Last week’s record: 8-6
Season record: 68-48
*** = BANNON’S BEST GAMES
MATCHUP: BEARS (2-5) AT GIANTS (5-2)
3:05 p.m. Sunday
TV/radio: WFLD-Ch. 32, WBBM-AM 780
Line: Giants by 9
Last meeting: Giants won 14-7 at Soldier Field on Sept. 17, 2000
KEY STAT: Defense has scored 3 of Bears’ 12 TDs.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Giants’ Tiki Barber is 4th in the NFL with 748 yards rushing (5.3 avg.). Craig Krenzel, who has completed 50 percent of his passes in 2 games, makes 3rd start.
THE BUZZ: Kurt Warner knows how to manage game and get ball to Barber. Bears won’t be able to score enough to keep up.
THE PICK: Giants 24 Bears 13
MATCHUP: JETS (6-1) AT BILLS (2-5)
Noon Sunday
Line: Jets by 3
Last meeting: Jets won 16-14 at New York on Oct. 4, 2004
KEY STAT: Jets have won 4 of last 5 meetings.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Chad Pennington threw for 310 yards in 1st meeting. Bills’ Willis McGahee has rushed for 213 yards and 3.8 average in his 2 starts, both home victories.
THE BUZZ: McGahee has emerged as threat since these teams last met, but Bills haven’t been able to beat quality team yet.
THE PICK: Jets 20 Bills 13
MATCHUP: RAIDERS (2-6) AT PANTHERS (1-6)
Noon Sunday
Line: Panthers by 7
Last meeting: Raiders won 52-9 at Oakland on Dec. 24, 2000
KEY STAT: Panthers have averaged 11.6 points in 5-game losing streak.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Raiders’ Jerry Porter has 11 catches for 163 yards and TD in last 2 games. Muhsin Muhammad leads Panthers with 31 catches, 4 for TDs.
THE BUZZ: The Raiders are 0-4 on road and Panthers are 0-3 at home. If Raiders can run with Tyrone Wheatley and Amos Zereoue, they can get rare road victory.
THE PICK: Panthers 15 Raiders 10
MATCHUP: COWBOYS (3-4) AT BENGALS (2-5)
Noon Sunday
Radio: WMVP-AM 1000
Line: Cowboys by 1
Last meeting: Cowboys won 23-6 at Dallas on Nov. 12, 2000
KEY STAT: Bengals are 7-3 at home under Marvin Lewis.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Keyshawn Johnson leads Cowboys with 4 TDs among his 30 catches. Bengals’ Chad Johnson has 13 catches for 216 yards and TD in last 2 games.
THE BUZZ: Bengals can run ball with Rudi Johnson, keeping pressure off struggling quarterback Carson Palmer.
THE PICK: Bengals 20 Cowboys 17
MATCHUP: REDSKINS (2-5) AT LIONS (4-3)
Noon Sunday
Line: Lions by 31/2
Last meeting: Lions won 15-10 at Detroit on Sept. 10, 2000
KEY STAT: Lions share NFL lead with plus-12 turnover differential.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Redskins’ Clinton Portis averaging modest 3.9 yards per carry. Lions’ DT Shaun Rogers having big year (4 sacks).
THE BUZZ: Lions’ Joey Harrington having his best season yet and should make some key plays if receiver Roy Williams is recovered from ankle injury. Lions can control Portis.
THE PICK: Lions 23 Redskins 17
MATCHUP: CARDINALS (2-5) AT DOLPHINS (1-7)
Noon Sunday
Line: Dolphins by 3
Last meeting: Dolphins won 19-16 at Miami on Sept. 19, 1999
KEY STAT: Cardinals have lost 17 straight road games.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Sammy Morris has taken over as Dolphins’ top rusher, averaging 3.7 yards per carry. Rookie Larry Fitzgerald leads Cardinals with 26 catches, 2 for TDs.
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THE BUZZ: Cardinals have shown some spunk under Dennis Green, but road losing streak looms large. If Dolphins’ defense can bounce back, Miami can win.
THE PICK: Dolphins 21 Cardinals 20
*** MATCHUP: EAGLES (7-0) AT STEELERS (6-1)
Noon Sunday
Line: Eagles by 1
Last meeting: Eagles won 26-23 (OT) at Pittsburgh, Nov. 12, 2000
KEY STAT: Eagles going for team-record 10th straight victory.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Ex-Eagle Duce Staley averaging 4.7 yards per carry for Steelers. Jevon Kearse leads Eagles with 6 sacks.
THE BUZZ: Fresh off ending Patriots’ 21-game winning streak, can Steelers do it again? Another chapter in Ben Roethlisberger story.
THE PICK: Steelers 24 Eagles 23
MATCHUP: CHIEFS (3-4) AT BUCS (2-5)
Noon Sunday
TV: WBBM-Ch. 2
Line: Chiefs by 3
Last meeting: Bucs won 17-10 at Tampa on Nov. 14, 1999
KEY STAT: Chiefs have won 2 straight by combined score of 101-45.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Two hot quarterbacks: Chiefs’ Trent Green hasn’t thrown interception in last 2 games; Brian Griese has thrown 4 TD passes vs. 1 interception in 3 games.
THE BUZZ: In the last 2 weeks, Chiefs have looked like 13-3 team of 2003. Their offense is hot, and Bucs’ defense won’t cool it off.
THE PICK: Chiefs 30 Bucs 20
MATCHUP: SAINTS (3-4) AT CHARGERS (5-3)
3:05 p.m. Sunday
Line: Chargers by 6
Last meeting: Saints won 28-27 at San Diego on Sept. 10, 2000
KEY STAT: Saints 2-1 on road; Chargers 3-1 at home.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Chargers’ Drew Brees has completed 73.9 percent of his passes with 11 TDs and 1 interception in last 5 games.
THE BUZZ: Saints’ Charles Grant second in NFL with 7 1/2 sacks. Saints’ defense hasn’t stopped anyone consistently, so Brees and LaDainian Tomlinson both could have big games.
THE PICK: Chargers 27 Saints 19
MATCHUP: SEAHAWKS (4-3) AT 49ERS (1-6)
3:05 p.m. Sunday
Line: Seahawks by 6 1/2
Last meeting: Seahawks won 34-0 at Seattle on Sept. 26, 2004
KEY STAT: 49ers have scored more than 14 points only once in last 5 games.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Tim Hasselbeck having a disappointing year with 8 TD passes vs. 9 interceptions. Kevan Barlow averaging modest 3.6 yards per carry for 49ers.
THE BUZZ: Nothing like seeing 49ers on your schedule to get a team well. Seahawks should control both sides of ball.
THE PICK: Seahawks 27 49ers 16
*** MATCHUP: TEXANS (4-3) AT BRONCOS (5-3)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Broncos by 61/2
Last meeting: First meeting Texans have won 4 of 5, losing only to Vikings in OT.
KEY STAT: Texans’ David Carr has thrown 6 TD passes vs. 1 interception in last 4 games.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Jake Plummer has been busy in Broncos’ 2-game skid: 54 of 95, 5 TDs, 5 INTs.
THE BUZZ: Big opportunity for Texans to become playoff contenders, but Broncos too tough at home.
THE PICK: Broncos 27 Texans 23
*** MATCHUP: PATRIOTS (6-1) AT RAMS (4-3)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
TV: WBBM-Ch. 2
Line: Patriots by 21/2
Last meeting: Patriots won 20-17 in Super Bowl 36 at New Orleans on Feb. 3, 2002
KEY STAT: Rams have only 6 take-aways after leading NFL with 46 last season.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: David Givens leads Pats with 32 catches, 3 for TDs. Isaac Bruce paces Rams with 44, 1 TD.
THE BUZZ: After winning 21 straight, could Patriots lose 2 in a row? RB Corey Dillon due back, but starting CBs Ty Law and Tyrone Poole injured.
THE PICK: Rams 24 Patriots 20
MATCHUP: BROWNS (3-4) AT RAVENS (4-3)
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7:30 p.m. Sunday
TV/radio: ESPN, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Ravens by 6
Last meeting: Browns won 20-3 at Cleveland on Sept. 12, 2004
KEY STAT: Browns are 0-3 on road, losing by average of 11.7 points.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Browns’ Jeff Garcia has thrown for TD in last 5 games. Ravens’ Jamal Lewis, held to 57 yards in opening-day loss to Browns, returns from 2-game suspension.
THE BUZZ: Ravens’ offense need spark from return of Jamal Lewis to stay within range of Pittsburgh in NFC North.
THE PICK: Ravens 23 Browns 16
*** MATCHUP: VIKINGS (5-2) AT COLTS(4-3)
8 p.m. Monday
TV/radio: WLS-Ch. 7, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Colts by 6
Last meeting: Colts won 31-10 at Indianapolis on Dec. 24, 2000
KEY STAT: Colts have lost 2 straight by combined score of 72-59.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: The NFL’s No. 1 passer (Peyton Manning, 22 TDs, 4 INTs) and No. 2 (Daunte Culpepper, 20 TDs, 5 INTs).
THE BUZZ: Colts desperate for victory, and Vikings’ offense will be in trouble if hamstring keeps Randy Moss out again.
THE PICK: Colts 41 Vikings 36