THE PICK - WEEK 4

A quick update, since there is a good chance there might be something more important than football happening in my life today.

I think the Jets can beat the Colts today. Whether or not they will, I'm not sure. But I think the Jets can beat the Colts, and here is my argument why:

The Jets have always played Peyton Manning and the Colts pretty well - especially with Chad Pennington at the helm. He doesn't make mistakes, so against the Indy defense, he can put up points and keep up with the Colts offense. Now, add to that the fact that Eric Mangini has been a part of the Patriots teams that have shut down the Colts in recent years, that's a pretty good formula. So there's one thought.

The second goes back to 2002. This is sort of a statement game, like Jets-Chargers in 2002. The Jets went out to San Diego with a losing record in 2002, blew out the Chargers in a game they weren't supposed to come close to winning, and never looked back en route to a division championship (and a playoff victory over the same Colts - to the tune of 41-0).

The circumstances this time around are a little different - the Jets have a 2-1 record, but the results could be the same. If the Jets, 9-and-a-half point underdogs, win this game - watch out. They could just blow their way into the playoffs.

Last week I alluded to the fact that the Jets could hit the bye week 5-3 or 6-2. 5-3 is if the Jets lose their next two games - to Indy and Jacksonville. 6-2 is if they win one of those two games. Imagine they win all of their games (Indy, Jacksonville, Miami, Detroit, Cleveland - those last three are all winnable) - they could be 7-1. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

The Jets showed they're better than average by beating Buffalo pretty handily, in Buffalo, last week. This week they can show how much of a contender they can be this year (that goes for next week's game too). I think Indy squeaks by the Jets this week - but the Jets do send a message. And since this isn't the place to find a realistic Jets score, and since I just made a case for the Jets winning, my official pick for the week is Jets 31, Colts 27.

Here's how the gang stacks up in the pick 'em league.

1. The Wife: 26 wins
2. Southern Bureau: 22 wins
3. Johnnyjets: 21 wins
Dave in Brighton: 21 wins
Justin in NYC: 21 wins
6. Cousin Eddie: 20 wins

P.S. The Patriots are the 4 o'clock game, and CBS has the doubleheader, so the Jets are on Channel 4 here in Boston at 1. Good news, just in case I have to trade in the Sunday Ticket for some hospital scrubs today.