Well, I called the Patriots' mini-upset at Miami last week, and had Seattle with the points vs. Washington. And that concludes the good-news portion of our program. My season could only be worse if the laptop computer on which I write my picks suddenly animated itself and started laughing and mocking me. Or spitting. I must say the nightmare season also has strained relations with the Upset Bird, creating a Simon & Garfunkel-esque aawwkwardness.

• Thursday picks: Titans (-11) over Lions 35-13; Cowboys (-12 ½) over Seahawks 27-17; and Eagles (-3) over Cardinals 34-28.

• Last week: 7-9 overall (.438); 6-10 vs. spread (.375).

• Season: 98-77-1 overall (.560); 74-91-11 vs. spread (.445).

This week's selections:

DOLPHINS (6-5) AT RAMS (2-9)

• When: 1 p.m. Sunday • TV: CBS

• Line: Off • Cote: MIA 27-24

This one worries me. Oh, the Rammed stink. That hasn't changed. St. Lose has lost five straight, is 1-4 at home, is one of three squads (Lions, Bengals) mathematically out of playoff chase, and might be NFL's worst team -- which, in a league with Detroit, is saying something. It's just that Miami, after last week's defensive meltdown following narrow wins over two bad teams, ain't exactly on a roll. Plus Miami has Bills on deck, and I'm not sure if Dolphins are smart enough to know they're not good enough to take this for granted or look ahead. Loss of Greg Camarillo doesn't help. And it looks like all three of StL's former Pro Bowl guys -- QB Marc Bulger, RB Steven Jackson, OT Orlando Pace -- will be back from injuries. Major upset potential.

BEARS (6-5) AT VIKINGS (6-5)

• When: 8:15 p.m. Sunday • TV: NBC

• Line: MIN by 3 ½ • Cote: MIN 24-21

OK, so it isn't as sexy a matchup as Steelers-Patriots or as attractive nationally as Giants-Redskins. Sue me. The GOTW committee will not be a slave to convention! We will occasionally base our choice solely on merit! Seriously. Don't be such a snob. It's Bears-Vikings on a prime-time stage in a battle for first place in the NFC North. What more do you people want!? Chitown beat Minny in an October shootout by a WNBA score (48-41), but I like the Purples in their throwback jerseys here. Vikes are 4-1 at home, and have beaten Bears in five of past six meetings at The Humpty. Oh yeah, and Adrian Peterson in three career games vs. Windytown has averaged 141 rushing yards and scored seven touchdowns.

GIANTS (10-1) AT REDSKINS (7-4)

• When: 1 p.m. Sunday • TV: None

• Line: NYG by 3 ½ • Cote: WAS 20-17

``AAWWK!'' honks the Upset Bird. ``I'm thankful for surviving a holiday that aggrandizes bird-killing. Aawwk!'' Always a risk to pick against NYG, and Biggies have won past two trips to Landover, but I'm still hunching homies here on day slain Sean Taylor is inducted into club's Ring of Honor. Win here is much more vital to Washers, who also could catch a sizable break if gimpy/iffy Brandon Jacobs can't go. ``Washington,'' affirms a nodding U-Bird. ``Waawwk!''

CHIEFS (1-10) AT RAIDERS (3-8)

• When: 4:15 p.m. Sunday • TV: None

• Line: OAK by 3 • Cote: OAK 30-16

I've been hearing this game barking at me all week. It is the only one of 12 Sunday games in which neither team can even pretend to be in the playoff hunt. That's dog heaven! The fact KC has won five straight games at Oakland is a trend that gives us pause here, but not much. Oaks showed some muscle in upsetting Denver last week, beat Injuns 23-8 in Week 2, and I love the matchup of Justin Fargas/Darren McFadden versus KC's barely existent run defense.

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