Vikings (0-1) at Bears (0-1)
TV/radio: WFLD-Ch. 32, WBBM-AM 780, noon.
Line: Vikings by 3.
Last meeting: Vikings won 28-16 at Soldier Field, Oct. 15, 2000.
Key stat: Vikings have won seven of the last eight games from the Bears.
Worth watching: Can Daunte Culpepper bounce back from a three-interception game in the Vikings’ opening loss to Carolina? Can Shane Matthews lead the Bears to more than the six points the Bears scored in the opening loss at Baltimore?
Outlook: Minnesota’s season-opening loss to Carolina indicates the Vikings may not be a lock for the playoffs. The Vikings’ defense is porous, but their offense still has Randy Moss.
Bannon’s pick: Vikings 20, Bears 14.
Ravens (1-0) at Bengals (1-0)
Time: Noon.
Line: Ravens by 7.
Last meeting: Ravens won 27-7 at Cincinnati, Nov. 5, 2000.
Key stat: Bengals have won three straight at home.
Worth watching: Baltimore still searches for a running game and needs to find out whether Terry Allen can provide one. Corey Dillon rushed for 104 yards in Bengals’ opener.
Outlook: Dillon is a threat to end the Ravens’ streak of 34 games without allowing a 100-yard rusher. Unless he breaks a few 50-yarders, Bengals still don’t have enough offense to threaten the Ravens.
Bannon’s pick: Ravens 24, Bengals 14.
Bills (0-1) at Colts (1-0)
Time: Noon.
Line: Colts by 10.
Last meeting: Colts won 44-20 at Indianapolis, Dec. 11, 2000.
Key stat: Colts have won three of last four from Buffalo.
Worth watching: Edgerrin James has 444 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns in four games vs. Buffalo. Bills need more from quarterback Rob Johnson, who was intercepted three times in opening loss to Saints.
Outlook: Games like this could actually be important to a team like the Colts. With a chance that the playoffs could be cut to eight teams, the AFC’s top teams can’t afford slipups. Colts won’t.
Bannon’s pick: Colts 35, Bills 17.
Panthers (1-0) at Falcons (0-1)
Time: Noon.
Line: Falcons by 3 1/2.
Last meeting: Falcons won 13-12, Oct. 29, 2000.
Key stat: Falcons have won five of last six vs. Panthers.
Worth watching: Can Carolina rookie quarterback Chris Weinke repeat his opening-week performance, when he led Panthers past Vikings? Atlanta is 14-5 when Jamal Anderson runs for 100 yards–he had 121 in opening loss to 49ers.
Outlook: The season is too young to have much context, but could Carolina start the season with two road victories? Hard to see. Falcons may be one of the league’s most improved teams.
Bannon’s pick: Falcons 21, Panthers 13.
Lions (0-1) at Browns (0-1)
Time: Noon.
Line: Lions by 1.
Last meeting: Lions won 38-20, Oct. 8, 1995.
Key stat: Browns are 2-14 at home the last two seasons, 2-6 last year.
Worth watching: Lions quarterback Ty Detmer was a Brown until late in training camp. Browns’ Tim Couch was an uninspiring 17-for-33 in opening loss to Seahawks.
Outlook: With injuries still plaguing the Lions’ secondary, Detroit will rely on Detmer and running back James Stewart to make big plays. This is an opportunity for Couch to make some big pass plays, but he hasn’t shown enough big-play potential.
Bannon’s pick: Lions 20, Browns 14.
Giants (1-0) at Chiefs (0-1)
Time: Noon.
Line: Chiefs by 1 1/2.
Last meeting: Giants won 28-7 at New York, Dec. 20, 1998.
Key stat: Chiefs have won six of last eight home games vs. NFC East.
Worth watching: Kansas City tight end Tony Gonzalez is off to a fast start with five catches in opener. Giants’ Kerry Collins threw three TD passes in loss to Denver.
Outlook: Giants return to action far from the scene of the New York terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, but emotion may still play a large role in this game.
Giants’ defense should dominate the game.
Bannon’s pick: Giants 20, Chiefs 13.
Raiders (1-0) at Dolphins (1-0)
Time: Noon.
Line: Dolphins by 1 1/2.
Last meeting: Raiders won 27-0 at Oakland in AFC playoffs, Jan. 6.
Key stat: Miami is NFL-best 27-4 in home openers since 1970.
Worth watching: Oakland defensive end Trace Armstrong goes up against his former Miami teammates.
Dolphins’ Jay Fiedler threw for two TDs in season-opening win vs. Tennessee.
Outlook: Two of the AFC’s elite teams meet in key early-season game. Dolphins are particularly tough at home early in the season and are getting better play out of Fiedler than they did a year ago.
Bannon’s pick: Dolphins 24, Raiders 21.
Chargers (1-0) at Cowboys (0-1)
Time: Noon.
Line: Chargers by 3 1/2.
Last meeting: Cowboys won 23-9 at San Diego, Oct. 15, 1995.
Key stat: San Diego is going for its first 2-0 start since 1998.
Worth watching: The present and future of NFL running backs: the Cowboys’ Emmitt Smith and San Diego rookie LaDainian Tomlinson.
Outlook: The Chargers’ 30-3 victory over Washington in Week 1 got everyone’s attention. The Cowboys aren’t so bad that they couldn’t win this one at home, but can they stop Tomlinson?
Bannon’s pick: Chargers 20, Cowboys 17.
Titans (0-1) at Jaguars (1-0)
Time: Noon.
Line: Jaguars by 2.
Last meeting: Jaguars won 16-13 at Jacksonville, Nov. 26, 2000.
Key stat: Titans have won four of the last five from the Jaguars.
Worth watching: Jaguars’ Jimmy Smith off to a fast start with two TD catches in opener. Titans need Eddie George to have a big game.
Outlook: Tennessee may have to do without quarterback Steve McNair (shoulder), who would be replaced by Neil O’Donnell. In that case, Jaguars’ defense won’t miss end Tony Brackens and safety Donovin Darius, out with injuries.
Bannon’s pick. Jaguars 24, Titans 21.
Jets (0-1) at Patriots (0-1)
Time: WBBM-Ch. 2, 3:05 p.m.
Line: Jets by 1 1/2
Last meeting: Jets won 24-17 at New England, Oct. 15, 2000.
Key stat: Jets have won three straight vs. Patriots.
Worth watching: Ex-Patriot Curtis Martin rushed for 79 yards and 4-yard average in Jets’ opening loss to Colts. Patriots’ Troy Brown started the season the way he finished the last one–with a 100-yard receiving game.
Outlook: Jets already have one division loss and can hardly afford a second this early. Vinny Testaverde has a history of playing well vs. Patriots (19 TD passes vs. seven interceptions) and Martin should find running room.
Bannon’s pick: Jets 24, Patriots 20.
Eagles (0-1) at Seahawks (1-0)
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Line: Eagles by 2 1/2.
Last meeting: Seahawks won 38-0 at Philadelphia, Sept. 6, 1998.
Key stat: Seattle goes for its first 2-0 start since 1998.
Worth watching: Seattle’s Ricky Watters had a 97-yard game in the opening victory over the Browns. Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was team’s leading rusher (48 yards).
Outlook: New starting quarterback Matt Hasselbeck couldn’t produce a touchdown for the Seahawks in the opener, but Seattle does have a backup with a resume–Trent Dilfer. Seattle’s new defense faces quite a challenge from McNabb.
Bannon’s pick: Eagles 21, Seahawks 20.
Rams (1-0) at 49ers (1-0)
Time: WBBM-Ch. 2, 3:15 p.m.
Line: Rams by 6 1/2.
Last meeting: Rams won 34-24 at San Francisco, Oct. 29, 2000.
Key stat: Rams have beaten the 49ers four straight.
Worth watching: San Francisco’s Jeff Garcia threw five touchdown passes vs. two interceptions in two games against the Rams last season. Marshall Faulk was the Rams’ leading rusher and receiver in the opening win over the Eagles.
Outlook: The Rams’ rebuilt defense looked good in the victory over the Eagles, and Kurt Warner and Faulk looked like they plan on having big seasons again. San Francisco is getting better, but not yet.
Bannon’s pick: Rams 31, 49ers 27.
Broncos (1-0) at Cardinals (0-0)
TV/Radio: ESPN, WSCR-AM 670, 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
Line: Broncos by 8.
Last meeting: Broncos won 38-6 at Denver, Nov. 5, 1995.
Key stat: Broncos have never lost to the Cardinals (4-0-1).
Worth watching: Denver’s Brian Griese had a three-TD pass, no-interception night in the opener against the Giants. Cardinals need Jake Plummer to bounce back from a poor 2000 season (13 TDs, 21 interceptions).
Outlook: Arizona coach Dave McGinnis, a former Bears assistant, prides himself on defense. This will be a bit too much of a test for the Cardinals, even though Terrell Davis is out for the Broncos. Denver has won six of its last seven starts with Griese.
Bannon’s pick: Broncos 30, Cardinals 17.
GAME TO WATCH
Redskins (0-1) at Packers (1-0)
TV/radio: WLS-Ch. 7, WSCR-AM 670, 8 p.m. Monday
Line: Packers by 8 1/2.
Last meeting: Redskins won 20-17 at Green Bay, Oct. 23, 1988. Key stat: Packers have won six straight at Lambeau Field.
Worth watching: Packers’ Brett Favre off to a good start with a two-TD pass day in opening win over Lions. Redskins’ Jeff George tossed two interceptions in opening loss to Chargers.
Outlook: The passing of Favre and the running of Ahman Green could end this one quickly. Looks like long year for Redskins.
Bannon’s pick: Packers 31, Redskins 16.
First week’s record: 8-7.
