Tampa Bay at Green Bay
11 a.m., Bucs by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Packers won 20-13 at Tampa on Nov. 16, 2003
Tampa Bay favored by a field goal-plus on the Frozen Tundra. Repeat after me, sports fans: for the times, they are a changin’. … Packers QB Brett Favre has 181 career TD passes at Lambeau, most of any player at one stadium. Next on the list? John Elway at Mile High Stadium. … Bucs’ Brian Griese needs a couple of TD passes to reach 100 for his career. … TB rookie Cadillac Williams leads the Not For Long with 276 rushing yards. And, while it’s just a hunch, we’re thinking he’ll soon be leading the league in Cadillac endorsements, too. … Packers a lousy minus-5 in turnovers, continuing a disturbing trend. They were minus-14 last year. … How inept is Pack D? They’ve had one sack, no INTs in two games.
Prediction: Bucs 27, Packers 20
Carolina at Miami
11 a.m., Panthers by 3
Last meeting: Dolphins won 23-6 at Miami on Nov. 4, 2001
Dolphins were minus-6 vs. Broncos on opening day and won by 24. Now come the Panthers, fresh off a W against New England. … There are more easy games on the way for Carolina, which was rewarded for a 7-9 season by getting a third-place schedule. … Miami has to be concerned about rookie TB Ronnie Brown, who has run to darkness in his first two NFL starts. He has 92 yards on 34 carries, 2.7 per. … Panthers D fourth in the loop vs. run (2.9 yards per). … So you think Junior Seau is washed up. Not! Dude had 12 tackles in Dolphins’ loss vs. Jets, his 60th career double-figure game. … Miami special teams gettin’ it done. Dawfins starting at the 31-yard line after kickoffs.
Prediction: Panthers 24, Dolphins 16
Jacksonville at New York Jets
11 a.m., Jets by 2 1/2
Last meeting: Jets won 13-10 at the Meadowlands on Nov. 23, 2003
Jags’ D emerging into one of better units in the game. Jax has allowed 295 yards per and is plus-6 in turnovers, second-best in AFC behind Bengals. … D also has accounted for 12 INTs in past five games. … Rookie CB-KR Justin Miller, bypassed by several teams in draft because of off-field issues, has improved Jets’ special teams. He stands second in AFC with 30.4 KR avg. … Maybe Curtis Martin isn’t ageless after all. He’s averaging 2.5 yards per on 52 carries. … Ex-Bronco Reggie Hayward tied for Jags team lead with one sack.
Prediction: Jaguars 20, Jets 19
Oakland at Philadelphia
11 a.m., Eagles by 7 1/2
Last meeting: Raiders won 20-10 at Philadelphia on Oct. 28, 2001
Raiders have won 15 of past 23 vs. NFC. … Randy Moss has 92 receiving TDs in 111 career games. All-time fastest to 100 was Jerry Rice, who took 120 games. … Donovan McNabb leads loops with six TD passes. … Iggles D not missing DT Corey Simon. Philly has allowed 17 points in two games, fifth-fewest in the league, and 231 yards, third in da bid’ness. … TB LaMont Jordan leads Raiders with 129 rushing yards, 11 catches. … Both kickers struggling. Oakland’s Sebastian Janikowski is 1-for-3, Philly’s David Akers 1-for-4 on field goals. … Philly coming off franchise-record 583 yards vs. Niners.
Prediction: Eagles 31, Raiders 29
Tennessee at St. Louis
11 a.m., Rams by 6 1/2
Last meeting: Rams won 23-16 in Super Bowl XXXIV at end of 1999 season.
Who knew? Titans are 45-36 on the road since 1995, best in the NFL during that span. … Tenn coach Jeff Fisher one W away from No. 100. … DE Kyle Vanden Bosch helping Titans’ pass rush. He accounted for 3.0 sacks in W vs. Baltimore last week. … Rams coach Mike Martz 14-6 vs. AFC, but will be making first appearance vs. Titans. … St. Looie holding on to the ball for a change. Rams plus-2 in turnovers after disastrous minus-24 in 2004. … Tenn has league’s youngest roster, averaging 25 years, 205 days per man. And you thought the league office didn’t keep track of that type of stuff.
Prediction: Rams 34, Titans 23
