Last week’s record: 12-4
Season to date: 32-16
*Bannon’s best games
GAME OF THE WEEK
Broncos (2-1) at Colts (3-0)
TV/radio: WBBM-Ch. 2, WCKG-FM 105.9
Line: Colts by 9 1/2
Last meeting: Colts won 34-31 at Denver on Oct. 29, 2006
FANTASY FACTOR: Travis Henry rolling along for Broncos, averaging 5.0 yards per carry with 1 TD. Colts’ Joseph Addai averaging 4.2 yards per carry and is tied for NFL lead with 4 rushing TDs.
KEY STAT: Colts’ last 2 wins, both on road, came by total of 8 points.
THE BUZZ: Broncos have been putting up yards but not points, not good formula against Super Bowl champs, who are playing good defense.
THE PICK: COWBOYS 27 COLTS 13
MATCHUP: Bears (1-2) at Lions (2-1)
Noon Sunday
TV/radio: WFLD-Ch. 32, WBBM-AM 780
Line: Bears by 3
Last meeting: Bears won 26-21 at Detroit on Dec. 24, 2006
KEY STAT: Bears’ minus-6 turnover differential ranks 31st.
FANTASY FACTOR: Brian Griese gets his 1st start for Bears. QB to watch is Lions’ Jon Kitna, who has thrown 6 TD passes and leads NFL with 980 passing yards.
THE BUZZ: Griese may spark offense, but Bears defense is dealing with several injuries. Lions are brimming with confidence. Lions WRs Roy Williams and rookie Calvin Johnson giving everyone fits.
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THE PICK: LIONS 27 BEARS 20
THE MATCHUP: Texans (2-1) at Falcons (0-3)
Noon Sunday
Line: Texans by 3
Last meeting: Texans won 17-13 at Houston on Nov. 30, 2003
KEY STAT: Texans have scored at least 20 points in all 3 games.
FANTASY FACTORTE Owen Daniels (13 catches), Naperville native, has become key in Texans offense. Roddy White leads Falcons with 15 catches, 1 TD.
THE BUZZ: Falcons wouldn’t have traded QB Matt Schaub (100.9 passer rating) to Texans had they known of Michael Vick’s problems earlier. Now they have to beat him, and he plays for better team.
THE PICK: TEXANS 24 FALCONS 17
THE MATCHUP: Jets (1-2) at Bills (0-3) Noon Sunday
Line: Jets by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Bills won 31-13 at New York on Dec. 10, 2006
KEY STAT: Bills haven’t scored more than 14 points in game.
FANTASY FACTOR: Jets’ Chad Pennington has 4 TD passes, 0 INTs and is 2nd in NFL with 121.4 passer rating. Rookie Marshawn Lynch, averaging 4.0 yards per carry with 2 TDs, carrying load for Bills.
THE BUZZ: Bills have little going on offense, and Jets should do enough with Pennington’s passing and running of Thomas Jones.
THE PICK: JETS 20 BILLS 13
THE MATCHUP: Ravens (2-1) at Browns (1-2)
Noon Sunday
TV: WBBM-Ch. 2
Line: Ravens by 4
Last meeting: Ravens won 27-17 at Baltimore on Dec. 17, 2006
KEY STAT: Ravens have won 4 of last 5 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: Ravens’ Derrick Mason has been consistent, with at least 7 catches in each game (total 23) but only 1 TD. Ex-Raven Jamal Lewis is 3rd in NFL with 307 rushing yards (5.8 avg) and 1 TD.
THE BUZZ: Browns have shown some spunk, taking Oakland down to wire last week and beating Bengals 2 weeks ago. Ravens have been getting by.
THE PICK: BROWNS 20 RAVENS 17
THE MATCHUP: Rams (0-3) at Cowboys (3-0)
Noon Sunday
Line: Cowboys by 13
Last meeting: Rams won 20-10 at Dallas on Jan. 1, 2006
KEY STAT: Cowboys going for 1st 4-0 start since 1995.
FANTASY FACTOR: With Steven Jackson out (groin), rookie RB Brian Leonard will get plenty of work. Cowboys’ Marion Barber tied for NFL lead with 5 TDs (4 rushing, 1 receiving) and is averaging 6.4 yards per carry.
THE BUZZ: Talk about opposites. Cowboys are 1 of NFL’s surprises, Rams 1 of biggest disappointments. Trends continue.
THE PICK: COWBOYS 37 RAMS 7
THE MATCHUP: Raiders (1-2) at Dolphins (0-3)
Noon Sunday
Line: Dolphins by 4
Last meeting: Dolphins won 33-21 at Oakland on Nov. 27, 2005
KEY STAT: 2 of Dolphins’ 3 losses have been by 3 points.
FANTASY FACTOR: LaMont Jordan 2nd in NFL with 350 rushing yards and is going for 3rd straight 100-yard game. Dolphins’ Ronnie Brown multipurpose threat.
THE BUZZ: Both teams have shown they can move ball and not do very good job of stopping other guy. Dolphins have better passing game and are ready to break through.
THE PICK: DOLPHINS 30 RAIDERS 24
THE MATCHUP: Packers (3-0) at Vikings (1-2)
Noon Sunday
Line: Packers by 1 1/2
Last meeting: Packers won 9-7 at Green Bay on Dec. 21, 2006
KEY STAT: Packers going for 1st 4-0 start since ’98.
FANTASY FACTOR: Packers will rely on getting ball to Donald Driver, off to fast start with 20 catches, 2 TDs. Vikings offense still boils down to rookie RB Adrian Peterson (4.2 yards per carry).
THE BUZZ: Packers often have struggled in domes, but their defense should be able to keep this offense in check. Brett Favre still going strong.
THE PICK: PACKERS 24 VIKINGS 20
*THE MATCHUP: Bucs (2-1) at Panthers (2-1)
3:05 p.m. Sunday
Line: Panthers by 3
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Last meeting: Panthers won 24-10 at Carolina on Nov. 13, 2006
KEY STAT: Panthers have won 7 of last 8 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: Bucs’ Joey Galloway off to a good start with 13 catches, 2 TDs. Panthers’ Steve Smith has 16 catches, 4 TDs and has averaged 117.5 receiving yards in last 4 vs. Bucs.
THE BUZZ: If Panthers QB Jake Delhomme is out with elbow injury, David Carr will get call. Bucs have been solid, but it’s tough road assignment.
THE PICK: PANTHERS 20 BUCS 17
*THE MATCHUP: Seahawks (2-1) at 49ers (2-1)
3:05 p.m. Sunday
Line: Seahawks by 2
Last meeting: 49ers won 24-14 at Seattle on Dec. 14, 2006
KEY STAT: 49ers won both meetings last season.
FANTASY FACTOR: Seahawks’ Deion Branch, who has 13 catches, 1 TD this year, had 7 catches in last game at S.F. 49ers’ Frank Gore rushed for 356 yards in 2 games vs. Seahawks in ’06.
THE BUZZ: Battle for early control of NFC West doesn’t come at great time for 49ers, who are without TE Vernon Davis (knee). Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander has averaged 98.6 yards per game in last 5 vs. S.F.
THE PICK: SEAHAWKS 23 49ERS 17
THE MATCHUP: Steelers (3-0) at Cardinals (1-2)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Steelers by 6
Last meeting: Steelers won 28-15 at
KEY STAT: Steelers going for 1st 4-0 start since ’79.
FANTASY FACTOR: Pittsburgh on Nov. 9, 2003 Steelers’ Willie Parker leads NFL with 368 rushing yards and is getting 5.0 yards per carry. Cards’ Edgerrin James averaging 4.6 and has run for 2 TDs.
THE BUZZ: Emotion on side of Cardinals, whose head coach Ken Whisenhunt is former Steelers assistant. Steelers have been doing everything right, most notably allowing only 26 points all season.
THE PICK: STEELERS 20 CARDINALS 17
THE MATCHUP: Chiefs (1-2) at Chargers (1-2)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Chargers by 11 1/2
Last meeting: Chargers won 20-9 at
KEY STAT: Chargers have won 4 of last 6 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: San Diego on Dec. 17, 2006 Chiefs rookie Dwayne Bowe becoming factor with 10 catches for 13.5-yard average and 2 TDs. Chargers TE Antonio Gates, 2nd in NFL with 27 catches, has 8 TDs in 6 games vs. Chiefs.
THE BUZZ: Reeling from losses at New England and Green Bay, Chargers back home to pick up pieces. Chiefs will be welcome sight.
THE PICK: CHARGERS 26 CHIEFS 10
THE MATCHUP: Eagles (1-2) at Giants (1-2)
7:15 p.m. Sunday
TV/radio: WMAQ-Ch. 5, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Eagles by 3
Last meeting: Eagles won 23-20 at Phila. in wild-card playoff on Jan. 7
KEY STAT: Giants allowing 32.3 points per game.
FANTASY FACTOR: Eagles’ Donovan McNabb coming off 4-TD pass game against Lions. Giants’ Plaxico Burress has 15 catches and is tied for NFL lead with 5 TD receptions.
THE BUZZ: Eagles are banged up heading into this pivotal NFC East game. If RB Brian Westbrook is limited, Giants should control game.
THE PICK: GIANTS 23 EAGLES 20
*THE MATCHUP: Patriots (3-0) at Bengals (1-2)
7:30 p.m. Monday
TV/radio: ESPN, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Patriots by 7
Last meeting: Pats won 38-13 at Cincinnati on Oct. 1, 2006
KEY STAT: Pats lead NFL in total offense (441 yds per game) and total defense (207).
FANTASY FACTOR: Pats’ Tom Brady leads NFL with 10 TD passes and only 1 INT. Bengals’ T. J. Houshmandzadeh leads league with 29 catches, 4 for TDs.
THE BUZZ: Nobody has come close to Patriots, and Bengals’ generous defense won’t be able to contain them. Who’ll cover Randy Moss, who’s 2nd in NFL with 403 receiving yards and has 5 TDs?
THE PICK: PATRIOTS 38 BENGALS 20