8902140558 DETROIT FREE PRESS 891105 Sunday, November 05, 1989 METRO FINAL

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8D Photo MITCH ALBOM the picks Copyright (c) 1989, Detroit Free Press STEALING SIGNALS? FROM THE LIONS? YOU MUST BE JOKING I was fascinated last week by accusations by the Lions that several Green Bay Packers were stealing signals from the sidelines. Not that I don't believe them. It's just that, well, how on Earth can you do that? And who has the time? PLAYER 1: They're going with the red dog, deep six, drop four. PLAYER 2: Yeah. Better signal into our quarterback. PLAYER 1: Right. Let's see. Red dog, that's the closed fist isn't it? And deep six, that's a wipe of the forehead. Or wait. Is the forehead for a blitz, or -- QUARTERBACK: Hut! See what I mean? And now, this week's picks . . . * HOUSTON 19, DETROIT 10: The Oilers have a lot of nerve, calling their stadium The House Of Pain. Obviously, they never sat through a Sunday in the Silverdome, rooting for the Lions. * BUFFALO 16, ATLANTA 7: Jim Kelly enters the huddle, and his teammates say, "Who are you?" * CHICAGO 20, GREEN BAY 19: And Jim Harbaugh? As long as you're out there? Kick Tony Mandarich in the kneecaps. For the Maize and Blue. * CLEVELAND 24, TAMPA BAY 17: Vinny Testaverde used to play behind Bernie Kosar. Still does. * MIAMI 31, INDIANAPOLIS 10: The Colts without Dickerson are like a day without sun--, no, wait, the orange juice people already used that one. * MINNESOTA 20 LA RAMS 17: I always wondered this about Wade Wilson: Does he have a brother named Swim? * NEW ENGLAND 14, NY JETS 3: The Jets offered Tony Eason a job and he said, "No thanks. I'd rather stay unemployed." I think that speaks for itself. * SEATTLE 20, KANSAS CITY 18: As long as the Seahawks don't play at home, they're OK. * CINCINNATI 24, LA RAIDERS 20: Jay Schroeder does nothing for me. Or most of the teams he's with. * NY GIANTS 27, PHOENIX 26: I have just one question for Lawrence Taylor: What is with that haircut? * PHILADELPHIA 21, SAN DIEGO 14: Wonder how many tacos Jim McMahon is selling in Southern California? * DENVER 19, PITTSBURGH 16: Does John Elway shave? Just asking. * WASHINGTON 28, DALLAS 4: This should look more like Cowboys and Indians than Cowboys-Redskins. * SAN FRANCISCO 28, NEW ORLEANS 12 (Monday night): That shaking from Candlestick ain't the ground. The 49ers are good. * RECORD LAST WEEK: 11-3. * RECORD VS. SPREAD: 9-4-1. * SEASON RECORD: 76-36. * SEASON RECORD VS. SPREAD: 54-55-3. * BEST PICK LAST WEEK: Green Bay 20, Detroit 17. Packers won, 23-20, in overtime. * WORST PICK LAST WEEK: Dallas 20, Phoenix 18. Cardinals won, 19-10. CUTLINE McMahon Elway