And another thing on that wonderful, crazy finale to that wonderful, crazy game: How could the Fox announcers have not known that the holder on a placekick can't spike the ball, stopping the clock? Only a quarterback under center can do that, not one set up behind the line of scrimmage. I'll be honest: I didn't know that. But Troy Aikman was a quarterback! And not that long ago. And he did play in the shotgun formation, though not as much as most of his contemporaries. Still, did nobody ever tell him, "Hey, you can't spike the ball in the shotgun"?

I still think, incidentally, that even though Matt Allen couldn't have spiked the ball legally, he did have options, since it was only third down. He could have quickly fired the ball at the feet of an eligible receiver for an incomplete pass. That would have taken less than six seconds, and might have been quick enough that ineligible receivers wouldn't have had a chance to get downfield. He might even have had time to take a few steps to get outside the tackles, then quickly throw it away, which would have been legal.

On the other hand, we wouldn't even be talking about this if the officials hadn't blown the call, or if the Giants hadn't collapsed in the first place and let the 49ers back into the game.

Human error! Ain't life grand?

Saturday

Last week I went 2-2. The two teams I picked to win on Saturday got munched, and a few of you wrote me taunting e-mails. On Sunday I got both games right, thanks to those thrilling comebacks by the Niners and Steelers, and does anyone write to me? Where is the love, people?

Pittsburgh Steelers at Tennessee Titans (4:30 p.m. EST, CBS): The Titans are the hottest team coming into the playoffs, having won 10 of their last 11. They're ripe for a fall if this season's patterns are a guide, but I don't see the Steelers beating them. Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair and running back Eddie George will benefit from the week off to nurse nagging injuries, and one must suspect the Steelers shot their bolt in that comeback against the Browns last week. Titans.

Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles (8 p.m., Fox): Ditto the Falcons, who stomped the Packers in Green Bay. Mike Vick won't be able to run around against Philadelphia the way he does against most teams, and the Eagles will have Donovan McNabb back. I don't even know why I'm pointing that out. They'd win without him too. Eagles.

Sunday

San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 p.m., Fox): The Bucs' defense is too fast and too good for Jeff Garcia to do what he did against New York in the fourth quarter Sunday. The only hope the 49ers have is if Tampa Bay quarterback Brad Johnson isn't recovered from a back injury that kept him out of the last two regular season games. He says he is. Buccaneers.

New York Jets at Oakland Raiders (4:30 p.m., CBS): This ought to be the best game of the weekend. Two hot quarterbacks, two fine receiving corps, two great offensive lines: This one's gonna be a shootout! Is it my imagination or do these kinds of games always end up 13-9? I thought the Jets' run would end last week. Wow, was I wrong. Maybe I'll be right this week. Raiders.

The weeks ahead

Titans over the Raiders in the AFC Championship Game. Bucs over the Eagles in the NFC -- yeah, in the cold. Tampa Bay wins the Super Bowl.

Of course, I reserve the right to start again after my picks for this weekend all get beat.

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