Last week’s record: 12-3-1
Season to date: 105-54-1
Last week vs. spread: 6-10
Season vs. spread: 71-85-4
Not including Thursday’s games
Bears (6-5) at Vikings (6-5) 7:15 p.m. Sunday
TV/radio: WMAQ-Ch. 5, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Vikings by 3 Weather: Dome
THE BUZZ
Bears: Pivotal NFC North road game could be tough as QB Kyle Orton plays with sore ankle and they become increasingly reliant on rookie RB Matt Forte.
Vikings: Have gone 3-1 since losing to Bears, including division win over Green Bay. Gus Frerotte a good fit at QB.
FANTASY OUTLOOK
Forte has scored 9 TDs–6 rushing, 3 receiving. Vikes’ Adrian Peterson has gained 423 yards and scored 7 TDs in 3 games vs. Bears.
THE PICK
VIKINGS 23 BEARS 17
MATCHUP: 49ers (3-8) at Bills (6-5)
Noon Sunday
Line: Bills by 6 1/2
Weather: 40 percent chance of snow, 40 degrees
THE BUZZ: 49ers: Have clinched 6th straight .500 or worse season, so player development is what it’s all about. Shaun Hill continues to show hope–he’s going for 4th game in a row with at least 2 TD passes.
Bills: Can’t afford many more losses to get into playoffs. They blew out Chiefs last week, so why not 49ers?
FANTASY OUTLOOK: 49ers’ Isaac Bruce has 34 catches, 5 for TDs, including 8 catches, TD last week. Bills’ Marshawn Lynch has rushed for 198 yards last 2 weeks, has 7 rushing TDs.
THE PICK: BILLS 30 49ERS 20
MATCHUP: Ravens (7-4) at Bengals (1-9-1)
Noon Sunday
Line: Ravens by 7
Weather: 30 percent chance of snow, 45 degrees
THE BUZZ: Ravens: They’ve won 5 of 6, scoring at least 27 in wins. Schedule gets tougher–Redskins, Steelers, Cowboys next–so they need this one.
Bengals: Bengals have won last 3 at home vs. Ravens, one of their few reasons for hope. They’ve been more competitive in recent weeks, but their offense could be overwhelmed.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Ravens rookie Joe Flacco becoming a model of consistency–TD pass in last 6, and 9 vs. 2 INTs in last 6 weeks. Cedric Benson averaging 3.1 per carry for Bengals.
THE PICK: RAVENS 24 BENGALS 13
MATCHUP: Colts (7-4) at Browns (4-7)
Noon Sunday
Line: Colts by 5
Weather: 40 percent chance of snow, 40 degrees
THE BUZZ: Colts: 4 straight wins, but by total of only 16 points against good competition. Schedule gets easier beginning this week–Bengals, Lions, Jaguars next.
Browns: Derek Anderson, who lost starting job 3 weeks ago, is back in lineup with Brady Quinn (broken finger) out. Was Anderson No. 2 for a reason? Can he regain ’07 Pro Bowl form?
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Joseph Addai, who has run for 5 TDs, has gained 175 yards last 2 weeks. Browns’ Braylon Edwards, who has 3 TD catches, has 189 receiving yards last 2 weeks.
THE PICK: COLTS 20 BROWNS 10
MATCHUP: Panthers (8-3) at Packers (5-6)
Noon Sunday
Line: Packers by 3
Weather: 40 percent chance of snow, 35 degrees
THE BUZZ: Panthers: In tight NFC South race, get ready for 1 of only 2 cold-weather games. They’ve won 5 straight non-NFC South games.
Packers: Reeling from blowout loss at New Orleans, can they recover? Schedule lightens up after this one–Texans, Jaguars, Bears, Lions to finish.
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FANTASY OUTLOOK: Panthers’ DeAngelo Williams has run for 7 TDs, and has had 100 yards and TD in last 5 games; Packers’ Ryan Grant has rushed for 250 yards, 2 TDs in last 2 home games.
THE PICK: PACKERS 24 PANTHERS 17
MATCHUP: Dolphins (6-5) at Rams (2-9)
Noon Sunday
Line: Dolphins by 9
Weather: Dome
THE BUZZ: Dolphins: 4-game win streak ended vs. New England, but back-to-basics approach should be good enough in this one.
Rams: 4 straight losses have turned season into long, slow march to end. Trent Green is expected to replace injured QB Marc Bulger (concussion).
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Dolphins’ Ronnie Brown has scored 10 TDs, 9 rushing, 1 receiving, is averaging 4.2 per carry. Rams’ Torry Holt has 42 catches, 2 TDs.
THE PICK: DOLPHINS 27 RAMS 17
MATCHUP: Saints (6-5) at Bucs (8-3)
Noon Sunday
Line: Bucs by 3 1/2
Weather: 40 percent chance of rain, 75 degrees
THE BUZZ: Saints: Bring NFL’s No. 1 offense into pivotal NFC South meeting, but can Drew Brees make big plays vs. NFL’s No. 4 defense?
Bucs: 5-0 at home, winning by 12.8 points per game. Jeff Garcia will have chances for big plays in passing game.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Ex-Illinois back Pierre Thomas has become key in Saints’ attack with 6 rushing TDs, 4.9 avg. per carry. Bucs’ Antonio Bryant has 54 catches, 2 for TDs.
THE PICK: BUCS 27 SAINTS 21
MATCHUP: Giants (10-1) at Redskins (7-4)
Noon Sunday
Line: Giants by 3 1/2
Weather: Cloudy, 45 degrees
THE BUZZ: Giants: Have won 14 of last 15 on the road and won 4 of last 5 vs. Washington. With 3-game lead in NFC East, goal is to wrap up home field throughout playoffs.
Redskins: Offense a problem; has scored only 36 points in last 3 games. Giants’ defense isn’t a good one to get better against.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Eli Manning, who has won 24 of last 29 starts, has thrown 18 TD passes vs. 7 INTs. Redskins’ Jason Campbell has 10 TD passes vs. 3 INTs.
THE PICK: GIANTS 20 REDSKINS 14
MATCHUP: Falcons (7-4) at Chargers (4-7)
3 p.m. Sunday
Line: Chargers by 4 1/2
Weather: Sunny, 70 degrees
THE BUZZ: Falcons: Michael Turner returns to face his old team, where he was LaDainian Tomlinson’s understudy. Emotion may give Falcons boost.
Chargers: Yet another tough close loss–last week to Colts–may be draining Chargers, but they are at home.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Turner having his best season, with league-leading 13 rushing TDs and 4.3 avg.; Tomlinson having his worst, with 5 rushing TDs and 3.8 avg.
THE PICK: CHARGERS 20 FALCONS 28
MATCHUP: Steelers (8-3) at Patriots (7-4)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
TV: WBBM-Ch. 2
Line: Patriots by 1
Weather: Cloudy, 45 degrees
THE BUZZ: Steelers: Big chance for Steelers, who lead AFC North by game, to gain playoff positioning. But Willie Parker’s status up in air again.
Patriots: Trailing Jets by game in AFC East, Pats have no margin for error. Confidence growing as Matt Cassel gains experience.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Steelers’ Hines Ward, who has 5 TD catches, has 2 TDs in last 2 vs. Pats; Cassel goes for 3rd straight with 3 TD passes, but this time faces No. 1-ranked defense.
THE PICK: PATRIOTS 27 STEELERS 20
MATCHUP: Broncos (6-5) at Jets (8-3)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
TV: WFLD-Ch. 32
Line: Jets by 7 1/2
Weather: Cloudy, 45 degrees
THE BUZZ: Broncos: It’s always good to be in 1st place, and Broncos have somehow scratched out 2-game lead in NFC West, the NFL’s worst division. They won last road game, at Atlanta, so can’t be taken lightly.
Jets: Trying to stay step ahead of Pats in AFC East. They’re going for their first 6-game winning streak since 2000.
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FANTASY OUTLOOK: Broncos’ Brandon Marshall (67 catches, 4 TDs) has gained 80-plus yards in last 3 games. Brett Favre on another hot streak with 5 TD passes vs. 1 INT in last 3.
THE PICK: JETS 37 BRONCOS 27
MATCHUP: Chiefs (1-10) at Raiders (3-8)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Raiders by 3
Weather: Sunny, 70 degrees
THE BUZZ: Chiefs: Losses piling up, having dropped 19 of 20.
Raiders: Raiders have struggled with Chiefs in recent years, but won 1st meeting in K.C. 23-8 on Sept. 14.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez having good year, with 65 catches, 6 TDs. Raiders’ Justin Fargas has rushed for 182 yards in last 2 vs. K.C.
THE PICK: RAIDERS 17 CHIEFS 12
MATCHUP: Jaguars (4-7) at Texans (4-7)
7:30 p.m. Monday
Line: Texans by 3
Weather: Clear, 60 degrees THE BUZZ: Jaguars: Only win in last 5 games has been over winless Detroit. Jags haven’t scored more than 19 in the 4 defeats.
Texans: Hosting 1st “MNF” game in franchise history, and 1st in Houston since ’94. There’s nothing to party about, though.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Jags’ David Garrard has completed 68.2 percent with 3 TDs, 0 INTs in last 2 games vs. Texans. Texans’ Andre Johnson has 4 100-yard receiving games (131.8 avg.) at home this season.
THE PICK: TEXANS 20 JAGUARS 13