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Drawing the wild-card picture Giants will upset Niners; Jets, Pack, Steelers also advancePosted: Monday December 30, 2002 10:36 AM
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Handicapping wild-card weekend, and other items from the old notebook:
I like the chalk, mostly, this weekendJets over Colts Saturday afternoon, Pack over Falcons Saturday night. Both comfortably. Steelers over Browns, by a field goal, and Giants, in an upset, over Niners, with an overtime field goal, Sunday. How about that? Jets and Giants in the playoffs together for the first time since 1986. They both won their opening playoff games that time around, too, Jets by 20 over Kansas City and Giants by 46 over San Francisco in the Joe-Montana-gets-mauled-by-Jim-Burt game. I see history repeating itself this weekend, only without such an exclamation point in San Francisco.
Jerry Rice rulesFor the record, the 40-year-old who was finished three years ago caught 92 balls for 1,211 yards for Oakland this year. Just so you know, the "next" Rice, J.J. Stokes, caught 30 this year.
Way to go out, Dick HantakYou know Dick Hantak. He's the distinguished-looking gentleman who has refereed NFL games for the past 16 years. He worked his last game (barring a playoff callback; assignments have not been determined) at Giants Stadium on Sunday, the Jets' 42-17 rout of the Packers. Hantak went out on his own terms; he informed the league he was retiring last spring -- before he had to be told it was time to go, which the NFL has not been shy about doing. "I've known too many guys who probably stayed a year or two too long, and maybe got a little bitter about things at the end," he told me last night from his Newark airport hotel. "This was my decision. I always knew no one would ever have to tell me when to go. I'm 64, and they're 23-year-olds now. There comes a time when you know it's time to go." What I liked about Hantak was his cool demeanor and his decisiveness. Certain coaches hate certain officials in this game, but I never heard anyone say: "That Dick Hantak stinks." In the fourth quarter of a lost game on Sunday, Packers quarterback Brett Favre acted for the league. Hantak, during a stoppage in play, went to tell Favre he was retiring, that this would his last regular-season game and that he had enjoyed working behind Favre over the past few years. And Favre hugged Hantak, which stunned the official. "Dick," Favre said, "it's been fun. Thanks." Ditto for me.
Joel Buchsbaum diesYou might not know Joel Buchsbaum, but I guarantee that you if you like football you have been enriched by him. He died of unknown causes over the weekend at his Brooklyn home. He was 48, and spent most of his adult life caring for his ailing mother and putting together draft reports, first independently and then for Pro Football Weekly. They were incredibly good, thorough and precise. Joel was quirky, the original draftnik -- Mel Kiper before there was a Mel Kiper. Joel put together the first detailed college scouting books for heathens like me, and we stole from him liberally over the years. Football people loved him because he loved the game, and because he honored the game. Every report he did on a guy was based on fact and strong personal opinion, but was never malicious. I refer back to his Peyton Manning/Ryan Leaf writings of 1998, which helped me see the light: "From the neck up," he wrote of Manning, "he rivals Bernie Kosar as the smartest quarterback I ever saw in college." On Leaf: "May be getting too big and heavy ... Very self-confident to the point where some people view him as arrogant and almost obnoxious ... Tends to hold onto the ball too long. Does not find second and third receivers as quickly as he has to." Is that right on or what? You'll be missed, Joel.
Jim McNally's the assistant coach of the yearAt least something good, in a football sense, came out of Cincinnati. The longtime Bengals' offensive line coach, whose players included Anthony Munoz, entered 2002 as one of the most under-pressure guys in the NFL. He was working with a line that had to make holes for a suspect running game, and he had to do this with three players who were college free agents, not even good enough to be drafted -- Chris Bober (from Nebraska-Omaha), Jason Whittle (from Southwest Missouri State) and Rich Seubert (from Western Illinois). And they did a terrific job. The Giants' dismantling of the Eagles' front seven Saturday -- 213 rushing yards, 203 by the indomitable Tiki Barber -- will be required viewing for every NFC offensive coach in the playoffs. I asked McNally about the pressure on him entering 2002. "It's my 23rd year in the league, and I'm 59 years old," he said. "I've been around. What are they gonna do if we fail? Eat me? The players brought us this far. I know that. It's not me. I've got a tough bunch of guys -- great, hard-working guys who are very, very smart. If you're stupid, you can't play in this system. I'm lucky to be working with them." And they with him.
Parcells is going to wriggle out of another one, from what I hearI did not know this, but Bill Parcells apparently signed an agreement to coach Tampa Bay last year. Now the world knows it. The Bucs will press the league office to force the Dallas Cowboys, who are moving within the next day or two to sign Parcells to a coaching contract, to give them compensation for Parcells. Tampa Bay claims Parcells owes the franchise something for walking out on the agreement last year. Now, Deep League tells me this morning that the key issue will probably be that the Bucs never filed the contract with the league office, and so how can the league give the Bucs compensation for a year-old contract that it has never seen? If it's proven he signed a document to coach Tampa Bay last year, I don't like this at all. Parcells should never have signed that deal in the fragile emotional state he was in, then backed out of it.
Tiki Barber gashes the Eagles for 203 yards rushingOf all the amazing stats in the league, that one has to be right up there. So does this one -- four Barber fumbles, three of them lost. And the Giants still won. I will say this about the gutsy Barber, who could have folded his tent three different times Saturday: There is no player, pound for pound, who leaves as much of himself on the field every week, who gives you every last drop of what he has every week, as Tiki Barber. He's my Most Admirable Player of the Year.
Happy New Year, Dick LeBeauCincinnati's Dick LeBeau was the first coach fired this postseason. For all of you amateur coaches who want to know what it will take to get that prestigious Bengals coaching job, I have this advice: Get your resume in early, be willing to work cheap and have the lowest expectations in the history of sports -- and you're a lock for the job.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK New York Jets QB Chad Pennington. With 17 of 24 passing, 196 yards, four touchdowns and no picks in the biggest game of his life, Pennington propelled the Jets into the playoffs and stamped himself as one of the top 10 quarterbacks in football. He took over the Jets when they were also-rans, won eight of 12 starts, and completed 68.9 percent of his passes, the sixth-most efficient passing season in NFL history. And I think Jets head coach Herm Edwards is going to want to take back the strange prediction he made about Laveranues Coles being the team's Most Valuable Player. You judge the MVP on 16 weeks, Herm, and there aren't many teams with as obvious an MVP as Pennington. DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK Washington CB Darrell Green. In his 295th -- and final -- game as a pro football player, he contributed an end-around on a punt return for 30 yards in the first half. And one other thing he contributed: class, most every day he wore the uniform. SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK Tennessee S Tank Williams. With the Titans struggling to get a foothold on the game in Houston and earn a first-round bye in the playoffs, Williams, a terrific rookie starting safety, jumped up to block a gimme Kris Brown field goal attempt, preserving a 3-0 lead. Tennessee went on to beat back the stubborn Texans 13-3. When that Houston team gets an offensive line, it'll be pretty good. COACH OF THE WEEK (tie) New England offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and New York Jets offensive coordinator Paul Hackett. Weis: With his team unable to move the ball in any way against a tough Miami defense (what is wrong with Tom Brady, by the way?), he pulled out every trick play in his book. Receiver passes, direct snaps, odd formations. And the Patriots did just enough to knock the Fish out of the playoffs, scoring 11 points in the last three minutes and driving 43 yards to the winning field goal in overtime. Hackett: Most every Jets fan on earth has wished for some landmark event that might lead Herman Edwards to fire Hackett as soon as possible. But that offense just hung 72 points on the Pats and Packers in back-to-back weeks. The play-caller's doing something right. GOAT OF THE WEEK The entire New Orleans team. The Saints ended the season with losses to the previously three-win Vikes at home, the one-win Bengals on the road, and the six-win Panthers. The team that beat the Bucs twice earlier in the season can't beat Slippery Rock now. QUOTE OF THE WEEK I
"Hey, Deion: Ringling Brothers called. They want their suits back."
QUOTE OF THE WEEK II
"This has been a tale of two different stories for Jay Feely."
QUOTE OF THE WEEK III
"We're 9-7, man ... 9-7 ... Man, 9-7 sucks."
I'll file this later today with the Associated Press. Lots of tough decisions, particularly on offensive player of the year, but here goes: OFFENSEWIDE RECEIVER:
Not very hard. Harrison averaged nine catches a game, and Owens is to offense what Lawrence Taylor was to defense. TIGHT END:
I've thought for some time that Tony Gonzalez is this era's Kellen Winslow. Shockey just might be Winslow and Mike Ditka combined. He has 74 catches and several steamrolling blocks -- all while running with two bad turf toes. TACKLE:
When I saw Roaf in training camp, I thought he looked like Walter Brennan. Oops. GUARD: Faneca is technically excellent. Bentley as a rookie had as big an impact as any young offensive lineman this season. CENTER: A drive-blocking fool. Kept Rich Gannon clean all year. QUARTERBACK: Terrific orchestration of an offense with more weapons than any offense in football. Has the intensity of Marino, too. RUNNING BACK:
I considered Ricky Williams, in part because Holmes missed the last two games. Still, Holmes averaged 164 yards of rushing/receiving production and 1.5 touchdowns per game. FULLBACK: Good blocker, great hands. KICKER: Through 15 games, I'd given David Akers a slight edge over Vinatieri. They're both great kickers, but in Game 16, Akers choked on his big kick. Vinatieri made his two big ones Sunday. KICK RETURNER: The scariest return man in the game, bar none. DEFENSEEND: Great penetrators, and not just rushers, either. TACKLE: I was going with Hovan -- the Pete Rose of defensive tackles, and a guy who will be a star in this league for a long time -- and Jacksonville's Marcus Stroud, over Jenkins, until a pro scout I trust told me this: "There aren't many no-doubt All-Pros I've seen this year. Jenkins is one of the five or six." OUTSIDE LINEBACKER:
Brooks was a consistent disruptive threat, and I'll never forget him catching Michael Vick from behind during their Dec. 8 showdown in Tampa Bay. I love Bulluck's energy, drive and consistency. To beat out Joey Porter he had to be special. INSIDE LINEBACKER: I don't put Urlacher here because he's automatic. I put him here because he's great. Every week Edwards made the Chiefs rue not paying him. CORNERBACK:
Barber was the most complete corner I saw this year, tackling and covering. Surtain was the best cover guy. FREE SAFETY: Not many free safeties intimidate the way Dawkins does. STRONG SAFETY:
Close call, very close over Rod Woodson, but Sharper kept a mediocre defense competitive on some of its shakiest Sundays. PUNTER:
The only punter to average 45 yards per kick, with an excellent inside-the-20 ratio. PUNT RETURNER:
It's pretty tough to average 17 yards a return. Moss flirted with it, then finished at 16.5. Last year the best in the league was 14.2, by Troy Brown. AWARDSMVP:
I named him the MVP in the magazine this week. Summing up Favre versus the competition: He entered the season without his top three wideouts from last year. He played down the stretch with a second-string left tackle, a third-string right tackle, and, at times, a fourth-string running back in Tony Fisher ... and the Packers went 12-4 and won the NFC North by six games. I loved Gannon's year, but he has infinitely more to work with (against a tougher schedule, admittedly), he played a complementary role and not a dominating one in the last five weeks, and won one fewer game than Favre. Ricky Williams was imported to carry the mail for Miami, and he did it superbly, winning a rushing title. But I can't give the MVP to a guy who played for a team that won 11 games in 2000, 11 in 2001 and then just nine after it brought in the big hoss; nor can I give it to him when, after Jay Fiedler went down, the Dolphins scored 10, 10 and 10, consecutively, and lost, lost, lost. Marvin Harrison and Priest Holmes had marvelous offensive seasons, but their teams averaged nine wins, and neither won its division. I like Brad Johnson for his 22 touchdowns, six picks and relative irreplaceability, but he probably is a little shy of MVP because that defense has held six foes to single digits. Steve McNair is an interesting case. He has been tremendously clutch and John Wayne-esque. My only negative on McNair is that after six games the Titans were 2-4 and he had been pretty mediocre. This is a 16-week award, and what you did in September should count nearly as much as what you've done in December. The bottom line is I think Favre should win a razor-close race, but I respect anyone who'd vote for Gannon, Johnson or McNair. Offensive Player:
Two of the greatest offensive seasons ever at their positions. Defensive Player:
He had LT-like attention from opposing offenses week in and week out, and finished with 18 1/2 sacks. What a first step. Offensive Rookie: Edges Shockey. Brilliant drive-blocker and nearly mistake-free player at a young age. Defensive Rookie: He missed four games with the silly substance-abuse suspension. He wreaked havoc in the other 12. Coach: Made more of his 53 men than anyone else in the league, slightly more so than did Green Bay's Mike Sherman and Baltimore's Brian Billick. Comeback Player:
After nearly having his leg amputated four years ago following a beach-football accident, Edwards would merely have had to play a single down this season to with the award. Instead, he was Ricky Williams' third-down sub in Miami, completing the long road back from severe nerve damage in his leg.
On what was likely his last game running the ball for the Cowboys, Emmitt Smith (18 carries, 13 yards) was outrushed by 63 players in Week 17, including Chester Taylor, Heath Evans, David Garrard, Eddie Drummond, Josh McCown, Rudi Johnson and Derrick Blaylock.
You disagree with my pro-Steve Mariucci stance, Bay Areans. I have no idea why. SORRY. WE THINK MARIUCCI STINKS, TOO. From Anthony Reed, of Vacaville, Calif.: "Your comparison of Steve Mariucci and Bill Walsh was way off base. Walsh brought the Niners to the standard Mooch is held against. Walsh had a Super Bowl ring within five years as a head coach. Mooch has a Pro Bowl quarterback, possibly the best receiver in the NFL, and two legitimate running backs, yet the Niners rank 13th in points scored this year. What Niners fans are upset with is the lack of a killer instinct. The Niners do just enough to win, and Mooch is responsible for that. I hope that Mike Holmgren gets fired in Seattle and coaches in San Francisco next season." You act as though the "Pro Bowl quarterback" just fell out of the sky, without any direction from an excellent offensive mind. Mariucci averages 9.5 wins a year in a rebuilding era, and you want to throw him out with the trash. Ridiculous. Mariucci is a hell of a coach. GOD SAVE THE BRONCOS. From Mark Bellows, in Elk Grove, Calif.: "I'm a Broncos fan, and have been disappointed by their performance the last 10 games or so (especially their two losses to Oakland, when they looked overmatched, awestruck, and timid). My first instincts are to find fault in Brian Griese and Ray Rhodes' defense. What's your take on their performance?" Griese's a huge disappointment, particularly in the big game. In the games against the Raiders, I point to three early picks -- the long Rod Woodson interception return for a touchdown in Game 1 and the two, each of which were turned into points, in Game 2 -- as the biggest reasons the Raiders swept Denver. I think if Mike Shanahan had his way, and he didn't have $8.4 million in pro-rated signing bonus money to worry about, he'd start fresh at quarterback in 2003. He still might. Rhodes adjusted poorly in that first Raiders game, but he's a good coach. THE PETER KING FAN CLUB CHECKS IN. From Eric Walker, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii: "I'm a chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy, and I just wanted to tell you how much we all enjoy reading your column. It's a great way to start our Monday Morning in the Chief's Mess, as most of us consider ourselves experts. We recently returned from a six-month deployment from the Gulf, where we got up at ungodly hours, just to watch our country's greatest game. I even had to go to some Internet cafes in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain just to read your column. Mele Kalikimaka to you and your family." Same to you. And thanks. Say hi to all the boys. And girls. KERRY COLLINS IS THE MAN! SOMETIMES. From Scott Hassell, of Bethpage, N.Y.: "As an avid Giants fan I must ask you, who is the real Kerry Collins? The one we saw hang 44 on Indy or the Kerry of 22 fumbles last season? While I'm thrilled the Giants still have life this year I can't help but think the guy's career is mired in inconsistency. Do you think it's him or the guys around him?" You have a guy who led the NFC in passing yards (4,073), broke Phil Simms' franchise record for passing yards, completed 61 percent of his throws, and had a plus-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He throws a much better deep ball than when he came to the Giants. What's the question? Collins is a keeper. HMMM. A COWBOY-PLUMMER MARRIAGE. From Denny Burns, of Rainelle, W. Va.: "Do you think Jerry Jones would be willing to give up some authority if that's what it took to hire Bill Parcells? Also, I realize that the Cowboys have invested big bucks to see this Chad Hutchinson thing through, but do you think Dallas would be interested in signing Jake Plummer if available?" Yes and yes. Bill Parcells has always liked Plummer a lot, and I see him going after Plummer if he gets the Cowboys job this week, as I think he will. FAVRE IS UNDERRATED. From Kevin Correll, of Richmond, Va.: "I'm dying for a coherent explanation of the balloting for MVP. If MVP is the most valuable player (not most valuable player with a terrific supporting cast of wide receivers and running backs) why is Brett Favre not a lock?" The Associated Press polls writers in every NFL city, with national media members polled also, and there are no hard-and-fast criteria. Playoffs don't matter. The ballots for all-pro and awards must be filed the day after the regular season ends. I try to strike a balance between having a great year, meaning a huge amount to a team, and value that might not be measured strictly in numbers. To see why I favor Favre this year, check out my magazine column on the topic. YOU'RE TOO HARD ON THE HOOLIGANS. From Eric, of Newton, Mass.: "How can you compare the Patriots fans of over a decade ago to the Pats fans of today? Please. While the Lisa Olson/Zeke Mowatt ordeal was a discouraging moment, that was so many years ago. There are even stories these days of the stadium officials being too strict with the crowd. We're not saints, but give Bob Kraft and the New England fans a little more respect please." Point taken. Thanks. WOW. THEY REALLY LOVE ME THIS WEEK. From Sam Athens, of Irving, Texas: "I just wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know how much I have thoroughly enjoyed your MMQB column this season. You seem to genuinely enjoy your job and the travels it takes you on, and it comes through in your writing. I especially enjoy your work because your experiences appear to be so fresh, despite the number of years that you've been at this. One could never tell that from reading your work. Now for my question. As a diehard Bears fan, given the inordinate number of starters lost to IR and the 16-game road schedule, do I just accept this season as one big mulligan, or should the team have given us more than just four wins?" Thanks a lot. Re: the Bears, I think because of the quarterback crisis and the injuries on defense -- considering that both the quarterback position and defense were keystones to the great 2001 season -- you have to give them a pass. I don't think the road thing is too big a deal. What I like about the Bears is that they've played hard every week and not given up. You can tell they really respect Dick Jauron. Give this team a quarterback prospect, and a good quarterbacks coach, and I like their chances for 2003. BUT YOU'RE BEATING A DEAD HORSE. From Brian Johnson, of Seattle: "I hate to beat a dead horse, but your response to the reader's e-mail regarding Ray Lewis made your mistake even worse ... 'Lewis hadn't brought shame to his name since the double-murder...' Are you serious? What more does it take to bring shame to one's name? As far as I know, he hasn't had any problems since then. But, please, don't make him out to be a model citizen. He personifies what's wrong with professional sports." I cannot believe the furor over this. I really can't. What is wrong with saying the man has done nothing to bring shame to his name since that night in Atlanta? He hasn't. He has worked very hard to be a leader on his team, to keep his nose clean, and to be an example, on the field and off, of what a great player should be. I've spent time with him. His effort, desire and seriousness of purpose ought to be a beacon for players leaguewide. What do you want from this man? A couple of years ago, he screwed up. He has tried to make amends. Let him live his life, for crying out loud.
Giants/Jets Fever! Catch it! On the eight-mile road trip to the Meadowlands Saturday, I spotted 37 people with signs begging for Giants tickets, and not a soul offering to sell.
1. I think, as we examine Marvin Harrison's chances of immortality, we discover he definitely has a shot. And we realize at the same time how incredible the career of Jerry Rice has been. Harrison will be 31 next opening day. He has just finished his seventh regular season in the league. He has 665 catches, 791 behind Rice's career total of 1,456. I don't think Rice has said anything publicly about his future, but I've been told he'll definitely be back to play, at age 41, in 2003. Playing with Peyton Manning, Harrison has a chance at 100 receptions every year. He'd have to catch 100 a season over the next eight years to be in Rice's neighborhood. That tells you what a great life Rice has led in this game -- and how far the next unassuming great receiver has to go to catch him. 2. I think these are my quick-hit football thoughts of the weekend: a. Wow! Did Clinton Portis explode or what? With 1,508 rushing yards, he finished fourth in the league, after being a statistical afterthought midway through the season. b. If the Patriots did not have a good screen game, I think they'd average about 73 yards of total offense a week. c. Tim Green invented a new word during the Falcons-Browns game when discussing Cleveland quarterback Tim Couch. Quoth Green, who is also a novelist: "There are times this year he has left open receivers unthrown to." d. Three penalties for Browns wideout Quincy Morgan in the first quarter against Atlanta, including a really stupid block in the back that cost his team a first down in Falcons territory. e. How'd you drop that pick, Lawyer Milloy? Can of corn! f. Block of the Day: Jay Fiedler on a reverse, leading the way for Chris Chambers and whacking Milloy. g. Who is that masquerading as Aaron Brooks these days? h. Props to you, Alge Crumpler. What an incredible dive, scoop, roll and tuck on your touchdown catch in the second quarter at Cleveland. I don't care if the officials ruled that you didn't catch it. I saw it. Good catch. i. I don't know how many people saw this, but on a Michael Vick scramble in Cleveland, Travis Claridge threw a crucial block that felled two of Cleveland's defensive linemen like bowling pins to prevent Vick from getting killed. An incredible block. j. What a stop, Earl Holmes. You are worth the very big money, KO'ing Warrick Dunn on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard-line as you did in the dying seconds of Browns 24, Falcons 16. k. Nice year, Ricky Williams. A rushing title, 1,853 yards ... and I simply can't believe your team won but nine games. l. Not a bad way to go out for Emmitt Smith, if he's indeed going out. He finished with 975 yards, breaking a streak of 11 straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons. My money says Bill Parcells will cut the cord and go with Troy Hambrick, for now. 3. I think, as much as I like Marty Mornhinweg as a guy, I can't fathom how on earth Bill Ford Sr., can bring him back for a third year,given Mornhinweg's 5-27 record, including 0-16 on the road. Can Ford honestly look at his team and say it wouldn't be better off with Nick Saban coaching it? 4. I think Vick throws the prettiest deep ball in the NFL. 5. I think these are my non-football thoughts of the week: a. In the King family, the holiday movies of the week were Christmas Vacation, with Chevy Chase and Randy Quaid (in his greatest performance ever) and Best in Show, which makes me howl like a retriever every time I see it. b. Saw Catch Me If You Can. A-minus, bordering on an A. Terrific movie. Leonardo DiCaprio is one great actor, and the sets and scenery of the '60s makes it worth double the ridiculous price of admission. c. I've been ridiculed for a week for not having a DVD player. Should I really have one? d. Daughter Laura bought me Field of Dreams on DVD for Christmas. That's when I started to get the hint. e. After the 2002 season, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said his team's payroll would have to go down. It now stands at close $140 million, and they've just signed two guys for big money -- Hideki Matsui, the Japanese slugger and Jose Contreras, the Cuban pitcher -- for a combined $53 million over the next three or four years. Their payroll will rise again when Roger Clemens' $10.1 million is added, and it'll rise some more when the final four roster spots are signed, including the one held by phenom Alfonso Soriano. So the Yankees will end up way, way over the $117 million luxury tax threshold, after Steinbrenner said they had to get the weed-whacker out. Memo to Bud Selig: This is what you had you had in mind with that snazzy new labor agreement that was suppposed to even out the competition? f. Coffeenerdness: My flag is at half-staff this morning. The Starbucks up the street ran out of eggnog for the eggnog latte on Saturday. I will be in mourning for at least six weeks. g. "You are borderline disgraceful," said Alice Tyler, friend of Laura's, when she tried to engage Laura in meaningful football discussion. It failed. 6. I think the Dolphins made enough special-teams blunders in the last 10 minutes of Sunday's game to make me wonder: how does Dave Wannstedt feel about dumping Mike Westhoff two years ago? But let's not put the fault for Miami's falter all on coaching. Olindo Mare was a pedestrian kicker this year, and he's too good to be so. Blame him for the absolute cardinal sin of booting the overtime's opening kickoff out of bounds. I was looking at my TV and saying: "What an idiot! He just handed the Patriots 15 yards!" 7. I think I have one question about the Bengals after watching the highlights of their 14th loss of the year, at Buffalo: How many of those players can look in the mirror this morning and say, "I tried on every play in this game?" Not many, I would think. 8. I think the Patriots need this offseason to begin in a hurry. Throughout that game with the Dolphins, the most noticeable thing was that they had nothing to hang their hats on, offensively or defensively. Brady's not throwing well, they can't run with any consistency, they don't stop the run well. If I'm Bill Belichick, I'm looking for two vital elements: a young two-way defensive end who can play the run and get 13 sacks, and a back who can plow AND make people miss. Great graphic by CBS on Sunday: By the middle of the second quarter, New England had two 40-yard-plus drives in its previous 36 possessions. That says it all. 9. I think what would worry me most if I rooted for the Cleveland Browns is this: Tim Couch has just completed his fourth regular season in the NFL, and the Browns, if they're human, probably have no idea if he's their long-term quarterback. Couch's four-year totals: 57 touchdowns, 60 interceptions, a season quarterback rating that has never exceeded 78. I know his weapons have been lousy, but Couch hasn't been the accurate chain-mover I thought he'd be when he came out of Kentucky. 10. I think it's going to be tough to win at Oakland and Tennessee, but if any wild-card team can run the table in January, it's the Jets.
San Francisco, 24-13. That's all it's worth. Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King covers the NFL beat for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com. Monday Morning Quarterback appears in this space -- no kidding -- on Monday mornings. Click here to send him a comment.
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