Andy Richardson

It sometimes seems like the NFL season just flies by; we're already staring at week 15 coming up. But think of all that's happened in that time. Look closely at almost any team between 5-8 and 8-5 and you'll see ridiculous highs and lows; times when that team looked like it was a legitimate Super Bowl contender or just a collection of stumblebums. There's a three-way tie at 8-5 in the AFC East, and all of those teams were a game or two behind the last-place Bills after the first month of the season, and have enjoyed blowout wins or suffered blowout losses during the course of the year. The Jets won at Tennessee and New England, but lost at Oakland and San Francisco. They could easily be a No. 2 or 3 seed in the AFC, or out of the playoffs entirely. Three weeks left in the season, we have no idea. The season doesn't fly by; it's epic, and the best chapters are yet to come.

Eagles at Giants: The Giants are beatable. They certainly looked it today. There aren't many teams who can stop New York's running game, but Philadelphia found a way (as somebody may point out, Pittsburgh did too) and suddenly New York's offense looks pretty ordinary: marginal tight end, and what's been lauded as a very deep receiving corps might not be quite so much so with Plaxico Burress. Domenik Hixon has been great, but he dropped a perfectly thrown ball for what would have been a long touchdown today. Hixon, Amani Toomer, and Steve Smith might not be enough for this team to keep on winning if the Giants run into an NFC team in the playoffs that can stop their running game. Which, of course, they might not.

As for the Eagles, they may well end up on that annual list of "best teams not to make the playoffs," which makes for some nice talk in week 17 but is quickly forgotten once the playoffs begin. However, 10-5-1 is a real possibility for this team: Cleveland, at Washington, Dallas. I doubt the Giants really want to see them for a third time in the second round of the playoffs, but it's not out of the question. And there aren't many running backs I'd rather have in my playoff games next week than Westbrook.

Packers at Texans: I owe Matt Schaub an apology. I questioned his ability to come back from injury with a good game at Lambeau Field, and what happens? With all the momentum against him after a Slaton fumble in the red zone, he makes some amazing plays to lead the Texans down the field for a go-ahead TD. After the Texans fumbled a punt and gave up the lead, Schaub then drives the Texans down for a winning field goal on a drive that started at his own 3-yard line with a minute and a half lett. Amazing. Considering Owen Daniels fumbled away a should-have-been TD and Steve Slaton also fumbled in the red zone, the Texans should have put up 30-plus points with relative ease. Huge games for Schaub, Kevin Walter, Slaton -- really impressive. Imagine if the Texans hadn't thrown away a game or two earlier in the year (Jacksonville, Indianapolis). Maybe they could think wildcard.

As for Green Bay, suddenly their defense is tissue-paper soft, and being 5-8 and all but eliminated in the NFC North probably won't make them better. Maybe even Jacksonville can win a game next week. That won't necessarily be a bad thing for the offensive numbers from Aaron Rodgers and Ryan Grant, who had nice statistical games, but it's not going to make for happy fans in Green Bay this offseason. Huge catch by Greg Jennings to set up a TD, but even his numbers have been a little off lately.

Vikings at Lions: Admit it, a lot of people tuned in to this thing because they wanted to see either the Vikings lose (those jerks, getting the courts involved in their battle with the league) or the Lions continue their march toward history (first 0-16 team!). I have mixed feelings about the whole thing; it's not the Lions' fault they're so horrible, although at least it would really cement Matt Millen's legacy with the team. The Vikings, I don't really care about them one way or another, although I can't really begrudge them fighting these suspensions.

As for the game, the Lions were stuffed twice on 4th and 1 plays in field goal range, and they settled for field goals twice when they had first downs from inside the Vikings' 11-yard line. That is losing football. The Vikings' offense got better when Gus Frerotte was knocked out with a back injury, and at 8-5 they're in good shape to win the NFC North division -- except I honestly expect them to lose their final three games (at Arizona, and home against the Falcons and the Giants). Maybe the Giants rest players in week 17, maybe not. Disappointing outing for those who had Adrian Peterson going in a playoff game, as Chester Taylor vultured away a touchdown run.

Falcons at Saints: If you haven't seen Matt Ryan play yet this year, I strongly recommend catching a Falcons game in one of the next three weeks (maybe they'll make the playoffs, which will make it easier). Ryan was simply ad-libbing plays all over the field against New Orleans -- soft pass defense, sure, but he's been doing it all year. He's not just playing well "for a rookie," he's playing as well as almost any quarterback in the league right now. It will be interesting to see where Ryan and Roddy White go in fantasy drafts next year; probably pretty high. Ryan did throw a bad interception yesterday, and he missed rookie Harry Douglas in the back of the end zone. But he kept finding White and had some success with Michael Jenkins, too. Good players. Good team.

The Saints must be terribly frustrating to their fans. They have little chance of making the playoffs despite having a world-beating offense and a defense that's managed to make a few plays the last few games (just not enough, obviously). And Pierre Thomas -- you have to wonder if the Saints would have another win or two if he hadn't been playing behind Deuce McAllister at times earlier in the season. Thomas had a tough, gutty run to pick up the game-clinching first down, plus a huge kick return to set up the winning touchdowns. It's going to be the Thomas-Reggie Bush show there the rest of the season, and next, and I'm not certain Bush will be the more valuable of the two.

Jets-49ers: I watched all of this game, and I have to say I'm at a loss. It was quite similar to New York's earlier loss at Oakland, except it appeared worse because San Francisco's offense is functional. The 49ers had receivers running wide open on play after play, and in big situations too -- near the goal line, on third and long, over and over again. On the game-clinching touchdown San Francisco had two open receivers in the area; I'm not sure Bryant Johnson was even the intended target. Frank Gore hurt an ankle, and the 49ers didn't run well after that, but still moved the ball up and down the field. Shaun Hill looked actually good. It's amazing what facing a bad pass defense, which New York's is (and getting worse), can do for a quarterback's value. Isaac Bruce, too, looked 5 years younger (or maybe that, too, has something to do with New York's pass defense).

Can't let the Jets offense off the hook, either. For some reason Coles and Cotchery, who started the year with such promise and that huge game in week 4, have disappeared, and when they do show up at the other end of a Brett Favre pass, they've been dropping them. Has Favre hit the veteran wall? He definitely hasn't looked good the last two weeks. I've got these guys on a lot of my teams and I'm definitely going to consider other options in the playoffs next week (when the Jets will host the Bills in the swirling winds of the Meadowlands). The Jets did have a late kick return TD wiped out on a shaky penalty, but I'm not convinced they'd have stopped San Francisco's offense anyway.

Once again, it's a long season. For some players and teams, like Favre and the Jets, it's looking about one month too long right now.

Andy watches as much football as he can each Sunday. If you've got some observations of your own, feel free to add your comments below.

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