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The Giants/Seahawks game was supposed to answer questions concerning both these teams.  In the end, it didn’t answer much.  The Giants were trying to prove they could play against a good team; the Seahawks were trying to prove they were a good team.  Both teams played well in spurts and didn’t show too much consistency to have either question answered. 
A big reason I find this game didn’t show us anything was because of the refereeing.  The officials did a very poor job, and were only out done in poor performance by the ineptitude of the sports casting by Darryl Johnston and Dick Stockton. 
The Giants had 3 chances to win, with 3 game winning missed FGs by Jay Feely.  To his defense, they were long kicks (2 out of the 3 anyway).  The best part of this game was seeing Shockey celebrate then realize one of the FG wasn’t good.  A big reason they had those chances however was due to one blown call just before halftime by the refs.  I’m talking about Shockey’s ‘TD’ where he was hit hard jarring the ball loose.  In order to get a catch, a player must get both feet in bounds while maintaining possession and also make a football move.  However vague this ‘football move’ is, Shockey had no chance of making this move since his second foot only debatably touched the ground just before the ball came flying out of his hands.  The saddest part was not only the refs completely forgetting about this minor little rule that in every other game is emphasized time and again, it’s the fact the commentators didn’t jump on it either, as I’m sure both Darryl Johnston and Dick Stockton must have gone through numerous replays in other games they’ve covered and have talked about how a completed catch is judged.  Replace this ‘TD’ with the FG it should have been, and this is a whole different ball game in the second half. 
This wasn’t the only thing these two missed.  Another example was just before the final 2 minute warning.  They thought since the play ended below 2 minutes, the challenge had to come from the booth.  Only after a commercial break, when I’m sure one of the workers for Fox that actually knows something about the rules had told them that it matters when the play started and not when it ended, did they get it right saying that it is in fact a coaches challenge instead. 
I’ll give you yet another example where Shockey fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the Giants deep in Seattle territory in OT.  The replay clearly showed he never made the catch, yet this was completely ignored by the dynamic due of Johnston and Stockton and only after Holmgren called a timeout in order to give the replay booth time to review the call, and after a lengthy pointless conversation between Johnston and Stockton did they realize what actually happened.  The game turned out to be exciting due to the missed FGs and overtime, however these two didn’t pay attention to the game at all.  I question whether they were even watching it.  That’s the only excuse I can think of for the way they mishandled it. 
If this was supposed to be the marquee game the NFC was showing, why didn’t their #1 crew of Aikman and Buck handle it instead?  Is it true that Seattle is just too far away for them to be bothered with taking a flight there?  I found that pretty odd. 

No Huddle

The Ravens finally got over 20 points in a game.  They’re the last team to do so this season.  I just love this coming from an offensive guru such as Brian Billick. 

Losman has actually played well for the Bills in his last three starts.  He looks down right fantastic when you compare it to the way he played at the start of the season.  Losman is supposed to be elusive, unlike Bledsoe, yet he seemed scared and jittery in the pocket and when he caught a sniff of big bodies around him he ran around in circles and got sacked.  I do believe he’s gotten better, but he needs much more poise and pocket presence. 

The Panthers, one week after getting soundly beaten by the Bears, went into Buffalo and didn’t play all that well.  Steve Smith only managed 3 catches after consistently having huge game after huge game and in essence was effectively shut down.  They escaped with a victory against a team that isn’t very good.  Jake Delhomme needs to get his act together if he wants to make it to the Superbowl. 

Yet another huge win for the Bears over the Bucs.  This seemed like it was going to be a let down game for them, especially having to travel to Tampa Bay for this one.  But they won just like they have for the last 6 straight games.  The defense played great, especially Alex Brown.  Maybe the NFC North shouldn’t be chastised as much as it has been, the Bears may very well be for real. 

Joey Galloway has been reborn this season, grabbing 7 passes for 138 yards against the Bears. 

Marcus Robinson had 3 catches and all of them went for TDs in the Viking’s win over the Browns.  All he does?  Catch touchdowns!  Oops! That’s Cris Carter, a little flashback there, sorry.  The Vikings win yet again managing to still keep the Bears in their sights, waiting for them to falter. 

The Chiefs, yes the Chiefs played good defense, against the Patriots no less.  This game wasn’t as close as it looked.  The Chiefs got off to a 26-3 lead only to rest and let up a bit, allowing the Pats to come back.  Tom Brady was intercepted 4 times by the Chiefs.  Yes the Chiefs secondary made plays.  Shocking. 

These Patriots don’t look like they’re a playoff caliber team.  And of all the teams that will end up making it for the AFC, they’ll deserve it the least.  Luckily for them, the AFC East is the worst division in football.  Worse than the pathetic NFC West.  How sad.  Only a few years ago, this was the toughest division in football.  After Brady, Losman may be the next best QB in the division.  Think about that for a bit. 

Andre Johnson got his first TD catch of the season in week 12.  This from a pro bowler last year.  What a difference a year makes.  The Texans had a huge lead against the Ryan Fitzpatrick led Rams at 24-3, only to let it slip away to the former Harvard QB.  Take that Yale!  It’s a good thing for the Rams that Fitzpatrick was playing because he tried hard since it was his chance to showcase what ability he has. 

Mike McMahon led the Eagles to victory of Favre and the Packers!  Oh wait, the Packers are horrible this year.  So who really cares? 

Offensive Player of the Week: Once again, Ladainian Tomlinson.  184 yards rushing and 3 TDs.  Just another day at the office for LT. 

Defensive Player of the Week: Chiefs FS Greg Wesley for intercepting Tom Brady 3 times. 

Special Teams Player of the Week: Chiefs K Tynes.  He had a bunch of back to back FGs in the same quarter.  I’m not sure how many, but no one likes drunken kickers anyway. 

Joe Theismann Award for Excellence in Horrible Commentating: Darryl Johnston and Dick Stockton, as explained at the beginning of this MMQB for seemingly not watching the game they were covering as they missed many key moments.  I pity anyone who watched a close and exciting game only to have it ruined by these two morons. 

Pet Peeve of the Week: When the ‘Replay Booth’ asks for a review just because a team is trying to run off another play quickly.  If you don’t have a chance to look at the play again, then that’s too bad.  They shouldn’t just ask for a review because the offense is trying to line up quickly.  A replay should only be called if they see something questionable on a play and not just to save their asses. 

Top Ten:
1. Indianapolis Colts: Playing the Steelers on MNF.
2. Seattle Seahawks: Getting the job done but will still get no respect. 
3. Denver Broncos: Getting the job done on the road, with respect. 
4. Chicago Bears: They’ve earned my respect with their road win. 
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Not playing good teams won’t help them here.
6. Carolina Panthers: Even though they struggled against the Bills. 
7. San Diego Chargers: They either blow teams out, or make it close. 
8. Pittsburgh Steelers: In a great match up tonight on MNF. 
9. Cincinnati Bengals: Still putting up huge offensive numbers. 
10. New York Giants: The only team to lose out of my Top Ten this week.