Sports

Do the dirty bird

The Giants and Falcons both are 5-4, with an almost identical average result (Falcons 24.6-21.6; Giants 25.8-22.7). Both teams need the game desperately, Atlanta having lost three of four, the Giants four in a row.

There are two factors that would suggest a sizable Giants victory, one being the potential absence of Michael Turner

(10 touchdowns), the other being a whopping 130-yard disparity in yardage differential in the Giants’ favor. That normally would equate to 10-14 points, but the Giants have been brutal in the red zone on both sides.

The road team has won the last 12 in this series, with Atlanta taking the last five at Giants Stadium. Falcons’ defense may be overmatched, but in Matt Ryan, Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez, they have enough to hang around all day and get in under the number.

The pick: Falcons +61⁄2.

PATRIOTS (-101/2) over Jets: Pats will be ticked about their Bill Belichick-aided collapse in Indianapolis; Jets will rally around Rex Ryan — those two issues are a wash. The important thing here is that the Patriots, with a double-revenge motive, have Tom Brady back in form and Wes Welker back in the lineup to augment Randy Moss. Darrelle Revis can’t cover them both.

LIONS (-31/2) over Browns: Pick your poison. Browns have lost 14 of 15 and have scored five offensive touchdowns in that span. Not to be outdone, Lions can become the first NFL team to lose 32 games out of 34.

Bills (+9) over JAGUARS: Bills should get a jolt from Perry Fewell replacing the fired Dick Jauron, and they should be able to do enough in the passing game with killer corner Rashean Mathis likely sitting out for the Jags.

Steelers (-10) over CHIEFS: KC doesn’t have the defense to stop Ben Roethlisberger, Rashard Mendenhall and Co. And with Dwayne Bowe suspended from an already-suspect offense, the Chiefs won’t be able to keep the ball away from the Steelers long enough.

Colts (-1) over RAVENS: Colts got two prime-time gifts last week, one from Belichick and the other from Brady Quinn, whose chop block KO’d essential Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs possibly for three weeks. Peyton Manning has won five in a row against better Ravens defenses than this.

PACKERS (-61/2) over 49ers: Either the Packers will have a letdown after their muscle-flexing win over Dallas, or it will be the start of a huge roll to the playoffs. If they can keep Aaron Rodgers upright, it will be the latter.

Seahawks (+101/2) over VIKINGS: Before beating the Lions by 17 last week, the Vikes’ first three home wins were by three over the Niners, seven over the Packers and two over the Ravens. For a 3-6 team, Seattle’s point differential is a respectable minus-11.

Redskins (+11) over COWBOYS: Right tackle Marc Columbo’s injury ruined the Cowboys in Green Bay last week. With all their troubles, the Redskins give up an average of 19 points per game, so that makes this rivalry-game spread too big to pass up.

BUCCANEERS (+111/2) over Saints: New Orleans’ first four wins were by 14 points or more, the last five by 12 or less, including a 28-23 nail-biter last week in St. Louis. Bucs are 1-8 but on the rise after a win vs. the Packers and near miss in Miami.

RAMS (+9) over Cardinals: Like the Bucs, the Rams are coming on a little. Steve Spagnuolo’s team beat the Lions and then, after a bye, gave the Saints hell. Kurt Warner will be psyched to play in his old dome, but the Cards, though 4-0 on the road, don’t usually live up to this much of a favorite’s price.

Bengals (-91/2) over RAIDERS: Even without Cedric Benson, the Bengals will be able to run against the Raiders, who aren’t even as good as their 2-7 record indicates. Third-stringer Charlie Frye could start for Oakland. Ooh, scary!

Chargers (-1) over BRONCOS: It’s the sequel to last year’s AFC West saga, and with Kyle Orton still out for Denver, there’s no reason it should end any differently than the Chargers blowing by the Broncos in the standings.

BEARS (+3) over Eagles: Both teams rolled up big stats in West Coast losses last week, the Eagles done in by red-zone failures in San Diego and the Bears crushed by five Jay Cutler interceptions in San Francisco. Difference is, Donovan McNabb can’t do much better (he threw for 450 yards), and Cutler can’t do worse. It’s the Peter Tocco/Odd Couple pick of the week (5-4).

MONDAY NIGHT

TEXANS (-41/2) over Titans: Texans have had two weeks to digest their 20-17 loss in Indianapolis, when Kris Brown missed a field goal at the gun. Titans are coming hard with three wins in a row, but they won’t have enough answers defensively for Matt Schaub and all his weapons.

LAST NIGHT: Dolphins (W).

BEST BETS: Redskins, Steelers, Bengals.

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

dblezow@nypost.com