Patriots (-14.5) 34, Giants 10

Some of the experts think Giants coach Tom Coughlin owes it to the NFL to play his starters. It’s ridiculous to demand Coughlin set his own team’s best interests aside to allegedly protect the integrity of the game. But hey, as a Pats fan, I can go along with the notion that the rest of the NFL revolves around the New England Patriots this year.

Bengals (-3) 34, Dolphins 18

The Bengals lost to the Patriots on Monday Night Football. Miami defended the 1972 Dolphins’ honor by losing to the Patriots twice this year.

Browns (-10) 30, 49ers 24

Romeo’s boys lost to the Patriots and actually put up a pretty decent fight. The 49ers have the privilege of turning over a Top 10 draft pick to the Patriots after they win a Super Bowl.

Panthers (-3) 24, Buccaneers 19

Carolina can at least say it lost to the Patriots in the Super Bowl once. The Buccaneers will soon wish they lost to the Patriots at some point this season so that at least people would remember they won anything this year.

Rams (+6) 28, Cardinals 17

The Cardinals left St. Louis, which almost got the Patriots to move there but had to settle for the Rams, which lost to the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI when, as Ricky Proehl predicted, a dynasty was born.

Falcons (-3) 20, Seahawks 17

Seattle gets to lose to the Patriots next year. The Falcons have to wait until the year after that.

Packers (-3) 22, Lions 20

The Packers could have lost to the Patriots in the Super Bowl if they hadn’t blown their chances at securing home field advantage. Detroit has been playing poorly enough to lose to the 1990 Patriots.

Texans (-6.5) 27, Jaguars 20

If they get a running back and improve their offensive line, the Texans will be my sleeper team to knock off the Patriots in 2008. The Jags will show how equipped they are to beat the Patriots when they lose to the Patriots in two weeks.

Vikings (-3) 27, Broncos 3

The Patriots will break Minnesota’s season scoring record this week. Mike Shanahan’s record against the Patriots is so good that more than a few Patriots fans would have been nervous if Denver made the playoffs this year.

Saints (-2) 32, Bears 14

A lot of people picked the Saints to play the Patriots in the Super Bowl this year. A lot of other people would like to have been half right. The Patriots will supplant the 1985 Bears as the greatest team of all time when they win the Super Bowl.

Eagles (-7.5) 33, Bills 26

As it turns out, Philly’s blueprint to beat the Patriots worked about as well as Buffalo’s blueprint to beat the Patriots.

Jets (-6) 3, Chiefs 0

The Jets were responsible for unleashing the 2007 Patriots on the rest of the NFL. They deserve a win. KC realized how great the Patriots were eight weeks ago and wisely gave up.

Steelers (-3.5) 24, Ravens 6

Merril Hoge still thinks the Steelers are better than the Patriots. Sadly, so do many Steelers fans. The Ravens came closest beating the Patriots, then remembered they were the Ravens before it was too late.

Chargers (-8) 40, Raiders 17

San Diego had the misfortune of being next on the Patriots’ schedule the week after the Spygate story broke. It took them about six weeks to recover. The Raiders used to be hated as much as the Patriots are now.

Titans (-6.5) 29, Colts 26

With a win, the Titans earn the right to try to earn the right to lose to the Patriots in two weeks, you know, a week before the Colts actually lose to the Patriots.

Redskins (-9.5) 28, Cowboys 20

The Patriots subjected the Redskins to the most humiliating defeat of 2007, yet, to their credit, the Redskins have regrouped and should end up in the postseason. A postseason, incidentally, which will end with the Cowboys losing to the Patriots, again.

Last week: 8-8

Season: 148-90