Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

So this is what it’s come down to; a 3-game season. Lose two out of three to survive, or win two and become extinct. What am I talking about? I’m talking about the very existence of The Victim.

You see, I’d promised TheSunBlog’s peerless pigskin prognosticator that if he posted back-to-back winning seasons, I’d allow him to change his name to something a bit more flattering. No longer would he have to parade around with a paper bag over his head, carrying that demeaning moniker we’d grown to know and love him by.

For most of the season, it looked like a foregone conclusion. Our fearless football forecaster was making mincemeat of the Vegas line, much as he had last year in amassing a record of 15-games above the breakeven point. While never reaching such lofty heights in ’07, our gridiron guru was comfortably above the .500 mark most of the way through.

He’d even begun experimenting with new names I’d have to refer to him as when he returned for the Fall of ’08. The Genius. The Wizard. The Money Master. Those were but a few of the titles The Victim was looking forward to being called. It was money in the bank.

And then the playoffs happened. Another disastrous weekend of post-season picks has left our Touchdown Tout just one game above .500 with three to play. One win (unless there’s also a push) won’t cut it. That would leave The Victim with an even record, not the winning mark required for a name change. He may beg and plead for leniency, but this judge is having none of it. A winning record means a winning record.

So the gauntlet has been thrown, the stakes couldn't be any higher; win two, or suffer through eternity as The Victim. Unless, of course, deep down inside he enjoys being identified as such a lovable loser. On with the picks:

San Diego (+13 ½) over New England
Green Bay (-7) over NY Giants

Last week: 1-3
Playoff record: 2-6
Season record: 51-50-2