Last week’s record: 12-2
Season to date: 52-24
Off this week: Bills, Broncos, Lions, Colts, Steelers, 49ers
GAME OF THE WEEK
Patriots (5-0) at Cowboys (5-0)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
TV/radio: WBBM-Ch. 2, WCKG-FM 105.9
Line: Patriots by 5 1/2
Last meeting: Pats won 12-0 at New England on Nov. 16, 2003
KEY STAT: Pats winning by 23.4 points per game.
FANTASY FACTOR: Pats’ Tom Brady has thrown NFL-best 16 TD passes. Cowboys’ Tony Romo is 2nd with 13.
THE BUZZ: Facing Cowboys on road is 1 of toughest challenges Pats will face this season (they also visit Indianapolis on Nov. 4). But is anything much of challenge as well as they are playing?
THE PICK: PATRIOTS 31 COWBOYS 24
MATCHUP: Vikings (1-3) at Bears (2-3)
Noon Sunday TV/radio: WFLD-Ch. 32, WBBM-AM 780
Line: Bears by 5
Last meeting: Bears won 23-13 at Soldier Field on Dec. 3, 2006
KEY STAT: Bears have won 4 of last 5 meetings
FANTASY FACTOR: Rookie Adrian Peterson getting 5.0 yards per carry for Vikings. TE Greg Olsen, who had 19-yard TD catch last week, is becoming bigger weapon in Bears’ attack.
THE BUZZ: Bears getting healthier and Brian Griese showed what he can do in leading Bears to come-from-behind win in Green Bay. Bears have to control Peterson to prevent upset.
THE PICK: BEARS 23 VIKINGS 14
MATCHUP: Rams (0-5) at Ravens (3-2)
Noon Sunday
Line: Ravens by 9 1/2
Last meeting: Rams won 33-22 at St. Louis on Nov. 9, 2003
KEY STAT: Rams losing by 13.4 points per game
FANTASY FACTOR: Rookie Brian Leonard averaging 4.8 per carry for Rams but still looking for 1st rushing TD. Ravens’ Willis McGahee 3rd in NFL with 464 rushing yards, getting 4.5 per carry.
THE BUZZ: Rams have to win at some point, don’t they? With Gus Frerotte leading them against this defense, it won’t be this week.
THE PICK: RAVENS 20 RAMS 7
MATCHUP: Dolphins (0-5) at Browns (2-3)
Noon Sunday
Line: Browns by 4 1/2
Last meeting: Browns won 22-0 at Cleveland on Nov. 20, 2005
KEY STAT: Three of Dolphins’ losses have been by 3 points (1 in OT).
FANTASY FACTOR: Dolphins’ Ronnie Brown leads NFL with 714 yards from scrimmage and has 4 rushing TDs. Jamal Lewis averaging 5.0 yards per carry for Browns but is nursing foot injury.
More Top Picks Best Laptops For Engineering Students
THE BUZZ: Browns have shown they can move ball, score. Dolphins haven’t shown they can do much of anything.
THE PICK: BROWNS 30 DOLPHINS 20
Bannon’s best games
MATCHUP: Redskins (3-1) at Packers (4-1)
Noon Sunday
Line: Packers by 3
Last meeting: Packers won 28-14 at Washington on Oct. 31, 2004
KEY STAT: Redskins’ defense No. 1 in NFC; Packers’ Offense No. 2.
FANTASY FACTOR: Redskins TE Chris Cooley, who has 22 TDs in last 4 seasons, has 1 in each of last 3 games. Packers’ Greg Jennings has TD reception in 3 straight games.
THE BUZZ: In meeting of 2 of NFL’s surprise teams, home field will matter. Packers may have hard time running again, but Brett Favre will carry them.
THE PICK: PACKERS 24 REDSKINS 20
Bannon’s best games
MATCHUP: Texans (3-2) at Jaguars (3-1)
Noon Sunday
Line: Jaguars by 6 1/2
Last meeting: Texans won 13-10 at Jacksonville on Nov. 12, 2006
KEY STAT: Texans have won 4 of last 6 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: Texans’ Matt Schaub has thrown 5 TD passes vs. 4 INTs. Jaguars’ David Garrard has 4 TDs, no INTs in 102 passes.
THE BUZZ: Both teams have reacted well to new starting QBs. Jaguars yielding only 10 points per game, so their defense gives them edge.
THE PICK: JAGUARS 21 TEXANS 17
MATCHUP: Bengals (1-3) at Chiefs (2-3)
Noon Sunday
Line: Bengals by 3
Last meeting: Bengals won 23-10 at Kansas City on Sept. 10, 2006
KEY STAT: Bengals have lost 3 in a row.
FANTASY FACTOR: Chiefs’ Larry Johnson has yet to score TD this season. Carson Palmer has 10 TD passes for Bengals, but Chiefs’ pass defense 5th best in NFL.
THE BUZZ: After week off, Bengals’ offense should be rested and ready to go. Chiefs have shown some life, but Bengals’ record is product of schedule (losses to Seahawks, Patriots).
THE PICK: BENGALS 28 CHIEFS 20
MATCHUP: Eagles (1-3) at Jets (1-4)
Noon Sunday
Line: Eagles by 3
Last meeting: Eagles won 24-17 at Philadelphia on Oct. 26, 2003
KEY STAT: Eagles have won all 7 meetings.
FANTASY FACTOR: Kevin Curtis leads Eagles with 19 catches, 3 for TDs. Laveranues Coles paces Jets with 32 catches, 4 for TDs.
THE BUZZ: Eagles are rested after week off, and if Brian Westbrook is healthy, they’ll have too many offense weapons.
THE PICK: EAGLES 27 JETS 21
Bannon’s best games
MATCHUP: Titans (3-1) at Bucs (3-2)
Noon Sunday
Line: Bucs by 3
Last meeting: Titans won 33-13 at Tennessee on Dec. 28, 2003
KEY STAT: Titans have allowed zero 4th-quarter points.
FANTASY FACTOR: Naperville native Chris Brown averaging 5.3 yards per carry with 1 rushing TD for Titans. Jeff Garcia has thrown 4 TD passes, no INTs in 113 attempts.
THE BUZZ: Bucs’ fast start has been shot down by injuries, especially at running back. Titans’ defense can exploit that. Titans have won 5 straight on road.
THE PICK: TITANS 20 BUCS 13
Bannon’s best games
MATCHUP: Panthers (3-2) at Cardinals (3-2)
3:05 p.m. Sunday
Line: Cardinals by 4
Last meeting: Panthers won 24-20 at Arizona on Oct. 9, 2005
KEY STAT: Cards 2-0 at home (Seahawks, Steelers).
More Top Picks Best Kitchen Aprons
FANTASY FACTOR: Panthers’ Steve Smith having another solid year with 25 catches, 5 for TDs. Kurt Warner looks young again with 4 TD passes, 1 INT.
THE BUZZ: With Matt Leinart gone for season with broken collarbone, this is Warner’s team now. He’s throwing well and Edgerrin James is running well.
THE PICK: CARDINALS 27 PANTHERS 21
MATCHUP: Raiders (2-2) at Chargers (2-3)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Chargers by 9 1/2
Last meeting: Chargers won 21-14 at San Diego on Nov. 26, 2006
KEY STAT: Raiders have lost 15 straight AFC West games.
FANTASY FACTOR: Raiders expected to start Daunte Culpepper, who had 2 TD passes in 1st start. Chargers TE Antonio Gates 2nd in NFL with 40 catches, 3 for TDs.
THE BUZZ: Chargers ended slump with big win in Denver last week and Raiders don’t have firepower to slow them down.
THE PICK: CHARGERS 33 RAIDERS 20
MATCHUP: Saints (0-4) at Seahawks (3-2)
7:15 p.m. Sunday TV/Radio:
WMAQ-Ch. 5, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Seahawks by 6 1/2
Last meeting: Seahawks won 21-7 at New Orleans on Sept. 12, 2004
KEY STAT: Seahawks lead NFC with plus-4 turnover differential.
FANTASY FACTOR: Saints’ Eric Johnson has 21 catches, 2nd among NFC tight ends. Ex-Bear Bobby Engram still going strong for Seahawks with 19 catches, 2 for TDs.
THE BUZZ: This looked like good Sunday night matchup in August, and it’s too early in season for flexible scheduling to remove it. Saints defense that has only 1 sack won’t stop Seahawks.
THE PICK: SEAHAWKS 31 SAINTS 21
MATCHUP: Giants (3-2) at Falcons (1-4)
7:30 p.m. Monday TV/Radio: ESPN, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Giants by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Giants won 27-14 at Atlanta on Oct. 15, 2006
KEY STAT: Giants have won 3 in row by 10.3 per game.
FANTASY FACTOR: Giants’ Derrick Ward averaging 4.8 yards per carry with 1 rushing TD. Falcons’ Warrick Dunn has rushed for 393 yards, 2 TDs in last 3 meetings.
THE BUZZ: After rocky start, Giants have settled down and may make run at playoffs after all.
THE PICK: GIANTS 28 FALCONS 17