What about Bob?

Hope everyone enjoyed the turkey. Hopefully it beat the football. Three blowout losses not exactly compelling stuff on a Thanksgiving day/evening. Oh, well.

Stiller at Patriots: Memo to BBiB! and Black N Gold: Get your Huggies for this one, fellas. Stillers’ top-ranked defense goes into New England to face the Pats’ high-flying offense. Good defense usually beats good offense, but we’re not sure that one applies in this one. New England’s offense is on a roll after Matt Cassel’s 400-plus yard performances against the Jets and Dolphins. He’ll have to be at his best against the Stillers, because Pitt’s defense is terrific. Look for Cassel to do what he did against the Jets – essentially ignore the running game (which Pittsburgh is terrific at defending) and just chuck it. Stillers’ offense is somewhat inconsistent, so if New England’s aging defense can summon a big effort in this one, it could be good enough. Key stat: Since taking over as Patriots head coach in 2000, Bill Belichick is 5-1 against the Stillers.

Broncos at Jets: This one looks like a gimme for the Jets, especially with Denver coming off a blowout loss in Oakland. But beware the bounce-back. Denver’s offense is too good to ignore, especially with Jay Cutler capable of putting up a 300-yard game in his sleep. Then again, Cutler is capable of stinking out the joint, too. After two straight road wins by the Jets, they should enjoy some home cookin’ in this one. Brett Favre is managing the game beautifully, and the Jets’ running game matches up quite well against the Broncos’ Swiss cheese D. Unless the Jets overlook this one – which they don’t figure to do – it should be another win for Gang Green. Key stat: In his last three games, Favre has completed 65 of 84 passes (77.4 pct.) for 649 yards with 5 TDs vs. 1 INT & 113.6 passer rating.

Giants at Redskins: The last time the Giants were in Washington, they turned their season around. At 0-2, they put on a terrific second-half comeback and won their first game last season. They never looked back. Should be a tough one again, and who knows if the Giants can stay on the roll they’ve been on all season. If there’s a loss in the offing, it’s against a divisional opponent. We see a close one here (translation: take the Redskins and the points), with the Giants needing another comeback to win it and keep a three-game lead over the Pokes in the division. Key stat: Giants have won four of their last five against Washington, including this year’s regular season opener.

Saints at Buccaneers: Drew Brees had a field day against the Packers at home on Monday night, and Reggie Bush plans to return on Sunday from a knee injury. Good enough to beat the Bucs? Not if Tampa’s defense plays up to snuff. Brees dominated a Green Bay defense filled with holes along the defensive line, but Tampa has no such weaknesses on defense. As long as Gaines Adams, Derrick Brooks, Ronde Barber and the rest of the gang plays up to snuff, the Bucs should win this critical NFC South matchup. Key stat: When Bucs QB Jeff Garcia has a rating of 95 or better as a starter (including playoffs), his teams are 36-12 (.750).

Bears at Vikings: With both teams 6-5, the winner of this takes a major step forward in the race for the NFC North. Vikes come off an impressive road win in Jacksonville, while the Bears were easy winners in St. Louis. Minnesota will not have any surprises up its sleeve for the Bears. It will be Adrian Peterson left, Peterson right, Peterson up the middle. That should be good enough against a Bears defense that simply isn’t the same dominating unit that went to Super Bowl XLI. Key stat: Peterson has rushed for 423 yards (141.0 per game) & 7 TDs in 3 meetings against the Bears. Since entering NFL in 2007, Peterson averages 100.8 rush yards per game, most in the NFL.

The picks straight up (against the spread in parentheses):

Patriots over Stillers (Patriots)
Jets over Broncos (Jets)
Giants over Redskins (Redskins)
Buccaneers over Saints (Buccaneers)
Buccaneers over Saints (Buccaneers)
Vikings over Bears (Vikings)
Bills over 49er (Bills)
Ravens over Bengals (Ravens)
Colts over Browns (Colts)
Packers over Panthers (Packers)
Dolphins over Rams (Dolphins)
Chargers over Falcons (Chargers)
Jaguars over Texans (Jaguars)

1. Jets at Titans: The surging Jets have won six of their last seven, and looked terrific on offense against the Patriots in last week’s OT win. Tennessee hasn’t been quite as dominant in recent weeks, but they’ve done enough to remain the league’s only unbeaten team. Couple of keys here: The Jets run defense against the Titans’ rush offense. Will be interesting to see whether the Titans remain committed to the run with Chris Johnson and LenDale White. The Patriots essentially abandoned the run in the second half, but they don’t have nearly the rushing attack the Titans have. The other key is Brett Favre against the Titans’ pass defense. Tennessee’s defense has been superb all season, even if no individual has had a monster year. Albert Haynesworth is a beast, which helps the secondary immeasurably. Linebacker Keith Bulluck might be in position to limit Favre’s intermediate-range passes.

2. Eagles at Ravens: Well, now that Donovan McNabb knows the rule about overtime, he goes into Baltimore to face a Ravens team that is in bounce-back mode after a humiliating loss against the Giants. Think the Ravens’ run-defense won’t be ready for Brian Westbrook & Co.? And who knows how effective Westbrook can be. He’s still not right from an ankle sprain suffered earlier in the season. If this thing gets out of hand early, the pressure on McNabb will be even more intense. And if the Eagles continue struggling in what should have been a season of hope, there could be some big changes at the end.

3. Patriots at Dolphins: Who could have imagined the Patriots and Dolphins would play a meaningful game this late in the season. But New England’s post-Tom Brady struggles and Miami’s stunning ascent after a 1-15 season leave both teams at 6-4 and fighting for either a divisional title or a wild card spot. New England’s defense is growing thinner by the hour because of injuries, and the running has essentially ground to a halt. The one positive has been the vastly improved play of QB Matt Cassel. Still, he’ll have his work cut out against Miami’s surprisingly efficient defense.

4. Giants at Cardinals: The Giants are taking whatever their opponents throw at them and dealing with it perfectly. Except for that Monday night hiccup in Cleveland, the defending Super Bowl champs have been brilliant. They’re coming off a dominating rushing performance against the Ravens, as Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw combined for 207 yards. With Jacobs (knee) dinged, look for Ward and Bradshaw to carry the load. That could put some pressure on Eli Manning to balance things out in the passing game, although that might not be so easy if Plaxico Burress (hamstring) isn’t at full strength. Another huge key: the Giants ability to contain the three-pronged receiving threat of Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston.

5. Colts at Chargers: Indy is hanging in despite a series of early-season problems. The Colts have won three of their last four and go against the slumping Chargers, who this week had to give embattled head coach Norv Turner a vote of confidence. San Diego has been erratic on both sides of the ball throughout the season, although the offense certainly has the firepower with QB Philip Rivers and RB LaDainian Tomlinson. The bigger issue here is whether the defense can contain Peyton Manning, whose improved play in recent week has keyed the Colts’ resurgence.

The picks straight up (against the spread in parentheses):

Titans over Jets (Titans)
Ravens over Eagles (Ravens)
Patriots over Dolphins (Patriots)
Giants over Cardinals (Giants)
Colts over Charger (Colts)
Falcons over Panthers (Falcons)
Buccaneers over Lions (Buccaneers)
Cowboys over 49ers (Cowboys)
Bears over Rams (Bears)
Browns over Texans (Browns)
Jaguars over Vikings (Jaguars)
Bills over Chiefs (Bills)
Broncos over Raiders (Broncos)
Seahawks over Redskins (Seahawks)
Packers over Saints (Packers)

1. Ravens at Giants. Rather than me blather on about the significance of this game, allow me to resurrect Rock’s clever lede from his story about the big matchup of this one:

In Switzerland earlier this fall, physicists and engineers breathlessly gathered underneath a mountain and flicked a switch to turn on the Large Hadron Collider. The belief was that by running tiny particles into each other at nearly the speed of light, they could create something close to a Big Bang. Some even feared that such subnuclear activity could create a black hole.
There seems to be similar excitement about the pending collision of Brandon Jacobs and Ray Lewis. Two of the hardest hitters at their position are sure to come into contact with each other at some point during Sunday's game between the Giants and the. Will it produce Newtonian ripples in the fabric of the universe? No. But it will make for compelling theater.
And just like the Large Hadron Collider, there are some who would rather the impact not occur.
"Hopefully there's not one," guard Rich Seubert said of the potential pileup. "Hopefully we're blocking Lewis and there's not a collision."Well said, Rock. And here I thought you were just a football guy.

2. Vikings at Buccaneers. Bucs come off a bye to host a Vikings team coming off a massive home win over the Packers in a see-saw battle. The thing I want to see here is whether the Vikings’ defense, which has shown some improvement in recent weeks, can start to impose its will on the Bucs. The other key here is whether Gus Frerotte can avoid the turnovers that have plagued him intermittently this season. If he can’t, then the Bucs advance their cause and take another step in a solid NFC South race.

3. Bears at Packers. This one just doesn’t have the same buzz as it did when Brett F. was with the Packers. But it’s still a great rivalry nonetheless. And it will go a long way toward deciding the NFC North title. Kyle Orton is expected back in the lineup for Da Bears, while Aaron Rodgers, who is still battling shoulder problems, goes again for Green Bay. Both teams coming off narrow losses in Week 10. Should be a good one.

4. Titans at Jaguars. The Jags finally righted the ship against the awful Lions, although it might still be too late. Even so, this one’s in the division, the Titans are fighting to stay unbeaten, and I have a gut feeling it will be just a good football game between two teams that know each other well. I also think there’s a chance that this could be the one that trips up the Titans. Just a hunch. We’ll see.

5. Cowboys at Redskins. The Sunday night drama will fill the air at FedEx Field, as the Cowboys’ soap opera resumes after a bye week. Tony Romo is back in the saddle, and Terrell Owens, who doesn’t have a 100-yard receiving game this year, couldn’t be happier. The big news for the Redskins is whether RB Clinton Portis (knee) can go. My sense is he won’t be ready because of a grade two sprain of the MCL in his left knee. If he can’t go, look for Ladell Betts and possibly recently signed Shaun Alexander to carry the rushing load. Either way, a huge drop-off from Portis, who is having an MVP-type season.

The picks straight up (against the spread in parentheses):

Giants over Ravens (Giants)
Buccaneers over Vikings (Vikings)
Falcons over Broncos (Falcons)
Panthers over Lions (Panthers)
Packers over Bears (Packers)
Colts over Texans (Colts)
Saints over Chiefs (Saints)
Dolphins over Raiders (Dolphins)
Eagles over Bengals (Eagles)
Rams over 49ers (Rams)
Seahawks over Cardinals (Seahawks)
Jaguars over Titans (Jaguars)
Steelers over Chargers (Steelers)
Cowboys over Redskins (Cowboys)
Bills over Browns (Bills)

Five must-see games for Week 10.

Don't forget: Live chat today at 1 p.m. Who knows? Maybe even Bob Mantz will show up and brag about how he kicked my tush last week in the picks ... now that he has the guts to actually make the picks.

1. Giants at Eagles: The best NFC East race since the 1980s continues with the renewal of one of the best rivalries of all time. The nation gets to tune in on this one, as Eli Manning goes against Jim Johnson’s blitzing defense. Offensive line play will be a huge key for the Giants, as well as blitz pickup from the backs. If they can keep the Eagles’ pass rushers from getting to Manning, he can have his way against the Philly secondary. If not, watch out. The Giants’ pass rush will be critical to the game as well. If Justin Tuck can dominate Jon Runyan the way Michael Strahan used to, then New York gets the edge. I like the matchups for the Giants in this one. (Which probably means the Eagles will win … whatever.) The pick: Giants.

2. Colts at Steelers: Indy is hanging on by a thread in the AFC South, with their only reasonable path to the playoffs as a wild card. The Steelers are coming off a massive win on the road against the Redskins, but Big Ben is hurting with a shoulder separation. That could mean we see Byron Leftwich from the start in this one. Leftwich was extremely solid in relief of Roethlisberger, but he’ll have to be extremely efficient against the Colts, especially now that Bob Sanders is back in the lineup. The Steelers manhandled the Redskins’ offensive line, so if they can get kind of pressure on Peyton Manning, watch out. The pick: Steelers.

3. Bills at Patriots: After a 4-0 start, the Bills are reeling after losing three of their last four, including last week’s clunker at home against the Jets. Injuries are starting to crush the Bills once again, although it isn’t quite as bad as last year, when 17 players finished the season on injured reserve. Pats are coming off narrow loss on the road in Indy. Matt Cassel has been efficient, but not overwhelming, for the Pats. But he can be reasonably certain that the Bills’ pass rush won’t be a major factor, especially with Aaron Schobel (foot) still hurting. New England can break the three-way logjam at the top of the AFC East with a win. The pick: Patriots.

4. Packers at Vikings: Ok, so the NFC North race doesn’t feature the best football being played these days. But with one game separating first from third, it figures to be a solid run toward the playoffs. And this matchup will figure into the equation big-time. Aaron Rodgers is still hurting with a shoulder problem, but he has been functional enough to be competitive. There’s a chance Vikings pass rusher Jared Allen (shoulder) will either not play or will be limited, and that’s good news for the Packers. Minnesota’s offense is still reliant on second-year tailback Adrian Peterson, who is second in the NFC with 823 rushing yards. Gus Frerotte has only three TD passes so far. The pick: Packers.

5. Saints at Falcons: Who’d have though the Falcons would be ahead of the Saints at this point? The Saints were a consensus pick to win the NFC South, and the Falcons were a consensus pick to s*ck. But he we are at the halfway mark, and 5-3 Atlanta is a game ahead of the Saints. The big reason: Matt Ryan. The rookie quarterback has provided solid play at the position, and the addition of free agent RB Michael Turner has made the offense far more complete than at any time in the recent past. New Orleans’ big problem is defense – or the lack thereof. Their pass rush is all the more limited with the triceps injury to Charles Grant, who is done for the year. And the secondary is no better than it was at this point last year. Even so, the gut feeling here is the Saints pull it out, thanks to MVP candidate Drew Brees. The pick: Saints.

The picks straight up (against the spread in parentheses):

Giants over Eagles (Giants)
Steelers over Colts (Steelers)
Patriots over Bills (Patriots)
Saints over Falcons (Saints)
Packers over Vikings (Packers)
Bears over Titans (Bears)
Jaguars over Lions (Jaguars)
Dolphins over Seahawks (Seahawks)
Jets over Rams (Jets)
Ravens over Texans (Ravens)
Chargers over Chiefs (Chargers)
Panthers over Raiders (Panthers)
Cardinals over 49ers (Cardinals)

Five must-see games in Week 9

Cowboys at Giants: Ok, so Tony Romo isn’t in the lineup, but Giants-Cowboys is huge nonetheless. The Giants have the huge edge here, but funny things can happen in this series, given the level of vitriol between the two teams. I still say the Giants prevail, but they’ll have to clamp down on Marion Barber III and do a good job of pass protecting for Eli Manning to get it done.

Patriots at Colts: Another huge rivalry that loses some of its luster because quarterback Tom Brady won’t be there and because Peyton Manning hasn’t been the same since recovering from knee surgery. But the Colts are expected to get Bob Sanders back from knee and ankle problems, and Joseph Addai appears recovered from hamstring problems. That could spell trouble for the Patriots, who have their own injury problems, especially in the secondary.

Jets at Bills: This is most certainly a statement game for the Jets, who need to win – or at least come respectably close – against a vastly improved Bills team. This AFC East race could come down to the wire (reminder: the Jets play the Dolphins in the final regular season game at the Meadowlands), so every divisional game counts big-time. The Bills are in bounce-back mode after last week’s loss to the Dolphins, so the Jets need to bring their A game. Actually, we’ll see if they even have an A game.

Packers at Titans: You’ve got to hand it to the Titans. They’ve found a way to win every time out. But this will be one of their biggest tests after a big win over the Colts at home. The Packers’ offense can be downright explosive, and Green Bay is rested after a bye week. Tennessee’s running game is terrific behind the one-two punch of rookie Chris Johnson and LenDale White. The defense has been excellent as well, thanks to another fine season from defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and the always reliable linebacker Keith Bulluck.

Stillers at Redskins: Pittsburgh played the Giants extremely tough last week before succumbing on an unfortunate sequence in the fourth quarter that started with a snap that went over punter Mitch Berger’s head. The Stillers' pass protection was dreadful for Big Ben, but they could get a break in this Monday nighter because Jason Taylor (calf) is dinged. Pittsburgh’s biggest challenge is containing red-hot tailback Clinton Portis, who is on pace to rush for over 2,000 yards this season.

The picks straight up (against the spread in parentheses):

Giants over Cowboys (Giants)

Bills over Jets (Bills)

Jaguars over Bengals (Jaguars)

Browns over Ravens (Browns)

Bucs over Chiefs (Bucs)

Texans over Vikings (Texans)

Titans over Packers (Packers)

Broncos over Dolphins (Broncos)

Falcons over Raiders (Falcons)

Eagles over Seahawks (Eagles)

Colts over Patriots (Colts)

Stillers over Redskins (Stillers)

Five can’t-miss games this weekend:

1. Giants at Steelers: Super Bowl preview? Maybe. The Giants have held up their end of the bargain with a 5-1 getaway, but they’ve got a ridiculously difficult stretch of nine straight games against opponents who are .500 or better. That starts today against the 5-1 Steelers, who are running away with things in the AFC North. I’m thinking their issues in the running game will be a factor against the Giants, although weather could be a factor here. Big Ben needs to get the quick passing game going, because he’s getting pounded way too much. Like the Stillers in a close one.

2. Falcons at Eagles: Are the Falcons for real? Are the Eagles ready to make a move in the NFC East? We will find out on Sunday at the Linc, when the Eagles host Hot ‘Lanta in a game that no one could have expected before the season would hold such intrigue. But Matt Ryan has been a revelation for the Falcons, and the Eagles have shown they can be contenders, but only when Brian Westbrook is in the lineup. He’s expected back for this one, which is why we’re giving the birds the advantage. The home birds, that is.

3. Chargers “at” Saints: It’s technically a Saints home game, but it’s at London’s Wembley Stadium, site of last year’s Giants-Dolphins game, the first regular season game ever staged outside North America. Both the Chargers and Saints are off to disappointing 3-4 starts, both have had some injury issues (Reggie Bush is now out for the Saints), and both have had problems on defense. Kinda like the Bolts in this one, Chilkoot.

4. Colts at Titans: So much for the 3-3 Colts having another easy time winning the AFC South. You can make a case that if they don’t win this game at unbeaten Tennessee, the race is effectively over. The 6-0 Titans haven’t been particularly flashy, but they’ve gotten the job done with smart game management from Kerry Collins, explosive running from LenDale White and rookie Chris Johnson, and superb defense from a unit led by Albert Haynesworth and Keith Bulluck. I’ll go with the hometown club in this one, especially with Joseph Addai still nicked up with a hammy for Indy.

5. Buccaneers at Cowboys: No Tony Romo again, but the Cowboys have some desperation to them now that they’ve lost three of their last four. That’s why I’m gonna go against the grain a bit and pick fossil QB Brad Johnson over fellow fossil QB Jeff Garcia. I think the Cowboys’ defense plays a major role, especially now that head coach Wade Phillips is going to do more than just offer his goober expressions on the sidelines. He’ll be calling defensive signals, which is what he’s always done best.

The picks, straight up (against the spread in parentheses):

Jets over Chiefs (Jets)
Steelers over Giants (Steelers)
Chargers over Saints (Chargers)
Ravens over Raiders (Ravens)
Jaguars over Browns (Jaguars)
Cowboys over Buccaneers (Cowboys)
Patriots over Rams (Patriots)
49ers over Seahawks (49ers)
Panthers over Cardinals (Panthers)
Bills over Dolphins (Bills)
Titans over Colts (Titans)
Texans over Bengals (Texans)
Redskins over Lions (Redskins)
Eagles over Falcons (Eagles)

.... the commenters will play.

Very entertaining job, people. While we were jetting across this great land of yours, you were engaging in some ... uh ... very interesting political dialogue and other forms of satire that made for some giggles when we landed.

Uneventful flight ... thankfully. The last time I flew to the Bay Area, I sat next to a young man who hadn't showered in I'm guessing a month. (I gave him the benefit of the doubt. It could have been longer.) The odor was so overpowering that a flight attendant gave me one of the best pieces of advice in aviation history.

She gave me a package of coffee, told me to open it and let the aroma out. Incredibly, most of the odor was absorbed. At least enough to make breathing possible.

Stapler was with us on that flight. He'll tell you.

In the meantime, here's a look at the five (or so) most intriguing games of the weekend.

1. Cowboys at Rams: Ordinarily this game wouldn’t strike our fancy. But with everything going on around the Cowboys these days, it’s actually a big game. Question, questions: Will Tony Romo play with a broken pinky on his throwing hand? Will the Cowboys’ pass defense suffer without suspended CB Pacman Jones and injured CB Terence Newman? Will Brad Johnson’s dink-and-dunk offense work if he plays? And will the Cowboys, who have lost two of their last three, beat a team coming off a massive upset of the Redskins the week before? .

2. Colts at Packers: Are the Colts back? Are the Packers for real? Not sure we know the answer to either question, but this game will go a long way toward addressing the issue. The Aaron Rodgers era is still in its infancy, and Rodgers has shown some good, some bad, and some in between. A major statement game here for the young man. The Colts are without their top two running backs, Joseph Addai (hamstring) and Mike Hart (knee). And safety Bob Sanders (ankle, knee) is still on the shelf.

3. Chargers at Bills: Are the Bills for real? (Yes, NKR, they are). Are the Chargers for real? (Still don’t know, Chilkoot). You wouldn’t have thought this game would hold implications for AFC playoff position, but it might well end up that way. The Bills get QB Trent Edwards (concussion) and WR/KR Roscoe Parrish back for this one. LaDainian Tomlinson’s achin’ toe appears improved, although he’s still not 100 percent.

4. Saints at Panthers: Carolina in bounce-back mode after awful performance in Tampa, a loss that snapped a five-game winning streak on the road against the Bucs. The matchup here favors Carolina, because the Panthers’ defense has generally been solid, while the Saints’ defense has been mostly inconsistent. The Raiders were no test last week, but Carolina’s running game could be too much. Key stat: Panthers have won four of the last five against the Saints.

5. Vikings at Bears: The NFC North is a mediocre division, but at least the race is close. In fact, there’s already a three-way tie among the Bears, Vikings and Packers, all 3-3. The Lions? Forget it. The last time the Vikes were on the road against the Bears, then rookie RB Adrian Peterson rushed for a then Vikings’ record 224 yards and K Ryan Longwell kicked the winning 55-yard field goal as time expired. Don’t envision a similar ending in this one. We like Da Bears.

5a. Broncos at Patriots (Monday night): It lacks some pizzazz without Tom Brady, but we should find out plenty about the Patriots. Specifically how Matt Cassel recovers from a poor outing in San Diego last week. Bill Belichick had to offer a public vote of confidence to his quarterback, which is never good this early in the season. The Broncos are now 0-1 in games following Jay Cutler proclaiming that he has a stronger arm than John Elway. Not sure why, but we like the Pats in this one.

The picks straight up (against the spread in parentheses):

Bills over Chargers (Bills).

Panthers over Saints (Panthers).

Bears over Vikings (Bears).

Steelers over Bengals (Bengals).

Titans over Chiefs (Chiefs – why, I have no idea. Just a hunch, I guess)

Ravens over Dolphins (Ravens).

Giants over 49ers (Giants)

Cowboys over Rams (Rams).

Texans over Lions (Texans).

Panthers over Saints (Panthers).

Jets over Raiders (Jets)

Packers over Colts (Packers)

Redskins over Browns (Redskins)

Bucs over Seahawks (Bucs)

Patriots over Broncos (Patriots)

The five biggest storylines for NFL's Week 6:

Are the Cowboys imploding? One week it’s Terrell Owens complaining he isn’t getting the ball enough, the next it’s Adam “Pacman” Jones getting into a scuffle at a Dallas area hotel with a Cowboys security whose job it is to make sure he stays out of trouble. It is a volatile concoction of personalities inside that Cowboys’ locker room, and we might be seeing the beginning stages of some combustible times in Big D. This week, it’s on the road in Arizona, where the newly confident Cardinals are coming off a huge win over the previously unbeaten Bills.

Is the NFC South the NFL’s surprise division? Looks that way. The prevailing sentiment had the Saints running away with the division. But as of now, they’re in last place. With Carolina enjoying a resurgence, and Atlanta and Tampa Bay hanging in a 3-2, this division has far more intrigue – at least for now – than anyone thought possible. That’s why Sunday’s Panthers-Buccaneers game in Tampa is filled the huge implications. Bucs fan “Sandy” will no doubt fill us in on all the goings-on, since it looks like Jeff Garcia will be filling in for the injured Brian Griese, while Jake Delhomme continues his comeback player of the year bid for the Panthers.

Is Matt Ryan really this good this soon? I thought rookie quarterbacks taking over last place teams were supposed to struggle for a year or two before the dividends started paying off. Not so with Matt Ryan, whose Falcons are coming off a road win against the Packers and host the equally surprising Bears, who have their own quarterback success story of sorts. Kyle Orton has quietly settled the position down after the roller-coaster ride that was the Rex Grossman era.

Peyton Manning, say hi to Ray Lewis. If Manning’s struggles continue on Sunday at home against the Ravens, this one could get ugly. Bal’More’s defense is almost at the level of the glory days of 2000, and Peyton’s offense has been wildly inconsistent through the early going. In fact, had it not been for Sage Rosenfels’ epic fourth-quarter collapse last weekend, the Colts might have been in some serious trouble by now. Heck, they still might be in some serious trouble by the time this one’s over.

Will the Patriots enjoy their West Coast vacation? Ok, so it’s not a vacation in the typical sense. But the Patriots made a fairly unusual decision to stay out in California after playing the 49ers in San Francisco. Now it’s on to San Diego and a rematch of the AFC Championship Game. The Bolts are coming off a woeful performance in Miami, so they’re sure to give New England their best shot in this one.

Our picks (straight up, pick against the spread in parentheses)

Bears over Falcons (Bears)
Texans over Dolphins (Texans)
Colts over Ravens (Colts)
Vikings over Lions (Vikings)
Jets over Bengals (Jets)
Bucs over Panthers (Bucs)
Redskins over Cardinals (Rams)
Jaguars over Broncos (Jaguars)
Cowboys over Cardinals (Cardinals)
Eagles over 49ers (49ers)
Saints over Raiders (Saints)
Seahawks over Packers (Seahawks)
Chargers over Patriots (Chargers)
Giants over Browns (Giants)