Last week’s record: 11-5
Season to date: 11-5
Bannon’s best games
GAME OF THE WEEK
Chargers (1-0) at Patriots (1-0) 7:15 p.m. Sunday
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TV/radio: WMAQ-Ch. 5, WCKG-FM 105.9 Line: Patriots by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Pats won 24-21 at San Diego in AFC divisional playoffs on Jan. 14
KEY STAT: Pats have won 10 of last 12 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: Chargers’ LaDainian Tomlinson has averaged 137 yards per game and rushed for 7 TDs in last 4 vs. Pats. Randy Moss opened with 9-catch game and is 2nd only to Tom Brady as Patriot to stop.
THE BUZZ: For 2nd week in row, Chargers draw 1 of NFL’s best. Trip to New England is tougher than home game vs. Bears, and it will take huge defensive effort for San Diego to pull off upset.
THE PICK: PATRIOTS 23 CHARGERS 16
MATCHUP: Chiefs (0-1) at Bears (0-1)
3:15 p.m. Sunday TV/radio: WBBM-Ch. 2, WBBM-AM 780
Line: Bears by 12
Last meeting: Chiefs won 31-3 at Kansas City on Dec. 28, 2003
KEY STAT: Bears are 8-3 in Rex Grossman’s starts at home.
FANTASY FACTOR: Larry Johnson gained only 43 yards last week, but Chiefs will have to control ball with his running. Bears WR Bernard Berrian could find open spaces against this defense.
THE BUZZ: Schedule-makers give Bears good chance to bounce back from opening loss in San Diego. If offense can’t deliver in this one, problems run deep.
THE PICK: BEARS 27 CHIEFS 13
MATCHUP: Bills (0-1) at Steelers (1-0)
Noon Sunday
Line: Steelers by 9 1/2
Last meeting: Steelers won 29-24 at Buffalo on Jan. 2, 2005
KEY STAT: Steelers have won 5 of last 6 home openers.
FANTASY FACTOR: Bills WR Lee Evans, who has 7 career 100-yard games, could have big day. Steelers wideout Santonio Holmes should find room vs. injury-depleted secondary.
THE BUZZ: Ben Roethlisberger got Mike Tomlin era off to great start with 4 TD passes. Steelers shouldn’t have any problem holding serve at home.
THE PICK: STEELERS 30 BILLS 17
Bannon’s best games
MATCHUP: Colts (1-0) at Titans (1-0)
Noon Sunday TV/radio: WBBM-Ch. 2, WCKG-FM 105.9
Line: Colts by 7
Last meeting: Titans won 20-17 at Tennessee on Dec. 3, 2006
KEY STAT: Titans have won 4 straight AFC South games.
FANTASY FACTOR: Peyton Manning has thrown 15 TD passes in last 6 games vs. Titans. Tennessee may run until someone stops them, and Naperville native Chris Brown leads NFL with 175 yards.
THE BUZZ: Colts had beaten Titans 7 straight before losing in December. They looked like Super Bowl champs in opener vs. Saints and can be expected to keep playing that way.
THE PICK: COLTS 28 TITANS 17
MATCHUP: Packers (1-0) at Giants (0-1)
Noon Sunday TV: WFLD-Ch. 32
Line: Pick ’em
Last meeting: Giants won 14-7 at Green Bay on Oct. 3, 2004
KEY STAT: Packers have NFL-best 48 wins in road openers.
FANTASY FACTOR: Brett Favre should make some big plays against defense that didn’t put up much of fight in opener. Eli Manning off to quick start with 4 TD passes, but he has sore shoulder.
THE BUZZ: Packers’ problems on offense are overriding factors here, and Giants should be able to score enough as long as Manning is OK.
THE PICK: GIANTS 20 PACKERS 17
MATCHUP: Texans (1-0) at Panthers (1-0)
Noon Sunday
Line: Panthers by 6 1/2
Last meeting: Texans won 14-10 at Houston on Nov. 2, 2003
KEY STAT: Texans have won 3 straight regular season games.
FANTASY FACTOR: Texans’ Andre Johnson off to fast start with 142 yards receiving (1 TD) and will be focus of Panthers’ defense. Panthers QB Jake Delhomme also started with 3 TD passes.
THE BUZZ: Panthers impressive in opening win in St. Louis and seem poised to challenge in NFC South. They have to face DE Mario Williams, who opened with 2 sacks and may play like No. 1 overall pick after all.
THE PICK: PANTHERS 27 TEXANS 20
MATCHUP: 49ers (1-0) at Rams (0-1)
Noon Sunday
Line: Rams by 3
Last meeting: Rams won 20-17 at St. Louis on Nov. 26, 2006
KEY STAT: 49ers have won 3 of last 4 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: 49ers’ Darrell Jackson had 7 TD catches in 9 games vs. Rams as Seahawk. Rams’ Steven Jackson has rushed for over 100 yards in last two games vs. 49ers.
THE BUZZ: Rams will be paying attention all week after blowing home opener against Panthers. QB Marc Bulger especially effective at home, going 24-9 with 62 TDs.
THE PICK: RAMS 24 49ERS 17
MATCHUP: Bengals (1-0) at Browns (0-1)
Noon Sunday
Line: Bengals by 6 1/2
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Last meeting: Bengals won 30-0 at Cleveland on Nov. 26, 2006
KEY STAT: Bengals have won 6 of last 8 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: Rudi Johnson has run for 125 or more yards in 4 of last 5 games vs. Browns and has 9 TDs in 9 meetings. Cleveland giving QB Derek Anderson 4th career start after trading Charlie Frye
THE BUZZ: How long will Browns wait before playing QB Brady Quinn? In meantime, Bengals have act together and Carson Palmer sees Browns’ uniforms as bull’s-eyes (13 TD passes in 6 games).
THE PICK: BENGALS 33 BROWNS 20
MATCHUP: Saints (0-1) at Bucs (0-1)
Noon Sunday
Line: Saints by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Saints won 31-14 at Tampa Bay on Nov. 5, 2006
KEY STAT: Saints won both 2006 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: Saints’ Drew Brees has won all 3 career starts vs. Bucs and threw 4 TDs and 0 INTs against them last season. Bucs’ Joey Galloway has TD catch in last 5 games vs. Saints.
THE BUZZ: Saints have had some extra days to digest opening loss to Colts, but this won’t be easy one. New QB Jeff Garcia giving Bucs hope
THE PICK: SAINTS 21 BUCS 20
MATCHUP: Falcons (0-1) at Jaguars (0-1)
Noon Sunday
Line: Jaguars by 10
Last meeting: Falcons won 21-14 at Atlanta on Dec. 28, 2003
KEY STAT: Jaguars are 4-1 when David Garrard throws 2 or more TDs.
FANTASY FACTOR: Warrick Dunn may find room vs. Jaguars’ run defense that was soft in opener. Jaguars rookie WR John Broussard getting chance right away; had TD catch in 1st game.
THE BUZZ: Everyone knew Falcons would be bad, but Jaguars blew home opener to Titans. If Garrard can’t throw, their solid RBs won’t get going.
THE PICK: JAGUARS 13 FALCONS 9
MATCHUP: Cowboys (1-0) at Dolphins (0-1)
3:05 p.m. Sunday
Line: Cowboys by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Dolphins won 40-21 at Dallas on Nov. 27, 2003
KEY STAT: Dolphins have won 10 of last 13 home openers.
FANTASY FACTOR: Tony Romo won’t throw 4 TD passes every week, but Dolphins don’t appear ready to stop him. Dolphins trying to get ball to WR Chris Chambers (6 catches in opener).
THE BUZZ: Cowboys look like playoff team; Dolphins look like they’ll struggle all season.
THE PICK: COWBOYS 27 DOLPHINS 20
Bannon’s best games
MATCHUP: Vikings (1-0) at Lions (1-0)
3:05 p.m. Sunday
Line: Lions by 3
Last meeting: Vikings won 30-20 at Detroit on Dec. 10, 2006
KEY STAT: Vikings have won 14 of last 15 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: Can rookies keep it up? Vikes RB Adrian Peterson ran for 103 yards in opener, and Lions WR Calvin Johnson had 4 catches, 1 TD.
THE BUZZ: Somebody will be 2-0, and Lions are more deserving. Detroit has chance to be decent for change.
THE PICK: LIONS 30 VIKINGS 23
MATCHUP: Seahawks (1-0) at Cardinals (0-1)
3:05 p.m. Sunday
Line: Seahawks by 3
Last meeting: Cardinals won 27-21 at Arizona on Dec. 10, 2006
KEY STAT: Seahawks have won 10 of 13 last NFC West games.
FANTASY FACTOR: Shaun Alexander averaging 96.2 yards and 1.5 TDs in 10 career games vs. Arizona. Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin has 7 100-yard receiving games in last 15 at home.
THE BUZZ: Seahawks got off to good start with routine opening day win over Tampa. Cardinals keep finding ways to come up short.
THE PICK: SEAHAWKS 24 CARDINALS 17
Bannon’s best games
MATCHUP: Jets (0-1) at Ravens (0-1)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Ravens by 10
Last meeting: Ravens won 13-3 at Baltimore on Oct. 2, 2005
KEY STAT: Ravens have won 4 of last 5 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: Laveranues Coles is about all Jets have going on offense, with 2 TD catches in opener. Ravens’ Willis McGahee rushed for 77 yards.
THE BUZZ: Chad Pennington’s sore ankle is a problem for Jets, and Kellen Clemens may get start instead. That would only make it easier for Ravens’ defense, which should dominate.
THE PICK: RAVENS 20 JETS 14
MATCHUP: Raiders (0-1) at Broncos (1-0)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Broncos by 10
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Last meeting: Broncos won 17-13 at Oakland on Nov. 12, 2006
KEY STAT: Broncos have won 7 of last 8 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: Raiders may have threat at QB in Josh McCown, who threw for 313 yards and 2 TDs in opener. But he’s iffy with foot injury. Javon Walker has 3 TD catches in 3 games vs. Raiders.
THE BUZZ: Broncos should control this one with running of Travis Henry and passing of Jay Cutler. Another long year looms for Raiders.
THE PICK: BRONCOS 28 RAIDERS 17
Bannon’s best games
MATCHUP: Redskins (1-0) at Eagles (0-1)
7:30 p.m. Monday TV/radio: ESPN, WCKG-FM 105.9
Line: Eagles by 6 1/2
Last meeting: Eagles won 21-19 at Washington on Dec. 10, 2006
KEY STAT: Eagles are 11-5 vs. Redskins under coach Andy Reid.
FANTASY FACTOR: Clinton Portis has rushed for 5 TDs in last 4 meetings. Donovan McNabb has thrown 11 TD passes vs. only 3 INTs in last 5 meetings.
THE BUZZ: Eagles frustrated after opening loss at Green Bay, which is bad news for Redskins. McNabb wasn’t impressive vs. Packers, but this is another week.
THE PICK: EAGLES 26 REDSKINS 21