Last week’s record: 12-4
Season record: 154-86
*** = BANNON’S BEST GAMES
MATCHUP: PACKERS (9-6) AT BEARS (5-10)
Noon Sunday
TV/radio: WFLD-Ch. 32, WBBM-AM 780
Line: Bears by 3
Last meeting: Bears won 21-10 at Green Bay on Sept. 19
KEY STAT: Bears have lost 10 straight home games to Packers.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Thomas Jones is Bears’ leading rusher (840 yards, 3.9 yards per carry) and receiver (53, 8.0 per catch). Brett Favre has thrown 28 TD passes vs. 17 interceptions.
THE BUZZ: Green Bay doesn’t need to win, so Favre and Ahman Green may not play long. Bears need big plays on offense.
THE PICK: Packers 20 Bears 17
MATCHUP: LIONS (6-9) AT TITANS (4-11)
Noon Sunday
Line: Lions by 3
Last meeting: Titans won 27-24 at Detroit on Oct. 21, 2001
KEY STAT: Lions have lost 4 straight on the road after starting 3-0.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Lions rookie Roy Williams has 50 catches, 7 for TDs. Titans’ Derrick Mason leads NFL with 92 catches, and has 7 TD receptions.
THE BUZZ: Titans have lost 5 straight, but they’ll try to rally around Mason and running of Antowain Smith to pull off upset.
THE PICK: Titans 20 Lions 16
MATCHUP: DOLPHINS (4-11) AT RAVENS (8-7)
Noon Sunday
Line: Ravens by 11
Last meeting: Dolphins won 9-6 (OT) in Miami on Nov. 16, 2003
KEY STAT: Ravens have lost 2 straight by combined score of 40-17 (Colts, Steelers).
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Sage Rosenfels, who has thrown only 1 pass all season, gets chance to start at quarterback in finale. Kyle Boller has only 12 TD passes vs. 11 interceptions for Ravens.
THE BUZZ: Ravens need win and some help to make playoffs, which means Jamal Lewis needs room to run. He should get it.
THE PICK: Ravens 24 Dolphins 13
GAME of the WEEK
*** MATCHUP: JETS (10-5) AT RAMS (7-8)
Noon Sunday
Line: Jets by 3
Last meeting: Rams won 34-14 at New York on Oct. 21, 2001
KEY STAT: Jets are 4-3 on road, including win at San Diego.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Justin McCareins leads Jets with 50 catches, 4 for TDs. Rams’ Marc Bulger has thrown 18 passes vs. 12 interceptions.
THE BUZZ: Jets can win their way into playoffs behind defense that has shut out NFL-high 7 opponents in 2nd half.
THE PICK: Jets 27 Rams 17
MATCHUP: BROWNS (3-12) AT TEXANS (7-8)
Noon Sunday
Line: Texans by 10 1/2
Last meeting: Browns won 34-17 in Cleveland on Oct. 20, 2002
KEY STAT: Browns have been outscored 68-14 in last 3 games.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Texans’ Domanick Davis has run for TD in 5 straight games, 12 for season. Browns QB Kelly Holcomb (6 TDs vs. 3 INTs) returns to lineup if sore ribs are OK.
THE BUZZ: Browns finishing 6th season looking like expansion team, but they’ve played league’s toughest schedule (.596 winning percentage).
THE PICK: Texans 30 Browns 17
*** MATCHUP: VIKINGS (8-7) AT REDSKINS (5-10)
Noon Sunday
Line: Vikings by 4
Last meeting: Vikings won 41-7 in Minnesota on Oct. 18, 1998
KEY STAT: Vikings are 0-3 in open-air stadiums.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Vikings’ Randy Moss has only 44 catches, but 12 have gone for TDs. Redskins cornerback Shawn Springs has 5 interceptions and 5 sacks.
THE BUZZ: The Vikings, who have lost 3 of last 4, are in playoffs with win, but Redskins’ No. 2-ranked defense can contain them. Outdoor game on grass in January is Minnesota nightmare.
THE PICK: Redskins 21 Vikings 20
*** MATCHUP: STEELERS (14-1) AT BILLS (9-6)
Noon Sunday
Line: Jaguars by 8 1/2
Last meeting: Steelers won 20-3 at Buffalo on Sept. 30, 2001
KEY STAT: Bills have scored at least 33 points in 6 straight games.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Bills’ Willis McGahee has rushed for 1,049 yards and 11 TDs. Tommy Maddox, who has thrown only 36 passes, will replace injured Ben Roethlisberger.
THE BUZZ: Bills need win and some help to make playoffs, which would be amazing comeback after 0-4 start. Steelers just trying to stay healthy.
THE PICK: Bills 23 Steelers 17
*** MATCHUP: SAINTS (7-8) AT PANTHERS (7-8)
Noon Sunday
Line: Panthers by 7 1/2
Last meeting: Panthers won 32-21 at New Orleans on Dec. 5
KEY STAT: Panthers have won last 4 meetings.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Saints’ Joe Horn has 90 catches, 10 TDs. Panthers’ Muhsin Muhammad has 87 catches and tied for league high with 14 TDs.
THE BUZZ: Winner of this one goes to playoffs at 8-8 with some help, but nobody will be embarrassed if it’s Panthers, who have won 6 of last 7. Jake Delhomme, who has 27 TD passes, will make it happen.
THE PICK: Panthers 30 Saints 17
MATCHUP: 49ERS (2-13) AT PATRIOTS (13-2)
Noon Sunday
Line: Patriots by 13 1/2
Last meeting: Patriots won 24-21 at New England on Dec. 20, 1998
KEY STAT: 49ers have been held to 17 or fewer points in 5 of last 6.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Pats’ Corey Dillon finishing up huge year with 1,519 yards rushing, 4.6 average. Kevan Barlow leads 49ers with 719, 3.3.
THE BUZZ: No matter who plays how long, Patriots won’t have to work very long or very hard to put this one away.
THE PICK: Patriots 31 49ers 13
MATCHUP: BENGALS (7-8) AT EAGLES (13-2)
Noon Sunday
Line: Bengals by 3
Last meeting: Eagles won 16-7 at Philadelphia on Dec. 24, 2000
KEY STAT: Bengals are 2-5 on road (Redskins, Ravens).
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Eagles backup Dorsey Levens, averaging 4.4 yards per carry, expects to get plenty of work. Bengals’ Rudi Johnson has rushed for 1,355 yards, 4.1 per carry.
THE BUZZ: Bengals have something to play for– .500 season. As they did in Monday night’s loss at St. Louis, Eagles figure to rest for playoffs.
THE PICK: Bengals 21 Eagles 17
MATCHUP: FALCONS (11-4) AT SEAHAWKS (8-7)
3:05 p.m. Sunday
Line: Seahawks by 5 1/2
Last meeting: Seahawks won 30-24 (OT) at Atlanta on Dec. 15, 2002
KEY STAT: Seahawks 4-3 at home; Falcons 4-3 on road.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Shaun Alexander has rushed for NFL-high 1,616 yards, averaging 4.8 per carry. Warrick Dunn getting 4.1 for Falcons.
THE BUZZ: Seahawks are in playoffs, and will know early in game if they have to win to claim NFC West title and home postseason. Falcons are locked into No. 2 seed in NFC and are coasting.
THE PICK: Seahawks 27 Falcons 24
MATCHUP: BUCS (5-10) AT CARDINALS (5-10)
3:05 p.m. Sunday
Line: Cardinals by 3
Last meeting: Bucs won 19-18 at Tampa on Sept. 28, 1997
KEY STAT: Bucs are 1-6 on road.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Pass rushers: Cards’ Bertrand Berry is 2nd in NFL with 12 1/2 sacks; Bucs’ Simeon Rice has 12.
THE BUZZ: Dennis Green finishes his 1st season as Arizona’s coach with win thanks to young receivers Larry Fitzgerald (55 catches, 8 TDs) and Anquan Boldin (53 catches, 1 TD).
THE PICK: Cardinals 24 Bucs 17
MATCHUP: CHIEFS (7-8) AT CHARGERS (11-4)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Chiefs by 3
Last meeting: Chargers won 34-31 at Kansas City on Nov. 28
KEY STAT: Chiefs have scored at least 31 points in last 5 games (4-1).
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Chiefs’ Larry Johnson averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Chargers’ Drew Brees threw for 378 yards and 2 TDs in last meeting.
THE BUZZ: Chargers are set as AFC’s No. 4 seed. Chiefs are having fun closing out season strong and putting up some big numbers.
THE PICK: Chiefs 31 Chargers 21
*** MATCHUP: COLTS (12-3) AT BRONCOS (9-6)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
TV/radio: WBBM-Ch. 2, WMVP-AM 1000
Line: Broncos by 8 1/2
Last meeting: Colts won 41-10 at Indianapolis in divisional playoff on Jan. 4
KEY STAT: Colts have won 8 straight, 3 on road.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Colts’ Peyton Manning may not play long enough to add to his NFL record 49 TD passes. Broncos’ Jake Plummer has 25 TD passes vs. 20 interceptions.
THE BUZZ: Colts have nothing to play for, and Broncos are in playoffs with win. It’s that simple.
THE PICK: Broncos 27 Colts 21
MATCHUP: JAGUARS (8-7) AT RAIDERS (5-10)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Off
Last meeting: Jaguars won 20-9 at Oakland on Dec. 21, 1997
KEY STAT: Jaguars are 4-3 on road, including wins at Green Bay and Indianapolis.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Jaguars’ Jimmy Smith finishing off another fine season with 71 catches, 6 for TDs. Raiders’ Jerry Porter has 61 catches, 9 for TDs.
THE BUZZ: The Jaguars will know early in their game whether Buffalo has lost, giving them chance to make playoffs. Still, Jaguars are young team with heart.
THE PICK: Jaguars 20 Raiders 17
MATCHUP: COWBOYS (6-9) AT GIANTS (5-10)
7:30 p.m. Sunday
TV/radio: ESPN, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Giants by 2 1/2
Last meeting: Giants won 26-10 at Dallas on Oct. 10
KEY STAT: Giants have won 3 of last 5 meetings.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Cowboys rookie Julius Jones has rushed for 654 yards in last 6 games. Giants’ Tiki Barber, with 6,832 career rushing yards, needs 66 to break Rodney Hampton’s team record.
THE BUZZ: Giants have lost 8 straight, and Eli Manning still hasn’t won. Tiki Barber can change all that.
THE PICK: Giants 23 Cowboys 21
