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.