Week 17
Terry Bannon, Chicago Tribune
Packers (9-6) at Bears (5-10)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Bears by 3
Last meeting: Bears won 21-10 at Green Bay on Sept. 19
Key stat: Bears have lost 10 straight home games to Packers. Thomas Jones is Bears’ leading rusher (840 yards, 3.9 yards per carry) and receiver (53, 8.0 per catch). Brett Favre has thrown 28 TD passes vs. 17 interceptions.
The buzz: Green Bay doesn’t need to win, so Favre and Ahman Green may not play long. Bears need big plays on offense.
Lions (6-9) at Titans (4-11)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Lions by 3
Last meeting: Titans won 27-24 at Detroit on Oct. 21, 2001
Key stat: Lions have lost four straight on road after starting 3-0.
Players to watch: Lions rookie Roy Williams has 50 catches, seven for TDs. Titans’ Derrick Mason leads NFL with 92 catches, and has seven TD receptions.
The buzz: Titans have lost five straight, but they’ll try to rally around Mason and running of Antowain Smith to pull off upset.
Dolphins (4-11) at Ravens (8-7)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Ravens by 11
Last meeting: Dolphins won 9-6 (OT) in Miami on Nov. 16, 2003
Key stat: Ravens have lost two straight (Colts, Steelers) by combined score of 40-17.
Players to watch: Sage Rosenfels, who has thrown one pass all season (it went incomplete), gets chance to start at quarterback in finale. Kyle Boller has only 12 TD passes vs. 11 interceptions for Ravens.
The buzz: Ravens need win and some help to make playoffs, which means Jamal Lewis needs room to run. He should get it.
Jets (10-5) at Rams (7-8)
Time: 10 a.m., CBS. Line: Jets by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Rams won 34-14 at New York on Oct. 21, 2001
Key stat: Jets are 4-3 on road, including win at San Diego.
Players to watch: Justin McCareins leads Jets with 50 catches, four for TDs. Rams’ Marc Bulger has thrown 18 passes vs. 12 interceptions.
The buzz: Jets can win their way into playoffs, and defense which has shut out NFL-high seven opponents in second half should make the difference.
Browns (3-12) at Texans (7-8)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Texans by 10
Last meeting: Browns won 34-17 in Cleveland on Oct. 20, 2002
Key stat: Browns have been outscored 68-14 in last three.
Players to watch: Browns quarterback Kelly Holcomb (six TDs vs. three INTs) returns to lineup if his sore ribs are OK. Texans’ Domanick Davis has run for TD in five straight games, 12 for the season.
The buzz: Browns finishing sixth season looking like expansion team, but they’ve played league’s toughest schedule (.596 winning percentage).
Vikings (8-7) at Redskins (5-10)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Vikings by 4
Last meeting: Vikings won 41-7 in Minnesota on Oct. 18, 1998
Key stat: Vikings are 0-3 in open-air stadiums.
Players to watch: Vikings’ Randy Moss has only 44 catches, but 12 have gone for TDs. Redskins cornerback Shawn Springs has five interceptions, five sacks.
The buzz: Vikings, who have lost three of last four, are in playoffs with win. But Redskins’ No. 2-ranked defense can contain them. Outdoor game on grass in January is Minnesota nightmare.
Steelers (14-1) at Bills (9-6)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Bills by 9
Last meeting: Steelers won 20-3 at Buffalo on Sept. 30, 2001
Key stat: Bills have scored at least 33 points in six straight games.
Players to watch: Bills’ Willis McGahee has rushed for 1,049 yards and 11 TDs. Tommy Maddox, who has thrown only 36 passes, will replace injured Ben Roethlisberger.
The buzz: Bills need win and some help to make playoffs, which would be amazing comeback after 0-4 start. Steelers just try to stay healthy.
Saints (7-8) at Panthers (7-8)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Panthers by 7 1/2
Last meeting: Panthers won 32-21 at New Orleans on Dec. 5
Key stat: Panthers have won last four meetings.
Players to watch: Saints’ Joe Horn has 90 catches, 10 TDs. Panthers’ Muhsin Muhammad has 87 catches and his 14 TDs tied for league high.
The buzz: Winner of this one goes to playoffs at 8-8 with some help, but nobody will be embarrassed if it’s Panthers, who have won six of last seven. Jake Delhomme, who has 27 TD passes, and Nick Goings, with five 100-yard rushing games in last six, will make it happen.
49ers (2-13) at Patriots (13-2)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Patriots by 13 1/2
Last meeting: Patriots won 24-21 at New England on Dec. 20, 1998
Key stat: 49ers have been held to 17 or fewer points in five of last six.
Players to watch: Pats’ Corey Dillon finishing up huge year with 1,519 yards rushing, 4.6 average. Kevan Barlow leads 49ers with 719, 3.3.
The buzz: No matter who plays how long, Patriots won’t have to work long or hard to put this one away.
Bengals (7-8) at Eagles (13-2)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Bengals by 3
Last meeting: Eagles won 16-7 at Philadelphia on Dec. 24, 2000
Key stat: Bengals are 2-5 on the road, beating Redskins, Ravens.
Players to watch: Eagles backup Dorsey Levens, averaging 4.4 yards per carry, expects to get plenty of work. Bengals’ Rudi Johnson has rushed for 1,355 yards, 4.1 per carry.
The buzz: Bengals have something to play for, a .500 season. As they did in Monday night’s loss at St. Louis, Eagles figure to rest for playoffs.
Bucs (5-10) at Cardinals (5-10)
Time: 1:05 p.m. Line: Cardinals by 3
Last meeting: Bucs won 19-18 at Tampa on Sept. 28, 1997
Key stat: Bucs are 1-6 on the road.
Players to watch: Pass-rushers: Cards’ Bertrand Berry is second in NFL with 12 1/2 sacks; Bucs’ Simeon Rice has 12.
The buzz: Dennis Green finishes his first season as Arizona’s coach with win thanks to young receivers Larry Fitzgerald (55 catches, eight TDs) and Anquan Boldin (53 catches, one TD).
Chiefs (7-8) at Chargers (11-4)
Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: Chiefs by 3
Last meeting: Chargers won 34-31 at Kansas City on Nov. 28
Key stat: Chiefs have scored at least 31 points in last five games, going 4-1.
Players to watch: Chiefs’ Larry Johnson averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Chargers’ Drew Brees threw for 378 yards and two TDs in last meeting.
The buzz: Chargers are set as AFC’s No. 4 seed. Chiefs are having fun closing out season well and putting up some big numbers.
Colts (12-3) at Broncos (9-6)
Time: 1:15 p.m., CBS. Line: Broncos by 8 1/2
Last meeting: Colts won 41-10 at Indianapolis in divisional playoff on Jan. 4
Key stat: Colts have won eight straight, three on road.
Players to watch: Colts’ Peyton Manning may not play long enough to add to his NFL record 49 TD passes. Broncos’ Jake Plummer has 25 TD passes vs. 20 interceptions.
The buzz: Colts have nothing to play for and Broncos are in playoffs with win. It’s that simple.
Jaguars (8-7) at Raiders (5-10)
Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: Off
Last meeting: Jaguars won 20-9 at Oakland on Dec. 21, 1997
Key stat: Jaguars are 4-3 on road, including wins at Indianapolis and Green Bay.
Players to watch: Jaguars’ Jimmy Smith finishing off another fine season with 71 catches, six for TDs. Raiders’ Jerry Porter has 61 catches, nine TDs.
The buzz: Jaguars will know early in their game whether Buffalo has lost, giving them chance to make playoffs. Still, Jaguars are young team with heart.
Cowboys (6-9) at Giants (5-10)
Time: 5:30 p.m., ESPN. Line: Giants by 2 1/2
Last meeting: Giants won 26-10 at Dallas on Oct. 10
Key stat: Giants have won three of last five meetings.
Players to watch: Keep your eye on: Cowboys rookie Julius Jones has rushed for 654 yards in last six games. Giants’ Tiki Barber, with 6,832 career rushing yards, needs 66 to break Rodney Hampton’s team record.
The buzz: Giants have lost eight straight and Eli Manning still hasn’t won. Tiki Barber can change all that.