The Raiders' season has been a real downer for reigning MVP Rich Gannon. Jamie Squire/Getty Images

With every NFL team at least halfway home in the 2003 regular season, it's time to look back and wish we knew then what we know now. Of course, what would be the fun of that?

• What we said: Thanks to the talented Doug Johnson being on hand, Atlanta's season wasn't gone with the wind from the moment Michael Vick broke his fibula against the Ravens in Week 2 of the preseason.

What we meant to say: The Falcons' playoff hopes were toast by the time they called for the cart to wheel Vick off the field that mid-August night. Doug Johnson? All he proved is that as a potential free agent, he's closer to Rob Johnson than Brad Johnson.

• What we said: Bill Parcells, who always takes a year to get things the way he wants them in every new locale, will struggle to get the talent-deprived Cowboys much past their perennial five-win total.

What we meant to say: The man's a mastermind. It's clear that his presence alone will lift this moribund franchise to the status of playoff contender in the season's first six weeks.

• What we said: In having two starting quarterbacks to chose from, the reality is that Dallas doesn't even have one starting quarterback.

What we meant to say: Keep an eye on that Quincy Carter, who appears ready for a breakout year in his third NFL season. Remember, you heard it here first.

• What we said: Dennis Erickson's new aggressive approach on offense will result in the 49ers finally being able to stretch the field, with the byproduct being a monstrous season for Terrell Owens as he approaches free agency.

What we meant to say: Stretch the field? With what? Jeff Garcia's short-to-intermediate-route arm? As for Owens, he has about as many touchdowns (four) as he does sideline temper tantrums. Just ask Greg Knapp.

• What we said: Want to see the prototype for the NFL's new wave of head coaches? Take a peek at Jacksonville's Jack Del Rio. He's young, enthusiastic, player friendly and has that photogenic quality that you want as the public face of your franchise.

What we meant to say: None of that other jazz means squat if you win just one game in the first half and your signature move is the hair-brained stunt of stocking the locker room with an ax. Surviving the cut took on a whole new meaning for Jaguars players this season.

• What we said: The Steve Mariucci hiring was the first really shrewd thing that the Detroit Lions have done in the Matt Millen error, er, era.

What we meant to say: Yeah, we know Mooch is from Michigan. Nice homecoming story. But he could be Bo Schembechler's illegitimate son and it wouldn't sprinkle these sad-sack Lions with any magic fairy dust.

• What we said: The Patriots shifted the balance of power in the tightly packed AFC East when they did the unthinkable and let safety Lawyer Milloy get away to the Bills five days before the season opener.

What we meant to say: Lawyer, schmawyer. This is Billy Belichick's world, football fans. We're all just living in it. I've got your balance of power right here.

• What we said: Yeah, the Raiders are another year older. But pros like Jerry Rice, Tim Brown, Rich Gannon and Bill Romanowski can't all hit the wall at once. Oakland will still be there come January.

What we meant to say: By that we were referring to the city itself. I mean, there's no there there, but it is still there. I checked as I was flying into San Francisco this weekend.

• What we said: The Bucs will utterly dominate the NFC landscape this season. No one else is even remotely as deep in terms of the top-to-bottom strength of their roster.

What we meant to say: The Buccos are destined for one of those maddeningly up-one-week, down-the-next rollercoaster rides that defending Super Bowl champions often seem to endure. Tampa Bay hasn't won two in a row, hasn't lost two in a row, and are (gulp) 1-3 at home. On the upside, Jon Gruden's book is selling briskly.

• What we said: The Giants could be scary good on offense. They have playmakers galore, and fixed all their special teams problems. Nobody should snicker when New York talks Super Bowl.

What we meant to say: Hey, lay off Trey Junkin. Those special teams demons went a lot deeper than January's infamous flubbed snap in San Francisco. As for the Giants' offense, you can't count on anything with these guys until the season slips into Fassel Time.

• What we said: Kurt Warner is back. He's healthy again, throwing well, and ready to resume his place among the game's elite quarterbacks.

What we meant to say: How many fingers am I holding up, Kurt? Three? No, that's not right. The correct answer was two, as in your status on the QB depth chart. Why don't you come over here and sit by me and watch Marc Bulger play? At least until the headaches disappear, or your wife, Brenda, executes a trade via talk radio. Whatever comes first.

• What we said: Renovating Lambeau Field sounds like a good idea to us. Why not meld the tradition and history of the NFL's most fabled venue with the modern-day conveniences that we want in our new stadiums. Wide concourses rule!

What we meant to say: Way to go, all you thousands of Packers owners (and shareholders). All you did was give away the league's greatest homefield advantage ever. All for that cool, retro brick façade look. Enjoy, and drive safely.

• What we said: That wacky Rush Limbaugh, he's going to get himself in trouble of some sort within eight weeks.

What we meant to say: Oh, so that's why they call him Rush.

• What we said: Boy, that Kordell Stewart signing in Chicago really makes no sense. Why not just let Chris Chandler groom Rex Grossman?

What we meant to say: Boy, that Kordell Stewart signing in Chicago really makes no sense. Why not just let Chris Chandler groom Rex Grossman? (Hey, we're not always clueless).

Short snaps ...

• Before the season, had you gone to Vegas and put a sawbuck down on the quinela of both the Bucs and Dolphins starting 1-3 at home this season, you'd be living in the Caribbean by now, lighting cigars with $100 bills.

• So, the NFL Network flips its switch on Tuesday. And guess who will be the first guest interviewed by studio host Rich Eisen? (Drumroll, please). That's right, that maestro of irreverence, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue. That ought to get things off to a smokin' start.

I think they're calling the segment, 'Unbuttoned with the 'Bue.'' Obviously they're going for that coveted early bird dinner demographic.

• I've been waiting years to say this: Marques Tuiasosopo was only average in his long-awaited first NFL start. That's no surprise, really. I mean, so-so's the guy's middle name.

• Well what do you do now with that reverse Midas Touch of yours, Daniel Snyder? Nice week. Arizona beats you out for the Super Bowl, then Dallas invents new ways to self-destruct, and still gets the win. Here's a notion: Maybe it's you.

• Hey, Charles Woodson, we get the point. Enough already. Just wondering, but would you have said the same things about your head coach if you weren't headed for free agency in four months?

• With two home losses in a row, the Vikings are suddenly looking rather fallible. But I did think Mike Tice cut a rather dapper figure in that tie and Jim Tressel-style sweater-vest combo.

• After everyone lauded the Rams for being flexible enough to win with all those max protection schemes, the 49ers went out and blitzed the bejeebers out of Marc Bulger on Sunday. San Francisco hit Bulger more than 10 times and its five sacks were as many as Bulger had endured in his previous five games. Get ready for more, Marc.

Said 49ers defensive end Chidi Ahanotu: "When you're right in his face, for whatever reason, he loses focus. I don't know if it's because he's a young quarterback, because he's a heck of a quarterback. He and [Kurt] Warner look like clones. But for whatever reason, he just starts running and throws the ball. We noticed that and that's when we attacked.''

• Memo to all those head coaches who split the season into halves, win the ninth game of the year and then blather the following: "All I know is we're 1-0 in this half.'' Sorry, nobody's buying it. Last I checked, this wasn't the 1981 strike season in baseball. They count up all the games at the end of the year and then post your entire won-loss record. Trust me. We've been in contact with the league office.

• Torry Holt, you're going to Hawaii. You, too, Julian Peterson.

• I'm not saying that Ryan Leaf gets the last laugh, but the Chargers haven't successfully developed a young quarterback since Dan Fouts, have they? Or was it John Hadl?

• Every time the Bucs drop another game, there is one silver lining to build on the next day: It's victory week again in Tampa Bay.

• You get the impression that Rick Mirer didn't know he might actually be asked to play in a game at this point in his career?

Don Banks covers pro football for SI.com.