1. Norv Turner can downplay the significance of Sunday's playoff win all he wants, but his moist, red eyes didn't lie. "Probably the rain," he offered as an explanation. Uh-huh, sure, and you can go snowboarding in July at Mission Beach.

"He was brought here in an odd situation," said running back LaDainian Tomlinson. "It was: Either get us back to the playoffs and win a game, or you're a failure. Norv was given the raw end of the stick." Now that, folks, is telling it like it is.

Anyway, the victory was big for Turner and bigger for general manager A.J. Smith. Smith is the guy who stood to suffer the most after replacing Marty Schottenheimer with Turner. "To me," said Turner, "this game is about the players." No, it wasn't. This game was about Norv and A.J., and now they can exhale.

Can Mike Holmgren's Seahawks stop Brett Favre's Packers? Heck, how long will Holmgren be coaching the Seahawks? (Getty Images)

3. The biggest guessing game in Seattle has nothing to do with the Seahawks' chances in Green Bay. It's what happens to their coach after the season. Nobody is sure, with Mike Holmgren himself saying he won't know if he returns in 2008 until he sits down with his wife after the playoffs. This much, though, seems to be certain: If he stays, it's for another year, tops. And if he goes to the Super Bowl and wins, he walks away.

4. I don't know, but the more I see of the Jacksonville pass defense the more I think Tom Brady shreds the Jaguars.

5. Pittsburgh's Mike Tomlin might want to invest in a new two-point conversion chart. He should have passed on the temptation to go for two with just over 10 minutes left, especially after the Steelers were pushed back to the 12. I know because Ira Miller, former beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, practically jumped out of his seat when the Steelers left their offense on the field. He predicted it would cost them, and it did. Had they kicked the extra point then -- and after the subsequent TD -- they would have gone to overtime.

6. And while we're on the subject, what was with that Ben Roethlisberger run on third-and-6 with three minutes left? The guy throws for 337 yards, but when the Steelers absolutely, positively needed a first down to kill the clock, they go conservative and keep the ball in the hands of Roethlisberger? Somebody introduce these guys to Herman Edwards. You play to win the game!

7. Oh, so that's why the NFC South was shut out of the Pro Bowl.

8. Here's why San Diego could be the Colts' worst nightmare: Because the Bolts are confident they can win in Indianapolis. They did it in 2005, ending the Colts' 13-game winning streak, and should've done it the year before when special teams blunders sent the game to OT.

9. The knock on New England's running game is that it can't carry the Patriots when they're forced to play in January's miserable weather. OK, fine, only one question: What miserable weather? The forecast for next Saturday is partly cloudy with a high of 41 and a low of 23. Blame it on global warming, Jack Del Rio.

10. From now on, maybe Tom Coughlin should let either of the Barber twins deliver the pregame speech.

11. In case you're wondering, a source close to Andy Reid told me there's a "zero percent chance" the Philadelphia head coach steps aside. That's not good news for the rest of the NFC East.

12. The more I see of Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, the more I see a head coach waiting to happen.

13. Give me Seattle's linebackers anytime, anywhere. They're quick. They can run. They can pressure the pocket. In short, I haven't seen three others who are better.

14. Here's a suggestion: Cam Cameron as the 49ers' next offensive coordinator. He runs Norv Turner's system, which is the only one that did anything for Alex Smith.

15. Let's hear it for Coughlin. So he's not the most likeable coach on the planet. Big deal. He knew he was in trouble this season, so he acted to save himself and his team. He changed his coordinators. He reinvented himself off the field, opening his door to the local media and to his players. And he pushed the Giants to the playoffs for the third straight season. More important, he won his first playoff game with Big Blue. He not only stays, he almost surely gains another contract extension.

Five guys I wouldn't want to be

• The guy who voted against Brady for MVP.
• Shaun Suisham. You want your kicks to decide games, but not for the other team.
• Anyone in the way of Brandon Jacobs.
• Any member of the Jacksonville secondary. Just a suggestion, but I'd pack the asbestos suits for Foxborough, guys.
• Antonio Gates. He might be forced to sit out Sunday's game at Indianapolis because of a dislocated big toe on his left foot.

Just asking ...

• Don't you think Dallas was pulling -- and pulling hard -- for Tampa Bay?
• Any chance Dick LeBeau leaves for Arizona to rejoin Ken Whisenhunt?
• Anyone for an Eli-Peyton Super Bowl?
• Would Tennessee have been better off playing Kerry Collins instead of Vince Young?
• What happened to that vaunted Tampa Bay pass defense?

Five things I like

•  Holmgren on replay challenges. Counting Saturday's game, he's 5-for-6 this season.
• The Giants anywhere but Giants Stadium.
• Eli Manning bumping Roger Clemens off the back page of the Post and Daily News.
• Norv Turner clearing his biggest playoff hurdle.
• Matt Hasselbeck. There is no better interview in the game.

Five things I don't

• Stephon Heyer vs. Patrick Kerney.
• Washington's special teams. The punter doesn't know the value of hang time. The kicker can't hit a 30-yard field goal. And there are costly penalties everywhere. In short, special teams crippled the Redskins.
• Roethlisberger's pass protection. He has a better chance of not getting hurt riding his motorcycle.
• The Seahawks in Lambeau Field. There's something about not winning a playoff game on the road in over two decades that bothers me.
• Peyton Manning's chances of throwing six interceptions again against San Diego.