This weekend is one of the best of the NFL season as seven games feature teams still in contention for the playoffs.

It’s a good thing the NFL is cooking, because the college bowl season is ramping up s-l-o-w-l-y.

The highlight this weekend: The venerable New Mexico Bowl from radiant Albuquerque. If you miss it, don’t worry. It looks like, according to the bowl schedule, that there will be at least one bowl game per day over the next six months. Well, until Jan. 10, anyway. That’s when Auburn and Oregon play for the BCS championship in the one bowl game that means anything.

Me, I’ve got that Jan. 8 showdown in Birmingham between Pitt and Kentucky penciled in.

What, it’s not a basketball game? Then, forget it.

As for the NFL showdowns this weekend, in the AFC it’s a moot point. New England looks better than it did in 2007, when it rolled unbeaten to the Super Bowl, then tripped up against the Giants.

The Pats, barring an injury to Tom Brady, won’t be stopped.

It’s more interesting in the NFC, where Philly, Atlanta, New Orleans and the N.Y. Giants all have a realistic shot at the conference title.

We aren’t discussing, at this point, exactly how many of these teams Young Jackson and I had predicted to be in the playoff derby in the preseason.

Dwell, instead, on this week’s Mighty News-Gazette Top 13:

No. 1: The Phillies pitching rotation (Maybe it could stop the Pats.). No. 2: Bob Feller (How big would his contract be today?). No. 3: The Pats. No. 4: Vick to Jackson (DeSean, that is, not our very own Young Jackson). No. 5: Auburn. No. 6: Oregon. No. 7: Troy Polamalu (It’s gotta be the hair!). No. 8: Our Jags. No. 9. Our Bucs. No. 10: Our cholesterol (The Christmas cookies already are doing much damage.). No. 11: The NFC West (any division this bad has to be good). No. 12: Petey “The Gators Are Going to Win” Covino, because UF has a new head coach. No. 13: Will Muschamp, because he’s new coach.

Our bowl pick (because, at this stage, one is more than enough).

New Mexico Bowl: Texas El-Paso vs. BYU (-12): Harmony grad O’Neill Chambers is playing for BYU, so watch! Cougars by 7 O’Neills.

The paid professionals:

Jacksonville at Indianapolis (-5): Logic says Peyton Manning will find a way to win this and keep the Colts in the playoff chase. Colts by a logical 4.

Buffalo at Miami (-5 1/2): We don’t mind so much when the Bills visit Sun Life Stadium. It’s when the Buffalo weather gets down there that we have problems. Fins by a balmy 3.

Detroit at Tampa Bay (-6): The Bucs, 14 weeks into the season, still are in the thick of the NFC playoff chase. Too bad they aren’t in the NFC West, where they already would be selling playoff tickets. Bucs by 3.

Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants (-3): The Eagles virtually clinch the divisional title and a first-round playoff bye with a win. But, after the Phillies signed Cliff Lee this week, can Philadelphians stand to be this happy? Giants by a “Keep the Philly Fans Hungry” 2.

New Orleans at Baltimore (-1): Ravens defense has one weakness: its secondary. That’s bad news when Drew Brees visits. Saints by 2.

N.Y. Jets at Pittsburgh (-6): Will the Jets win one for the Tripper? I tried so hard not to do that. Steelers by 4.

Chicago at Minnesota at the University of Minnesota: Hey, Vikings, this is how you used to do it! Outside, in the bitter cold! Remember Bud Grant and the Purple People Eaters? Get rid of the dome and get back to nature. Also, get a new quarterback. Bears by 6.

Brian “Big Man” McBride’s Super Sniffer Upset Special: Jags over Colts by 3.

Young Jackson says: Eagles by 3.

Last week: Phlying Phillie (6-1, 85-54) phlogged Phlummoxed Philistine (4-3, 81-58).