Last week’s record: 12-2
Season record: 51-37
*** = BANNON’S BEST GAMES
MATCHUP: BEARS (1-4) AT BUCS (1-5)
Noon Sunday
TV/radio: WFLD-Ch. 32, WBBM-AM 780
Line: Bucs by 7
Last meeting: Bucs won 15-0 at Soldier Field on Dec. 29, 2002
KEY STAT: Bears’ 4 losses have been by average of 5.5 points.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Brian Griese, who threw for 2 TDs in Monday night loss at St. Louis, makes second Bucs start. Bears will again rely on ex-Buccaneer Thomas Jones, who has accounted for 636 yards from scrimmage.
THE BUZZ: Bears are overmatched at quarterback position. Jones and defense can only keep them close.
THE PICK: Bucs 24 Bears 13
*** MATCHUP: EAGLES (5-0) AT BROWNS (3-3)
Noon Sunday
Line: Eagles by 7
Last meeting: Eagles won 35-24 at Cleveland on Dec. 10, 2000
KEY STAT: Eagles trying to become 7th team to win first 6 games by 10 points.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Eagles’ Terrell Owens has 30 receptions, 6 for TDs. In three home games, Browns’ Jeff Garcia has 6 TD passes vs. 2 interceptions.
THE BUZZ: Too bad Owens and Garcia, who feuded as 49ers teammates, can’t go 1-on-1. This could be tricky one for Eagles.
THE PICK: Eagles 21 Browns 16
MATCHUP: CHARGERS (3-3) AT PANTHERS (1-4)
Noon Sunday
Line: Panthers by 3
Last meeting: Panthers won 30-22 at Carolina on Dec. 17, 2000
KEY STAT: Chargers have scored every time they’ve moved inside 20 (13 TDs, 6 FGs).
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Two quarterbacks who have gone other way since ’03. Chargers’ Drew Brees has 9 TD passes; Panthers’ Jake Delhomme has 9 interceptions.
THE BUZZ: LaDainian Tomlinson should find room to operate against injury-ravaged Carolina defense, and Panthers’ offense can’t keep up.
THE PICK: Chargers 27 Panthers 20
MATCHUP: BILLS (1-4) AT RAVENS (3-2)
Noon Sunday
Line: Ravens by 6
Last meeting: Bills won 13-10 at Baltimore on Oct. 31, 1999
KEY STAT: Bills are 0-2 on road, losing by total of 5 points.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Bills’ Travis Henry expects to start (questionable, foot). If he can’t, Willis McGahee averaging 4.5 yards per carry in last 2 games.
THE BUZZ: Jamal Lewis begins his 2-game suspension. Despite his 5.9 yards per carry, replacement Chester Taylor won’t be much of threat. Still, Ravens should win with defense.
THE PICK: Ravens 17 Bills 13
*** MATCHUP: JAGUARS (4-2) AT COLTS (4-1)
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Noon Sunday
Line: Colts by 9 1/2
Last meeting: Colts won 24-17 at Jacksonville on Oct. 3
KEY STAT: Colts have won 6 of last 7 meetings.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Edgerrin James averaging 109.4 yards per game and 4.4 per carry for Colts. Jimmy Smith leads Jags with 28 catches, but only 1 TD.
THE BUZZ: Colts established themselves as AFC South’s best by beating Jaguars three weeks ago. Since then, Jaguars have slipped and Colts have soared. Trend will continue.
THE PICK: Colts 27 Jaguars 17
MATCHUP: FALCONS (5-1) AT CHIEFS (1-4)
Noon Sunday
Line: Chiefs by 4
Last meeting: Falcons won 29-13 at Atlanta on Dec. 24, 2000
KEY STAT: Falcons going for their first 6-1 start.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Michael Vick leads QBs with 286 yards rushing but has only 4 TD passes. Chiefs’ Trent Green has 6 TD passes vs. 4 interceptions.
THE BUZZ: Falcons’ passing attack isn’t good enough to take advantage of Chiefs’ weaknesses. K.C. having disappointing season, but young Falcons will find Arrowhead tough stop.
THE PICK: Chiefs 24 Falcons 21
*** MATCHUP: LIONS (3-2) AT GIANTS (4-1)
Noon Sunday
Line: Giants by 6 1/2
Last meeting: Lions won 31-21 at New York on Nov. 19, 2000
KEY STAT: Giants have lost 7 of last 8 after open date.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Giants’ Tiki Barber averaging 6.0 yards per carry. Lions’ defensive end James Hall has 4 1/2 sacks.
THE BUZZ: Will this be another magical season for Kurt Warner? He has thrown only 1 interception in 147 attempts, and Giants are doing everything right.
THE PICK: Gianrs 24 Lions 20
MATCHUP: TITANS (2-4) AT VIKINGS (4-1)
Noon Sunday
Line: Vikings by 7
Last meeting: Vikings won 42-24 at Minnesota on Dec. 9, 2001
KEY STAT: Titans have NFL’s best road record (44-31, .587) in last decade.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Titans’ Steve McNair has thrown only 4 TD passes vs. 6 interceptions. Daunte Culpepper continuing drive toward MVP season with 18 TD passes vs. 3 interceptions.
THE BUZZ: This looked like great matchup when schedule came out, but Titans are coming off home loss to Texans. Vikings should score enough, even if Randy Moss sits with strained hamstring.
THE PICK: Vikings 28 Titans 17
MATCHUP: RAMS (4-2) AT DOLPHINS (0-6)
Noon Sunday
Line: Rams by 6 1/2
Last meeting: Rams won 42-10 at St. Louis on Sept. 30, 2001
KEY STAT: Dolphins haven’t scored more than 13 points in game.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Marc Bulger having another solid year with 9 TD passes vs. 6 interceptions. Jay Fiedler having miserable season with 2 TD passes vs. 6 interceptions.
THE BUZZ: One of hottest teams vs. one of coldest. Dave Wannstedt’s seat will get even hotter after this one.
THE PICK: Rams 34 Dolphins 13
GAME OF THE WEEK
*** MATCHUP: JETS (5-0) AT PATRIOTS (5-0)
3:05 p.m. Sunday
TV: WBBM-Ch. 2
Line: Patriots by 6 1/2
Last meeting: Patriots won 21-16 at New York on Dec. 20, 2003
KEY STAT: Pats winning by 10.4 points; Jets by 6.2.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Jets’ Curtis Martin leads NFL with 613 yards rushing, averaging 4.6 per carry. Pats’ Corey Dillon has 522, 4.9 average.
THE BUZZ: Not since 6-0 Vikings and Rams met in ’73 have unbeaten teams with at least 5 wins met this late in season. Pats got to this point against tougher schedule and their defense will contain Martin.
THE PICK: Patriots 24 Jets 14
MATCHUP: SEAHAWKS (3-2) AT CARDINALS (1-4)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Seahawks by 7
Last meeting: Seahawks won 28-10 at Seattle on Dec. 21, 2003
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KEY STAT: Seahawks are second in NFL with turnover differential of plus-10.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Can Jerry Rice help settle down Seahawks’ inconsistent receiving corps? Cards’ Josh McCown having middling year with only 3 TD passes, all in 1 game.
THE BUZZ: Under new coach Dennis Green Cardinals have held their own at home. But Seahawks have been toughened by consecutive losses to Rams and Patriots.
THE PICK: Seahawks 27 Cardinals 21
MATCHUP: COWBOYS (2-3) AT PACKERS (2-4)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
TV: WFLD-Ch. 32
Line: Packers by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Cowboys won 27-13 in Dallas on Nov. 14, 1999
KEY STAT: Packers are 0-3 at home, losing by average of 13 points.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Brett Favre has thrown TD pass in 31 straight games, second only to Johnny Unitas (47). Eddie George leads Cowboys in rushing with only 42 yards per game.
THE BUZZ: Packers handled Lions last week, showing they’re not about to let Vikings run away with NFC North. Cowboys’ playoff magic of ’03 is gone.
THE PICK: Packers 27 Cowboys 13
MATCHUP: SAINTS (2-4) AT RAIDERS (2-4)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Raiders by 3
Last meeting: Raiders won 31-22 at New Orleans on Nov. 19, 2000
KEY STAT: Saints have lost 3 straight by average of 11.3 points.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Aaron Brooks has thrown 8 TD passes vs. 3 interceptions for Saints. Ronald Curry leads Raiders with 24 catches, 2 for TDs.
THE BUZZ: Two nondescript teams, so it could come down to quarterback play. Brooks inconsistent, but Kerry Collins has disappointed as Rich Gannon’s replacement.
THE PICK: Raiders 21 Saints 20
MATCHUP: BRONCOS (5-1) AT BENGALS (1-4)
8 p.m. Monday
TV/radio: ESPN, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Broncos by 6
Last meeting: Broncos won 30-10 at Cincinnati on Sept. 7, 2003
KEY STAT: Bengals have lost 3 straight by an average of 14 points.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Jake Plummer has won 14 of 17 starts with Broncos. Carson Palmer has thrown 4 TD passes vs. 8 interceptions.
THE BUZZ: First Monday night game in Cincinnati wasn’t supposed to feature mismatch. Unless Bengals’ defense suddenly finds some answers, it won’t be pretty.
THE PICK: Broncos 31 Bengals 14