Cardinals (3-8) at Bears (4-7)
Time: Noon Sunday; WFLD-Ch. 32, WBBM-AM 780.
Line: Bears by 4 1/2.
Last meeting: Bears won 20-13 at Soldier Field on Oct. 14, 2001.
Key stat: Cardinals have NFL-worst minus-14 turnover differential.
Players to watch: Rookie Anquan Boldin has 66 catches for 15.1-yard average and 6 TDs. Bears’ leading receiver is Dez White (40 catches, 11.5 avg., 2 TDs).
The buzz: Bears’ defense is playing with a lot of confidence and should dominate. With passing offense in trouble, Bears will lean on Anthony Thomas.
Bannon’s pick: Bears 24, Cardinals 14.
Falcons (2-9) at Texans (4-7)
Time: Noon.
Line: Texans by 3.
Last meeting: First meeting.
Key stat: Six of Texans’ last eight games have been decided by seven or fewer points.
Players to watch: Texans’ Andre Johnson, the third pick in the 2003 draft, leads AFC rookies with 50 catches, 4 for TDs. T.J. Duckett (4.2 yards per carry) set to start at running back for Falcons.
The buzz: Falcons still don’t have Michael Vick, though he’ll dress as the backup QB, and have lost Warrick Dunn for the season. Quarterback Tony Banks on one of his hot streaks for the Texans.
Bannon’s pick: Texans 21, Falcons 17.
Bills (4-7) at Giants (4-7)
Time: Noon.
Line: Giants by 3.
Last meeting: Giants won 19-17 at Buffalo on Dec. 12, 1999.
Key stat: Bills have lost four straight on the road, scoring a total of 21 points.
Players to watch: Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey (48 catches, 2 TDs) due back from knee injury. Travis Henry averaging 4.0 yards per carry for Bills.
The buzz: Bills actually scored two touchdowns last week–and still lost. This time they hit the road and get to face one of the NFL’s toughest pass rushers in Michael Strahan (11 sacks).
Bannon’s pick: Giants 14, Bills 9.
Vikings (7-4) at Rams (8-3)
Time: Noon.
Line: Rams by 6.
Last meeting: Rams won 40-29 at St. Louis on Dec. 10, 2000.
Key stat: Rams have won 11 straight at home, two short of franchise record.
Players to watch: Rams’ Torry Holt leads NFL receivers with 84 catches; Vikings’ Randy Moss is second with 72. They share the league lead with 10 TD receptions.
The buzz: Vikings’ defense was struggling until actually scoring twice against Lions last week, but facing the Rams is another question. Marshall Faulk has rushed for 100 yards the last two games. If Marc Bulger continues to struggle, there’s always Kurt Warner.
Bannon’s pick: Rams 24, Vikings 20.
Bengals (6-5) at Steelers (4-7)
Time: Noon.
Line: Steelers by 3.
Last meeting: Steelers won 17-10 at Cincinnati on Sept. 21.
Key stat: Bengals have won three straight by a total of 19 points.
Players to watch: Jerome Bettis, averaging 3.2 yards per carry, has rushed for 100 yards in 10 of 15 games vs. Bengals. Bengals’ Rudi Johnson gets 4.4 yards per carry.
The buzz: It looks like Bengals and Ravens will fight for AFC North title, but this is a tough road assignment for Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis. Steelers desperate but still have a chance in this division.
Bannon’s pick: Steelers 17, Bengals 16.
Eagles (8-3) at Panthers (8-3)
Time: Noon.
Line: Panthers by 1 1/2.
Last meeting: Panthers won 33-7 at Carolina on Nov. 17, 1999.
Key stat: Eagles have won six straight games, four by seven points or fewer.
Players to watch: In the last four games, Donovan McNabb has completed 63.9 percent of his passes and thrown for 5 TDs with no interceptions. Carolina’s Steve Smith has three 100-yard receiving games and 60 catches, 5 for TDs.
The buzz: Eagles have shown they can win in tough places (Green Bay), and their defense can make things tough on Jake Delhomme.
Bannon’s pick: Eagles 23, Panthers 20.
49ers (5-6) at Ravens (6-5)
Time: Noon.
Line: Ravens by 3.
Last meeting: 49ers won 38-20 at San Francisco on Nov. 17, 1996.
Key stat: 49ers lead NFC with turnover differential of plus-12.
Players to watch: Ravens’ Jamal Lewis leads NFL with 1,364 yards rushing, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. San Francisco linebacker Julian Peterson, who has 4.5 sacks, keys the pass rush.
The buzz: Quarterback Anthony Wright showed last week he can move the Ravens through the air with 4 TD passes. That’s something injured rookie Kyle Boller couldn’t do. If Ravens can do anything on offense, they’ll be tough to beat at home down the stretch.
Bannon’s pick: Ravens 21, 49ers 17.
Saints (5-6) at Redskins (4-7)
Time: 3:05 p.m.
Line: Redskins by 1 1/2.
Last meeting: Saints won 43-27 at Washington on Oct. 13, 2002.
Key stat: Saints lead NFL with third-down conversion percentage of 46.5.
Players to watch: Saints’ Aaron Brooks having a good year, with 14 TD passes vs. 8 interceptions. Trung Canidate averaging 3.9 yards per carry for Redskins.
The buzz: Can Redskins recover from blowing 13-point lead Sunday night at Miami? Players have begun going straight to owner Dan Snyder with complaints. This isn’t working.
Bannon’s pick: Saints 20, Redskins 17.
Browns (4-7) at Seahawks (7-4)
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Line: Seahawks by 5 1/2.
Last meeting: Seahawks won 9-6 at Cleveland on Sept. 9, 2001.
Key stat: Seattle is 6-0 at home, winning by an average of 10 points.
Players to watch: Ex-Bear Bobby Engram has 37 catches for 12.3-yard average and 5 TDs for Seahawks. Browns’ Kelly Holcomb has thrown 9 TD passes and 9 interceptions.
The buzz: Last week’s loss to Steelers was dispiriting for Browns. Seahawks need this one to stay on Rams’ heels in NFC West.
Bannon’s pick: Seahawks 24, Browns 17.
Broncos (6-5) at Raiders (3-8)
Time: 3:15 p.m.; WBBM-Ch. 2.
Line: Broncos by 3.
Last meeting: Broncos won 31-10 in Denver on Sept. 22.
Key stat: Broncos have won 13 of last 17 meetings.
Players to watch: In last five games vs. Raiders, Rod Smith has 37 catches, 3 for TDs. Raiders’ Tyrone Wheatley has rushed for 261 yards in the last three games.
The buzz: Did Sunday’s loss to the Bears reveal serious problems with the Broncos’ offense? If it happens against the Raiders, too, the answer is yes.
Bannon’s pick: Broncos 24, Raiders 23.
Chiefs (10-1) at Chargers (2-9)
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Line: Chiefs by 7.
Last meeting: Chiefs won 27-14 at Kansas City on Sept. 7.
Key stat: Chiefs have scored TDs on league-leading 71.9 percent trips (23 of 32) inside the 20.
Players to watch: Chargers’ Doug Flutie has thrown 5 TD passes vs. 1 interception in 98 pass plays. Chiefs’ Tony Gonzalez leads NFL tight ends with 603 receiving yards (44 catches, 6 TDs).
The buzz: The Chiefs’ offense gets to fatten its stats against the fading Chargers. Flutie gives San Diego some life but not enough.
Bannon’s pick: Chiefs 30, Chargers 17.
Bucs (5-6) at Jaguars (2-9)
Time: 7:30 p.m. Sunday; ESPN, WSCR-AM 670.
Line: Bucs by 3 1/2.
Last meeting: Jaguars won 29-24 at Jacksonville on Nov. 15, 1998.
Key stat: Jaguars have been outscored 61-17 in the first quarter.
Players to watch: Bucs’ Simeon Rice leads NFL with 12 sacks. Jaguars rookie Byron Leftwich has thrown 8 TDs, 12 interceptions.
The buzz: Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio thought about benching Leftwich, then decided to stick with him. Jaguars have nothing to lose but another game.
Bannon’s pick: Bucs 23, Jaguars 17.
Titans (9-2) at Jets (4-7)
Time: 8 p.m. Monday; WLS-Ch. 7, WSCR-AM 670.
Line: Titans by 1.
Last meeting: Jets won 24-3 at Tennessee on Nov. 22, 1998.
Key stat: Titans are second in NFL with turnover differential of plus-12.
Players to watch: Jets’ Santana Moss has 49 catches, 10 for TDs. Derrick Mason leads Titans with 59, 4 for TDs.
The buzz: Steve McNair, the NFL’s leading passer, has a strained calf but will try to play as the Titans go for their seventh straight win.
Bannon’s pick: Titans 20, Jets 17.
GAME OF WEEK: PATRIOTS (9-2) AT COLTS (9-2)
Manning’s multiple weapons grab win
Time: Noon Sunday.
Line: Colts by 4.
Last meeting: Patriots won 38-17 at Indianapolis on Oct. 21, 2001.
Key stat: Pats have not allowed a first-quarter TD in eight of last nine games.
Players to watch: The quarterbacks. Peyton Manning has thrown 19 TD passes vs. 8 interceptions for Indy; Tom Brady has tossed 13 TD passes vs. 10 interceptions for New England.
The buzz: These division leaders already are thinking playoffs, and a victory in this one could lead to a first-round bye.
Manning felt a twinge in his throwing arm Wednesday, but an MRI Thursday showed no damage. He has more weapons to work with in running back Edgerrin James and receiver Marvin Harrison.
Pick: Colts 24, Patriots 21.
Last week (straight up): 13-3.
Season (straight up): 118-58.
