Week 4

•By Terry Bannon, Chicago Tribune

Eagles (3-0) at Bears (1-2)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Eagles by 9.

Last meeting: Eagles won 19-13 at Champaign on Nov. 3, 2002

Key stat: Eagles are winning by an average of 14 points.

Players to watch: Jonathan Quinn makes first Bears start in place of injured Rex Grossman. Donovan McNabb off to great start (8 TD passes, zero interceptions).

The buzz: Eagles will try to take advantage of Bears’ injury-depleted defense. Can Bears do better against McNabb and Terrell Owens than they did against Daunte Culpepper and Randy Moss last week?

Patriots (2-0) at Bills (0-2)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Patriots by 5 1/2 .

Last meeting: Patriots won 31-0 at New England on Dec. 27, 2003.

Key stat: Bills offense has scored only 18 TDs in last 16 games.

Players to watch: Patriots’ Corey Dillon rushed for 244 yards in first two games, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Bills’ Travis Henry getting just 3.2

The buzz: Patriots are going for 18th straight win, which would tie NFL record held by five teams, including Bears of 1933-34 and ‘41-42. Bills offense won’t be able to keep up its end—again.

Redskins (1-2) at Browns (1-2)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Redskins by 3.

Last meeting: First meeting since Browns rejoined NFL as expansion team in ‘99.

Key stat: Redskins haven’t scored more than 18 points in game this season.

Players to watch: Redskins’ Clinton Portis ran for 139 yards, 2 TDs for Broncos against Browns last season. William Green leads Browns with 208 yards rushing, 3.7 yards per carry.

The buzz: Unless Redskins are having trouble shaking off tough Monday night loss to Dallas, Portis should find room to run against injury-ravaged Cleveland defense.

Giants (2-1) at Packers (1-2)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Packers by 7.

Last meeting: Packers won 34-25 at New York on Jan. 6, 2002.

Key stat: Giants lead NFL with turnover differential of plus-8.

Players to watch: Packers’ Javon Walker (20 catches, 3 TDs) becoming a force. Giants’ Kurt Warner has not thrown interception in 119 attempts over two seasons, 15 short of his career best.

The buzz: Packers secondary goes from getting burned by Peyton Manning to facing revitalized Kurt Warner. Packers can control ball with Ahman Green’s running to avoid 1-3 start.

Raiders (2-1) at Texans (1-2)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Raiders by 2 1/2 .

Last meeting: First meeting.

Key stat: Raiders’ wins have come over winless teams (Bills, Bucs).

Players to watch: Kerry Collins makes first start as Raiders QB. Texans’ David Carr off to slow start (3 TD passes vs. 4 interceptions).

The buzz: Raiders showing signs of being competitive. Collins, replacing injured Rich Gannon, can give them spark.

Colts (2-1) at Jaguars (3-0)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Colts by 4.

Last meeting: Jaguars won 28-23 at Jacksonville at Nov. 9, 2003.

Key stat: Average score of Jaguars’ games: Jacksonville 12, opponents 9.

Players to watch: Jacksonville’s Fred Taylor ran for 278 yards in two games vs. Colts last season. Colts’ Peyton Manning has thrown 12 TD passes vs. 3 interceptions in five games vs. Jaguars.

The buzz: Jaguars have emerged as playoff contenders by winning very ugly, and late in games at that. Colts are coming to town, and party is over. Jaguars offense won’t be able to keep up its end of deal.

Bengals (1-2) at Steelers (2-1)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Steelers by 4 1/2 .

Last meeting: Bengals won 24-20 at Pittsburgh on Nov. 30, 2003.

Key stat: Steelers are 17-7 vs. Bengals under Bill Cowher.

Players to watch: Bengals’ Chad Johnson has 24 catches in last four games vs. Steelers. Steelers’ linebacker Joey Porter has three sacks in last four games vs. Bengals.

The buzz: Steelers should be able to run ball with Duce Staley as Bengals continue to search for way to get offense going.

Saints (2-1) at Cardinals (0-3)

Time: 1:05 p.m.

Line: Saints by 3.

Last meeting: Saints won 21-10 at Arizona on Oct. 29, 2000.

Key stat: Cardinals scoring just 8.3 points per game.

Players to watch: Cards’ rookie Larry Fitzgerald has 14 catches, but none for TDs. Saints’ Joe Horn off to good start with 21 catches, 2 TDs.

The buzz: Will Saints be ambushed after upset win at St. Louis last week? Cardinals offense struggling, but defense can keep them close.

Falcons (3-0) at Panthers (1-1)

Time: 1:05 p.m.

Line: Panthers by 3 1/2 .

Last meeting: Falcons won 20-14 (OT) at Atlanta on Dec. 7, 2003.

Key stat: Falcons are allowing just 13 points per game.

Players to watch: Falcons’ Warrick Dunn has rushed for 223 yards, 4.2 avg., league-high 4 TDs. DeShaun Foster averaging 5.3 for Panthers.

The buzz: Early-season showdown in NFC South gives Falcons chance to show they can contend in tough division. QB Michael Vick accounted for 320 yards in last meeting, but it was in Atlanta.

Jets (2-0) at Dolphins (0-3)

Time: 1:15 p.m.

Line: Jets by 6.

Last meeting: Dolphins won 23-21 at Miami on Dec. 28, 2003.

Key stat: Dolphins are averaging just 7.7 points per game.

Players to watch: Jay Fiedler returns as Dolphins’ starting quarterback. Chad Pennington leads AFC with 124.3 rating (4 TDs, 0 interceptions).

The buzz: Jets continue to capitalize on easy early schedule (it doesn’t get tough until December) while everything is going wrong for Dolphins. RB Leonard Henry makes first start in only second NFL game for Miami.

Titans (1-2) at Chargers (1-2)

Time: 1:15 p.m.

Line: Titans by 3.

Last meeting: Chargers won 13-7 at Tennessee on Sept. 13, 1998.

Key stat: Titans haven’t scored more than 17 points in game.

Players to watch: Titans’ Chris Brown leads NFL in rushing (353 yards, 5.4 avg.). LaDainian Tomlinson has accounted for 45 percent of Chargers’ offense in averaging 4.0 yards per carry.

The buzz: After home losses to Colts and Jaguars, Titans can’t afford to drop this one and may have to do it without Steve McNair. Billy Volek is one of NFL’s best backup QBs.

Broncos (2-1) at Bucs (0-3)

Time: 1:15 p.m.

Line: Broncos by 3.

Last meeting: Bucs won 13-10 at Tampa on Sept. 26, 1999.

Key stat: Bucs are scoring just 12 points per game.

Players to watch: Bucs’ RB Michael Pittman comes back from suspension just in time to start for injured Charlie Garner. Rod Smith leads Broncos with 18 catches, 1 for TD.

The buzz: Bucs’ defense gives them chance, but offense didn’t score TD until last week. Broncos not always toughest on road, but these aren’t Bucs of two years ago.

Rams (1-2) at 49ers (0-3)

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Line: Rams by 3 1/2 .

Last meeting: 49ers won 30-10 at San Francisco on Nov. 2, 2003.

Key stat: Rams have won 8 of last 10 meetings.

Players to watch: Kevan Barlow has averaged 5.7 yards per carry in last four games vs. Rams. Isaac Bruce leads NFL with 25 receptions.

The buzz: San Francisco hopes to get quarterback Tim Rattay back from shoulder injury, and that could be enough to beat fading Rams team that hasn’t forced turnover all season.

Chiefs (0-3) at Ravens (2-1)

Time: 6 p.m. Monday

Line: Ravens by 5 1/2 .

Last meeting: Chiefs won 17-10 at Baltimore on Sept. 28, 2003.

Key stat: Chiefs allowing league-worst 28.7 points per game.

Players to watch: Ravens’ Jamal Lewis has rushed for 7 TDs in last four home games. Chiefs’ Priest Holmes is second in NFL with 351 yards rushing (4.7 avg.).

The buzz: Ravens’ Kyle Boller will get to do his Trent Green imitation against this defense. And Lewis can just be himself.