FanNation - The Republic of Sport

   You don't play in a game as heavily hyped as Patriots-Colts last week and easily arouse yourself to play seven days later. That game had to take a pretty heavy physical and psychological toll on both teams.

   The Patriots have never received a better-timed bye. Everybody needs a week off after that near-death (to the perfect season, anyway) experience. By the time they get back on the field next Sunday night at Buffalo, they'll be primed and ready to play football againb, a good thing, for this game could be trouble. Buffalo has gotten hot and is now 4-4 (6-2 if not for Denver and Dallas' last-second field goals). The Pats pounded them 38-7 in Week 3, but J.P. Losman is back after being injured on the first play that day.

   As for Indy...the Colts are bound for 7-2. After blowing a 10-point lead at home with less than 10 minutes left, they needed the Dolphins or the Rams badly. Instead, they get a trip to San Diego. The Chargers have been up and down all year, but mostly up at home, and I'm suspecting this game is an ambush waiting to happen. CHARGERS 28, COLTS 23.

   On to the rest (14-6 last week, 115-65 season):

   PANTHERS 17, FALCONS 14: Atlanta winning two straight? Seriously...

   PACKERS 26, VIKINGS 20: Nothing like the frozen tundra to slow Adrian Peterson down a bit.

   CHIEFS 20, BRONCOS 13: Always choose medicore over bad.

   BILLS 27, DOLPHINS 16: Marshawn Lynch wants his 200-yard game.

   SAINTS 30, RAMS 20: Now they look like the '06 Saints. Perhaps losing Deuce McAllister tookthe pressure off.

   STEELERS 34, BROWNS 21: Who would've thought after the Steelers romped on opening day that the rematch would be for the division lead?

   TITANS 16, JAGUARS 10: Take the home team in this collision of offensive inconsistency.

    REDSKINS 27, EAGLES 14: Andy Reid should think about next season and deal his kids to Cincinnati for some draft choices.

    RAVENS 20, BENGALS 18: The Disappointment Bowl.

    CARDINALS 24, LIONS 21: This is the kind of game Arizona steals every November.

    GIANTS 27, COWBOYS 23: The inevitable insurrection against Tom Coughlin is delayed at least one week.

    RAIDERS 17, BEARS 16: Brian Griese, tell your dad to tell his old coach to shut his asterisk up.

    SEAHAWKS 24, 49ers 10: That first-round pick San Francisco dealt to the Pats on draft day is currently number 4. And some still wonder why the football world hates New England these days.

    And in college:

    GEORGIA 33, AUBURN 30: Because we need a high-scoring SEC shootout every week. 

    USC 26, CALIFORNIA 20: The Trojans can still grab a Rose Bowl bid if Oregon squeezes into the BCS title game.

    OHIO STATE 27, ILLINOIS 12: Mind your business, Buckeyes. Michigan is next week.

    LSU 48, LOUISIANA TECH 10: Time out from the SEC wars for some nonconference pummeling.

    OKLAHOMA STATE 34, KANSAS 32: That 76-point eruption doesn't change the face that OSU is the best team the Jayhawks have played this year (nonconference patsies, and no Texas or Oklahoma). But if KU gets through the rest of its schedule undefeated, the boys will have earned it.

    OKLAHOMA 54, BAYLOR 3: The Sooners lurk, waiting for Ohio State, LSU or Oregon to stumble. All three still might.