NFL Week 13

Ten (Not So) Quick Hits:

1/ The Colts have now lost three straight, leaving them with a 6-6 record (at the same point last year, they were 12-0). The questions about the possible end of the Indianapolis dynasty will only get louder this week. They have two huge division games – at the Titans and against the Jaguars – the next two weeks to prove the doubters wrong.

2/ It was going to take something special to break the Chargers' unbelievable December record (San Diego hadn't lost a December match-up since 2005, that's 18 straight wins) and the Raiders certainly produced it. They started hot, getting up by two scores in the first quarter, and then their defense, led by rookies Rolando McClain and Lamarr Houston, took over. Under constant pressure, Philip Rivers had an unpleasant day.

3/ Can you believe that the Bears have now beaten the Lions on questionable calls twice this season? I have to say I tend to agree with Lions coach Jim Schwartz's assessment that rookie defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh had a right to take that shot to get the running, weaving Jay Cutler down. An unnecessary roughness call would never have been made for that hit on a running back, which technically Cutler was at that point.

4/ Don't say it any louder than a whisper, but the 2010 St. Louis Rams might genuinely be headed to the playoffs as winners of the NFC West. Only one season after going 1-15 and being the laughingstock of the NFL.

5/ That was quite the turn-around from the last time the Broncos and Chiefs faced off, wasn't it? After allowing Denver to gain 452 net yards of offense on Nov. 14, Kansas City held them to 247 net yards on Sunday. The biggest difference was in the passing game where, using a variety of different schemes, they held the Broncos passing game to 86 yards, after giving up 299 yards through the air last time.

6/ I would have bet a lot of money Saturday that Chad Henne would get the better of Jake Delhomme in the quarterback matchup of the Browns-Dolphins game. I would have lost.

7/ We must be in December, because running backs got it going on Sunday. Nine rushers gained 100+ yards (4 more went for over 90) on a bad day for front sevens all around the league.

8/ Tampa Bay....You almost had me believing.

9/ I made a point last week about NFL players sometimes giving up on their struggling or unpopular coaches. Well, the Cowboys and Vikings are now a combined 4-1 since dumping Wade Phillips and Brad Childress. Just saying...

10/ Speaking of coaches getting no respect, check out this tantrum by Chiefs offensive lineman Jason Richardson.

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

a. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers: Dissected the Niners secondary all afternoon, hitting 21 of his 30 passes for just under 300 yards. Threw three touchdowns without an interception for an impressive quarterback rating of 135.1.

b. Vikings receiver Sidney Rice: Caught five balls for 105 yards and a couple scores, including this one which illustrates exactly why he is such a redzone threat. Not bad in only his third game back from his hip surgery.

c. Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew: Didn't score or post an unbelievable yards-per-rush average (6.0), but he was an absolute workhorse for Jacksonville. Carried the ball 31 times for 186 yards on the ground as Tennessee just couldn't clamp down on him.

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

a. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning: Don't think I'm picking on the living legend, but Manning deserves his spot here for the second straight week. He can't stop throwing interceptions (four on Sunday and nine in his last four games) and bad ones too: two of his picks were returned for touchdowns against Cowboys. “I made poor decisions, poor throws,” he said simply afterward.

b. Cardinals quarterback Derek Anderson: This guy's regular in this slot. Went a pedestrian 7 of 20 passing for 93 yards and an interception. Another shot for Max Hall, anyone?

c. Bengals defensive tackle Pat Sims: Was baited into jumping offside by Drew Brees on a 4^th and 2 at the Cincinnati 7, with 34 seconds left in the game and the Bengals leading 30-27. On the next play, Brees threw to Marques Colston for the winning score. He cost Cincinnati the shot at overtime they deserved.

- Rookie of the Week: Cowboys Linebacker Sean Lee: Showed his ability to drop into pass coverage, defending three Peyton Manning passes and intercepting two more. One of his interceptions was returned for six in the third quarter while the other put the Cowboys in position to kick the winning field goal in overtime (he gets bonus points for looking exactly like Ferris Bueller's buddy Cameron in this profile picture).

- Play(s) of the Week: 1/Focus on the positive – Donald Driver's sweet moves – rather than the negative – the Niners' abysmal tackling – on this play.

2/ Couldn't not give a mention to the best defensive play of the weekend.

- Ridiculous Play of the Week: Ridiculous in the sense that a premature celebration cost Leon Washington yet another kick return for a touchdown. Awesome in the sense Washington will hear about the amazing hustle play of Panthers punter Jason Baker for a long, long time.