Here's What I Learned in Week 12

Some thoughts while watching a day's worth of NFL action:

* Let's not anoint the NY Jets as the team to beat in the AFC just yet. Yes, the win over the Titans in Tennesssee was impressive, but keep in mind that the Titans didn't scare a whole lot of people like last year's unbeaten team, the Patriots did. They were a good story, but considering what they have at the wide receiver spot, if you could get ahead of them and force them out of their game plan, you could probably beat them. Don't get me wrong, the win in Nashville is big, but no Jets fan should start making plane and hotel reservations for Tampa in early February.

And, for those bitter packer fans that will point to this game and use it against Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre was not the only reason the Jets won yesterday. Yes, he played well. Yes, he played it safe for the most part, but do not discount the role of the running game and the defense. Thomas Jones and Leon Washongton got the yards when the Jets needed them, especially Washington on his touchdown run in the third quarter. The running game helped Brett to play it safe. The defense never allowed rookie Chris Johnson or LenDale White to get going. If you make the Titans one dimensional, they are not the same team.

It was a team win for the Jets yesterday, and they are definitely on a roll. But, after a lifetime of watching this team, I'm going to play it safe myself. I'm not going to anoint them as the best team in the AFC.

* The Patriots bounced back in a big way and blitzed the Dolphins in a game they had to have. They wanted revenge against Miami and got it. Matt Cassel had another huge game and is going to be someone's starting quarterback next year. That someone just isn't going to be New England, and they shouldn't prevent the kid from making his mark by designating him as their franchise player. He came out of nowhere, hadn't started a game since high school, and has show he can play well at this level.

* The Donovan McNabb era in Philadelphia is pretty much over. To be benched at halftime against Baltimore when you were only down 10-7? There's a message being sent to Donovan here, and that message is simply this. Your days as an Eagle are numbered. Even if Kevin Kolb doesn't play well down the stretch it's clear after years if injuries that McNabb and the Eagles need to go their separate ways.

* T.O. and the Cowboys had no problems yesterday against the 49ers. In fact, Owens is pretty much a one man wrecking crew against the team that drafted him in 1996. If the Cowboys can do to Seattle on Thursday what they did to San Francisco yesterday, then you have to factor them in to the NFC race once again.

* Why does Rod Marinelli still have a job? The Lions were up by 17 on the Bucs and lost by 18. If there ever was a coach that needed to be fired (or put out of his misery) it's Marinelli. I know you don't fire a coach three days before his next game (remember they play Tennessee on Thanksgiving), but how Marinelli's key card still works is beyond me. Then again, this is the team that kept Matt Millen employed for all those years. This is also the team that kept Wayne Fontes in his office years after he should have been out of there.

* Arizona may have lost to the Giants yesterday but the Cardinals didn't get embarrassed. I'm not into moral victories, but the Cardinals might have beaten any other NFC team except the Giants yesterday. Their offense is explosive (and no one runs against the Giants by the way). Their defense is better than it's given credit for. This team could, repeat could win a playoff game in January.

* Tyler Thigpen is a great story. Kid comes out of nowhere (Coastal Caroline) to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. Great stories don't do much for teams looking for wins in the NFL, though. The Chiefs used to be one of the toughest road games for anyone, and Buffalo put up 54 on Kansas City at Arrowhead yesterday. If it were me, I'd clean house. That means Carl Peterson, Herm Edwards, and especially Gunther Cunningham all need to go. The Chiefs need to start over.

* Oakland wins! Oakland wins! I had to write it twice just to believe it myself.

* The Packers will score on the Saints tonight in New Orleans. Whether they win the game depends entirely on the defense. If the firm of Harris and Woodson can keep the Saints receivers in check, the Packers will win easy. If Drew Brees can make those connections, it might be a shootout. You know, one of those last team with the ball wins kind of games. I say the Packers come away with a 37-30 win.