Week 12

By Terry Bannon /

Chicago Tribune

Bears (7-3) at Bucs (7-3)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Bucs by 3.

Last meeting: Bucs won, 19-7, at Tampa on Oct. 24, 2004.

Key stat: Bears are No. 1 in defense; Bucs are No. 3.

Fantasy factor: Muhsin Muhammad leads Bears with 44 catches, 2 TDs. Joey Galloway has 51 catches, 7 TDs for Bucs.

The buzz: Good defenses should shut down running games, and inexperienced quarterbacks will play it safe. Bears’ defense is on a roll.

Panthers (7-3) at Bills (4-6)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Panthers by 3 1/2 .

Last meeting: Bills won, 25-24, at Buffalo on Dec. 9, 2001.

Key stat: Bills 4-1 at home, losing only to Falcons.

Fantasy factor: Panthers’ Stephen Davis has rushed for 12 TDs, third in the NFL. Bills’ Willis McGahee averaging 4.2 yards per carry.

The buzz: Bills’ run defense has been generous, ranking 31st. Panthers will have to exploit that weakness to pick up a road win.

Ravens (3-7) at Bengals (7-3)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Bengals by 9.

Last meeting: Bengals won, 21-9, at Baltimore on Nov. 6, 2005.

Key stat: Bengals go for first 8-3 start since ‘88, when they reached Super Bowl.

Fantasy factor: Ravens’ Kyle Boller has completed 57.8 percent with 3 TDs and 1 interception in two games at Cincinnati. In last two vs. Ravens, Carson Palmer has completed 77.4 percent with 5 TDs and 1 interception.

The buzz: Ravens showed signs of returning to their old form in upset of Steelers on Sunday. If Chester Taylor can repeat his 139-yard rushing day against Bengals last year, an upset looms.

Rams (4-6) at Texans (1-9)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Rams by 3 1/2 .

Last meeting: First meeting.

Key stat: It’s Rams’ No. 5 offense vs. Texans’ No. 30 defense.

Fantasy factor: Rams’ Steven Jackson, averaging 4.4 yards per carry with 6 TDs, should find room to run. Jabar Gaffney leads Texans with 37 catches, 2 for TDs.

The buzz: With Marc Bulger out indefinitely with a shoulder injury, Jamie Martin will run a conservative attack for Rams. Texans have a shot.

Patriots (6-4) at Chiefs (6-4)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Chiefs by 3.

Last meeting: Patriots won, 27-19, at Kansas City on Nov. 22, 2004.

Key stat: Pats 3-1 (losing only to Colts) since their week off.

Fantasy factor: Deion Branch leads Pats with 55 catches, 4 for TDs. Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez has 54 catches, 1 TD.

The buzz: Patriots have quietly held things together after injuries and a brutal early schedule. If they can run the ball some, they can beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead. And there’s always Tom Brady.

Browns (4-6) at Vikings (5-5)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Vikings by 4.

Last meeting: First meeting since Browns re-entered NFL as expansion team in ‘99.

Key stat: Vikings lead NFL with five TDs on returns (3 interceptions, 1 kickoff, 1 punt).

Fantasy factor: Antonio Bryant, who leads Browns with 42 catches, had 8-catch game vs. Minnesota last year as a Cowboy. Vikes’ Brad Johnson 3-0 as starter with 3 TD passes vs. 1 interception.

The buzz: Vikings haven’t been overpowering, but they’ve found a way to win three in a row and four out of five.

49ers (2-8) at Titans (2-8)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Titans by 8 1/2 .

Last meeting: 49ers won, 24-22, at San Francisco on Oct. 3, 1999.

Key stat: 49ers 0-4 on the road, losing by average of 24.8.

Fantasy factor: Brandon Lloyd has 30 catches, 4 TDs and three 100-yard games. Chris Brown has 4 TDs in last three games for Titans.

The buzz: This is your basic rebuilding bowl. Titans’ defense should control this one.

Chargers (6-4) at Redskins (5-5)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Chargers by 3.

Last meeting: Chargers won, 30-3, at San Diego on Sept. 9, 2001.

Key stat: Four of Redskins’ losses have been by 7 or less.

Fantasy factor: Chargers’ LaDainian Tomlinson second in NFL with 16 touchdowns (14 rushing, 2 receiving). Redskins’ Clinton Portis, an ex-Bronco, has four 100-yard games vs. Chargers.

The buzz: Redskins have been tough at home, beating Seahawks and Eagles. They have some injuries, but defense will keep them in the game.

Jaguars (7-3) at Cardinals (3-7)

Time: 1:05 p.m.

Line: Jaguars by 3 1/2 .

Last meeting: Jaguars won, 44-10, at Jacksonville on Dec. 10, 2000.

Key stat: Jags have 1 winning team left on schedule (Colts Dec. 11 at home).

Fantasy factor: Jags’ Matt Jones leads NFL rookies with 27 catches, with all 4 of his TD catches in last 5 games. Rams’ Kurt Warner has 6 TD passes vs. 5 interceptions.

The buzz: Although Warner has been playing better, Jaguars’ defense still a challenge for Cardinals.

Dolphins (3-7) at Raiders (4-6)

Time: 1:05 p.m.

Line: Raiders by 7.

Last meeting: Dolphins won, 23-17, at Miami on Dec. 15, 2002.

Key stat: Dolphins have been outscored 62-26 in three-game losing streak.

Fantasy factor: Lamont Jordan, who has scored 9 TDs (7 rushing, 2 passing), faces banged-up Miami defense. Dolphins rookie Ronnie Brown averaging 4.8 yards per carry.

The buzz: Raiders are playing better as Dolphins are playing worse. Dolphins have problems at QB and may have to go with Gus Frerotte despite a sore finger.

Packers (2-8) at Eagles (4-6)

Time: 1:15 p.m.

Line: Eagles by 4 1/2 .

Last meeting: Eagles won, 47-17, at Philadelphia on Dec. 5, 2004.

Key stat: Eagles have lost four straight, allowing 28.5 points per game.

Fantasy factor: Amid the Green Bay mess, Donald Driver has 56 catches, 5 for TDs. Amid the Philadelphia mess, Brian Westbrook has scored 6 TDs (2 rushing, 4 passing).

The buzz: This matchup looked great in August, not so good now. Quarterback matchup is Brett Favre vs. Mike McMahon.

Saints (2-8) at Jets (2-8)

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Line: Jets by 1 1/2 .

Last meeting: Jets won, 16-9, at New Orleans on Nov. 4, 2001.

Key stat: Combined, teams have 11 straight losses (Saints 6, Jets 5).

Fantasy factor: Saints’ Aaron Brooks has only 9 TD passes, but Jets have injuries on defense. Laveranues Coles has 50 catches, 2 TDs for Jets.

The buzz: Saints played tough at New England last week before losing by 7. Jets are running out of quarterbacks.

Steelers (7-3) at Colts (10-0)

Time: 6 p.m. Monday.

Line: Colts by 8 1/2 .

Last meeting: Steelers won, 28-10, at Pittsburgh on Oct. 13, 2002.

Key stat: Colts’ four home wins by average of 11.3.

Fantasy factor: Ben Roethlisberger, who had 11 TD passes in seven games before injuring knee, is due back. Can Edgerrin James, averaging 4.5 yards per carry, do it against the No. 3 rushing defense?

The buzz: Roethlisberger’s return could inspire Steelers, but Peyton Manning will move the ball well enough. Home field the difference in great matchup.