Last week’s record: 8-6
Season record: 26-20
*** = BANNON’S BEST GAMES
THE MATCHUP: TEXANS (0-2) AT BENGALS (3-0)
NOON SUNDAY
Line: Bengals by 9 1/2
Last meeting: Bengals won 34- 27 at Cincinnati on Nov. 9, 2003
KEY STAT: Bengals’ No. 3 offense vs. Texans’ No. 25 defense.
FANTASY FACTOR: Bengals’ Rudi Johnson, who has averaged 100.8 yards in last 9 games, faces No. 31 rushing defense. Texans’ David Carr off to terrible start (1 TD vs. 3 INTs).
THE BUZZ: Cincinnati’s high-powered offense should roll. Looks like long year for Texans.
THE PICK: 17 TEXANS 31 BENGALS
*** THE MATCHUP: BRONCOS (2-1) AT JAGUARS (2-1)
NOON SUNDAY
Line: Jaguars by 4
Last meeting: Jaguars won 7-6 at Jacksonville on Sept. 19, 2004 17
KEY STAT: Under coach Jack Del Rio, Jaguars 4-1 vs. AFC West.
FANTASY FACTOR: Broncos’ Jake Plummer (2 TDs vs. 3 INTs) faces tough challenge from Jaguars’ No. 2 defense. Jaguars WR Reggie Williams has 13 catches, at least 4 in each game.
THE BUZZ: Byron Leftwich plays well at home and Jaguars should be able to do just enough on offense to back up tough defense.
THE PICK: 20 JAGUARS 17 BRONCOS
*** THE MATCHUP: CHARGERS (1-2) AT PATRIOTS (2-1)
NOON SUNDAY
Line: Patriots by 5 1/2
Last meeting: Chargers won 21-14 at San Diego on Sept. 29, 2002
KEY STAT: Patriots have won 21 straight at home.
FANTASY FACTOR: Chargers’ Keenan McCardell could add to his NFL-leading 4 TD catches against troubled secondary. Pats’ Tom Brady has thrown 38 TDs in 25 regular-season home games.
THE BUZZ: Brady and Chargers’ Drew Brees could stage shootout, but as always, Patriots will find way to make plays at end.
THE PICK: 34 PATRIOTS 27 CHARGERS
THE MATCHUP: BILLS (1-2) AT SAINTS (1-2)
IN SAN ANTONIO
NOON SUNDAY
Line: Pick ’em
Last meeting: Saints won 24-6 at Buffalo on Sept. 9, 2001
KEY STAT: Bills are 32nd in rushing defense, Saints 26th.
FANTASY FACTOR: Bills’ Willis McGahee (4.7 yards per carry) and Saints’ Deuce McAllister (3.2) will both get chance to control game.
THE BUZZ: Saints struggling since emotional opening-day win over Carolina. First of 3 home games Saints will play at Alamodome in San Antonio in wake of Hurricane Katrina.
THE PICK: 24 SAINTS 27 BILLS
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THE MATCHUP: RAMS (2-1) AT GIANTS (2-1)
NOON SUNDAY
Line: Giants by 3
Last meeting: Giants won 23-13 at New York on Sept. 7, 2003
KEY STAT: Giants lead NFL with 30.7 points per game.
FANTASY FACTOR: Rams’ Marc Bulger has thrown 6 TD passes vs. 3 INTs. Giants rookie Brandon Jacobs from Southern Illinois is getting short-yardage work– rushing for 2 TDs in first 3 games.
THE BUZZ: Eli Manning has figured some things out in his 2nd season, as Rams will find out.
THE PICK: 20 RAMS 30 GIANTS
THE MATCHUP: LIONS (1-1) AT BUCS (3-0)
NOON SUNDAY
Line: Bucs by 6 1/2
Last meeting: Bucs won 23-20 at Detroit on Dec. 15, 2002
KEY STAT: Mismatch: Bucs’ league-leading defense vs. Lions’ No. 30 offense.
FANTASY FACTOR: Lions rookie WR Mike Williams could become key if Detroit can’t run. Lions’ leaky run defense won’t contain rookie Carnell Williams, who leads NFL with 434 yards rushing.
THE BUZZ: Lions have had 2 weeks to mull over getting blown out by Bears. Bucs will keep on rolling with old-fashioned combination of running offense and running defense.
THE PICK: 17 LIONS 27 BUCS
THE MATCHUP: COLTS (3-0) AT TITANS (1-2)
NOON SUNDAY
Line: Colts by 7
Last meeting: Colts won 51-24 at Indianapolis on Dec. 5, 2004
KEY STAT: Colts’ 3 wins have come by combined score of 47-16.
FANTASY FACTOR: Colts temporarily low-scoring team, but at some point Peyton Manning will throw his 3rd TD pass. Chris Brown ran for 256 yards and 5.7 avg. vs. Colts in ’04.
THE BUZZ: Led by Dwight Freeney (4 sacks), Colts are winning with defense. Titans very tough but undermanned.
THE PICK: 20 TITANS 24 COLTS
*** THE MATCHUP: SEAHAWKS (2-1) AT REDSKINS (2-0)
NOON SUNDAY
Line: Redskins by 2
Last meeting: Redskins won 27-20 at Washington on Nov. 9, 2003
KEY STAT: Redskins seek 1st 3-0 start since 1991.
FANTASY FACTOR: Matt Hasselbeck (4 TDs vs. 2 INTs) will have to make some big plays. Redskins’ Clinton Portis (4.6 yards per carry) may be key vs. Seahawks’ average rushing defense.
THE BUZZ: Seahawks’ No. 2 offense will be 1st tough test for Redskins’ No. 3 defense, but Washington is confident and rested after week off.
THE PICK: 17 SEAHAWKS 20 REDSKINS
THE MATCHUP: JETS (1-2) AT RAVENS (0-2)
3:05 P.M. SUNDAY
Line: Ravens by 7
Last meeting: Ravens won 20-17 (OT) at New York on Nov. 14, 2004
KEY STAT: Ravens haven’t lost back-to-back home games since 2002.
FANTASY FACTOR: This should be week Ravens’ Jamal Lewis, who has only 57 yards rushing, comes around. Jets’ QB injuries may make things tough for RB Curtis Martin.
THE BUZZ: Jets are down to 3rd-string QB Brooks Bollinger from Wisconsin, who will make his 1st NFL start. Not an ideal debut against Ray Lewis & Co.
THE PICK: 13 JETS 24 RAVENS
THE MATCHUP: VIKINGS (1-2) AT FALCONS (2-1)
3:15 P.M. SUNDAY
Line: Falcons by 6
Last meeting: Vikings won 39-26 at Atlanta on Oct. 5, 2003
KEY STAT: Falcons’ No. 1 rushing offense vs. Vikings’ No. 30 rushing defense.
FANTASY FACTOR: Mewelde Moore is Vikings’ latest hope at RB. Warrick Dunn, off to his fastest start with 268 yards in 3 games, faces weak rushing defense.
THE BUZZ: Michael Vick is progressing as passer. That’s trouble for Minnesota’s disappointing defense, which is hurt by injuries in secondary.
THE PICK: 20 VIKINGS 27 FALCONS
GAME of the WEEK
*** THE MATCHUP: EAGLES (2-1) AT CHIEFS (2-1)
3:15 P.M. SUNDAY
Line: Chiefs by 2
Last meeting: Eagles won 23- 10 at Kansas City on Nov. 29, 2001
KEY STAT: Chiefs have won 16 of last 20 at Arrowhead.
FANTASY FACTOR: Eagles’ L.J. Smith leads tight ends with 17 catches. Priest Holmes getting 4.0 yards per carry for Chiefs.
THE BUZZ: Chiefs got wake-up call at Denver on Monday night and their defense will decide this potential Super Bowl preview. K.C. will have trouble with Brian Westbrook.
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THE PICK: 27 EAGLES 28 CHIEFS
THE MATCHUP: COWBOYS (2-1) AT RAIDERS (0-3)
3:15 P.M. SUNDAY
Line: Raiders by 3
Last meeting: Raiders won 28- 21 at Oakland on Oct. 7, 2001
KEY STAT: Cowboys’ No. 4 offense vs. Raiders’ No. 29 defense.
FANTASY FACTOR: Cowboys WR Terry Glenn goes for 3rd straight 100-yard game. Lamont Jordan leads Raiders in rushing (148) and receiving (16 catches, 125 yards).
THE BUZZ: Cowboys not as tough as their record indicates and may be out of sync from spending week in Bay Area after beating 49ers. Raiders have to win at some point. Don’t they?
THE PICK: 23 COWBOYS 24 RAIDERS
THE MATCHUP: 49ERS (1-2) AT CARDINALS (0-3)
IN MEXICO CITY
7:30 P.M. SUNDAY
Line: Cardinals by 2 1/2
Last meeting: 49ers won 31- 28 (OT) at Arizona on Dec. 12, 2004
KEY STAT: Cards trying to avoid first 0-4 start since ’86, when they still were in St. Louis.
FANTASY FACTOR: Can unsung QBs come through? 49ers’ Tim Rattay had 3 TD passes last week. Cards’ Josh McCown has 5 TDs in 3 games vs. 49ers.
THE BUZZ: Cards, last in ’04 attendance with 37,533 per game, gave up home game for cash and international exposure. Did fans in Mexico expect Patriots-Eagles-caliber matchup?
THE PICK: 13 CARDINALS 17 49ERS
THE MATCHUP: PACKERS (0-3) AT PANTHERS (1-2)
8 P.M. MONDAY
Line: Panthers by 7 1/2
Last meeting: Packers won 24-14 at Carolina on Sept. 13, 2004
KEY STAT: Packers haven’t started 0-4 since ’88.
FANTASY FACTOR: Robert Ferguson leads Packers with 2 TD receptions. Panthers’ Steve Smith tied for NFL lead with 4 TD catches after getting 3 last week.
THE BUZZ: This matchup looked good in April, looks dreadful in September. Brett Favre era is fading away in Green Bay.
THE PICK: 17 PACKERS 27 PANTHERS
GAMES ON TV (AND RADIO)
Lions (1-1) at Bucs (3-0)
Noon Sunday (bull) WFLD-Ch. 32
Colts (3-0) at Titans (1-2)
Noon Sunday (bull) WBBM-Ch. 2
Eagles (2-1) at Chiefs (2-1)
3:15 p.m. Sunday (bull) WFLD-Ch. 32
49ers (1-2) at Cardinals (0-3) in Mexico City
7:30 p.m. Sunday (bull) ESPN, (WSCR-AM 670)
Packers (0-3) at Panthers (1-2)
8 p.m. Monday (bull) WLS-Ch. 7, (WSCR-AM 670)
OFF THIS WEEK: BEARS, BROWNS, DOLPHINS, STEELERS