Last week’s record: 12-4
Thursday’s games: 3-0
Season to date: 108-55
* Bannon’s best games
GAME OF THE WEEK
* Redskins (5-5) at Bucs (6-4)
Noon Sunday
Line: Bucs by 3
Last meeting: Bucs won 20-17 at Tampa on Nov. 19, 2006.
KEY STAT: Bucs have won 2 of last 3 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: Run defense isn’t strength of Bucs’ defense, so Redskins’ Clinton Portis may improve on his 4.2-yard average, 6 rushing TDs. Bucs’ Jeff Garcia having solid year with 11 TD passes vs. 3 INTs.
THE BUZZ: Redskins won’t score much against this defense, but they will score enough. Garcia will have to make some big plays for Bucs to win.
THE PICK: REDSKINS 24 BUCS 23
MATCHUP: Broncos (5-5) at Bears (4-6)
3:15 p.m. Sunday TV/ radio: WBBM-Ch. 2, WBBM-AM 780
Line: Bears by 1 1/2
Last meeting: Bears won 19-10 at Denver on Nov. 23, 2003
KEY STAT: It’s Bears’ 25th-ranked offense vs. Broncos’ 25th-ranked defense.
FANTASY FACTOR: Broncos’ Jay Cutler having fine 2nd season with 11 TDs vs. 9 INTs. Bernard Berrian, coming off 9-catch game, has 51 receptions but only 2 TDs.
THE BUZZ: Bears lost in Rex Grossman’s return to the lineup last week, but he made only 1 mistake. Can Cedric Benson have 2 good games in row?
THE PICK: BEARS 27 BRONCOS 21
MATCHUP: Saints (4-6) at Panthers (4-6)
Noon Sunday Radio: WIND-AM 560
Line: Saints by 3
Last meeting: Panthers won 16-13 at New Orleans on Oct. 7
KEY STAT: Panthers have won last 4 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: Saints’ Marques Colston has 35 catches, 3 TDs in last 4 games. Panthers’ Steve Smith, who has 6 TD catches, has had 1 in each of last 4 against Saints.
THE BUZZ: Saints made run at getting into playoff race, but they appear to have run out of gas again. Panthers sticking with 44-year-old Vinny Testaverde at QB over David Carr.
THE PICK: PANTHERS 20 SAINTS 17
MATCHUP: Titans (6-4) at Bengals (3-7)
Noon Sunday
Line: Titans by 1 1/2
Last meeting: Bengals won 31-23 at Tennessee on Oct. 16, 2005
KEY STAT: Titans have won in last 5 trips to Cincinnati
FANTASY FACTOR: Titans’ Chris Brown has run for 231 yards, 3 TDs in 2 games vs. Bengals. Bengals’ T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who leads NFL with 76 catches, has TD catch in 9 games this season.
THE BUZZ: Titans scrambling for playoff berth. Whether that’s enough to overcome Carson Palmer remains to be seen.
THE PICK: TITANS 24 BENGALS 21
* MATCHUP: Texans (5-5) at Browns (6-4)
Noon Sunday
Line: Browns by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Texans won 14-6 at Houston on Dec. 31, 2006
KEY STAT: Browns going for 4th straight home win for 1st time since ’99.
FANTASY FACTOR: Texans’ Ron Dayne has run for 211 yards in last 2 games. Browns’ Braylon Edwards has 6 TDs in last 6 games.
THE BUZZ: Both of these oft-struggling recent expansion franchises have shown signs of hope, but they’re bigger in Cleveland.
THE PICK: BROWNS 28 TEXANS 23
* MATCHUP: Bills (5-5) at Jaguars (7-3)
Noon Sunday
Line: Jaguars by 8
Last meeting: Bills won 27-24 at Buffalo on Nov. 26, 2006
KEY STAT: Jaguars 3rd in NFL in rushing at 140 yards per game.
FANTASY FACTOR: Bills’ Lee Evans, who has 2 TDs this season, averaging 101.2 yards receiving in last 5 games. Jaguars’ David Garrard has thrown 8 TD passes and no interceptions.
THE BUZZ: With Garrard’s efficiency and Jaguars’ ability to run ball, they should control the game. Bills’ offense not explosive enough.
THE PICK: JAGUARS 27 BILLS 17
MATCHUP: Raiders (2-8) at Chiefs (4-6)
Noon Sunday
Line: Chiefs by 5 1/2
Last meeting: Chiefs won 12-10 at Oakland on Oct. 21
KEY STAT: Chiefs have won 9 straight meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: Raiders’ Justin Fargas doing all he can for woeful offense, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez has 7 career TDs vs. Raiders, and has 4 this season.
THE BUZZ: Remember when this was great old AFC rivalry? If so, you have long memory.
THE PICK: CHIEFS 24 RAIDERS 14
MATCHUP: Vikings (4-6) at Giants (7-3)
Noon Sunday TV/radio: WFLD-Ch. 32, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Giants by 7
Last meeting: Vikings won 24-21 at New York on Nov. 13, 2005
KEY STAT: Giants have outscored foes by only 3.6 points per game.
FANTASY FACTOR: Vikings’ Chester Taylor can still do it, averaging 5.6 yards per carry with 4 TDs. Giants’ Eli Manning ought to improve on 15 TDs vs. league’s worst pass defense.
THE BUZZ: Vikings may miss Adrian Peterson, but Taylor can keep them in this game. Unfortunately, he can’t do enough to win it.
THE PICK: GIANTS 23 VIKINGS 20
MATCHUP: Seahawks (6-4) at Rams (2-8)
Noon Sunday
Line: Seahawks by 3
Last meeting: Seahawks won 33-6 at Seattle on Oct. 21
KEY STAT: Seahawks have won last 5 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: Seahawks’ Matt Hasselbeck has completed 59.6 percent with 8 TD passes and 2 INTs in last 4 meetings. Rams’ Torry Holt has 16 catches, 4 TDs in last 2 home games vs. Seahawks.
THE BUZZ: Seahawks know how to beat Rams, even at St. Louis. If Marc Bulger gets hot, upset looms.
THE PICK: SEAHAWKS 28 RAMS 20
MATCHUP: 49ers (2-8) at Cardinals (5-5)
3:05 p.m. Sunday
Line: Cardinals by 10 1/2
Last meeting: 49ers won 20-17 at San Francisco on Sept. 10
KEY STAT: It’s 49ers’ No. 32 offense vs. Cards’ No. 11 defense.
FANTASY FACTOR: 49ers’ Frank Gore, who has 3 rushing TDs, has TD in last 3 meetings. Cards’ Edgerrin James not producing yards like in his Indy days with 3.6 avg but has 6 rushing TDs.
THE BUZZ: With 49ers QB Alex Smith out, and making issue of his medical treatment, things are not good by Bay. Trent Dilfer gets call against Kurt Warner in old-timer’s game.
THE PICK: CARDINALS 30 49ERS 17
* MATCHUP: Ravens (4-6) at Chargers (5-5)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Chargers by 9
Last meeting: Ravens won 16-13 at Baltimore on Oct. 1, 2006
KEY STAT: Ravens have won last 3 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: Ravens’ Willis McGahee averaging 4.3 yards per carry with 5 rushing TDs. Chargers’ LaDainian Tomlinson averaging just 4.1 but leads NFL with 9 rushing TDs.
THE BUZZ: Chargers show signs of making move but never follow through on it. Ravens troubled but play run defense–but well enough vs. LT?
THE PICK: CHARGERS 21 RAVENS 20
MATCHUP: Eagles (5-5) at Patriots (10-0)
7:15 p.m. Sunday TV/ radio: WMAQ-Ch. 5, WIND-AM 560
Line: Patriots by 22
Last meeting: Patriots won 24-21 in Super Bowl XXXIX on Feb. 6, 2005
KEY STAT: Pats lead NFL with plus-13 turnover differential.
FANTASY FACTOR: RB Brian Westbrook still Eagles’ best hope with 9 TDs. Patriots’ Wes Welker continues to be 1 of NFL’s surprises with 68 catches, 7 TDs.
THE BUZZ: Eagles expected to go with backup QB A.J. Feeley as Donovan McNabb heals, making mismatch even bigger. Unless Patriots’ Tom Brady does something uncharacteristic, another rout.
THE PICK: PATRIOTS 38 EAGLES 14
MATCHUP: Dolphins (0-10) at Steelers (7-3)
7:30 p.m. Monday
TV/ radio: ESPN, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Steelers by 16
Last meeting: Steelers won 28-17 at Pittsburgh on Sept. 7, 2006
KEY STAT: Dolphins losing by 9.1 points per game.
FANTASY FACTOR: Ex-Bear Marty Booker has 29 catches but only 1 TD for Dolphins. Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger rolling along with 23 TD passes vs. only 8 INTs.
THE BUZZ: At some point, Dolphins figure to steal win, but it’s not likely to be on road–and certainly not in Pittsburgh.
THE PICK: STEELERS 37 DOLPHINS 17
