Today’s matchups

49ers at Bears

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Bears by 15 1/2 ..

Records: 49ers (2-4), Bears (6-0)

Last meeting: Bears won, 17-9, at Soldier Field on Nov. 13, 2005.

Key stat: Bears 3-0 at home, winning by 30.3 points per game.

Fantasy factor: 49ers’ Alex Smith will have to add to his total of 8 TD passes (4 INTs) to pull off upset. Rex Grossman has thrown 8 TD passes and no interceptions at home.

The buzz: Bears should stuff 49ers run, even though Frank Gore is having good year. Bears offense regroups after terrible game vs. Arizona.

Falcons at Bengals

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

Records: Falcons (4-2), Bengals (4-2)

Last meeting: Falcons won, 30-3, at Atlanta on Sept. 22, 2002.

Key stat: Falcons’ No. 1 rushing offense vs. Bengals’ No. 25 rushing defense.

Fantasy factor: Falcons’ Warrick Dunn, getting 4.8 yards per carry, will have to pile up big yards for Falcons. Carson Palmer (9 TDs vs. 4 INT) could have big day against weak pass defense.

The buzz: Bengals may have to outscore Michael Vick, et al., but they can.

Cardinals at Packers

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Packers by 4.

Records: Cardinals (1-6), Packers (2-4)

Last meeting: Cardinals won, 20-13, at Arizona on Sept. 21, 2003.

Key stat: Cards 0-3 on road; Packers 0-3 at home.

Fantasy factor: Can Matt Leinart (4 TD passes) regroup after poor outing vs. Raiders? Ahman Green, 4.4 yards per carry, getting back in stride for Packers.

The buzz: Cardinals still scrambling in wake of collapse against Bears. Can they beat anybody at this point?

Ravens at Saints

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Saints by 1 1/2 .

Records: Ravens (4-2), Saints (5-1)

Last meeting: Saints won, 37-25, at Baltimore on Dec. 8, 2002.

Key stat: Saints going for first 4-0 home start since ‘91.

Fantasy factor: Tight end Todd Heap is Ravens’ biggest weapon (27 catches, 4 TDs). Rookie Reggie Bush leads Saints with 38 catches but no TD receptions.

The buzz: Ravens have dominant defense, but they haven’t faced offense like this on road.

Bucs at Giants

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

Records: Bucs (2-4), Giants (4-2)

Last meeting: Bucs won, 19-13, at Tampa on Nov. 24, 2003.

Key stat: Bucs have won 2 straight by total of 3 points.

Fantasy factor: Rookie Bruce Gradkowski has thrown 4 TDs vs. only 1 INT but will have to make some big plays to pull off upset. Giants’ Tiki Barber leads NFL with 647 yards rushing (5.0 per carry).

The buzz: Giants better than their record (quality losses to Colts, Seahawks); Bucs not as good as theirs (last-second home wins over Bengals, Eagles).

Jaguars at Eagles

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Eagles by 7 1/2 .

Records: Jaguars (3-3), Eagles (4-3)

Last meeting: Jaguars won, 28-25, at Jacksonville on Oct. 6, 2002.

Key stat: Jaguars 0-3 on road, losing by 11 per game.

Fantasy factor: Jaguars rookie Maurice Jones-Drew has 5 TDs – 3 rushing, 2 receiving. Eagles’ Brian Westbrook has 7 TDs – 4 rushing, 3 receiving.

The buzz: Eagles have developed disturbing habit of falling behind early and trying to rally, and they’ve lost 3 on final play. Can Jaguars make it 4?

Texans at Titans

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

Records: Texans (2-4), Titans (1-5)

Last meeting: Titans won, 13-10, at Tennessee on Dec. 11, 2005.

Key stat: Titans won both meetings in ‘05.

Fantasy factor: Rookie Wali Lundy, who rushed for 93 yards in last week’s upset of Jaguars, gets another chance to be Texans’ lead runner. Titans’ Travis Henry has run for 301 yards (5.9 avg.) in last 2 games.

The buzz: Both teams have taken step up after going winless in September, and Texans are step ahead as QB David Carr has emerged as major threat.

Rams at Chargers

Time: 1:05 p.m. Line: Chargers by 9 1/2 .

Records: Rams (4-2), Chargers (4-2)

Last meeting: Rams won, 28-24, at St. Louis on Nov. 10, 2002.

Key stat: Rams have won 2 straight on road (Cardinals, Packers).

Fantasy factor: Rams’ Marc Bulger has enviable TD-INT ratio (10-1). Chargers’ Philip Rivers has thrown 9 TDs vs. 3 INTs.

The buzz: Both teams have been putting up big numbers on offense, but Chargers have defense to control game.

Jets at Browns

Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: Browns by 2.

Records: Jets (4-3), Browns (1-5)

Last meeting: Jets won, 10-7, at Cleveland on Nov. 21, 2004.

Key stat: Browns’ No. 32 offense vs. Jets’ No. 30 defense.

Fantasy factor: Jets’ Kevan Barlow has rushed for 5 TDs. Browns’ Joe Jurevicius has 10 catches, 2 for TDs in last 3 games.

The buzz: Offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon took fall for Browns’ offensive woes this week, so everything should be solved. Now, what do they do about the Chad Pennington-to-Laveranues Coles combination?

Colts at Broncos

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

Records: Colts (6-0), Broncos (5-1)

Last meeting: Colts won, 49-24, at Indianapolis in 1st round of playoffs on Jan. 9, 2005.

Key stat: Broncos’ defense has allowed only 2 TDs.

Fantasy factor: Rookie Joseph Addai coming through with 5.1 yards per carry for Colts. Broncos’ Javon Walker, then with Packers, had career day vs. Colts in ‘04 with 11 catches, 3 TDs.

The buzz: Colts will score, even against Broncos. But can Broncos’ struggling offense carry its share of load? Denver may have to score on defense.

Steelers at Raiders

Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: Steelers by 9.

Records: Steelers (2-4), Raiders (1-5)

Last meeting: Steelers won, 24-21, at Pittsburgh on Sept. 12, 2004.

Key stat: Steelers 0-3 on road.

Fantasy factor: Steelers’ Hines Ward having big season with 26 catches, 5 for TDs. Raiders must control ball with LaMont Jordan, getting 3.7 yards per carry.

The buzz: If struggling Steelers have to play road game, Oakland good place to be. Raiders not capable of 2 straight wins.

Cowboys at Panthers

Time: 5:15 p.m. Line: Panthers by 5.

Records: Cowboys (3-3), Panthers (4-3)

Last meeting: Cowboys won, 24-20, at Carolina on Dec. 24, 2005.

Key stat: Cowboys 5th in offense, 8th in defense.

Fantasy factor: Tony Romo gets his shot to start as Cowboys’ QB; he has shown ability to get ball in end zone, with 3 TD passes in last 2 games. Jake Delhomme having another solid season with 8 TD passes vs. 4 INTs.

The buzz: Cowboys looking for Romo’s quick release to get the offense going, but he’s also been known to lose football.

Patriots at Vikings

Time: 5:30 p.m. Line: Patriots by 2.

Records: Patriots (5-1), Vikings (4-2)

Last meeting: Pats won, 24-17, at New England on Nov. 24, 2002.

Key stat: Pats 3-0 on road, winning by 18 per game (Jets, Bengals, Bills).

Fantasy factor: Pats’ Doug Gabriel has 15 catches, 3 for TDs, in last 4 games. Vikings’ Chester Taylor showing he can be force, 2nd in league with 590 yards rushing (4.3 per carry).

The buzz: Defense has made Vikings one of NFL’s surprise teams, but can they shut down Tom Brady, Corey Dillon and Laurence Maroney? Close, but …

BYES: Buffalo, Miami, Washington, Detroit

Terry Bannon, Chicago Tribune