MATCHUP: Bears at Chargers 3:15 p.m. Sunday
GAME OF THE WEEK
TV/radio: WFLD-Ch. 32, WBBM-AM 780. Line: Chargers by 6.
Last meeting: Bears won 20-7 at Soldier Field on Nov. 2, 2003.
KEY STAT: Chargers went 8-0 at home last year.
FANTASY FACTOR: How will Bears use Devin Hester, now receiver as well as kick returner? Chargers’ LaDainian Tomlinson faces defense that needs big game from DT Tommie Harris.
THE BUZZ: Intriguing opener features 2 Super Bowl contenders, 1 with new head coach (Chargers’ Norv Turner). Bears need good game from new starting RB Cedric Benson to pull off upset.
THE PICK: Chargers 24 Bears 20
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MATCHUP: Falcons at Vikings
Noon Sunday
Line: Vikings by 3
Last meeting: Falcons won 30-10 at Atlanta on Oct. 2, 2005
KEY STAT: Vikings have won 15 of last 20 home openers.
FANTASY FACTOR: Running backs Warrick Dunn of Falcons and Chester Taylor of Vikings, both of whom averaged 4.0 yards per carry last season, will have to carry load.
THE BUZZ: This one doesn’t exactly feature Marino-Elway matchup. Two teams will really try to rally around QBs Joey Harrington (Falcons) and Tarvaris Jackson (Vikings). Is it too soon to talk about 1st pick of draft
THE PICK: Vikings 17 Falcons 16
MATCHUP: Dolphins at Redskins
Noon Sunday
Line: Redskins by 3
Last meeting: Dolphins won 24-23 at Miami on Nov. 23, 2003
KEY STAT: Dolphins have won 2 of last 3 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: Ronnie Brown, who rushed for 1,008 yards with 4.2 avg., will have to carry load for Dolphins. TE Chris Cooley has become big threat, catching 6 TD passes in ’06.
THE BUZZ: How much does Trent Green have left? Dolphins may find out hard way. Jason Campbell has started 7 games at QB for Redskins and has thrown for at least 1 TD in each (10 total).
THE PICK: Redskins 27 Dolphins 20
MATCHUP: Broncos at Bills
Noon Sunday
Line: Broncos by 3
Last meeting: Broncos won 28-17 at Buffalo on Dec. 17, 2005
KEY STAT: Broncos have won last 4 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: Travis Henry, who averaged 4.5 yards per carry and rushed for 7 TDs for Titans last year, makes Broncos debut. First-round pick Marshawn Lynch will get chance to run right away for Bills.
THE BUZZ: Bills finished relatively strong in 2006, winning 5 of last 9. If QB J.P. Losman keeps it together, Bills can do some damage in front of home crowd.
THE PICK: Bills 20 Broncos 17
MATCHUP: Chiefs at Texans
Noon Sunday
Line: Texans by 3
Last meeting: Chiefs won 45-17 at Houston on Nov. 20, 2005
KEY STAT: Chiefs 2-0 on road vs. Texans.
FANTASY FACTOR: Larry Johnson is well rested after missing most of camp, but can he rush for 17 TDs again this year? Ex-Packer Ahman Green makes Texans’ debut.
THE BUZZ: Damon Huard, who played well late last season, has won Chiefs’ QB job. Ex-Falcons backup Matt Schaub gets chance to be starter, but does QB have enough help in Houston?
THE PICK: Texans 24 Chiefs 23
MATCHUP: Panthers at Rams
Noon Sunday
Line: Rams by 1
Last meeting: Panthers won 15-0 at Carolina on Nov. 19, 2006
KEY STAT: Rams have won 10 of last 12 home openers.
FANTASY FACTOR: Jake Delhomme facing pivotal year after throwing only 17 TDs in 2006. Rams’ Steven Jackson has taken his place among elite NFL runners. THE BUZZ: Both teams have plenty of players who have been to playoffs. But right now, Rams QB Marc Bulger is step ahead of Delhomme.
THE PICK: Rams 28 Panthers 24
MATCHUP: Patriots at Jets
Bannon’s best games
Noon Sunday
TV/Radio: WBBM-Ch. 2, WCKG-FM 105.9
Line: Patriots by 6 1/2
Last meeting: Pats won 37-16 in AFC wild-card playoffs at N. E.
KEY STAT: Pats have won 7 of last 8 meetings
FANTASY FACTOR: Laurence Maroney takes over as Pats’ No. 1 back after averaging 4.3 yards per carry last year. Jets expecting big things of ex-Bear Thomas Jones (4.1 yards per carry in ’06).
THE BUZZ: Team returns solid offensive line and has rebuilt wide receiver corps for Tom Brady. Jets took big step up last season, but Patriots haven’t stood still.
THE PICK: Patriots 30 Jets 20
MATCHUP: Eagles at Packers
Noon Sunday
TV: WFLD-Ch. 32
Line: Eagles by 3
Last meeting: Eagles won 31-9 at Philadelphia on Oct. 2, 2006
KEY STAT: Eagles have won last 4 meetings.
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FANTASY FACTOR: In last 2 vs. Packers, Donovan McNabb has completed 65.8 percent of his passes with 7 TDs and no INTs. Packers’ Brett Favre coming off middling season of 18 TD passes and 18 INTs.
THE BUZZ: Until Packers’ new-look running game shows it can be productive, Favre will be under siege. McNabb almost entirely back from knee surgery. Eagles smell division title.
THE PICK: Eagles 27 Packers 20
MATCHUP: Steelers at Browns
Noon Sunday
Line: Steelers by 4 1/2
Last meeting: Steelers won 27-7 at Cleveland on Dec. 7, 2006
KEY STAT: Steelers have won 12 of last 13 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: Ben Roethlisberger should get off to fast start against this defense. Browns need new RB Jamal Lewis to establish something quickly.
THE BUZZ: Mike Tomlin makes debut as Steelers’ coach against one of their oldest rivals. But it isn’t rivalry anymore until Browns fix quarterback situation. While Brady Quinn waits, Charlie Frye plays.
THE PICK: Steelers 20 Browns 13
MATCHUP: Titans at Jaguars
Noon Sunday
Line: Jaguars by 6 1/2
Last meeting: Titans won 24-17 at Tennessee on Dec. 17, 2006
KEY STAT: Titans 8-5 at Jacksonville under Jeff Fisher.
FANTASY FACTOR: Vince Young passed for 12 TDs and ran for 7 more last year; can he improve on that? Jaguars going with David Garrard as opening day starter for 1st time.
THE BUZZ: Titans will have to prove they can be consistent on offense to make playoff run. If Jaguars can run and play defense, they’ll beat a lot of teams.
THE PICK: Jaguars 24 Titans 13
MATCHUP: Lions at Raiders
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Raiders by 2 1/2
Last meeting: Lions won 23-13 at Detroit on Nov. 2, 2003
KEY STAT: Lane Kiffin (32) is youngest head coach in Raiders’ history.
FANTASY FACTOR: Tatum Bell, who averaged 4.4 per carry for Broncos in 2006, makes Lions debut. Kiffin keeping starting QB secret, but it’s likely Josh McCown over Daunte Culpepper.
THE BUZZ: Two of worst franchises of last 5 seasons meet in matchup league decided to get out of way early. Lions, though, just may have potential to score with receivers Roy Williams and rookie Calvin Johnson.
THE PICK: Lions 23 Raiders 17
MATCHUP: Bucs at Seahawks
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Seahawks by 6
Last meeting: Seahawks won 23-7 at Tampa Bay on Dec. 31, 2006
KEY STAT: Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren 14-4 vs. Bucs.
FANTASY FACTOR: Jeff Garcia, who played well for Eagles last year, takes over as Bucs’ QB. Seahawks figure to go more to Deion Branch, who had 4 TD catches last season.
THE BUZZ: Seahawks have plenty of talent left from Super Bowl team of 2 seasons ago, and Bucs are trying to rebuild on fly. Seahawks can let QB Matt Hasselbeck stick to basics in this one
THE PICK: Seahawks 30 Bucs 17
MATCHUP: Giants at Cowboys
Bannon’s best games
7:15 p.m. Sunday
TV/Radio: WMAQ-Ch. 5, WCKG-FM 105.9
Line: Cowboys by 5 1/2
Last meeting: Cowboys won 23-20 at New York on Dec. 3, 2006
KEY STAT: Giants coach Tom Coughlin is 5-4 vs. Cowboys.
FANTASY FACTOR: Giants TE Jeremy Shockey, who had 7 TD catches last season, has 5 in last 6 vs. Cowboys. Terrell Owens had league-leading 13 TD catches last season.
THE BUZZ: Pivotal opener in NFC East should go Cowboys’ way in Wade Phillips’ debut as coach. Cowboys QB Tony Romo has decent talent all around him, while Giants have some question marks.
THE PICK: Cowboys 27 Giants 17
MATCHUP: Ravens at Bengals
Bannon’s best games
6 p.m. Monday
TV/Radio: ESPN, WCKG-FM 105.9, joined in progress at 7
Line: Bengals by 2 1/2
Last meeting: Bengals won 13-7 at Cincinnati on Nov. 30, 2006
KEY STAT: Bengals have won 4 of last 5 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: Ex-Bills RB Willis McGahee gets fresh start with Ravens, who have succeeded with plugging in veterans in past. Bengals QB Carson Palmer coming off Pro Bowl season.
THE BUZZ: Steve McNair is back for 2nd season with Ravens, but Palmer has too many experienced weapons and should do just enough to win.
THE PICK: Bengals 17 Ravens 13
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MATCHUP: Cardinals at 49ers
9:15 p.m. Monday
TV/Radio: ESPN, WSCR-AM 670, joined in progress after White Sox game.
Line: 49ers by 3
Last meeting: Cardinals won 26-20 at San Francisco on Dec. 24, 2006
KEY STAT: Cardinals have won last 4 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: Matt Leinart could be ready to become 1 of NFL’s top quarterbacks after throwing only 11 TDs as rookie. 49ers’ Alex Smith isn’t taking that step.
THE BUZZ: Cardinals have shown they know how to beat 49ers, and Leinart has 1 of league’s top receiver corps to help.
THE PICK: Cardinals 27 49ers 23