Green Bay's lucky schedule. You won't believe this. This is simply improbable to say the least. The Packers have caught teams during their worst stretches of the season. This is astonishing:

(1) The Lions were once 5-0. By the time GB got to them, they were in the middle of a 2-4 stretch (and nearly 1-5, as they nearly lost to Carolina).

(2) The Giants were feared at 6-2, especially after handing the Patriots its first home loss in forever. But by the time GB gets to them, they will have been 0-3 in their last 3 games. The numbers don't lie: The second-half story is beyond ugly in the Coughlin era. New York is 47-17 in the first half of the season from 2004 on, but just 24-35 in the second half. Green Bay is fortunate to get the second half Giants. The sidelining of Osi Umenyiora due to injury is also timely enough.

(3) The Chargers were once solid at 4-1, but when the Packers got to them, they were in the middle of an 0-6 streak.

(4) Tampa Bay started the season 3-1 and 4-2, but by the time the Pack found them, they were in the middle of an 0-5 stretch.

(5) GreenBay beat the Broncos when the Broncos were in the middle of their Kyle Orton-led 1-4 start. Playing the Broncos at home, they did not have to deal with the altitude.

(6) Some people are impressed by the Packers win over the Saints in their homecoming game. The Saints are afterall an offensive juggernaut and 8-3 on the year. But did you know the Packers had the Saints in Lambeau and that the Saints are a very mediocre 3-3 on the road, including road losses to the hapless Rams and Bucs. The 3 road wins consist of 3-point squeakers over the Panthers and Falcons (Falcons in OT) and an unimpressive 23-10 win over the Jags. They are simply a different team on the road.

(7) The Bears were looking good at 7-3. But when the Pack faced them early in the season, the team was in the middle of an uninspired 2-3 run. The NEXT time the teams face off, the Bears will be sans their starting QB. Instead, it's Caleb Hanie, who "forgot how to spike the ball to stop the clock, picking up a game-ending intentional grounding penalty instead." (Don Banks)

(8) Atlanta looks good now at 7-4 but did you know that when the Pack faced them they were 2-2 going on 2-3. But even 7-4 is deceptive in that Atlanta's post-swoon resurgence has come against a string of 5 rookie QBs (Newton, Ponder, Locker, Newton, Yates).

(9) When the Pack faced the Vikings this year, they did not have to face Brett Favre, nor did they have to face McNabb. Rookie QB Christian Ponder got his FIRST AND THIRD career starts against the Packers.

(10) Not only did Christian Ponder get his first and third carere starts against the Pack, but Kansas City will be juggling Tyler Palko and new-to-the-team Kyle Orton, remember him from week -- well, whichever week the Packers throttled him. Carson Palmer is a good QB, but he would have only been with his team for a few weeks by the time he faces Green Bay in Green Bay. And who knows who the Bears will have to throw at Green Bay when they next face the Pack?

Green Bay's lucky schedule. You won't believe this. This is simply improbable to say the least. The Packers have caught teams during their worst stretches of the season. This is astonishing:

(1) The Lions were once 5-0. By the time GB got to them, they were in the middle of a 2-4 stretch (and nearly 1-5, as they nearly lost to Carolina).

(2) The Giants were feared at 6-2, especially after handing the Patriots its first home loss in forever. But by the time GB gets to them, they will have been 0-3 in their last 3 games. The numbers don't lie: The second-half story is beyond ugly in the Coughlin era. New York is 47-17 in the first half of the season from 2004 on, but just 24-35 in the second half. Green Bay is fortunate to get the second half Giants.

(3) The Chargers were once solid at 4-1, but when the Packers got to them, they were in the middle of an 0-6 streak.

(4) Tampa Bay started the season 3-1 and 4-2, but by the time the Pack found them, they were in the middle of an 0-5 stretch.

(5) GreenBay beat the Broncos when the Broncos were in the middle of their Kyle Orton-led 1-4 start. Playing the Broncos at home, they did not have to deal with the altitude.

(6) Some people are impressed by the Packers win over the Saints in their homecoming game. The Saints are afterall an offensive juggernaut and 8-3 on the year. But did you know the Packers had the Saints in Lambeau and that the Saints are a very mediocre 3-3 on the road, including road losses to the hapless Rams and Bucs. The 3 road wins consist of 3-point squeakers over the Panthers and Falcons (Falcons in OT) and an unimpressive 23-10 win over the Jags. They are simply a different team on the road.

(7) The Bears were looking good at 7-3. But when the Pack faced them early in the season, the team was in the middle of an uninspired 2-3 run. The NEXT time the teams face off, the Bears will be sans their starting QB.

(8) Atlanta looks good now at 7-4 but did you know that when the Pack faced them they were 2-2 going on 2-3.

(9) When the Pack faced the Vikings this year, they did not have to face Brett Favre, nor did they have to face McNabb. Rookie QB Christian Ponder got his FIRST AND THIRD career starts against the Packers.

(10) Not only did Christian Ponder get his first and third carere starts against the Pack, but Kansas City will be juggling Tyler Palko and new-to-the-team Kyle Orton, remember him from week -- well, whichever week the Packers throttled him. Carson Palmer is a good QB, but he would have only been with his team for a few weeks by the time he faces Green Bay in Green Bay. And who knows who the Bears will have to throw at Green Bay when they next face the Pack?

Why is his head bigger than his body? I didn't think that was allowed in football.

I've been telling you guys all along. The Fins should pursue Shottenheimer or Rob Ryan, but who they're REALLY going to end up with is Jack del Rio.

Couldn't agree more. The man is the sanest, most level-headed option out there. He even sports a square hair cut!

sorry, "open enough to make an impact"

I would sign him as an upgrade over the Ocho. But you have to replace Ocho. I know Bill likes him personally, but think about how much more pressure there would be on every offensive play if you replace Ocho with well, just about anyone else. The wideouts are a relative weakness in the Patriots offensive. Branch has done great things for them in the past and can perform today, but he can't take over a game like he used to. He's fine as long as he is complemented with someone at least as good as he is, and Ocho is no Branch. I wouldn't mind adding Owens because he always has something to prove and has a fire in the belly. He will get open often not to make an impact. Again, this recommendation is based purely on where we are in the season, what's available, and what could be upgraded.

Could not have put it better myself. If Manning wants back in, and he will, he will get back in.

You need to get the International Red Cross or the Hague involved at this point. This is now a humanitarian rescue effort.

I wouldn't say he outplayed him. The Dallas defense is probably better than New England's at this stage and Rob Ryan, who as a former Patriot lieutenant, knows Brady well, had two weeks to prepare for the game.

Jets need to bring in one of these guys:

Beck, John
Beuerlein, Steve
Bishop, Michael
Blackledge, Todd
Boller, Kyle
Bollinger, Brooks
Brister, Bubby
Brohm, Brian
Brown, Dave
Brunner, Scott
Carr, David
Carter, Quincy
Clausen, Jimmy
Couch, Tim
Dixon, Dennis
Dorsey, Ken
Druckenmiller, Jim
Frerotte, Gus
Fuller, Steve
George, Jeff
Graham, Kent
Grbac, Elvis
Harrington, Joey
Hasselbeck, Tim
Henson, Drew
Hodson, Tommy
Hutchinson, Chad
Jackson, Tavaris
Kanell, Danny
Kemp, Jeff
Klinger, David
King, Shaun
Leaf, Ryan
Leinart, Matt
Lemon, Cleo
Losman, JP
Maddox, Tommy
Malone, Mark
Marinovich, Todd
McCown, Cade
McGwire, Dan
Miller, Jim
Mirer, Rick
Orlovsky, Dan
Peete, Rodney
Russell, Jemarcus
Salisbury, Sean
Schlichter, Art
Secules, Scott
Shuler, Heath
Smith, Akili
Smith, Alex
Smith, Troy
Stenstrom, Steve
Stouffer, Kelly
Tomczak, Mike
Tuiasosopo, Marques
Walter, Andrew
Ware, Andre
Weinke, Chris
Wilson, Marc
Wuerffel, Danny
Young, Vince
Zeier, Eric
Zolak, Scott

The Jets are fortunate the Fins lost Henne. This would have been a trap game for them (if one can call a game after 3 straight losses a "trap game"), but I don't think you can get Moore up to speed so quickly. This game will end up be a saving grace for the Jets to keep their season alive and give them a modicum of momentum (and much needed bye) heading into the San Diego game.

I mean, unlike last year against the Browns. How does anyone get geeked up to play the Browns? The Browns always have a motivational edge.

It's anyone's guess. Why? Because every team gets geeked up every week to play the Pats the way teams used to get geeked up to play the Cowboys a couple decades ago. Everyone throws the kitchen sink at the Pats. The Chargers presented a daunting offense, and the upcoming game may very well look like the Chargers game with the Cowboys nipping at their heels until a couple Cowboys mistakes or lack of wisdom in the area of managing the end game will give the Pats separation. This is what happened incidentally in their 2007 match-up in which the Pats turned a 24-21 3rd quarter deficit into a 48-27 victory. But I guarantee you the Pats are geeked for the 'Boys as well.

What the Jets fail to take into account is that their destiny is only in their hands if they beat the Bills twice. It's no longer a matter of whether the Jets start winning again. The Jets talk as if they will make the playoffs if they win most of their remaining games. The fact is that the Jets also need other teams to lose at a higher rate. Both the Bills and Pats won 4 of their first 5 games (.800). One of these teams needs to falter, and then there are also teams in other divisions with better records at 3-2, including an Oakland team that won head-to-head and will not likely win its own division outright. No one would be surprised if Houston and Tennessee abruptly tanked, but the Jets also need Cincinnati to go away. Cincinnati is looking as though they're for real at 3-2 having lost so narrowly to a SF team that's impressing. Cincinnati is doing with a formula that is rare in this year's NFL: defense. This is not the same Bengal team the Jets toyed with in two games in 2009. Next up for Cincinnati, the 0-5 Colts. And let's not forget about Pittsburgh. You just know that somehow Pittsburgh will pesky and could be the team that pushes the Jets into the #7 slot at season's end. The Jets shoud be pleased about the upcoming match between Pittsburgh and New England because it guarantees a loss for one of those teams, but to take advantage the Jets will need to beat San Diego that week. So to recap, Houston and Tennessee look mortal. Pittsburgh and Cincinnati will be tougher to pass but these two divisional rivals play each other twice. And either Buffalo or New England will need to falter, but the Jets can close the gap on Buffalo with a season sweep.

No, but what that idiot should have said was, "The SB is a long way off. Two weeks is a long way off. We're taking this one week at a time and that's the attitude you need to have if the SB is ever going to be within reach." What a meathead.

I here I thought throwing was part of a QBs job description.

This is not unexpected with all the injuries this team had to contend with. If they were even a scintilla healthier and half as healthy as these other playoff clubs, they would have at least 4-5 more wins to their credit this month.

I can just see Pierre Hufnagel and Jim Haloran arguing over what to do about Kyle van den Moulebroeke.

How to get dropped on your head by Andre Tippett.

I'd say a modern day dynasty, in the age of parity, is 3 out of 4. I would call the 90s Cowboys and 00s Patriots dynasties. Below dynasty is juggernaut, and these are teams that threaten 5 out of every 7 years and have at least 1 SB to their credit. Under my definition, Indianapolis, and Pittsburgh are juggernauts, but San Diego and Philadelphia are third-tier.