INSIDE THE MATCHUPS
JETS AT GIANTS
1 p.m., Sunday, Ch. 2, Jets by 2, 45½
TASCH’S TONIC: This one ain’t about a Snoopy trophy. This Big Apple Bowl, or the Garden State Grapple for you cartographers out there, could change the fortunes of both teams with just five games to go. The Giants probably are a tad more desperate at 5-6 but perhaps will have a healthier offensive line come Sunday. The Jets got back on track with a dominant performance against a hapless Dolphins team. It appears we won’t see the highly anticipated Odell Beckham-Darrelle Revis matchup as Revis works his way back from a concussion, and his replacement Marcus Williams is dealing with a knee injury. If Eli Manning and his receivers can avoid turnovers, they’ll pick Jets’ secondary apart, sending both teams to .500.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Giants and the over
SEAHAWKS AT VIKINGS
1 p.m., Sunday, Pick’ em, 41½
TASCH’S TONIC: The Vikings are getting it done old-school: a fierce rushing attack and quality defense. It became even more baffling that Adrian Peterson only received 13 carries in a loss to the Packers two weeks ago when we he ran for 158 yards on 29 carries Sunday against the Falcons’ stout rush defense. Russell Wilson is coming off two sterling performances at home, but a five-touchdown repeat against a Vikings team allowing 17.6 points per game — second lowest to Cincinnati’s 17.5 — is highly unlikely. Minnesota has been far better against the pass than Pittsburgh, and the Vikes will deal the Hawks a blow to their playoff hopes.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Vikings and the under
COLTS AT STEELERS
8:30 p.m., Sunday, Ch. 4, Steelers by 7, 48
TASCH’S TONIC: After the strange doeshe-actually-have-a-concussion saga early in the week, Ben Roethlisberger practiced Wednesday and should be ready for Sunday night. He’s led the Pittsburgh to three consecutive games of scoring at least 30 points, but Steeler secondary is a huge concern, even against 40-year-old quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who is 4-0 as a starter this season in place of the injured Andrew Luck. But as admirably as Hasselbeck has played, he won’t be able to keep pace with Big Ben in a shootout. Terrible towels by a touchdown. IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Steelers and the over
EAGLES AT PATRIOTS
4:25 p.m., Sunday, Ch. 5, Patriots by 9½, 49
TASCH’S TONIC: Maybe losing a game will be the best thing for the Patriots, but there’s no doubt they’re ticked off about dropping their first game of the season, even if it was on the road against a legit Broncos team. So what better situation could the Patriots have asked for to bounce back than to return to Foxborough to play the dumpster fire that is the Eagles? Chip Kelly, the football genius, watched his team get embarrassed the last two games by the Bucs and Lions. No Edelman? No Gronk? No matter. Brady will air it out to whoever is lined up and dial the Pats up to 11 wins. IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Patriots and the over