TAKE THE RAIDERS - WITH A CHASER.

Byline: NORMAN CHAD The NFL 

Raiders fans generally are tattooed, plastered or incarcerated. 49ers fans generally are refined, stuffy and fastidious.

The Raiders come to San Francisco as 4 1/2-point favorites. (Tough week for Bay Area security types: They have to worry about Raiders fans crossing the Bay Bridge and the influx of New Yorkers for baseball playoffs.) In a rare show of street muscle, I am going to down a shot of cheap whiskey and back the Raiders, giving the points.

(Retail Note: Coming to stores next week is NFLREF2000 video game, the object of which is to cover your head for two minutes and then guess whether the play you just saw was ruled properly.)

(Football Note: In preemptive move against nascent XFL, NFL rule change allows players to bring domestic disputes onto field.)

(Officiating Note: League office apologized Monday to Steelers' Bill Cowher for incorrect ruling in Thanksgiving ``coin flip'' game.)

As always, the following picks against the point spread are for recreational purposes only:

--Titans (-9 1/2) at Bengals: Titans coach Jeff Fisher likes to say, ``Success is not a destination, but a journey.'' Conversely, for the Bengals' late Bruce Coslet, failure was not a journey, but a destination. . . . Psychologists explained Bengals' brief 13-0 burst over Dolphins, in clinical terms, as ``post-Coslet euphoria.'' Pick: Bengals.

--Buccaneers at Vikings (-1): Q. What's the difference between Buccaneers playbook and USA Today? A. Both are quick reads, but USA Today has a better weather map. . . . Instead of running his mouth, Keyshawn Johnson will finally run his feet. Pick: Buccaneers.

--Ravens at Jaguars (-2): The Man woke up Monday afternoon and stared at the newspaper - Brian Billick, it said, was 4-1 with three shutouts. I'd rather been told I had an hour to live and Chris Berman was doing the play-by-play. Pick: Jaguars.

--Broncos (-6 1/2) at Chargers: Chargers coach Mike Riley is so nice, when he benches a player, he wipes off the seat first. . . . Broncos LB Bill Romanowski has hired C.J. Hunter as strength coach/supplement advisor. Pick: Broncos.

--Giants at Falcons (-1): If ``Family Law'' can think Tony Danza's the answer, then I guess Giants can think Kerry Collins is the answer. . . . Thunder and Lightning? Hah! They're more like Turner and Hooch. . . . Giants: Today 3-2, tomorrow 8-8. Pick: Falcons.

--Steelers at Jets (-8 1/2): Steelers remain my Team of Destiny. I also backed the world Communist movement in the late `80s. . . . Steelers: Today 1-3, tomorrow 9-7. Jets: Today 4-0, tomorrow 8-8. Pick: Steelers.

--Colts (-3 1/2) at Patriots: In an on-line Fox Sports poll, Colts QB Peyton Manning was voted the sexiest bachelor in the NFL. Hey, I love Mr. Clean, but if he's sexy, then Eminem's Socratic. Pick: Patriots.

--Redskins (-3) at Eagles: Incentive bonus for Deion Sanders: No roaming charges on team-issued cell phone. . . . Dear Brian Mitchell: Break one. Please. Sincerely, An ex-Redskins fan. Pick: Eagles.

--Packers at Lions (-3): Maybe it's just me, but Wayne Fontes could've gone 3-2 with these Lions. . . . Maybe it's just me, but Ray Rhodes could've gone 2-3 with these Packers. Pick: Packers.

--Bills at Dolphins (-2): For a Dartmouth man, Dolphins QB Jay Fiedler makes a lot of bad decisions. Pick: Dolphins.

--Seahawks at Panthers (-4): To be honest, I think fallen Seahawks QB Jon Kitna just likes getting hit. Pick: Panthers.

--Browns at Cardinals (-4): Carmen Policy is to salary cap what Bill Gates is to antitrust law. Pick: Browns.

--Saints at Bears (-5 1/2): Projected first playoff victory for Saints franchise: 2026. Pick: Bears.

Last week: 9-5.

Season record: 41-31.