WEEK 6
•By Terry Bannon, Chicago Tribune
Redskins (1-4) at Bears (1-3)
Time: 10 a.m.
Line: Pick `em.
Last meeting: Bears won, 27-24, at Soldier Field on Dec. 21, 2003.
Key stat: Bears have 10-5 record following an off week.
Players to watch: Redskins’ Clinton Portis must start getting more than 3.6 yards per carry. Bears’ Jonathan Quinn must get the Bears more than the nine points they had in Oct. 3 loss to Eagles.
The buzz: The Bears are rested after a week off, but until they prove they can win with Quinn, skeptics will remain. Redskins’ tough run defense reduces Bears’ options.
Chargers (3-2) at Falcons (4-1)
Time: 10 a.m.
Line: Falcons by 5.
Last meeting: Falcons won, 14-3, at San Diego on Dec. 7, 1997.
Key stat: Falcons lead NFL in rushing defense, 70.4 yards per game.
Players to watch: The quarterbacks. Chargers’ Drew Brees, eight TDs vs. two interceptions, is having a better year than Michael Vick, two TDs vs. three interceptions.
The buzz: Two surprising teams meet for the first time since the 2001 trade in which Chargers dealt rights to Vick to take LaDainian Tomlinson and Brees. Do Chargers have another upset in them?
Dolphins (0-5) at Bills (0-4)
Time: 10 a.m.
Line: Bills by 6 1/2 .
Last meeting: Dolphins won, 20-3, at Buffalo on Dec. 20, 2003.
Key stat: Dolphins have won six of last eight meetings.
Players to watch: Jason Taylor had three sacks in last game vs. Bills, but only two this season. Travis Henry has averaged 105 rushing yards in three games vs. Dolphins.
The buzz: It doesn’t get much worse than this. Will it be injured Jay Fiedler, A.J. Feeley or third-stringer Sage Rosenfels at quarterback for Miami? Will it matter?
Bengals (1-3) at Browns (2-3)
Time: 10 a.m.
Line: Browns by 3.
Last meeting: Browns won, 22-14, at Cincinnati on Dec. 28, 2003.
Key stat: Browns have won four of last five meetings.
Players to watch: Bengals’ Chad Johnson, who has 20 catches this season, has 15 receptions and four TDs in last four games vs. Browns. Dennis Northcutt leads Browns with 19 catches but has only a 5.9-yard average.
The buzz: Browns should be able to control the line of scrimmage with the running of Lee Suggs and William Green.
Packers (1-4) at Lions (3-1)
Time: 10 a.m.
Line: Lions by 2.
Last meeting: Lions won, 22-14, at Detroit on Nov. 27, 2003.
Key stats: Packers have fallen to 30th in total defense, also 30th against the run.
Players to watch: Packers’ Javon Walker leads the NFL in receiving yards (535 on 31 catches). Tai Streets is second on Lions with 10 catches (6.3 avg.).
The buzz: Confidence is a huge factor, and the Lions have plenty of it. The Packers are reeling with four straight losses. If Lions can run, they can win.
Chiefs (1-3) at Jaguars (3-2)
Time: 10 a.m.
Line: Chiefs by 2.
Last meeting: Jaguars won, 23-16, at Kansas City on Sept. 15, 2002.
Key stat: Chiefs have been outscored 41-14 in the fourth quarter.
Players to watch: Jags’ Byron Leftwich has thrown a TD pass in 10 straight games. Chiefs’ Priest Holmes, averaging 4.4 yards per carry, leads NFL with six rushing TDs.
The buzz: Upstart Jaguars found out last week in San Diego they can’t win a shootout, so their defense plays the pivotal role in this one. Can the Jaguars contain Holmes? Just enough.
49ers (1-4) at Jets (4-0)
Time: 10 a.m.
Line: Jets by 10.
Last meeting: 49ers won, 19-17, at East Rutherford, N.J., on Oct. 1, 2001.
Key stats: Jets are only team in top nine in total offense (eighth) and defense (ninth).
Players to watch: 49ers tight end Eric Johnson leads NFL with 41 catches, two for TDs. Jets’ John Abraham is third in NFL with six sacks.
The buzz: In a dismal season, 49ers showed some guts in coming from behind to beat Cardinals last week. Jets need to be careful about being too optimistic.
Panthers (1-3) at Eagles (4-0)
Time: 10 a.m.
Line: Eagles by 8 1/2 .
Last meeting: Panthers won NFC title game, 14-3, at Philadelphia on Jan. 18, 2004.
Key stat: Eagles have won every game by at least 10 points.
Players to watch: Panthers RB Stephen Davis may be back after missing three games with knee injury. Eagles’ Donovan McNabb is third in NFL with nine TD passes, and has thrown only one interception (deflected).
The buzz: A rematch of last season’s NFC title game, but not much of one. Panthers have lost Pro Bowl DT Kris Jenkins for season with shoulder injury. Eagles operating on cruise control.
Texans (2-3) at Titans (2-3)
Time: 10 a.m.
Line: Titans by 6 1/2 .
Last meeting: Titans won, 27-24, at Houston on Dec. 21, 2003.
Key stat: Titans have won all four meetings.
Players to watch: David Carr off to a good start for Texans with seven TD passes vs. four interceptions. Derrick Mason leads Titans with 31 catches, two TDs.
The buzz: Titans looked like a powerhouse in Monday night win over Green Bay, but it was the first good game of the year for the offense. Titans’ near-misses vs. Vikings show they can play with the best.
Steelers (4-1) at Cowboys (2-2)
Time: 1:15 p.m.
Line: Cowboys by 3.
Last meeting: Cowboys won, 37-7, at Pittsburgh on Aug. 31, 1997.
Key stat: Cowboys have been outscored 31-9 in fourth quarter.
Players to watch: The rookie quarterback, Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger, and 40-year-old Vinny Testaverde of the Cowboys.
The buzz: Roethlisberger’s passing and the running of Duce Staley, going for his fourth straight 100-yard game, have made the Steelers one of the NFL’s surprise teams. Offense holding Cowboys back.
Broncos (4-1) at Raiders (2-3)
Time: 1:15 p.m.
Line: Broncos by 1 1/2 .
Last meeting: Broncos won, 22-8, at Oakland on Nov. 30, 2003.
Key stat: Broncos lead NFL in total defense, allowing just 240.8 yards per game.
Players to watch: The latest Bronco to rush for 100 yards, Reuben Droughns. Raiders’ most consistent player is punter Shane Lechler, leading NFL with 49.9-yard average.
The buzz: With QB Kerry Collins continuing to be ineffective, the Raiders will have trouble moving the ball. Jake Plummer will hand off to someone.
Vikings (3-1) at Saints (2-3)
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Line: Vikings by 3 1/2 .
Last meeting: Vikings won, 32-31, at New Orleans on Dec. 15, 2002.
Key stat: Saints have allowed a league-worst nine rushing TDs.
Players to watch: Vikings’ Randy Moss leads NFL with seven TD catches. Saints’ Joe Horn has 31 catches, three TDs.
The buzz: Vikings haven’t won consecutive road games since third and fourth games in 2000 (five tries). That should change as Daunte Culpepper takes aim at a porous pass defense.
Bucs (1-4) at Rams (3-2)
Time: 6 p.m. Monday
Line: Rams by 6 1/2 .
Last meeting: Bucs won, 26-14, at Tampa on Sept. 23, 2002.
Key stat: It’s Rams’ No. 4-ranked offense vs. Bucs’ No. 4-ranked defense.
Players to watch: QB Brian Griese gets the chance to start after coming off bench to guide Bucs past Saints. Rams’ Leonard Little has three sacks.
The buzz: Rams saved their season with NFC West road wins the last two weeks, and unless Griese suddenly becomes the next John Elway after all, they’ll handle the Bucs.
Bye week: Colts, Cardinals, Giants, Ravens.