This week's sexy pick, and my usual ramblings

Yes, they're getting more and more gratuitous as the season progresses. This, perhaps, evidences my boredom with the whole thing. Or a blatant grab for readers. Or perhaps I'm amusing myself to the exclusion of others. I was told that this photo was too much.....so of course I must put it here.

Yes, fans, the Patriots are now the sexiest pick in the land - as proclaimed by Tony Dungy Sunday night..."I think they're the best football team in the NFL." As pre-season favorites have fallen by the wayside in Dallas, New York, and Minnesota, the Pats have bum-rushed the conversation by beating everyone but the Cleveland Browns (they beat the old Browns, though). Can they be beaten? Yes, absolutely - the Giants proved that in the Super Bowl: you get pressure on Brady and they can be defeated. Will it happen? Who knows, the AFC is tough. The two things I like about this year's Patriots are: 1) an emerging ground game; and 2) an emerging defense. I wouldn't get fitted for a ring just yet, but they've got an excellent shot at it.

Better than the Jets. Good lord, those fellas are falling apart. If I were a Dallas fan, I'd be pulling to retain Jason Garrett based on the reports coming from their practices - tough practice makes tough players, and tough players win games.

As is my weekly custom, I'll report the progress on my Great NFL Picking Experiment. I was 84-63 going into the "week" and am 11-5 this week....an overall 95-68 record so far. If I was in Vegas sitting at the sports book, I might be hitting the black by now. Maybe, but more than likely I'd spend it all on food.

Indy beats Tennessee: The Titan ship has sunk....Colts must win Sunday just to be relevant...who thought you'd hear that this time of year?

Cleveland loses to Buffalo: in the snow. Well, I believed in Peyton Hillis' ability to run over the Bills and I was wrong. So it goes.

Green Bay loses to Detroit: I said that the Packers SHOULD win this one and I reiterated it for emphasis. Lions will be much-improved very very soon.

Tampa beats Redskins: Oh no, Gano. I'm out on this one. Taking a mulligan.

Atlanta beats Carolina: long season in Pantherville, like I keep saying.

Oakland loses to Jax: Jaguars might be a decent team, if they played in LA and not North Fla.

Cincy loses to Steelers: right. No surprise.

Seattle lost to Frisco: what the hell? Does anyone want to win the NFC West? A team with a losing record could actually make the playoffs. Awful.

St Louis loses to Saints: remember the Saints? No? Super Bowl champs? Onside kick after the stunningly dull halftime show? Not ringing a bell???

Minnesota loses to NY Giants: the big news, of course, was that the Metrodome collapsed and this game was played in Detroit. The bigger news? Nah, that was it. Giants rolled 'em.

Denver loses to Arizona: seriously....what's with the West and NFL teams. Name one good team....just one. OK, the Chargers might be considered good right now. Somehow, Arizona might still make the playoffs...

Patriots dump Bears: in the snow. I love snow games. Hell, even rain games are fun to watch. The NFL should dump the whole idea of domes and keep the "weather as a factor". Makes the game fun.

KC lost to Chargers: Philip Rivers keeps on keepin' on. Chiefs are about to plummet.

Philly beats Dallas: close game. Garrett has the Cowboys playing better football.

Miami beat Jets: I was sure that the Jets would kill the Fish in NYC. Nope, I guess because the Jets play in .... New Jersey!

Baltimore beats Texans: in OT, well after I'd drifted off to sleep dreaming of sugarplums dancing with circus bears whilst Ivana Trump fed me figs under a palm tree in Dubai. I don't wanna talk about it.

How about that Cliff Lee, huh? Walked away from about $30 million bucks. At first, I found myself thinking "oh, it's only $30 million, no biggie." But, I mean, look at your checkbook and think that over.......Sheesh.... he must hate the Yankees and their fans as much I do....lick it, Yanks!