Sports

Revenge of the niners

ME AND JULIO: Wide receiver Julio Jones and the Falcons will smoke the Raiders on Sunday in Atlanta. (
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Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers never have accepted losing the NFC Championship Game to the Giants the way they did, and will be hell-bent on exacting revenge this Sunday at Candlestick Park.

The 49ers are an almost perfectly constructed team that’s red hot. They beat the Jets and Bills by a combined 79-3, and the 45-3 win over Buffalo was impressive in that it came in one of those troublesome “look-ahead” games. And, they are on a mission.

The Giants are 3-2 but have been living somewhat on the edge, needing big comebacks to beat the Buccaneers and Browns at home. They have made their living by winning tough road games and will give a good showing here, but are going up against too much this time.

The pick: 49ers, -6 1/2 .

JETS (-3 1/2) over Colts: It’s a cruel joke for Jets fans to have to watch Andrew Luck — the next great QB — play against them wearing a horseshoe on his helmet. But Indianapolis’ big comeback win over the Packers notwithstanding, the Colts will be hampered without top running back Donald Brown. The Jets figure to start putting it back together after home losses to the 49ers and Texans, the two best teams in the NFL. Dustin Keller’s return sure would help Mark Sanchez, playing for his job for the first time.

BROWNS (+1 1/2) over Bengals: Browns gave it a good go against the Eagles, Ravens and Giants, and lost by only a touchdown in the first meeting with the Bengals in Cincinnati, 34-27, as Brandon Weeden threw for 322 yards. Trent Richardson can carry this one into the win column.

Chiefs (+4) over BUCCANEERS: Kansas City is plus-76 yards per game and Tampa Bay is minus-143. So from play to play, the Chiefs really should dominate here. Maybe the switch to Brady Quinn will help stem the mind-boggling minus-15 in turnovers.

FALCONS (-9) over Raiders: Undefeated Falcons won their home games by six over the Broncos and two over the Panthers, so they will be primed to hang a big number on the Raiders.

Cowboys (+3 1/2) over RAVENS: Cowboys defense is giving up 102 yards per game fewer than the Ravens’, which is largely living on past reputation. Tony Romo should be able to do some business for the Boys, who are 2-2 and have had an extra week to prepare.

Lions (+4) over EAGLES: Biggest line drop of the week after starting at 6 1/2. Lions are 1-3 and should give an early-season version of a desperation effort after a week off.

Rams (+3 1/2) over DOLPHINS: Danny Amendola’s 32 catches and 395 yards will be missed, but the Rams did put a hurtin’ on the Cardinals after Amendola went out last Thursday, as Chris Givins caught the big TD bomb. This one’s priced right, too.

SEAHAWKS (+3 1/2) over Patriots: Seattle is capable of the outright win here if it can put the same pass rush on Tom Brady that it did on Aaron Rodgers (eight sacks in the first half). Keep an eye on Rob Gronkowski’s ailing hip as well.

CARDINALS (-5) over Bills: Though Cardinals are missing their top two runners, Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams, surely Ken Whisenhunt can find someone to move the ball against a Bills team that last week became the first team to give up 300 yards passing and 300 rushing in the same game.

Vikings (+1 1/2) over REDSKINS: Both Christian Ponder and Robert Griffin III are completing 69 percent of their passes, but RG3 is coming off a serious head shot and is going against the better defense here. Little hard to envision the Vikings at 5-1, but here goes …

TEXANS (-3 1/2) over Packers: If the Pack can’t protect a 21-3 halftime lead against the Colts, can’t back ’em against the Texans and their No. 1 ranked defense.

MONDAY NIGHT

Broncos (+1) over CHARGERS: Going to keep going with Peyton Manning. That should have been another cover in New England. Chargers did get hosed on the final drive in New Orleans. Good thing none of the “real refs” was ever photographed outside the Superdome wearing Saints gear.

BEST BETS: Falcons, Browns, Cardinals

LOCK OF THE WEEK: Falcons (Locks 1-4).

LAST NIGHT: Steelers (L)

LAST WEEK: 6-8 overall, 1-2 Best Bets