The Fine Fifteen

	Marty Schottenheimer is one of five coaches to reach the 200-win plateau. Al Tielemans/SI
	MAILBAG Peter King will answer your questions each week in Monday Morning Quarterback: Tuesday Edition. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

1. San Diego (14-2). I know this does not fit into everyone's neatly compartmentalized version of Marty Schottenheimer, mediocre coach. But in 21 years as a coach, Schottenheimer has won 200 regular-season games. In 23 years as a coach, Chuck Noll won 193. Taking into account that Noll coached his first nine years in 14-game seasons, not the 16-game slates Schottenheimer has had every year he's coached, you'd prorate that and give Noll 11 more wins.

Obviously the difference is in the postseason, and that's where coaching legend is made; Schottenheimer's 5-12 in the playoffs, Noll 16-8. Schottenheimer should justifiably have his feet held to the fire for his postseason failures, and we all have seen how he has played it overly safe in January football, something he certainly should not do with the offense weaponry he has now in San Diego. But his coaching resume should not be put in the shredder because he's a playoff loser. Schottenheimer has a better regular-season winning percentage than guys like Noll and Tom Landry, and he's one of only five guys to ever win 200 regular-season games. (So interesting to analyze coaching records. Did you know that Weeb Ewbank averaged 6.5 wins a year in the regular season, and he's in the Hall of Fame?)

2. Baltimore (13-3). Kiss of death: Cris Collinsworth says the Ravens will win the Super Bowl.

3. New Orleans (10-6). The right guy won coach of the year.

4. New England (13-4). Two months ago, the Patriots' offense was its biggest liability. Today it's a threat.

5. Philadelphia (11-6). Probably a stupid time to bring this up, but have you seen the Eagles' schedule for next year? Nine 2006 playoff teams on it, an NFL-high.

6. Chicago (13-3). As Lovie Smith sat in the RCA Dome watching friend Herm Edwards and Tony Dungy compete on Saturday, I guarantee you he thought at least six times: How long am I going to stay with Rex Grossman if he stinks it up next weekend?

7. Indianapolis (13-4). I got a kick out of the Colts defensive players bashing the media after Saturday's win over the Chiefs, in which Indy held K.C. to 126 total yards, a zillion below its season average. Like it was the media making it up that this team had the worst run defense in a generation. There's nothing wrong with being humble after a game in which you play the best you've played in a long time, admitting you stunk for the previous four months and saying this is a new season. Shooting the messenger is often justified in the Media vs. Player world, but in this case it made the players sound small.

8. New York Jets (10-7). I love what Eric Mangini is doing. What a great foundation he's laid.

9. Dallas (9-8). John Madden sort of made this same point on the telecast. But did you see the ball that was snapped to Tony Romo on the botched field-goal hold? Looked very shiny, perhaps slippery. It was one of the "K'' balls. Each game, 12 balls used only for special teams plays are kept on the sidelines, and when there's a punt or a kickoff or a placekick, one of those 12 balls is put into play. The ball came back to Romo on a good snap, and as he transferred the ball in his hands to put it down for the kick, it slipped from his grip. Wish I had a chance to ask him about it after the game. The way it slipped made the ball look like some of the waxy sheen was still on it from having just come out of the box.

10. Seattle (10-7). Good gut-it-out win over Dallas, but a weird one. I still don't know what to think of the Seahawks. They haven't overcome the loss of Steve Hutchinson in free-agency because they still struggle to run with any consistency. Matt Hasselbeck looks like he's running for his life half the time. You're going to ask why I have Dallas ahead of Seattle in these rankings, of course, after Seattle beat Dallas in a playoff game. Simple. I think Dallas is better.

11. Tennessee (8-8). Want Jeff Fisher? Call Bud Adams. Offer him two high draft choices, one of them a first-rounder, and he'll start listening.

12. (tie) Kansas City (9-8). Truly one of the worst performances by a playoff team I've ever seen.

12. (tie) New York Giants (8-9). Crucial offseason begins today for the Jints. Who will pick the players? Who will coach the players?

14. (tie) St. Louis (8-8). Scott Linehan's wish for the new year: A run defense.

14. (tie) Carolina (8-8). John Fox's wish for the new year: A power running game.

14. (tie) Denver (9-7). I feel for the family of Darrent Williams and I feel almost as much for Javon Walker, who's going to need a lot of friends in the coming months. I don't know how I'd cope if a good friend, in the wink of an eye, lay dying in my arms.