Expect big wins for 'Boys, 'Skins, Chargers, Bucs

Put your armor on today, Carnell Williams. You're getting the ball 28 times, and the Falcons will be out for blood. They could be out of the playoffs if they lose.

Carson Palmer, even on autopilot, can throw for 340 and three touchdowns against the Bills of this vintage. If it happens the way i see it, Mike Mularkey might have some 'splainin' to do with Ralph Wilson, who I think is teetering on whether to keep Mularkey around next year.

The night before the game, Bill Parcells steps in front of the team. "There's an old saying in football,'' he says. "In football, the more desperate team wins. And if you guys aren't desperate right now, then you ought to go sell encyclopedias for a living."

Game of the year. Two teams, scratching and clawing for their 2005 survival. Larry Johnson runs for 186, solidifying his role as Offensive Player of November and December. But Drew Brees, who just might be the fourth-best quarterback in football, throws a 36-yard strike to Keenan McCardell, who just might get discussed one day peripherally for Canton, to finish the Chiefs.

This is the last Pittsburgh-Cleveland game in Jerome Bettis' history. There's something a bit sad about that. The man was born to play in these turf wars.

Seven field goals. No touchdowns. Offensive football is set back to 1928. How ironic. In the game that the Texans prove how much they need Reggie Bush, they lose the rights to draft him.

I know Mark Brunell is the guy who beat the Cowboys, but this is not a day for Mark Brunell, who will get eaten alive by Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan if he goes back to pass 27 times. This is a day for Clinton Portis, who has averaged 21 rushes a game this year and needs to run it 29 times in this game to keep the ball away from Tiki Barber as much as possible.

They ought to throw Nick Saban a ticker-tape parade for having this crew over .500 with a game to go.

I just want to say one thing to the gamblers of America, all 163 million of you: If you put one lousy yen on this game, you are out of your cotton-pickin' mind.

The only thing that this game means is that Ryan Fitzpatrick, who is good again, and under lots of pressure, will be Marc Bulger's backup next year.

Andy Reid will never coach a more meaningless game than this one. Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin use the game for one reason only: to try to get their pass-catching numbers over 100.

The football world weeps for you, Tony Dungy. We are incredibly sad for your loss.

News Flash: Al Davis does not shake hands with Mike Shanahan on the field before the game.

Seems a bit pathetic to have such a meaningless Packers game spoil everyone's Christmas in northeast Wisconsin.

It's official, Baltimoreans: Brian Billick saves his job for 2006.

The only good thing about this night is that beer is not sold at the Meadowlands.