By Kim Harmon

Yes sir, what this world needs are more optimists.

Me – I’m a pessimist. Or a realist. Or maybe both, I don’t know. When I wrote in last week’s column that the Giants “are a terrible 5-4 team, probably the worst in the NFL,” I thought I was being realistic and watching Kerry Collins first get the ball knocked out of his hands and into the hands of a Washington lineman who rumbled in for a touchdown and then, second, fumble on a critical drive, I felt I was vindicated.

But I’ve been told that my negative thoughts my have something to do with the fact that the Jints stink.

Listen, it’s killing me. I watch the games every week because I grew up a Giants fan. I was a Giants fan way back when they really stunk – when quarterback Joe Pisarcik began the era of taking a knee to kill the clock with the now infamous FUMBLE – and I was a fan when they were really good . . . albeit for too short a time.

I watch because I hope and it seems that my hopes get dashed every week.

But, okay, I’ll write something positive and maybe I will influence the outcome of the game this week.

I’m not buying it, though.

Thursday

CHICAGO (+6)_at DETROIT: If Bobby Ross doesn’t make any more boneheaded decisions, the Lions should win. But does that mean they will cover? (KH_- Bears; SB_- Bears)

MIAMI (no line) at_DALLAS: Dan Marino could get the start against the Cowboys and if he falters, Damon Huard will be in right quick. Either way, I can’t see the Cowboys winning this game. Not after seeing them lose to the Cardinals. (KH_- Dolphins; SB_- Cowboys)

Sunday

ARIZONA (+4.5) at NEW YORK GIANTS: Hey, I’m not so blind I couldn’t see that Kerry Collins was actually pretty good (when he wasn’t fumbling into the hands of a lineman who would score the critical touchdown in the game). Collins has a stronger arm than Graham and gives the Giants a much better chance to win than Graham. Having said that, the Giants’ defense should be able to stop the disappointing Cardinals this week and it is conceivable that Collins could put a couple touchdowns on the board for New York. Hey, stranger things have happened. (Guys – that’s as optimistic as I can get right now.) KH – Giants; SB – Giants)

CINCINATTI (+10.5) at PITTSBURGH: If nothing else, the Bengals can play some exciting football. A late comeback against the Ravens fell short, though, and the Bengals fell to 1-10 in the AFC Central. Ouch. Of course, the Steelers are on bit of spiral downwards – especially after that shocking loss to the Browns a couple of weeks ago. What should we do with this line, though? KH – Bengals; SB – Steelers)

JACKSONVILLE (-7) at BALTIMORE: I guess the fans in Jacksonville were glad to see the Jags were back to scoring points – 41 of them in a win over New Orleans. But shocking enough was the fact that the Jags – looking to set a new NFL record for least points allowed – allowed 23 points to the Saints. The Saints! Is this a trend? Nahhh. Against Baltimore, it will be a typical 34-6 type of thing. KH – Jaguars; SB – Ravens)

NEW ENGLAND (+4) at BUFFALO: This game here could determine who isn’t going to go to the playoffs. It’s clear that Miami and Indianapolis are going to make it and that leaves at least one more team from the division . . . considering how well Tennessee is doing in the AFC Central. Will it be the inconsistent Bills or the Patriots, a team that should be 4-6 rather than 6-4? (KH – Bills; SB – Bills)

NEW ORLEANS (+14) at ST. LOUIS: This one just doesn’t seem fair, does it? The highest scoring team in the NFL against one of the worst teams in the NFL, a team that just allowed 41 points in a loss. Man, Ram quarterback Kurt Warner must be licking his chops over this one. (KH – Rams; SB – Saints)

PHILADELPHIA (+10) at WASHINGTON: Forget about what happened a couple weeks ago when the Eagles surprised the Redkins down there in Philly. It ain’t going to happen again. But – even though the Redskins have one of the most potent offenses in the league, they simply can’t stop anybody (except for the Giants). Will that make a difference? (KH – Redskins; SB – Eagles)

SAN DIEGO (+13.5) at MINNESOTA: The Vikings are rested and refreshed, on their climb back to respectability, while the Chargers are tired and sinking down to disrespectability after a 23-20 loss to Chicago in overtime. Does this one get any simpler? (KH – Vikings; SB – Chargers)

TENNESSEE (+10.5) at CLEVELAND: Is it time to start keeping an eye on Cleveland? No, despite a win over Pittsburgh a couple of weeks ago, the Browns still can’t score and still can’t stop anyone from scoring. I’d like to say they are improving, but I can’t. Tell Dan I’m sorry. (KH – Titans, SB – Titans)

TAMPA BAY (no line) at SEATTLE: I think the Seahawks proved a little something winning down in Kansas City last weekend, eh? And Tampa proved nothing after having to squeak out a late win against the 2-8 Atlanta Falcons, for crying out loud. The Bucs have a great defense, but if the opposing offense is too good – like the ‘Hawks – it’s simply too bad. (KH – Seahawks; SB – Seahawks)

KANSAS CITY (+4) at OAKLAND: By all rights, this should be one of those games you look forward to all season long. It used to be that way with Len Dawson and Ken Stabler and all those guys going at it. But in 1999, I don’t know if you can find two more vanilla teams than these. I don’t even care who wins. But I have to pick anyway darn it. (KH – Chiefs; SB – Chiefs)

NEW YORK JETS (+7) at INDIANAPOLIS: It was real nice to see the Jets beat the Bills last week. As crazy as it might sound, they still have a shot at the playoffs (but, then again, doesn’t almost everybody?) Ray Lucas may indeed be something – contrary to my opinion last week. But the Colts are simply one of the best teams in the league right now. The Jets won’t be able to stop ‘em. (KH – Colts; SB – Jets)

ATLANTA (+5) at CAROLINA: The Falcons have proven how one dimensional they were a year ago. Without Jamal Anderson, the Falcons simply cannot move the football down the field and have only scored 127 points this season. Only one other team – the Browns – have scored fewer. (KH – Panthers; SB – Panthers)

Monday Night

GREEN BAY (+6.5) at SAN FRANCISCO: Two teams in steady decline will duke it out on Monday night and not many people outside of those two cities are going to care. But if anything has become crystal clear in the past several weeks, it is this: the Forty-Niners are sinking a whole lot faster than the Packers and there may be no time to get to the life boats. (KH – Packers; SB – Forty Niners)

SCOREBOARD

KIM HARMON                   6-8-1                           74-78-6

STEVE BIGHAM                 8-6-1                           90-62-6