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.