Something occurred to me while going through my midweek ritual of watching, in succession, all 16 10-minute highlight reels from the previous weekend’s games, courtesy of NFL Network on Cox’s Freezone channel, which I would set as my TV’s home page if I knew how.

Well, three things occurred to me, actually. First, I had no idea where my wife and children were or what they were doing. Second, I was fine with that.

And finally, as I took in replays from Week 1 in the NFL, I realized that in many ways, I was watching a microcosmic replay of the entire 2008 season.

The Steelers won a close game at the end, and the Cardinals fell just short of victory, just the way last season ended. The Lions got whipped, the Rams and Raiders and Browns and Chiefs all lost, as they did for most of the 2008 campaign. Drew Brees and Adrian Peterson put up gaudy numbers to make fantasy football players smile all across the country, as they did frequently a season ago.

Sure, there were a couple of inconsistencies – with T.O. gone, the Cowboys jelled as a unit, and Tom Brady left the field on his own terms in this season’s opening week, capping a comeback victory against Buffalo. But for the most part, it was the same drill. Brett Favre generates buzz with a new team, Peyton Manning threw for 300 yards in a win, the Giants played smashmouth football and won, Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan were impressive, yada, yada, yada.

But one specific moment reminded me that the more things change in the NFL, the more they often stay the same – thanks to my perennial favorite form of professional football entertainment – the Bengals.

Just when I think I’ve seen every possible way for Cincinnati to snatch defeat from apparent victory, the innovative Bengals dodge the winner’s circle the way Barry Sanders used to avoid tacklers, and find a new path to the loser’s, um ... in what shape do losers congregate, anyway? Loser’s Bermuda Triangle?

The amusing Bengals took an accidental 7-6 lead in the waning seconds against Denver, and following the ensuing kickoff and one incomplete pass, the Broncos were on their own 13-yard line with only 28 seconds left. Dire straits for most teams, but when you’re looking at the orange-and-black stripes on the other side, there’s always hope. The Bengals mounted their come-from-ahead rally by executing a perfect tip-drill – knocking an errant pass intended for Brandon Marshall right in the direction of alert Broncos receiver Brandon Stokley, who raced ocho-siete yards for the winning touchdown.

That never gets old.

Sal’s picks: The only thing I predicted correctly last week was that I would struggle this year, and I proved it with an 0-3 start. This week’s slate of losers: The Lions +10 vs. the Vikings, the Bills-Buccaneers over 42 and the Cardinals +3 at the Jaguars.

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The media/celebrity picks:

Lance Burton, Monte Carlo master magician (2-1)

Raiders +3 at Chiefs

Lions +10 vs. Vikings

Dolphins +3 at Colts

****

Anthony Crivello, star of "Phantom - Las Vegas Spectacular" (3-0)

Titans -6½ vs. Texans

Vikings -10 at Lions

Steelers -3 at Bears

****

Carrot Top, Luxor headliner (2-1)

Steelers -3 at Bears

Vikings -10 at Lions

Bills -4½ vs. Buccaneers

****

Terry Fator, Mirage headliner (2-1)

Cowboys -3 vs. Giants

Steelers -3 at Bears

Seahawks-49ers over 39½

****

Oscar Goodman, mayor of Las Vegas (2-1)

Titans -6½ vs. Texans

Saints pick at Eagles

Chargers -3 vs. Ravens

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Ryan Greene, Las Vegas Sun sports writer (0-3)

Falcons/Panthers over 43

Lions +10 vs. Vikings

49ers/Seahawks over 39½

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Alicia Jacobs, KVBC entertainment reporter (2-1)

Giants +3 at Cowboys

Buccaneers +4½ at Bills

Cardinals +3 at Jaguars

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Kevin Janison, KVBC meteorologist (1-2)

Cardinals-Jaguars under 42½

Redskins -10 vs. Rams

Seahawks-49ers under39 ½

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Christine Killimayer, 702.tv Sports Anchor (1-2) )

Ravens +3 at Chargers

Vikings -10 at Lions

Steelers-Bears under 37½

****

Wayne Newton, "Mr. Las Vegas" (1-2)

Saints pick at Eagles

Ravens +3 at Chargers

49ers-Seahawks under 39½

****

Frank Caliendo’s Fantasy Studs of the Week

Peyton Manning, Colts, and Clinton Portis, Redskins

“Going with a couple of players this week … Like tuna, Peyton Manning will be Dolphin-safe. One group you will never see on ‘America’s Got Talent’? The Rams. Take Clinton Portis.”

Last week’s rating: TOUCHDOWN! Frank’s pick, Drew Brees, threw for 350+ plus yards and an NFL-best six TDs. Hard to beat that.