Last week’s record: 9-5
Season to date: 83-47
Last week vs. spread: 7-7
Season vs. spread: 59-67-4
Titans (8-0) at Bears (5-3)
Noon Sunday TV/radio: WBBM-Ch. 2, WBBM-AM 780
Line: Titans by 3
Weather: 40M-0, 30 percent chance of rain
THE BUZZ
Titans: Have been winning with efficient offense, tough defense and by winning turnover margin–NFL-best plus-10 turnover differential. That formula will win again.
Bears: Ankle injury that will keep Kyle Orton out suddenly makes passing game suspect, unless hot Rex Grossman shows up. Defense may have to lead way.
FANTASY OUTLOOK
Titans rookie Chris Johnson has run for 5 TDs, and is averaging 4.9 yards per carry. Bears need 2nd straight 100-yard game from rookie Matt Forte, who ran for 126 last week.
THE PICK: TITANS 24 BEARS 16
Off: Bengals, Buccaneers, Cowboys, Redskins
MATCHUP: Saints (4-4) at Falcons (5-3)
Noon Sunday
Line: Falcons by 1
Weather: Dome
THE BUZZ: Saints: 0-3 on road but come in rested after off week. They’ve beaten Falcons 4 straight times, and their No. 1-rated offense (403 yards per game) could force Falcons into shootout.
Falcons: 3-0 at home, but 2 came against Lions and Chiefs. Falcons’ only quality win was last-second triumph over Bears, so they still have something to prove.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Drew Brees has thrown 7 TD passes in last 4 games vs. Falcons, and has tossed 15 this season. Falcons’ rookie Matt Ryan has thrown 3 TD passes and no interceptions at home.
THE PICK: SAINTS 27 FALCONS 24
MATCHUP: Jaguars (3-5) at Lions (0-8)
Noon Sunday
Line: Jaguars by 6 1/2
Weather: Dome
THE BUZZ: Jaguars: Coach Jack Del Rio moved some players to new lockers to improve team chemistry. Jaguars have lost to Browns and Bengals since their off week, failing to get much of anything going on offense.
Lions: Have added QB Daunte Culpepper and may start him to replace injured Dan Orlovsky. Lions were in game vs. Bears to end last week, so they’re getting closer to elusive 1st win.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Jaguars’ Maurice Jones-Drew has rushed for 6 TDs and averages 4.2 yards per carry. Lions must get ball to receiver Calvin Johnson, with 6 TDs ranks 2nd in NFL. He’s averaging 18.4 yards per catch.
THE PICK: JAGUARS 21 LIONS 20
MATCHUP: Ravens (5-3) at Texans (3-5)
Noon Sunday
Line: Pick ’em
Weather: 75M-0, partly cloudy
THE BUZZ: Ravens: Have won 3 straight by unusually high (for them) average score of 31-17. Rookie QB Joe Flacco holding his own, and defense is 2nd in NFL.
Texans: Sage Rosenfels takes over QB for injured Matt Schaub, and need him to play better than he did in loss to Colts 5 weeks ago. Texans were 4-1 in his starts in ’07.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: In 3-game winning streak, Flacco has completed 60.5 percent with 4 TD passes and no INTs. Rosenfels has completed 67.7 percent with 3 TDs and 2 INTs this season.
THE PICK: RAVENS 20 TEXANS 17
MATCHUP: Seahawks (2-6) at Dolphins (4-4)
Noon Sunday
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Line: Dolphins by 8 1/2
Weather: 80M-0, scattered showers
THE BUZZ: Seahawks: Disappointing season drags on, and this is their 4th game in Eastern time zone. They’ve lost 1st 3.
Dolphins: Have won 2 in row, beating Bills and Broncos to climb into AFC playoff race despite 0-2 start.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Seneca Wallace has thrown 4 TD passes vs. 1 INT for Seahawks. Dolphins’ Greg Camarillo has emerged as key receiver with 43 catches but only 1 TD.
THE PICK: DOLPHINS 27 SEAHAWKS 13
MATCHUP: Packers (4-4) at Vikings (4-4)
Noon Sunday
Line: Vikings by 2 1/2
Weather: Dome
THE BUZZ: Packers: Aaron Rodgers completed 18 of 22 in last victory over Vikings, and his solid start netted contract extension. But Packers haven’t been able to run ball enough to complement passing game.
Vikings: Have won 4 of Gus Frerotte’s 6 starts and have won last 3 at home after loss to Colts. Adrian Peterson’s running can control ball.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Greg Jennings has 40 catches, 4 for TDs for Packers. Vikings’ Bernard Berrian has 19 catches for 426 yards and 4 TDs in last 4 games.
THE PICK: VIKINGS 27 PACKERS 21
MATCHUP: Bills (5-3) at Patriots (5-3)
Noon Sunday
Line: Patriots by 3 1/2
Weather: 54M-0, cloudy
THE BUZZ: Bills: Pivotal AFC East meeting, especially for Bills, who are on road and have lost 3 out of 4. Bills at risk of becoming one-dimensional offense, and passing game is hard to sustain.
Patriots: Have beaten Bills 9 straight and have settled in with improving Matt Cassel at quarterback. In last 3 home games (2 wins) Cassel has thrown 5 TD passes vs. 3 INTs.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Receivers may decide it: Bills’ Lee Evans has 35 catches, 3 for TDs; Pats’ Wes Welker is 3rd in NFL with 56 catches, but only 1 TD.
THE PICK: PATRIOTS 24 BILLS 17
MATCHUP: Rams (2-6) at Jets (5-3)
Noon Sunday
Line: Jets by 9
Weather: 45M-0, partly cloudy
THE BUZZ: Rams: Head into 2nd half with little going right. Steven Jackson must get back to 100 percent after quad injury.
Jets: Have won 3 of last 4 and are in thick of AFC East race.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Rams rookie receiver Donnie Avery has 13 catches and 2 TD receptions in last 3 games. Jets’ Brett Favre has thrown 15 TD passes, tied for 2nd in AFC.
THE PICK: JETS 30 RAMS 17
MATCHUP: Panthers (6-2) at Raiders (2-6)
3:05 p.m. Sunday
TV: WFLD-Ch. 32
Line: Panthers by 9 1/2
Weather: 62M-0, sunny
THE BUZZ: Panthers: Won 2 straight and 4 of 5 before last week’s open date.
Raiders: Are 1-3 under interim coach Tom Cable, and have been outscored 100-29. Offense won’t get going again until quarterback JaMarcus Russell has big game.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Panthers WR Steve Smith has averaged 108.6 yards with 4 TDs in last 5 games.
THE PICK: PANTHERS 33 RAIDERS 20
MATCHUP: Colts (4-4) at Steelers (6-2)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
TV: WBBM-Ch. 2
Line: Off
Weather: 45M-0, rain/snow
THE BUZZ: Colts: Buoyed by last week’s win over Patriots, but offensive consistency remains problem. Going on road against rugged defense will be challenge.
Steelers: May have to go with backup QB Byron Leftwich, but he was starter for Jaguars and filled in well last week. They also can win with running game.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Reggie Wayne is Colts’ go-to receiver with 43 catches, 4 for TDs. Steelers’ Willie Parker getting 3.8 yards per carry with 4 TDs.
THE PICK: STEELERS 23 COLTS 17
MATCHUP: Chiefs (1-7) at Chargers (3-5)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Chargers by 15
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Weather: 65M-0, sunny
THE BUZZ: Chiefs: Still losing, but at least they’re closing gap and establishing they can score. They’ve been outscored 58-51 by Jets and Bucs last 2 weeks.
Chargers: Used off-week to fire defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell and promote linebackers coach Ron Rivera. That’s only part of problem.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: In last 2 games, QB Tyler Thigpen has completed 63.9 percent of his passes with 3 TDs and no INTs. Chargers’ Philip Rivers is also hot in last 3 games, with 8 TD passes and 2 INTs.
THE PICK: CHARGERS 30 CHIEFS 20
MATCHUP: Giants (7-1) at Eagles (5-3)
7:15 p.m. Sunday
TV/radio: WMAQ-Ch. 5, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Eagles by 3
Weather: 38M-0, clear
THE BUZZ: Giants: Except for clunker against Cleveland, Giants have risen to every challenge, and this is big one. They’ve won 12 of their last 13 road games, but this will be tough.
Eagles: 3 straight victories have given Eagles momentum, and they need to win if they’re going to make NFC East race interesting.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Giants’ Brandon Jacobs averaging 5.2 yards per carry with 7 rushing TDs. Eagles’ Donovan McNabb is 7-3 against Giants with 14 TD passes and 3 INTs.
THE PICK: EAGLES 27 GIANTS 21
MATCHUP: 49ers (2-6) at Cardinals (5-3)
7:30 p.m. Monday
TV/radio: ESPN, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Cardinals by 9 1/2
Weather: Dome
THE BUZZ: 49ers: Return from their week off to resume life under Mike Singletary, who is trying to put disciplined stamp on troubled franchise.
Cardinals: Get chance to push their surprising NFC West lead to 4 games, and they get to show country they’re much improved.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: 49ers’ Frank Gore has scored 8 TDs in last 5 games against Cardinals. Larry Fitzgerald has 3 TDs in last 2 vs. 49ers, and 5 TD catches this season.
THE PICK: CARDINALS 34 49ERS 20