WEEK 10

By Terry Bannon, Chicago Tribune

Bears (3-5) at Titans (3-5)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Off

Last meeting: Bears won 23-20 at Tennessee on Oct. 25, 1998.

Key stat: Titans are 1-3 at home, beating only Bengals 2 weeks ago.

Players to watch: Titans’ Derrick Mason is 2nd in NFL with 52 catches, 2 for TDs. Bears’ Anthony Thomas has rushed for 208 yards in last 2 games.

The buzz: Bears’ resurgent defense will make it tough on whoever starts at quarterback, injured Steve McNair or Billy Volek. But can Bears slow down Chris Brown, averaging 4.9 yards per carry?

Bucs (3-5) at Falcons (6-2)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Falcons by 3 1/2

Last meeting: Falcons won 30-28 at Atlanta on Dec. 20, 2003.

Key stat: Falcons allowing 14.3 points per game at home.

Players to watch: Michael Pittman averaging hefty 4.9 yards per carry for Bucs. T.J. Duckett getting 4.7 for Falcons.

The buzz: Bucs have won 3 times with Brian Griese at quarterback, but he hasn’t seen aggressive defense like Atlanta’s.

Steelers (7-1) at Browns (3-5)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Steelers by 4.

Last meeting: Steelers won 34-23 at Pittsburgh on Oct. 10, 2004.

Key stat: Steelers have won 10 of 12 meetings since Browns rejoined NFL in ‘99.

Players to watch: Steelers’ Plaxico Burress averaging 20.4 yards per catch. Browns Antonio Bryant has 6 receptions (11.5 avg.) in 2 games since arriving in trade with Dallas.

The buzz: The NFL’s best team, led by rookie QB Ben Roethlisberger, visits an old rival that will have to control the ball and make several big plays to pull off upset.

Texans (4-4) at Colts (5-3)

Time: 10 a.m..

Line: Colts by 9 1/2

Last meeting: Colts won 20-17 at Houston on Dec. 28, 2003.

Key stat: Colts have won all 4 meetings.

Players to watch: The receivers with 45 receptions: Texans’ Andre Johnson (15.4 yards per catch, 4 TDs), Colts’ Marvin Harrison (12.6 avg., 7 TDs).

The buzz: Colts’ defense may give David Carr chance to match Peyton Manning, but Colts will score enough to win key AFC South game.

Lions (4-4) at Jaguars (5-3)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Jaguars by 3.

Last meeting: Jaguars won 37-22 at Jacksonville on Dec. 6, 1998.

Key stat: Lions are 3-1 on road.

Players to watch: Lions’ Joey Harrington having a breakthrough year with 13 TD passes vs. 5 interceptions. Jaguars’ David Garrard to make 2nd NFL start.

The buzz: With Byron Leftwich out with knee injury, Jaguars’ offense may be limited unless Garrard can get ball to Jimmy Smith, who has 42 catches.

Chiefs (3-5) at Saints (3-5)

Time: 10 a.m..

Line: Chiefs by 4 1/2

Last meeting: Chiefs won 25-13 at Kansas City on Dec. 21, 1997.

Key stat: Saints have allowed 32.2 points per game in last 5-4 losses.

Players to watch: Derrick Blaylock, averaging 4.7 yards per carry, takes over for injured Priest Holmes. Deuce McAllister getting just 3.5 yards per carry for Saints.

The buzz: Neither team can play much defense, and Chiefs’ offense should keep rolling without Holmes. Big day ahead for Trent Green and Tony Gonzalez.

Ravens (5-3) at Jets (6-2)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Ravens by 2.

Last meeting: Ravens won 34-20 at Baltimore on Dec. 24, 2000.

Key stat: Ravens have averaged just 13.3 points in 4 road games (2-2).

Players to watch: The league’s top 2 pass rushers: Jets’ John Abraham (8 1/2 sacks), Ravens’ Terrell Suggs (7 1/2 ).

The buzz: The weekend’s only game featuring 2 winning teams sends Quincy Carter — replacing injured Chad Pennington — against Kyle Boller.

Bengals (3-5) at Redskins (3-5)

Time: 1:05 p.m. TV: CBS

Line: Redskins by 3.

Last meeting: Redskins won 34-27 at Cincinnati on Sept. 22, 1991.

Key stat: Bengals are 0-4 on the road, losing by average of 10.5 points.

Players to watch: Redskins’ Clinton Portis rushed for 120 yards (5.0 avg.) vs. Bengals for Broncos last season. Rudi Johnson getting 3.9 yards per carry for Bengals.

The buzz: A pair of disappointing teams with shaky quarterback play meet. At least the Bengals’ Carson Palmer is decade younger than Redskins’ Mark Brunell.

Giants (5-3) at Cardinals (3-5)

Time: 1:15 p.m..

Line: Giants by 2 1/2 .

Last meeting: Cardinals won 21-7 at Arizona on Sept. 29 2002.

Key stat: Cardinals have won 2 straight at home by combined score of 59-27 (Seahawks, Saints).

Players to watch: Bertrand Berry leads Cardinals with 5 sacks. Giants’ Kurt Warner has thrown only 5 TD passes vs. 4 interceptions.

The buzz: Giants have lost DE Michael Strahan for season, which may kill their pass rush. Berry could increase his sack total against weak line that will cost Giants another game.

Vikings (5-3) at Packers (4-4)

Time: 1:15 p.m. TV: Fox 28

Line: Packers by 4.

Last meeting: Packers won 30-27 at Minnesota on Nov. 2, 2003.

Key stat: Packers have won 2 of last 3 meetings.

Players to watch: Nate Burleson leads Vikings with 32 catches, 3 for TDs. Packers’ Javon Walker has 46 catches, 7 for TDs.

The buzz: Vikings go again without Randy Moss, which will mean long afternoon at Lambeau. Packers have won 3 straight and are rested after week off.

Panthers (1-7) at 49ers (1-7)

Time: 1:15 p.m.

Line: 49ers by 1.

Last meeting: 49ers won 25-22 (OT) at Carolina on Nov. 18, 2001.

Key stat: 49ers are 30th in NFL with turnover differential of minus 12.

Players to watch: Ex-Bear Curtis Conway leads 49ers wide receivers with 29 catches, 2 for TDs. Muhsin Muhammad leads Carolina with 39 catches, 4 TDs.

The buzz: Only difference between these teams is that 49ers were expected to be bad, Panthers weren’t.

Bills (3-5) at Patriots (7-1)

Time: 5:30 p.m. TV: ESPN

Line: Patriots by 8.

Last meeting: Patriots won 31-17 at Buffalo on Oct. 3, 2004.

Key stat: Patriots have won 7 of last 8 meetings.

Players to watch: Bills’ Willis McGahee has rushed for 100 yards in 3 of last 4 games. Corey Dillon is averaging 4.9 yards per carry for Patriots.

The buzz: McGahee has at least made the Bills interesting, but that won’t be enough. Not with Patriots at home.

Eagles (7-1) at Cowboys (3-5)

Time: 6 p.m. Monday

Line: Eagles by 6 1/2 .

Last meeting: Eagles won 36-10 at Philadelphia on Dec. 7, 2003.

Key stat: Eagles have won 7 of last 8 meetings.

Players to watch: Brian Westbrook getting 4.9 per carry for Eagles. Eddie George getting just 3.4 for Cowboys.

The buzz: Eagles have been anything but dominant the last three weeks, but Cowboys aren’t equipped to take advantage of Philly’s soft run defense.