The Crystal Ball is having flashbacks. But that goes against today's agenda. It's time to forge ahead for the next-to-last installment of weekly picks.

Rams 32, 49ers 31: The greatest game ever played? Nope. Greatest show on turf? Nope (despite the St. Louis returns of Isaac Bruce and Mike Martz). Greatest embarrassment of the 49ers' season? Yep.

Texans 30, Raiders 20: Still irate over assistant James Cregg's resignation, Raiders coach Tom Cable locks the Coliseum gates to prevent fans from leaving early, too. That message is lost when no fans show up in the first place.

Cowboys 23, Ravens 16: The playoff-bound Cowboys win their final game in Texas Stadium. But there are no balloons dropping from the ceiling. Apparently, nobody ever did fix that hole in the roof.

Giants 17, Panthers 10: The Giants clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, which means they can continue shooting themselves at their favorite Manhattan nightclubs rather than some out-of-town joint.

Titans 20, Steelers 17: Even without Albert Haynesworth, the Titans' line still intimidates like those at your local post office. By clinching AFC home-field advantage, that qualifies as another "Music City Miracle."

Patriots 23, Cardinals 20: In Cactus League lingo, only 14 days until Arizona quarterbacks and receivers report to the wild-card playoffs. In Patriots lingo, it's just another win en route to the playoffs.

Bengals 16, Browns 10: A few days after a woman in Cleveland got the nation's first face transplant, the Bengals win this ... wait for it, wait for it ... face-off against their in-state rival.

Saints 28, Lions 10: The winless Lions fail to deliver a win in their home finale. That's a nice show of allegiance to Detroit's newspapers that also are stopping home delivery.

Chargers 27, Buccaneers 26: Yes, the Chargers stink in East Coast games. But Tampa is on Florida's West Coast.

Dolphins 23, Chiefs 20: When Chiefs president Carl Peterson resigned with two games remaining, somewhere Cable was going ballistic and investigating if Peterson got poached by Lane Kiffin.

Broncos 23, Bills 21: Fearing they might get robbed of the AFC West title, the Broncos ask all visitors to remove their hats and sunglasses before entering the jewelry store, er, stadium.

Jets 23, Seahawks 20: It's another Mike Holmgren-Brett Favre reunion. But it won't be their last. How 'bout Holmgren as the Jets coach in 2009?

Vikings 20, Falcons 15: Fine, the Vikings clinch a playoff spot. But that likely means they won't let Adrian Peterson go nuts next week as he flirts with a 2,000-yard rushing season.

Eagles 17, Redskins 16: The Redskins fall to 0-4 at home since the November presidential election. Could this be the start of some curse?

Colts 23, Jaguars 21: Peyton Manning asks the Jags if they want him to buy anything over in Hawaii, seeing how no Jags are Pro Bowl-bound for the first time since their 1995 debut season.

Packers 21, Bears 20: A month after losing 37-3 at Green Bay, the Bears at least make it closer this time in a "Monday Night Football" melodrama.

Contact Cam Inman at cinman@bayareanewsgroup.com