Last week’s record: 7-7
Season to date: 48-26
Last week vs. spread: 4-10
Season vs. spread: 40-46-2
Off: Cardinals, Eagles, Falcons, Jaguars
Vikings (3-3) at Bears (3-3) Noon Sunday
TV/radio: WFLD-Ch. 32, WBBM-AM 780
Line: Bears by 3 Weather: 65M-0, cloudy
THE BUZZ: Vikings: Beat Bears in both ’07 meetings and have weapons to exploit Bears’ weaknesses. Ex-Bear Bernard Berrian goes for his 3rd straight 100-yard receiving game.
Bears: With 3 losses by total of 8 points, are Bears contender in hiding or does their record tell story? Games like this, with 1st place at stake, help answer that question.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Adrian Peterson likes visiting Soldier Field, having burned Bears for 224 yards and 3 TDs year ago. Kyle Orton, with 8 TD passes and 4 INTs, is beginning to make big-time plays.
THE PICK: BEARS 24 VIKINGS 17
MATCHUP: Chargers (3-3) at Bills (4-1)
Noon Sunday
Line: Bills by 1
Weather: 55M-0, partly cloudy
THE BUZZ: Chargers: This begins 10-day trip for Chargers, who play in London next week. Keeping momentum going after big home win over Patriots will be challenging.
Bills: AFC East leaders back to work after week off, and quarterback Trent Edwards is healthy again. Bills 2-0 at home, beating Seahawks and Jaguars.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Chargers’ Philip Rivers moving ball against everybody, with 14 TD passes and NFL-best 109.4 passer rating. Edwards has thrown 4 TD passes and 2 INTs with 93.9 rating.
THE PICK: BILLS 23 CHARGERS 20
MATCHUP: Saints (3-3) at Panthers (4-2)
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Noon Sunday
Line: Panthers by 3
Weather: 65M-0, sunny
THE BUZZ: Saints: Appear to be making strides toward being NFC contender they’re expected to be, thanks to Drew Brees and improving defense.
Panthers: A blowout loss to Bucs revealed Panthers may be less than sum of their parts–they can move ball but not score enough.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Brees tossed 4 TD passes in 2 games against Panthers last year. Panthers’ Steve Smith, who had 6 receptions last week, has scored 7 TDs in last 6 games vs. Saints.
THE PICK: SAINTS 20 PANTHERS 17
MATCHUP: Steelers (4-1) at Bengals (0-6)
Noon Sunday
Line: Steelers by 9 1/2
Weather: 70M-0, partly cloudy
THE BUZZ: Steelers: Return from week off healthier, but RB Willie Parker still might not return. Steelers have won last 3 vs. Bengals, and 7 straight in Cincinnati.
Bengals: After showing promise early in Marvin Lewis era, Bengals have hit bottom again. It doesn’t help that QB Carson Palmer is still out with elbow injury.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: If Parker can’t go, Mewelde Moore will start. He ran for 99 yards in last game. Steelers’ defense should have big day against offense led by Chris Perry, averaging 2.6 yards per carry.
THE PICK: STEELERS 27 BENGALS 13
MATCHUP: Titans (5-0) at Chiefs (1-4)
Noon Sunday
Line: Titans by 8
Weather: 70M-0, partly cloudy
THE BUZZ: Titans: NFL’s only unbeaten team, go for their 9th straight regular-season win. They’ve mixed efficient offense with solid defense to get on inside road to 1st-round playoff bye.
Chiefs: Not able to establish anything significant on offense, averaging mere 13 points per game. It might be different if defense could stop opponent consistently.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Rookie Chris Johnson off to good start with 4.5 yards avg., 2 rushing TDs. Chiefs’ Larry Johnson leads AFC with 417 rushing yards, but will sit out for violating team rules.
THE PICK: TITANS 27 CHIEFS 17
MATCHUP: Ravens (2-3) at Dolphins (2-3)
Noon Sunday
Line: Dolphins by 3
Weather: 80M-0, 30 percent chance of rain
THE BUZZ: Ravens: Still looking for ways to score, and not finding them, especially on road. Defense will keep them in this one.
Dolphins: “Wildcat” running formation making things interesting, but more consistency needed. Loss to Texans last week indicates work to be done.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Le’Ron McClain leads Ravens with 4 TDs, all on ground. Dolphins’ Ronnie Brown leads NFL with 7 rushing TDs and is averaging 4.7 yards per carry.
THE PICK: DOLPHINS 20 RAVENS 13
MATCHUP: 49ers (2-4) at Giants (4-1)
Noon Sunday
Line: Giants by 10 1/2
Weather: 60M-0, partly cloudy
THE BUZZ: 49ers: Coach Mike Nolan has spent week dealing with questions about shaky decision in loss to Eagles, and another poor start. It adds up to distractions.
Giants: QB Eli Manning, who has started 60 straight games, dealing with chest injury. David Carr is on deck. Entire team hopes it learned lessons from Monday night loss at Cleveland.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: RB Frank Gore is 49ers’ leading rusher and receiver, and has scored 5 touchdowns. Brandon Jacobs may get chance to improve his 5.7-yard average and add to his 4 rushing TDs for Giants.
THE PICK: GIANTS 28 49ERS 10
MATCHUP: Cowboys (4-2) at Rams (1-4)
Noon Sunday
Line: Cowboys by 7
Weather: Dome
THE BUZZ: Cowboys: With Tony Romo likely out, 40-year-old Brad Johnson takes over, so passing game will be limited. Can receiver Roy Williams, acquired from Detroit Tuesday, help right away?
Rams: Just beat Redskins who had already beaten Cowboys, who are now banged up, so … Rams will still need to find some offense to pull off another upset.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Marion Barber, averaging 4.0 yards per carry with 4 rushing TDs, may have bigger role if Cowboys lean more on running game without Romo. Marc Bulger has thrown only 2 TD passes vs. 2 INTs for Rams.
THE PICK: COWBOYS 20 RAMS 17
MATCHUP: Lions (0-5) at Texans (1-4)
3:05 p.m. Sunday
Line: Texans by 9 1/2
Weather: 80M-0, sunny
THE BUZZ: Lions: Have cashed in year, trading Roy Williams to Cowboys and putting quarterback Jon Kitna on injured reserve. Focus is on developing young QBs Dan Orlovsky and Drew Stanton.
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Texans: Got their 1st win last week and are relying more on defense–Mario Williams, controversial No. 1 pick in ’07 draft, has 2 sacks in each of last 2 games.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Calvin Johnson, with 23 catches and 3 TDs, becomes bell cow of Lions’ offense. Texans’ Matt Schaub has thrown for average of 343 yards with 4 TDs and 2 INTs in his last 2 games.
THE PICK: TEXANS 24 LIONS 10
MATCHUP: Colts (3-2) at Packers (3-3)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
TV: WBBM-Ch. 2
Line: Colts by 1
Weather: 60M-0, 40 percent chanced of rain
THE BUZZ: Colts: Easy win over Ravens helps Colts’ confidence, but injuries and age have made Colts just another good team. They’re particularly thin at running back.
Packers: Have overcome injuries in secondary to stay around .500 and share 1st place in NFC North. Aaron Rodgers showing he can play through injuries.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Peyton Manning has thrown 8 TD passes vs. 5 INTs with 87.8 rating. Rodgers has 11 TD passes vs. 4 INTs for 98.0 rating.
THE PICK: PACKERS 26 COLTS 21
MATCHUP: Jets (3-2) at Raiders (1-4)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Jets by 3
Weather: 70M-0, sunny
THE BUZZ: Jets: Brett Favre has settled in and made Jets playoff contenders by beating teams they’re expected to beat. Raiders fall into that category.
Raiders: Tom Cable’s debut as head coach went like so many other Raiders games recently–a big loss, in this case at New Orleans. Getting home can only help.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Jets’ Laveranues Coles on hot streak, going for his 3rd straight game with 8 catches. Raiders’ JaMarcus Russell has thrown 4 TD passes vs. 2 INTs in 3 career starts at home.
THE PICK: JETS 27 RAIDERS 20
MATCHUP: Browns (2-3) at Redskins (4-2)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Redskins by 7 1/2
Weather: 65M-0, sunny
THE BUZZ: Browns: Big Monday night win over Giants saved Browns’ season, at least for now. Now, can their offense show any consistency?
Redskins: If Redskins were feeling too good about themselves, loss to lowly Rams ended that. It will be back-to-basics week.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Browns’ Derek Anderson has thrown 5 TD passes vs. 6 INTs. Redskins’ Clinton Portis leads NFL with 643 yards rushing and has run for 6 TDs.
THE PICK: REDSKINS 26 BROWNS 20
MATCHUP: Seahawks (1-4) at Bucs (4-2)
7:15 p.m. Sunday
TV/radio: WMAQ-Ch. 5, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Bucs by 10 1/2
Weather: 80M-0, clear
THE BUZZ: Seahawks: Mike Holmgren’s last season as Seahawks’ coach is spinning out of control, especially now with QB Matt Hasslebeck out. Defense isn’t helping out.
Bucs: Jeff Garcia looks like the best fit as Bucs’ quarterback after guiding upset of Carolina. Now, challenge is to win games they should win at home.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Charlie Frye has thrown 2 TD passes vs. 2 INTs for Seahawks. Earnest Graham has rushed for 516 yards and 6 TDs in Bucs’ last 6 home games.
THE PICK: BUCS 28 SEAHAWKS 16
MATCHUP: Broncos (4-2) at Patriots (3-2)
7:30 p.m. Monday
TV/radio: ESPN, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Patriots by 3
Weather: 55M-0, partly cloudy
THE BUZZ: Broncos: After scoring 38 points per game in 1st 3 games, Broncos averaging only 17.3 in last 3. Broncos need more than passing game.
Patriots: Aren’t thriving without Tom Brady, but they’re stayin’ alive, despite last week’s loss at San Diego.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Michael Pittman, Broncos’ latest starting running back, coming off 109-yard day in loss to Jaguars. Pats’ Matt Cassel has been respectable in 1st 2 home games, completing 65.3 percent with 2 TDs.
THE PICK: PATRIOTS 20 BRONCOS 17