The 15-Play Drive

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

1. Too many angles to devote just a few lines to Giants/Eagles from Sunday, so I'll start with this...While it may be "The Miracle at the New Meadowlands" for Eagles fans, I'm guessing it's more like "The Christmas Collapse" for Giants fans. Considering the circumstances, it's one of the worst regular season losses for a team I've ever seen.

2. Polish up that resume Matt Dodge. You've been shaky all season long, and yesterday's punt straight to DeSean Jackson when you were instructed to kick it out of bounds was the capper. Where have you gone Jeff Feagles?

3. Andy Reid and Tom Coughlin both made huge mistakes during yesterday's NFC East showdown. Reid held onto the challenge flag like it was a Krispie Kreme doughnut when replay clearly showed DeSean Jackson was down by contact on his fumble early in the 4th quarter. As for Coughlin, there's no excuse for not having the hands team on the field with under 8-minutes to go, and the Eagles set to kick-off trailing 31-17.

4. Whether he did it intentionally or not, Jaguars receiver Mike Thomas did wave his left hand before returning that punt 78-yards for a touchdown against the Colts. The ruling should have been fair catch. Mike Carey's crew got it wrong.

5. You blew a shot at a touchdown Bennie Sapp. Why are you trying to pitch the ball after intercepting Ryan Fitzpatrick when there's a ton of open field staring you in the face?

6. The collar is extra tight for Tom Coughlin, Tony Sparano and Gary Kubiak this morning. All three head coaches lost Sunday, and the news that Bill Cowher's short list includes the Giants, Dolphins and Texans can't have them feeling any better.

7. Aside from the Jets Brad Smith, the two most dangerous kick returners in week-15 were Patriots offensive lineman Dan Connolly and Colts linebacker Tyjuan Hagler. Connolly returned a squib kick 71-yards against the Packers, while Hagler took an onside kick back 41-yards for a touchdown to seal their victory over the Jaguars.

8. Take the rest of the season off Austin Collie. That's three concussions this season. I didn't think that was such a brutal hit, but Collie looked like he was out before he hit the ground.

9. Under the heading of you can't predict this...Donald Brown outrushed Maurice Jones-Drew 129 to 46, Matt Flynn threw for more yards and touchdowns than Tom Brady, and the Lions, Panthers, Bengals and Bills all won on the same day.

10. Speaking of the Lions, caught up with head coach Jim Schwartz on the Sunday Drive following their 23-20 OT victory against the Buccaneers to end their 26-game road losing streak. Schwartz did his best to minimize the importance of the win, "The road losing streak never really made our radar." That may be the understatement of the year.

11. The Todd Collins award of the week goes to Matt Hasselbeck. The Seahawks QB completed a respectable 10 of 17-passes for 71-yards before being pulled in favor of Charlie Whitehurst. However, he was a turnover machine throwing 2-interceptions, and losing a fumble in the end-zone that was recovered by the Falcons Jonathan Babineaux for a touchdown.

12. Even on a day when the Titans scored 31-points and Kerry Collins threw for 2-TD's, Randy Moss was a total non-factor again. Six different receivers caught passes for Tennessee, but not Moss, who wasn't even targeted one time.

13. Tim Tebow did fine in his Broncos starting debut. He made several nice throws and was dangerous running with the football at times. That said, Tebow is not ready to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. And if he plans on subjecting his body to that much punishment every Sunday, he'll never survive a full season.

14. Yes, we had an overtime game end on the first possession in week-15. That still means in 15 of the 17-OT games this season, both teams got their hands on the ball. In case you're wondering that's 88-percent. Have I made my case yet?

15. Lost in all the other big performances Sunday was the impact Chiefs defensive end Wallace Gilberry made against the Rams. Who? If you don't know him yet, Gilberry a 3rd year player out of Alabama, sacked Sam Bradford 3-times and also forced a fumble. He was part of a Kansas City defense that held Bradford to 181-yards passing, and limited Steven Jackson to 67-yards rushing.