Manny Ramirez is on the cover of the current Sports Illustrated. Is that crazy or what? Right in the middle of the football season?

Baseball playoffs, that is. In other words: They're still playing football? And: What? Hockey?

Following a long tradition for this column, the Week 6 picks are in special baseball-playoff format, with each game blurb limited to one sentence. The advent of the October rules was delayed so I could make a Sarah Palin joke last week, which forced me to do the normal amount of research before writing the column. That was like seven minutes of work, at least. I hope you people appreciate all I do for you.

Here are the Week 6 picks, plus those of my son Buster, the game-pickinest 5-year-old who ever stood on a coffee table and sang Lefty Frizzell covers, and my daughter Daisy, the coin-flippinest 3-year-old who ever didn't.

Sunday early games

CHICAGO (3-2) at Atlanta (3-2)
There's a chance this game matches the best 3-2 team in the league against the worst 3-2 team in the league, and I'm not that confident I know which is which.
Daisy: Atlanta
Buster: Chicago

Miami (2-2) at HOUSTON (0-4)
The Texans are the best winless team in the league, and the Dolphins, and I can't remember the last time I typed this, are due for a letdown.
Daisy: Miami
Buster: Houston

BALTIMORE (2-2) at Indianapolis (2-2)
The old city passes the new one, at least for the moment, in the AFC playoff picture.
Kids: Baltimore

Detroit (0-4) at MINNESOTA (2-3)
Did you know hockey season has started?
Kids: Minnesota (13-point favorite)

Oakland (1-3) at NEW ORLEANS (2-3)
It's a whole new era* in Oakland!
Kids: New Orleans (7.5-point favorite)

Cincinnati (0-5) at N.Y. JETS (2-2)
Whattaya say, Brett: Seven touchdowns?
Kids: New York (6-point favorite)

Carolina (4-1) at TAMPA BAY (3-2)
I'll take the home field, the better defense and what's probably the real best 3-2 team in the league in this sort-'em-out game in the NFC South.
Daisy: Carolina
Buster: Tampa Bay

ST. LOUIS (0-4) at Washington (4-1)
What the Heck™ Pick of the week.
Kids: Washington (14-point favorite)

Sunday late games

JACKSONVILLE (2-3) at Denver (4-1)
Maybe taking one last ride on the Jaguars bandwagon.
Daisy: Denver
Buster: Jacksonville

DALLAS (4-1) at Arizona (3-2)
*It's not really a whole new era in Oakland.
Kids: Dallas

PHILADELPHIA (2-3) at San Francisco (2-3)
The Eagles are the best 2-3 team in the league ...
Kids: San Francisco

GREEN BAY (2-3) at Seattle (1-3)
... unless the Packers are, but I think the Eagles are, though I think the Packers are better than the Seahawks, who are the best 1-3 team in the league, unless the Browns are, which I don't think they are.
Kids: Green Bay

Sunday night game

New England (3-1) at SAN DIEGO (2-3)
AFC Championship Game rematch seemed like such a good idea when the schedule was made.
Kids: San Diego (6-point favorite)

Monday night game

N.Y. GIANTS (4-0) at Cleveland (1-3)
This has all the earmarks of a trap game for the Giants, except I don't know what all the earmarks are, since identifying trap games are all about the feel, man, and I'm not quite feeling this one.
Kids: New York (7.5-point favorite)

Season record: 43-31
Last week: 6-8
What the Heck™ Picks: 1-4
Stanley Cup pick: Montreal Canadiens, in a Finals upset over the Detroit Red Wings who, since I typed the part of this sentence that preceded the first comma, have lost their opener.