'Tis the season to finish these stinkin' picks while requesting a government bailout for those who used them the past two weeks.

'Tis the season to look back on the careers of Rod and Romeo while looking forward to a XLIIIrd season without a Lions-Browns Super Bowl.

'Tis the season to add the combined December/January losses of Tony Romo while subtracting Wade Phillips from Dallas.

'Tis the season to guarantee there won't be a Denver/San Diego-Arizona Super Bowl. Then again, in this league, San Diego might become the first 8-8 team to win it all.

And, finally, 'tis the season to hand out some awards that aren't quite the same as the ones you'll see in a few weeks:

NYG +6 1/2 at MIN: Vikings by 3 To Adrian Peterson, the MVF. Most Valuable Fumbler.

OAK +13 at TB: Bucs by 10 To Al Davis, the Almost Lifetime Achievement Award. (We'll throw out the past 10 or 20 years.)

DET +9 1/2 at GB: Packers by 35 To Rod Marinelli, the MVFIL: Most Valuable Father-In-Law.

DAL +1 1/2 at PHI: Eagles by 6 To America's Team, the ESPY for Best Tragedy. To ESPN, the ESPY for having the ability to criticize a Cowboy and then sit down with him and ask, "Whaddaya think about all these critics?"

CHI +2 1/2 at HOU: Texans by 3 To Matt Schaub, the MVPWSWCSBJA. Most Valuable Player Whose Season Was Cut Short By Jared Allen. BTW, Schaub now shares Allen's opinion that a player's knees are sacred.

CAR -3 at NO: Saints by 7 To Drew Brees, a possible MVPTBDMRAMTP. Most Valuable Player To Break Dan Marino's Record And Miss the Playoffs.

STL +14 1/2 at ATL: Falcons by 7 To the Falcons, the Good Hands Award. They dug deep within themselves and somehow managed not to fumble seven times in a sterile, climate-controlled dome.

KC +3 at CIN: Bengals by 6 To the Chiefs, a one-way ticket to Ohio, where they would rank among the top three teams in the state.

JAC +12 1/2 at BAL: Ravens by 14 To Jack Del Rio, the "I'm Making Too Much Money Over Too Many Years To Be Fired" award. To Shack Harris, the "I Wasn't Making Too Much Money Over Too Many Years To Be Fired" award.

TEN -3 at IND: Titans by 7 To LenDale White and Keith Bulluck, the "Are You Really Sure You Should Have Stomped On That Terrible Towel After Beating The Steelers?" award.

CLE +10 1/2 at PIT: Steelers by 42 To S. Claus, a lifetime ban from Mike Tomlin's news conferences. To Mike Tomlin, a spot in the Pennsylvania division of Santa's list, right next to those snowball-throwing Eagles fans.

NE -6 1/2 at BUF: Patriots by 10 To the Patriots, "Most Dominating Performance Against A Super Bowl Host City's Team The Year After Going 16-0 And Blowing The Super Bowl."

SEA +6 at ARI: Cardinals by 7 To the Cardinals, "Best Cameo Appearance In A Snowstorm By A Disinterested Warm Weather Team That Had Already Clinched A Playoff Spot."

WAS +3 at SF: 49ers by 6 To the 49ers, the "Don't Get Too Excited, You're Still A Sub-.500 Team In The NFC West" award.

DEN +8 at SD: Chargers by 10 To Ed Hochuli, the "Boy, Am I Glad I'm Not Working This Game" award.

UPSET SPECIAL

MIA +3 at NYJ: Dolphins 24, Jets 21 To Brett Favre, a Pro Bowl berth that should have gone to Chad Pennington. To Pennington, more chances to beat the Jets after Favre turns 40 and/or retires.

Last week: Panthers 20, Giants 17 Result: Giants 34, Panthers 28 Season: 9-7

SEASON TRACKER

Last week 5-11 /7-9 vs. spread

Season 154-83-1/118-116-4