*** = BANNON’S BEST GAMES
MATCHUP: BEARS (1-1) AT VIKINGS (1-1)
Noon Sunday
TV/radio: WFLD-Ch. 32, WBBM-AM 780
Line: Vikings by 9
Last meeting: Bears won 13-10 on Dec. 14, 2003, at Soldier Field.
KEY STAT: Vikings have won 8 of their last 10 home games.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: In eight games vs. Bears, Daunte Culpepper has thrown nine TD passes vs. five interceptions. Thomas Jones leads Bears in rushing (219 yards, 5.0 avg.) and receiving (7 catches, 6.4 avg.).
THE BUZZ: Bears will need to get turnovers and make big plays to overcome injuries on defense, especially the loss of cornerback Charles Tillman and safety Mike Brown.
THE PICK: Vikings 24 Bears 16
MATCHUP: CARDINALS (0-2) AT FALCONS (2-0)
Noon Sunday
Line: Falcons by 10
Last meeting: Falcons won 34-14 at Arizona on Sept. 30, 2001.
KEY STAT: Falcons going for their first 3-0 start since 1986.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Michael Vick has won 10 of 12 starts at home. Cardinals’ Josh McCown hasn’t thrown a TD pass this season.
THE BUZZ: A healthy Vick is on his way to challenging for the NFL’s MVP award and making new coach Jim Mora look good. Cardinals not ready to challenge.
THE PICK: Falcons 31 Cardinals 14
*** MATCHUP: EAGLES (2-0) AT LIONS (2-0)
Noon Sunday
Line: Eagles by 4 1/2
Last meeting: Eagles won 10-9 at Philadelphia on Nov. 8, 1998.
KEY STAT: Eagles are 2-0 for the first time since 1993, when they started 4-0.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Eagles’ Donovan McNabb has thrown league-high six TD passes and leads NFL in passing. Lions’ Joey Harrington has thrown seven TD passes vs. three interceptions in last three regular-season games, all victories.
THE BUZZ: Newcomers Terrell Owens and Jevon Kearse are earning their keep for Eagles. Detroit stepping up a notch in competition this week.
THE PICK: Eagles 27 Lions 20
MATCHUP: BROWNS (1-1) AT GIANTS (1-1)
Noon Sunday
Line: Giants by 3
Last meeting: Giants won 24-3 at Cleveland on Nov. 15, 2000.
KEY STAT: After getting seven takeaways vs. Redskins on Sunday, Giants lead NFL with turnover differential of plus-5.
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KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Giants’ Kurt Warner has completed 62 percent of his passes with no interceptions (61 attempts). Browns’ Jeff Garcia has completed less than half his passes (23 of 51).
THE BUZZ: Warner is regaining some confidence. He ended his seven-game losing streak last week vs. Washington and should make it two in a row against a Cleveland team battling injuries on defense.
THE PICK: Giants 17 Browns 13
MATCHUP: STEELERS (1-1) AT DOLPHINS (0-2)
Noon Sunday
Line: Dolphins by 1
Last meeting: Dolphins won 21-0 at Miami on Sept. 20, 1998.
KEY STAT: Miami’s defense has allowed only one TD in two games.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Dolphins tight end Randy McMichael has 14 catches, one for a TD. Steelers’ Hines Ward has 13 catches for a league-leading 250 yards.
THE BUZZ: Dolphins showed some heart last week, almost getting a road victory at Cincinnati. Miami defense will be too much for rookie QB Ben Roethlisberger, making his first start for injured Tommy Maddox.
THE PICK: Dolphins 21 Steelers 17
MATCHUP: TEXANS (0-2) AT CHIEFS (0-2)
Noon Sunday
Line: Chiefs by 7 1/2
Last meeting: Chiefs won 42-14 at Houston on Sept. 21, 2003.
KEY STAT: Chiefs have allowed 770 yards in two games.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Texans’ David Carr has completed 71.2 percent of his passes. Chiefs’ Trent Green hasn’t thrown a TD pass this season after throwing 24 a year ago.
THE BUZZ: Chiefs needed more than a new defensive coordinator-they needed new defensive players. Chiefs may have to go without RB Priest Holmes (ankle), but Texans don’t have the weapons to exploit Chiefs’ problems.
THE PICK: Chiefs 27 Texans 20
MATCHUP: SAINTS (1-1) AT RAMS (1-1)
Noon Sunday
Line: Rams by 7
Last meeting: Rams won 34-21 at New Orleans on Dec. 17, 2001.
KEY STAT: Rams have won 15 straight home games.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Rams’ Isaac Bruce leads NFL with 17 catches, one TD. Saints’ Joe Horn has 14, 1 TD.
THE BUZZ: With Deuce McAllister out with a knee injury, the Saints will have trouble generating much offense. Rams have come down a notch, but still tough at home.
THE PICK: Rams 27 Saints 17
*** MATCHUP: JAGUARS (2-0) AT TITANS (1-1)
Noon Sunday
Line: Titans by 6
Last meeting: Titans won 10-3 at Tennessee on Nov. 16, 2003.
KEY STAT: Titans have won last five meetings.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Jaguars’ Byron Leftwich has thrown a TD pass in seven straight games. Titans’ Derrick Mason has 20 catches (10.9 avg.) in last four games vs. Jaguars.
THE BUZZ: The Jaguars, who have allowed only 16 points, have a chance to prove they are AFC contenders after going 5-11 a year ago. Titans have too much experience, defense.
THE PICK: Titans 20 Jaguars 13
MATCHUP: RAVENS (1-1) AT BENGALS (1-1)
Noon Sunday
Line: Ravens by 3
Last meeting: Ravens won 31-13 at Baltimore on Dec. 7, 2003.
KEY STAT: Ravens have won 10 of last 12 meetings.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: The second-year quarterbacks: Ravens’ Kyle Boller hasn’t thrown a TD pass yet this season; Bengals’ Carson Palmer has two.
THE BUZZ: Both teams are struggling on offense, and Ravens’ passing game may be non-existent without tight end Todd Heap (ankle). Can Jamal Lewis save the Ravens by himself?
THE PICK: Bengals 17 Ravens 13
MATCHUP: CHARGERS (1-1) AT BRONCOS (1-1)
3:05 p.m. Sunday
TV: WBBM-Ch. 2
Line: Broncos by 10
Last meeting: Broncos won 37-8 at Denver on Nov. 16, 2003.
KEY STAT: Broncos have won 11 of last 14 meetings.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Chargers’ Antonio Gates leads tight ends with 12 catches. In two victories vs. Chargers in ’03, Jake Plummer completed 32 of 47 for 347 yards with six TD passes and one interception.
THE BUZZ: Broncos will take out their frustration of last week’s one-point loss at Jacksonville on the Chargers, who won’t be able to contain Plummer and RB Quentin Griffin.
THE PICK: Broncos 31 Chargers 17
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*** MATCHUP: PACKERS (1-1) AT COLTS (1-1)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
TV: WFLD-Ch. 32
Line: Colts by 6
Last meeting: Packers won 26-24 at Green Bay on Nov. 19, 2000.
KEY STAT: Colts’ opponents (Patriots, Titans) have completed 66.7 percent of passes.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Peyton Manning and Brett Favre, two of the best quarterbacks of their era.
THE BUZZ: Manning has four TD passes and Marvin Harrison leads NFL with 17 catches. Even if hamstring injury slows Edgerrin James (266 yards, 5.2 avg.), Colts will have enough offense.
THE PICK: Colts 27 Packers 24
MATCHUP: 49ERS (0-2) AT SEAHAWKS (2-0)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Seahawks by 10
Last meeting: Seahawks won 24-17 at San Francisco on Dec. 27, 2003.
KEY STAT: Seahawks going for their second straight 3-0 start.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: San Francisco’s Kevan Barlow off to his best start, with 190 yards rushing (4.9 avg.), but has a sore knee. Seahawks’ Shaun Alexander has 180 yards, 4.0 avg.
THE BUZZ: Seahawks won two on the road to start the season, indicating all that Super Bowl buzz may be for real. Seattle has problems on offense, but it won’t matter vs. 49ers.
THE PICK: Seahawks 27 49ers 13
MATCHUP: BUCS (0-2) AT RAIDERS (1-1)
7:30 p.m. Sunday
TV/Radio: ESPN, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Raiders by 3
Last meeting: Bucs won 48-21 at San Diego in Super Bowl XXXVII on Jan. 26, 2003.
KEY STAT: Raiders have won 5 of last 7 Sunday night games.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Raiders’ Rich Gannon off to a solid start -514 yards and three TD passes. Ex-Raider Charlie Garner leads Bucs with only 100 yards rushing (4.2 avg.).
THE BUZZ: Some Super Bowl rematch this is. For Tampa Bay, Jon Gruden’s plan of going with middle-age and older players is backfiring, and he’s sticking with Brad Johnson at QB-for now.
THE PICK: Raiders 21 Bucs 16
*** MATCHUP: COWBOYS (1-1) AT REDSKINS (1-1)
8 p.m. Monday
TV/radio: WLS-Ch. 7, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Redskins by 2
Last meeting: Cowboys won 27-0 at Washington on Dec. 14, 2003.
KEY STAT: Cowboys have won five of last six at Washington.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Cowboys’ Vinny Testaverde off to a fast start, going for third straight 300-yard passing game. Redskins’ Patrick Ramsey expected to get first start of season in place of injured Mark Brunell.
THE BUZZ: Powerhouse coaching matchup, Bill Parcells vs. Joe Gibbs. Gibbs can end Cowboys’ hold over Redskins.
THE PICK: Redskins 20 Cowboys 17