GRAY SCREEN = BANNON’S BEST GAMES
Last week’s record: 11-5
Season record: 162-78
THE MATCHUP:
AWAY: BEARS (11-4)
HOME: VIKINGS (8-7)
3:15 P.M. SUNDAY
TV/radio: WFLD-Ch. 32,
WBBM-AM 780
Line: Vikings by 4
Last meeting: Bears won 28-3 at Soldier Field on Oct. 16
KEY STAT: Bears lead NFL in total defense (274.2 yards per game).
FANTASY FACTOR: Rex Grossman makes his 2nd start but doesn’t figure to play whole game. Brad Johnson (10 TD passes vs. 4 interceptions) finishing solid 1st year back in Minnesota.
THE BUZZ: Vikings are out of playoffs and have no reason to rest anyone. Bears, No. 2 NFC seed, must be careful about health. Packers hung with them in game that mattered Sunday.
THE PICK: VIKINGS 17 BEARS 13
THE MATCHUP:
AWAY: BRONCOS (12-3)
HOME: CHARGERS (9-6)
3:30 P.M. SATURDAY
TV/radio: WBBM-Ch. 2,
WSCR-AM 670
Line: Chargers by 10 1/2
Last meeting: Broncos won 20-17 at Denver on Sept. 18
KEY STAT: Broncos have won 4 of last 5 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: Broncos RB Mike Anderson not expected to play so Tatum Bell (5.6 yards per carry) will get 1st career start. Chargers’ LaDainian Tomlinson has 4 rush TDs in last 2 vs. Denver.
THE BUZZ: Broncos are in as AFC’s No. 2 seed and Chargers are out, but San Diego can affect whether Steelers or Chiefs make playoffs, and they’ll play their starters.
THE PICK: CHARGERS 33 BRONCOS 20
BANNON’S BEST GAMES
THE MATCHUP:
AWAY: GIANTS (10-5)
HOME: RAIDERS (4-11)
7 P.M. SATURDAY
TV/radio: ESPN,
WSCR-AM 670
Line: Giants by 9
Last meeting: Raiders won 28-10 at New York on Nov. 25, 2001
KEY STAT: Raiders have won 2 of 3 vs. NFC this season.
FANTASY FACTOR: Plaxico Burress finishing good 1st season with Giants with 71 catches, 6 TDs. Raiders’ Jerry Porter having similar year with 70 catches, 5 for TDs.
THE BUZZ: Such drama. Kerry Collins guides Raiders against team that dumped him in favor of Eli Manning. Giants have incentive–they’ll win NFC East with victory.
THE PICK: GIANTS 27 RAIDERS 16
BANNON’S BEST GAMES
THE MATCHUP:
AWAY: PANTHERS (10-5)
HOME: FALCONS (8-7)
NOON SUNDAY
Line: Panthers by 4
Last meeting: Panthers won 24-6 at Carolina on Dec. 4
KEY STAT: Falcons QB Michael Vick 3-0 at home vs. Panthers.
FANTASY FACTOR: Panthers’ Steve Smith 3rd in NFL with 94 catches, 2nd with 11 TD catches. Falcons rely on tight end Alge Crumpler (62 catches, 5 TDs).
THE BUZZ: Panthers in playoffs with win, take NFC South with win and Tampa loss. It’s up to Panthers’ defense to slow down Warrick Dunn and Co.
THE PICK: PANTHERS 30 FALCONS 23
THE MATCHUP:
AWAY: RAVENS (6-9)
HOME: BROWNS (5-10)
NOON SUNDAY
Line: Ravens by 3
Last meeting: Ravens won 16-3 at Baltimore on Oct. 16
KEY STAT: Ravens have won 4 of last 5 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: Ravens QB Kyle Boller beginning to look like full-fledged NFL starter. Browns rookie Charlie Frye has completed 60.9 percent in his 1st 4 starts.
THE BUZZ: It’s old Browns vs. new Browns in blah season finale. Ravens surging, Browns fading (see last week’s 41-0 loss to Steelers).
THE PICK: RAVENS 20 BROWNS 13
THE MATCHUP:
AWAY: SEAHAWKS (13-2)
HOME: PACKERS (3-12)
NOON SUNDAY
TV: WFLD-Ch. 32
Line: Packers by 4 1/2
Last meeting: Packers won 33-27 (OT) in wildcard playoff at Green Bay on Jan. 4, 2004
KEY STAT: Seahawks lead NFL in total offense with 378 yards per game
FANTASY FACTOR: Seahawks’ Maurice Morris could have big day subbing for Shaun Alexander after star RB gets his record-breaking 28th TD. Packers’ Brett Favre leads NFL with 28 interceptions.
THE BUZZ: With top NFC seed clinched, Seahawks will loosen up in Mike Holmgren’s triumphant return to Green Bay. Will this be Favre’s finale?
THE PICK: PACKERS 24 SEAHAWKS 17
THE MATCHUP:
AWAY: CARDINALS (5-10)
HOME: COLTS (13-2)
NOON SUNDAY
Line: Colts by 6 1/2
Last meeting: Colts won 20-13 at Indianapolis on Sept. 1, 1996
KEY STAT: Only teams in top 10 in offense and defense (Cards 10th, 10th; Colts 3rd, 9th).
FANTASY FACTOR: Peyton Manning could play enough to add to his 28 TD passes. Cards’ Larry Fitzgerald 2nd in NFL with 97 catches, 9 for TDs.
THE BUZZ: After 2 straight losses, Colts have incentive to play starters long enough to win. Cardinals are 3-2 in starts by QB Josh McCown.
THE PICK: COLTS 30 CARDINALS 20
BANNON’S BEST GAMES
GAME OF THE WEEK
THE MATCHUP:
AWAY: BENGALS (11-4)
HOME: CHIEFS (9-6)
NOON SUNDAY
TV: WBBM-Ch. 2
Line: Chiefs by 7 1/2
Last meeting: Bengals won 24-19 at Cincinnati on Nov. 16, 2003
KEY STAT: Bengals have allowed only 20 sacks, 2nd in NFL.
FANTASY FACTOR: Carson Palmer will add to his league-leading total of 32 TD passes. Chiefs’ Larry Johnson is tied for 2nd in NFL with 17 rushing TDs.
THE BUZZ: Chiefs will be alive for playoffs at kickoff if Chargers lose Saturday, but Bengals need win or Patriots loss to wrap up AFC’s No. 3 seed.
THE PICK: CHIEFS 24 BENGALS 20
THE MATCHUP:
AWAY: DOLPHINS (8-7)
HOME: PATRIOTS (10-5)
NOON SUNDAY
Line: Patriots by 5 1/2
Last meeting: Patriots won 23-16 at Miami on Nov. 13
KEY STAT: Dolphins go for 1st 6-game win streak since ’92.
FANTASY FACTOR: Dolphins’ Chris Chambers 2nd in NFL with 11 TD catches. Corey Dillon, who has scored 26 TDs in 27 games with Patriots, has 12 rushing TDs this season.
THE BUZZ: Patriots, who have won 6 of 7, can move up to No. 3 seed with win and Bengals loss. That would mean avoiding possible game at Indianapolis until AFC title game.
THE PICK: PATRIOTS 24 DOLPHINS 16
THE MATCHUP:
AWAY: BILLS (5-10)
HOME: JETS (3-12)
NOON SUNDAY
Line: Bills by 1 1/2
Last meeting: Bills won 27-17 at Buffalo on Oct. 16
KEY STAT: Jets have averaged 22.3 points in last 3 games.
FANTASY FACTOR: Bills’ Eric Moulds, who has 73 catches this season, has caught at least 6 in last 3 games vs. Jets. Laveranues Coles has 69 catches, 5 TDs for Jets.
THE BUZZ: Miserable season ending for both teams with battle of backup QBs: Bills’ Kelly Holcomb vs. Jets’ Brooks Bollinger.
THE PICK: JETS 13 BILLS 10
BANNON’S BEST GAMES
THE MATCHUP:
AWAY: LIONS (5-10)
HOME: STEELERS (10-5)
NOON SUNDAY
Line: Steelers by 13 1/2
Last meeting: Steelers won 47-14 at Pittsburgh on Dec. 23, 2001
KEY STAT: Steelers 3-0 vs. NFC North, winning by 12.3 points per game.
FANTASY FACTOR: Lions’ Roy Williams has 15 TD catches (7 this season) in 26 career games. Steelers 21-3 with Ben Roethlisberger as starter.
THE BUZZ: Steelers would back into playoffs if Chargers win on Saturday, otherwise they’ll need win or Chiefs loss. Either way, Steelers should cruise.
THE PICK: STEELERS 28 LIONS 13
THE MATCHUP:
AWAY: SAINTS (3-12)
HOME: BUCS (10-5)
NOON SUNDAY
Line: Bucs by 13 1/2
Last meeting: Bucs won 10-3 at Baton Rouge, La., on Dec. 4
KEY STAT: Bucs 2nd in NFL in total defense (275.9 yards per game).
FANTASY FACTOR: Saints’ Todd Bouman has thrown only 1 TD pass vs. 5 interceptions. Bucs’ Chris Simms has 8 TD passes vs. 7 interceptions.
THE BUZZ: With rookie Cadillac Williams running strong down stretch, Bucs can wrap up division title with win (or Panthers loss).
THE PICK: BUCS 27 SAINTS 10
THE MATCHUP:
AWAY: TITANS (4-11)
HOME: JAGUARS (11-4)
3:05 P.M. SUNDAY
Line: Jaguars by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Jaguars won 31-28 at Tennessee on Nov. 20
KEY STAT: Jaguars have won 7 of their last 8.
FANTASY FACTOR: Titans haven’t had 100-yard rusher in game all season. Ernest Wilford is coming off 118-yard game and is tied for Jaguars’ lead with 6 TD catches.
THE BUZZ: Jaguars are locked into No. 5 seed in AFC and will work on staying healthy for playoff opener at New England or Cincinnati.
THE PICK: JAGUARS 20 TITANS 13
THE MATCHUP:
AWAY: TEXANS (2-13)
HOME: 49ERS (3-12)
3:05 P.M. SUNDAY
Line: Texans by 1
Last meeting: 1st meeting
KEY STAT: 49ers are consistent: They’re last in both offense and defense.
FANTASY FACTOR: Two former No. 1 overall picks meet: Texans’ David Carr has 14 TD passes in 412 attempts; 49ers’ Alex Smith has none in 136.
THE BUZZ: Texans can wrap up 1st pick in draft with loss. 49ers actually coming off win.
THE PICK: 49ERS 17 TEXANS 16
BANNON’S BEST GAMES
THE MATCHUP:
AWAY: REDSKINS (9-6)
HOME: EAGLES (6-9)
3:15 P.M. SUNDAY
Line: Redskins by 7 1/2
Last meeting: Redskins won 17-10 at Washington on Nov. 6
KEY STAT: Eagles have won last 3 meetings at home.
FANTASY FACTOR: Redskins’ Clinton Portis 3rd in NFL with 9 rushing TDs. Eagles tight end L.J. Smith has 58 catches, 3 short of his combined total of previous 2 seasons.
THE BUZZ: Redskins can clinch NFC East with win and Giants loss; can earn wild-card berth with win or Cowboys loss. Eagles have little incentive, less offense.
THE PICK: REDSKINS 28 EAGLES 14
THE MATCHUP:
AWAY: RAMS (5-10)
HOME: COWBOYS (9-6)
7:30 P.M. SUNDAY
TV/radio: ESPN,
WSCR-AM 670
Line: Cowboys by 12 1/2
Last meeting: Cowboys won 13-10 at St. Louis on Sept. 29, 2002
KEY STAT: Rams minus-14 in turnover differential; Cowboys minus-1.
FANTASY FACTOR: Rams’ Kevin Curtis has emerged as threat with 57 catches, 6 for TDs. Cowboys’ Drew Bledsoe wrapping up solid season with 22 TD passes vs. 15 interceptions.
THE BUZZ: Cowboys will know by kickoff whether they are still alive for playoffs. Either way, they figure to finish strong.
THE PICK: COWBOYS 28 RAMS 10
