Best bet

Eagles

All picks agaisnt the spread

Falcons (11-5) at Cardinals (9-7)

Line: Falcons by 2 Over/Under: 51 TV-Radio: Ch. 4, WFAN (660), tomorrow, 4:30 p.m.

Happy New Year from Esmeralda the Psychic, who asks: "Whenever the Jets go in another direction, why do they always get lost?"

In a season in which home teams are a miserable 25 games below .500 ATS, there are no home favorites in the first round of the playoffs this week. Not since 1947, when they were based in Chicago, have the Cardinals hosted a playoff game. Even though they were 6-2 (six covers) at home, they're underdogs because they won an atrocious division and because only their passing game is exceptional. Arizona is 3-7 straight-up outside the NFC West; the surprising Falcons almost finished first in the very tough NFC South. The pick: Falcons

Colts (12-4) at Chargers (8-8)

Line: Pick 'em Over/Under: 51 TV-Radio: Ch. 4, WFAN (660), tomorrow, 8 p.m.

Bob Glauber keeps reminding readers that in August he predicted the Brett Favre deal would be a mistake. Bob is listed as questionable this weekend after dislocating his shoulder patting himself on the back. The Chargers won three of the past four meetings, including a postseason upset last year, but they're 0-5 against playoff teams and can't rush the passer or cover. Despite their nine-game streak, the Colts are flawed, too. With no running game and a weak rush defense, they probably won't get past the second round. Peyton Manning will get them that far. The pick: Colts

Ravens (11-5) at Dolphins (11-5)

Line: Ravens by 3? Over/Under: 37? TV-Radio: Ch. 2, WFAN (660), Sunday, 1 p.m.

Why watch: To see Ray Lewis psych his merciless defense into "Crazed Dogs" frenzy. Hail to the Dolphins: Going from 1-15 jokes to division winners is an unprecedented achievement. They maxed out with creativity and by minimizing turnovers, yet as Jersey Joe the Dolphins fan said, "They've done it with smoke and mirrors." The Fish couldn't handle the Ravens' force in Week 7 at Miami, when Baltimore shut down the Wildcat in a 27-13 win. It's been a terrific surprise party, but it's time to turn out the lights. The pick: Ravens

Eagles (9-5-1) at Vikings (10-6)

Line: Eagles by 3 Over/Under: 42 TV-Radio: Ch. 5, WFAN (660), Sunday, 4:30 p.m.

In the past three seasons, the hottest team, not necessarily the best team, won the Super Bowl. Kevin the Giants fan fears that the surging Eagles have the magic dust, saying they remind him of last year's Giants. Everything broke right in Week 17 for the Eagles, who upstaged Lazarus after being left for dead at 5-5-1. They get shaky Tarvaris Jackson in his playoff debut for a mistake-prone team. Jim Johnson's complex blitz schemes devour young QBs, and Philly can contain Adrian Peterson. The pick: Eagles

WILD-CARD PLAYOFFS

Tomorrow

Atlanta at Arizona, 4:30 p.m., Ch. 4

Indianapolis at San Diego, 8 p.m., Ch. 4

Sunday

Baltimore at Miami, 1 p.m., Ch. 2

Philadelphia at Minnesota,

4:30 p.m., Ch. 5

DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS

Saturday, Jan. 10

TBD at Tennessee, 4:30 p.m., Ch. 2

TBD at Carolina, 8:15 p.m., Ch. 5

Sunday, Jan. 11

TBD at Giants, 1 p.m., Ch. 5

TBD at Pittsburgh, 4:45 p.m., Ch. 2

CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

Sunday, Jan. 18

NFC, 3 p.m., Ch. 5

AFC, 6:30 p.m., Ch. 2

The Picks

Our writers' picks for this week's NFL games | Best bet picks are in bold.

Ed McNamara

127-122-7 best bets: 10-7

Falcons Ravens

Colts Eagles

Bob Glauber

123-126-7 best bets: 4-13

Cardinals Dolphins

Colts Vikings

Tom Rock

133-116-7 best bets: 7-10

Cardinals Dolphins

Colts Eagles

Erik Boland

127-122-7 best bets: 4-11-2

Cardinals Ravens

Colts Vikings