*** = BANNON’S BEST GAMES
MATCHUP: TITANS AT DOLPHINS
Noon Saturday
TV: WBBM-Ch. 2
Line: Titans by 3
Last meeting: Titans won 31-7 at Tennessee on Nov. 9, 2003.
KEY STAT: Titans are NFL-best 42-30 on the road with Jeff Fisher as coach (since ’95).
KEEP YOU’RE EYE ON: Naperville native Chris Brown takes over as the Titans’ No. 1 tailback. The Dolphins are going with Jay Fiedler at quarterback.
THE BUZZ: This game was moved up a day to avoid Hurricane Ivan, another strange development for the Dolphins, who saw Ricky Williams retire. Now Dave Wannstedt is answering questions why he traded for A.J. Feeley and isn’t starting him (remember Rick Mirer?). Titans a rock of stability in comparison.
THE PICK: Titans 24 Dolphins 20
MATCHUP: LIONS AT BEARS
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Noon Sunday
TV/Radio: WFLD-Ch. 32, WBBM-AM 780
Line: Bears by 3
Last meeting: Lions won 12-10 at Detroit on Nov. 9, 2003.
KEY STAT: Lions have lost NFL-record 24 straight road games.
KEEP YOU’RE EYE ON: Thomas Jones gives the Bears a good running-receiving threat from the tailback position, but how durable will he be? Lions quarterback Joey Harrington beginning pivotal third season.
THE BUZZ: New Bears coach Lovie Smith is a former defensive coordinator, and he’ll need his defenders to carry the load. If Rex Grossman takes care of the football, the Bears’ running game will make the difference.
THE PICK: Bears 20 Lions 16
MATCHUP: JAGUARS AT BILLS
Noon Sunday
Line: Bills by 3
Last meeting: Bills won 38-17 at Jacksonville on Sept. 14, 2003.
KEY STAT: Jaguars have won three of four road openers.
KEEP YOU’RE EYE ON: Byron Leftwich needs to throw fewer interceptions (16 last year) than TD passes (14) if Jaguars are to improve. Bills want to get the ball to Eric Moulds (64 catches).
THE BUZZ: Mike Mularkey’s NFL head coaching debut comes against a Jaguars team some expect to make a run at a playoff berth. Jaguars should be able to run the ball and contain the Bills’ Travis Henry-Willis McGahee combination.
THE PICK: Jaguars 20 Bills 17
MATCHUP: RAVENS AT BROWNS
Noon Sunday
Line: Ravens by 3
Last meeting: Ravens won 35-0 at Cleveland on Dec. 20, 2003.
KEY STAT: Ravens have won 7 of 10 meetings.
KEEP YOU’RE EYE ON: Jamal Lewis ran for 500 yards and a 9.6-yard average in two wins over the Browns a year ago. Ex-49er Jeff Garcia debuts as the Browns’ QB, but he has little to work with.
THE BUZZ: The comeback of Deion Sanders is getting headlines, but the Ravens had a tough defense without him. Can he play offense too? Can the Browns hold Lewis under, say, 200 yards?
THE PICK: Ravens 20 Browns 13
MATCHUP: CHARGERS AT TEXANS
Noon Sunday
Line: Texans by 4 1/2
Last meeting: Chargers won 24-3 at San Diego on Sept. 15, 2002.
KEY STAT: Texans are 2-0 in season openers.
KEEP YOU’RE EYE ON: LaDainian Tomlinson, arguably the NFL’s top all-around running back, is the Texans’ top priority. Texans WR Andre Johnson, coming of a 66-catch rookie season, could have a big day.
THE BUZZ: Veteran QB Drew Brees remains the Chargers’ starter, while rookie Philip Rivers catches up after a contract holdout. Texans have no such worries, with David Carr looking for Johnson.
THE PICK: Texans 23 Chargers 14
*** MATCHUP: SEAHAWKS AT SAINTS
Noon Sunday
Line: Seahawks by 2 1/2
Last meeting: Seahawks won 27-10 at Seattle on Sept. 7, 2003.
KEY STAT: Seahawks were 2-6 on the road last season.
KEEP YOU’RE EYE ON: The running backs. The Saints’ Deuce McAllister and the Seahawks’ Shaun Alexander could decide the game.
THE BUZZ: The Saints finished strong a year ago and have experienced playmakers on offense, such as QB Aaron Brooks and WR Joe Horn, who can test the Seahawks’ revamped defense.
THE PICK: Saints 27 Seahawks 24
MATCHUP: BENGALS AT JETS
Noon Sunday
Line: Jets by 4 1/2
Last meeting: Jets won 15-14 at New York on Dec. 16, 2001.
KEY STAT: Jets are 1-2 in openers under coach Herman Edwards.
KEEP YOU’RE EYE ON: Carson Palmer, the top pick of the ’03 draft, makes his first start. The Jets will try to control the ball with Curtis Martin.
THE BUZZ: A meeting of two teams that believe they’re ready to make a run at the playoffs. If Martin can run, Jets QB Chad Pennington could have a big day.
THE PICK: Jets 27 Bengals 21
MATCHUP: RAIDERS AT STEELERS
Noon Sunday
Line: Steelers by 4
Last meeting: Steelers won 27-7 at Pittsburgh on Dec. 7, 2003
KEY STAT: Raiders were 0-8 on the road last year.
KEEP YOU’RE EYE ON: Ex-Eagle Duce Staley gives the Steelers the running-receiving threat they’ve been lacking. Rich Gannon still holding on to Raiders’ QB job.
THE BUZZ: Gannon, 38, has held off Kerry Collins for now, and this will be a test to see whether he can still make big plays. Probably not enough of them.
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THE PICK: Steelers 20 Raiders 17
MATCHUP: CARDINALS AT RAMS
Noon Sunday
Line: Rams by 11
Last meeting: Rams won 30-27 in OT at Arizona on Nov. 23, 2003.
KEY STAT: Rams have won all four meetings in last two seasons, scoring at least 27 points each game.
KEEP YOU’RE EYE ON: Rams’ Torry Holt hopes to retain ’03 form, when he led the NFL with 117 catches. QB Josh McCown gives the Cardinals some hope for the future.
THE BUZZ: Rams have health concerns along the offensive line, but injuries throughout the offense dominated Dennis Green’s first training camp as Cardinals coach. Same old Cardinals.
THE PICK: Rams 31 Cardinals 14
MATCHUP: BUCS AT REDSKINS
Noon Sunday
Line: Redskins by 2
Last meeting: Bucs won 35-13 at Washington on Oct. 12, 2003.
KEY STAT: Bucs have only 22 players left from team that won Super Bowl two years ago.
KEEP YOU’RE EYE ON: Ex-Jaguar Mark Brunell starts his comeback as a Redskin. Receiver Joey Galloway, the Bucs’ biggest off-season acquisition, looks for a fast start.
THE BUZZ: Running back Clinton Portis, acquired from Denver in the Champ Bailey deal with Denver, brings his 5.5 yards-per-carry average to Washington. He’ll be a problem the Bucs can’t solve.
THE PICK: Redskins 24 Bucs 20
*** MATCHUP: COWBOYS AT VIKINGS
3:15 p.m. Sunday
TV: WFLD-Ch. 32
Line: Vikings by 4 1/2
Last meeting: Vikings won 27-15 at Dallas on Nov. 23, 2000.
KEY STAT: Cowboys were 4-4 on the road in ’03.
KEEP YOU’RE EYE ON: Randy Moss has been tough on the Cowboys, with 21 catches for 525 yards and 8 TDs in four games. He’ll outshine Keyshawn Johnson, making his Dallas debut.
THE BUZZ: The Vikings have all the elements for a Super Bowl run. Daunte Culpepper and Moss should have big days against a Dallas defense that will have a hard time being No. 1 in the NFL in yards allowed again.
THE PICK: Vikings 27 Cowboys 17
MATCHUP: GIANTS AT EAGLES
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Eagles by 9
Last meeting: Eagles won 28-10 at Philadelphia on Nov. 16, 2003.
KEY STAT: Eagles have won five of last six meetings, including both last season.
KEEP YOU’RE EYE ON: Kurt Warner, who lost his last seven starts with the Rams, gets a chance to lead the Giants. Can Terrell Owens, who had 80 catches and 9 TDs for the 49ers last year, get the Eagles to the Super Bowl?
THE BUZZ: The Eagles should have their way with the Giants, playing their first game for coach Tom Coughlin. It will be a surprise if Giants’ rebuilt offensive line can give Warner time to throw.
THE PICK: Eagles 27 Giants 14
MATCHUP: FALCONS AT 49ERS
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Falcons by 3 1/2
Last meeting: 49ers won 37-31 in OT at Atlanta on Oct. 14, 2001.
KEY STAT: 49ers have won last three from Falcons.
KEEP YOU’RE EYE ON: Michael Vick is back after missing most of last season with a broken leg. San Francisco is going with Tim Rattay, who threw 7 TD passes vs. 2 interceptions in three starts last year.
THE BUZZ: New Falcons coach Jim Mora debuts against the team he served as defensive coordinator last year. It may be a longer season for 49ers than for Falcons, but on opening day, they’re further along.
THE PICK: 49ers 16 Falcons 12
*** MATCHUP: CHIEFS AT BRONCOS
7:30 p.m. Sunday
TV/Radio: ESPN, WSCR AM-670
Line: Broncos by 3
Last meeting: Broncos won 45-27 at Denver on Dec. 7, 2003.
KEY STAT: Broncos have won four of last six meetings, including three in a row at Denver.
KEEP YOU’RE EYE ON: In the December win over KC, Jake Plummer completed 20 of 29 for 238 yards, 1 TD and no interceptions. Chiefs QB Trent Green tries to repeat a Pro Bowl season.
THE BUZZ: Early showdown in the AFC West could be decided by 5-7 Quentin Griffin, who replaces Clinton Portis in the Denver backfield. If the Broncos can still run against a KC defense that was weak a year ago, they can win.
THE PICK: Broncos 27 Chiefs 21
GAME of the WEEK
*** MATCHUP: PACKERS AT PANTHERS
8 p.m. Monday
TV/Radio: WLS-Ch. 7, WSCR-AM 670
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Line: Panthers by 3
Last meeting: Packers won 17-14 at Green Bay on Sept. 29, 2002.
KEY STAT: Panthers have won both of their openers under coach John Fox
KEEP YOU’RE EYE ON: The Panthers’ Stephen Davis tries to repeat his 1,444-yard season of 2003. The Packers’ Brett Favre would take another 32 TD passes too.
THE BUZZ: The Panthers lost the Super Bowl by a field goal and open the season in an emotional environment, including the return of linebacker Mark Fields from Hodgkin’s disease. If their rebuilt line can protect Jake Delhomme, they can survive a night out with Favre.
THE PICK: Panthers 24 Packers 23