COLOR SCREEN = BANNON’S BEST GAMES
Last week’s record: 12-2
Season record: 51-37
OFF THIS WEEK: PATRIOTS, BUCS, JAGUARS, PANTHERS
GAMES ON TV (AND RADIO)
Ravens (2-3) at Bears (2-3)
3:15 p.m. Sunday – WBBM-Ch. 2 (WBBM-AM 780)
Colts (6-0) at Texans (0-5)
Noon Sunday – WBBM-Ch. 2
Packers (1-4) at Vikings (1-4)
Noon Sunday – WFLD-Ch. 32
Jets (2-4) at Falcons (4-2)
8 p.m. Monday – WLS-Ch. 7 (WSCR-AM 670)
THE MATCHUP: RAVENS (2-3) AT BEARS (2-3)
3:15 p.m. SUNDAY
Line: Bears by 1
Last meeting: Ravens won 17-6 at Baltimore on Sept. 9, 2001 9
KEY STAT: Ravens No. 2 in defense, Bears No. 3.
FANTASY FACTOR: Who’s better replacement QB? Ravens’ Anthony Wright has 5 TDs vs. 7 interceptions, Bears’ Kyle Orton has 4 TDs vs. 7 interceptions.
THE BUZZ: Defenses will dominate, but Thomas Jones (4.6 yards per carry, 6 TDs) can carry Bears into field-goal position.
THE PICK: BEARS 13 RAVENS 9
THE MATCHUP: CHIEFS (3-2) AT DOLPHINS (2-3)
6 p.m. FRIDAY
Line: Dolphins by 1 1/2
Last meeting: Chiefs won 48-30 at K.C. on Sept. 29, 2002
KEY STAT: Dolphins have won 4 straight at home, 2 this season.
FANTASY FACTOR: Priest Holmes averaging only 3.7 yards per carry, but has scored 5 TDs (4 rushing, 1 receiving). Chris Chambers leads Dolphins with 21 catches, 1 TD.
THE BUZZ: Nick Saban has Dolphins playing tough at home, and Chiefs defense still can’t be counted on, especially against pass.
THE PICK: DOLPHINS 24 CHIEFS 20
THE MATCHUP: COLTS (6-0) AT TEXANS (0-5)
NOON SUNDAY
Line: Colts by 16
Last meeting: Colts won 23-14 at Houston on Dec. 12, 2004
KEY STAT: Colts have won all 6 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: Peyton Manning loves facing Texans: he’s completed 69.6 percent of his passes with 14 TDs vs. 3 INTs. Texans’ David Carr has thrown 4 TD passes vs. 4 INTs.
THE BUZZ: You don’t see matchups like this very often: NFL’s best team visits worst. On any given Sunday . . . nah.
THE PICK: COLTS 34 TEXANS 13
THE MATCHUP: SAINTS (2-4) AT RAMS (2-4)
NOON SUNDAY
Line: Rams by 3
Last meeting: Saints won 28-25 (OT) at St. Louis on Sept. 26, 2004
KEY STAT: Saints have lost 4 of 5 since opening day win.
FANTASY FACTOR: Saints’ Donte Stallworth, with 28 catches and 1 TD, has become key. Rams’ Torry Holt has 5 100-yard receiving games in his last 9.
THE BUZZ: QB Marc Bulger (shoulder) expected out until after St. Louis’ week off (Nov. 6), which will give Saints chance.
THE PICK: RAMS 28 SAINTS 27
THE MATCHUP: LIONS (2-3) AT BROWNS (2-3)
NOON SUNDAY
Line: Browns by 3
Last meeting: Browns won 24-14 at Cleveland on Sept. 23, 2001
KEY STAT: Lions have lost 7 straight road games.
FANTASY FACTOR: Kevin Johnson leads Lions with 17 catches, but no TDs. Antonio Bryant leads Browns with 25 catches, 2 TDs.
THE BUZZ: 2 of NFL’s worst offenses will try to get something going. Browns QB Trent Dilfer will find way to make play or two, which should be enough.
THE PICK: BROWNS 17 LIONS 13
THE MATCHUP: 49ERS (1-4) AT REDSKINS (3-2)
NOON SUNDAY
Line: Redskins by 12 1/2
Last meeting: Redskins won 26-16 at San Francisco on Dec. 18, 2004
KEY STAT: Niners seek 4th straight win vs. Redskins at Washington.
FANTASY FACTOR: 49ers’ Brandon Lloyd has 17 catches, 3 for TDs. Redskins’ Santana Moss 2nd in NFL with 631 receiving yards, and has 4 TDs.
THE BUZZ: San Francisco rookie QB Alex Smith makes his 2nd start, and against tough, aggressive defense. Sometimes, life just isn’t fair.
THE PICK: REDSKINS 30 49ERS 16
GAME OF THE WEEK
THE MATCHUP: STEELERS (3-2) AT BENGALS (5-1)
NOON SUNDAY
Line: Bengals by 1
Last meeting: Steelers won 19-14 at Cincinnati on Nov. 21, 2004
KEY STAT: Steelers have won 9 straight road games.
FANTASY FACTOR: NFL’s top-ranked passers go for it: Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger has thrown 7 TD passes and no INTs; Bengals’ Carson Palmer leads NFL with 13 TD passes vs. 2 INTs.
THE BUZZ: Despite quarterbacks, Steelers’ ability to exploit Bengals’ soft run defense with Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker will decide it.
THE PICK: STEELERS 27 BENGALS 24
THE MATCHUP: CHARGERS (3-3) AT EAGLES (3-2)
NOON SUNDAY
Line: Eagles by 4
Last meeting: Eagles won 24-14 at Philadelphia on Dec. 9, 2001
KEY STAT: Eagles have won 6 straight after week off.
FANTASY FACTOR: Chargers’ LaDainian Tomlinson, who has 11 TDs, goes for NFL record 19th straight game with TD. Eagles’ Donovan McNabb has thrown 11 TD passes, tied for 3rd in NFL.
THE BUZZ: Both offenses capable of big days against soft defenses. Will Eagles’ Terrell Owens outscore Tomlinson?
THE PICK: EAGLES 34 CHARGERS 27
THE MATCHUP: PACKERS (1-4) AT VIKINGS (1-4)
NOON SUNDAY
Line: Packers by 2
Last meeting: Vikings won 31-17 in wild-card playoff at Green Bay on Jan. 9
KEY STAT: Last 5 regular-season Meetings decided by 5 points or less.
FANTASY FACTOR: Donald Driver, with 23 catches and 2 TDs, leads Packers’ receivers. Tight end Jermaine Wiggins, who had 6-catch game vs. Packers last year, leads Vikings with 26 receptions.
THE BUZZ: Packers are rested and healthier after week off, and Vikings look like team that can’t beat anybody.
THE PICK: PACKERS 24 VIKINGS 17
THE MATCHUP: COWBOYS (4-2) AT SEAHAWKS (4-2)
3:05 P.M. SUNDAY
Line: Seahawks by 3
Last meeting: Cowboys won 43-39 at Seattle on Dec. 6, 2004
KEY STAT: Seahawks 3-0 at home, winning by average of 20 points.
FANTASY FACTOR: Cowboys’ Drew Bledsoe tied for 3rd in NFL with 11 TD passes. Seahawks’ Shaun Alexander leads league with 12 TDs (all rushing).
THE BUZZ: Seahawks will rely on Alexander, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Cowboys can slow him down, but not enough.
THE PICK: SEAHAWKS 27 COWBOYS 21
THE MATCHUP: TITANS (2-4) AT CARDINALS (1-4)
3:15 P.M. SUNDAY
Line: Cardinals by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Houston Oilers won 41-14 at Arizona on Oct. 26, 1997
KEY STAT: Titans have won 18 of past 25 vs. NFC.
FANTASY FACTOR: Titans’ Steve McNair quietly having bounceback season with 7 TD passes vs. 6 INTs. Larry Fitzgerald has 36 catches, 3 for TDs.
THE BUZZ: Cardinals’ inability to run ball could hurt them in this one.
THE PICK: TITANS 20 CARDINALS 17
THE MATCHUP: BRONCOS (5-1) AT GIANTS (3-2)
3:15 P.M. SUNDAY
Line: Giants by 2
Last meeting: Broncos won 31-20 at Denver on Sept. 10, 2001
KEY STAT: Giants average 29.8 points per game, most in NFL.
FANTASY FACTOR: Tatum Bell leads Broncos with 395 rushing yards, 3 TDs. Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey has two 100-yard receiving days in last 3 weeks.
THE BUZZ: Giants, with struggling defense, haven’t shown they can beat playoff caliber team, which Denver is. Will Broncos suffer letdown after beating Pats?
THE PICK: BRONCOS 27 GIANTS 24
THE MATCHUP: BILLS (3-3) AT RAIDERS (1-4)
3:15 P.M. SUNDAY
Line: Raiders by 3
Last meeting: Raiders won 13-10 at Oakland on Sept. 19, 2004
KEY STAT: Bills 0-2 on road and have been outscored 38-10.
FANTASY FACTOR: Bills’ Kelly Holcomb has thrown 3 TD passes vs. 2 interceptions in two starts. Raiders’ Lamont Jordan has 5 TDs–4 rushing, 1 receiving.
THE BUZZ: Holcomb has guided Bills to 2 straight wins, but on road is another matter. Jordan can attack Bills’ soft run defense.
THE PICK: RAIDERS 20 BILLS 17
THE MATCHUP: JETS (2-4) AT FALCONS (4-2)
8 P.M. MONDAY
Line: Falcons by 7
Last meeting: Jets won 28-3 at New York on Oct. 25, 1998
KEY STAT: Jets have won 7 of last 10 on MNF.
FANTASY FACTOR: Laveranues Coles leads Jets with 26 catches, 1 TD. Warrick Dunn having big year with 577 yards rushing, 5.2 avg.
THE BUZZ: Falcons, averaging 29 points in their last 4 games (3 wins), should be able to move ball at will against this defense. And move it into end zone.
THE PICK: FALCONS 30 JETS 17
