Rams (6-3) at Bears (3-6)
Time: Noon, WFLD-Ch. 32, WBBM-AM 780.
Line: Rams by 6.
Last meeting: Rams won 21-16 at St. Louis on Nov. 18, 2002.
Key stat: Bears have scored zero first-quarter touchdowns.
Players to watch: In his second game back from injury, Marshall Faulk will get the ball often. How often will the Bears give the ball to Anthony Thomas, averaging 4.6 yards per carry?
The buzz: Torry Holt, who leads the NFL with 66 catches, will challenge the Bears’ secondary. Faulk will challenge the line and linebackers. Bears’ offense again will struggle to hold up its end of the deal.
Pick: Rams 27, Bears 13.
Texans (3-6) at Bills (4-5)
Time: Noon.
Line: Bills by 7.
Last meeting: Bills won 31-24 at Houston on Oct. 13, 2002.
Key stat: Bills have scored seven points or fewer four times, including the last two games.
Players to watch: Texans’ Domanick Davis leads NFL rookies with 587 rushing yards (5.1 avg.). Bills’ Drew Bledsoe has thrown only 6 touchdown passes vs. 8 INTs.
The buzz: The Bills’ offense has all but disappeared, totaling 11 points in the last two games, losses to Dallas and Kansas City. Unless Bledsoe can get something going early, an upset is possible.
Pick: Bills 17, Texans 13.
Ravens (5-4) at Dolphins (5-4)
Time: Noon.
Line: Dolphins by 6.
Last meeting: Dolphins won 26-7 at Miami on Nov. 17, 2002.
Key stat: Dolphins have lost two in a row (Colts, Titans) by an average of 15 points.
Players to watch: Ravens going with inexperienced Anthony Wright at quarterback. Dolphins have little choice but to stick with struggling backup Brian Griese as Jay Fiedler gets well.
The buzz: With Kyle Boller out, Ravens hope third-stringer Wright’s arm strength will help create room for Jamal Lewis to run. Dolphins have scored only 24 points in the last two games.
Pick: Dolphins 17, Ravens 13.
Redskins (4-5) at Panthers (7-2)
Time: Noon.
Line: Panthers by 6.
Last meeting: Redskins won 17-14 in OT at Washington on Oct. 21, 2001.
Key stat: Redskins have won all six meetings with Panthers.
Players to watch: Laveranues Coles has 51 catches and four 100-yard games for Redskins. Steve Smith leads Panthers with 52 catches, five for touchdowns.
The buzz: If Stephen Davis’ sore ankle doesn’t keep him out or slow him down, he’ll have a shot at a big day against his old team.
Pick: Panthers 24, Redskins 17.
Jaguars (2-7) at Titans (7-2)
Time: Noon.
Line: Titans by 10.
Last meeting: Titans won 30-17 at Jacksonville on Oct. 26.
Key stat: Titans have won four straight by an average of 19 1/2 points per game.
Players to watch: Fred Taylor averaging 4.2 yards per carry for Jaguars. Steve McNair’s big year continues: 15 touchdown passes vs. 3 interceptions.
The buzz: Tennessee’s top-ranked rushing defense figures to shut down Taylor, and even though rookie Byron Leftwich is coming off his best game, Jaguars won’t be able to score enough.
Pick: Titans 28, Jaguars 16.
Falcons (2-7) at Saints (4-5)
Time: Noon.
Line: Saints by 8 1/2.
Last meeting: Saints won 45-17 at Atlanta on Oct. 19, 2003.
Key stat: Falcons have won seven of last eight in New Orleans.
Players to watch: Saints’ Aaron Brooks has thrown 13 touchdown passes vs. 6 interceptions. Kurt Kittner, who starts his fourth straight game, has thrown 2 touchdown passes vs. 4 INTs.
The buzz: The Saints were off last week, plenty of time to rest up for a Falcons team that still is playing without Michael Vick. Only another huge game from Warrick Dunn (178 yards rushing in upset of Giants last week) can save Falcons.
Pick: Saints 27, Falcons 17.
Cardinals (3-6) at Browns (3-6)
Time: Noon.
Line: Browns by 6.
Last meeting: Cardinals won 29-21 at Arizona on Oct. 8, 2000.
Key stat: Cardinals have lost their four road games by an average of 18 points.
Players to watch: Andre Davis (21 catches, 4 for touchdowns) takes on bigger role after the surprise release of Kevin Johnson. Cards’ Marcel Shipp has averaged 107 yards rushing in his four starts.
The buzz: If they weren’t playing the Cardinals, the Browns might be in trouble in a week that featured Johnson’s release and the four-game suspension of leading rusher William Green. But Kelly Holcomb will do just enough.
Pick: Browns 17, Cardinals 13.
Chiefs (9-0) at Bengals (4-5)
Time: Noon.
Line: Chiefs by 6.
Last meeting: Chiefs won 17-15 at Kansas City on Oct. 10, 1993.
Key stat: Bengals have won three straight at home (Ravens, Seahawks, Texans).
Players to watch: Bengals’ Jon Kitna quietly having a solid year (13 touchdown passes vs. 9 interceptions). Chiefs’ Trent Green has thrown 14 TD passes vs. 7 interceptions.
The buzz: Bengals quickly have become a tough team to beat in Cincinnati, and the Chiefs’ unbeaten season will be on the line if they don’t take control early.
Pick: Chiefs 28, Bengals 24.
Giants (4-5) at Eagles (6-3)
Time: Noon.
Line: Eagles by 3 1/2.
Last meeting: Eagles won 14-10 at New York on Oct. 19.
Key stat: Eagles have won four of last five meetings.
Players to watch: Giants’ Michael Strahan has 10 sacks. Eagles’ Donovan McNabb has thrown only 5 touchdown passes against 7 INTs.
The buzz: Will Giants begin to fade away after last week’s stunning home loss to the Vick-less Falcons? Unless Eagles are spending too much time celebrating Monday night’s win in Green Bay, Eagles should win for the seventh time in eight games.
Pick: Eagles 20, Giants 14.
Jets (3-6) at Colts (7-2)
Time: 3:05 p.m., WBBM-Ch. 2.
Line: Colts by 6.
Last meeting: Jets won 41-0 at home in AFC wild-card game on Jan. 4, 2003.
Key stat: Colts haven’t been held to fewer than 20 points since their first game.
Players to watch: Jets’ Chad Pennington has thrown 28 touchdown passes vs. 6 interceptions in 14 career starts. Colts’ Peyton Manning leads NFL with 18 touchdown passes (vs. 8 interceptions).
The buzz: Colts will try to bounce back after upset loss at Jacksonville, but Jets have a shot at an upset. Pennington-to-Santana Moss (8 touchdown receptions) may be tough on a shaky Colts defense.
Pick: Colts 27, Jets 17.
Chargers (2-7) at Broncos (5-4)
Time: 3:05 p.m.
Line: Broncos by 8
Last meeting: Broncos won 37-13 at San Diego on Sept. 14.
Key stat: Broncos have won 10 of last 13 meetings.
Players to watch: After leading Chargers to upset of Vikings last week, Doug Flutie remains the starter. Clinton Portis has rushed for 100 yards in last three games against Chargers, and is averaging 5.1 yards per carry for the season.
The buzz: The Broncos were 4-1 when Jake Plummer left the lineup with a broken foot, and he’s expected to return Sunday.
Pick: Broncos 24, Chargers 13.
Lions (3-6) at Seahawks (6-3)
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Line: Seahawks by 10.
Last meeting: Lions won 28-20 at Seattle on Sept. 12, 1999.
Key stat: Seahawks are 5-0 at home.
Players to watch: Matt Hasselbeck continuing his solid season for Seahawks with 13 touchdown passes vs. 8 interceptions. Joey Harrington has thrown 9 touchdowns vs. 13 INTs for Lions.
The buzz: Seahawks have a consistent offense, having scored at least 20 points in all but one game this season. Hasselbeck could have a big day against a banged-up Detroit secondary.
Pick: Seahawks 27, Lions 14.
Vikings (6-3) at Raiders (2-7)
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Line: Vikings by 4 1/2.
Last meeting: Raiders won 22-17 at Minnesota on Sept. 19, 1999.
Key stat: Vikings have allowed 101 points in three-game losing streak.
Players to watch: Vikings’ Randy Moss is second in NFL with 63 catches, first with 10 TDs. Jerry Rice leads Raiders with 41 catches, but still no TDs.
The buzz: With Rich Gannon out for the season, the Raiders’ empire belongs to Rick Mirer. He faces a deteriorating Vikings defense that is giving up some big plays. But can the Raiders take advantage?
Pick: Vikings 27, Raiders 21.
Packers (4-5) at Bucs (4-5)
Time: 3:15 p.m., WFLD-Ch. 32.
Line: Bucs by 4.
Last meeting: Bucs won 21-7 at Tampa on Nov. 24, 2002.
Key stat: Bucs have won last five vs. Packers at home.
Players to watch: Packers’ Ahman Green leads NFC with 1,063 yards rushing, and has scored 13 touchdowns (9 rushing, 4 receiving). Bucs’ Simeon Rice is tied for NFL lead with 11 sacks.
The buzz: This is virtually a playoff-elimination game, with the Bucs slightly more desperate. The defending Super Bowl champions still have road games at New Orleans at Tennessee.
Pick: Bucs 24, Packers 21.
Steelers (3-6) at 49ers (4-5)
Time: 8 p.m. Monday, WLS-Ch. 7, WSCR-AM 670.
Line: 49ers by 4.
Last meeting: Steelers won 27-6 at 49ers on Nov. 7, 1999.
Key stat: 49ers are in the top 10 in both offense (8th) and defense (7th).
Players to watch: Terrell Owens leads 49ers with 48 catches, 4 for TDs. Steelers’ Hines Ward leads AFC with 60 catches, 8 for touchdowns.
The buzz: In a less than stellar matchup, 49ers will scramble to stay in the NFC playoff race.
Pick: 49ers 27, Steelers 20.
GAME OF THE WEEK: COWBOYS (7-2) AT PATRIOTS (7-2)
Dallas `D’ fierce, but Brady will find a way
Time: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, ESPN, WMVP-AM 1000.
Line: Patriots by 4.
Last meeting: Patriots won 13-6 at New England on Dec. 5, 1999.
Key stat: Both defenses have held opponents without TDs twice.
Players to watch: Ex-Patriot Terry Glenn leads Cowboys with 33 catches, five for TDs. Rookie safety Eugene Wilson leads Patriots with three interceptions.
The buzz: Cowboys’ quick, league-leading defense will cause problems for Tom Brady, but he’s among the most resourceful quarterbacks around and will be the difference.
Pick: Patriots 23, Cowboys 17.
Last week (straight up): 7-7.
Season (straight up): 93-51.
