WEEK 13
By Terry Bannon, Chicago Tribune
Vikings (7-4) at Bears (4-7)
Time: 10 a.m. Sunday.
Line: Vikings by 7.
Last meeting: Vikings won 27-22 at Minnesota on Sept. 26, 2004.
Key stat: Bears have won last three home games vs. Vikings.
Players to watch: Chad Hutchinson, 2-7 as Cowboys’ starter in 2002, becomes Bears’ fourth starting quarterback. Onterrio Smith, averaging 4.5 yards per carry, has emerged as Vikings’ key runner.
The buzz: Vikings usually don’t like cold, but this Minnesota team can win on road.
Cardinals (4-7) at Lions (4-7)
Time: 10 a.m. Sunday.
Line: Lions by 6.
Last meeting: Lions won 42-24 at Detroit on Sept. 7, 2003.
Key stat: Lions have gone four games without scoring 20 points, Cardinals three.
Players to watch: Cardinals rookie QB John Navarre, seventh-round pick from Michigan, makes first start. Lions rookie Roy Williams has 35 catches.
The buzz: Lions have advantage with experienced quarterback, even though five-game losing streak has built pressure on Joey Harrington.
Bills (5-6) at Dolphins (2-9)
Time: 10 a.m. Sunday.
Line: Bills by 3 1/2 .
Last meeting: Bills won 20-13 at Buffalo on Oct. 17, 2004.
Key stat: Bills have won four of five, scoring at least 37 points three times.
Players to watch: Bills’ Eric Moulds having a good year, with 63 catches, four for TDs. Jason Taylor leads Dolphins with 7 1/2 sacks.
The buzz: Running of Willis McGahee, with five 100-yard games, has made Bills a solid team. Will that big win at San Francisco go to Dolphins’ heads?
Texans (5-6) at Jets (8-3)
Time: 10 a.m. Sunday.
Line: Off.
Last meeting: Jets won 19-14 at Houston on Oct. 19, 2003.
Key stat: Jets have been held to 17 or fewer points in five of last six games.
Players to watch: Jets’ Curtis Martin having another big year with 1,171 yards, 4.5 average. Texans’ Andre Johnson has 61 catches, five for TDs.
The buzz: Jets chasing Pats in AFC East, but realistic goal is wild-card berth. Jets QB Chad Pennington may return from shoulder injury.
Titans (4-7) at Colts (8-3)
Time: 10 a.m. Sunday.
Line: Colts by 10 1/2 .
Last meeting: Colts won 31-17 at Tennessee on Sept. 19, 2004.
Key stat: Colts lead NFL in turnover differential with plus-17 (29 takeaways, 12 giveaways).
Players to watch: Peyton Manning eight TD passes from breaking Dan Marino’s single-season record of 48. Titans’ Derrick Mason leads NFL with 70 catches, five for TDs.
The buzz: Colts have scored at least 41 points in last three games, and beaten-up Titans won’t be able to slow them down.
Bengals (5-6) at Ravens (7-4)
Time: 10 a.m. Sunday.
Line: Ravens by 6 1/2 .
Last meeting: Ravens won 23-9 at Cincinnati on Sept. 26, 2004.
Key stat: Ravens won 11 of last 13 meetings.
Players to watch: Bengals’ Rudi Johnson, who rushed for 98 yards in first Ravens game, averaging 4.2 yards per carry. Ravens’ Kyle Boller muddling along with seven TD passes, seven interceptions.
The buzz: Talk about change of environment for Bengals, who scored 58 against Browns last week. It would take four games to get that against Ravens.
49ers (1-10) at Rams (5-6)
Time: 10 a.m. Sunday.
Line: Rams by 10 1/2 .
Last meeting: Rams won 24-14 at San Francisco on Oct. 3, 2004.
Key stat: Rams won three of last four meetings.
Players to watch: Rams’ Marc Bulger having solid year, leading NFL with 3,267 yards passing. Kevan Barlow getting just 3.2 yards per carry for 49ers.
The buzz: With four losses in five games, Rams are reeling. But there’s no medicine like visit from worst team in league.
Falcons (9-2) at Bucs (4-7)
Time: 10 a.m. Sunday.
Line: Bucs by 1 1/2 .
Last meeting: Falcons won 24-14 at Atlanta on Nov. 14, 2004.
Key stat: Bucs have won three straight at home (Bears, Chiefs, 49ers).
Players to watch: Tight end Alge Crumpler had four catches for 118 yards and TD against Bucs three weeks ago. Bucs’ Brian Griese has been steady with TD-interception ratio of 12-5.
The buzz: Bucs have gone 4-3 since Griese took over and can still climb into wild-card race.
Panthers (4-7) at Saints (4-7)
Time: 10 a.m. Sunday.
Line: Saints by 1 1/2 .
Last meeting: Panthers won 23-20 (OT) at New Orleans on Oct. 26, 2003.
Key stat: Panthers have won last three meetings.
Players to watch: Nick Goings averaging 4.5 yards per carry for Panthers. Deuce McAllister getting 4.1 for Saints.
The buzz: Panthers have won last three and climbed back into playoff race. With Goings producing, Panthers have chance at .500 finish.
Patriots (10-1) at Browns (3-8)
Time: 10 a.m. Sunday.
Line: Off.
Last meeting: Patriots won 9-3 at New England on Oct. 26, 2003.
Key stat: Patriots have won 47 of 48 in which they’ve had 14-point lead.
Players to watch: Corey Dillon averaging 4.8 yards per carry for Patriots. William Green getting just 4.1 for Browns.
The buzz: Terry Robiskie takes over as Browns’ interim coach, but with same underachievers. Browns QBs are playing hurt, so Pats should cruise.
Broncos (7-4) at Chargers (8-3)
Time: 1:05 p.m. Sunday.
Line: Chargers by 3.
Last meeting: Broncos won 23-13 at Denver on Sept. 26, 2004.
Key stat: Denver won five of last six meetings.
Players to watch: Broncos’ Jake Plummer has 22 TDs vs. 11 interceptions; Chargers’ Drew Brees has 21 TD passes vs. three interceptions.
The buzz: Reuben Droughns, averaging 4.7 yards per carry, and Plummer, who has eight TD passes in last three games vs. Chargers, will lead Broncos to share of first place in AFC West.
Chiefs (3-8) at Raiders (4-7)
Time: 1:05 p.m. Sunday.
Line: Off.
Last meeting: Chiefs won 27-24 at Kansas City on Dec. 23, 2003.
Key stat: Chiefs won three of last four meetings.
Players to watch: Chiefs’ Derrick Blaylock averaging 4.9 yards per carry. Raiders’ Jerry Porter has 44 catches for 15-yard average and four TDs.
The buzz: Raiders, especially QB Kerry Collins, showed lot of heart in last Sunday’s win in snow at Denver. Chiefs in trouble if QB Trent Green can’t play.
Giants (5-6) at Redskins (3-8)
Time: 1:15 p.m. Sunday.
Line: Redskins by 2.
Last meeting: Giants won 20-14 at New York on Sept. 19, 2004.
Key stat: Giants have won four of last five meetings.
Players to watch: Giants’ Tiki Barber averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Redskins’ Clinton Portis having disappointing year, getting only 3.9.
The buzz: Giants have been outscored 41-16 and are 0-2 with Eli Manning as starter. Redskins also have lost last two with QB Patrick Ramsey.
Packers (7-4) at Eagles (10-1)
Time: 1:15 p.m. Sunday.
Line: Eagles by 6.
Last meeting: Eagles won 20-17 (OT) in NFC divisional playoff at Philadelphia on Jan. 11, 2004.
Key stat: Eagles have allowed 14.9 points per game, tied for lowest in NFL.
Players to watch: Classic QB battle: Packers’ Brett Favre (22 TD passes) vs. Eagles’ Donovan McNabb (23).
The buzz: Packers take six-game win streak to site of their playoff disaster, where they let Eagles convert fourth-and-26 to tie game.
Steelers (10-1) at Jaguars (6-5)
Time: 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
Line: Steelers by 3.
Last meeting: Steelers won 25-23 at Jacksonville on Dec. 1, 2002.
Key stat: Steelers lead NFL in total defense, allowing 244.2 yards per game.
Players to watch: Duce Staley, averaging 4.7 yards per carry, returns to lineup after missing four games with sore hamstring. Fred Taylor quietly having good year for Jaguars, getting 4.8 per carry.
The buzz: Steelers have recently relied on defense, and Jaguars lack firepower to pull off upset.