The 15-Play Drive

15 thoughts on week-12 in the NFL...

1. Hands Steve Johnson. You know those things at the end of your arms? Use them! A week after he was on the receiving end of 3-touchdown passes, the Bills wideout dropped 5-balls including the game winning TD in overtime against the Steelers. "Why so serious?"

2. Talk about mastering the art of the gut wrenching defeat...Buffalo's last 4-losses have all been by 3-points, with three of them coming in overtime. And believe it or not, those games were all against division leaders...Pittsburgh, Chicago, Kansas City and Baltimore. This from a Bills team that's just 2-9 overall. You can't make it up.

3. If the NFL is going to suspend players for what they deem to be dangerous helmet to helmet hits, then Texans wide-receiver Andre Johnson and Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan must be suspended for Sunday's boxing match. A fine from the league would be a very weak response to an ugly incident.

4. What are you saving that challenge for Mike McCarthy? It's 4th and 3...Tony Gonzalez just picked up a 1st down on a 6-yard reception that may or may not have been trapped...And you're hanging on to that flag like it's a piece of Wisconsin cheddar. The Falcons would end that drive with a Gonzalez touchdown catch, and take a 10-3 lead into the locker room. Awful job by the Packers head coach there.

5. Congratulations to the Vikings Leslie Frazier on winning his head coaching debut. Don't know if Frazier will get the job after the season, but he clearly has a fan in linebacker E.J. Henderson. I spoke with Henderson after the game, and here's what he had to say about the team's interim head coach, "Leslie Frazier is a leader of men. Any leadership role he's placed in, he'll succeed."

6. There was no bigger turkey on Thanksgiving night than Terrell Owens. If Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis is "average" as T.O. claimed, then Owens is practice squad material. Revis held the Bengals receiver to 3-receptions for 17-yards. Way to back up the talk T.O.

7. The Todd Collins award of the week goes to Titans quarterback Rusty Smith. In his starting debut, the rookie out of Florida Atlantic completed 17 of 31-passes for 138-yards with 0-TD's and 3-INT's. This against a Texans defense that came into Sunday allowing 301-yards passing per game.

8. How bad is the NFC West? The winner of tonight's thrilling match-up between the 3-7 Cardinals and 3-7 49ers will be just a game out of 1st place. 7-9 takes that division this year.

9. Just call him Mistake Delhomme. Even in a win the Browns quarterback showed he's already gotten into the spirit of giving with 2-interceptions, including one that was returned 37-yards for a touchdown by the Panthers Captain Munnerlyn. In his last 14-regular season appearances, Delhomme has thrown for 9-TD's and 24-INT's.

10. Quick question...which two quarterbacks have the best touchdown to interception ratio in the NFL through week-12? Hint: They used to play on the same team. It's no coincidence the Patriots Tom Brady and Chiefs Matt Cassel have nearly identical numbers now. Brady has thrown for 23-TD's and 4-INT's, while Cassel has 22-TD's and 4-INT's. That's what you get when you have Patriots East and Patriots Midwest. What you also get are two teams in 1st place.

11. So much for the silver and black are back talk....The Raiders look like the Raiders again.

12. Big win Sunday for the Bears, and I know they're now 8-3, but someone is going to have to explain to me how that pass heavy offense under Mike Martz is going to work when the Chicago weather turns. "Bear Weather" won't be an advantage for the home team this season.

13. We had our 15th overtime game of the season yesterday, and once again it was not decided on the first possession. That's 14 out of 15-times both teams got their hands on the football. I'm still waiting for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to wake up and realize the coin toss decides who gets the ball, not who wins the game.

14. Giants first 10-games...30-turnovers. Sunday...none. It makes it easier when you don't give the ball away...doesn't it?

15. If Peyton Manning never sees the Chargers again he'll be a whole lot happier. In 203-career regular season games, Manning has thrown 4-interceptions or more just 3-times. Two of those games were against San Diego.

The 15-Play Drive

15 thoughts on week-11 in the NFL...

1. Vince Young needs a timeout. The Titans QB has a habit of acting like a 5-year old when things don't go his way. Young has never earned Jeff Fisher's trust, and Sunday was a prime example of why. There's always been an immaturity factor here. Young hasn't been able to handle adversity at the NFL level, and that's not the kind of player you want leading your team. Either Fisher or Young won't be back next season, and I'd bet my life that it'll be Young who's gone.

2. Every game free agent to be Randy Moss plays costs him more money. In 2-games with the Titans, Moss has all of 1-reception for 26-yards. That's flat out pathetic.

3. The Jets have 8-wins and 9-lives.

4. The Texans reached a new level of incompetence Sunday, and defensive coordinator Frank Bush should have been fired immediately after the game. Losing on a Hail Mary is one thing, but how they allowed Braylon Edwards to get that wide open for a 42-yard reception is beyond me. The Jets were trailing by 4 with 55-seconds remaining, had no timeouts, and somehow were permitted to drive 68-yards in 45-seconds. If that's not grounds for dismissal, I don't what is.

5. Way to lead by example Richard Seymour. I'm sure there are plenty of people who'd like to slap Ben Roethlisberger. However, you did your team no favors by getting ejected, and as a veteran you should have known better. After yesterday's performance the Raiders new motto should be "A Commitment to Ugliness."

6. Along those lines the Todd Collins award of the week goes to Jason Campbell. The Raiders QB completed just 7 of 19-passes for 70-yards with 0-TD's 1-INT and 2-fumbles before being pulled in favor of Bruce Gradkowski during Sunday's blowout loss to the Steelers.

7. I'm going Nostra-Lekas for a moment, because based on what we've seen through week-11, I believe there will be at least five coaching vacancies this off-season. Here's how I connect the dots right now...Cowboys-Jason Garrett, Vikings-Leslie Frazier, Panthers-Bill Cowher, 49ers-Jon Gruden, Bengals-Mike Zimmer.

8. So much for separation Sunday. There's still no team in the NFL with more than a 1-game division lead, and 4-divisions including the AFC East, North and South, plus the NFC North feature a 1st place tie.

9. Nobody touched you Eli Manning. You can't cough up the ball after scrambling for a first down.

10. Packers all-pro cornerback Charles Woodson joined me and Steve Torre on The Sunday Drive following yesterday's 31-3 rout of the Vikings. When asked about their success against Minnesota this season, Woodson pointed to one key factor, "We didn't get caught up in the Favre hoopla like last year." He's not alone.

11. By the way, if these are the last 2-games Brett Favre plays against his former team, they'll be performances he'd like to forget. Favre's combined numbers against Green Bay this season, 33 of 67-passing 420-yards 1-touchdown 4-interceptions.

12. Just your typical Patriots-Colts match-up Sunday. High drama in a game that was in doubt late into the 4th quarter. In fact, only one of their last 5-regular season meetings has been decided by more than 4-points. Take a look and you'll understand why the NFL schedule makers have them going head to head every single year.

2010-Patriots 31 Colts 28

2009-Colts 35 Patriots 34

2008-Colts 18 Patriots 15

2007-Patriots 24 Colts 20

2006-Colts 27 Patriots 20

13. Caught up with linebacker Jerod Mayo after Sunday's win, and he gave about as good of an answer as you'll get from a Patriots player when I asked him if this validated the defense, "A little bit, but coach Belichick is going to do what's best for the team." To refresh your memory, a year ago Pats head coach Bill Belichick choose to go for it on 4th on 2 from his own 28 with 2:08 remaining in a game against the Colts that his team was leading 34-28. The move backfired, and New England lost. Yesterday, the defense sealed the victory when James Sanders intercepted Manning at the Patriots 24-yard line with 31-seconds to go. So while Mayo wasn't gloating during the interview, Patriots players don't embarrass their head coach, you could tell he was satisfied.

14. Only the Bengals could manage to turn Ryan Fitzpatrick into Jim Kelly, Fred Jackson into Thurman Thomas, Steve Johnson into Andre Reed and this Bills offense into the K-Gun after halftime. Cincinnati built a 31 to 14 lead over the first two quarters before collapsing as Buffalo scored 35 unanswered points to beat the Bengals 49-31. It's the first time in NFL history that a team has trailed by 17 or more at the half and won by 18 or more.

15. You didn't think I'd forget this did you? Yet another overtime game yesterday that wasn't decided on the first possession. So that's 14-times the extra session has been required this season, and 13-times both teams got their hands on the ball. I'm sensing a trend here.

The 15-Play Drive

15 thoughts on week-10 in the NFL...

1. Why is it when Brett Favre puts up 446-yards in an overtime victory he's the ultimate tough guy...And when he throws for 170-yards with 3-interceptions and a fumble he's playing hurt? It's fitting injury and excuse are 6-letter words, because for Favre they've always been linked. I've got another six letter word for him...RETIRE.

2. I know what Vikings owner Zigy Wilf said about not changing head coaches, but I wonder if he'll be more motivated to fire Brad Childress after watching how the Cowboys performed in Jason Garrett's debut.

3. Spoke with a giddy Mike Thomas after his improbable "Hail Mary" catch as time expired gave the Jaguars a 31-24 victory over the Texans. When I asked him if he realistically thought he'd have any chance to make a play there, his response was more than honest, "Not at all. That's one shot in a lifetime. The football gods were looking over us."

4. Down 14 to 12 with 14-seconds remaining, you can't throw a pass out of the end-zone on the 2-point conversion attempt Shaun Hill. That's 25-straight road losses and counting for the Lions.

5. Anyone out there still calling the Giants the best team in the NFL? How about the NFC? Don't know about you, but I'm still waiting for them to get a win against a quality opponent before I take them more seriously.

6. File this under the heading of sometimes bad things happen to good people. In his return as a starter, Chad Pennington lasted all of 2-plays before suffering yet another right shoulder injury, this one likely a career ender. Pennington has been a terrific player during his 11-year career, but he's only made it through the full 16-game season two times.

7. Randy Moss has now played twice in Miami this season for two different teams, the Patriots and Titans. His combined numbers in those games...1-reception for 26-yards.

8. The 49ers appear to have the right Smith playing quarterback, and it's not Alex. Troy Smith threw for 356-yards and a late game tying touchdown Sunday in the Niners 23-20 overtime victory against the Rams. Compare that to Alex Smith who's never thrown for over 310-yards, and has only reached the 300-yard passing mark twice since 2005.

9. The Todd Collins award of the week goes to Kerry Collins. Before leaving with a calf injury, the Titans QB completed only 9 of 20-passes for 51-yards. Collins, who's known for his strong arm, averaged a pathetic 2.6-yards per pass attempt.

10. It only took until week-10 for Broncos rookie quarterback Tim Tebow to throw his first career pass, a 3-yard TD to Spencer Larsen. Tebow now has exactly as many pass attempts this season as former Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall, who threw an incompletion Sunday for the Dolphins. At least Tebow can say he has a better QB rating.

11. You know the drill...two more overtimes yesterday, and neither one of them was decided on the first possession. That's 13-times we've had a game go to the extra session this season. In 12 of those games, both teams got their hands on the ball. If they can make other rule changes on the fly, why can't the NFL eliminate the OT rule change for the post-season?

12. Speaking of overtime, the Jets are the first team in league history to win back to back games in OT on the road. And it's time to start giving Mark Sanchez a little bit more credit here. His combined numbers in their overtime victories against the Lions and Browns...9 of 14-passing for 169-yards with 1-TD and 1-INT.

13. Caught up with Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick yesterday following Buffalo's first win of the season, and I found it interesting that he emphasized the importance of playing at their real home. "I can't say how much the crowd helped. There's definitely a difference in terms of atmosphere." You get that Ralph Wilson? I don't care how much they're paying you to play in Toronto. It's not worth it to your team. Here's a novel concept...win games and the fans will show.

14. Don't know if you've been paying attention, but the Buccaneers are fast developing their own big three. Between QB Josh Freeman, WR Mike Williams and RB LeGarrette Blount, Tampa has a talented core to build around offensively. Blount is the oldest of bunch at 23, and the biggest question mark due to his attitude/temper. Sunday, he ran for 91-yards and a touchdown, Freeman threw for 2-scores, and Williams led the team in receiving yards. If Blount can refrain from throwing any more punches, the Bucs may really have something here.

15. In their 39-26 win over Pittsburgh, the Patriots Rob Gronkowski became just the sixth rookie tight-end since 1960 with 3-TD receptions in a game. The last player to accomplish the feat before Gronkowski actually played for the Steelers...Eric Green back in 1990.

The 15-Play Drive

15 thoughts on week-9 in the NFL...

1. Following their latest debacle, a 45-7 loss Sunday night to the Packers, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had this to say, "There are a lot of people here who are certainly going to suffer and suffer consequences." Jerry...people are already suffering...they're called your fans. The consequences, or shall I say symptoms of being a Cowboys fan are embarrassment, nausea and depression. The cure...take two aspirin and find a new team in the morning.

2. There's no doubt in my mind Eagles safety Kurt Coleman will be fined by the NFL for the hit that knocked out Colts wide-receiver Austin Collie. However, after reviewing the play frame by frame at least 20-times, I find it very hard to blame Coleman. He led with his shoulder and the helmet followed, plus Collie actually lowered his head before the hit. I know Roger Goodell wants to protect the players, but this isn't flag football commissioner.

3. At the same time Goodell has every right to drop the hammer on Nick Collins. The Packers safety clearly led with his helmet while delivering a blow to Cowboys receiver Roy Williams. Learn how tackle Nick...your bank account will thank you.

4. In a sloppy, mistake filled game they had no business winning, the Jets can feel good about one thing...Revis Island is officially open for business again. Darrelle Revis held Calvin Johnson to all of 1-catch for 13-yards. Hope you enjoyed your stay Megatron.

5. Why are you having Drew Stanton throw the ball on 3rd and 6 Jim Schwartz when the Jets are out of timeouts and there's under 2-minutes to go? You have to know when to be aggressive, and with Stanton at quarterback that wasn't the time. Spoke with Jets wide-receiver Santonio Holmes after the game and even he called that a "boneheaded play."

6. 3-more overtime games Sunday, and for the first time all year one of them was decided on the first possession. So by my count that's 11-games that have gone to OT, and 10 with both teams getting their hands on the football. Is that enough evidence to eliminate the ridiculous change to the overtime rules for the post-season? I'm still waiting for your answer commissioner.

7. I know it's not as easy as it looks, but you can't lose track of downs Jeff Triplette. The head referee in the Raiders/Chiefs game reversed a call via replay, but then had the Chiefs facing a 4th and goal instead of 1st and goal. Kansas City actually ran a play before Triplette's crew, with the help of Chiefs head coach Todd Haley, realized they had the wrong down.

8. Nothing is less compelling than a Bill Belichick post-game press conference after a loss. Among the one word answers and short boring responses from the ultimate sour-puss was this blanket statement, "Pick any subject you want and say how did it go and it wasn't very good."

9. By the way, let's not call this a Browns upset of the Patriots...let's call it a total domination. In their 34 to 14 victory, Cleveland out-gained New England 404 to 283, forced 3-turnovers and held the ball for over 38-minutes. Even perpetual grump Eric Mangini had to be smiling...behind closed doors of course.

10. On a day when they survived with a 27-24 overtime win against the Cardinals, Vikings fans were still calling for head coach Brad Childress's job. Defensive end Jared Allen joined me and Steve Torre on the Sunday Drive and said it was a victory that "saved their season." When asked if he expects Childress to coach the team for the rest of the year, Allen added "It's not our decision, but I anticipate he'll be here."

11. The Todd Collins award of the week goes to Jimmy Clausen. In relief of the injured Matt Moore, the Panthers QB completed just 8 of 18-passes for 47-yards with 0-TD's and 1-INT before being benched in favor of the immortal Tony Pike.

12. It's time to start talking about the Giants Hakeem Nicks among the game's elite wide-receivers. With Sunday's 6-catch 128-yard 1-TD performance, Nicks is now sixth in the league in receiving yards, fifth in receptions, tied for first in TD grabs, and tied for second in receptions of 20-yards plus. Not bad for the 29th pick in the 2009 NFL draft who was taken far later than the likes of Darrius Heyward-Bey and Michael Crabtree. In case you're wondering, Heyward-Bey and Crabtree have combined for 50-catches and 4-TD's this season. Nicks has 51-receptions and 9-touchdowns.

13. It's 4th and short, your quarterback Josh Freeman is 6'6 248 and you're not running a QB sneak? You outsmarted yourself on that play Raheem Morris.

14. I know the Texans secondary is atrocious, but Chargers QB Philip Rivers deserves some serious credit today. Without Antonio Gates, Malcolm Floyd and Legedu Naanee, Rivers threw for 295-yards and 4-TD's in San Diego's 29-23 win over Houston.

15. How many of you have put in a fantasy waiver claim for Seyi Ajirotutu already? And yes, if you were listening, I was able to say his name on the air flawlessly.

The 15-Play Drive

15 thoughts on week-8 in the NFL...

1. Halloween Sunday turned into fright night for offense. Five teams scored 10-points or less including the Jets who were shutout by the Packers.

2. Along those lines, memo to Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer...run the ball! I know it was Halloween, but did Schottenheimer think Mark Sanchez was wearing a Joe Montana costume? In a game that was 3-0 at halftime, and 6-0 in the 4th quarter, Sanchez had 38-pass attempts. LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene combined for 22-runs. Not nearly enough.

3. Raiders running back Darren McFadden is the most improved player in football. He now has four games of over 100-yards rushing in 2010, and is averaging 5.5-yards per carry. In his first two years, McFadden ran for 856-yards in fifteen games. He's got 668-yards in just six games this season.

4. Wade Phillips' post-game press conferences have become flat out depressing. Following the Cowboys latest atrocious performance, a 35-17 home loss to the Jaguars, Phillips was asked if he's lost the team. His response, "I hope not." Don't exude too much confidence there Wade.

5. You're already one of the best defensive tackles in football, but next time hold off on the celebration until you get into the end zone Ndamukong Suh.

6. Speaking of rookies, if you're still not convinced Sam Bradford is going to be a big time quarterback, then I have to question your intelligence. He's got the the Rams at 4-4 now, and has thrown 11-touchdowns to a receiving corps that is sub-par to say the least.

7. Randy Moss must have decided to dress up like a ghost yesterday, because he was invisible. In his return to Foxboro, Moss had all of 1-reception for 8-yards.

8. It's amazing how vital Jets castoff Danny Woodhead has become to the Patriots offense. Check out his numbers in their last 3-games...25-rushes 100-yards 1-TD. 13-receptions 125-yards. And most importantly, Woodhead has learned Patriots speak. When he joined me and Steve Torre on the Sunday Drive, he took credit for absolutely nothing.

9. I'm not buying what Mike Shanahan was selling yesterday when he tried to explain why he pulled Donovan McNabb late in the 4th quarter. "Rex (Grossman) gave us the best chance to win....knowing terminology and how we run it." Shanahan was referring to their two minute offense, but what he says makes zero sense. Donovan McNabb was acquired by the Redskins in early April. You're telling me he's not familiar with how they execute the two minute drill? And since when does Rex Grossman give any team their best chance to win?

10. Spoke with Dolphins cornerback Sean Smith after his interception secured Miami's 22-14 victory in Cincinnati Sunday, but not even he could explain this...The Dolphins are now 4-3 with all of their wins coming on the road.

11. It must be gut wrenching, but you're getting closer Bills fans. Back to back overtime losses for 0-7 Buffalo.

12. Make that 8-overtime games in 8-weeks with exactly zero decided on the first possession. Can we scrap that rule change now please?

13. Think Derek Anderson! You can't force a ball into coverage trailing 38-35 in the 4th quarter, when you're already in field goal range.

14. In a 7-7 game just before halftime, why is Brad Childress going for it on 4th and goal? Take the points, and a lead into the locker room.

15. The Todd Collins award of the week once again goes to Cardinals QB Max Hall. Congratulations Max, you're a back to back winner! 8 of 16-passing isn't terrible, but 2-interceptions returned for touchdowns in less than 2-quarters...that's embarrassing.