Week 11
By Terry Bannon /
Chicago Tribune
Panthers (7-2) at Bears (6-3)
Time: 10 a.m.
Line: Panthers by 3.
Last meeting: Panthers won, 24-14, at Carolina on Dec. 22, 2002.
Key stats: Bears lead NFL in total defense and fewest points allowed.
Fantasy factor: Panthers’ Steve Smith leads NFL with 9 TD receptions. Ex-Panther Muhsin Muhammad leads Bears with 38 catches, 2 TDs.
The buzz: Bears are playing with plenty of confidence, and their defense should shut down Panthers’ running game. If they hold big pass plays to a minimum, they win.
Buccaneers (6-3) at Falcons (6-3)
Time: 10 a.m.
Line: Falcons by 6.
Last meeting: Bucs won, 27-0, at Tampa on Dec. 5, 2004.
Key stats: Bucs have won 4 of last 5 in Atlanta.
Fantasy factor: Has Bucs QB Chris Simms figured things out after 3-TD game vs. Washington? Ex-Buc Warrick Dunn third in NFL in rushing (896 yards, 5.1 avg.).
The buzz: Bucs still need to reinvigorate running game, and Falcons should move the ball against a slumping Tampa defense.
Dolphins (3-6) at Browns (3-6)
Time: 10 a.m.
Line: Browns by 2 1/2 .
Last meeting: Dolphins won, 10-7, at Miami on Dec. 26, 2004.
Key stats: Dolphins 1-3 on road, beating only Saints.
Fantasy factor: Dolphins’ Chris Chambers having solid season with 36 catches, 5 TDs. Browns’ Antonio Bryant has 38 catches, 3 TDs.
The buzz: Both teams troubled. Dolphins going with Sage Rosenfels at QB with Gus Frerotte out with sore finger. The team that controls the ball with its running game wins.
Steelers (7-2) at Ravens (2-7)
Time: 10 a.m.
Line: Steelers by 3½.
Last meeting: Steelers won, 20-19, at Pittsburgh on Oct. 31, 2005.
Key stats: Steelers have won 11 straight road games since losing at Baltimore in ‘04.
Fantasy factor: Willie Parker leads Steelers’ RB committee with 615 yards, 4.7 avg. Ravens’ Kyle Boller still looking for that first TD pass (56 attempts, 4 INTs).
The buzz: Ben Roethlisberger can’t play, so Tommy Maddox will direct conservative attack that will do enough for Steelers to win.
Lions (4-5) at Cowboys (6-3)
Time: 10 a.m.
Line: Cowboys by 7½.
Last meeting: Cowboys won, 31-21, at Irving, Texas, on Oct. 31, 2004.
Key stats: Cowboys have won three straight at home by average of 15.7 points.
Fantasy factor: Lions’ Roy Williams, healthy again, has 64 catches, 12 TDs in 16 career starts. Cowboys’ Keyshawn Johnson has 42 catches, 5 TDs this season.
The buzz: Lions have shown some life on offense, but Cowboys’ defense one of the NFL’s toughest. As long as Cowboys aren’t still celebrating win over Eagles, they roll.
Saints (2-7) at Patriots (5-4)
Time: 10 a.m.
Line: Patriots by 9 1/2 .
Last meeting: Patriots won, 34-17, at Foxborough, Mass., on Nov. 25, 2001.
Key stats: Saints have scored 14.8 points per game in 5-game losing streak.
Fantasy factor: Saints’ Donte Stallworth (38 catches, 3 TDs) could have big day against struggling secondary. Pats increasingly looking to TE Ben Watson, who had 2 TD catches last week.
The buzz: Patriots back on course after last week’s win at Miami. Saints in a free fall.
Eagles (4-5) at Giants (6-3)
Time: 10 a.m.
Line: Giants by 7.
Last meeting: Eagles won, 27-6, at East Rutherford, N.J., on Nov. 28, 2004.
Key stats: Eagles 1-4 on the road.
Fantasy factor: Eagles’ Brian Westbrook has averaged 5.4 yards per carry in six games vs. Giants. Tiki Barber has three straight 100-yard games vs. Eagles.
The buzz: With Donovan McNabb injured, Eagles going with ex-Lions third-stringer Mike McMahon, best known for his inaccurate passing, though he can run. Giants can’t wait.
Cardinals (2-7) at Rams (4-5)
Time: 10 a.m.
Line: Rams by 9 1/2 .
Last meeting: Rams won, 17-12, at Tempe, Ariz., on Sept. 18, 2005.
Key stats: Rams have won 6 of last 7 meetings.
Fantasy factor: Cards’ Larry Fitzgerald leads NFL with 61 catches (5 TDs). Rams’ Steven Jackson, averaging 4.7 per carry, has averaged 102.2 rushing yards last five games.
The buzz: Kurt Warner returns to St. Louis as Cards’ starter, but Jackson should steal the show against a fading defense.
Jaguars (6-3) at Titans (2-7)
Time: 10 a.m.
Line: Jaguars by 4.
Last meeting: Titans won, 18-15, at Jacksonville on Nov. 21, 2004.
Key stats: Jaguars are second in NFL with turnover differential of plus-10.
Fantasy factor: Jags’ Greg Jones playing a larger role, with three TDs in last four games. Titans’ Chris Brown on a roll with 192 yards the last two weeks.
The buzz: Titans’ offense has been inconsistent most of the season, and Jaguars’ defense has been solid.
Raiders (3-6) at Redskins (5-4)
Time: 10 a.m.
Line: Redskins by 6.
Last meeting: Redskins won, 29-19, at Oakland on No. 29, 1998.
Key stats: Redskins 4-0 at home; Raiders 1-3 on road.
Fantasy factor: Raiders’ Randy Moss has 32 catches, 5 TDs. Redskins’ Santana Moss has 53 catches, 5 TDs.
The buzz: Raiders’ inconsistent offense will struggle against Redskins’ defense. And Raiders will have trouble containing Clinton Portis.
Colts (9-0) at Bengals (7-2)
Time: 1:15 p.m.
Line: Colts by 6.
Last meeting: Colts won, 28-21, at Indianapolis on Oct. 6, 2002.
Key stats: Colts 5-0 on road, winning by average of 20.
Fantasy factor: Game features NFL’s No. 2 and No. 3 passers: Colts’ Peyton Manning (17 TDs and 6 INTs) and Bengals’ Carson Palmer (18 TDs and 5 INTs).
The buzz: Offense gets the headlines, defense wins games. Both will score, but Colts’ boast league’s leading pass rusher in Robert Mathis (9 sacks).
Jets (2-7) at Broncos (7-2)
Time: 1:15 p.m.
Line: Broncos by 13.
Last meeting: Jets won, 19-13, at East Rutherford, N.J., on Dec. 8, 2002.
Key stats: Jets 0-5 on road, losing all by at least 10 points.
Fantasy factor: Jets’ Curtis Martin getting a modest 3.4 yards per carry. Broncos’ Mike Anderson, averaging 4.5 yards per carry, could add to his total of 5 rushing TDs.
The buzz: Two teams headed in opposite directions. This is the best Denver team since the Elway era; this isn’t the best Jets team since the Namath era.
Bills (4-5) at Chargers (5-4)
Time: 1:15 p.m.
Line: Chargers by 11.
Last meeting: Bills won, 20-13, at Buffalo on Dec. 15, 2002.
Key stats: Bills second in NFL with turnover differential of plus-10.
Fantasy factor: Eric Moulds leads Bills with 42 catches, 3 TDs. Chargers tight end Antonio Gates has 51 catches, and 4 of his 6 TDs have come in the last three games.
The buzz: With three wins in last four weeks, Chargers are climbing into the playoff hunt. Drew Brees will keep the offense moving.
Chiefs (5-4) at Texans (1-8)
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Line: Chiefs by 7.
Last meeting: Texans won, 24-21, at Kansas City on Sept. 26, 2004.
Key stats: Chiefs 2-3 on the road.
Fantasy factor: Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez has 45 catches, but only one TD. Texans’ Andre Johnson has 11 catches for 198 yards and 2 TDs in last two vs. Chiefs.
The buzz: Texans have shown gradual progress the last few weeks, but when you start out 0-6 it’s hard to see.
Vikings (4-5) at Packers (2-7)
Time: 6 p.m. Monday.
Line: Packers by 4 1/2 .
Last meeting: Vikings won, 31-17, at Green Bay on Jan. 9, 2005 in NFC wild-card game.
Key stats: Vikings have won last two meetings.
Fantasy factor: Vikings’ Michael Bennett has three 100-yard rushing games vs. Packers. Packers rookie Samkon Gado, unknown until two weeks ago, has rushed for 165 yards and 4 TDs in last two weeks.
The buzz: Vikings pulled off road upset at Giants on Sunday thanks to kick, punt, INT returns for TDs. Don’t look for a repeat. Packers picked up confidence with win over Atlanta.