Last week’s record: 11-5
Season to date: 150-73-1
Last week vs. spread: 7-7-2
Season vs. spread: 104-114-6 Not including Thursday’s games
MATCHUP: Packers (5-9) at Bears (8-6)
7:30 p.m. Monday
TV/radio: ESPN, WBBM-AM 780
Line: Bears by 4
Weather: 10(degrees), 10 percent chance of snow
THE BUZZ: Packers: Have lost 6 of 7, 4 straight since beating Bears on Nov. 16. Gave up 130 points in last 4. Can end playoff dreams of archrival.
Bears: Going for first 3-game winning streak of season. Must win twice and get help to have playoff shot at playoffs. They could be eliminated Sunday.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Packers’ Aaron Rodgers has 23 TD passes with 12 INTs. Bears” Kyle Orton has 15 TD passes, 10 INTs.
THE PICK: Bears 24, Packers 13
MATCHUP: Ravens (9-5) at Cowboys (9-5)
7:15 p.m. Saturday
TV/radio: NFL Network, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Cowboys by 4
Weather: 40(degrees), 30 percent chance of rain
THE BUZZ: Ravens: Can they bounce back with road win after tough loss to Steelers? Only road win over playoff contender was at Miami.
Cowboys: Gathering momentum with win over Giants. Did Tony Romo take too much of a beating? Cowboys 6-1 at home, 5 in a row.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Ravens rookie Joe Flacco has 8 TD passes vs. 2 INTs in last 5 road games. Jason Witten leads NFC tight ends with 69 catches, 3 TDs.
THE PICK: Cowboys 20, Ravens 17
MATCHUP: Bengals (2-11-1) at Browns (4-10)
Noon Sunday
Line: Browns by 2 1/2
Weather: 25(degrees), 70 percent chance of snow
THE BUZZ: Bengals: Gained momentum with win over Redskins, but they’ve scored only 19 points in their last 3 on road. Asking too much of defense.
Browns: Inept on offense, with only 31 points in 4-game losing streak. Ken Dorsey has zero TD passes in 2 starts.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Bengals’ Cedric Benson getting only 3.1 yards per carry, but coming off 161 yards from scrimmage vs. Redskins. Browns’ Jamal Lewis averaging 3.5 with 4 rushing TDs.
THE PICK: Browns 13, Bengals 7
MATCHUP: Saints (7-7) at Lions (0-14)
Noon Sunday
Line: Saints by 7
Weather: Dome
THE BUZZ: Saints: Little to play for except to avoid trivia question answer: Who lost to Lions in ’08? Saints are 1-6 on road, and Reggie Bush is out for season with knee injury.
Lions: Last home game, and best chance to avoid winless season. They’ve put up good fights against better teams (Vikes, Colts) last 2 weeks. Dan Orlovsky is back at QB.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Drew Brees leads NFL with 28 TD passes and 4,332 yards. Orlovsky has 6 TD passes vs. 4 INTs and decent passer rating of 80.3
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THE PICK: Saints 20, Lions 17
MATCHUP: Dolphins (9-5) at Chiefs (2-12)
Noon Sunday
Line: Dolphins by 4
Weather: 20(degrees), windy
THE BUZZ: Dolphins: Confident bunch will have to adjust to weather. Won last 3 on road, 7 of 8 overall. Secret to success: Lead NFL with plus-12 turnover differential.
Chiefs: Hard to see this offense doing much against defense that hasn’t allowed TD in last 3 games. Can Larry Johnson carry load? They’re 1-6 at home.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Chad Pennington has 14 TD passes vs. only 6 INTs. Chiefs’ Dwayne Bowe has 73 catches, 12.2 avg., 7 TDs.
THE PICK: Dolphins 20, Chiefs 14
MATCHUP: Cardinals (8-6) at
Patriots (9-5)
Noon Sunday
TV/radio: WFLD-Ch. 32, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Patriots by 7 1/2
Weather: 30(degrees), 50 percent chance of snow
THE BUZZ: Cardinals: Uphill battle for Cards, who are 2-5 against winning teams and have lost 3 of 4. Does Kurt Warner have another big game in him?
Patriots: Win keeps share of 1st in AFC East, with winnable finale at Buffalo next. Facing warm-weather team at home in December good matchup. Pats have won 11 straight in December.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Cards’ Tim Hightower leads rookies with 10 rushing TDs, but only 2.9 yards per carry. Pats’ Sammy Morris has 7 rush TDs, 1 in last 3 games, and is averaging 4.7 per carry.
THE PICK: Patriots 23, Cardinals 17
MATCHUP: 49ers (5-9) at Rams (2-12)
Noon Sunday
Line: 49ers by 5 1/2
Weather: Dome
THE BUZZ: 49ers: Have won 3 of 5. Motivated to finish strong so Mike Singletary gets head coaching job.
Rams: Have lost 8 straight with little hope of quick turnaround. Scored more than 20 points only once all season.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: 49ers’ Isaac Bruce, former Ram, has 52 catches, 6 TDs. Rams’ Torry Holt 54 catches, 3 TDs.
THE PICK: 49ers 20, Rams 17
Chargers (6-8) at Bucs (9-5)
Noon Sunday
Line: Bucs by 3 1/2
Weather: 78(degrees), partly cloudy
THE BUZZ: Chargers: Need plenty of help for playoffs. Offense is capable of big day with NFL-leading passer Philip Rivers.
Bucs: Effectiveness of QB Jeff Garcia (calf) may decide this one. Backup Brian Griese has 5 TD passes vs. 7 INTs.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Chargers’ Vincent Jackson has 50 catches, 18.8 avg., 7 TDs; Bucs’ Antonio Bryant has 74, 6 TDs, including 3 TDs in last 2 games.
THE PICK: Bucs 28, Chargers 27
MATCHUP: Steelers (11-3) at Titans (12-2)
Noon Sunday
TV: WBBM-Ch. 2
Line: Steelers by 2
Weather: 45(degrees), 30 percent chance of rain
THE BUZZ: Steelers: Two wins would lock up No. 1 seed in AFC. But offense remains suspect, especially on road.
Titans: Kerry Collins’ poor outing last week has raised questions, and now they face NFL’s No. 1 defense. They’ll miss DT Albert Haynesworth (knee). Home field will be difference.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Willie Parker has slowed down, getting 3.8 per carry with 4 rushing TDs. Titans’ rookie Chris Johnson has 8 rushing TDs with 4.9 avg.
THE PICK: Titans 17, Steelers 13
MATCHUP: Bills (6-8) at Broncos (8-6)
3:05 p.m. Sunday
Line: Broncos by 6 1/2
Weather: 20(degrees), partly cloudy
THE BUZZ: Bills: Trent Edwards has recovered enough from groin injury to return to starting job. Nothing to lose anymore.
Broncos: Can wrap up AFC West title with win. If they lose and Chargers win, it all comes down to their meeting in San Diego next week.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Marshawn Lynch carrying load for Bills with 1,002 yards, 7 rushing TDs, 4.2 average. Broncos’ Jay Cutler has 24 TD passes vs. 15 INTs.
THE PICK: Broncos 30, Bills 17
MATCHUP: Texans (7-7) at Raiders (3-11)
3:05 p.m. Sunday
Line: Texans by 7
Weather: 50(degrees), cloudy
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THE BUZZ: Texans: Out of playoffs but finishing strong with 4 straight wins. Pass-rusher Mario Williams (11 sacks) emerging as major force.
Raiders: Fading into sunset with another disastrous season. They’ve lost 3 straight, getting outscored 103-46.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Texans’ Andre Johnson leads NFL with 103 catches, and has 6 TDs. In 6 home starts, Raiders’ JaMarcus Russell has 6 TD passes vs. 3 INTs.
THE PICK: Texans 24, Raiders 13
MATCHUP: Jets (9-5) at Seahawks (3-11)
3:05 p.m. Sunday
Line: Jets by 4 1/2
Weather: 30(degrees), 70 percent chance of snow
THE BUZZ: Jets: Need win to keep share of 1st in AFC East. Brett Favre faces ex-coach Mike Holmgren in coach’s final home game.
Seahawks: Thanks to slew of injuries, Holmgren not likely to enjoy his Seattle finale. QB Matt Hasselbeck out again.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Favre has completed 74 percent with 4 TDs, 2 INTs in last 3 on road. Seahawks’ Seneca Wallace completed 66 percent with 3 TDs, zero INTs in last 2 starts.
THE PICK: Jets 27, Seahawks 17
MATCHUP: Falcons (9-5) at Vikings (9-5)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
TV/radio: WFLD-Ch. 32, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Vikings by 3 1/2
Weather: Dome
THE BUZZ: Falcons: Need win to stay in playoff race, but only 3-4 on road. Need to control clock with ground game and limit turnovers.
Vikings: NFC North title is 1 win away, and team is gaining confidence in QB Tarvaris Jackson (4 TD passes last week), who will start again.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Falcons’ Michael Turner is NFL’s No. 2 rusher with 1,421 yards (15 rushing TDs); Vikes’ Adrian Peterson is No. 1 with 1,581 (9 rushing TDs.)
THE PICK: Vikings 24, Falcons 23
MATCHUP: Eagles (8-5-1) at Redskins (7-7)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Eagles by 5
Weather: 40(degrees), 70 percent chance of rain
THE BUZZ: Eagles: A rejuvenated Donovan McNabb has brought Eagles back into playoff contention, winning 3 straight by 98-44 margin.
Redskins: Heading in opposite direction, they misplaced offense in October. Not yet eliminated but may as well be.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Eagles’ Brian Westbrook has 400 yards from scrimmage, 6 TDs in last 3. Redskins QB Jason Campbell has 12 TD passes vs. 6 INTs.
THE PICK: Eagles 23, Redskins 17
MATCHUP: Panthers (11-3) at Giants (11-3)
7:15 p.m. Sunday
TV/radio: WMAQ-Ch. 5, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Giants by 3
Weather: 20(degrees), 60 percent of Snow
THE BUZZ: Panthers: Offense scored at least 27 points in 7 of last 8, and they’ve won 7 of 8. Momentum on their side.
Giants: Have lost 2 straight, getting outscored 40-22, without suspended WR Plaxico Burress and getting little from injured running back Brandon Jacobs. Must find other options.
FANTASY OUTLOOK: Panthers’ DeAngelo Williams, averaging 5.5 yards per carry, 14 rush TDs, including 1 in 7 straight games. Eli Manning has 20 TD passes vs. 10 INTs.
THE PICK: Giants 21, Panthers 14