Bears (7-8) at Chiefs (12-3)
Time: Noon Sunday, WFLD-Ch. 32, WBBM-AM 780.
Line: Chiefs by 10.
Last meeting: Bears won 20-17 at Soldier Field on Sept. 12, 1999.
Key stat: Chiefs lead NFL with turnover differential of plus-18.
Players to watch: Rex Grossman, with 2 TDs and 1 interception in two starts, goes for his third win. Chiefs’ Priest Holmes has rushed for 25 TDs, one short of Marshall Faulk’s NFL record.
The buzz: Can one more win save Dick Jauron’s job? And would it count for as much if the game is meaningless to Chiefs, as it will be if Pats clinch AFC’s top seed Saturday?
Pick: Chiefs 24, Bears 17.
Bills (6-9) at Patriots (13-2)
Time: 12:30 p.m. Saturday (WSCR-AM 670 joins in progress about 1:30 p.m.).
Line: Patriots by 8.
Last meeting: Bills won 31-0 at Buffalo on Sept. 7.
Key stat: Patriots are second in NFL with turnover differential of plus-14.
Players to watch: Pats’ Tom Brady has thrown 19 TD passes vs. 12 interceptions. The man he replaced, Drew Bledsoe, has 11 TDs and 11 interceptions for Bills.
The buzz: Patriots go for 12th straight win and home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs. Their defense should allow them to coast. If they lose, Chiefs can grab top seed by beating Bears.
Pick: Patriots 24, Bills 12.
Seahawks (9-6) at 49ers (7-8)
Time: 4:15 p.m. Saturday, WFLD-Ch. 32, WSCR-AM 670.
Line: Pick ’em.
Last meeting: 49ers won 31-24 at Seattle on Dec. 1, 2002.
Key stat: 49ers are 6-1 at home; Seahawks are 1-6 on the road.
Players to watch: Kevan Barlow has rushed for 984 yards, 5.3 avg. for 49ers. Shaun Alexander leads Seahawks with 1,351 yards, 4.4 avg.
The buzz: San Francisco is out of the playoffs, but last week’s upset of the Eagles shows they’re playing hard down the stretch. Now they can eliminate the Seahawks, who need a win and some help. Seahawks’ only road win was three months ago at Arizona.
Pick: 49ers 24, Seahawks 20.
Eagles (11-4) at Redskins (5-10)
Time: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, ESPN, WSCR-AM 670.
Line: Eagles by 6 1/2.
Last meeting: Eagles won 27-25 at Philadelphia on Oct. 5.
Key stat: Eagles have won last four meetings.
Players to watch: Brian Westbrook averaging 5.4 yards per carry for Eagles. Ex-Eagle Tim Hasselbeck has thrown 5 TD passes vs. 6 interceptions in four starts for Redskins.
The buzz: Donovan McNabb is capable of running the show in a game the Eagles must win to hold No. 2 seed in NFC and a first-round bye. If they lose, Cowboys will be No. 2 seed if they win Sunday. Eagles should be able to run. Redskins shouldn’t be able to pass it.
Pick: Eagles 20, Redskins 16.
Jaguars (5-10) at Falcons (4-11)
Time: Noon.
Line: Falcons by 3.
Last meeting: Jaguars won 30-7 at Atlanta on Nov. 7, 1999.
Key stat: Jaguars are 0-7 on the road.
Players to watch: Fred Taylor has rushed for 1,451 yards and 4.5 avg. for Jaguars. Falcons’ T.J. Duckett has rushed for 683 yards, 3.9 avg.
The buzz: In his first home game of the season three weeks ago, Michael Vick led Falcons to upset of playoff-bound Panthers. He should be able to handle the Jaguars.
Pick: Falcons 24, Jaguars 17.
Browns (4-11) at Bengals (8-7)
Time: Noon.
Line: Bengals by 7 1/2.
Last meeting: Bengals won 21-14 at Cleveland on Sept. 28.
Key stat: Bengals have won five straight at home, none by more than eight points.
Players to watch: Safety Earl Little leads Browns with 6 interceptions. Bengals’ Chad Johnson has 86 catches, including AFC-leading 10 TDs.
The buzz: Bengals have all the intangibles, knowing a win gives them AFC North title if Ravens lose to Steelers on Sunday night. Browns have lost five straight and may not put up much of a fight.
Pick: Bengals 28, Browns 16.
Rams (12-3) at Lions (4-11)
Time: Noon.
Line: Rams by 10.
Last meeting: Rams won 35-0 at Detroit on Oct. 8, 2001.
Key stat: Lions are 4-3 at home.
Players to watch: Rams’ Torry Holt has 112 catches, 12 for TDs. Lions rookie safety Terrence Holt, Torry’s brother, has 3 interceptions.
The buzz: If Eagles win Saturday, Rams will have to win their eighth straight to gain home-field advantage throughout NFC playoffs. Lions’ only victory over a winning team was over Green Bay on Thanksgiving.
Pick: Rams 27, Lions 14.
Colts (11-4) at Texans (5-10)
Time: Noon.
Line: Colts by 7.
Last meeting: Colts won 30-21 at Indianapolis on Oct. 26.
Key stat: Colts are 6-1 on the road.
Players to watch: Colts’ Peyton Manning has thrown 6 TDs and no interceptions in three games against Texans. Houston’s David Carr has thrown only 9 TD passes vs. 12 interceptions this season.
The buzz: Can Colts shake off convincing loss to Broncos at home Sunday? They’re playing the No. 31 defense in the NFL.
Pick: Colts 28, Texans 20.
Jets (6-9) at Dolphins (9-6)
Time: Noon, WBBM-Ch. 2.
Line: Dolphins by 4.
Last meeting: Dolphins won 21-10 at New York on Sept. 14.
Key stat: Jets have won 9 of last 11 meetings.
Players to watch: Dolphins’ Jay Fiedler has struggled, throwing only 10 TDs vs. 12 interceptions. Jets’ Chad Pennington has 12 TD passes vs. 12 interceptions.
The buzz: Five of Dolphins’ losses have been to teams that have already clinched playoff spots, so Dave Wannstedt shouldn’t need this one to get another year.
Pick: Dolphins 27, Jets 21.
Cowboys (10-5) at Saints (7-8)
Time: Noon
Line: Cowboys by 2.
Last meeting: Saints won 31-24 at New Orleans on Dec. 24, 1999.
Key stat: Cowboys are 10-2 when they lead in time of possession.
Players to watch: Deuce McAllister averaging 4.8 yards per carry for Saints. Troy Hambrick getting only 3.6 for Cowboys.
The buzz: Saints out of playoffs, and Cowboys can win NFC East and first-round bye with a win if Eagles lose Saturday. Cowboys have won two straight–by 46-3 margin.
Pick: Cowboys 20, Saints 16.
Bucs (7-8) at Titans (11-4)
Time: Noon.
Line: Titans by 7.
Last meeting: Titans won 31-28 at Tennessee on Oct. 14, 2001.
Key stat: Titans are 6-1 at home, losing only to Colts.
Players to watch: Bucs’ Simeon Rice is second in NFL with 15 sacks. Jevon Kearse has 9.5 for Titans.
The buzz: Steve McNair is fighting an assortment of injuries, not good timing since the Titans can win the AFC South and No. 3 seed with a win if Colts lose. Bucs have been tougher on the road than at home.
Pick: Titans 24, Bucs 20.
Vikings (9-6) at Cardinals (3-12)
Time: 3:05 p.m., WMVP-AM 1000.
Line: Vikings by 7 1/2.
Last meeting: Vikings won 31-14 at Minnesota on Nov. 12, 2000.
Key stat: Cardinals’ last four home games have been decided by 3 points (beat 49ers, Bengals; lost to Rams, Panthers).
Players to watch: Randy Moss is second in NFL with 106 catches, including league-leading 16 TD receptions. Arizona rookie Anquan Boldin has 96 catches, 8 for TDs.
The buzz: This is the kind of game the Vikings could lose. They’ve been upset at San Diego and Oakland this season. But a win gives them the NFC North title.
Pick: Vikings 27, Cardinals 24.
Panthers (10-5) at Giants (4-11)
Time: 3:05 p.m.
Line: Panthers by 5 1/2.
Last meeting: Panthers won 27-17 at Carolina on Nov. 10, 1996.
Key stat: Giants have been held to 7 points or less in last four games.
Players to watch: Giants’ Michael Strahan tries to add to his league-leading 17 sacks. Panthers’ Mike Rucker has 12.
The buzz: Panthers will use this as a tuneup for the wild-card round, when they will host a game. This will be a scrimmage.
Pick: Panthers 20, Giants 7.
Raiders (4-11) at Chargers (3-12)
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Line: Chargers by 4.
Last meeting: Raiders won 34-31 in OT at Oakland on Sept. 28.
Key stat: Raiders have won 10 of last 12 meetings.
Players to watch: San Diego’s LaDainian Tomlinson is finishing off a big year that includes 5.0 yards per carry and 92 receptions. Raiders’ Shane Lechler leads NFL with 46-yard punting average.
The buzz: Chargers quarterbacks Drew Brees and Doug Flutie have reason to win anyway: With a loss, San Diego clinches No. 1 pick in the draft and a shot at Eli Manning.
Pick: Chargers 20, Raiders 17.
Steelers (6-9) at Ravens (9-6)
Time: 7:30 p.m., ESPN, WMVP-AM 1000.
Line: Ravens by 7 1/2.
Last meeting: Steelers won 31-15 at Pittsburgh on Sept. 7.
Key stat: Steelers have won last four meetings.
Players to watch: With 154 yards, Jamal Lewis breaks Eric Dickerson’s season rushing record of 2,105 yards. Steelers’ Hines Ward has 93 catches, 10 for TDs.
The buzz: If Bengals win early Sunday, Ravens will have to win to claim AFC North title. Incentive means everything on the last weekend. If Bengals lose, Ravens will just try to stay sharp for wild-card round.
Pick: Ravens 20, Steelers 14.
Last week (straight up): 12-4.
Season (straight up): 160-80.
TO: total offense; RO; Rushing offense; PO: passing offense; TD: total defense; RD: rushing defense; PD: passing defense.
GAME OF WEEK: BRONCOS (10-5) AT PACKERS (9-6)
Time: 3:15 p.m., WBBM-Ch. 2.
Line: Packers by 6 1/2.
Last meeting: Broncos won 31-10 at Denver on Oct. 17, 1999.
Key stat: Both teams have won five of their last six.
Players to watch: Two of the NFL’s hottest quarterbacks: Brett Favre leads NFL with 31 TD passes; Jake Plummer has thrown 15 in 11 games (nine Denver wins).
The buzz: Packers riding an emotional high, knowing a win and Vikings loss gives them NFC North title and that a win will likely earn them a wild-card berth. They would also make it with a loss if Seattle loses.
However, the Packers will miss the playoffs with a win if the Vikings and Seahawks win and the Cowboys lose to the Saints. In that scenario, the Vikings win the NFC North, and the Packers, Cowboys and Seahawks tie for the two wild-card spots at 10-6. The Packers would then be eliminated because of their 7-5 record in NFC games; the Seahawks and Cowboys would be 8-4. The Packers beat the Seahawks head to head, but the conference-record tiebreaker takes precedence.
If Titans and Colts lose early Sunday, Broncos would move up from No. 6 seed to No. 5 with a win. That would mean a trip to Baltimore or Cincinnati instead of Tennessee or Indianapolis. But they won’t risk playing banged-up Clinton Portis.
Pick: Packers 28, Broncos 23.GAME OF WEEK: BRONCOS (10-5) AT PACKERS (9-6)
