Bengals, Cardinals and Shipp hit the road. Steelers are falling apart, but their defense will have enough to slow down Shipp.
Pick: Steelers 20, Cardinals 17.
Falcons (1-7) at Giants (4-4)
Time: Noon.
Line: Giants by 10 1/2 .
Last meeting: Falcons won 17-10 at New York on Oct. 13, 2002.
Key stat: Giants are 1-3 at home.
Players to watch: Michael Strahan leads Giants’ pass rush (9 sacks). Falcons’ Kurt Kittner, who has thrown 4 INTs vs. 1 TD, will make his third straight start.
The buzz: Falcons haven’t won since the season opener at Dallas, and the Giants aren’t likely to let them do it Sunday. Kerry Collins should add to his league-leading 2,185 passing yards.
Pick: Giants 27, Falcons 14.
Browns (3-5) at Chiefs (8-0)
Time: Noon, WBBM-Ch. 2.
Line: Chiefs by 9 1/2.
Last meeting: Chiefs won 40-39 at Cleveland on Sept. 8, 2002.
Key stat: Chiefs lead the league with turnover differential of plus-18.
Players to watch: Chiefs’ Priest Holmes leads NFL with 12 rushing touchdowns and is averaging 4.7 yards per carry. Browns’ James Jackson averaging 4.6.
The buzz: Jackson gets playing time because starter William Green has been suspended, meaning Browns are not likely to have much of an offense. Chiefs have won their four home games by an average of 17 points.
Pick: Chiefs 30, Browns 13.
Texans (3-5) at Bengals (3-5)
Time: Noon.
Line: Bengals by 5 1/2.
Last meeting: Bengals won 38-3 at Houston on Nov. 3, 2002.
Key stat: Bengals have won both home games (Ravens, Seahawks) since their open date.
Players to watch: Bengals QB Jon Kitna tossed 4 TD passes in teams’ last meeting. Texans rookie Domanick Davis averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
The buzz: Under new coach Marvin Lewis, Bengals have taken on a new toughness. Bengals’ defense has struggled at times, but Houston’s offense hasn’t developed. David Carr expected to return to Texans’ lineup.
Pick: Bengals 23, Texans 16.
Dolphins (5-3) at Titans (6-2)
Time: Noon.
Line: Titans by 5.
Last meeting: Dolphins won 31-23 at Tennessee on Sept. 9, 2001.
Key stat: Dolphins are 4-0 on the road (Jets, Giants, Jaguars, Chargers).
Players to watch: Titans’ Steve McNair leads NFL in passing with 105.1 rating, including 13 TD passes and only 3 interceptions. Ricky Williams averaging only 3.4 yards per carry for Dolphins.
The buzz: Dolphins haven’t beaten a team that currently has a winning record, and they’re not about to start in this game. McNair and Derrick Mason (44 catches, 4 TDs) becoming one of the NFL’s leading passing combinations.
Pick: Titans 31, Dolphins 23.
Seahawks (6-2) at Redskins (3-5)
Time: Noon.
Line: Seahawks by 3.
Last meeting: Redskins won 14-3 at Seattle on Nov. 3, 2002.
Key stat: Redskins have lost four straight by an average of 12 points.
Players to watch: Linebacker Chad Brown leads the Seahawks with four sacks, two last week. Laveranues Coles has slowed down after a fast start, but still leads Redskins with 46 catches.
The buzz: Washington quarterback Patrick Ramsey has been sacked 26 times, not the kind of stat that leads to many victories. Seattle’s Matt Hasselbeck should have time to throw, and Shaun Alexander room to run.
Pick: Seahawks 21, Redskins 17.
Colts (7-1) at Jaguars (1-7)
Time: Noon.
Line: Colts by 6.
Last meeting: Colts won 23-13 at Indianapolis on Sept. 21.
Key stat: Colts have won all five meetings.
Players to watch: The quarterbacks: Jaguars rookie Byron Leftwich is throwing interceptions (9 in 180 passes) as Colts’ Peyton Manning is throwing TD passes (16 in 270 passes).
The buzz: This hasn’t exactly developed into a big AFC South rivalry, and this game isn’t likely to start it. Colts should be able to control things with Edgerrin James running, but they have more weapons than the Jaguars can handle.
Pick: Colts 27, Jaguars 17.
Vikings (6-2) at Chargers (1-7)
Time: 3:05 p.m.
Line: Vikings by 5 1/2.
Last meeting: Vikings won 35-27 at Minnesota on Nov. 28, 1999.
Key stat: Vikings have won five straight road games, including last two of ’02.
Players to watch: Two of the game’s most exciting offensive players: Vikings’ Randy Moss leads NFL with 9 TD receptions; Chargers’ LaDainian Tomlinson averaging 5.0 yards per carry.
The buzz: Chargers play for first time in San Diego since wildfires forced many of them to evacuate their homes. Vikings have lost two straight, but Moss could have a big day against a shaky secondary.
Pick: Vikings 24, Chargers 20.
Bills (4-4) at Cowboys (6-2)
Time: 3:15 p.m., WBBM-Ch. 2.
Line: Cowboys by 4.
Last meeting: Bills won 10-7 at Buffalo on Sept. 22, 1996.
Key stat: Cowboys are the only team in the top five in total defense, rushing defense and pass defense.
Players to watch: How much will Bills use newly activated Willis McGahee? Troy Hambrick leads the Cowboys with 544 yards rushing and has 5 TDs.
The buzz: The Bills were off last week, giving them time to do something about an offense that has been held under 10 points in three of the last six games. Cowboys’ top-ranked defense could have a big day.
Pick: Cowboys 16, Bills 9.
Jets (2-6) at Raiders (2-6)
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Line: Jets by 3.
Last meeting: Raiders won 30-10 in Oakland on Jan. 12, 2003 in AFC semifinals.
Key stat: Raiders have won 10 of last 12 meetings.
Players to watch: Jets’ Shaun Ellis having a big year, leading AFC with 9 1/2 sacks. Raiders’ Jerry Rice has 37 catches, but no TDs.
The buzz: The Raiders love playing the Jets and have a chance to end their four-game losing streak that began with a loss to the Bears. However, they’re down to their third-string quarterback, Rick Mirer.
Pick: Jets 20, Raiders 16.
Ravens (5-3) at Rams (5-3)
Time: 7:30 p.m., ESPN, WMVP-AM 1000.
Line: Rams by 7.
Last meeting: Rams won 27-10 at St. Louis on Sept. 12, 1999.
Key stat: Rams are 4-0 at home (49ers, Cardinals, Falcons, Packers).
Players to watch: Marshall Faulk returns after missing five games, which will speed up the Rams’ offense. Jamal Lewis leads NFL with 1,045 yards rushing (5.6 yards per carry).
The buzz: Rams’ league-leading offense adds Faulk for matchup with Ravens and Ray Lewis, who has an interception in each of the last two games. With rookie Kyle Boller at quarterback, Ravens don’t have the passing attack to keep up.
Pick: Rams 27, Ravens 17.
Eagles (5-3) at Packers (4-4)
Time: 8 p.m., Monday, WLS-Ch. 7, WSCR-AM 670 (joined in progress after Blackhawks game).
Line: Packers by 4 1/2.
Last meeting: Packers won 6-3 at Green Bay on Sept. 17, 2000.
Key stat: Packers have scored at least 24 points the last five games (3-2).
Players to watch: Rookie middle linebacker Nick Barnett (2 sacks, 2 interceptions) has become a key Packers defender. Rookie tight end L.J. Smith, a second-round pick, has 17 catches for Eagles.
The buzz: With five wins in last six games, Eagles are one of the NFL’s hottest teams. But Brett Favre leads the NFL with 16 TD passes and Packers have motivation–they’ve cut Vikings lead in NFC North to two games.
Pick: Packers 27, Eagles 24.
GAME OF WEEK: BUCS (4-4) AT PANTHERS (6-2)
Bucs seek revenge, playoff positioning
Time: Noon Sunday.
Line: Bucs by 3.
Last meeting: Panthers won 12-9 in OT at Tampa on Sept. 14.
Key stat: Under coach Jon Gruden, the Bucs, who lost to Saints last week, are 7-0 after a loss.
Players to watch: Pass rushers Michael Rucker (NFL-best 10 sacks) of Carolina and Simeon Rice (9) of Tampa Bay.
The buzz: Pivotal game not just in NFC South race, but for playoff picture. Bucs’ four losses were by a total of 26 points and they have more at stake. Bucs’ defense should dominate, as it did in their first meeting.
Pick: Bucs 17, Panthers 13.
Last week (straight up): 8-6.
Season (straight up): 85-45.
Off: New England, Denver, New Orleans, San Francisco.
