Teams who need wins to stay alive could be in trouble

The NFL Network dies and goes to heaven. Chiefs-Broncos playoff atmosphere in its first game ever -- ditto with Ravens and Bengals (15-7 combined record) in game two. (Now, Mr. Bornstein, see if you can get rid of Browns-Steelers before next week.)For those of you wondering what magic wand Brian Billick waved over this offense -- he's 5-0 as a playcaller since whacking Jim Fassel -- look no further than the statistical resume of Jamal Lewis: 16.2 carries a game under Fassel, 22 under Billick. This is a far more physical offense today than in September.

I've done OK with upsets in recent weeks (Dallas over Indy, Buffalo over Jacksonville, Tennessee over the Giants), and I feel the plucky Browns punishing Trent Green and grinding one out here.

Pats embark on a winnable (Lions, at Dolphins, Texans, at Jags, at Titans) December.

The clock's running out on Brett Favre's quest to catch Dan Marino's touchdown record this year, and on 4-7 Green Bay chasing .500. Marino 420, Favre 410. Five games left.

Matt Leinart is going to start playing some Ken Stabler games now. Wild West shootouts, taking the team on his back, knowing they can't run worth a crap and knowing if they've got any chance at all, it's all on his shoulders.

I get the tap on the shoulder midway through the third quarter from my NBC boss, David Neal. He says, "Peter, call Mike Vick after the game. Ask him if he's going to give the crowd the finger every week to inspire his team."

Speaking of tremendous AFC teams, we bring you the Colts, in their semi-annual joust with Tennessee and its brainy defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, whose men held the PeytonMannings to 14 points Oct. 8. Schwartz takes a page from mentor Bill Belichick's book and gives Manning 68 different looks on 68 offensive snaps. As usual, it's not enough.

Maybe this isn't the week to do so, because I don't see the Niners winning. But in the balloting for Assistant Coach of the Year, does San Fran offensive coordinator Norv Turner have a peer? This was the NFL's 32nd-rated offense last year. Now, Frank Gore's contending for the rushing title, and Alex Smith has a better passer rating than Matt Hasselbeck, Brett Favre, Rex Grossman and Eli Manning.

"I've watched quite a bit of San Diego on film," Dick Jauron told me Tuesday, "and I don't see a weakness, anywhere." Uh, Dick? Did you watch the Chargers with or without their best defensive player, Shawne Merriman, who has missed the last four games on steroid suspension? He's back. And they were 4-0 without him. Last I saw, Jauron had his players on the field doing a snow dance.

Bad Rex/Good Rex has a good day. Stat of the week, from this week's Sports Illustrated: In Chicago's three bad games, Grossman's offense has turned it over 16 times. In Chicago's eight good games, Grossman's offense has turned it over eight times. Spot the trend?

Dolphins are only 2-5 in conference games, so even with a win here, the playoff quest is a longshot. Don't tell Jason Taylor that. He's playing like his pants are on fire. I've never seen Taylor better. I've actually started to think about Taylor and Hall of Fame in the same sentence.

Remember 30 years ago, when San Jose State and Wyoming would play at 10:30 p.m. ET Saturday, and those (who cared at all) on the East Coast would have to wait until the agate type in the Monday paper told them who won the game? I'm not saying in the internet age you'll have to wait until Tuesday morning for the score of this one, but all things considered, you could.

Troy Aikman, looking down on this game for FOX, thinks to himself midway through the four quarter, I can't believe I'm considering this in Tony Romo's sixth NFL game. But the kid actually might be as good as I was."

The city of Pittsburgh mourns for you, Bus. Rest in peace, Johnnie Bettis.

Not a masterpiece in Jay Cutler's debut. Not even a Romoesque game. But the thing about Cutler you'll see Sunday night is the laser arm. Mike Shanahan might have waited too long, but he's right: The only chance Denver has to win the Big One this year is with Cutler, not Jake Plummer.

Jake, it's December. Time to start playing like playoff Jake, the clutch Jake.