Last week’s record: 8-5
Season to date: 77-39
Off this week: Bears, Dolphins, Giants, Rams
GAME OF THE WEEK
Patriots (8-0) at Colts (7-0)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
TV/radio: WBBM-Ch. 2, WMVP-AM 1000
Line: Patriots by 5
Last meeting: Colts won AFC title game 38-34 at Indianapolis on Jan. 21, 2007
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KEY STAT: Pats winning by 25.8 per game, Colts by 17.4.
FANTASY FACTOR: Patriots’ Tom Brady has thrown 30 TD passes vs. only 2 INTs. Peyton Manning has thrown 13 TD passes vs. 3 INTs for Colts.
THE BUZZ: One of best regular-season matchups in NFL history should produce memorable game. Loser may not lose again. Tom Brady beating up on everybody. Colts are good enough to slow him down but not enough to beat him.
THE PICK: PATRIOTS 31 COLTS 24
MATCHUP: 49ers (2-5) at Falcons (1-6)
Noon Sunday
Line: Falcons by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Falcons won 21-19 at San Francisco on Sept. 21, 2004
KEY STAT: 49ers have lost 5 straight by average of 16.4 points.
FANTASY FACTOR: 49ers TE Vernon Davis coming around after 6-catch, 1-TD game last week. Falcons WR Roddy White has 2 100-yard games but only 2 TD catches.
THE BUZZ: Falcons have been getting more competitive as season goes on, while 49ers are going other way. Just solid game from Falcons QB Joey Harrington should get it done.
THE PICK: FALCONS 23 49ERS 17
MATCHUP: Bengals (2-5) at Bills (3-4)
Noon Sunday
Line: Bengals by 1
Last meeting: Bills won 37-27 at Cincinnati on Dec. 24, 2005
KEY STAT: Bills going for 1st 3-game winning streak since ’04.
FANTASY FACTOR: Carson Palmer having another fine season with 14 TD passes vs. 9 INTs. Bills’ Lee Evans, who has 10 catches, 2 TDs in 2 games vs. Bengals, is coming off 138-yard, 1-TD game last week.
THE BUZZ: With 3 wins in last 4, Bills on top of game. Simple ball-control offense should be enough to beat Bengals, whose only win since opener was over lowly Jets. Bengals haven’t held opponent under 20 points.
THE PICK: BILLS 24 BROWNS 20
MATCHUP: Broncos (3-4) at Lions (5-2)
Noon Sunday TV: WBBM-Ch. 2
Line: Lions by 3
Last meeting: Broncos won 20-16 at Denver on Sept. 28, 2003
KEY STAT: Lions going for 1st 6-2 start since ’99, last time they made playoffs.
FANTASY FACTOR: Broncos QB Jay Cutler has thrown 8 TD passes vs. 8 INTs. Lions’ Kevin Jones has rushed for 4 TDs, 1 in last week’s 105-yard game vs. Bears.
THE BUZZ: Lions should control ball with running game. Lions have 1 of league’s best receiving corps, but Broncos boast 1 of top secondaries.
THE PICK: LIONS 27 BRONCOS 21
Bannon’s best games
MATCHUP: Packers (6-1) at Chiefs (4-3)
Noon Sunday TV: WFLD-Ch. 32
Line: Chiefs by 2 1/2
Last meeting: Chiefs won 40-34 (OT) at Green Bay on Oct. 12, 2003
KEY STAT: Chiefs haven’t yielded more than 20 points in any game.
FANTASY FACTOR: Packers QB Brett Favre just keeps rolling along with NFC-leading 2,046 passing yards, 11 TD throws. Chiefs’ Larry Johnson has rushed for 2 scores, is going for 3rd consecutive 100-yard game.
THE BUZZ: Packers coming off emotional OT victory in Denver, but weak running game will be exposed by Chiefs.
THE PICK: CHIEFS 24 PACKERS 20
MATCHUP: Chargers (4-3) at Vikings (2-5)
Noon Sunday
Line: Chargers by 7
Last meeting: Chargers won 42-28 at San Diego on Nov. 9, 2003
KEY STAT: Chargers have won 3 straight by average score of 35-9.
FANTASY FACTOR: Chargers TE Antonio Gates having another big year with 46 catches, including 2 TDs last week. Vikings rookie Adrian Peterson leads NFL with 740 rushing yards, has run for 5 TDs.
THE BUZZ: Chargers may have to throw ball because of Vikings’ rush defense, and Vikings can’t throw it with any consistency.
THE PICK: CHARGERS 28 VIKINGS 17
MATCHUP: Jaguars (5-2) at Saints (3-4)
Noon Sunday
Line: Saints by 3
Last meeting: Jaguars won 20-19 at Jacksonville on Dec. 21, 2003
KEY STAT: Saints have won 3 in row by 12.7 per game.
FANTASY FACTOR: Jaguars’ Maurice Jones-Drew has rushed for TD in 3 of last 4 games. Saints’ Drew Brees, who has 9 TD passes, has thrown 5 vs. 0 INTs in 2 games vs. Jaguars.
THE BUZZ: Saints beginning to return to ’06 form thanks to improving offense. But Jaguars can play defense. Sometimes it’s good to be at home.
THE PICK: SAINTS 24 JAGUARS 17
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MATCHUP: Redskins (4-3) at Jets (1-7)
Noon Sunday
Line: Redskins by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Redskins won 16-13 at Washington on Sept. 4, 2003
KEY STAT: Jets have lost 5 in row by average of 7.6 points.
FANTASY FACTOR: Redskins TE Chris Cooley has 5 TD catches in last 6 games. Jets’ Thomas Jones having tough year but is getting 4.5 yards per carry at home.
THE BUZZ: Jets are turning QB job over to Kellen Clemens, who will be making 2nd career start. Their only hope for upset hinges on getting running game going.
THE PICK: REDSKINS 27 JETS 17
MATCHUP: Cardinals (3-4) at Bucs (4-4)
Noon Sunday
Line: Bucs by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Cardinals won 12-7 at Arizona on Jan 2. 2005
KEY STAT: Cardinals have held only 1 opponent under 20 points.
FANTASY FACTOR: Cardinals’ Anquan Boldin has 22 catches, 4 TDs in last 2 games he has played. Bucs RB Earnest Graham, who has rushed for 3 TDs, has 265 yards from scrimmage in last 2 games.
THE BUZZ: Cardinals come in rested after week off and Bucs will be hungry after last week’s 1-point loss to Jaguars, their only defeat at Raymond James in 4 games.
THE PICK: BUCS 27 CARDINALS 23
Bannon’s best games
MATCHUP: Panthers (4-3) at Titans (5-2)
Noon Sunday
Line: Titans by 4
Last meeting: Titans won 37-17 at Carolina on Oct. 19, 2003
KEY STAT: Panthers 4-0 on road (Rams, Falcons, Saints, Cards).
FANTASY FACTOR: Panthers’ Steve Smith has 37 catches, 6 for TDs. Titans’ LenDale White, who has rushed for 4 TDs, goes for 3rd straight 100-yard game.
THE BUZZ: With 4 wins in last 5, Titans have hit groove using formula of running ball, playing good D. Panthers’ injury problems continue as Vinny Testaverde recovers from Achilles’ injury. Their road magic ends.
THE PICK: TITANS 24 PANTHERS 16
MATCHUP: Seahawks (4-3) at Browns (4-3)
3:05 p.m. Sunday
Line: Browns by 1 1/2
Last meeting: Seahawks won 34-7 at Seattle on Nov. 30, 2003
KEY STAT: Browns have scored 119 points in last 3 home games.
FANTASY FACTOR: Seahawks’ Matt Hasselbeck has thrown 11 TD passes vs. 6 INTs. Browns’ Derek Anderson continues to surprise with 17 TD passes vs. 8 INTs.
THE BUZZ: Anderson is keeping Brady Quinn on bench while clicking with receivers Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow.
THE PICK: BROWNS 30 SEAHAWKS 27
MATCHUP: Texans (3-5) at Raiders (2-5)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Raiders by 3
Last meeting: Texans won 23-10 at Oakland on Dec. 3, 2006
KEY STAT: Texans 1-3 on road, losing 3 straight.
FANTASY FACTOR: Kevin Walter leads Texans with 40 catches, 1 for TD. Raiders’ LaMont Jordan has been struggling lately but averages 5.6 per carry vs. Texans.
THE BUZZ: Raiders’ defense has been playing well lately and Texans have not been scoring on road.
THE PICK: RAIDERS 20 TEXANS 14
MATCHUP: Cowboys (6-1) at Eagles (3-4)
7:15 p.m. Sunday TV: WMAQ-Ch. 5
Line: Cowboys by 3
Last meeting: Eagles won 23-7 at Dallas on Dec. 25, 2006.
KEY STAT: Eagles have won 11 of last 14 meetings, including both in ’06.
FANTASY FACTOR: Game features 2 hot quarterbacks: Cowboys’ Tony Romo has thrown 16 TD passes vs. 9 INTs; Donovan McNabb has 8 and 2.
THE BUZZ: Romo takes field for 1st time since signing $67.5 million contract, but McNabb is getting better every week, and Brian Westbrook has accounted for 881 yards and 5 TDs.
THE PICK: EAGLES 27 COWBOYS 24
Bannon’s best games
MATCHUP: Ravens (4-3) at Steelers (5-2)
7:30 p.m. Monday TV/radio: ESPN, WCSR-AM 670 (in progress at 9 p.m.)
Line: Steelers by 9
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Last meeting: Ravens won 31-7 at Pittsburgh on Dec. 24, 2006
KEY STAT: Ravens won both ’07 meetings by combined score of 58-7.
FANTASY FACTOR: Ravens RB Willis McGahee averaging 113.1 yards from scrimmage. WR Santonio Holmes has 26 catches, 4 TDs for Steelers.
THE BUZZ: Steelers are the kind of team that bothers Ravens, one that also plays defense–they’re ranked No. 1 in NFL.
THE PICK: STEELERS 24 RAVENS 13