The 15-Play Drive

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The 15-Play Drive

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

1. Jets strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi must be suspended by the team, banned from the sidelines permanently by the NFL, and the league should also fine the organization heavily. What Alosi did yesterday, intentionally tripping the Dolphins Nolan Carroll, was one of the most unprofessional things I've ever seen in sports.

2. Mark Sanchez has lost the "Eye of the Tiger" and is now doing his best "Chicken Little" impersonation....And yes Jets fans, the sky is falling. In their last 2-games, Sanchez has completed just 34 of 77-pass attempts with 0-touchdowns and 4-interceptions. No coincidence the Jets offense scored a combined 9-points in back to back losses.

3. How does Michael Vick take two helmet to helmet hits on the same play Sunday night, and there's no flag? Were the officials members of PETA?

4. I know you haven't played much Matt Flynn, but up 3-0 in the 3rd quarter you can't force a ball into the end-zone like that. Green Bay would never score again in a 7-3 loss to Detroit. The victory ended the Lions 19-game losing streak against the NFC North.

5. By late Sunday afternoon everyone knew the Giants/Vikings game would be held at Ford Field except the Lions. Spoke with Detroit linebacker DeAndre Levy after their win against the Packers, and when I asked him what he thought about two other teams playing in their stadium he said, "I had no idea. It's the first I'm learning of this."

6. Tom Brady is not of this earth. He hasn't thrown an interception since week-6, and in the Patriots last 8-games, Brady has 19-touchdown passes. Hand him the MVP and get it over with.

7. It took until week-14 for the smoke to clear, but there's no doubt in my mind these are the top five teams in the NFL...

Patriots

Falcons

Saints

Steelers

Eagles

8. There were certainly multiple candidates, but the Todd Collins award of the week goes to Brodie Croyle. Subbing for the injured Matt Cassel, the Chiefs QB completed just 7 of 17-passes for 40-yards before being pulled in favor of Tyler Palko. Croyle is now 0-10 in his career as a starter.

9. On a Sunday when the likes of Roddy White, Dwayne Bowe, Larry Fitzgerald, and Terrell Owens didn't get into the end-zone, Bengals offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth and Eagles guard/center Todd Herremans each had a TD grab. You can't make this stuff up.

10. Mike Shanahan and Donovan McNabb put on a game mismanagement clinic at the end of the 1st half against the Buccaneers. Follow along here...

1st and goal at the 5: Keiland Williams 3-yard run

Timeout #2: 1:05 to go

2nd and goal at the 2: Keiland Williams no gain

Timeout #3: 20 seconds to go

5-yard delay of game penalty

3rd and goal at the 7: Donovan McNabb pass incomplete to Keiland Williams

Someone want to tell me how you can possibly have a delay of game following a timeout? On top of that, McNabb tried to call a 4th timeout before the penalty. Unfortunately, you're only allowed three per half Donovan. Pitiful.

11. Nice hands and hops Antwaan Randle El. That 18-yard one handed reception late in the 2nd quarter by the Steelers wide-receiver was one of the catches of the year.

12. So much for the magic of the interim head coach. While Jason Garrett and Leslie Frazier have experienced immediate success in Dallas and Minnesota, the Broncos looked the same under Eric Studesville yesterday as they did when Josh McDaniels was in charge.

13. The Seahawks defense made Alex Smith look like a combination of Steve Young and Joe Montana. I'd give Smith more credit for his big day, but since his 3-TD passes were exactly one quarter of his total for the season, I think Seattle's D had more than a little something to do with it. By the way, 5-8 San Francisco is just a game out of 1st place again in the awful NFC West.

14. Hide your face Roman Harper. I know it didn't technically count, because your fumble return was negated by replay, but Rams QB Sam Bradford ran you down from behind....And you had a sizable head start.

15. Cardinals kicker Jay Feely is an offensive juggernaut. He single handedly outscored the Broncos, Browns, Bills, Packers, Lions, Dolphins, Jets, Bengals, Steelers, Buccaneers, Redskins, Panthers, Rams, Seahawks, Bears and Chiefs. Feely kicked 5-field goals, 4-extra points and also ran for a touchdown on a fake field goal. That's 25-points he accounted for Sunday.

The 15-Play Drive

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

1. Gutsy performance by Ben Roethlisberger Sunday night. His nose looked how the Ravens probably feel today after losing a tough, physical game 13-10. Great game to watch by the way. I'd take Steelers/Ravens every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

2. So let me get this straight...Ravens linebacker Jameel McClain clearly delivers a brutal helmet to helmet hit on Steelers tight end Heath Miller and there's no flag. Yet Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh knocks down a scrambling Jay Cutler from behind and gets nailed with a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness. Referee Ed Hochuli called it a "non-football act--a blow to the back of the runners helmet in the process of him going down." And the league wonders why players are confused. I'll say this...if Cutler wasn't a quarterback, it wouldn't have been a penalty.

3. Caught up with Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson on the Sunday Drive after his solid performance in relief of an injured Brett Favre, and Jackson was more than honest when I asked him if he felt he was auditioning for the job, "I'm only human. It's hard not to think about next season." To be fair, Jackson wasn't brilliant throwing 3-interceptions to go along with his 2-touchdown passes, but he more than held his own against the Bills. In other words, there was no real drop-off after Favre left the game.

4. Pat Sims is a Bengal through and though. That's the only way to explain his bone-headed neutral zone infraction against the Saints on 4th and 2 at the Cincinnati 7-yard line with 34-seconds remaining. His idiotic mistake gave New Orleans a 1st down, and the win as Drew Brees threw a 3-yard TD pass to Marques Colston on the next play. Watch the ball Pat. They don't teach that in Cincinnati?

5. There's aggressive, and then there's stupid. Chiefs head coach Todd Haley was the latter of the two in Sunday's 10-6 win over the Broncos. You're leading 10-3 midway through the 3rd quarter and it's 4th and goal at the 2-yard line. Kick the field goal and make it a two possession game Todd. That wasn't the time to roll the dice. Matt Cassel, who told me afterwards he "wasn't surprised" by Haley's decision, was sacked for a 13-yard loss on the play. Haley has gambled often this season, and most of the time things have worked out. But you have to know when to take the points, and he made an emotional decision against a Denver team that embarrassed him the first time around.

6. Never has the loss of one player crippled a team as much as Kurt Warner's retirement has to Arizona. Last season Warner threw for 3,753-yards with 26-TD's and 14-INT's. The Cardinals went 10-6, won the NFC West and averaged over 23-points per game. This year through 12-games Cardinals quarterbacks have thrown for a combined 2,480-yards with 8-TD's and 16-INT's. Arizona is now 3-9, putting them in last place in worst division in football, and they're averaging just over 16-points per game. Only the Panthers have scored less than the Cardinals.

7. No coincidence that the Todd Collins award of the week goes to Derek Anderson. The Cardinals quarterback completed just 7 of 20-passes for 93-yards with 0-TD's and 2-INT's before being pulled for Max Hall, a two time recipient of this award. In a related note, Anderson was not seen smiling or laughing while sitting on the bench.

8. If there's a better 4th quarter team than the Falcons, I haven't seen them. Atlanta has come from behind 6-times this season in the final quarter to win games, including Sunday's 28-24 victory against the Buccaneers.

9. It's 13-quarters and counting since the Titans scored an offensive touchdown. Along those lines, Randy Moss continued his disappearing act with 1-reception for 13-yards yesterday. In 4-games with Tennessee Moss has 5-catches and no touchdowns. That's some impact you're making Randy.

10. Peyton Manning might as well dress up as Santa, because he's handing out interceptions like Christmas presents. In the Colts first 9-games, Manning was picked off a total of 4-times. In their last 3, he's thrown 11-INT's, 4 of which have been returned for touchdowns.

11. It certainly helps when your team runs for 251-yards as they did against the Chargers, but anyone else notice that Raiders QB Jason Campbell seems to play a whole lot better when Bruce Gradkowski isn't looking over his shoulder.

12. Maybe its time to throw Maurice Jones-Drew into the MVP conversation. That's 5-straight 100-yard rushing games for the Jaguars running back. In 4 of those games, he's run for more yards than the other team.

MJD 186-yards Titans-57

MJD 113-yards Giants 135

MJD 133-yards Browns-88

MJD 100-yards Texans-53

MJD 135-yards Cowboys 50.

13. People still don't get it. This was the statement from Cowboys radio play by play man Brad Sham at the end of the 4th quarter Sunday with Dallas and Indianapolis headed for OT, "You lose the coin toss, you lose the game." Let me educate Brad and anyone else out there who hasn't picked up on this yet. We've now had 16-overtime games this season, and in 15-of them both teams had at least one possession. The Cowboys lost the coin toss Sunday, but they won the game. Any questions?

14. Talk about home field disadvantage. Miami is 6-6, but just 1-5 at Sun Life Stadium. They score a field goal less at home than they do on the road.

15. I agree that it's a quarterback's league, but if the playoffs began today Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, Kyle Orton and Aaron Rodgers would all be watching from home. That's 4 of the top-5 passing QB's in the NFL this year.

The 15-Play Drive

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The 15-Play Drive

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2010-Patriots 31 Colts 28

2009-Colts 35 Patriots 34

2008-Colts 18 Patriots 15

2007-Patriots 24 Colts 20

2006-Colts 27 Patriots 20

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

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

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

The 15-Play Drive

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The 15-Play Drive

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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