Pats and Colts. They are the only two teams in the NFL that matter at this point. No other team even comes close. They are head and shoulders above the next best team in the league. There really isn’t any reason in discussing another team’s chances of winning the Super Bowl because it just isn’t going to happen. Period. The NFC has shown itself to be a vastly inferior conference, which makes the fact that Indy and New England can never face each other on the game’s biggest stage that much more demoralizing. In my short life, I can honestly say that I have never looked forward to a game as much as I have Pats-Colts on Nov. 4. That being said, I’m all for a 17-0 Pats vs. a 16-1 Colts game in January for a chance  to go to the Super Bowl, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.

But before I get to the picks, I’d like to take a moment to give my take on the whole Patriots-running-up-the-score thing. Rather than express my point of view in the form of one central prose, I’d like to offer multiple quick-hit points that justify, for numerous reasons, what some are referring to as “running up the score":

This is the National Football League, people. This isn’t Florida vs. the Little Sisters of the Poor. These are professional athletes that get paid millions of dollars to perform on the field. Things like “feelings"  and “emotions"  don’t matter. You think you’ll hear any Washington player or coach cry about getting the score run up? Absolutely not, because all that would prove would be that the Patriots are so much better they should TAKE IT EASY on the inferior Redskins. You know what? If Gibbs doesn’t like getting the score “run up"  on him, maybe he should’ve stayed in NASCAR and not accepted 5 million dollars a year to come back to watch his team get embarrassed on the field. If I was him, as well as his players, I would be embarrassed as hell to get beat so bad. But are any of them going to return their paychecks for such an embarrassing performance? I didn’t think so.

Now let’s also stop to consider all the crap the Patriots have taken from around the league. Patrick Crayton said the Pats got lucky after beating them in Dallas. The figurehead of immaturity, Terrell Owens, wouldn’t acknowledge the Patriots as the best team after they defeated the Cowboys. As for Redskin players: Clinton Portis said the ‘Skins were the more talented team, their defensive players repeatedly warned the Pats “not to go over the middle", and they also added that their secondary is comprised of all first-rounders so they’re going to shut the Pats down. What did the Pats do all week? Nothing. They let their actions on the field speak for themselves. Normally we praise teams for that, don’t we?

Ever think that Bellicheck, who broke a rule that by all accounts has been broken numerous times before, is going to stay within the leagues rules, and absolutely annihilate your team? It’s absolutely a middle finger to rest of the coaches. But those were also coaches that said his legacy was tainted and whatnot, now he’s merely showing its not.

This league is about winning and entertaining, period. Don’t tell me about class and sportsmanship, not in a league where players celebrate every first down and every quarterback sack no matter the deficit. This is the same league in which a player who goes through lavish end zone celebrations isn’t thought of as showing up the opposing team, but is instead praised for his creativity. People complain about having to pay full price for exhibition tickets to watch 2nd and 3rd stringers play. I don’t want to see Matt Cassell and Heath Evans in the game, I want Brady and Moss. They play for 60 minutes, 16 times a year. But they probably should come out as soon as they get a large enough lead, so felon Sean Taylor doesn’t get his feelings hurt? Gimme a break.

You don’t kick the field goal there, when its 38-0. It was 4th and 2. Brady ran a QB sneak. The Pats gave the Skins a chance to stop them. Kicking the field goal would also be viewed as running up the score. At least by going for it, you give the other team a chance to stop you. The ‘Skins would then have to go the 90 yards, which would kill most of the remaining clock. That is the thinking there for anyone that doesn't understand football.

And lastly, there’s one way to make sure they take out their starters: you blitz Brady, put pressure on him, and get some knockdowns. If Brady gets hit, they’ll take him out. Mike Ditka said the same thing last night. You don’t go after anyone to injure them; you simply play physical within the rules. That would make ‘em pull their starters. But the ‘Skins, they simply gave up. They quit. That’s why come February they’ll be at home while the Pats are collecting their 4th title.

Onto the picks… (Home team in CAPS)

Packers over CHIEFS
This one should be pretty close. Arrowhead is as tough a place as any to play, and KC will try to pound the ball and control the clock with Larry Johnson. However, after last night’s Favre magic, I’m just not betting against him against a mediocre Chiefs team. Packers---better than the Cowboys?

LIONS over Broncos
Jay Cutler is going to need some more time, and better receivers, to see what he is really capable of. I like a suddenly potent Kevin Jones to tear through the worst run defense in football. 

FALCONS over 49ers
I wish I had NFL Ticket just so I could choose not to watch this game.

Redskins over JETS
I guess they can bounce back. I mean, they had to do something right to get their four wins, right? …Right?

TITANS over Panthers
Is David Carr the biggest bust in the history of No. 1 picks? Rick Meier has to be up there, but Carr just looks abysmal at quarterback. Now I know why they had to sign a card-holding AARP member to take the snaps.

Jaguars over SAINTS
The Saints have been winning, but I’m not a believer. You have to have a running game and a defense to be successful in this league. New Orleans has neither. Now then, can we stop with all the Saints commercials?

BILLS over Bengals
Buffalo has won four of the last five meetings. And that was when the Bengals were at least decent.

Chargers over VIKINGS
Chargers are looking like a top 5 team again. And when you replace Tavaris Jackson with Brooks Bollinger, is that really an upgrade?

Cardinals over BUCS
Kurt Warner will be back under center and I like his ability to spread the ball around against an aging Bucs secondary. Tampa really squandered a chance to win last week against a backup QB getting his first ever start. Really, I’m not quite sure what to make of the Bucs, like every other team not named Pats or Colts.

BROWNS over Seahawks
This is not the same Seattle team that got to the Super Bowl two years ago, that I am sure of. Meanwhile, Braylon Edwards is quickly becoming a top 5 WR in this league. His catches last week against the Rams were amazing. He puts on a clinic.

RAIDERS over Texans
Looks like Houston might’ve been an early season mirage. Oakland is 2-5, but playing much better. They only lost to Tennessee and KC by a combined 5 points. I’d like to see JaMarcus Russell get a shot here soon. At home, their the pick.

Patriots over COLTS
This Patriots team is simply the greatest team I’ve seen in my lifetime. And I think Vegas agrees---6 point favorites on the road against an undefeated Super Bowl champ? Might be close for a while, but I don’t see Indy’s D stopping the Pats. And with Harrison less than a hundred percent, can they keep up scoring wise? Lets not forget, the defense has gotten better as well. The Pats had a 18 point lead coming out of the half at Indy in the AFC Championship last year. This year, with this ridiculous team, no way they lose. I like the Pats by 14.

Cowboys over EAGLES
Aren’t Pro Bowl quarterbacks suppose to be studying up for the next opponent during a bye week, not getting lap dances from trashy-alcoholic-dysfunctional-baby’s-mamas?

STEELERS over Ravens
One of the best defenses in the NFL against one of the worse offenses, plus there at home. Doesn’t get much easier than this.

Last Week: 9-4
Season: 72-45