By By James J. Parziale

A thank you goes out to my girlfriend for making my selections last week. Her picks clinched my first Sunday crown and best week thus far (10-4 or 9-5). From this point on she’s helping steer this ship away from the iceberg, so let’s hope lightning strikes twice.

GAMES OF THE WEEK

Indianapolis (7-0) -3 at New England (4-3): If ever there was a player with a monkey on his back, it’s Peyton Manning. The Patriots are his foil and Manning would auction his MVP Trophy and single-season passing touchdown record on EBay to expunge a 0-7 record at Foxboro. Two of his more image-shattering losses have come the past two postseasons at the hands of the Patriots, and this is his shot at exorcising the demons.

Pats coach Bill Belichick has dibs on Manning’s football soul until he can beat New England, but Belichick isn’t working with a full deck this year-on the field that is. A win here solidifies the Colts as the favorites to win the AFC. Pick: Colts

Carolina (5-2) -1.5 at Tampa Bay (5-2): With QB Brian Griese out for the year, you knew trouble was on the horizon for the Bucs. Yet losing last week to the 49ers doesn’t signify a minor snag-it is Code Red. QB Chris Simms is fortunate his father, Phil, wasn’t watching his son make a mockery of the family name. The Panthers, fresh off a bye (beating the Vikings is like a week off), now are the frontrunners to nab the NFC South title. Pick: Panthers

Atlanta (5-2) -2 at Miami (3-4): Mike Vick is averaging more yards per rush (6.2) than completion (5.7) this season. Vick is on pace to throw 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. If I was starting a team, Vick wouldn’t crack my top 10 ranking for quarterbacks. Yet despite his flimsy statistics, the Falcons are winning games with the running and defense. Pick: Falcons

Cincinnati (6-2) -3 at Baltimore (2-5): Bengals coach Marvin Lewis is now the one laughing. When he vacated the Ravens defensive coordinator slot three years ago to take over a 1-15 Bengals team, everyone thought his chances at turning around a cursed franchise were a joke. Pick: Bengals

Detroit (3-4) -1.5 at Minnesota (2-5): For QB Daunte Culpepper, the silver lining in getting hurt is he won’t be a part of the mockery that in the Vikings. They are unbearable to watch, let alone write about. Jeff Garcia threw away a chance at first place with his interception in overtime against the Bears. Reports said he apologized to teammates after the game, smacking each on firmly in the rear end with an open palm. Pick: Lions

Houston (1-6) +13 at Jacksonville (4-3): The Texans got their win out of the way. The pressure is off until at least the middle of next season. Pick: Jaguars

Oakland (3-4) +4.5 at Kansas City (4-3): This game should undress the pretender in the AFC West. The Chiefs revamped defense flopped last week against the Chargers. The Raiders converted their lay-up against the Titans with Randy Moss primarily a decoy. The Chiefs better hope he doesn’t turn into a threat. Pick: Chiefs

Chargers (4-4) -6 at NY Jets (2-5): Chargers RB LaDanian Tomlinson has thrown as many touchdowns (three) this season as Jets QBs Vinny Testaverde, Chad Pennington, Brooks Bollinger and Jay Fiedler combined. Still, the Jets can lay the wood on defense. Pick: Jets

Tennessee (2-6) +3 at Cleveland (2-5): I don’t like high school football, so I’m not even going to go here. Pick: Browns

Chicago (4-3) -3 at New Orleans (2-6): Saints owner Tom Benson pulled a Randy Johnson and smacked up a cameraman after last week’s loss. All Saints fans should be able to take a swipe at Benson, who has his bags packed for Los Angeles. It’s a travesty. Pick: Bears

NY Giants (5-2) -10 at San Francisco (2-5): What do Alex Smith, Ken Dorsey and Cody Pickett all have in common? They are all 49ers QBs, and all make me nauseas when they play. This is the Giants first trip to San Fran since blowing a 38-14 lead in the Wild Card playoff of January 2003, but don’t look to the past as a harbinger here. Pick: Giants

Seattle (5-2) -4 at Arizona (2-5): Kurt Warner is starting again so he should no longer be depressed. But he still has to wake up to his wife every morning. She fell out the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. Pick: Seahawks

Pittsburgh (5-2) -6 at Green Bay (1-6): Before the season started, Brett Favre dismissed the idea of training rookie Aaron Rodgers. Favre said Rodgers could watch and learn, but he wouldn’t train his replacement. Well, Rodgers should be counting his blessings. Favre is on pace to throw 30 interceptions, but probably won’t get there because he’ll be on the bench. Pick: Steelers

Philadelphia (4-3) +2 at Washington (4-3): The Redskins were skunked 36-0 last week. The Eagles were blown away by 28. If this isn’t the Bounce-Back Bowl, what is? The Broncos exposed the Eagles as flukes that lack a running game. The Eagles were down by four touchdowns before Donovan McNabb completed a pass. This division is tougher than years past, and the Eagles are a shell of themselves. Pick: Redskins