Green Bay at Chicago
11 a.m., Packers by 8
Last meeting: Bears won 27-20 at Green Bay on Oct. 7
Brett Favre set NFL mark for most passing yards last week, giving him every record in the book except most TV commercials by a QB. Chicago coach Lovie Smith 5-2 career vs. Packers. For a guy they grabbed off the scrapheap, Packers TB Ryan Grant is gittin’ ‘er done: 799 yards, giving him a shot at a thousand.
Prediction: Packers 27, Bears 17
Miami at New England
2:15 p.m., Patriots by 22
Last meeting: Patriots won 49-28 at Miami on Oct. 21
This just in. Patriots have a pretty long winning streak going. Pats can’t look past Phish, but we sure can. They’ve got the Giants next week in Joisey, where the G-Men play like F Troop — 3-4 vs. 6-1 on the road. Tom Brady at 45 TD passes, four away from tying PManning’s all-time mark.
Prediction: Patriots 31, Dolphins 0
Cleveland at Cincinnati
11 a.m., Browns by 2 1/2
Last meeting: Browns won 51-45 at Cleveland on Sept. 16
Remember last meeting in this series? It was Derek Anderson’s first start and he threw five TD passes. Browns TB Jamal Lewis, given up for dead by Ravens: 1,084 yards, 9 TDs. Memo to Cincy coach Marvin Lewis: On the off chance ownership hasn’t already determined your fate, you might want to sneak in a “W” here.
Prediction: Bengals 23, Browns 20
Houston at Indianapolis
11 a.m., Colts by 7
Last meeting: Colts won 30-24 at Houston on Sept. 23
Bettors beware: Colts have nada to play for, having clinched their fifth straight AFC South. Peyton Manning career vs. Houston: 10-1, 71.2 pct., 26 TDs, 4 INTs. Not bad for a guy drafted one slot ahead of Ryan Leaf. News flash: Houston DE Mario Williams just sacked Jay Cutler again. Weeums leads AFC with 13.
Prediction: Colts 24, Texans 20
Washington at Minnesota
6:15 p.m., Vikings by 6 1/2
Last meeting: Vikings won 19-16 at Washington on Sept. 11, 2006
Vikings shooting for sixth straight “W.” Hey, don’t blame QB Tarvaris Jackson, he of the six TD passes, 10 INTs. Tale of two teams’ turnovers: Vikes plus-7, Redskins minus-7. Who knew? ‘Skins TE Chris Cooley has 26 TD catches since entering the Not For Long in ’04.
Prediction: Redskins 16, Vikings 13
Denver at San Diego
6 p.m. Monday, Chargers by 8 1/2
Last meeting: Chargers won 41-3 at Denver on Oct. 7
Combined score of teams’ last two games? That would be Bolts 89, Broncos 23. Other than that, Bronx are the class of the AFC West. Bolts had 204 rush yards in 41-3 “W” at Denver, and coulda had more. Chargers CB Antonio Cromartie leads NFL with franchise-record 10 INTs.
Prediction: Chargers 31, Broncos 24
Oakland at Jacksonville
11 a.m., Jaguars by 13
Last meeting: Jaguars won 13-6 at Oakland on Jan. 2, 2005
Trivial, but true: First meeting vs. teams at Jax. Jags QB David Garrard, handed the job days before the season opener, has 16 TD passes, 2 INTs. Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell has thrown 12 passes all year, but that will change today. He could make first career start. Jax TB Fred Taylor, the quietest 10,000-yard rusher in NFL history, after fifth straight 100-yarder.
Prediction: Jaguars 34, Raiders 13
Philadelphia at New Orleans
11 a.m., Saints by 3
Last meeting: Saints won 27-24 at New Orleans in 2006 NFC divisional playoff
Saints have scored 10 more TDs (42) than Tampa Bay, but Bucs lead NFC South. How? N’Awlins has allowed 317 points, Tampa a league-best 218. Saints’ Drew Brees has thrown two-plus TD passes in five straight homers.
Prediction: Saints 23, Eagles 19
Tampa Bay at San Francisco
2:05 p.m., Buccaneers by 5 1/2
Last meeting: Niners won 15-10 at San Francisco on Oct. 30, 2005
Niners beat Bengals last week, their first “W” outside the NFC Waste. Bucs coming off 37-3 win over Falcons. But then, who isn’t? Elvis and the Dirty Birds have left the building. Bucs numero uno in NFC with plus-14 turnover ranking. Niners are minus-13 on the off chance you care.
Prediction: Buccaneers 16, 49ers 6
Baltimore at Seattle
2:15 p.m., Seahawks by 11
Last meeting: Ravens won 44-41 (OT) at Baltimore on Nov. 23, 2003
Rookie QB Troy Smith, your basic Heisman winner, will make first start for Ravens. Balt minus-18 in turnovers, Seattle plus-12. Seahawks CB Marcus Trufant tied for NFC lead with seven INTs. Matt Hasselbeck in only career appearance vs. Ravens: 5 TD passes, no picks.
Prediction: Seahawks 30, Ravens 3
N.Y. Jets at Tennessee
2:15 p.m., Titans by 8 1/2
Last meeting: Jets won 23-16 at Tennessee on Sept. 10, 2006
Chad Pennington expected to return as Jets’ starting QB. What’s that? Yeah, we hear ya. Big whoop. Jets have won three straight in series. Titans’ Vince Young leads NFL QBs with 375 rushing yards. Now if he could just complete the occasional pass. Jets TB Thomas Jones, once a target of trade talks with Broncos, needs 37 yards to reach a thou.
Prediction: Titans 13, Jets 10
Kansas City at Detroit
11 a.m., Lions by 4 1/2
Last meeting: Chiefs won 45-17 at Kansas City on Dec. 14, 2003
Just wondering: How many bag-headed fans will show up for this one? Teams have lost a combined 13 straight. And you thought the Dolphins were road kill. Lions have allowed NFL-worst 390 points. Let us guess. If they get to 400, Matt Millen gets another contract extension.
Prediction: Lions 31, Chiefs 24
Atlanta at Arizona
2:05 p.m., Cardinals by 10
Last meeting: Falcons won 32-10 at Atlanta on Oct. 1, 2006
Talk about a trend waiting to end. Falcons have won four straight in series. Just wondering: Instead of no-shows, will they count the shows? Falcons WR Roddy White has 999 receiving yards, 3 feet away from his first 1,000-yarder.
Prediction: Cardinals 34, Falcons 15
N.Y. Giants at Buffalo
11 a.m., Giants by 2 1/2
Last meeting: Bills won 24-7 at the Meadowlands on Nov. 30, 2003
Battle of New Yawk. What’s that? Oh, yeah, G-Men play in the swamps of Jersey. … Giants minus-8 in turnovers. So much for Eli Manning’s arrival as an elite QB. Average is more like it. … Bills’ special teams just that. Roscoe Parrish leads Not For Long with 17.5 PR avg.
Prediction: Giants 19, Bills 13
