The 15-Play Drive

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

1. Forget Tim Tebow, the direct line to God apparently belonged to Kyle Orton and the Chiefs Sunday. So how did a team with a new head coach and starting quarterback deal Green Bay its first loss since December, 19 of last year? The answer is G-O-D...Ground game, Orton and Defense. Kansas City rushed for 139-yards on 39-carries, which helped them hold the ball for more than 36-minutes. Orton directed an efficient passing attack, completing 23 of 31-attempts for 299-yards. He also avoided turning the ball over against a defense that leads the league in interceptions. Finally, the Chiefs defense frustrated Aaron Rodgers by using 5-defensive backs extensively. Rodgers looked confused at times as he completed less than 50-percent of his passes for just the third time in his career.

2. The Chiefs stunning upset of the Packers may not have earned Romeo Crennel the permanent head coaching gig in Kansas City, but as auditions go, Crennel hit a grand slam. With 3-vacancies already, and potentially another 3 or 4-jobs opening up, it's hard to believe Crennel won't get some serious consideration around the league.

3. In a week during which Jim Caldwell's job status was brought into question, it had to feel good to watch his Colts team respond with its first win of the season. Colts running back Donald Brown told me and Steve Torre on the Sunday Drive: "We just wanted to get a win...We don't listen to what's going on...We can only control our effort."

4. Believe it or not, Brown had more yards on 1-carry than Titans running back Chris Johnson had for the entire game Sunday. As part of his 161-yard rushing performance, Brown ran for an 80-yard 4th quarter touchdown. Meanwhile, the underachieving Johnson was held to 55-yards on 15-carries. Following back to back games of 100-plus yards on the ground, Johnson has been held to a combined 78-yards on 26-carries the last 2-weeks. No coincidence Tennessee lost both of those games.

5. Tom Brady has taken on and beaten just about all possible opponents in his career, so it's fitting that he was able to overcome divine intervention Sunday. The Broncos didn't lose to the Patriots because of Tim Tebow. However, a Tebow led offense against a Brady led offense is like comparing a Mack truck to a Maserati. Even you Tebow disciples know who's going to win that race.

6. You're an embarrassment Santonio Holmes, and I'd highly recommend going into hiding until week-16. The Jets wide receiver cost his team three different times in their brutal 45-19 defeat at the hands of the Eagles. Following a 1st quarter reception, Holmes lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown to give Philly a 7-0 lead. Still trailing 7-0 later in the quarter, the Jets had the ball at the Eagles 14-yard line when Holmes allowed a Mark Sanchez pass to go directly through his hands. Asante Samuel grabbed the ball out of the air for an interception that ended the threat. And to quote George Costanza: "Now for the trifecta"...With his team behind 28-3 in the 2nd quarter, Holmes caught a 25-yard TD pass, then promptly acted like an idiot by standing on the ball and flapping his arms to earn a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

7. Raiders head coach Hue Jackson and defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan need a serious lesson in the art of taking away an opponents top receiver. I won't pretend to know what coverage they were using every play against the Lions Calvin Johnson, but I do know this...it didn't work. Johnson not only had 214-yards on 9-receptions, but with the game on the line he somehow got free for a 48-yard catch that set up his own 6-yard TD grab. Are you kidding me?

8. It's worth noting two of the league's most undisciplined teams didn't disappoint Sunday. The Lions and Raiders had a combined 19-penalties for 158-yards. In case you're wondering, or had money on the line, Oakland was flagged one more time than Detroit 10 to 9.

9. The Todd Collins Award of the week goes to Caleb Hanie. At this rate, we're going to rename the award in Hanie's honor. The Bears quarterback completed just 10 of 23-passes against the Seahawks for 111-yards with 1-TD and 3-INT's. Two of those interceptions were returned for touchdowns. It doesn't take me transforming into Nostra-Lekas to see a UFL jersey with Hanie's name on it next season.

10. I never was a math wiz, but since the Redskins swept the season series from the Giants, doesn't that mean safety Antrel Rolle has to check his figures? Rolle said last week the Giants would beat the Redskins 99 out of 100-times. So what now...98 out of 100?

11. It's been over a month since Drew Brees threw for less than 300-yards. Sunday, he put up 412 and 5-touchdowns in the Saints 42-20 victory over the Vikings. In his last 5-games, Brees has 16-TD passes and 0-INT's. Aaron Rodgers...I think you've got some competition for MVP.

12. You can't say Arizona doesn't like working OT. That's 3-wins for the Cardinals in the extra session this year after they beat the Browns 20 to 17. Arizona's just the 9th team in NFL history to win 3-overtime games in the same season.

13. I still think Norv Turner's on borrowed time, but the Chargers offense was a thing of beauty Sunday night. San Diego piled up 415-yards and scored 34-points against the vaunted Baltimore defense. I've always said Turner is a terrific offensive coordinator, just not a very good head coach.

14. 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh should not have to buy his brother, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, a Christmas present. Monday night's 20-3 victory against the Steelers was the gift that will keep on giving. By knocking off Pittsburgh, San Francisco allowed Baltimore to remain atop the AFC North. That's better than any stocking stuffer.

15. Get your quarterback out of the game before he gets killed Mike Tomlin. There was no reason for the Steelers head coach to have a gimpy and ineffective Ben Roethlisberger on the field late in the 4th quarter. Pittsburgh was down by 17, and Big Ben was a sitting duck.

The 15-Play Drive

15 thoughts on week-14 in the NFL...

1. Until further notice, Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan (a.k.a the Geico caveman) must demand not to be shown on television. With the amount of face time he receives, you'd think his defense is among the NFL's elite...instead, they're an embarrassment. Trailing by 12 in the 4th quarter Sunday night, the Giants put together 80 and 53-yard touchdown drives that took a combined 3-minutes and 53-seconds off the clock...or about the time it probably takes Ryan to devour an entire turkey. In the process, Dallas went from essentially locking up the NFC East to falling out of 1st place.

2. As much credit as Eli Manning deserves for the Giants comeback, they don't beat the Cowboys without the play of defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. He led the team with 8-tackles, registered 2-sacks, forced a fumble and blocked the game tying field goal to seal the victory. Somebody tell Osi Umenyiora to take the rest of the season off...the more playing time Pierre-Paul gets, the better off the Giants will be.

3. You could see the horns growing out of running back Marion Barber's helmet in Denver Sunday, because he was absolutely the goat in the Bears overtime loss to the Broncos. With under 2-minutes to go in the 4th quarter, Chicago up by 3 and Denver out of timeouts, Barber inexcusably ran out of bounds on 2nd down to stop the clock. His gaffe not only allowed the Broncos to get the ball back, but gave them enough time to drive for a game tying field goal. Then in OT, with Chicago already in Robbie Gould field goal range, Barber lost a fumble at the Denver 33-yard line. The Broncos got a 51-yard Matt Prater field goal on the ensuing possession to win it 13-10, and send the Bears to their third straight loss. This wasn't Tebow magic...I'll call it Barber's blunders.

4. Once again Tim Tebow was Clark Kent for the first 3-quarters, and Superman afterwards. The Broncos QB has been performing that way for 8-games now...

Tebow in quarters 1 through 3: 38.7% 4.7-yards per attempt 5-TD's 1-INT

Tebow in the 4th quarter and OT: 60.9% 8.9-yards per attempt 6-TD's 1-INT

He's also thrown for over 200-more yards in the 4th quarter and OT then he has in the first 3-quarters this season. The trick for the Broncos is to find a way to get more Man of Steel out of him, and less mild mannered reporter.

5. If there were any doubts about the Texans ability to succeed with a third string rookie quarterback under center, and I'm sure there were, they can be put to rest for now. T.J. Yates proved Sunday he can handle the role of leading man. With Houston trailing Cincinnati 19-10 in the 4th quarter, Yates directed an 88-yard drive that resulted in a field goal. Then facing a 6-point deficit with 2:33 to go, Yates marched the Texans 80-yards in 13-plays, hooking up with wide receiver Kevin Walter for a 6-yard TD with just 2-seconds remaining. When asked about Yates performance, Walter told me and Steve Torre on the Sunday Drive: "Nothing rattles him...He's very poised in the pocket and confident...I'm proud of him big time."

6. Is it just me, or did Yates have more friends and family in the stands than there were actual Bengals fans at Paul Brown Stadium?

7. I understand the officials aren't going to be perfect, but how about just being competent. How they missed Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy grabbing and twisting the facemask of Vikings QB Joe Webb on the game's final play Sunday I'll never know.

8. Head referee Jeff Triplette also gets a major thumbs down for his ridiculous personal foul call on London Fletcher. The Redskins linebacker hit a scrambling Tom Brady with a shoulder to the chest just as Brady began slide. Triplette threw the flag, claiming Fletcher used a forearm to the head. Get your eyes checked Jeff, or get a new job...that was an awful call.

9. Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is a monster...there's just no other way to put it. He's too fast for linebackers or safeties, and too big for cornerbacks. Sunday, Gronkowski set a new single season record for the most TD receptions by a tight end, as he caught his 14th and 15th of the year. He finished with 6-catches for 160-yards, often dragging multiple Redskins defenders with him or breaking tackles along the way. Gronkowski has quickly become the most dangerous weapon in the Patriots passing game, and yes that includes Wes Welker.

10. The Todd Collins award of the week goes to Raiders QB Carson Palmer. In Oakland's 46-16 defeat at Green Bay, Palmer completed 24 of 42-passes for 245-yards with 1-touchdown and 4-interceptions. He's now been picked off a staggering 13-times in just 7-games. I know it's the holiday season, but Palmer is in far too giving a mood.

11. I'm not a big fan of the NFL's overemphasis on player safety, because I think the teeth have somewhat been taken out of the game, but Steelers linebacker James Harrison absolutely deserved his 1-game suspension. Harrison has been a repeat offender, and clearly delivered a helmet to helmet hit on Browns QB Colt McCoy. Smarten up James...your bank account and teammates with thank you.

12. Anybody else think there was no way in hell Ben Roethlisberger was coming back after suffering that left ankle injury? That was a gutty performance by Big Ben, although I'm not sure he really needed to be out there.

13. Throw the ball Jake Locker! The Titans rookie QB came off the bench and made some nice plays Sunday. However, on 3rd and goal at the Saints 5-yard line, and his team down 22-17, Locker took a sack on the game's final play. Even if nobody is open, you have to throw it there and hope for the best.

14. The Buccaneers have a self destruct button, and they're not afraid to use it. Tampa Bay built a 14-nothing lead in Jacksonville Sunday, then decided it was time to blow it up. Over the next 14-minutes, Tampa had a fumbled punt returned for a TD, allowed a 77-yard touchdown drive, fumbled in their own end zone for another Jaguars score, and were intercepted, which eventually led to Jacksonville's 4th touchdown of the quarter. That's the kind of epic meltdown that can get a coach on thin ice fired.

15. You want Jekyll and Hyde for week-14...I give you the Falcons. They were sleep walking through the first half in Carolina, and fell behind 23-7. Then turned the tables in the final two quarters, outscoring the Panthers 24-0 to pull out a 31-23 win. So how did they do it? Atlanta QB Matt Ryan joined me and Steve Torre on the Sunday Drive, and said of the comeback: "Everybody stuck together...We talked alot about trying to chip our way back into the game...We started off really well in the 2nd half, and that really helped out."

The 15-Play Drive

15 thoughts on week-13 in the NFL...

1. Plan-C was grade-A for the Texans on Sunday. In his first career start, rookie QB T.J. Yates completed 12 of 25-passes for 188-yards with a touchdown and more importantly 0-INT's in Houston's 17-10 win over Atlanta. After the victory, Yates joined me and Steve Torre on the Sunday Drive, and made it clear that despite his lack of experience, the coaching staff hasn't gone ultra conservative: "Coach Kubiak made it a point that he wasn't going to cut back any of the offense, so we're just going to keep rolling like we have all season."

2. The biggest difference in the 9-2 Texans as compared to last season continues to be the defense. Houston was ranked 30th in total-D and gave up an average of 26.7-points per game during the 2010 regular season. This year, they're ranked 2nd, and are allowing just 15.8-points per game. And as they've suffered key injuries to offensive playmakers like Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub, the defense has gotten even stingier. During their 6-game winning streak, the Texans are surrendering a little over 10-points per game. As I said last week, if you're looking for a team MVP, look no further than defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.

3. Does any quarterback make it look easier than Aaron Rodgers? After the Giants pulled even with the Packers at 35-35 with 58-seconds remaining, Rodgers moved the offense down the field faster than Brett Favre changes his mind about retirement.

1st and 10 at GB 20: Rodgers completes 24-yard pass to Jermichael Finley
1st and 10 at GB 44: Rodgers completes 27-yard pass to Jordy Nelson
1st and 10 at NYG 29: Packers lose a yard on Rodgers completion to Brandon Saine
2nd and 11 at NYG 30: Rodgers completes 18-yard pass to Greg Jennings

That's all it took...4-plays to set up Mason Crosby's game winning 30-yard field goal as time expired. The moral of the story is, if you leave Rodgers with enough time to beat you, he will every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

4. Happy Holidays Greg Jennings...You got a gift touchdown, and the officials should have overturned the call. The Packers wide receiver made a 20-yard TD catch in the 3rd quarter to give Green Bay a 28-17 lead, but in my mind he never fully secured the ball before it was knocked out of his hands by Prince Amukamara.

5. In a critical AFC North match up Sunday, the Bengals put on a clinic that I've entitled "Self Inflicted Wounds." On its first offensive possession of the game, Cincinnati moved from its own 37-yard line to the Pittsburgh 4, where on 3rd and goal QB Andy Dalton connected with tight end Jermaine Gresham for a touchdown. However, a false start penalty on rookie receiver A.J. Green nullified the TD. Dalton then threw an incompletion on 3rd and goal from the 9, setting up a short Mike Nugent field goal attempt. Nugent's kick was good, but a delay of game wiped it out, and from 33-yards away his next attempt was blocked. It was all downhill from there as the Bengals weren't competitive for the first time all season in a 35-7 loss to the Steelers.

6. You were unlucky, but you didn't do anything wrong Brian Urlacher. At the end of the 1st half against the Chiefs Sunday, the Bears linebacker knocked down a hail mary pass in the end zone, which is what defensive players are taught to do. Unfortunately for Urlacher, the ball went straight to Kansas City running back Dexter McCluster, who caught the deflection for a touchdown. What made the freak play even tougher to swallow for the Bears...It was the only TD they allowed all day as they fell to the Chiefs 10-3.

7. The Todd Collins award of the week goes to Caleb Hanie. In a pathetic display, the Bears QB completed just 11 of 24-passes for 133-yards with 0-TD's and 3-INT's against Kansas City. Did Chicago lose Donovan McNabb's phone number or something?

8. Say what you want about Mark Sanchez, but the Jets quarterback continues to make big plays in the 4th quarter. Trailing the Redskins 16-13 with just over 6-minutes remaining, the Jets faced 3rd and 4 at the Washington 45-yard line. On the play, Sanchez avoided blitzing cornerback Kevin Barnes, and at the last possible moment completed a sidearm throw to running back Shonn Greene for 10-yards. Two plays later, Sanchez's 30-yard TD strike to wide receiver Santonio Holmes put the Jets in front for good.

9. There's a thin line between aggressive and stupid...The Lions still haven't figured that out. Despite the suspension of Ndamukong Suh, Detroit still took 11-penalties for 107-yards, including 3-personal fouls Sunday night in their 31-17 defeat at the hands of the Saints.

10. It took Dan Orlovsky exactly 1-start to throw for more yards than Curtis Painter had in any of his 8-starts for the Colts. Not to go overboard, but Orlovsky looked down right Manning like in dissecting the Patriots secondary for 353-yards with a pair of touchdowns. Indianapolis is now 0-12, but going winless doesn't seem like such a certainty anymore.

11. I realize he's put up big numbers against two of the league's worst run defenses, but Titans running back Chris Johnson looks as if he's gotten some of that quickness back. In Tennessee's first 9-games, Johnson averaged just over 56-yards rushing, and scored only 2-touchdowns. In their last 2-games, he's averaged more than 171-yards on the ground, and found the end zone twice against the Bills. If Johnson has truly found his form, he can be a major factor for a Titans team that's now in the thick of the AFC wildcard race.

12. Ever get the feeling Raiders defensive lineman Richard Seymour decides it's time for a quick exit when his team is getting blown out of the water. Seymour was ejected for throwing a punch in the 3rd quarter of Sunday's 34-14 loss to the Dolphins. Last season, Seymour was tossed for hitting Ben Roethlisberger in a game Pittsburgh dominated, beating Oakland 35 to 3. Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I think it's more than a coincidence.

13. Andy Reid can make all the excuses he wants for DeSean Jackson, but to quote Rocky Balboa's trainer Mickey Goldmill, (bet you didn't know his last name was Goldmill) Jackson is playing like "a bum." Jackson did his best invisible man impersonation in Seattle Thursday night, with just 4-receptions for 34-yards. He sees dollar signs this off season, but Jackson has clearly checked out on his team.

14. The next time Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett wants to ice a kicker, somebody needs to tell him to do it go the guy on the other team. Garrett called timeout just before Dan Bailey hit what would've been a game winning 49-yard field goal for Dallas. Bailey's next try was both short and left, sending the game to overtime where the Cardinals beat the Cowboys 19-13. I don't envy Garrett trying to explain what happened to Jerry Jones.

15. What does it mean when the Broncos are trailing in the 4th quarter? These days it means they've got you right where they want you. During their 6-1 run with Tim Tebow under center, Denver has overcome 4th quarter deficits 4-times. Their latest comeback came Sunday when they rallied to beat the Vikings 35-32. Following the win, I caught up with Broncos linebacker Mario Haggan, and he didn't hold back when it came to praising Tebow: "The criticism bounces off him...He's made of Teflon...When the 4th quarter comes you can look him in the eye and tell he's ready."

The 15-Play Drive

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

1. I'm not sure which one was worse...Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson's idiotic TD celebration that cost his team 15-yards, or his drop on Buffalo's final drive that could've potentially gone for a touchdown.

2. That was a heck of a 4th quarter grab Plaxico Burress, and you probably saved the Jets season in the process. The 6'5 Burress needed every inch to haul in a one handed 18-yard reception on 3rd and 11 at the Bills 36-yard line. Had he not been able to make the catch, the Jets, who were trailing 24-21 at the time, would have been forced to attempt a 54-yard field goal.

3. I've defended Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh before as being a physical, aggressive player, but what he did Thanksgiving Day absolutely crossed the line. Suh's classless stomp on the arm of Packers offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith warrants more than a 2-game suspension.

4. Like him or not, you have to feel for Matt Leinart. In what was probably his last opportunity to prove he can succeed in the NFL, Leinart couldn't even make it through 2-quarters before suffering a season ending shoulder injury. So it's onto plan C for the Texans, meaning rookie QB T.J. Yates. Houston defensive coordinator Wade Phillips joined me and Steve Torre on the Sunday Drive, and when asked how the quarterback situation changed things, he responded with this: "Gary Kubiak told me I'm going to run today on 3rd down and long, so we've got to keep playing good defense." The addition of Phillips has been one of best off season moves made by any team, and his defense certainly delivered against Jacksonville with 7-sacks.

5. DeSean Jackson is a talented wide receiver, and I'm sure somebody will pay him when he hits free agency, but he's also developing a reputation as a selfish player. The latest example came Sunday against the Patriots. With his team trailing 21-10 late in the 2nd quarter, and facing 3rd and goal at the 4-yard line, Jackson shied away from contact on a ball he should've caught for a touchdown. He later dropped another TD pass, and was benched by head coach Andy Reid in the 4th quarter.

6. Tim Tebow hasn't totally converted me yet, but the Broncos defense certainly has. During Denver's 4-game winning streak, they're allowing an average of just 15-points per game, and have sacked opposing quarterbacks 12-times.

7. Chargers head coach Norv Turner is a dead man walking, which is why it's hard to explain his conservative play calling in overtime Sunday. With a 1st down on the Broncos 35-yard line, Turner acted as if his team was in chip shot field goal range. Following a pair of running plays that totaled 4-yards, San Diego ran it again. But when Mike Tolbert was stopped for a 4-yard loss, kicker Nick Novak was forced into a 53-yard field goal attempt, which sailed wide right. Turner's lack of aggressiveness cost his team, as Denver took advantage of outstanding field position to score on the ensuing possession.

8. Did the Rams learn nothing from their overtime loss to the Cardinals in week-9? Arizona rookie Patrick Peterson ended that game with a 99-yard punt return for a score. Yet instead of keeping the ball away from Peterson, or just kicking out of bounds Sunday, St. Louis gave him a chance to burn them again, and of course he did. Peterson returned a 3rd quarter punt 80-yards for a TD in the Cardinals 23-20 victory.

9. If you don't pressure Drew Brees, he will kill you. Monday night, Brees could have taken a seat and downed a bowl of gumbo during most of his attempts, because the Giants pass rush was missing in action for the second week in a row. Brees threw for 363-yards with 4-TD's and also ran for a score. In their last 2-games, the Giants have exactly 1-sack. And with Aaron Rodgers coming to town next week, things won't get any easier.

10. Maybe it's just me, but I'm guessing John Harbaugh's Thanksgiving turkey tasted just a little bit better than younger brother Jim's.

11. The Todd Collins award of the week goes to Blaine Gabbert. Jacksonville's rookie QB completed just 13 of 29-passes for 136-yards with 0-TD's and 1-INT against Houston before being benched in favor of Luke McCown.

12. Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis didn't do Gabbert or his team any favors Sunday. With the game tied at 7 in the 2nd quarter, Lewis dropped an easy touchdown on 2nd and goal at the Texans 3-yard line. Jacksonville had to eventually settle for a field goal and a slim 10-7 lead.

13. Watching Tarvaris Jackson can drive you crazy. The Seahawks quarterback seemed to have no sense of down or distance late in the 4th quarter against the Redskins. Trailing 20 to 17 with over 2-minutes to go, Jackson completed a 2-yard pass on 3rd and 7 at his own 21-yard line. Then on 4th and 5, he didn't read blitz, held the ball too long, and was sacked. Jackson shows you flashes of ability from time to time, but the bottom line is Seattle still needs a starting QB.

14. It may not have looked like it, but Matt Hasselbeck's go ahead TD pass on 4th and goal against Tampa Bay was Tennessee's version of "the catch." Hasselbeck told me and Steve Torre on the Sunday Drive: "That was the Montana to Dwight Clark play." Down 17-13 in the 4th quarter, the Titans went for it on 4th down at the Buccaneers 2-yard line. Hasselbeck rolled right, and when he couldn't find anybody open, shuffled back to his left where he spotted receiver Damian Williams in the back of the end zone.

15. At what point do Bengals fans put aside their hatred for owner Mike Brown, and support their team? Cincinnati is too good of a story with too many exciting young players for there to be as many empty seats as there were Sunday.

The 15-Play Drive

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

1. Reports of the Patriots demise were greatly exaggerated, and I'll take some of the blame for that. They're not the dominant team they were 6 or 7-years ago, but as New England showed against the Jets, they're still the class of the AFC East.

2.It wasn't "the stupidest thing in football history" as Jets head coach Rex Ryan claimed, but quarterback Mark Sanchez showed a major lack of situational awareness Sunday night. With 1:24 to go in the 1st half, and the Jets facing 3rd and goal from the Patriots 2-yard line, Sanchez called for a timeout. Only one problem...He left 17-seconds on the play clock instead of letting it run down to give Tom Brady less time to work with. When Sanchez scored on the next play, there was still 1:20 left until halftime. Brady promptly marched the Pats down the field, throwing an 18-yard TD pass to Rob Gronkowski with 9-seconds remaining.

3. Don't underestimate the impact of head coach Sean Payton's return to the sideline for the Saints. Tight end Jimmy Graham told me and Steve Torre on the Sunday Drive: "It definitely made a difference. There were times we made some mistakes. To have him back, screaming in my face...To have him right there telling me what I did wrong, what I need to do...I definitely think it helped us."

4. What Atlanta head coach Mike Smith showed everyone Sunday in their loss to New Orleans is he has no real faith in his defense. Trailing 23-20 with over 4-minutes to go in the 4th quarter, Smith elected to onside kick rather than trust his defense to make a stop. Then in overtime, Smith had his offense go for it on 4th and inches from their own 29-yard line instead of punting the ball back to the Saints. Michael Turner was stopped for no gain, and for all intents and purposes, the game was over.

5. Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton has put together a terrific rookie season, but even the "Red Rifle" couldn't get the better of Dick LeBeau Sunday. In their 24-17 loss to the Steelers, Dalton was just 15 of 30-passing for 170-yards with 2-touchdowns and 2-interceptions. Since LeBeau returned as Pittsburgh's defensive coordinator in 2004, rookie QB's are 1-13 against the Steelers.

6. Is there a quarterback controversy in Arizona? With Kevin Kolb sidelined, 2nd year QB John Skelton has led the Cardinals to back to back victories, and threw for 315-yards with 3-TD's in their surprising 21-17 upset of the Eagles Sunday. Following the win, I asked head coach Ken Whisenhunt if Kolb is still the starting QB when he returns, and he responded with this: "Well Kevin is not playing because he's injured, and we've always had the policy that he'll go back to that role." That may be the policy, but with 2 of Arizona's 3-wins coming with Skelton under center, it won't be easy for Whisenhunt to sell the team on Kolb automatically regaining his starting job.

7. The Eagles bandwagon is officially empty. At 3-6, the "Dream Team" has no realistic shot at making the playoffs, and two of Philly's big ticket additions must share the blame. Nnamdi Asomugha has 3-interceptions this season, but he's been far from the shutdown cornerback they thought they were getting when they signed him to a 5-year 60-million dollar deal. Meanwhile, it's been over a month since defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins registered his last sack. Jenkins has shown flashes this season, but far too often he's been missing in action...And that's exactly where the Eagles will be come this post season...M-I-A.

8. If you took a bathroom break, or got up from the couch to open a new bag of chips, you missed the Giants 1-point 4th quarter lead in San Francisco turn into a 2-touchdown deficit. In exactly 1-minute and 1-second, the 49ers went from trailing 13-12 to leading 27 to 13. Follow along...

2nd and 4 at NYG 31: Alex Smith 31-yard TD pass to Vernon Davis. Smith would also hook up with Michael Crabree for the 2-point conversion.

David Akers kickoff: Da'Rel Scott return to the 11-yard line.

1st and 10: Brandon Jacobs 3-yard run.

2nd and 7: Eli Manning intercepted by Carlos Rogers.

1st and 10 at NYG 17: Kendall Hunter 17-yard TD run. Akers added the extra point.

Just like that the 49ers took control of the game, and gained the inside track to the number-2 seed in the NFC.

9. Detroit apparently wasn't paying attention when I made this point a few weeks ago, so for the Lions benefit I'll spell it out again...THERE IS NO REASON TO KICK THE BALL TO DEVIN HESTER...EVER!!! Hester's 82-yard punt return for a score Sunday was the 12th of his career. Giving him a chance to impact the game is the height of stupidity.

10. The Todd Collins award of the week goes to Lions QB Matt Stafford. In their 37-13 loss to the Bears, Stafford completed 33 of 63-passes for 329-yards with a TD and 4-INT's, 2 of which were returned for touchdowns. And don't give me the fractured finger on his hand excuse. If anything, Stafford needs his eyesight checked after that performance.

11. It doesn't happen often Ray Lewis, but you and Jarrett Johnson came up very small in a big moment. Trailing 22-17 with under 3-minutes to go, Baltimore had a chance to get the ball back as Seattle lined up for a 3rd and 5 play at the Ravens 46-yard line. Tarvaris Jackson completed a short pass to Marshawn Lynch, who was a couple of yards short of the first down. However, Lynch eluded both Lewis and Johnson, turning it into an 8-yard gain. The Seahawks never faced a 3rd down again, and were able to run out the clock.

12. I'm not sure Tony Romo can play any better than he did against the Bills Sunday. Romo threw just 3-incompletions in 26-pass attempts. He finished the game with 270-yards, 3-TD's and 0-INT's. After the blowout win, I caught up with Cowboys wide receiver Laurent Robinson who said of Romo's performance: "That's like video game numbers there."

13. They have the same first name, but that's the only thing Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart have in common. If Schaub is truly out for the season, the Texans are in trouble. I realize Houston has overcome key injuries to Mario Williams and Andre Johnson, but losing Schaub would kill any chance they've got of reaching the Super Bowl. Leinart hasn't attempted a pass since 2009, when he threw 0-touchdowns and 3-interceptions for the Cardinals. In other words, the Texans just went from Picasso to an elementary school finger painter at the most important position.

14. In a league where passing numbers are off the charts this season, the Broncos offense is something out of the early 1940's. In their 17-10 win over the Chiefs, quarterback Tim Tebow completed just 2 of 8-passes for 69-yards and a touchdown. It was the first time a team won a game in which its QB attempted and completed so few passes since 1982 when the Patriots Steve Grogan went 2 of 5 for 13-yards in a 3-0 win against the Dolphins.

15. On the flip side of Tebow is Aaron Rodgers who's putting together a season for the ages. With 4-more TD passes Monday night, Rodgers is on pace to tie Tom Brady's single season record of 50. He leads all quarterbacks in rating, completion percentage, yards per attempt, touchdowns, and among starters is tied with Alex Smith for the fewest interceptions. If they want to get an early start, I think it's safe to engrave Rodgers' name on the MVP trophy.

The 15-Play Drive

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

1. If Tom Brady never sees the Giants again it won't be soon enough. Brady was as outwardly frustrated as I can remember seeing him during Sunday's 24-20 loss. He was pressured, beat up, and looked confused at times. The blueprint is out on how to beat the Pats, who are as vulnerable as they've ever been with a healthy Brady under center.

2. Let me end the argument right now...Eli Manning, who I've always considered a top-10 QB, is playing like an elite quarterback this season. Case closed.

3. Maybe he was thrown off by setting the clocks back, but Steelers safety Ryan Clark was about an hour late, and took a terrible angle on that game winning TD pass from Joe Flacco to Torrey Smith Sunday night.

4. In their first 3-home games this season, the Bills scored 38, 34 and 31. Sunday, the Jets held Buffalo to just 11-points. Jets all pro cornerback Darrelle Revis told me and Steve Torre on The Sunday Drive: "We just tried to disguise some things to get Ryan Fitzpatrick confused, and you could see that." I should say so...Fitzpatrick was just 15 of 31-passing for 191-yards with a garbage time touchdown and 2-interceptions.

5. Somebody tell Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers to take off the Ryan Leaf mask, because Halloween is over. Rivers has now thrown more interceptions this season than he did all of last year. He was picked off 3-times by the Packers, who returned 2 of them for touchdowns. I'm not sure if he's injured or just trying to do too much, but 14-INT's through 8-games is pitiful.

6. It took until his third start, but the Broncos finally figured out how put together a game plan for Tim Tebow. They used a heavy dose of read option against the Raiders, and Tebow was far more effective than he had been up until Sunday. He threw for 124-yards with 2-TD's, and ran for 118-yards in Denver's 38-24 win at Oakland.

7. Where's your brain Aaron Curry? The Raiders linebacker shoved a scrambling Tim Tebow when he was already out of bounds Sunday to pick up an unnecessary roughness penalty early in the 4th quarter. What made the boneheaded play even worse...it was on 3rd and 20!

8. And then there was one...The Dolphins victory over the Chiefs Sunday left the Colts as the only winless team in football. Unlike Miami though, Indianapolis seems to be getting further away from claiming its first win of the season. The Colts have lost their last 3-games by an average of 32-points. I know they're not intentionally trying to "suck for Luck", but Indy hasn't shown a pulse since week-6.

9. I realize it's only early November, but the NFC West race is over. Not only are the 7-1 49ers going to win the division, there's a good chance they'll end up with a first round bye in the playoffs. So what's led to their stunning turnaround under first year head coach Jim Harbaugh?

Defense: San Francisco is allowing a league low 14.8-points per game and NFL best 70.8-yards rushing.

Frank Gore: He's the first running back in Niners history to rush for as least 100-yards in 5-consecutive games.

Alex Smith: Considered an absolute bust coming into the season, Smith has avoided mistakes with 10-touchdowns and just 2-interceptions while completing 64.1% of his passes.

10. He hasn't gotten the attention of fellow rookies Cam Newton or Andy Dalton, but Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson is having a major impact in his first NFL season. Peterson's 99-yard punt return for a touchdown to beat the Rams in overtime made him the first player in league history have 3-punt returns for touchdowns in his first 8-games.

11. Every time Bears running back Matt Forte touches the ball, the price goes up. Forte is averaging nearly 5.5-yards per carry, and over 10-yards per reception. He's now rushed for more than 100-yards in 4 of 5-games, including Monday night's 133-yard performance against the Eagles. Yet with a base salary of $555,000, Forte makes less than the likes of fellow running backs Donald Brown, Danny Ware, and Derrick Ward. If Chicago doesn't pay him, I can think of a number of other teams that will. Think he might look good in a Patriots or Lions uniform?

12. A little precision goes a long way Michael Vick. With the Eagles trailing the Bears 30-24 and under 2-minutes to go in the 4th quarter Monday night, Vick's 4th and 10 pass to a wide open Jeremy Maclin was too high. Maclin made a terrific leaping catch, but fell to the ground afterwards causing him come up 1-yard short of a first down. Game over.

13. The Todd Collins award of the week goes to Colts QB Curtis Painter. In Sunday's 31-7 loss to the Falcons, Painter completed just 13 of 27-passes for 98-yards with 0-TD's and 1-INT before being replaced by Dan Orlovsky.

14. Is Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan still willing to stake his reputation on John Beck and Rex Grossman? Through 8-games, the two have combined for 8-touchdowns, 13-interceptions and a completion percentage of 57.9. This is a quarterbacks league, and it's obvious to everyone except for Shanahan that the Redskins don't have one.

15. Any team that doesn't take the Bengals seriously at this point does so at its own peril. To me, Cincinnatti is San Francisco North. Like the Niners, the Bengals defense has been the key to their turnaround. Cincy is ranked 2nd in total-D, 2nd in rush defense, and they're allowing just 17.5-points per game. However, unlike the 49ers, the Bengals play in a quality division, and they'll be severely tested the next 2-weeks when they host the Steelers and visit the Ravens.

The 15-Play Drive

15 thoughts on week-7 in the NFL...

1. Tim Tebow still looks like more gimmick than godsend at quarterback for the Broncos. Give him credit for elevating his play in the 4th quarter and overtime. But prior to that, he was 3 of 8-passing for 24-yards. After the win, Tebow said: "I just have to play better in the first 3-quarters, so we don't have to make that comeback in the 4th." Had they played a team more capable than Miami, meaning the rest of the NFL, Denver wouldn't have had a chance to rally. That game would've been out of reach well before the final 15-minutes.

2. Don't show your face in public this week Norv Turner. Rex Ryan called you out, you responded, and then your team wilted in the 2nd half. Maybe Ryan was right...He would've had a few rings had he gotten the Chargers job instead of Turner.

3. Just a suggestion...San Diego might want to take some time to work on their hurry up offense this week. Trailing the Jets 27-21 with 1:36 remaining, Philip Rivers and company took the field at their own 24-yard line. Following an 18-yard completion to tight end Antonio Gates, the Chargers looked clueless. They took entirely too long to run the next play, which was a totally meaningless 3-yard completion. With the clock still running and no timeouts, Rivers hit running back Ryan Matthews in bounds for all of 4-yards, then threw an incomplete pass out of bounds. Those 4-plays left them with just 11-seconds, and on 4th and 3, Rivers inexplicably threw the ball out of bounds again. Pathetic.

4. Felix Jones has been officially Wally Pipped by DeMarco Murray. The Cowboys rookie running back set a new single game team rushing record with his 253-yard performance against the Rams Sunday. Considering this is a franchise that's featured the likes of Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett, what Murray accomplished was extremely impressive. And barring an injury, Murray relegated Jones to back up status.

5. Why are you attempting an onside kick with over 2-minutes to go and 2-timeouts in your pocket John Harbaugh? Down 9-7 to the Jaguars Monday night with 2:02 to go, the Ravens head coach decided to gamble rather than trust one of the league's best defenses. The move backfired as Jacksonville recovered, and then added a Josh Scobee field goal for a stunning 12-7 victory.

6. It's time for the Ravens to be concerned about quarterback Joe Flacco. Now in his 4th year, Baltimore's QB appears to have seriously regressed. Flacco's completing just 52-percent of his pass attempts, and looks panicked against the blitz. 6 of his 8-TD passes came in 2-games...In the other 4, he's thrown for just 2-touchdowns with 5-interceptions.

7. How ineffective has Titans running back Chris Johnson been this season? He has exactly 2-more yards rushing than Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. I thought Johnson's holdout was warranted, and he deserved the new contract he eventually received. That said, he's yet to earn a penny of that 53-million dollar extension. Counting his 18-yard rushing day against the Texans, Johnson has been held to 55-yards or less in 5 of Tennessee's 6-games.

8. Speaking of Cam Newton, the Panthers rookie QB put together another terrific all around performance Sunday. In Carolina's 33-20 victory over Washington, Newton connected on 18 of 23-passes for 256-yards and a touchdown...He also ran for 59-yards and a score. When I asked Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith about how impressive Newton has been this season, he responded with this: "From the outsiders, you're blown away. But I get to see how much work he puts in. I'm not surprised by his success."

9. I'm sure you already know this, but you shouldn't have been flagged for roughing the passer Clay Matthews. The Packers linebacker put a clean shot on Vikings rookie QB Christian Ponder in the 4th quarter Sunday. However, Ponder's 16-yard completion turned into a 31-yard gain when Matthews was given a penalty. I understand the league is trying to protect its players, but it occurs to me that you can't hit the quarterback too high, too low, or too hard now...Just give the QB's a red jersey and get it over with.

10. I don't care if your quarterback is Peyton Manning, Bert Jones, Art Schlichter or Curtis Painter...If your defense can't make a stop, you can't win the game. The Colts pulled an absolute no show Sunday night, and they should be embarrassed. In their 62 to 7 loss at New Orleans, Indianapolis gave up 36-1st downs and 557-total yards of offense. That's more than about a lack of playmakers...That's a lack of heart.

11. The Todd Collins award of the week goes to the combination of Kyle Boller and Carson Palmer. The Raiders quarterback duo combined to throw 6-interceptions, 2 of which were returned for touchdowns, in their 28-0 defeat at the hands of the Chiefs.

12. Atlanta finally dusted off Michael Turner the last 2-weeks, and the results have been positive. Through the Falcons first 5-games, Turner averaged under 18-carries. In back to back wins against the Panthers and Lions, Turner ran the ball 54-times for 261-yards. Even wide receiver Roddy White admitted their ground game should be the focal point. White told me and Steve Torre on the Sunday Drive: "We're a run first football team." Up until the last 2-weeks though, that hadn't been the case.

13. Those were some smooth moves Matt Forte. The Bears running back certainly wasn't experiencing any jet lag as he put on a cut back clinic in London. Forte left at least four Buccaneers defenders in the dust with a pair of cut back moves on the way to a 32-yard touchdown run in the 1st quarter Sunday.

14. Let me be the one to throw cold water on the NFL putting a franchise in London...It's not going to happen. This is a league that still doesn't have a team in Los Angeles. There's a better chance of Tony Sparano coaching the Dolphins next year, then the NFL moving a franchise overseas. On top of that, I've never been a fan of the London games. For a league that touts its competitive balance to have Tampa Bay to play a "home" game at Wembley Stadium is ridiculous.

15. Can't say enough about Texans running back Arian Foster, who was a one man wrecking crew against the Titans Sunday. With Houston missing franchise wide receiver Andre Johnson, Foster not only rushed for 115-yards and 2-TD's, he also led the team in receiving with 5-catches for 119-yards and a touchdown. That's what you call taking over a game...Are you paying attention Chris Johnson?

The 15-Play Drive

15 thoughts on week-6 in the NFL...

1. Only Jim Harbaugh and Jim Schwartz know what really happened during their exchange at midfield following the 49ers victory over the Lions Sunday. That being said, no matter what transpired, Schwartz was out of line going after Harbaugh the way he did. He looked like an immature player who gets hit after the whistle, overreacts and ends up with a 15-yard penalty. Niners tight end Delanie Walker told me and Steve Torre on the Sunday Drive: "You've got to understand, when you're coming into a house that's 5-0 emotions are high. We took the win away from them. Things happen. That's coaches. They get emotional too especially when it's a big game like this."

2. Here's the understatement of the year...I caught up with Eagles safety Kurt Coleman after they beat the Redskins 20 to 13, and when I asked about his individual performance, Coleman responded with this: "I was able to read Rex all day." No kidding. Coleman had 3-interceptions, and the Eagles picked off Rex Grossman 4-times.

3. Amazing what happens when you win the turnover battle. Coming into week-6, the Eagles had three more turnovers than any other team in the NFL. Sunday, their turnover differential was +2.

4. On the flip side, the Bills were +11 and had scored 72-points off turnovers heading into their meeting with the Giants. But in their 27-24 loss, Buffalo QB Ryan Fitzpatrick threw a pair of crucial interceptions, while the Giants never did give the ball away.

5. It's time to find a happy medium Jason Garrett. The Cowboys head coach was too aggressive when Dallas had a 27 to 3 lead at home against the Lions in week-4. Sunday, he was far too conservative with a 16-13 edge over the Patriots in the 4th quarter. Dallas had the ball at their own 28-yard line with 3:36 remaining. They proceeded to run the ball twice, with DeMarco Murray losing a combined 3-yards on those 2-plays. Then, following a false start penalty, they ran it again. Those 3-plays took exactly 54-seconds off the clock, and gave Tom Brady all the time he needed to lead the Patriots on a game winning 80-yard drive.

6. Speaking of coaching decisions, give Hue Jackson credit for understanding that without QB Jason Campbell, the Raiders offense was going nowhere. So instead of hoping Oakland's defense could hold a 10-point 3rd quarter lead, Jackson rolled the dice and his gamble paid off big time. Facing 4th and 20 at the Browns 35-yard line, the Raiders lined up for a 52-yard field goal attempt. But rather than settle for a potential 20 to 7 advantage, Oakland faked it, and the result was a 35-yard TD pass from punter/holder Shane Lechler to tight end Kevin Boss. Right call at the right time.

7. Before you think I'm about to elevate Hue Jackson to Bill Belichick status, the Raiders head coach also got away with an awful decision in the 4th quarter. Now leading 24-10, Oakland faced 4th and 1 at the Browns 5-yard line. Logic tells you take the chip shot field goal and make it a 3-possession game. Instead, he kept the offense on the field, and when Michael Bush was stopped for no gain, Cleveland had new life. Although the Raiders held on for a 24-17 win, this game was much more stressful in the end then it needed to be.

8. Did Colts wide receiver Pierre Garcon think he was at the goal line instead of his own 33-yard line late in the 4th quarter of Sunday's loss to the Bengals? Trailing 20 to 17, Garcon made a 5-yard reception, and as he was being tackled, inexplicably reached out with the ball in his hand. Bengals safety Reggie Nelson knocked it loose, and defensive end Carlos Dunlap returned the fumble for a touchdown. There's no question Garcon has talent. However, drops and boneheaded plays like this keep him from being a real threat.

9. I don't think you're ready for the circus, but that was a nice juggling act you put on there Brent Celek. The third time was the charm for the Eagles tight end who made a 21-yard reception falling backwards after the ball bounced off his hands two different times.

10. Curtis Lofton didn't make the interception, but the Falcons linebacker certainly caused it late in the 2nd quarter against the Panthers Sunday. Lofton was covering tight end Greg Olsen on the play, but still had the awareness to deflect a pass intended for Steve Smith. Brent Grimes picked it off in the end zone, and Atlanta went into the locker room with a 14-10 lead.

11. The Todd Collins award of the week goes to Rex Grossman. This was a shoo-in the moment the entire Redskins fan base started calling for John Beck. In Washington's 20-13 loss to the Eagles, Grossman completed just 9 of 22-passes for 122-yards with 0-TD's and 4-INT's before being pulled for Beck in the 4th quarter.

12. On a day when Sean Payton tried to keep on coaching despite suffering a fractured left tibia and torn MCL, the Saints players should be ashamed of themselves. While their coach showed toughness, New Orleans played uninspired and sloppy football in losing to a beat up Buccaneers team.

13. You weren't dreaming Jay Cutler...I know it's hard to believe, but you actually did have time to throw the football Sunday night against the Vikings. A week after being sacked 3-times and constantly pressured by the Lions, Cutler was sacked just once, and looked quite comfortable in the pocket versus Minnesota.

14. It's not Montana to Rice, but Bengals QB Andy Dalton and wide receiver A.J. Green have something special brewing in Cincinnati. During the Bengals 3-game winning streak, the rookie tandem has combined for 14-receptions, 259-yards and 2-TD's. In case you're wondering, Green has more catches, yards and touchdowns in those 3-games than former Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco has all season.

15. Vince Young isn't exactly resurrecting his career in Philly. Young was the originator of the ill advised "Dream Team" nickname. He then injured his hamstring in the pre season and was unable to play when Michael Vick went down in losses to the Falcons and Giants. Sunday, he made his regular season debut, and his only pass attempt was intercepted. If this season was supposed to be about positioning himself for a starting job next year, Young better hope there's an opening in Canada.

The 15-Play Drive

15 thoughts on week-5 in the NFL...

1. On an emotional Sunday for the entire Raiders organization, it was only fitting they paid tribute to owner Al Davis, who died Saturday at the age of 82, with a victory. Davis, an NFL icon who came up with phrases such as "Just win baby" and "Commitment to excellence", would have loved the team's inspired performance in Houston. Running back Darren McFadden told me and Steve Torre on the Sunday Drive: "We wanted to go out there and do it for Al."

2. The league's biggest disappointment through week-5 is clearly the 1-4 Eagles, who can't seem to get out of their own way. So what's the problem? I could give you a laundry list of issues, but I'll chalk it up to three T's.

Turnovers: Philly is -10 in turnover differential

Tackling: In what has become a weekly occurrence, the Eagles missed 13-tackles against the Bills

Trust: There's plenty of individual talent on this team, but too many guys are trying to do it all by themselves. In other words, they don't feel like they can rely on their teammates to get it done.

3. No coincidence the Eagles latest loss was sealed by yet another unforgivable mental mistake. Trailing by a touchdown with 1:23 remaining, Philly had a chance to get the ball back as Buffalo faced 4th and short at their own 49-yard line. The Bills lined up to go for it, went with a hard count, and got Eagles defensive end Juqua Parker to jump offsides. At the same time, I'm guessing cheese steaks were being hurled at television sets all over Philadelphia. That's a big mess, but then again so are the Eagles.

4. The Bills don't giveth, but they definitely taketh away...And that has as much to do with their success as anything else. Buffalo has a league best 16-takeaways, including 2-games where they picked off the opposing QB 4-times (Michael Vick & Tom Brady).

5. Wonder if Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan still thinks Dallas has better receivers than Calvin Johnson, or if Chris Carter still believes Johnson isn't an elite wide receiver? Johnson now has a league leading 9-TD receptions. That's the most through 5-games for any player since 1940, and he's on pace to break Randy Moss' NFL record of 27-TD catches set in 2007. Johnson has 2-more touchdown grabs than Larry Fitzgerald, Vincent Jackson and Roddy White do combined. If you doubt his ability, I have to doubt your sanity.

6. I'm not buying into Tebow-mania, but I also didn't see any way Broncos head coach John Fox could keep quarterback Tim Tebow out of the starting lineup. Tebow absolutely provided a spark in Denver's 29-24 loss to San Diego. He ran for one 2nd half touchdown, and threw for another to turn a blowout into a nail biter. At 1-4 and with Kyle Orton struggling, it was time to find out what Tebow can do.

7. Speaking of quarterbacks, 49ers first year head coach Jim Harbaugh is fast proving to be a miracle worker. Harbaugh hasn't turned water into wine, but turning Alex Smith into a competent QB is nearly as impressive. Smith came into this season with 51-career TD passes and 53-interceptions. Through 5-games, he's thrown for 7-touchdowns with just 1-INT. Now if Harbaugh can just get Michael Crabtree to consistently catch the ball...One miracle at a time I guess.

8. Rex Ryan can make all the bold proclamations he wants, but not only are the Jets not Super Bowl bound, their once formidable defense isn't scaring anyone. Trailing 27-21 with over 7-minutes to go Sunday, the Jets defense needed a stop to give Mark Sanchez and company an opportunity to win the game. Instead, they allowed the Patriots offense to steamroll right down the field with a 13-play, 69-yard drive that took more than 6-minutes off the clock, and resulted in a field goal. And this wasn't the Tom Brady show either. BenJarvus Green-Ellis inflicted the damage with 10-carries for 59-yards. Forget about a damn snack...Ryan's going to need a 7-course meal to get over this one.

9. That was a cheap shot Roman Harper. I know Panthers receiver Steve Smith slowed down, but he was well into the end zone when Harper, the Saints veteran safety, popped him. It was a late hit, and a dirty play.

10. The Todd Collins award of the week goes to Kyle Orton. The Broncos QB completed just 6 of 13-passes for 34-yards with an interception before being pulled in favor of Tim Tebow Sunday...And lost his starting job in the process.

11. Giants head coach Tom Coughlin wasn't kidding when he said: "This is about as miserable a feeling as we've had around here in a long time." Seattle hadn't won a game on the east coast since 2007. Enter the Giants, who played as if they knew that fact and nothing else Sunday. They turned it over 5-times, allowed 20-points in the 4th quarter alone, and watched as the immortal Charlie Whitehurst rallied the Seahawks to a 36-25 victory. With a schedule that turns brutal after week-8, the Giants will wish they had this game back.

12. The best tight end in football this season hasn't been a household name like the Falcons Tony Gonzalez or Cowboys Jason Witten, its been the Saints Jimmy Graham. Through 5-weeks he's hauled in 32-receptions for 496-yards and 3-TD's. That gives him more receiving yards than some of the game's top WR's including Calvin Johnson, Greg Jennings and Larry Fitzgerald.

13. You can call it a tale of two halves when it comes to Colts quarterback Curtis Painter. In the first half he's been good completing 58% of his passes with 3-touchdowns. But over the final 2-quarters, Painter's completion percentage drops to 40% with just 1-TD. And the 0-5 Colts have taken their cue from Painter blowing back to back halftime leads.

14. Matty Ice has been defrosted on more than one occasion this year, and something seems off with the Falcons QB. He's thrown for more than 1-TD in only 1-game, and has 6-interceptions to go along with 3-fumbles. With Ryan struggling, Atlanta has been held to 14-points or less in all 3-losses, including Sunday night's defeat against the Packers when they found the end zone on their first two possessions, but never scored again.

15. In what's been an unpredictable season, the Bengals defense is by far one of the league's biggest surprises. Among teams that have played 5-games, they rank 1st in yards allowed, and are giving up an average of just 18.8-points. All of this despite losing marquee free agent cornerback Jonathan Joseph this off season. Credit defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who has future head coach written all over him.

The 15-Play Drive

15 thoughts on week-4 in the NFL...

1. The "Dream Team" has been anything but a nightmare for the opposition, and the hype surrounding the Eagles hasn't done them any favors. Following the 49ers stunning comeback victory in Philly, Niners running back Frank Gore told me and Steve Torre on the Sunday Drive: "We've got playmakers just like the dream team" and "There's extra motivation going up against the Eagles."

2. Somebody needs to explain the meaning of ball security to Ronnie Brown. Facing 3rd and goal at the 49ers 1-yard line in the 2nd quarter, the Eagles running back was stopped for a loss, then inexplicably tried to throw the ball with his left hand. The play was correctly ruled a fumble, which San Francisco recovered. When you lose a game by a single point, that kind of careless mistake in the red zone is tough to swallow.

3. I've decided Tony Romo has a split personality, so from now on I'll treat him as such. When he's good, he'll be known as Tony. And Tony was very good in the 1st half of Sunday's game against the Lions completing 19 of 24-passes for 195-yards and 2-touchdowns. When he's bad, he'll be known as Little Anthony. And with a commanding 27 to 3 2nd half lead, Little Anthony showed up. He proceeded to throw 3-interceptions, 2 of which were returned for touchdowns, and the Lions stormed back to beat the Cowboys 34-30. Time for Little Anthony to go to his room now.

4. Caught up with Lions cornerback Chris Houston, who returned one of those 3-INT's for a TD, and he made it clear Romo and the Cowboys started celebrating early: "They kind of got comfortable and cocky, and you could tell he was back there smiling and relaxing."

5. It doesn't get any better than the Texans opening drive against the Steelers Sunday. Houston set the tone with a 19-play 95-yard march that lasted nearly 11-minutes. By my count, they used 12-runs and 7-passes capped off by Matt Schaub's 1-yard TD toss to Owen Daniels. If that's not demoralizing for a defense, I don't know what is.

6. Bears radio play by play man Jeff Joniak only had it partially right when after Devin Hester's 69-yard punt return for a score, he screamed: "You are ridiculous!" Hester is ridiculous. It was his 11th career punt return for a touchdown, which is an NFL record. But what's even more ridiculous is punting him the ball in the first place. Special teams coaches across the league need to check their ego, and learn this simple rule...There is no reason to ever allow Hester to return a punt. No exceptions.

7. Consider yourself lucky Victor Cruz. I don't care what excuse referee Jerome Boger invented, that was a fumble late in the 4th quarter Sunday against the Cardinals. The Giants wide receiver stumbled to the ground following a 29-yard reception, and left the ball there when he got up. Only one problem, he wasn't down by contact. Arizona recovered the fumble, but the Cardinals weren't allowed to keep the ball or challenge, because Boger ruled Cruz had given himself up, and therefore was down. One play later, Eli Manning connected with Hakeem Nicks on what proved to be the game winning touchdown.

8. The NFL should have eliminated the "tuck rule" a long time ago, although I'm sure the Bengals would disagree right now. With Buffalo and Cincinnati tied at 3 in the 2nd quarter, Bengals rookie QB Andy Dalton was sacked and lost the ball at his own 13-yard line. Bills safety Bryan Scott returned the fumble for a touchdown, but after a review, the call was reversed. To me you're either in the act of throwing, or you're not. It shouldn't matter if Dalton was trying to bring the ball back in, because common sense tells you that's a fumble.

9. I know it's not Halloween just yet, but was Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell seeing ghosts in the end zone Sunday? I still can't figure out who he was throwing the ball to when he was intercepted in the 2nd quarter by Patriots safety Patrick Chung. Oakland was trailing 14-10 at the time, and would never get that close again.

10. Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker hasn't just been good of late, he's been phenomenal. In the last 2-weeks, Welker has a combined 25-receptions. Only nine other players in the league have at least 25-catches for the entire season.

11. Nice hand Tony Gonzalez, and I do mean hand. The Falcons veteran tight end has made several spectacular grabs this season, and added another highlight reel play late in the 3rd quarter of Sunday's win against the Seahawks. Gonzalez hauled in a 29-yard reception with only his left hand, while drawing a pass interference call against safety Atari Bigby who was holding his right arm.

12. The Todd Collins award of the week goes to the combination of the Ravens Joe Flacco, and Jets Mark Sanchez. Both quarterbacks helped set offense back to the stone age Sunday night. Their combined numbers...21 of 66-passing for 282-yards with 0-TD's and 2-INT's. Each of those interceptions were returned for touchdowns.

13. It's amazing what happens when Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz decides to actually call a few running plays. Matt Forte had more carries Sunday than he did in the two previous weeks put together.

Weeks-2 and 3: 19-rushes 51-yards

Week-4: 25-rushes 202-yards 1-TD

Not only did the commitment to the ground game spark the offense, but it also saved Jay Cutler from yet another beating. The Bears QB was sacked just once against the Panthers.

14. Think the 1-3 Seahawks wish they brought back Matt Hasselbeck? There's no way the Titans would be 3-1 without the veteran QB. Hasselbeck has now completed over 66% of his passes with 8-touchdowns and 3-interceptions this season.

15. Anybody expecting Green Bay to experience a Super Bowl hangover can forget it. The Packers are 4-0, and easily look like the most complete team in the NFL. When I asked cornerback Charles Woodson how they've been able to avoid a post Super Bowl let down, he simply said: "We don't feel like we're done yet." I guess not.

The 15-Play Drive

15 thoughts on week-3 in the NFL...

1. Don't make a frantic call to the eye doctor, your vision isn't impaired. When you look at the AFC East standings, those are the Buffalo Bills in sole possession of 1st place. The NFL's version of the cardiac kids have now overcome 21-point and 18-point deficits the last 2-weeks. How have they done it? Running back Fred Jackson told me and Steve Torre on the Sunday Drive: "We had tremendous help from our crowd. They stayed in it. Anytime we can feed off the crowd like that, feed off each other, we'll make some plays."

2. Tom Brady's 4-interceptions Sunday equaled his total from all of last season when he was picked off 4-times in 492-pass attempts.

3. Quit whining Michael Vick. The broken right hand you suffered against the Giants had nothing to do with the officiating. Following Sunday's loss, Vick said: "Every time I throw the ball, I'm on the ground. And I don't understand why I don't get the 15-yard flags like everybody else does." The truth of the matter is Vick takes more hits than other quarterbacks, because of way he plays. He holds onto the ball until the last possible second, and does far more scrambling than every other QB in the NFL. Unless he wants to join a flag football league, Vick better get used to his weekly beatings.

4. The Eagles signed cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha for 60-million over 5-years this off season, but tackling apparently wasn't part of the deal. Asomugha totally whiffed on his attempt to bring down Giants receiver Victor Cruz, and instead ran into safety Kurt Coleman as Cruz raced 74-yards for a 1st quarter touchdown.

5. Along with Cruz, who finished with 3-receptions for 110-yards and 2-TD's, Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith also made an unexpected splash in his first career start. The rookie out of Maryland had gone without a catch in his first 2-games. Sunday, he had touchdown receptions of 74-yards, 41-yards and 18-yards...all in the 1st quarter.

6. Maybe it's time Brett Kern demands to be paid like a top playmaker. The Titans punter had as many rushing yards against the Broncos as Chris Johnson. Kern picked up a bad 2nd quarter snap and ran 21-yards for a 1st down. Johnson finished with 21-yards rushing on 13-carries.

7. I know it's an obscure movie reference, but watching Panthers/Jaguars in that monsoon had me thinking of the 1986 film The Best of Times. No sign of Kurt Russell as gimpy QB Reno Hightower, but nevertheless.

8. So let me get this straight...It's 4th and 1 at the Lions 17-yard line with just under 12-minutes remaining in the 4th quarter. The Vikings are up 20-17, decide to go for it, and give the ball to Toby Gerhart? No...I'm not kidding.

9. Maybe it's fitting the last time the Lions were 3-0, the number-1 song in the country was Upside Down by Diana Ross. In case you're wondering, that was 1980.

10. Minnesota blew its third straight double digit second half lead, but don't blame defensive end Jared Allen. I have the feeling Lions LT Jeff Backus will be having nightmares about Allen, who had 6-tackles and 3-sacks in the loss.

11. You want a week-3 to forget...I give you Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie. He was flagged 4-times for 46-yards, lost a fumble that led to a Raiders touchdown, and left the game with what's believed to be a bruised lung. With an assist from The Shirelles, "Mama said there'd be days like this."

12. The Todd Collins award of the week goes to Kerry Collins. The Colts QB completed just 13 of 29-passes for 93-yards before being forced out of Sunday night's loss to the Steelers with a possible concussion.

13. Repeat after me Corey Peters...watch the ball! With Tampa Bay clinging to a 3-point lead late in the 4th quarter, and facing 4th and inches at the Atlanta 44, the Falcons defensive tackle jumped offside. The penalty sealed the victory for the Buccaneers, who put a stop to their 5-game losing streak against the Falcons.

14. That's some balanced offense you've got there Mike Martz. 3-games into the season, the Bears have attempted 127-passes and 51-runs.

15. It doesn't always look pretty, but from what I've seen Browns QB Colt McCoy is a winner. After spending most of the day struggling against the Dolphins, he connected on 9 of 13-passes for 75-yards including the go ahead 14-yard TD strike to Mohamed Massaquoi with 43-seconds remaining. You can stop looking Cleveland...you've found your quarterback.

The 15-Play Drive

15 thoughts on week-2 in the NFL...

1. They can both say otherwise, but beating the Eagles in Michael Vick's return to Atlanta had to have some special significance for Falcons QB Matt Ryan and owner Arthur Blank. Along those lines, I respect Dan Reeves, but can't buy his claim that, "When Mike really needed them, the Falcons turned their back on Vick." I look at it this way...Vick let the Falcons organization down...not the other way around.

2. For all the Michael Vick talk, the best Mike on the field Sunday night was Michael Turner. The Falcons don't win that game without his 114-yards rushing, and go-ahead 3-yard TD run with under 5-minutes remaining.

3. Anybody else get the feeling that this is just going to be one of those years for the Chiefs? In the span of 2-weeks, they've lost one of their best defensive players, safety Eric Berry, and one of their top offensive players, running back Jamaal Charles to injury. On top of that, they've dropped their first 2-games by a combined score of 89 to 10. Let me put it this way...Chiefs head coach Todd Haley has a better chance of winning a popularity contest than Kansas City does of making the playoffs.

4. It doesn't erase his history of late game flops, but let's be fair...that was a gutsy effort by Cowboys QB Tony Romo Sunday. After suffering a fractured rib, he hit on 12 of 16-passes for 201-yards and 2-TD's in the Cowboys 27-24 overtime victory against the 49ers. Had his name been Favre instead of Romo, it would have been considered a legendary performance.

5. Count Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings as impressed with the play of Panthers rookie quarterback Cam Newton. I spoke with Jennings on the Sunday Drive after Green Bay's 30-23 win in Carolina, and he used words like "special" and "he's going to be a good one" to describe the number-1 overall pick in the draft.

6. Bills cornerback Da'Norris Searcy's first ever NFL stat is one I'm sure he'll never forget. The 22-year old out of North Carolina hadn't recorded so much as a tackle yet, when he intercepted Jason Campbell's last second desperation pass in the end zone to seal Buffalo's 38-35 comeback victory over Oakland. And yes...referee Mike Carey got the call right.

7. Gut wrenching loss for the Raiders, but liked what I heard from 1st year head coach Hue Jackson afterwards. When asked if a short week, and cross country travel had left his team tired, he responded with a no excuses attitude, "This is the NFL...We pay guys to make plays!"

8. You can't throw a better pass than Saints QB Drew Brees did on that 79-yard TD strike to Devery Henderson. In my best Marisa Tomei from My Cousin Vinny, Brees was "dead on balls accurate."

9. Ok I admit it, the Colts are in serious trouble. Losing at Houston is one thing, but falling to the Browns in your own building is entirely another. I thought they'd be around 7-9 without Peyton Manning. Watching them the last 2-weeks, 3-13 seems like a distinct possibility.

10. Is it possible Tom Brady could have gaudier numbers than he did during his MVP season a year ago? Through 2-weeks he's thrown for 940-yards while completing 71.6% of his passes with 7-touchdowns and 1-interception. I'd say while it's early, the answer is yes.

11. That tremor you felt yesterday afternoon was Patriots 325-pound defensive tackle Vince Wilfork rumbling 28-yards down the field after his first career interception. I'm sure in Wilfork's mind, he was moving like Usain Bolt.

12. The Todd Collins award of the week goes to Luke McCown. Jacksonville's current starting quarterback, and I emphasize current, completed just 6 of 19-passes for 59-yards with 0-TD's and 4-INT's in the Jaguars 32-3 loss to the Jets.

13. It's 4th and 1 at the Broncos 36-yard line, the Bengals are trailing 24-22 with a little over 3-minutes remaining, and the play call from offensive coordinator Jay Gruden is a rollout right for rookie QB Andy Dalton? Did he not realize Cedric Benson is still on the team?

14. If this isn't Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde then I don't know what is. The Ravens went from harassing the Steeelers into 7-turnovers and allowing only 7-points in their week-1 blowout win, to giving up 432-total yards in Sunday's hard to explain 26-13 loss at the Titans. Keep in mind Tennessee scored just 14-points and had under 300-yards of offense in their season opener against Jacksonville.

15. Those are some nimble feet you have there Tony Scheffler. The Lions tight end did a little soft shoe to avoid Chiefs safety Kendrick Lewis on the way to a 36-yard TD reception Sunday. And if you're not impressed by Detroit yet, consider this...the last time they had a 45-point margin of victory came in 1957...in the NFL Title game.

The 15-Play Drive

15 thoughts on week-1 in the NFL...

1. Unless Darelle Revis has the power of invisibility, Tony Romo should have seen that Revis was all over Dez Bryant on that key 4th quarter interception Sunday night. Romo has become the ultimate tease...Just when you think he's figured things out, he provides you with further evidence that he's not a big time quarterback.

2. I'm not ready to put Cam Newton into the Hall of Fame, but what he did against the Cardinals was extremely impressive. Look past the numbers, and what stood out was Newton's poise and composure. He never looked panicked. For a rookie making his starting debut, that's saying something.

3. Who needs Todd Heap? In their 35-7 blowout win over the Steelers, Ravens young tight-ends Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta combined for 7-catches, 104-yards and a touchdown.

4. Caught up with Bears wide-receiver Roy Williams following their impressive victory against the Falcons, and he told me he loves watching the Chicago defense...So much so in fact that he said, "That's why I have them as my fantasy team D!" Wonder if he'd drop them in his fantasy league if they started struggling?

5. Gave Brian Urlacher my game ball on the Sunday Drive for his 10-tackle, 1-interception, and 1-fumble return for a TD performance versus Atlanta. Listening to his post game comments though, you would've thought the Bears linebacker had a rough afternoon, "Tired in the 1st half, and used alot of energy in the pre game." If that's tired, I'd hate to see what he does when he's well rested.

6. I'm still waiting for someone to cover Bengals wide-receiver AJ Green. On his go ahead 41-yard TD reception against the Browns in the 4th quarter, Green was left alone. Cleveland's defensive gaffe gave Cincinnati the lead for good. That by the way was Green's only catch of the game. Up until then, he'd been shutout by Joe Haden.

7. To say Tim Hightower carried the load for the Redskins Sunday would be an understatement. Hightower had 25 of the team's 26-carries in their win over the Giants, with Roy Helu getting the ball once.

8. Here's the reality of the Colts without Peyton Manning...Once they fall behind by double digits, the game's over. When is the last time you thought that about Indianapolis?

9. The 49ers Ted Ginn will always be a bust as a wide-receiver, but as a special teamer, he can be deadly. After Seattle pulled within 2-points late in the 4th quarter, Ginn single handedly put the Seahawks away with a kick off return for a touchdown, followed by a punt return for a score...all in the span 59-seconds.

10. You've got to wrap up Sean Weatherspoon. The Falcons linebacker more or less tried to push Bears running back Matt Forte on Forte's 56-yard TD reception..

11. The Todd Collins award of the week goes to Donovan McNabb. In his Vikings debut, McNabb was a train wreck. He completed just 7 of 15-passes for 39-yards with a touchdown and an interception. Don't get too comfortable on the bench Christian Ponder.

12. Be honest Lions fans...You can't tell me you weren't holding your breath after Matt Stafford came limping off the field. It was just a cramp, so back away from the edge of that bridge now.

13. Darren Sproles will be more productive for the Saints than Reggie Bush ever was. In the Thursday night season opener, Sproles showed how dangerous he can be with 7-receptions for 75-yards, 2-runs for 7-yards, and 2-punt returns for 92-yards, including a 72-yard TD. Reggie who?

14. How's this for some brutal truth from Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin..."We got handled in all 3-phases. Don't like it. We accept it, and we'll respond accordingly." Tomlin was as angry as I've ever seen him Sunday. 7-turnovers and a 28-point loss to your division rival will do that to you.

15. What a difference a year makes. When the team's met a season ago, the Chiefs ran for 274-yards in their 13-10 overtime win against the Bills. Sunday, Buffalo held Kansas City to 108-yards rushing. It helps to build a big lead, but it's also clear the additions of Marcell Dareus and Nick Barnett have made Buffalo's defense no pushover.

The 15-Play Drive

15 thoughts on the NFL preseason...

1. The auto industry isn't the only thing making a comeback in Detroit. If Matt Stafford can make it through the season in one piece and their secondary can hold up, the Lions have a real shot to compete for a wildcard. They've outscored the opposition 98 to 41 this preseason.

2. I still think they're the class of the NFC East, but I have more faith right now in the economy than the Eagles offensive line and linebackers.

3. Anybody seen Tiki Barber?

4. The Colts front office clearly took a look at the film of their two games with the Titans last season before signing Kerry Collins. His combined numbers against the Indy defense...56 of 78 passing for 544-yards with 5-touchdowns and 0-interceptions.

5. While trying not to break my cardinal rule of overreacting to preseason performances, it's hard to ignore what Steelers wide-receiver Antonio Brown is doing. His 4-reception, 137-yard, 2-TD effort against the Falcons was extremely impressive. Brown's potential emergence to go along with Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, Heath Miller, Emmanuel Sanders, and Jerricho Cotchery, could make the Steelers passing game one of the league's best.

6. In a division that includes receivers like DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Miles Austin and Dez Bryant, the Giants secondary woes are even more pronounced. After cornerback Terrell Thomas was lost for the season, safety Antrel Rolle told me this week on Mad Dog Radio, "Honestly, I don't know what to do. I still don't know how to handle it at this point, but I'm going have to try to find a way. I have to. We have to as a defense."

7. I understand the theory, but in practice reviewing every scoring play is going to get old in a hurry. Officials need to make the distinction between what is debatable, and what's not. They've already taken a second look at too many scoring plays that were clearly touchdowns in real speed.

8. Welcome to the NFL Jim Harbaugh. Now go find yourself a quarterback. If you didn't already know, the preseason has once again confirmed that Alex Smith can't play.

9. Chiefs head coach Todd Haley needs to have his head examined if he really thinks the Ravens were running up the score on his team last week. Baltimore did nothing wrong. Haley should have directed his anger at his own players, who couldn't make a stop. This wasn't exactly Joe Flacco against Kansas City's 3rd team defense.

10. If Roger Goodell won't be suspending Buccaneers cornerback Aquib Talib or Titans receiver Kenny Britt for their off-season "issues", then it's clear he won't be punishing anyone for their lockout transgressions. Could it be that Goodell is going soft? Next thing you know the commissioner will actually let the players tackle each other without a fine.

11. By no means has he been great, but the Panthers shouldn't hesitate to start Cam Newton once the regular season begins. Carolina is going to be a last place team. Might as well let Newton learn on the fly.

12. Money comes first, but I don't think Larry Fitzgerald would've jumped at signing long term with the Cardinals if he didn't believe in QB Kevin Kolb.

13. Did it shock anyone that the Raiders grabbed Terrelle Pryor in the supplemental draft? The organization that loves the 40-time was likely blown away by his 4.36. My personal opinion on Pryor, he's a project at QB. Nothing more.

14. 42-pass attempts in 2-quarters against the Steelers for Matt Ryan...Who's calling plays for the Falcons now, Mike Martz?

15. With the teams set to square off Monday night, and again in week sixteen, I like the fact that there's been some trash talk between the Jets and Giants. The bottom line on these two organizations, the Giants have a more significant history...the Jets are more relevant right now.

The 15-Play Drive

15 thoughts on the abbreviated off-season...

1. You can't win the Lombardi trophy in July, but the Eagles took a giant step in that direction with their trade for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and signings of Nnamdi Asomugha, Cullen Jenkins, and Jason Babin.

2. No head coach will have more pressure on him than Andy Reid. He's won everything but the Super Bowl. It's championship or bust this season.

3. The Cardinals overpaid for Kevin Kolb. They were bidding against themselves.

4. He'll never admit it, but Bill Belichick is going for it now. He wouldn't have brought in the likes of Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco otherwise.

5. Mike Shanahan's really staking his reputation on Rex Grossman and John Beck? That's like Kevin Costner staking his reputation on Water World.

6. If the lockout proved anything, it's that football is a business. You can't fault Shaun Ellis or Steve Smith for signing with division rivals. There is no real loyalty, and that works both ways.

7. I don't blame Chris Johnson for holding out. The Titans look cheap here. Johnson is an elite running back, has easily outplayed his contract, and is no 1-year wonder. Pay the man!

8. The Saints didn't get the same headlines as the Eagles, but I love what GM Mickey Loomis has done with this team. They're as good as anyone in the NFC, including the Packers.

9. I can understand why he doesn't want to play another down for the Bengals, but Carson Palmer looks spoiled and petty with the act he's pulling. Palmer needs to realize, he's a very average quarterback these days.

10. Why do I have the feeling the Cleveland Browns are headed for a year that'll be worse than the final season of Entourage.

11. Memo to members of the Tim Tebow fan club...John Elway and John Fox didn't draft him. They don't have to justify selecting Tebow in the 1st round by playing him when he's not ready. Tebow is a project. Give it time.

12. If I had any faith in Norv Turner as a head coach, I could easily see the Chargers coming out of the AFC. However...I don't.

13. There was a better chance of the Giants resigning Tiki Barber than the team actually trading Osi Umenyiora.

14. Chris Carter should be in the Hall of Fame, but his claim that Calvin Johnson isn't an elite wide-receiver is laughable.

15. Count me as an enemy of the new kick-off rules. Players like Leon Washington, Josh Cribbs and Brad Smith are being marginalized.

No Ring For the King

Is it hot in here? For the Heat and LeBron James in particular, the answer to that question is a resounding yes, because LeBron is now officially in Hell. When he took his talents to South Beach in a way that made most of America sick, King James put a target on his back the size of Rosie O'Donnell's ass. His prediction of 7 or 8 championships before this Heat team had even practiced together only increased the hype, and Scottie Pippen didn't do him any favors by putting him in a category above Michael Jordan.

When the bar is set that high, the only way to shut down the critics and avoid becoming a punch line is to dominate while delivering a title. Had Miami beaten Dallas in the NBA Finals, LeBron's 4th quarter disappearing act would have still made him an easy target. As I've said before, he looked like a combination of the Tin Man and Cowardly Lion from the Wizard of Oz in crunch time...No heart, and No courage. But at the very least, he would've captured a ring. Now he doesn't even get the pay off of a championship while riding Dwayne Wade's coat tails.

What makes things worse for LeBron is the Heat lost to a Mavericks team led by a lone superstar in Dirk Nowitzki. Isn't that why James decided it was time to leave Cleveland? He was never comfortable as a solo act, and didn't think the Cavaliers surrounded him with enough talent. But maybe the problem wasn't just the supporting cast, it was LeBron himself. Had he and Dirk reversed roles, I don't think there's any chance he would have been able to lead Dallas to a title. That kind of leadership isn't part of LeBron's DNA.

To top it all off, his comments following their game-6 defeat were an exhibition in the wrong thing to say at the wrong time. Instead of eating a little humble pie, he went in a different, but considering it's LeBron, almost predictable direction, "All the people that were rooting on me to fail, at the end of the day they have to wake up tomorrow and have the same life they had before. They have the same personal problems they had today."

He added, "They can get a few days or months or whatever the case may be on being happy that not only myself, but the Miami Heat not accomplishing their goal. But they'll have to get back to the real world at some point." I live in the real world and the reality is this...When I woke up this morning, I still had the same amount of titles as LeBron James, and nearly as many 4th quarter points.

Welcome To The Land Of Mr. Stay Puft

I don't know the year, month, day, hour or minute it exactly happened, but it's clear to me now as a sports society, we've gone soft. In the last 8-months alone, we've had fundamental rule changes that take the teeth out of tackling in the NFL. We've had athletes tweet what are considered strong or controversial opinions, only to backtrack faster than Chris Johnson's 40-time. And we've had more than a few suggestions that MLB should eliminate the runner's ability to run over the catcher on plays at the plate.

When did everyone get so politically correct? One Buster Posey season ending injury means the game of baseball has gotten too dangerous? Now I guess the catcher must be covered in bubble wrap, and any physical contact by a runner warrants an automatic ejection. Had Scott Cousins not wiped out Posey to score the game winning run, you know what he would've been labeled as? SOFT!

You can't have it both ways. We all want these athletes to play 100% all the time, but then ask them in the heat of the moment to instantaneously think of what might physically happen when they do. Posey knew what he was getting into when he strapped on that catching gear. Just like NFL players are well aware of what they're signing up for when they put on a helmet and shoulder pads. I find it amusing that the same league preaching to these guys about brutal hits, wants them to play two more regular season games.

As for expressing an unpopular opinion, forget it. I and many others ripped Scott Pippen for his tweet claiming that Michael Jordan was the greatest scorer of all-time, but LeBron James is the best all around player. That doesn't mean Pippen had to run for cover. I hadn't seen him that scared since he was being guarded by Xavier McDaniel. I'd have far more respect for Pippen, or the Steelers Rashard Mendenhall for that matter, if they'd had the stones to actually stand by their comments.

In the end, I believe the knee jerk reactions, emphasis on being PC, and lack of backbone comes down to money. The Giants and MLB to a lesser extent view Posey as not just an up and coming player, but an investment. The reason the NFL has gone into over protection mode, especially with quarterbacks, is that's the glamour position. They don't care about Ray Lewis nearly as much as they do about Tom Brady. And even a guy like Pippen goes into damage control, because Jordan can always be a meal ticket. So maybe I don't know when all of this started, but I know where it started...Didn't you hear? Cash is king.