WEEK 8

By Terry Bannon /

Chicago Tribune

Bears (3-3) at Lions (3-3)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Lions by 3

Last meeting: Bears won 38-6 at Soldier Field on Sept. 18.

Key stat: Lions have won last 3 meetings in Detroit.

Fantasy factor: Muhsin Muhammad leads Bears with 30 catches but has only 1 TD. Jeff Garcia ensconced as Lions quarterback but doesn’t have enough help.

The buzz: Rookie Kyle Orton has thrown only 1 interception in 3 weeks. If he keeps that up, Bears defense can control Lions.

Vikings (2-4) at Panthers (4-2)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Panthers by 8

Last meeting: Panthers won 21-14 at Minnesota on Sept. 22, 2002.

Key stat: Vikings are 0-3 on road, losing by average of 24.7 points.

Fantasy factor: Mewelde Moore, who had 105 total yards and TD last week, gets chance to be Vikings RB. Panthers’ Steve Smith could add to his NFL-leading total of 7 receiving TDs.

The buzz: Panthers are rested after week off and Vikings are terrible road team.

Packers (1-5) at Bengals (5-2)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Bengals by 9

Last meeting: Packers won 13-6 at Cincinnati on Sept. 20, 1998.

Key stat: Bengals outscored 1st two NFC North opponents – Bears, Vikings – 61-15.

Fantasy factor: Donald Driver (31 catches, 3 TDs) becoming focal point of Packers offense. Chad Johnson leads Bengals with 43 catches, 5 for TDs.

The buzz: Injuries mounting for Packers, who are going without RB Ahman Green. Bengals have too much firepower.

Cardinals (2-4) at Cowboys (4-3)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Cowboys by 9

Last meeting: Cowboys won 24-7 at Dallas on Oct. 5, 2003.

Key stat: Cowboys have allowed only 36 points in last 3 games.

Fantasy factor: Larry Fitzgerald leads Cardinals with 40 catches, 4 TDs. Cowboys’ Terry Glenn has 33 catches, 3 TDs.

The buzz: Cowboys are playing suffocating defense and Cardinals don’t have running game to keep them honest.

Browns (2-4) at Texans (0-6)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Texans by 2

Last meeting: Browns won 22-14 at Houston on Jan. 2.

Key stat: Texans’ losses have been by 17.5 points per game.

Fantasy factor: Browns increasingly rely on Reuben Droughns, averaging 4.1 yards per carry. Domanick Davis has scored TD in 12 of past 15 games Texans.

The buzz: Are Texans bad enough to go 0-7? If their run defense makes stand, their skid ends.

Redskins (4-2) at Giants (4-2)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Giants by 2

Last meeting: Redskins won 31-7 at Washington on Dec. 5, 2004.

Key stat: Giants 2nd in NFL with plus-8 turnover differential.

Fantasy factor: Redskins’ Santana Moss leads NFL with 743 receiving yards (38 catches, 5 TDs). Giants’ Eli Manning has thrown TD passes in 7 straight games (15 TDs vs. 5 interceptions in streak).

The buzz: Surprising quarterback, Redskins’ rejuvenated Mark Brunell, meets surprising team. Giants and Manning learning how to win.

Jaguars (4-2) at Rams (3-4)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: 3 1/2

Last meeting: Rams won 17-14 at St. Louis on Oct. 20, 1996.

Key stat: Rams 41-10 at home since 1999.

Fantasy factor: Jaguars’ Byron Leftwich has thrown 8 TDs vs. 4 INTs. Rams’ Steven Jackson has 6 rushing TDs, at least 1 in 4 straight games.

The buzz: Rams regrouping after losing coach Mike Martz to heart ailment. After week off, Jaguars building momentum for playoff run.

Raiders (2-4) at Titans (2-5)

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: 4 1/2

Last meeting: Raiders won 40-35 at Oakland on Dec. 19, 2004.

Key stat: Titans have held only 1 opponent to less than 20 points.

Fantasy factor: LaMont Jordan, with TD in 5 straight games, workhorse of Raiders offense. Steve McNair (4-1 vs. Oakland), due back from injury, has thrown 7 TDs vs. 6 INTs for Titans.

The buzz: Both teams are fighting off injuries, but Raiders secondary has been devastated. Titans have just enough offense.

Chiefs (4-2) at Chargers (3-4)

Time: 1:05 p.m.

Line: Chargers by 6

Last meeting: Chargers won 24-17 at San Diego on Jan. 2, 2005.

Key stat: It’s Chiefs’ No. 6 rushing offense vs. Chargers’ No. 2 rushing defense.

Fantasy factor: Chiefs’ Priest Holmes has averaged 114.2 rushing yards and scored 6 TDs in last 5 games vs. San Diego. Chargers TE Antonio Gates, who has 33 catches and 3 TDs, scored 2 TDs in last game vs. KC.

The buzz: Drew Brees, having another good year with 10 TD passes, should find room to pass against this defense. Chiefs’ best hope is to control ball with running game.

Dolphins (2-4) vs. Saints (2-5)

At Baton Rouge, La.

Time: 1:05 p.m.

Line: Saints by 2 1/2

Last meeting: Dolphins won 30-10 at Miami on Nov. 29, 1998.

Key stat: Dolphins 0-3 on road, losing by average of 10 points.

Fantasy factor: Rookie Ronnie Brown averaging 4.8 yards per carry for Dolphins. Saints’ Az-Zahir Hakim has 17 catches for 293 yards and TD in last 3 games.

The buzz: Saints play first of 4 games in Baton Rouge, where Dolphins coach Nick Saban led LSU to national title 2 years ago. Saints have played tough amid adversity.

Eagles (4-2) at Broncos (5-2)

Time: 1:15 p.m.

Line: Broncos by 3 1/2

Last meeting: Broncos won 41-16 at Denver on Oct. 4, 1998.

Key stat: Broncos have won 6 straight home games.

Fantasy factor: Terrell Owens tied for NFL lead with 44 catches, 5 for TDs. In last 2 games, Broncos’ Ashley Lelie has 8 catches for 18.1 avg.

The buzz: Two weeks after beating Super Bowl champ Pats at home, Broncos get NFC champ Eagles, who are having trouble running ball. Broncos have no such problem.

Bucs (5-1) at 49ers (1-5)

Time: 1:15 p.m.

Line: Bucs by 11

Last meeting: Bucs won 35-3 at Tampa on Nov. 21, 2004.

Key stat: 49ers were outscored 80-20 last 2 games under rookie QB Alex Smith.

Fantasy factor: Rookie Cadillac Williams, averaging 4.5 per carry, expected back from injury. Rookie RB Frank Gore getting more work for 49ers.

The buzz: Ken Dorsey likely to play for injured Smith, but Bucs’ top-ranked defense will handle anything 49ers come up with, making it easy for QB Chris Simms.

Bills (3-4) at Patriots (3-3)

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Line: Patriots by 9

Last meeting: Pats won 29-6 at New England on Nov. 14, 2004.

Key stat: Pats have won 8 of last 9 meetings.

Fantasy factor: Kelly Holcomb has completed 72.2 percent of his passes in 3 starts. Pats’ Tom Brady has thrown 8 TD passes vs. 1 interception in last 3 games vs. Bills.

The buzz: Pats know how to find weakness, and it’s Bills’ rushing defense. Corey Dillon should let them control ball and game.

Ravens (2-4) at Steelers (4-2)

Time: 6 p.m. Monday

Line: Steelers by 10

Last meeting: Steelers won 20-7 at Pittsburgh on Dec. 26, 2004.

Key stat: Steelers have won 10 straight home Monday night games.

Fantasy factor: Chester Taylor averaging 6.0 yards per carry for Ravens. Steelers rookie tight end Heath Miller growing factor with 4 TD catches.

The buzz: Emergence of Miller gives QB Ben Roethlisberger another weapon, and Ravens’ injury-depleted defense won’t stop Steelers’ running game.

BYE: Falcons, Colts, Jets, Seahawks.