By Bob Bonett

Headline from ESPN.com: Jets sticking with Chad Pennington as starting QB.

The oath of silence continues.

Across town, though, the Giants are still fair game. And whether the NFC wants to admit it or not, there is a new favorite in town, because Big Blue is not showing any signs of slowing.

Take a look at their game last week against the 49ers. With the exception of Trent Dilfer’s garbage time touchdown, the defense gave up seven points. After drawing so much criticism after the first two weeks of the season, it is clear that the likes of Mathias Kiwanuka, Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora have a chip on their shoulder the size of Giants Stadium.

The team not only holding oppositions to few points, either. They are punishing every offense they play, often touching up the quarterback for eye-popping sack numbers, forcing him to throw poor passes that are intercepted, and what is seemingly once a week, taking back one of those miscues for a touchdown.

I know the Cowboys, Redskins and Eagles play in the same division as the Giants. Also, I am aware that Tom Coughlin has a long, celebrated history with the G-Men of second-half collapses.

Look at how the team is clicking, though. Instead of having a problem without Tiki Barber, New York features the most deadly three-headed backfield attack in the NFL with Reuben Droughns, Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward are all capable of putting up 100-plus yards of rushing each game.

The biggest test for the Giants will be Dallas, America’s team. They have only one loss on the year, and are in first place in the division without Terry Glenn even stepping foot on the field. And when Glenn returns, their passing game will literally be unstoppable with Tony Romo able to hook up with three receivers that are capable of being feature wideouts: Glenn, Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton.

There is a problem with the Cowboys case, though; they are one-dimensional. And we’re talking the ultimate version of one-dimensionality: they only have a passing game. Nick Folk is a good kicker, but the rest of the special teams is nothing to scoff at; Julius Jones and Marion Barber III are being so under-used by Wade Phillips that if they finally get substantial time in the game, they will be rusty; and the defensive secondary is arguably the worst not only in the NFC East, but in the NFL.

Combine all of those factors, and you create the perfect storm for the Giants. They will be able to dedicate all pressure to Tony Romo—which, after seeing what that did to Donovan McNabb, the ‘Boys could be in trouble—and Eli Manning will have free reign over the field, specifically with his ability to manipulate the poor pass coverage of Roy Williams and company with the likes of Jeremy Shockey, Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer.

I know my track record is poor with predictions—specifically considering the Red Sox almost blew the ALCS after I guaranteed victory—but the Giants look to me to be the favorite in the NFC.

And in Week 17, when the G-Men face the 15-0 Patriots, Bell Belichick and company will be in some serious trouble at Giants Stadium.

Now, let’s rebound from last week’s 6-8 showing with some picks:

BEST BET
New Orleans (-3) at San Francisco: Maybe the Giants just made the ‘Niners look silly. However, even if Alex Smith starts, San Francisco is such a mess that they can’t keep any team this close. Pick: Saints

GAME OF THE WEEK
Washington (+16.5) at New England: I am actually somewhat intrigued here. I’m picking Tom Brady and company to cover the spread and all; however, if Jason Campbell and the Redskins defense clicks, and the stars align, and the heavens open…never mind. Pick: Patriots

J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS:
Buffalo (-3) at New York Jets: I don’t have words. Pick: Bills

THE REST
Cleveland (-3) at St. Louis: You know football in St. Louis has gotten bad when, at home, they are the underdogs against Cleveland. Here’s to Stephen Jackson sparking the Rams’ offense. Pick: Rams

Detroit (+5) at Chicago: Brian Griese looks shockingly comfortable at the helm for the Bears, and the Lions have had trouble winning on the road this year. Pick: Bears

Indianapolis (-7) at Carolina: Carolina’s quarterback situation is in shambles, and Peyton wouldn’t mind the media remembering that the Colts, too, are undefeated. Pick: Colts

New York Giants (-9.5) at Miami: What a bogus home game for Miami, forced to play in London. I don’t agree with the NFL taking a game out of North America during the regular season; if Miami was in the playoff race, they would not be at all happy. They aren’t in the playoff race, though, and I am abandoning my promise of picking them every week until they win. Pick: Giants

Oakland (+7.5) at Tennessee: Rob Bironas is not going to kick eight field goals against, and the Oakland defense, with the exception of a hiccup against Larry Johnson, looked great last week. Pick: Raiders

Philadelphia (-1) at Minnesota: My man crush on Adrian Peterson may seriously be  hindering my judgment calls in Minnesota games. Pick: Vikings

Pittsburgh (-3.5) at Cincinnati: Call me crazy, but Carson Palmer, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson wouldn’t mind getting to 3-4 against their rivals. Pick: Bengals

Houston (-9.5) at San Diego: Sorry, Sage Rosenfels; the Chargers are back and better than ever. Pick: Chargers

Jacksonville (-4) at Tampa Bay: What’s the deal, oddsmakers? One Jaguars loss and you are off Jacksonville’s bandwagon? Pick: Jaguars

Green Bay (+3) at Denver: Favre and the Packers are toast; Cutler’s going to have his second straight field day. Pick: Broncos

Strahan and the Giants are on their way to an NFC crown. (sports.yahoo.com)