1. I don't know what the spread is for Sunday's Jets-Patriots game, but I do know this: It can't be too big.

2. Here's another guarantee: Pittsburgh safety Anthony Smith never gets an audition for the role of Nostradamus.

Jamal Lewis and Patrick Kerney make the Cleveland and Seattle front offices look smart. (AP)

4. Green Bay is a legitimate Super Bowl threat, and I'll tell you why: Ryan Grant. Suddenly, the Packers have the running threat they were missing the first half of the season.

5. We always talk about how necessary it is for a quarterback to become a pocket passer; only in Vince Young's case let's make an exception. Tennessee must cut this guy loose and let him run. A pocket passer he ain't. Not now.

6. I swear I've seen that New England flea flicker before. Oh, yeah, it was Pittsburgh -- Pittsburgh -- in the 2005 playoffs against Cincinnati.

7. No, there is no cold war between Philip Rivers and LaDainian Tomlinson. I know what the cameras showed. I also know how the two responded. "I think they're reading too much into it," L.T. said. I'm with L.T. on this one.

8. Congratulations, Phil Savage. The Cleveland GM was right, and I was wrong about running back Jamal Lewis. That game-clinching touchdown where he ran through everyone but the parking lot attendants at Giants Stadium convinced me.

9. Maybe the best free-agent signing was Seattle's Patrick Kerney. All he has done is produced 10 sacks and forced three fumbles in the Seahawks' last five games -- all of which they won.

10. Yeah, I love what's going on with Tony Romo, too, but when Wade Phillips describes Romo's comebacks as "Elway-esque," he loses me. I mean, John Elway went to five Super Bowls; Tony Romo lost the only playoff game he started. Maybe we can talk like this in five years, but, for the moment, let's reign in the hyperbole, Wade.

11. I listen to what Miami players say about their head coach, then I watch how they play, and my only question is: How in the world can Cam Cameron save himself? All together now: Cam must scram ... Cam must scram ...

12. Yep, the Giants were lucky, and it's not because David Akers clanked that potential game-tying field goal off the right upright. It's because they scored a go-ahead touchdown after Brian Westbrook fumbled, something that happens about as often as it snows in July.

13. The Minnesota Vikings are pointed to the playoffs, and it's not all because of rookie Adrian Peterson. Hey, the guy ran for 3 yards Sunday. But look what's happened to Tarvaris Jackson: He's beginning to look like a quarterback. Honest. Over the past month he has completed 74 percent of his passes with four touchdowns -- or two more than he had the rest of the season.

14. San Diego left tackle Marcus McNeill was one of the game's top rookies a year ago, but his play has -- shall we say? -- declined, and I offer Kyle Vanden Bosch's three sacks as evidence. Fortunately for San Diego, McNeill got his act together in the fourth quarter. "It was real comprehensive," coach Norv Turner said of the adjustment. "We grabbed (McNeil) on the sideline and said, 'If you don't block this sucker we ain't gonna have a chance to win.'" Oh.

15. If Indianapolis has a concern it's not Marvin Harrison; it's those punt and kickoff coverage teams. Pee-yew. That's where someone like New England, Pittsburgh or, yep, Cleveland can exploit the Colts in the playoffs.

Just asking ...

• What should Chicago do for a quarterback next year?
• What happens first: A Kansas City win in Denver or an Oscar for The Rock?
• Wait a minute, did that "Citizen Eco-Drive" commercial really say Eli Manning is "unstoppable?"
• What in the world got into Denver's run defense?
• Be honest now: Isn't it still really about New England and Indianapolis?

Five things I like

• The progress of Colts rookie Anthony Gonzalez. One reason we don't make a bigger issue of Harrison's absence is the play of people like Reggie Wayne and Gonzalez. Psssst, Baltimore, listen up: It's OK to cover Anthony on deep balls.
• Anybody named Williams on Minnesota. Hey, Pat and Kevin had interceptions on the same afternoon, and the odds are better that Johan Santana is dealt to the Tampa Bay Rays.
• Sage Rosenfels as my backup quarterback. The guy keeps producing big performances.
• Plaxico Burress against the Eagles. In six games against Philadelphia since he joined the Giants, Burress has four TDs and four 100-yard performances.
• Marcus Trufant as Kurt Warner's favorite target.

Five things I don't

• Tom Brady throwing passes with two minutes left in a 21-point blowout. What happens if he gets hurt? That's a dangerous game you're playing, Bill Belichick.
• LaDainian Tomlinson taking a personal foul.
• San Francisco on offense.
• Kyle Boller's chances of running for mayor in Baltimore.
• The Jets' chances of surviving next weekend without asbestos.

My top five

1. New England
2. Dallas
3. Indianapolis
4. Green Bay
5. Jacksonville

My bottom five

32. Miami
31. San Francisco
30. Atlanta
29. N.Y. Jets
28. St. Louis