Last week’s record: 8-6
Season to date: 40-22
Off this week: Bengals, Eagles, Raiders, Vikings
GAME OF THE WEEK
Seahawks (3-1) at Steelers (3-1)
Noon Sunday
TV: WFLD-Ch. 32 Line: Steelers by 6
Last meeting: Steelers won Super Bowl XL 21-10 at Detroit on Feb. 5, 2006
KEY STAT: Steelers’ defense is No. 2 in NFL, allowing just 258.5 yards per game.
FANTASY FACTOR: Deion Branch playing well for Seahawks with 20 catches, 16.5 avg., 1 TD. Santonio Holmes big-play threat for Steelers with 14 catches, 20.4 avg, 3 TDs.
THE BUZZ: Steelers have rolled to fast start with strong defense, though it hasn’t been challenged by top offense. That changes in this one. If Shaun Alexander has big day, Seahawks could pull upset. Otherwise, it’s Steelers.
THE PICK: Steelers 24 Seahawks 23
MATCHUP: Bears (1-3) at Packers (4-0)
7:15 p.m. Sunday TV/radio:
WMAQ-Ch. 5, WBBM-AM 780
Line: Packers by 3
Last meeting: Packers won 26-7 at Soldier Field on Dec. 31, 2006
KEY STAT: Packers have won 8 straight Dating back to ’06.
FANTASY FACTOR: Brian Griese will have to have big night for Bears to pull off upset. Brett Favre looks 20-something again for Packers with 8 TD passes vs. only 2 INTs so far.
THE BUZZ: The Favre-Donald Driver combination will cause problems for Bears, who continue to fight injuries in secondary. Until big-play artist emerges on offense, Bears will continue to struggle
THE PICK: Packers 24 Bears 17
MATCHUP: Dolphins (0-4) at Texans (2-2)
Noon Sunday
Line: Texans by 5
Last meeting: Texans won 17-15 at Houston on Oct. 1, 2006
KEY STAT: Both Dolphins’ road games have been 3-point losses.
FANTASY FACTOR: Dolphins’ Ronnie Brown trying to become 2nd player to have 3 games in a row with 200 yards from scrimmage (Walter Payton, 1977). Texans’ Matt Schaub, will need to throw 2 or 3 TDs to win this one.
THE BUZZ: Texans have cooled off after starting 2-0 and injuries are piling up. Dolphins have hot hand in Brown but not much else.
THE PICK: Texans 27 Dolphins 24
MATCHUP: Jaguars (2-1) at Chiefs (2-2)
Noon Sunday
Radio: WCKG-FM 105.9
Line: Jaguars by 2
Last meeting: Chiefs won 35-30 at Kansas City on Dec. 31, 2006
KEY STAT: Chiefs have won 7 of last 8 Home games.
FANTASY FACTOR: Jaguars depending on old pro Fred Taylor, averaging 4.0 yards per carry, to get offense going. Chiefs’ Larry Johnson coming around–and likes facing Jaguars.
THE BUZZ: Chiefs QB Damon Huard 7-0 in career at home, and Arrowhead is always friendly to Chiefs. More importantly, their offense is coming around with Johnson and WR Dwayne Bowe (164 receiving yards vs. Chargers).
THE PICK: Chiefs 20 Jaguars 17
MATCHUP: Browns (2-2) at Patriots (4-0)
Noon Sunday
Line: Patriots by 16 1/2
Last meeting: Patriots won 42-15 at Cleveland on Dec. 5, 2004
KEY STAT: Patriots winning by 25 points per game.
FANTASY FACTOR: Browns’ Braylon Edwards, who has 18 catches, 20.8 avg. and 4 TDs, must have big day for Browns. Randy Moss will add to league-leading 505 receiving yards and 7 TDs for Patriots.
THE BUZZ: Who can stop Pats? It won’t be Browns.
THE PICK: Patriots 45 Browns 20
MATCHUP: Panthers (2-2) at Saints (0-3)
Noon Sunday
Line: Saints by 3
Last meeting: Panthers won 31-21 at New Orleans on Dec. 31, 2006
KEY STAT: Panthers have won last 3 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: Panthers’ Steve Smith, with 21 catches and 4 TDs, could have big day against weak defense. Pressure’s on Saints’ Reggie Bush, who has rushed for only 80 yards.
THE BUZZ: With Deuce McAllister out for season, Bush has to carry offensive load. Panthers have struggled, but Saints’ problems run deeper. Drew Brees has thrown 1 TD pass and 7 INTs.
THE PICK: Panthers 21 Saints 17
MATCHUP: Jets (1-3) at Giants (2-2)
Noon Sunday TV: WBBM-Ch. 2
Line: Giants by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Giants won 31-28 (OT) at Jets on Nov. 2, 2003
KEY STAT: Giants have won 2 in row by combined score of 40-20.
FANTASY FACTOR: Jets’ Chad Pennington off to good start with 5 TD passes vs. 2 INTs. Eli Manning has 7 TD passes, 5 INTs for Giants.
THE BUZZ: Giants’ defense has been playing better, though Jets have weapons to pull off upset.
THE PICK: Giants 23 Jets 17
MATCHUP: Cardinals (2-2) at Rams (0-4)
Noon Sunday
Line: Cardinals by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Cardinals won 34-20 at St. Louis on Dec. 3, 2006
KEY STAT: Cards have won 2 of last 3 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: Cards’ Edgerrin James has averaged 117.3 rushing yards in 3 games vs. Rams. Torry Holt, who leads Rams with 23 catches, has TD reception in last 4 vs. Cards.
THE BUZZ: Injuries ruining Rams’ season, and now QB Marc Bulger is out with rib injury; Gus Frerotte gets call. Cardinals have been moving ball by playing Matt Leinart and Kurt Warner at QB, so why stop now?
THE PICK: Cardinals 23 Rams 13
MATCHUP: Falcons (1-3) at Titans (2-1)
Noon Sunday
Line: Titans by 8 1/2
Last meeting: Titans won 38-31 at Atlanta on Nov. 23, 2003
KEY STAT: Titans Allowing only 15.3 points per game.
FANTASY FACTOR: Falcons’ Joey Harrington on rare hot streak, completing 74 percent with 4 TDs, 0 INTs in last 2 games. Titans’ Chris Brown averaging 5.9 yards per carry.
THE BUZZ: Titans rested after week off and their defense shouldn’t allow Falcons to move ball as well as they did in last 2 games, both at home.
THE PICK: Titans 24 Falcons 13
Bannon’s best games
MATCHUP: Lions (3-1) at Redskins (2-1)
Noon Sunday
Line: Redskins by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Redskins won 17-10 at Detroit on Nov. 7, 2004
KEY STAT: Lions 0-17 in Washington.
FANTASY FACTOR: Lions’ Roy Williams off to big start with 26 catches, 3 for TDs. Clinton Portis getting 4.7 yards per carry for Redskins.
THE BUZZ: Everyone knows Lions can score, but they’re giving up points too. Redskins, fresh after week off, still need more production from QB Jason Campbell
THE PICK: Redskins 24 Lions 20
Bannon’s best games
MATCHUP: Bucs (3-1) at Colts (4-0)
3:05 p.m. Sunday
Line: Colts by 9 1/2
Last meeting: Colts won 38-35 (OT) at Tampa on Oct. 6, 2003
KEY STAT: Colts won 1st 2 home games by average of 24.5 points.
FANTASY FACTOR: Michael Pittman, averaging 5.7 yards per carry, expected to get plenty of work for Bucs. Colts’ Reggie Wayne, with 21 catches for 3 TDs, should be Peyton Manning’s key target.
THE BUZZ: Both teams battling major injuries, with Bucs RB Cadillac Williams gone for season and Colts’ WR Marvin Harrison in question. Colts still have more than enough healthy bodies.
THE PICK: Colts 27 Bucs 13
Bannon’s best games
MATCHUP: Chargers (1-3) at Broncos (2-2)
3:15 p.m. Sunday TV/Radio:
WBBM-Ch. 2, WCKG-FM 105.9
Line: Broncos by 1
Last meeting: Chargers won 48-20 at Denver on Dec. 10, 2006
KEY STAT: Chargers going for 1st back-to-back wins in Denver since 1967-68.
FANTASY FACTOR: Chargers’ LaDainian Tomlinson goes for 3rd straight 100-yard rushing game against Broncos. Broncos’ Jay Cutler has only 4 TD passes vs. 5 INTs.
THE BUZZ: Broncos have injury questions (RB Travis Henry and WR Javon Walker) and desperation factor in Chargers’ favor.
THE PICK: Chargers 27 Broncos 23
MATCHUP: Ravens (2-2) at 49ers (2-2)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Ravens by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Ravens won 44-6 at Baltimore on Nov. 30, 2003
KEY STAT: 49ers haven’t scored more than 20 points in game.
FANTASY FACTOR: Ravens’ Derrick Mason has at least 7 catches in every game. 49ers going with Trent Dilfer, who’s completed only 12 of 33.
THE BUZZ: Alex Smith’s shoulder separation means Dilfer gets to start against coach, Brian Billick, who let him go weeks after he helped Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV in 2001.
THE PICK: Ravens 21 49ers 16
MATCHUP: Cowboys (4-0) at Bills (1-3)
7:30 p.m. Monday
TV/Radio: ESPN, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Cowboys by 10
Last meeting: Cowboys won 10-6 at Dallas on Nov. 9, 2003
KEY STAT: Cowboys lead NFL with plus-7 turnover differential.
FANTASY FACTOR: Cowboys’ Marion Barber, averaging 6.4 yards per carry, has run for 4 TDs. Rookie Marshawn Lynch averaging 3.8 and has 3 rushing TDs for Bills.
THE BUZZ: Cowboys rolling along, and Bills don’t have weapons to stop them. Trent Edwards gets another shot at QB, giving Bills 2 rookies in backfield.
THE PICK: Cowboys 30 Bills 17
