NFL Week 12

Ten (Not So) Quick Hits:

1/ I haven't been a big believer in either the Falcons or the Bears this season, but having had the rare opportunity to watch both teams play on Sunday, I'm here to tell you: they are for real, folks. Both will be genuine contenders for the NFC title.

2/ Speaking of the Falcons, Atlanta's offensive line may not boast a lot of big names but they are a very solid unit, in both run blocking and pass protection. One of the NFL's top five O-lines, and you can quote me on that.

3/ A team that's not for real? Well, how about Tampa Bay? Despite their 7-4 record, the Bucs still haven't beaten a team with a winning record. Josh Freeman certainly has the franchise headed in the right direction, but until they beat a good team, people just won't take them seriously.

4/ If Minnesota's win against Washington proved anything – in my mind at least – it's that there are quite a few NFL players who only try when they really want to. Just as the Cowboys looked like a different team in the first game after their head coach Wade Philips was let go, the Vikings shined their first time out after their generally disliked coach, Brad Childress, got fired. Coaches beware, keep those players on your side. They wield the real power in this league.

5/ Could we really see a Colt-less postseason for the first time since 2001?

6/ Nice return to the Dolphins QB starting job, Chad Henne. Now keep those interceptions down, and that job will yours for a long time.

7/ There wasn't a bigger sack this weekend than the Rams Chris Long's takedown of the Broncos Kyle Orton in the final minute of the game. Up until that point, Denver looked as if they might actually make a fourth quarter 20-point comeback happen.

8/ Do you know who Colts receiver Blair White is yet? Well, might be time to learn: the rookie has four touchdown receptions already in his eight-game (no starts) NFL career. That's more than Tony Gonzalez, Eddie Royal or – more relevantly perhaps – Pierre Garcon in 2010

9/ Great game by Giants rookie defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul against Jacksonville. He had two sacks (for minus 18 yards), another quarterback hit, two forced fumbles and five total tackles. New York's pass rush just got a little more fearsome.

10/ That was quite the scuffle, Cortland Finnegan and Andre Johnson. Finnegan is known around the league as a legendary trash-talker and he certainly ruffled Johnson's feathers on this occasion. Keep an eye on those two when the Titans and Texans meet again, only three weeks from now (and for years to come in the AFC.

- Here's some of the studs of the week:

a. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler: Made barely any bad throws for Chicago, completing 14 of 21 passes for 247 yards and four touchdowns. Even more importantly, he avoided any turnovers and led the Bears on three or four quick-scoring drives that stunned the Eagles.

b. Chiefs running back Larry Charles: Ran all over the Seahawks, amassing 173 yards on 22 carries at a 7.9 yard per carry average.

c. Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe: As if having Jamaal Charles dominate wasn't enough, Bowe had a career day himself, catching 13 balls for 170 yards and three touchdowns.

-Here's some of the goats of the week:

a. Titans quarterback Rusty Smith: Hate to see a rookie quarterback making his first NFL start featured on this list, but Smith was that bad against Houston. He completed only 54 percent of his 31 passes for 138 yards. He tossed three picks to boot, finishing with horrible 26.7 quarterback rating.

b. Panthers kicker John Kasay: Missed the game-winning 42-yard field goal as time expired, handing Cleveland a one-point victory. Earlier in the fourth quarter, he missed a 46-yarder. As if the Panthers weren't having a hard enough time already.

c. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning: Has seemed out-of-touch the last couple weeks and particularly susceptible to the interception. He threw four picks against San Diego, two of which were returned for touchdowns.

-Rookie of the Week: Rams quarterback Sam Bradford: Terry Bradshaw ranked Bradford number five on his list of top ten quarterbacks under the age of 30 Sunday morning, and Bradford then came out and played like it Sunday afternoon. He threw for over 300 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions on the day the Rams took the lead in the NFC West.

-Play of the Week: Mike Vick who? Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. David Garrard.

-Ridiculous Play of the Week: In overtime against the Steelers, Bills receiver Stevie Johnson literally had the game-winning ball in his hands. But it slipped through.