Ten Things I Think I Think

	Ravens running back Chester Taylor is averaging 4.5 yards per carry this season. Jamie Squire/Getty Images

1. I think these are my quick-hit thoughts of week 11:

a. Reggie Bush is saving his best for last, isn't he?

b. There's this thing called play-action, New Orleans. It's when the quarterback fakes to a back and throws to a receiver. It's been around a while. I suggest you learn the concept, so you'll be able to defend it and teams like New England won't be able to get two touchdowns on play-action in the first 17 minutes of a game. First Deion Branch, then the crafty Mike Vrabel on Sunday. Both totally uncovered.

c. You know the year's not going really well when FOX identifies your defensive coordinator as "Ray'' Venturi on a graphic (it's Rick). Poor Saints.

d. If I had to pick a Colts conqueror, I'd say San Diego. The Chargers will really need the week 14 game. Or maybe Jacksonville, in Jag-land three weeks from now. The Jags always play them tough.

e. I'm not a big one to be playing for records, so I'm not really high on Larry Johnson staying in the Chiefs-Texans game with over 30 carries to get a club record. They may need some of those 36 carries in week 16 or 17.

f. I love what Tony Dungy said to his team after the game: "You know what I like about you guys? You handle every situation right.'' In other words, they keep 10-0 in perspective.

g. How did that one feel, Norv Turner?

2. I think Chester Taylor is a better back than Jamal Lewis.

3. I think this is what I liked about week 11:

a. Amani Toomer's 500th career catch. Classy, deserving, team player.

b. Tiki Barber's 500th career catch. Classy, deserving, team player.

c. If Romeo Crennel isn't pushing all the right buttons for the Browns, I'd be surprised. From the outside looking in, he's going to get seven wins out of a three-win team.

d. Drew Brees: 28-of-33. The competition is over, folks. Get in line for Philip Rivers.

e. Maybe Kyle Orton's numbers don't look good, but he is good enough. On a defensive team as good as the Bears, Orton can win a playoff game.

f. Except for a groundball failed conversion attempt, Ken Dorsey outplayed Matt Hasselbeck. Football is a funny game.

g. Every time I look up, Ike Taylor is tackling someone or covering someone for Pittsburgh.

h. Heath Evans: Right man, right time, perfect late-season runner for battered Pats. That's 70-plus yards two weeks in a row in two New England wins.

i. Kurt Warner is throwing downfield more this year than last season and he definitely can still help some team for a couple of years.

 j. When a triumphant but customarily humble Warner left the stadium in St. Louis after the stunning win over his old Rams, every employee in the area around the Cardinals' buses stood and cheered him. There's not much about Warner not to like.

k. New England cornerback Ellis Hobbs. Tough, confident, not afraid to stick his nose in there in all situations.

4. I think this is what I didn't like about week 11:

a. Pacman Jones. Every hear of the word "consistency,'' fella?

b. Could the Saints please keep their composure? That really shouldn't be too much to ask.

c. The Jets.

d. Last two games: Foes 57, Jets 3. Guys, you're not guaranteed Reggie Bush by playing this way, you know.

e. The St. Louis D. As warm and fuzzy as the Warner story is, it's a disgrace that the Rams gave up 38 points to the Cardinals at home. Mike Silver's anonymous veteran sounds right to me, ripping the young defensive linemen.

f. Atlanta's given up 63 home points the last two weeks.

g. Buffalo, my disappointing team of the year in the AFC. Can't say the Jets. They lost two quarterbacks.

h. Antonio Gates left the San Diego locker room with a boot on his sprained right foot. If that's a real injury, the Chargers will have to pile the burden on LaDainian Tomlinson.

i. Jake Delhomme, who had better play better on the road.

j. Could someone on the Bengals rush the passer? Anyone?

5. I think the world's going to miss Bill Belichick's old man. When I drove down to Maryland 18 months ago to research an SI story on Bill Belichick, Steve taught me the meaning of kindness and helpfulness. He spent the day with me, touring me around the Naval Academy, showing me the room where he first took young Billy to watch game film with the team, where the team practiced and other landmarks that had significance in Bill's life. Then he took me to his house. Just a friendly, slightly acerbic but wonderfully accommodating man. In the locker room after the third Super Bowl win last winter, he came looking for me, and we just talked for 10 minutes about the meaning of the win and about what a great coach he'd raised. I think he blushed when I told him that, but it's true: Without Steve Belichick's dogged love of football and scouting, there would be no Bill Belichick. I read where Bill said after the Patriots game it was a good way for his father to go -- after going to a Navy game, eating dinner, and watching football on TV. A very good man. I'm glad I got to know him a little bit.