Week 2

Bears (0-1) at Packers (1-0).

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Packers by 8 1/2 .

Last meeting: The Packers won, 34-21, at Green Bay on Dec. 7, 2003.

Key stat: The Packers have beaten the Bears seven straight times.

Players to watch: Will David Terrell repeat his 126-yard receiving day in the opener? Will the Packers give the ball to Ahman Green 33 times as they did in their opener?

The buzz: Lovie Smith has made beating the Packers a priority, but with Brett Favre around, it’s never easy for the Bears. Defense must get several turnovers for the Bears to have a chance.

Rams (1-0) at Falcons (1-0)

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

Last meeting: The Rams won, 36-0, at St. Louis on Oct. 13, 2003.

Key stat: The Rams have won last seven vs. the Falcons.

Players to watch: In last year’s win over the Falcons, Torry Holt had 11 catches for 161 yards and two TDs. Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler led the Falcons with six catches, one for a TD, in their opening win over the 49ers.

The buzz: After an opening-day win over lowly San Francisco, Jim Mora Jr. brings his Falcons home for a bigger challenge. They’ll have trouble with Holt and the 1-2 rushing combination of Marshall Faulk and rookie Steven Jackson.

Steelers (1-0) at Ravens (0-1)

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

Last meeting: The Ravens won, 13-10, in OT at Baltimore on Dec. 28, 2003.

Key stat: The Steelers had won four straight vs. the Ravens until their last meeting.

Players to watch: Steelers’ Hines Ward has had at least four receptions in 17 of his last 18 games, including seven in the opener. Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, who had a sack in the opener, has one interception in each of his last two games vs. the Steelers.

The buzz: The Ravens have serious problems on offense, which was clear in their opening loss at Cleveland. But playing at home, they should be able to control the game with the running of Jamal Lewis.

Texans (0-1) at Lions (1-0)

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

Last meeting: This is their first meeting.

Key stat: The Lions were 5-3 at home in ‘03.

Players to watch: Lions rookie receiver Roy Williams, who had four catches vs. the Bears, will make big plays all season. The Texans’ Domanick Davis has rushed for five TDs in his last three games but fumbled twice in the opener.

The buzz: Lions might be reeling after losing receiver Charles Rogers for the season and cornerback Dre’ Bly for a couple of weeks. But can the Texans win on the road?

Broncos (1-0) at Jaguars (1-0)

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

Last meeting: The Jaguars won, 27-24, at Jacksonville on Dec. 13, 1999.

Key stat: The Jaguars are going for their fifth 2-0 start in seven seasons.

Players to watch: New starting running back Quentin Griffin rushed for 156 yards and two TDs in Denver’s opening victory. Jaguars QB Byron Leftwich struggled in opener but has won four of his last six starts.

The buzz: It’s a big chance for the Jaguars to prove they can contend for a playoff spot, and the Broncos could be ripe for a letdown after opening win over the Chiefs. The Jaguars know how to stop the run, but their offense remains suspect.

Panthers (0-1) at Chiefs (0-1)

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Chiefs by 6.

Last meeting: The Chiefs won, 15-14, at Kansas City on Dec. 10, 2000.

Key stat: The Chiefs have won 13 straight regular-season home games, by an average of 19.1 points.

Players to watch: The Chiefs’ Priest Holmes, who has rushed for a TD in 25 of his last 29 games, already has three rushing scores this season. The Panthers will turn to DeShaun Foster with running back Stephen Davis out with a knee injury.

The buzz: Both 2003 playoff teams opened up with tough schedules, but it’s the Panthers who will start 0-2. The loss to Green Bay revealed problems in their rebuilt offensive line, and Arrowhead is no place to get well.

49ers (0-1) at Saints (0-1)

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Saints by 7.

Last meeting: The Saints won, 35-27, at New Orleans on Oct. 20, 2002.

Key stat: The Saints have won four of the last six meetings.

Players to watch: Ken Dorsey, a seventh-round pick from Miami in 2003, makes his first start for the 49ers. The Saints’ Deuce McAllister has been held to 80 rushing yards or fewer in his last five regular-season games.

The buzz: Tim Rattay’s separated shoulder gives Dorsey a chance to prove that his 38-2 record as a starter at Miami means something. His arm strength has always been the question, and look for the Saints to take advantage.

Redskins (1-0) at Giants (0-1)

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

Last meeting: Redskins won, 20-7, at New York on Dec. 7, 2003.

Key stat: Giants have lost nine straight regular-season games.

Players to watch: Tiki Barber accounted for 200 yards (125 rushing, 75 receiving) in the Giants’ opener. The Redskins’ Clinton Portis could have his second straight 100-yard game against this defense.

The buzz: The Giants have plenty of problems on offense, and the Redskins’ defense got off to a fast start, holding Tampa Bay without an offensive touchdown last week. The Giants are at home, but it won’t help.

Colts (0-1) at Titans (1-0)

Time: 10 a.m. Line: Titans by 1.

Last meeting: The Colts won, 29-27, at Tennessee on Dec. 7, 2003.

Key stat: The Colts won both meetings last season.

Players to watch: Steve McNair has completed 67.3 percent of his passes with five TD passes and zero interceptions in four starts vs. Indianapolis. The Colts’ Marvin Harrison had 10 catches for 124 yards in his last game vs. Tennessee.

The buzz: Brutal opening schedule continues for the Colts, who at least are rested after their opening loss at New England last Thursday night. Peyton Manning and Harrison are the keys, although the Colts must control the ball to keep it away from McNair, last year’s co-MVP with Manning.

Patriots (1-0) at Cardinals (0-1)

Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: Patriots by 8.

Last meeting: The Patriots won, 27-3, at Arizona on Oct. 31, 1999.

Key stat: The Patriots have won 16 straight games, two short of the NFL record held by five teams.

Players to watch: The Patriots’ Corey Dillon delivered on his early promise with 86 yards (5.7 per carry) in the opener. Emmitt Smith may still have something left. He rushed for 87 yards (5.4 per carry) in the Cardinals’ loss to the Rams.

The buzz: The Patriots are well-rested after their opening win over the Colts last Thursday night. The Cardinals have to prove they can generate a passing offense with Josh McCown in charge.

Browns (0-1) at Cowboys (0-1)

Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: Cowboys by 4 1/2 .

Last meeting: It’s the first meeting since the Browns rejoined NFL as expansion team in 1999.

Key stat: The Cowboys were 6-2 at home in `03.

Players to watch: Jeff Garcia showed he still knows how to win, engineering an upset of the Ravens last week with a 15-for-24 passing day. Antonio Bryant is emerging as a leader of the Cowboys’ offense after an eight-catch, 112-yard showing in the opener.

The buzz: Cowboys QB Vinny Testaverde had a solid opening day and should lead the way to a home-opening win. The Browns beat the Ravens, but are they good enough to pull off two straight upsets?

Bills (0-1) at Raiders (0-1)

Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: Raiders by 3 1/2 .

Last meeting: The Raiders won, 49-31, at Buffalo on Oct. 6, 2002.

Key stat: The Bills were 2-6 on the road in ‘03.

Players to watch: The Bills’ Drew Bledsoe threw for 417 yards against the Raiders two years ago. Rich Gannon threw for 357 yards and three TDs in that game.

The buzz: Both teams endured last-minute losses in their openers, and the Raiders are better equipped to cope.

Jets (1-0) at Chargers (1-0)

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

Last meeting: The Jets won, 44-13, at San Diego on Nov. 3, 2002.

Key stat: The Jets were 2-6 on the road in ‘03.

Players to watch: Can Curtis Martin keep this up — 29 carries for 196 yards at age 31? Can Drew Brees complete 17 of 24 passes for two TDs for the second straight week?

The buzz: The Chargers are encouraged after starting the season with a win at Houston, and now they can turn LaDainian Tomlinson loose against a mediocre defense.

Dolphins (0-1) at Bengals (0-1)

Time: 5:30 p.m. Line: Bengals by 5.

Last meeting: The Dolphins won, 31-16, at Cincinnati on Oct. 1, 2000.

Key stat: The Dolphins have won all nine meetings in the last 27 years.

Players to watch: QB A.J. Feeley, who won four of his five starts for the Eagles, gets his first start for the Dolphins. In his last five home games, the Bengals’ Rudi Johnson has averaged 134.8 yards rushing and scored seven TDs.

The buzz: Carson Palmer’s promising debut last week, the excitement surrounding a rare national TV appearance for the Bengals, and the Dolphins’ myriad problems all add up to a Cincinnati win.

Vikings (1-0) at Eagles (1-0)

Time: 6 p.m. Monday. Line: Eagles by 3.

Last meeting: The Eagles won, 48-17, at Philadelphia on Nov. 11, 2001.

Key stat: The Eagles are 6-1 on Monday nights under coach Andy Reid.

Players to watch: The quarterbacks, who combined for nine TD passes and zero interceptions last week: Five for the Vikings’ Daunte Culpepper, four for the Eagles’ Donovan McNabb. They are legitimate MVP candidates.

The buzz: It won’t be a good night to be a defensive back, with Culpepper aiming for Randy Moss and McNabb searching for Terrell Owens, who caught three TD passes in his Eagles debut.

–Terry Bannon, Chicago Tribune