Teams listed first are selected to cover the wagering lines. Home teams are in caps.
SUNDAY
DOLPHINS (plus 7) vs. Chargers: Rested mammals, a mixed pod of free agents and vets, keep it close with Dan Henning's SeaWorld-style Wildcat tricks.
TEXANS (plus 3) vs. Colts: Manning 11-1 vs. Texans. Make it 11-2 as he and Colts struggle against inspired side.
Titans (minus 3) vs. RAVENS: Two strong defenses, but Titans have more offensive guns, barely.
PANTHERS (minus 9½) vs. Chiefs: Panthers held LaDanian Tomlinson, Adrian Peterson and Michael Turner under 100 yards each. Now Larry Johnson.
EAGLES (minus 6½) vs. Redskins: Road teams won in this tough division series last year, but not this year.
Bears (minus 3½) vs. LIONS: Matt Millen's assembly line of clunkers hard to shake, especially against the improved Bears.
PACKERS (pick) vs. Falcons: Packers QB may be Matt Flynn, but should be enough to beat a team that struggles on road.
Seahawks (plus 7) vs. GIANTS: Giants lose Plaxico Burress (suspension); Enter WRs Deion Branch and Bobby Engram for Seahawks. Giants 4-15 after bye week.
Buccaneers (plus 3) vs. BRONCOS: Bucs play some D and offer more proof of the shift in balance of power to NFC.
PATRIOTS (minus 3½) vs. 49ers: No video, no tampering, just an off week to ponder loss to Dolphins for Pats, who have outscored opponents 215-95 in games after bye weeks (6-2 in those games under Belichick).
CARDINALS (pick) vs. Bills: Strictly a hunch that Ken Whisenhunt's Cardinals with Kurt Warner and Co. beat upstart Bills in Wild West shootout.
COWBOYS (minus 17) vs. Bengals: Big number, bad team, with ailing QB (Carson Palmer). Bengals go to cero-cinco.
JAGUARS (minus 4) vs. Steelers: Punishing defenses, but Steelers running game is hobbled, while Jags have motivation and a bus for QB David Garrard.
MONDAY
Saints (minus 3) vs. VIKINGS: Minnesotans don't have a QB. Brees and Co. finding stride, and Saints D coming off six sacks, seven hurries and seven passes defensed against 49ers.
Note: Ed Zieralski this week takes over the NFL picks for Jerry Magee, who has retired.
Magee last week: 6-6 Magee season: 26-32-1
