Hours before the Yankees and Phillies play Game 4 of the World Series Sunday night, the Giants and Eagles will renew hostilities just on the other side of Pattison Avenue.
The Giants at 5-2 still lead the NFC East, but consecutive losses to the Saints and Cardinals have whittled their margin over the Eagles and Cowboys to just half a game. The bounce-back that didn’t occur last week will happen here, led by a cool, calm Eli Manning, who is 4-0 as a starter in the regular season at the Linc.
After an embarrassing loss in Oakland, the Eagles did win in Washington, but were the recipients of many gifts from the clueless Redskins. It’s doubtful they’ll enjoy jailbreak plays against Big Blue the likes of DeSean Jackson’s 67-yard end-around and 57-yard bomb. The Eagles also likely will be without Brian Westbrook, who suffered a concussion in Washington, and will feel the effects of the West Coast trip followed by a Monday nighter.
All in all, a good spot for the Giants.
Take the Giants in a pick ’em game.
JETS (-3) over Dolphins: Though they ended up losing the game by double-digits, have to give the Dolphins some respect for having built a 21-point lead on the undefeated Saints. That said, the Jets defense really wants this one after getting embarrassed a few Monday nights ago in Miami. They’ll be more prepared for the Wildcat — they won’t make Chad Henne look like Dan Marino, as Calvin Pace said — and Pace will make some of the key plays he whiffed on in his season debut that night. The Jets have rushed for more than 300 yards in back-to-back games, the first team since the 1975 Bills to do that. It’s the Peter Tocco/Odd Couple pick of the week. (3-3)
RAVENS (-31/2) over Broncos: Quite aware that Kyle Orton is 27-12 in his career as a starting quarterback, and that his nine-touchdown, one-interception ratio is a main reason, along with Elvis Dumervil’s 10 sacks, that the Broncos are 6-0 out of their bye. But it’s hard to believe they’ll keep that zero in the loss column much longer, and the Ravens will be pumped off their bye after seeing 3-0 turn into 3-3.
BEARS (-13) over Browns: Give well into double digits with a team coming off a 45-10 loss? Well, what choice is there, really? The Browns didn’t lay a finger on Aaron Rodgers last week, and he had been getting sacked five times a game. Huge day for Jay Cutler on tap.
BILLS (+31/2) over Texans: Sure, let’s take a shot with the Bills as home ‘dogs off road wins at the Jets and Carolina, in part because stud Texans wideout Andre Johnson is dealing with a bruised lung.
Vikings (+3) over PACKERS: This is the moment Brett Favre has been waiting for, and he will rise to it. The difference in this game — beyond the obvious: Adrian Peterson — is that Favre likely will have time to throw and Rodgers should be under siege by the Viking pass-rushers.
49ers (+12) over COLTS: Going to take the double-digits for a change, even though you have to be skeptical of Alex Smith’s second-half, step-in comeback with the 49ers down 21-0 in Houston. Colts have won their last four by an average of 24 points, but could be ready for a flat day with RB Donald Brown and WR Reggie Wayne hurting.
LIONS (-31/2) over Rams: Let’s see, the Rams have lost 17 games in a row, have scored the fewest points in the league and given up the most. Their next rushing touchdown will be their first. The Lions may have problems, but not this many problems.
COWBOYS (-91/2) over Seahawks: Seattle has lost four of five, reaching 20 points just once in that span, an aberrational 41-0 home win over the Jags. That type of play won’t keep them close against the Cowboys’ amped-up offense.
Raiders (+161/2) over CHARGERS: A little hard to justify picking a team that scores 8.9 points per game, but the Raiders do have a decent defense, the Jets’ 300-plus rushing yards notwithstanding. It is a ton of points for a divisional rivalry, Oakland does have two wins, and we usually can count on a couple of Stupid Norv Tricks.
Jaguars (+3) over TITANS: Tennessee is winless, hasn’t scored a touchdown in eight quarters, and the owner has ordered Jeff Fisher to start Vince Young at quarterback. And this team is favored! You want ‘em, you take ‘em.
CARDINALS (-10) over Panthers: Rematch of Arizona’s stunning, 33-13 playoff win at Carolina last season, when it picked off Jake Delhomme five times. He never has recovered from that, and the Panthers’ season is going down the tubes with him.
MONDAY NIGHT
SAINTS (-10) over Falcons: Atlanta’s two losses have been by 16 points each, and the Superdome is going to be crazy loud in prime time. Tempting to grab a big number with a 4-2 team, but the Falcons’ 25th-ranked defense probably can’t hold up all night.
BEST BETS: Ravens, Cowboys, Saints.
LAST WEEK: 4-8-1 overall, 2-1 Best Bets.
dblezow@nypost.com