Today’s matchups

Bears at Lions

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Bears by 5 1/2 .

Records: Bears (12-2); Lions (2-12).

Last meeting: Bears won 34-7 at Soldier Field on Sept. 17.

Key stat: Bears have won last 3 meetings.

Fantasy factor: Cedric Benson, averaging 3.8 yards per carry with 6 rushing TDs, is playing more and more. Mike Furrey leads Lions with 77 catches, 4 for TDs.

The Buzz: After wrapping up home-field advantage last week, Bears can relax and pass around playing time. Matt Millen era in Detroit may be winding down.

Panthers at Falcons

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Falcons by 6 1/2 .

Records: Panthers (6-8); Falcons (7-7).

Last meeting: Falcons won 20-6 at Carolina on Sept. 10.

Key stat: Panthers have lost 4 in row, last 2 by combined 48 points.

Fantasy factor: Panthers’ Steve Smith, who has 76 catches and 6 TDs, missed 1st meeting vs. Falcons’ 31st-ranked pass defense. Warrick Dunn gets 4.1 yards per carry with 4 TDs for struggling Falcons.

The Buzz: Panthers fading away; Falcons had won 2 straight before losing to Cowboys and can get back on track at home.

Patriots at Jaguars

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Jaguars by 3.

Records: Patriots (10-4); Jaguars (8-6).

Last meeting: Patriots won 27-13 at New England on Dec. 14, 2003.

Key stat: Jaguars 6-1 at home, losing only to Texans.

Fantasy factor: Patriots’ Corey Dillon has rushed for 10 TDs. Jaguars rookie Maurice Jones-Drew has rushing TD in team-record 6 straight games.

The Buzz: Pats coming off blowout win over lowly Texans, but they haven’t been overwhelming lately. Big games from Dillon, Tom Brady will be needed.

Titans at Bills

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Bills by 4 1/2

Records: Titans (7-7); Bills (7-7).

Last meeting: Titans won 28-26 at Nashville on Dec. 14, 2003.

Key stat: Titans have played NFL’s toughest schedule (.571 winning percentage).

Fantasy factor: Vince Young has thrown more INTs (11) than TDs (10), but Titans have won 5 straight. Willis McGahee averages 3.9 yards per carry with 5 TDs for Bills.

The Buzz: Can Titans keep pulling out wins with big plays? It can’t last forever, and Bills have won 5 of last 7.

Bucs at Browns

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Browns by 3.

Records: Bucs (3-11); Browns (4-10).

Last meeting: Bucs won 17-3 at Tampa on Oct. 13, 2002.

Key stat: Bucs 30th on offense (262.8 yards per game), 1 spot behind Browns (267.1).

Fantasy factor: Tim Rattay, who came off bench to throw 3 TD passes against Bears, gets first start. Browns’ Kellen Winslow leads NFL tight ends with 76 catches, 3 for TDs.

The Buzz: Rattay gets chance to make run for Bucs QB job in 2007. He should be able to do enough against this team.

Colts at Texans

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Colts by 9.

Records: Colts (11-3); Texans (4-10).

Last meeting: Colts won 43-24 at Indianapolis on Sept. 17.

Key stat: Colts have won all 9 meetings.

Fantasy factor: Colts’ Reggie Wayne has 30 catches, 392 yards, 1 TD in last 4 meetings. Texans’ Ron Dayne has rushed for at least 87 yards in each of last 3 games.

The Buzz: One of these days, Texans will beat Colts. But Indy is back on track and isn’t about to mess up this one.

Saints at Giants

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Giants by 3.

Last meeting: Giants won 27-10 at New York (Saints home game because of Hurricane Katrina) on Sept. 19, 2005.

Key stat: Saints have won last 2 on road (Cowboys, Falcons)

Fantasy factor: Saints rookie Reggie Bush continues to be threat catching ball with 84 receptions, 2 for TDs. Giants’ Jeremy Shockey has 64 catches, 7 for TDs.

The Buzz: Giants have lost 5 of last 6 while Saints are heading to playoffs and have shot at 1st-round bye.

Ravens at Steelers

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Steelers by 3 1/2 .

Records: Ravens (11-3); Steelers (7-7).

Last meeting: Ravens won 27-0 at Baltimore on Nov. 26.

Key stat: Steelers have won 3 straight by combined score of 84-13.

Fantasy factor: Ravens’ Jamal Lewis is averaging 3.7 yards per carry and has rushed for 8 TDs. Hines Ward leads Steelers with 61 catches, 6 TDs.

The Buzz: With 5 wins in last 6, Steelers are surging. They have to throw to win, and Ben Roethlisberger-Ward combination will work.

Redskins at Rams

Time: 10 a.m.

Line: Rams by 2.

Records: Redskins (5-9); Rams (6-8).

Last meeting: Redskins won 24-9 at St. Louis on Dec. 4, 2005.

Key stat: Redskins have scored fewer than 20 points in last 6 games.

Fantasy factor: Redskins’ Jason Campbell has thrown 7 TD passes in 1st 5 starts. Rams’ Marc Bulger has thrown 19 TD passes vs. 8 INTs.

The Buzz: Rams still clinging to slim playoff hopes. With Bulger throwing to Torry Holt and Steven Jackson, they’ll score just enough.

Cardinals at 49ers

Time: 1:05 p.m. Line: 49ers by 4.

Last meeting: Cardinals won 34-27 at Arizona on Sept. 10.

Key stat: Cards have won last 3 meetings.

Fantasy factor: Cards’ Anquan Boldin has four 100-yard receiving games, 4 TDs in last 5 meetings. 49ers RB Frank Gore is 3rd in NFL with 1,909 yards from scrimmage and has scored 7 TDs.

The Buzz: 49ers are NFL’s greatest turnaround story. Playoffs only faint possibility, but they’ll play like it’s a do-or-die game.

Bengals at Broncos

Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: Broncos by 3.

Records: Bengals (8-6); Broncos (8-6).

Last meeting: Broncos won 30-10 at Cincinnati on Sept. 7, 2003.

Key stat: Broncos have won 9 of last 11 meetings.

Fantasy factor: Bengals’ Chad Johnson leads NFL in receiving yardage (1,284) with 16.1-yard average and 7 TDs. Rookie Jay Cutler off to fast start with 6 TD passes and 3 INTs in 1st 3 starts.

The Buzz: Both teams can clinch playoff spot with win and some help, and Mile High is tough place to play.

Eagles at Cowboys

Time: 2 p.m. Monday

Line: Cowboys by 7.

Records: Eagles (8-6); Cowboys (9-5).

Last meeting: Eagles won 38-24 at Philadelphia on Oct. 8.

Key stat: Cowboys 4-2 at home, losing to Giants, Saints.

Fantasy factor: Eagles’ Brian Westbrook has scored 11 TDs (7 rushing, 4 receiving). Cowboys’ Terrell Owens leads NFL with 11 TDs among his 77 receptions.

The Buzz: Since these old rivals last played, Tony Romo has taken over as Cowboys’ QB. Jeff Garcia playing well in place of injured Donovan McNabb, but Romo is on roll.

Jets at Dolphins

Time: 5:30 p.m. Monday

Line: Dolphins by 2 1/2 .

Records: Jets (8-6); Dolphins (6-8).

Last meeting: Jets won 20-17 at New York on Oct. 15.

Key stat: Jets have won 4 of last 5 meetings.

Fantasy factor: Jets’ Chad Pennington has thrown 7 TD passes and no INTs in last 3 games vs. Dolphins. Wes Welker leads Dolphins with 63 catches but only 1 TD.

The Buzz: Jets still have shot at playoffs, and desire is advantage. Pennington could have another big day.

Terry Bannon,

Chicago Tribune