New York Jets at New England
With apologies to my employers, Colts-Patriots is not the NFL rivalry of the decade. Jets-Patriots may be. Bill Belichick kick started the fun by resigning as “HC of the NYJ” on a piece of loose-leaf paper on January 3, 2000 and the acrimony has built ever since.

This is the perfect game for the Patriots after the devastating loss to the Colts. There can’t be a letdown — N.E. safety Brandon Meriweather says the Pats have been waiting for the Jets since Week 2.

The Jets have one component necessary to beat the Patriots: a strong pass defense. But they don’t have much else consistently, and they haven’t beaten a non-Raider team since Week 3. The Jets’ defense isn’t the same without Kris Jenkins and they can’t win a shootout.

Bring some Kleenex, Rex.

Pick: Patriots 31, Jets 13

Cincinnati at Oakland
The Bengals have conquered every test this season. Now they must prove they can avoid playing down to their competition.

The Browns took Cincinnati to overtime early in this year in Cleveland, so there is some precedent for a road letdown. The difference now is that the Bengals’ defense has improved throughout and now ranks among the league’s best, especially against the pass.

The Raiders finally benched JaMarcus Russell for Bruce Gradkowski, but that won’t improve matters. Gradkowski’s one of the league's worst backups playing with one of the worst group of receivers. And against one of the best pair of cornerbacks.

Pick: Bengals 17, Raiders 7

San Diego at Denver
It’s all about Chris Simms. If Denver’s backup gets the start, the Broncos are not going to be able to score enough to stick with San Diego’s passing attack. If Kyle Orton is healthy, the Broncos could absolutely end their slide and surprise people. Again.

Orton wasn’t the same last season in Chicago after returning from an ankle injury, but he still gives the Broncos a much better chance than Simms, who looked skittish in the pocket last week.

We are making this pick under protest early in the week because of lack of information. If Simms plays, give the Broncos a 25 percent to win. If Orton plays, make it 55 percent at home. The average doesn’t add up to a victory.

Pick: Chargers 23, Broncos 17

Philadelphia at Chicago
The Eagles are in the midst of another November swoon, and the Bears are quickly disintegrating.

Another loss by Philly would drop the Eagles to 5-5, and calls would return for the jobs of coach Andy Reid and quarterback Donovan McNabb.

Such calls already are coming in Chicago for coach Lovie Smith, and they’ll only intensify if the Bears lose at home to native son McNabb and fall to 4-6.

The key to this one could be the establishment of a running game. Neither team can do much in that regard, but at least the Bears try. Throw in a shorthanded Philly secondary, and the home team could be getting back to .500.

Pick: Bears 17, Eagles 10

Tennessee at Houston
At 3-6, and notwithstanding a three-game winning streak, the Titans likely won’t be heading to the playoffs.

But they could go a long way toward disrupting the efforts of the team in their former hometown to get to the postseason for the first time in eight-year franchise history by knocking off the Texans.

The conservative but dynamic Tennessee offense, with plenty of runs from Chris Johnson and low-risk passes from Houston native Vince Young, has helped the Titans recover some of the magic of a season ago.

So while taking their 2008 success to the next level could be unrealistic, giving a proverbial middle finger to the Texans’ hopes is within reach.

Pick: Titans 24, Texans 20

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