Treats, tricks, and TKOs

WEEK 8
Patriots 28, Vikings 18 (10/31/'10): What a knockout of a day. Braised short ribs and margaritas for breakfast (Me, Mark, and Bergs arrived in the lot at 11 a.m. for the 4:15 p.m. kickoff). Costumes and candy everywhere. Brisket sandwiches for lunch.

Listening to the Jets get shutout while enjoying the pregame tailgate, I sat around in the sun with Mark, Bergs, Shep and three of his sons reliving some of our favorite days at Foxboro/Gillette. The parking lot was in a festive mood as a group of high school cheerleaders walked around in their uniforms, selling candy to raise money to go to Cheerleading Nationals.

"The best part," Bergs said as we took in the scene. "Is that there's still a game to go watch."

That is the best part.

WEEK 8: Pointing the way to the top.

We decided to get to our seats early to see a certain #4 warm up. We've talked for years about going in an hour before the game to catch warm-ups but usually the lure of another drink or steak sandwich would keep us tailgating till the last second. Yesterday we were motivated. That's what Brett Favre and Randy Moss on a perfect Halloween evening will do to you.

Favre jogged out onto the field ahead of the rest of the Vikings about 50 minutes before kickoff to the boos of the couple of hundred of fans who were already in their seats with Don Julio in hand. Soon the Pats players, wearing my favorite 1970s red throwback jerseys, began filtering out by position. Tight ends Crumpler, Hernandez, and Gronkowski were among the first and went into the end zone and started a one-on-one blocking drill. They looked motivated too. Crumpler, who was named a team captain to replace Kevin Faulk, is the perfect veteran to work with the rookies. They would all have a big role in the win over the Vikings.

The Pats got the opening kickoff and looked to be moving but a penalty nullified a great direct-snap play to Danny Woodhead that would have been good for a first down and the Pats eventually had to kick it.

The first big play of the game came on the Viking's opening  possession. With just more than seven minutes to go in the first quarter, the Vikes faced a 3rd-and-2 at their own 42-yard line. The ball was going to Adrian Peterson. He was a perfect 7-for-7 on third down carries so far this season. The ball was snapped, Favre handed it off to Peterson, he cut left, and the Pats D, lead by Jerod Mayo, surged over the line of scrimmage and stuffed him short. That play set the tone for the day and the crowd was into it the rest of the way.

The Vikings got the ball back after a New England three-and-out and Favre lead his offense on a nice 13-play drive down to the Pats' goal line. Actually, it was Peterson who lead the drive but all the attention, as usual, was on Favre. The gutsy folk hero dropped back to pass on a second down play at the Pats 10, and just as he was throwing an incompletion the crafty veteran took the first shot to his chin. Gary Guyton nailed him on a penalized helmet-to-jaw hit that knocked the old man down but not out -- yet.

The Vikes took the ball in for six, but even on the touchdown the Pats D made a statement. Peterson leaped in the air on 2nd-and-goal and was met head-on by Mayo. The hit stopped Peterson in his tracks and he crumpled at the goal line. The refs ruled that he had scored (which from the replay was questionable) but the defense had made the Vikes pay for it every step of the way.

The Pats offense, in a very significant trend that has developed, answered that score with a drive of its own. A few Ben Jarvis carries and a strike to Brandon Tate set the Pats up 3rd-and-goal at the three. Another direct snap to Woodhead, this time without a penalty, and the playmaker took it in to tie the game.

Minnesota got the ball back with just more than six minutes in the half and drove down to the Pats' 10. On third down Favre, who played a solid game, completed a pass to the one-yard line. Brad Childress and the Vikes faced a 4th-and-goal. Most teams, on the road, would have kicked a field goal to take a 10-7 lead into the half. But Childress, as mediocre coaches tend to do, outsmarted himself. He decided to go for it -- maybe trying to show Belichick he could out-Belichick him -- and gave the Pats D a real chance to make a statement. And they did -- loud and clear. Peterson got the ball and the defenders swarmed through the line and stopped him for a two-yard loss. Jermaine Cunningham and Brandon Spikes were first on the spot. The stadium was buzzing all through halftime thanks to that.

Minnesota put up a field goal to open the third quarter and then Brady and Tate made the play of the game at their own 35-yard line. Brady, who had been narrowly escaping the Vikes' pass rush all game, couldn't find an open receiver so he slid to his left to avoid tacklers and then spun completely around and, just as two defenders closed on him, found Tate racing down the left sideline. Brady hit him and Tate did the rest, taking it 65 yards for the score that put the Pats ahead for good.

Rookie Devin McCourty picked off Favre and set the Pats up at the Minnesota 41. A few plays later Ben Jarvis broke a 13-yard run for a touchdown and the Pats were up 21-10. The only thing left was to see how the Favre saga would play out. I'd been waiting a long time to see the Pats punish him. I didn't expect them to take it quite so literally.

The Vikings, needing a score to get back into the game, drove down to the Pats goal line again with about seven minutes to play. Favre dropped back to pass on 3rd down and threw an incompletion, getting hit in the chest by Myron Pryor just as he let the ball go. Pryor's helmet gashed Favre's jaw, knocking him silly and forcing him from the game. The Gillette crowd booed him as he was helped off the field and then carted off to the locker room looking dazed. That's just how sick people are of everything Favre. You never hear people booing guys who are hurt.

Tavaris Jackson came in and threw a TD on his first play and then made the two-point conversion, drawing the Vikes within 21-18. Once again the Pats offense, which struggled often during the game, put together a drive to seal it away. Ben Jarvis (now a member of my fantasy football team) scored his second touchdown, getting spun in the air as he crossed the goal line. The Pats gave out many more big hits than they took yesterday, another good trend that has developed.

Moss got hugs from Brady and Belichick after the game and as he walked off the field got a warm ovation from those who were left -- including me.

The Patriots, predicted to be on the way down by many of the spouting heads, are 6-1. The best record in football. As we set up the post-game tailgate, high-fiving strangers in crazy costumes as they walked by, we all laughed at how our good fortune as football fans continues.

To quote Randy Moss: To Coach Belichick and the Patriots -- salute.

Favre!!!!!!

Brett Favre may have stuck it to Pats fans yet again.

Reports today are that the grand old man of football suffered two fractures in his ankle last night while he was almost single-handedly losing a huge game for his struggling Vikings. Favre threw three picks against Green Bay in what was certainly his last game at historic Lambeau Field. It was classic Favre. He would make a great play, only to follow it with an equally stupid one. The best part was listening to the announcers say how he almost pulled out another comeback win, completely ignoring the fact that if he hadn't thrown those picks his team would not have been behind.

FAVRE: Feeling his age.

Watching the game, I just couldn't wait for his arrival at Gillette Sunday. With sidekick Randy Moss. Now that is all in doubt.

Among his many records -- good and bad -- Favre has started 291 straight games. Most ever for a quarterback, 291! A streak that goes back decades. Once Favre announced he was coming back for one more year there was never any doubt that he would be throwing passes -- and picks -- against the Pats on Halloween. The guy always plays. Even when he shouldn't. That's because Favre always puts his own interests ahead of that of his team. Always.

But now it looks like I will be booing Tavaris Jackson. That won't be nearly as fun.

Pats' fans hatred of #4 goes way, way, way back. The greatest quarterback and American to ever lace 'em up shot to the top of the New England enemy list in the 1996 Super Bowl. (That was the one in which coach Bill Parcells was signing a contract to coach the Jets when he should have been telling his special teams coach not to kick the ball to Desmond Howard).

Favre was the young gunslinger back then. I can still see him running around in his green and yellow Packers uniform with his helmet raised above his head after he threw a touchdown bomb. Favre and the Pack knocked off the Pats even though he made many stupid mistakes. The Pats could have won. Maybe should have won. But Favre and Green Bay did and -- although he hasn't won a title since -- his legend has continued to grow.

Favre came back to bite the Pats in 2002, the year after Brady won his first Super Bowl. The Pats, who won a thriller at home against Miami to finish at 9-7, needed Favre and his Vikings to knock off the Jets to put the them in the playoffs. The Patriots were the defending champs and were hot. If they had made it into the playoffs anything was possible. The Pack was 12-3. The Jets 8-7. My family gathered at my parents house figuring there was a very good chance a 12-3 team would beat an 8-7 team. We forgot Brett Favre was playing,

Favre and the Pack decided to pretty much take the game off and were whipped by the Jets 42-17. The Pats were out of the playoffs. The Jets were in. Thanks Brett. It hurt a little less when the Atlanta Falcons went into Green Bay and blew them out 27-7 in the opening round of the playoffs. Favre, as usual, threw two big picks.

Flash forward to 2008, the year Brady got hurt and the team still managed to go 11-5 with Matt Cassel leading the way. Favre was now a member of the Jets. He had led Gang Green to an 8-3 record through eleven weeks and the national media had anointed them champs. But the Jets, lead by Favre game-killing interceptions, lost three of their next four and were out of the playoff hunt.

But... the Jets were playing Miami, who were tied with the Pats for first in the AFC East, in the final game of the season. If Favre and the Jets could beat their rivals from the South then the Pats, without Brady, would make the playoffs. It would be a great success story. Once again my family gathered at my parents' house to see if Favre could give us a little help.

Final score: Dolphins 24, Jets 17.

Favre threw three picks, one of them Miami took back for a score. Does Favre hold the record for most "pick sixes"? My bet is yes. Once again Favre had screwed the Pats and their fans.

All the time Favre was losing one big game after another, the media was elevating him to American hero status. His status among my family? Public enemy #1.

I was hoping for one last chance to let Captain America know how I felt. Once again it looks like he has cheated me out of some fun.

Then again... if there's a quarterback who will force his way on to the field with a fractured ankle and a weak arm in order to officially kill his team's season, it's Brett Favre.

Come on, Brett. You owe me one.

Greased lightning

WEEK 7
The first half of the Pats-Chargers game set football back about 50 years.

WEEK 7: Pick up game.

Has a wide receiver (SD's Richard Not-So-Goodman) ever caught a pass, fallen down, and then just left the ball on the field for the defense to pick up? I've never seen it. It's also not too often you see offsides on the opening kickoff (Pats), or a team (SD) kill a big drive by throwing a lazy lateral then watching the ball roll around on the ground till a defender (Ninkovich) picks it up and takes it to the 8-yard line. Only to then sack the opposing QB (Brady) twice to force a field goal? It was sloppy, crazy football.

And it made for a beautiful road win for the now 5-1 Patriots. That's two road wins in a row for a team that just a few weeks ago couldn't win outside the Foxborough town line. At two tough places to play. The 2010 season is definitely starting to feel a lot different from 2009. Good teams find ways to win games when not playing at their best. Or take games when the other teams give them away. The Lightning Bolts were in a very giving mood yesterday. Thank you, Norv Turner. Again.

The first half ended with the Pats ahead 13-3 thanks mostly to four Charger turnovers. And thanks to an opportunistic, aggressive defense. San Diego, the best passing attack statistically in the league so far this year, had eight first half possession but only put up one field goal. Tight end Antonio Gates, almost unstoppable in the first six weeks, was blanked in the first half. It was another solid game by Jerod Mayo, Jermaine Cunningham, Rob Ninkovich, Pat Chung, Vince Wilfork, and company.

The third quarter opened with a dominating 17-play drive by the Pats that showed how good the offense can be when it is clicking. Brady spread the ball around nicely and Woodhead and Green-Ellis continued their straight ahead -- if unspectacular -- running game. The Pats controlled most of the second half and with just more than seven minutes left in the game were up 23-6. Then the Chargers -- desperate to avoid falling to 2-5 -- finally got their passing game cranking.

Gates finally hauled in a touchdown pass and the Chargers cut the score to 23-13. Then something very surprising happened. Norv outcoached Bill Belichick. No, really. The Chargers executed a perfect onside kick and recovered the ball. The Pats did not look ready for that. Might have been because the sun seemed to be in Belichick's eyes the entire fourth quarter. Whatever it was, the Chargers drove in for another score to cut the lead to 23-20.

Brady and the offense got the ball with four minutes left. Two first downs and the game would be over. It's a drive this offense has to have. Instead the offense went four and out. Green-Ellis was stuffed on a fourth down run and the Chargers took the ball and moved into position for a 45-yard field goal to tie the game. Fittingly, San Diego committed one last mistake. A five-yard illegal formation flag pushed the kick back to a 50-yarder and Kris Brown's kick -- and the Chargers' season -- clanked off the goal post.

The Pats -- as the Steelers and the Ravens also did yesterday -- escaped with a big win.

There were plenty of negatives for the Pats. Too many penalties. The defense gave up nearly 400 yards of offense -- again. The offense is still having too many wasted possessions. The passing game is mostly limited to Aaron Hernandez. New hero Deion Branch finished with just four catches and was hardly part of the offense for three quarters. Watching the tape of the game showed several times where he came off the line of scrimmage and just stood around. Like Randy Moss. I can't wait to hear Felger rip Branch for that. Right. He loves Branch. The old double-standard. The Pats are 2-0 since trading away Moss, but in both wins the offense had no deep threat and struggled for much of the game. That may prove to be a weakness going forward. It may not. Clearly an element of their attack is gone.

But the defense is fast becoming a positive. Mayo is starting to return to the level that he played at during his award-winning rookie season. Rookie Devin McCourty, who has been quietly playing solid cornerback since training camp, made his first pick of the year. Brandon Meriweather made some big -- and legal -- hits. There will be some tough days ahead for the young defense, but the signs are mostly pointing in the right direction.

Speaking of pointing in the right direction... there's Tom Brady. He threw for just 159 yards yesterday and one touchdown. But the biggest stat was his interceptions: zero. On a day when seven picks were returned for touchdowns in the NFL, the Pats quarterback did a great job of directing his team and keeping them in a position to win. Just like he did last week against Baltimore. He will still have his three and four touchdown games. But yesterday's one touchdown game was just as crucial. He's playing like the veteran champion that he is. That's the most positive sign.

Next up on the schedule is a game I've been looking forward to since the schedule came out (I'll be saying that a lot the rest of the season). Brett Favre and Randy Moss come to Gillette for a 4 p.m. game on Halloween. The forecast is partly cloudy with temps in the 50s. Perfect costume weather. I will be wearing my Randy Moss T-shirt as a final salute to one of the game's greatest receivers.

It should be a house of horrors for old man Favre.

Deep thoughts

As a sports fan one of the keys to enjoyment is not taking the losses so seriously that one might think you actually played in the game. Throwing things. Walking around angry for days. (Note: None of this applies to Bruins' fans). Kicking the dog. That's pretty lame. Unless you are fourteen. When the loss is over -- or a player traded -- it's best to just look forward to the next game, next season, next favorite player. It's supposed to be about entertainment. Fun.

MOSS: Happy trails.

Some losses, however, do stick with you longer. Roughing the passer. Fisk. Too many men on the ice (both times). Orr. Mets win! Mets win! Clemens. Tyree makes the catch. Vinatieri. Fourth-and-two. Those are the losses that come up over beers from time to time, discussed with an air of "did that really happen?"

Did the Pats really dump Randy Moss in Week 5 of the season? They did. But I'm not quite ready to let it go.

The stories are coming out that Moss was becoming a big headache. Tedy Bruschi said players were getting sick of Moss's issues. He also said that the two years he played with Moss he was a great teammate. But since guys like Bruschi left the team there was no one to keep him in line. Well, that's a self-serving statement. Moss was good but guys like Bruschi made him grow up. That may be true. But how exactly was Moss acting like a spoiled child? His only real sin was that he wanted to stay with the Patriots so badly that he couldn't keep his mouth shut about it. He picked a bad time to express it, but since I was hoping he and Brady would play three more years together too it didn't really bother me.

I never heard Moss complain about how many catches he got. Never. And if he exploded at the half of the Miami game, well, the offense had scored six points and really did not get much better in the second half. I've got some issues with the offensive play-calling too. And he's not the first player to get in an exchange with the coach at the half. But for him to have been traded you have to think Belichick thought it was only going to get worse unless they gave him a contract and obviously they decided that wasn't part of their plans. I've got some issues with that too.

It's possible that, instead of Belichick dumping a guy he was tired of, that the coach/GM told Moss that the team wasn't going to give him the new contract that he wanted. Maybe Moss heard that and said if you can trade me to a good team then go ahead and do that. Maybe it was done in a good atmosphere. Why does it automatically have to be because Moss was acting like a jerk? Or that Belichick is an egomaniac. Ultimately it doesn't matter why.

Bruschi said that the trade was a sign that the Pats were going back to their old way of winning as a team. He said that the Pats used to win together, not with just one guy. That is correct. But in true Bruschi fashion (which I love about him), he thinks that the Pats invented team football. They didn't. Sorry Tedy. The '70s Steelers, with all their Hall of Famers, were a total team. Same with the Niners of the '80s and Cowboys of the '90s. They had star players -- including some of the best deep threats to play the game -- but they got something from every man on the roster. They had playmakers, role players, star players, young players, clutch guys, tough guys, smart guys. This Pats team is no different. They have stars -- Brady, Moss, Big Vince -- young, promising players -- Mayo, Tate, Chung -- role players -- Woodhead, Sanders, Arrington. The 2010 Pats are as much as team as the 2001 Pats. Just different.

Bruschi sees Monday's game as a total team victory. And it was. All three units did their job when it counted. But it was mostly a special teams victory. The Ravens, coming to Gillette for the next game, are hurting in the secondary and it looked like the best way to win that game was to test them deep. With Randy Moss. Now they'll have to find another way to do it.

They won before Moss got here. They'll win now that he is gone. But I've actually heard some people say the Pats offense will be better -- better -- without Moss. Better? The thinking is that somehow Moss being on the field was preventing Brady from throwing short passes (yet Welker keeps catching 100 balls) or #81s presence was stopping the running game from kicking it into gear. I guess Marvin Harrison was holding back the Colts offense. Lynn  Swann was holding back the Steelers offense. Michael Irvin was holding back the Cowboys offense. Wonder why they didn't dump those guys?

Why? Because there are lots of ways to win a football game. And in the course of a 16-game season the good teams rely on all those ways to get victories. The Pats beat the Dolphins with three huge special teams plays. That doesn't happen too often. If you can get a win or two with special teams scoring and a few wins with the defense scoring then that's the difference between 12 wins and eight or nine. Some games are won with a grind-it-out running game. Some with a short pass attack. And some,  as we have seen, are won by connecting on a few deep bombs. The Pats just removed one of their ways to win a game.

Nostalgia seems to have people believing the Pats won every game 9-7 when they were winning those Super Bowls. Here are some scores from Pats' victories in '01: 44-13. 29-26. 38-17. 34-17. 38-6. Ya. Grind-it-out defensive football. They also won games by scores of 12-9, 17-16, and 20-13. Good teams win games in many ways.

I was listening to DA on 98.5 on the drive home and he said he was actually more excited about watching the Pats now that Moss is gone because he wants to see how the young players on the offense perform. I get that. I'll be interested to see that too. The offense will probably be fine. But more excited? Watch the video below and tell me you are more excited that you won't get to see catches like these again.

Trading down

Thanks for killing my buzz, Bill Belichick. I was looking forward to basking in the glow of the Pats big road win for the next two weeks while getting ready for the rematch with the Ravens at Gillette. As I was sitting eating a Five Guys burger (cheese, lettuce, pickles, tomato, ketchup, mayo -- excellent) with two of my daughters, my nephew Steve sent me a short and not-so-sweet text: "Umm, what the ----, we just traded Randy Moss?"

So much for enjoying that burger. And the next two weeks.

MOSS: Still a great catch.

I learned long ago not to get too attached to the players you root for. Two words: Bobby Orr. When you are 14-years-old and the greatest hockey player to ever play the game leaves the Bruins and goes to Chicago, well, let's just say you get an early life lesson in how pro sports work.

Randy Moss is no Bobby Orr. But as I sat watching "The Social Network" at the theater in the shadow of Gillette Stadium, I thought letting Moss go in Week 5 of the season in exchange for a draft pick when you already have a stadium full of picks makes no sense. Your chances of winning just dropped dramatically.

There will certainly be a group of the shrill voices on sports blab radio that will say good riddance. Felger being the leader of that group. Moss will be described as selfish, a distraction, a guy who took plays off, a problem. I guess Felger and the like have access to the Pats locker room and film rooms that the rest of us don't. All I have to go on is what I saw on TV and from section 109. I saw a guy who not only made amazing catches but one who had fun while playing and who had a respect for the game and the team. Is he a bit of a character? Of course. He's a superstar wide receiver. But he's not T.O. or even Ochocinco. Moss always seemed to me a guy who just wanted to play and be recognized for his unworldly talents.

When Moss made his appeal to be signed to a contract extension after the first game this year, every player that was asked said they love having him as a teammate. If they didn't feel that way they would have said nothing. Brady has often said he's the smartest player he's ever played with. And has often said Moss is one of his best friends. A distraction? A problem? I didn't see it from my seat.

Randy Moss wasn't a favorite of mine before he came to the Patriots. In fact, I was not in favor of them trading for him. Shows what I know. He's been a fun guy to root for. Lots of fun. I never imagined I'd own a Moss Patriots T-shirt. I'll be wearing it proudly to Gillette the rest of the year.

If my brother Jim wasn't in Morocco right now adjusting to life in the Peace Corps, he would probably say the same thing he said when we heard the Pats had traded Richard Seymour before last season. "Belichick knows they can't win the Super Bowl so he's giving up on this year to get picks for the future." I didn't agree with him about Seymour because 1) I thought Seymour's best days were behind him and 2) the Pats got what could be a top 10 pick for him. But it's hard not to see this move as hurting your chances to win that fourth Lombardi this year in exchange for hoarding picks for the future.

Brandon Tate (who I just added to my fantasy team, named Moss Racing) is a promising young receiver. But any suggestion that he can fill Moss's gloves is a stretch. There's no way the team can replace him. Yes, they have Welker and the tight ends. But without Moss, they might find it a lot harder to get open. A lot harder. One thing you can see when watching the game from the stands, even on those plays when Moss is not involved, he is involved because half the defense is keeping an eye on him,

Listening to the NFL Network, ESPN, and all the other sports reports this morning I heard this a lot: "This is a good deal for the Patriots' future. They now have six picks in the first three rounds of the draft next year. For the 2012 or 2013 Patriots, this is a great deal."

2012? 2013? I was still enjoying Randy Moss and the 2010 New England Patriots.

I'm going to enjoy them a little less now.

Ya. Right.

The greatest player in the history of the NFL (who happens to have thrown the most INTs in league history, too) reportedly decided today that he won't play a second season with the Minnesota Vikings, instead opting to retire from football.

Let's just say I can't wait till Brett Favre and the Vikings come to Foxborough on Halloween night.

Fav-r-a is looking to add most career retirements to his already long list of accomplishments. Like most career interceptions. He retired from the Packers for the first time a few years ago. There was the tear-filled press conference and all that. The greatest Packer of all time was ending his legendary career. And just a few months later there he was in a different green jersey. That of the Jets. One pretty good year with the Jets ended with Favre making a huge turnover with the team's season on the line. That was followed by his second retirement. Followed by his second return, this time in Viking purple. One great year with Minnesota ended with Favre making a huge turnover with the team's season on the line.

Favre had such a great season with the Vikings that most people thought he would come back for one more year. The Vikings are clearly one of the two or three best teams in the NFC with the old man behind center. He got through last season mostly healthy, which is key for a quarterback at 40. So why retire now?

To Favre it seems the question is why just come to camp and join the team and get ready for the season when you can skip camp, miss all the hot, grueling workouts, have the media (a.k.a. ESPN) spend weeks speculating on whether the Vikings can lure you back for one final try at a championship, hold a press conference (or ESPN special: The Decision 2.0) announcing you are coming back one last time, and then show up for practice like the returning hero on the eve of the opener.

I expect Favre to be wearing his Viking horns on Halloween night. I also expect him to lead his team to the division title and the playoffs -- where, with the team's season on the line -- he will make the huge turnover one more time.

Final standings

The regular season is over and the Colts are right where they started in my top 10 rankings -- No. 1. And that's where they belong. A columnist wrote last week (after the Pats had their way with the Jaguars) that there aren't a lot of good teams in the NFL. I couldn't disagree more. Look at the playoff teams ranked below (12, not 10). Any one of them could win the Super Bowl. They are all that good. Sure, there are some bad teams like Oakland, Washington, and others. But even they competed with the top dogs and pulled off some upsets. There may not be any powerhouses in the NFL right now, but there are a dozen or more very good teams. That should make for some great playoff games.

1. Indianapolis Colts (14-2): They lost their last two games due to indifference. So now Manning and the Colts head into the playoffs without the historic burden of 19-0. They can relax, get rested, and be ready in two weeks. But will they be ready? They are the best team in the league but they will have gone almost a month without competing. If they can shake the rust and get through the first playoff game they will be tough to stop.

2. San Diego Chargers (13-3): The hot team. The favorite pick to win it all. The Chargers stumbled out of the gate at 2-3 but have rolled off eleven straight wins to close out the regular season. Phillip Rivers should be the league MVP (of course it will go to #4). They were the team to beat way back in '06 when the Pats went into SD and stole one. They are a veteran team now. Less cocky. They know what it takes. Even Norv might not be able to screw this up. Maybe.

3. New Orleans Saints (13-3): What the hell happened to the Saints? It wasn't that long ago that they were whuppin' the Pats on Monday night and looking like the team to beat. They are still the team to beat in the NFC but they closed out the season with three straight losses -- two of them in the Dome. Their offense sputtered down the stretch, scoring less than 20 points in all three loses. Can they turn it back on in the second round of the playoffs? I think they will.

4. Minnesota Vikings (12-4): Brett Favre finished the season with 30 touchdowns. And only seven picks. Seven! I would have put a lot of money on him throwing double digits. But he didn't. Impressive. Favre gets all the attention but Minnesota has a lot more than #4 going for them. A great run defense. A great running game. Adrian Peterson is one of the most dangerous backs in the game. He can change a game with one play. The Vikes will be tough to beat at home in the Division round.

5. Green Bay Packers (11-5): It gets a lot harder to separate the remaining playoff teams. The Pack get the nod because of their overall balance. The offense put up the third most points-per-game. Aaron Rodgers matched Favre's 30 TDs. Grant Jennings and the ageless Donald Driver are as good a one-two WR punch as there is. The defense is even better. The have the best run D in the league. Theyare fast enough to win in a dome and tough enough to win in the cold. The Pack could make it to the NFC title game.

6. Dallas Cowboys (11-5): Dallas makes the fourth NFC team in the top six. Unlike many teams in the AFC, most NFC teams are heading into the playoffs on a roll. The 'Boys are rolling as well as anyone. Tony Romo smashed his "can't win in December" label into oblivion. Now we'll see if he -- and Wade Phillips -- can actually win a playoff game. They haven't won one since 1996. That's right. Dallas hasn't won a playoff game all decade. Jerry Jones might hang himself from the giant video screen at the top of the Jerry Dome if they don't break that streak. Too bad he has Phillips as his coach.

7. New England Patriots (10-6): Too high a ranking for the Pats? You're probably right. They won one less game this year with Brady than they did last year with Matt Cassel. Didn't expect that. But of the remaining teams competing for the seven spot the Pats have the best chance of winning a home playoff game and advancing. They went unbeaten at Gillette. The Ravens are going to be tough to beat (especially without -- gulp -- Welker) but Brady is still Brady. They still have lots of weapons. The defense has yet to show they can lock down a big win. If the Pats are leading the Ravens 24-10 going into the fourth quarter ... I'm going to be nervous.

8. New York Jets (9-7): What the heck are they doing in the playoffs? Didn't they blow a home game against Atlanta a few weeks ago that pretty much killed their season? Weren't the Colts leading them two weeks ago ... oh, right. The Colts gave up. Thus the Jets' season was taken off life support and they are now up and walking again. Right into the playoffs. With the best defense in the league. Nice going Colts. Rooting against the Jets is ingrained in me. But I think I would actually enjoy watching them win this weekend and then go into Indy and beat the Colts in a real game. Now that would be justice.

9. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6): Cincy ended the season by getting stomped 37-0 by the Jets. And now they play them in the Wild Card round. It doesn't mean a thing. The Bengals -- like the NYJ -- win with defense. At least that's how they should win. Also like the Jets, they get in trouble when they get away from that approach. Cincy has not looked strong down the stretch and are certainly vulnerable. If they can get in front of the Jets early and get the hungry Cincy fans fired up they will be in good shape. If not, their once-promising season will end a disappointment.

10. Baltimore Ravens (9-7): The Ravens barely beat the Raiders in a must-win game. But they won. They haven't had the most impressive season. But they scratched their way into the tournament. They are a well-coached, smash-mouth team. Ray Lewis will scream. John Harbaugh will have his team prepared. Joe Flacco will not make many mistakes. They won't beat themselves. But they can be beaten.

11. Arizona Cardinals (10-6): The Cards go into the playoffs in much the same unimpressive state that they did last year. And they went to the Super Bowl last year. Can Kurt Warner and the men in red catch fire again? Last year they opened up against a tough Atlanta team and beat them in a great 30-24 game. They will face a similar challenge against Green Bay. Can they do it again? I doubt it.

12. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5): The Eagles are in the playoffs yet again. But don't expect them to be making yet another trip to the NFC championship game this decade. They don't have the defense. Philly soared to the top of the NFC East behind the passing attack of Donovan McNabb and DeSean Jackson. Shut down the big plays (like the Cowboys did yesterday) and the Eagles don't have much else. It's been a good year for Philly, but the ride is over.

Dishonorable mention: The Denver Broncos. Or should I say Josh McDaniels. Denver started off 6-0 under the first year coach even though he had spent the preseason battling with his players and trading away his starting QB. After beating the Pats in Week 6 McDaniels stormed around the stadium roaring and screaming. He certainly earned the right to let it all out. It was a big win. But it was kind of a startling show of emotion for an NFL head coach. It's fine to show emotions but you shouldn't look like a college cheerleader (or frat boy). You wouldn't see Parcells doing that. Or Shula. Or Dungy. It made me wonder if he could keep control of his team the whole year. Turns out he couldn't.

In the Zone

Like everyone in the New England area I was not too happy that CBS had decided the game we all wanted to see while we waited for the Pats-Colts was Jets vs. Jaguars. Not Steelers vs. Bengals. Who makes these decisions? If there are no good games to choose from then, OK, give me the Jets so I can enjoy rooting against them. But when the 6-2 upstart Bengals are going to Pittsburgh to play the 6-2 Steelers in an NFC North clash with huge playoff implications then I want to see that. But we get the Jets.

Fortunately I get the NFL Network's newest creation -- the RedZone channel. It's not like having the NFL Ticket on satellite where you can watch every game played. But it's darn close. And for the price I would say it's actually better. The premise of the channel is that they will cut to any game (or any two games using the "double box") when a team gets in the red zone. "You'll see every touchdown today live,'' says Scott Hanson, the host of RedZone and my personal guide to all the action. And then he said the words that made my day ... "We don't do commercials." The NFL just gets it. There's no way that the league that created the Super Bowl, Monday Night Football, the "America's Game" series, and the commercial-free RedZone is going to screw things up by expanding the season to 18 games. No way.

But back to the RedZone. It's a rapid-fire delivery of football. One second you are in the Meadowlands, then cut to Carolina, then off to Pittsburgh, then back to the Meadowlands, then off to Minnesota. You can watch four or more games almost simultaneously. It's like the early rounds of March Madness used to be when it was on ESPN. They way it still should be.

The 1 p.m. games kick off -- and the RedZone kicks into gear. There are eight games. I'm putting my remote down and letting Scott do the work for me.

1:15: There's Brett Favre. He's just standing there. There seems to be a TV timeout yet we are at the Lions-Vikes game. Oh, no. Don't tell me the RedZone is just another method to recruit more members into the cult of Favre.

1:18: Off to the Bengals-Steelers game. Carson Palmer hits Mr. Ochocinco for 16 yards on a 3rd-and-10 on the opening drive. Big play. But wait. The Bengals are on their own 30-yard line. That's not the red zone. The RedZone channel shows plays from all over the field? Sweet.

1:20: The Broncos, trying to break a two-game losing streak, have a good chance to do that at Washington. Kyle Orton launches a bomb to Brandon Marshall for a 40-yard touchdown. This should be an easy one for Denver.

1:22: Cut to the Meadowlands. I just can't get away from the Jets. The Jags have the ball at the NYJ 33 on a 3rd and 2. The Jags have Maurice Jones-Drew. Jets coach Rex Ryan knows there's a run coming so he has the Jets ready of course. The ball gets handed off to Mojo who breaks through the line, makes a cut and busts into the open, rambling for a 33-yard TD. Cut to a shot of Mt. Ryan looking not-too-happy. I push the remote further away.

1:24: Favre again. This time he is playing. I'm surprised it took so long to get back to him. Brett throws an incompletion and the Vikings will settle for an early field goal. Is this the day Favre plays like the career leader in picks?

1:32: Things are happening fast now. And RedZone is everywhere. The Saints are looking to stay undefeated against the Rams. Brees throws for Shockey but it's picked off. Swing to Washington and the Skins are driving to tie up Denver. Jason Campbell throws a short TD pass. Maybe this won't be so easy for the Broncos.

1:34: Back to Pittsburgh and Troy Palumalu is walking off the field with his hair in tow. He's limping. He doesn't look good. That's a huge loss for the Steelers and a big break for Cincy. The Steelers kick off after a field goal and Bengals return-man Bernard Scott takes it 96 yards for a touchdown. Steelers are reeling.

1:37: The games are moving into the second quarter and, as Scott tells me, "they are all shaping up into some great battles." If he's trying to sell me on RedZone he can relax. I'm sold.

1:40: The Jags are down at the NYJ 11-yard line. David Garrard scrambles in for a touchdown. A loss today would kill the Jets before they even get to Foxborough next week. I'm OK with that.


1:42: Marc Bulger connects on a TD pass to put the Rams ahead of the Saints. That touchdown is followed by a whirlwind series of plays from several games: A touchdown pass by the Bills; a pick by Jason Taylor for Miami; a Delhomme-Smith touchdown for the Panthers as they look to upset division rival Altanta. Finally a cut to Minnesota and Adrian Peterson busts a 22-yard touchdown run. Maybe he's the reason the Vikes are winning. Naaaaah.

2:13: Broncos QB Kyle Orton seems to hurt himself on a play right at the end of the half. Things are really not going so well for Denver.

We hit the half for the 1 p.m. games. I don't know about Scott Hanson but I'm a little tired. I guess he isn't because he immediately launches into a recap of the first half of all the games. I immediately launch into a turkey sandwich and a beer.

2:41: The games are back on. First stop New Orleans where the unbeaten Saints are deadlocked with the Panthers at 14. Courtney Robey takes the kick for New Orleans and takes it all the way to the house. Touchdown! This is gonna be a busy half for my man Scott.

2:44: Over to Minnesota. The Lions, trailing by just a touchdown get the ball to start the half and ... fumble! The Vikes recover. I know what Lions fans are feeling. It sucks. A few plays later Adrian Peterson takes it in from 1-yard out for a touchdown. Peterson again? Why isn't the greatest human ever to walk the planet getting to throw touchdowns?

2:47: Back to Pittsburgh where the Steelers are leading 9-3 early in the third quarter. Roethlisberger drops back and throws a pass at midfield that is picked and taken down to the Pittsburgh 14. That might be the mistake the Bengals needed.

2:54: The third quarter is winding down and the Saints are inside the 10-yard line looking to break open their game against the Rams. Brees hits Colston who tries to jump over a defender for a score, but ends up fumbling into the end zone for a touchback. Big missed opportunity right there.

3:02: We are in Minnesota. The Vikings (my pick in an NFL survivor pool) have their hands full with the lowly Lions. The Vikings Ray Edwards launches himself at the QB, knocks him and the ball flying. Big play. Wait. Penalty flag. Helmet-to-helmet hit. Lions keep the ball and then score to cut the lead to seven. A Lions upset would be great.

3:09: All eight early games are still up for grabs as a graphic on the screen shows. "This is what makes the NFL so much fun," says Scott. I know, he works for the NFL. But he's right.

3:12: The Jets are losing 21-13 (OK, I want to see some of that). Sanchez hits Braylon Edwards in the corner of the end zone but he can't get his feet down. Then Edwards drops one. He is a great addition to the Jets but they got away from their running game when he arrived. Field goal.

3:15: Falcons trying to comeback and avoid the upset against the Panthers. Matt Ryan rolls to his right and hits the tight end for a touchdown. Falcons go for two to tie the game. Announcer doesn't like the call. He's right. Falcons are stopped and trail 21-19.

3:19: Vince Young is trying to win his third straight game since taking over as the Titans starting QB. He drops back to pass, sees nothing, and takes off for the end zone. He looks just like he did when he led Texas to the National Championship in college football a few years ago. If he could improve slightly throwing the ball he really could be a heck of an NFL QB.

3:20: The Steelers, trailing Cincy at home, are driving for a score but Big Ben's pass falls incomplete. The Steelers settle for another field goal to tie the game at 12. I know some Bengals fans who must be fearing the worst.

3:23: The Redskins are driving with a chance to take the lead against Denver. If they can hand the Broncos their third straight loss that would be a big help for the Patriots. Come on Skins!

3:38: Bucs hit a bomb to close within a field goal of Miami. Mark and I were saying we want the Wildcats to win so they stay alive in the playoff hunt and continue to play hard against other AFC contenders.

3:31: Broncos starting QB Kyle Orton is out and not coming back. Backup Chris Simms throws one into the end zone where the Skins pick it off. Come on Skins!

Four games are tied with less than 10 minutes to go. "We've got some great finishes coming up," says Scottie, "and we'll show you them all." What remote?

3:34: The Jets are going for it on 4th and 1 at the Jags 15-yard line. Jets RB Green takes the pitch and heads left. The field is wide open and he takes it down the the 1. Huge play. Crowd cheers. First-and-goal but Sanchez is confused and burns a timeout. Crowd boos. But it's OK because Thomas Jones hurdles over the pile to score. Jets retake the lead, 22-21. Jets miss the two point conversion. Are the Pats the only team that can make those?

3:37: Whip around to Pittsburgh where the Bengals are in the red zone. How great would it be if the Bengals knock off the Steelers for the second time a week after completing the sweep against the Ravens. Bengals kicker Shayne Graham hits his fifth field goal for a 15-12 lead. It's a battle of field goals. Turns out the Jets-Jags game is better. CBS was right.

"We're in Week 10 and we have not had this happen,'' Scottie says breathlessly as if he's watching the results from Florida in 2000.

3:40: Bills driving against the Titans. Not sure why we are checking on this game so often. Other than the throwback unis that are great.

3:41: Skins Devin Thomas takes a swing pass, dodges four tackles, and takes the ball down inside the Denver 15 with the score tied 17-17. First and goal. Under four minutes to go. "That six-game winning streak must feel like a long time ago to the Broncos," says Dan Dierdorf. Third and goal. Skins stick with the run and Ladell Betts pounds it in. Skins lead! Josh McDaniels is starting to age.

3:45: Big Ben and the Steelers are at their own 30 and running out of time. Third down. Incomplete pass. Punt. This is the same Pittsburgh team that went into Denver and won a hard-fought game? The top 10 teams in the league are really very even.

3:48: Jason Elam lines up to kick a field goal that can put the Falcons ahead late in the game. He kicks it and shanks it to the left. Maybe the Falcons aren't a playoff team like I thought.

3:50: 1:20 left in Pittsburgh. The Steelers face a fourth down to keep their drive alive. He steps back, gets rushed, and tosses up a lame duck that falls incomplete. Bengals win! They are 7-2 and are in the driver's seat to win the AFC North. The number of experts who predicted that before the season? Zero.

3:51: Washington is driving for what would be a clinching touchdown. Betts takes the hand off and takes it in for a score. The Skins are going to pull off the huge upset. McDaniels is getting a real taste of head coaching in the NFL now.

3:54: The Jaguars, who started on their own 17, have moved the ball into Jets territory. Garrard hits his receiver down to the Jets 14 to set themselves up for a game-winning field goal.

3:57: Falcons have one last chance to pull out the game. Matt Ryan drops back and sends one deep but it's intercepted. The Falcons are going to fall to 5-4 while the Panthers get to 4-5 after starting 0-3. Just one of several surprising turnarounds this season.

4:02: Jacksonville has run the clock down to three seconds and Josh Scobee comes out to win it. The kick is up. It's good! J-E-T-S go D-O-W-N.

4:08: Saints pull out another win to go to 9-0. That's the fourth game they looked like they were going to lose where they got a little lucky. One more win and they will be unbeaten for the Monday night game with the Pats in two weeks. They'll need more than luck in that game.

4:13: The Wildcats kick a field goal to beat the Bucs. Four games in a row come down to the last play. Teams such as Miami, Carolina, and Tennessee are right around .500 but are good teams. And they are playing all out to try to stay in contention for a wild card spot. Makes for good football. An afternoon of swinging around the league proves how entertaining the NFL is right now.

The 4 p.m. games have started and the RedZone starts all over again. Packers-Cowboys. Eagles-Chargers. I just can't watch three more hours of whiplash football coverage, can I? No. Time to walk the dog and get a brief breath of air. And then time to prepare the food and drink for tonight's big game. I won't need the NFL RedZone to watch that one.

At the half

The NFL officially hit the halfway mark two weekends ago but the Patriots were on a bye so it didn't register here. Now that the Pats have played their eighth game in Week 9 it's time to rank, again, the top 10 teams. The depth and balance of the NFL has never been better. Any team on this list could win the Super Bowl. Name another pro sport where 10 teams have a shot at the title? There have been some big changes in slightly more than a month. Like, what happened to the Giants?

1. Indianapolis Colts (8-0): One thing that hasn't changed is Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. They may have barely pulled out a win against the Texans, but that is exactly what makes them the best team in the NFL. Like their nine-game winning streak to close out the regular season in '08, the Colts are that veteran team that never gets rattled and knows how to win. Indy, like the Pats, has been hit by some key injuries. And they have yet to lose. Yet.

2. New Orleans Saints (8-0): The Saints seem to be head-and-shoulders above the rest of the NFC at this point. Brees and the offense have already scored 303 points. 303. The Pats record is in serious jeopardy. The next closest team is the Vikings with 244 points. New Orleans just keeps piling up the touchdowns. Can they win in the playoffs? It's still too early to go there. What we do know is that they will almost certainly be playing their playoff games in the comfort of the Dome. If the Pats can't get that fourth Lombardi, the Saints are the team I'll be rooting for.

3. Minnesota Vikings (7-1): A Viking-Saints NFC title game would be one of the best ever. No doubt. (If it was paired with a Pats-Colts AFC title game -- oh what a day that would be!) Brett Favre and the Vikes bounced back from their tough loss to the Steelers by going into Green Bay and handling the circus atmosphere of Favre's return to Lambeau with ease. They are the class of the NFC North. For what that's worth. Will there be a Favre fade again this year?

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2): The defending champs, who were nowhere to be found on most rankings at the quarter pole, are back in the mix. Largely because Polamalu and his hair are back. That's trouble. Big Ben already has two Super Bowl titles to his credit so maybe it's time I acknowledged the guy's a heck of a quarterback. The Steelers get the nod at #4 over the Pats because they did what the Pats couldn't -- go into Denver and get a win.

5. New England Patriots (6-2): The Patriots passed their first test in the stretch of four huge November games with their win over Miami. Now it's on to the game everyone has been waiting for since the schedule came out. At Indy. Sunday night. We'll know a lot more about just how good the Pats can be come midnight Sunday. The Pats are looking strong going into the game. The offense is showing solid balance and the defense is playing as physical a style as any team in the league. They'll need to be even better on both sides of the ball going forward.

6. Denver Broncos (6-2): I know, the Broncos beat the Patriots in their first "real" challenge of the season. Josh McDaniels did his best Howard Dean impersonation on the field after that game but it was fitting. So why put the Pats ahead of a team that beat them? The Broncos have lost two-in-a-row since then, and Kyle Orton is starting to play a little more like Kyle Orton. Thus the Broncos' offense is suspect. If the Pats get another shot at Denver -- even in Denver -- I think they'll win that game.

7. Cincinnati Bengals (6-2): The Bengals probably should be higher. Maybe as high as #4. After their tough-luck loss to Denver in the opener, the men in stripes have gone into places like Green Bay and Baltimore and won. And they beat the Steelers. Those are quality wins. But the Bengals still have to prove they can maintain their level of play into the second half. They get a big chance to do that in Pittsburgh. They don't have to win to prove they are a contender, they just have to give the Steelers a real battle. Because after that their schedule gets a lot easier.

8. Dallas Cowboys (6-2): The 'Boys get the last spot for the 6-2 teams. Until they beat the Eagles they were not a top 10 team, their winning streak being built on the likes of the Chiefs and Seahawks. But going into Philly and knocking off the Eagles is proof the Cowboys are starting to figure it out. Tony Romo has found someone to share a little of his man-love of Jason Whitten -- Miles Austin. He's became the playmaker that Roy Williams (and TO) were supposed to be. And the defense is starting to play up to its capabilities. Of course as long as Wade Phillips is high-fiving in his too-snug sweater I really can't take this team seriously.

9. Arizona Cardinals (5-3): The defending NFC champs get this spot mostly due to the fact that they will probably win the weak NFC West. That makes them a playoff team. Road wins against the Giants and Bears are a sign that Kurt Warner and the offense is capable of winning away from the desert. But the loss at home to the Panthers in between those two games is a sign that they will be winning the division with a 9-7 record again. And this time I don't think there'll be any magic carpet rides to the Super Bowl.

10. Atlanta Falcons (5-3): A lot of contenders for the 10 spot. Certainly the Chargers, Giants, Eagles, and Texans can all make a claim they are as good as the Falcons. And they are. But the Falcons get it because Michael Turner is running like Michael Turner can. Add that to Matt Ryan and the Falcons' offense is difficult to stop. And they played the Saints as tough as you can without beating them. Falcons are a playoff team.

Dishonorable mention: The Baltimore Ravens and Ray Lewis. Someone should put together a YouTube video of Ray Lewis's pre-game scream-a-thons spliced together with the Ravens' D getting shredded. Lewis beating his chest ... cut to a picture of Ray Ray getting smoked by Hines Ward. Lewis yelling "We'll hit them all day!" ... cut to a picture of Ray Ray on the ground as OchoCinco pulls in a touchdown. Aren't his teammates sick of his act? Everyone else is.

Bye bye birdie

WEEK 8
Bye week. No Patriots game. A time to reflect. A time to enjoy a quiet fall Sunday. A time to look at the wins and losses already in the books and look ahead to the games (and tailgates) ahead. And a time to deep fry a turkey and drink some bourbon. Bye week was officially dubbed "Bourbon and Bird" day at my house. Might be a tradition in the making.

The bye week is also the time to watch as much football as possible. No Patriots? No problem. That's the thing about the NFL. It's the only sport where you will settle in for a day of watching other teams play. Vikings vs. Packers. Colts vs. Niners. Eagles vs. Giants. Jets vs. Dolphins. All games I wanted to see. That's why the NFL is king.

The enjoyment of the bye week depends a great deal on how good your team is. The week off is a drag when it's lousy. You spend the day watching other teams play real football. Each game a reminder of just how bad yours is. The only time your team is mentioned is usually as the punch line to a bad joke by the announcers. But when you have a contender, the bye week is a lot of fun. You can watch the pregame shows and hear your team in the discussion about which ones can win it all. You can watch the other games and see how yours measures up. And since your team is off they can't lose! A great weekend.

The story of Week 7 was ... drum roll please ... Brett Favre. The man whose name is synonymous with every virtue you can think of returned to Lambeau Field. The frozen tundra. The turf where he built his legend. It was a Favre moment worthy of all the attention. Finally. Favre's Minnesota resurrection has gone much better than did his brief stop with the Jets. Although some might remember that in Week 11 Favre and the Jets were sitting at 8-3 and looking like one of the best teams. Five weeks later the Jets -- and Favre -- were down and out of the playoffs. Vikings fans should keep that in mind as they celebrate their team's 7-1 record. Favre's first game in front of the Packers fans that hailed him for so many years was very entertaining right from the start. There were boos as he came onto the field. Lots of them. And it a gave me a chuckle.

It also made me think what would happen if Tom Brady retired (we're talking years from now) then came out of retirement and played for the Rams and then retired again only to return a second time -- this time for the Jets. I would be pretty unhappy. But Bobby Orr didn't finish his career as a Bruin. Carlton Fisk didn't finish his career as a Red Sox. Hell, Adam Vinatieri won a Super Bowl kicking for the Colts! If fans aren't used to seeing their players in the team colors of their opponents yet then they never will be. I know I am used to it. But Favre, like Brady, is different. He was the Packers. While he annoyed the rest of the football world (except everyone who sits at an ESPN anchor desk), he was worshipped in Green Bay. Like Brady here. If Brady returned to Gillette in Gang Green I wouldn't boo. How the hell could any Pats fan boo Brady? I wouldn't give him an ovation. Save that for his Hall of Fame induction ceremony and I don't mean the Pats Hall of Fame. But you don't cheer for Jets QBs. Ever. Except when they are sacked.

Favre and the Vikes beat the Packers to take control of the NFC North. If Favre and the Vikings blow their lead and miss the playoffs then Favre should retire and stay retired this time. The Vikes (along with the Colts and Saints) continue to play solid football heading to the halfway mark. The same thing can't be said for a few other teams. Things sure change quickly in the NFL these days.

The Giants were knocked around by the Eagles for their third straight loss while the Cowboys put up their third straight win. The Giants are now in third in the NFC East. I didn't see that coming. The Ravens, after stumbling badly, rose up and handed the Broncos their first loss. The Colts beat San Fran, sending the once-surprising Niners to its third straight defeat. And the Miami Wildcats went into the Meadowlands and beat the Jets. After their Week 2 win against the Patriots the Jets seemed on the verge of a big season under new coach Rex Ryan. Just a few weeks later and the NYJ are fading fast at 4-4 and only 1-3 in the division. The Jets come to Gillette in two weeks. The Pats can pretty much knock them out of division contention with a win. But first they have to handle the Wildcats.

The bird and bourbon are done. At least till Sunday's tailgate.

Letting Favre Be Favre

Watching Brett Favre's first game in a Vikings uniform. Glad to see him back. It's been a good 3 minutes since there was any mention of the Mississippi marvel so I was starting to worry about him. Vikings are ahead by 11 with less than 8 minutes to go. Looks like a W for Favre. Nice break catching the Rat and his Browns for your first game with a new team. That sure helps. A decent game by he-whose-name-we-must -say-repeatedly. 110 yards with no picks. Yet. There's still a few minutes to go. Brian Billick appeared to be playing the "Hi Bob" drinking game with "Brett Favre" during the telecast. He acrobatically inserted Favre's name into sentences where it clearly didn't belong. Such as "Cleveland is a great football town. With a great football tradition. Not as great as the great Brett Favre is great, but great." Or something like that. There were many "When you have one of the all-time greats ..." At one point near the end of the first half with the Vikings in control of the flow of the game, Billick wondered if the Vikes would stay conservative or if they would let "Favre be Favre." The Vikings have the best running back in the league, have the ball inside their own 30 with the half winding down, and Billick is wondering if Viking coach Brad Childress is going to have Favre fling it. And he sounded like he thought that was a great idea. That's what Favre can do to people. Make a smart football guy like Billick start saying things that make no sense. If there was any other QB on the field Billick would have said "I don't know about you but I'd give the ball to Adrian Peterson on every damn play." Instead he wants them to let "Favre be Favre." And Childress tried it. That's another thing Favre does. He gets coaches to let him throw the ball when he should be handing it off. Favre drops back, makes a risky and poor throw out into the flat that is behind the receiver and falls incomplete. 2nd and 10. OK, I'm thinking, you just give the ball to Peterson twice and get into the half on the road with a lead. Nope. Favre drops back. Has time. Stands there. Stands there. And gets sacked by a blitzing DB who everyone in the stadium but Favre saw coming. Next play the Vikes smarten up, hand off the ball, and punt. Let "Favre be Favre." They did. The only thing missing was a game-changing pick. That will come in time. You can count on it.