Last week’s record: 8-5
Season to date: 60-29
Off this week: Browns, Chargers, Packers, Panthers
GAME OF THE WEEK
Bannon’s best games
Colts (5-0) at Jaguars (4-1)
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7:30 p.m. Monday
TV/radio: ESPN, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Colts by 3
Last meeting: Jaguars won 44-17 at Jacksonville on Dec. 10, 2006
THE BUZZ
Jaguars have closed gap in AFC South, but Colts have been held under 30 points only once. Jags may not give up that many, but how much can they score against defense that’s much improved over one they saw in December
FANTASY FACTOR
Reggie Wayne, who has 4 TD receptions, has 4 in 5 games vs. Jags. David Garrard has been solid for Jaguars with 6 TDs and no INTs.
KEY STAT
Colts tied for NFL lead with turnover differential of plus-7.
THE PICK
Colts 28, Jaguars 27
MATCHUP: Bears (2-4) at Eagles (2-3)
3:15 p.m. Sunday TV/radio:
WFLD-Ch. 32, WBBM-AM 780
Line: Eagles by 5 1/2
Last meeting: Eagles won 19-9 at Soldier Field on Oct. 3, 2004
FANTASY FACTOR: With Brian Griese at QB, Bears scoring (7 TDs vs. 6 INTs). Eagles’ Brian Westbrook has 670 yards from scrimmage and 3 TDs, figures that should grow with way Bears are playing defense.
THE BUZZ: Trip to Philly no way to recover from tough home loss to Minnesota, and one wonders about Bears’ emotional and physical energy as much as Donovan McNabb & Co. In last home game, Eagles blasted Lions 56-21.
KEY STAT: Bears have allowed average of 31.3 points in last 4 (1-3).
THE PICK: Bears 21, Eagles 30
MATCHUP: Ravens (4-2) at Bills (1-4)
Noon Sunday
Line: Ravens by 3
Last meeting: Ravens won 19-7 at Baltimore on Dec. 31, 2006
FANTASY FACTOR: Ravens’ Derrick Mason leads NFL with 49 catches but has only 1 TD. Bills’ Lee Evans had 7 catches for 145 yards, TD vs. Ravens last year.
THE BUZZ: It won’t be breeze for Ravens, but Bills’ offense has been no-show all season. Ravens continue to feast on easy starting schedule, but here’s what’s left, Steelers (twice), Chargers, Patriots, Colts and Seahawks.
KEY STAT: Ravens’ foes 8-20 against other teams, none with winning record. 20 17
THE PICK: Ravens 20, Bills 13
MATCHUP: Titans (3-2) at Texans (3-3)
Noon Sunday Radio: WCKG-FM 105.9
Line: Titans by 1 1/2
Last meeting: Titans won 26-20 (OT) at Houston on Dec. 10, 2006
FANTASY FACTOR: Titans’ Chris Brown getting 5.3 yards per carry. Texans’ Matt Schaub has thrown 5 TD passes and is 2nd AFC with 1,558 passing yards.
THE BUZZ: With Vince Young fighting leg injury, Kerry Collins may get call for Titans–which means lots of running. Titans’ run defense playing well.
KEY STAT: Titans have won last 4 meetings.
THE PICK: Titans 20, Texans 17
Bannon’s best games
MATCHUP: Bucs (4-2) at Lions (3-2)
Noon Sunday TV: WFLD-Ch. 32
Line: Lions by 2
Last meeting: Bucs won 17-13 at Tampa on Oct. 2, 2005
FANTASY FACTOR: Bucs TE Alex Smith has 2 TD receptions in last 2 games. Roy Williams leads Lions with 29 catches, 3 for TDs.
THE BUZZ: Jeff Garcia and Jon Kitna face off in meeting of veteran QBs with new homes. Garcia should find Smith and Joey Galloway against defense that surrendered 117 points in 3 games before open date last week.
KEY STAT: Bucs lead NFC with plus-6 turnover differential.
THE PICK: Bucs 24, Lions 20
MATCHUP: Patriots (6-0) at Dolphins (0-6)
Noon Sunday TV: WBBM-Ch. 2
Line: Pats by 16 1/2
Last meeting: Dolphins won 21-0 at Miami on Dec. 10, 2006
FANTASY FACTOR: Tom Brady just keeps throwing TDs–21 so far–vs. 2 INTs. Dolphins’ Ronnie Brown just keeps running for 100 yards per game–he’s going for 5th consecutive.
THE BUZZ: Dolphins have given Patriots fits from time to time, but this shouldn?t be 1 of those times.
KEY STAT: Pats lead NFL with 431.2 yards per game.
THE PICK: Patriots 38, Dolphins 16
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MATCHUP: 49ers (2-3) at Giants (4-2)
Noon Sunday
Line: Giants by 9
Last meeting: Giants won 24-6 at San Francisco on Nov. 6, 2005
FANTASY FACTOR: Frank Gore, getting 3.6 yards per carry, paces 49ers. Giants? Eli Manning having solid year with 11 TD passes vs. 8 INTs.
THE BUZZ: Giants have turned things around after 0-2 start. 49ers are headed in opposite direction–they’ve been outscored 69-26 in 3-game losing streak.
KEY STAT: Giants have won 4 in row by average score of 27-14.
THE PICK: 49ers 14, Giants 27
MATCHUP: Cardinals (3-3) at Redskins (3-2)
Noon Sunday
Line: Redskins by 8 1/2
Last meeting: Redskins won 17-13 at Arizona on Dec. 11, 2005
FANTASY FACTOR: Edgerrin James, averaging 4.0 yards per carry, has 4 rushing TDs for Cards. Jason Campbell has completed 66.7 percent of his passes with 3 TDs and 1 INT in last 2 games for Redskins.
THE BUZZ: Unless Kurt Warner’s left elbow heals quickly, Cards expected to go with Tim Rattay. That’s not enough firepower to win at Washington.
KEY STAT: All Cardinals? road games have been decided by 3 points (1-2).
THE PICK: Cardinals 13, Redskins 27
MATCHUP: Jets (1-5) at Bengals (1-4)
3:05 p.m. Sunday
Line: Bengals by 6 1/2
Last meeting: Jets won 31-24 at New York on Sept. 12, 2004
FANTASY FACTOR: Laveranues Coles has 4 of Jets? 7 TD receptions. Bengals’ T.J. Houshmandzadeh has 7 by himself, is 2nd in NFL with 47 catches.
THE BUZZ: 2 of NFL’s biggest disappointments meet in effort to salvage some pride. Bengals have more weapons.
KEY STAT: Bengals have lost 4 straight; Jets 3 in row.
THE PICK: Jets 21, Bengals 30
MATCHUP: Chiefs (3-3) at Raiders (2-3)
3:05 p.m. Sunday
Line: Raiders by 2 1/2
Last meeting: Chiefs won 20-9 at Oakland on Dec. 23, 2006
FANTASY FACTOR: Chiefs’ Larry Johnson averaging 105.6 yards per game against Raiders. Ronald Curry, who has 22 catches and 2 TDs this season, has had 141- and 106-yard games against Chiefs.
THE BUZZ: Chiefs’ defense should be able to control Raiders’ offense, and Johnson’s finally starting to produce.
KEY STAT: Chiefs have won last 8 meetings.
THE PICK: Chiefs 20, Raiders 17
MATCHUP: Vikings (2-3) at Cowboys (5-1)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Cowboys by 9 1/2
Last meeting: Vikings won 35-17 at Minnesota on Sept. 12, 2004
FANTASY FACTOR: Vikes rookie Adrian Peterson can run on anybody, has league-leading 607 yards and 4 rushing TDs. Cowboys TE Jason Witten–32 catches, 4 for TDs –1 of best.
THE BUZZ: Vikings score sometimes, Cowboys score all the time. Vikings can stop run but not Tony Romo’s passing. And Cowboys probably still mad after getting blown out by Patriots.
KEY STAT: Cowboys have scored at least 25 points in every game.
THE PICK: Vikings 17, Cowboys 34
MATCHUP: Rams (0-6) at Seahawks (3-3)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Seahawks by 9 1/2
Last meeting: Seahawks won 24-22 at Seattle on Nov. 12, 2006
FANTASY FACTOR: Rams’ Torry Holt has 27 catches, 5 TDs in last 4 games vs. Seahawks. Shaun Alexander has 5 100-yard games in row vs. Rams.
THE BUZZ: Seahawks no doubt paid attention in meetings after home loss to Saints on Sunday night. Another bad break for Rams.
KEY STAT: Seahawks have won last 4 meetings.
THE PICK: Rams 13, Seahawks 28
MATCHUP: Falcons (1-5) at Saints (1-4)
Noon Sunday
Line: Saints by 9
Last meeting: Saints won 31-13 at Atlanta on Nov. 26, 2006
FANTASY FACTOR: Falcons TE Alge Crumpler averaging 17.2 yards per catch vs. Saints. Drew Brees completed 21 of 30 for 349 yards, 2 TDs in last meeting vs. Falcons.
THE BUZZ: Saints finally began looking like Saints of ’06 with last week’s upset at Seattle. Falcons have nothing going right.
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KEY STAT: Saints won both ’06 meetings by combined score of 54-16.
THE PICK: Falcons 10, Saints 24
Bannon’s best games
MATCHUP: Steelers (4-1) at Broncos (2-3)
7:15 p.m. Sunday TV/radio: WMAQ-Ch. 5, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Steelers by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Broncos won 31-20 at Pittsburgh on Nov. 5, 2006
FANTASY FACTOR: Steelers’ Willie Parker, averaging 4.2 yards per carry with 1 TD, could carry load. Travis Henry getting 4.9 yards per carry with 1 TD for Broncos.
THE BUZZ: Both teams come in rested and Broncos needed to get things straight with 3 consecutive losses. Steelers having solid season.
KEY STAT: Steelers 10-8 after week off; Broncos 14-4.
THE PICK: Steelers 24, Broncos 17