Sometimes I try to watch a bunch of different games but get sucked into one that's so compelling I can't turn away. Lately those games have involved Dallas, including yesterday. All I know is that when Dallas failed to run down the clock on what turned out to be its next-to-last possession and then kick what proved to be a useless field goal, I said, they're gonna lose. And so they did.

Cowboys at Lions: It was funny how this game was billed as Dez Bryant versus Calvin Johnson -- how often does it actually pan out that both guys have huge games? It certainly did here. Bryant caught only 3 passes, but two went for touchdowns, both things of beauty. One was a pretty unbelievable one-handed touchdown catch, you've probably seen the clip. Later he catches a short pass and just outruns everyone. Whoa. And then he exploded at his teammates on the sideline, I think he said something to Jason Witten like, "You're killing my fantasy team this week!" ... Of course, the big story here was look out, Flipper Anderson. Calvin Johnson is coming for you. I remember watching the Anderson game way back when. I honestly thought Calvin would break it today; only an unlikely 40-yard reception by Kris Durham prevented it. Incredible game for Calvin, incredible game period. Johnson, by the way, could have easily come up with about 4 TDs in this game, too; stopped just short of the goal line on a couple of occasions.

49ers vs. Jaguars in Merry Olde England: I think the Lions went 0-16 about 4 years ago, so obviously I remember it pretty well. That team wasn't nearly as bad as Jacksonville. They are just godawful. I suppose they'll probably win a game at some point, but the defense is so bad and the talented wide receivers can't throw the ball to themselves, so maybe not. Just terrible. Not sure I can even start Justin Blackmon anymore. ... Frank Gore and Colin Kaepernick both running really well. You don't want to overrate it, because, you know, Jacksonville. Picked the wrong week to bench Kaepernick. ... Vernon Davis wasn't even covered on his touchdown. Nearly caught a second one later. Kind of have to start him every week right now. ... Story of the Jaguars: On a 4th and goal, Chad Henne completes a pass to Maurice Jones-Drew. At the 6, with three tacklers between him and the end zone. Guh.

Browns at Kansas City: Kansas City keeps winning, but this one wasn't pretty. Alex Smith's limitations are going to make this offense a ripe target for some opponent, eventually. Smith at one point missed an open Anthony Fasano for a TD, but later threw a pair to a fullback (a little checkdown) and Dexter McCluster (uncovered). Fair play to the guy, and he would have been a better bye week fill-in than who I picked. But the magic will run out hard. ... Flea-flicker touchdown to Josh Gordon. Later Kansas City tries a flea-flicker, which gives Browns a gift sack. ... Nice little touchdown reception out of passing formation to Fozzy Whittaker. Got some quickness to him. I like him as a bottom of the bench stash for when Willis McGahee turns to dust on the field. ... Brutal game for Davone Bess. Costly fumble on punt return. On Cleveland's final gasp he had a chance to convert a fourth down with a catch and couldn't hang on.

Dolphins at Patriots: Still some life in those Patriots. Miami got up early, Patriots came back big late. ... Brandon Gibson touchdown reception. Looked like the play probably designed for Mike Wallace, but he got bumped out of bounds, so Gibson came over and caught it. Coverage issues for New England with Talib out. Gibson ends up blowing out his knee, a bigger loss for Miami than you might think. Maybe the Browns will send them Davone Bess. ... Brandon Bolden touchdown run, conventional running formation, but he was still on the field and they went hurry up from previous play. Still, it's why I've been shopping Stevan Ridley lately. Ridley was benched early for LeGarrette Blount, maybe a discipline issue of some kind. Blount early scored a touchdown, then got stuffed in backfield. Not at all a good short-yardage guy, even though he's big. Ridley returns and scores a touchdown. Unpredictable Patriots. ... Patriots lost tackle Sebastian Vollmer, and Brady under siege. Sacked twice on a series. What is it with top quarterbacks losing their tackles this season. Have there ever been so many lineman injuries in a season?

Bills at Saints: The Saints are really good. They blew that game at New England, their only hiccup all season. They just mowed through Buffalo, beating them short, long, and all over the place. And their defense isn't bad, either. ... Thaddeus Lewis has some game. Or maybe it's just the offense making him look pretty good. Whatever, he made some nice throws. Too loose with the football, but he can move the offense. ... Lance Moore touchdown. Actually started him in a league. Perfect throw. Didn't get a lot of looks, but neither did Kenny Stills, who caught 2 long touchdowns. Kind of a problem with the Saints. You start Stills next week and he gets shutout. ... Oh yeah, Jimmy Graham. Didn't play much, but caught 2 TDs. If he's in excruciating pain, he's doing a good job of hiding it. I'll be starting him next week.

Giants at Eagles: Not to get all chippy, but this is why injury-prone players get that label and are available late in drafts. Michael Vick is hurt again, and if you started him, you got burned. Might be down for a while, and the Eagles might have to start turnover-machine (because "prone" just doesn't seem to cut it) Matt Barkley. Stick a fork in them, and it's a concern for the fantasy value of everyone else on the team, as well. ... Giants, uh, their offense still has some problems. But they've got two wins, they've got a bye, and after it they'll have Andre Brown back. So who knows? Still some soft defenses, and apparently only one decent team in the NFC East. Couple of near misses: Martellus Bennett caught a ball out of the back of the end zone. Eli Manning to Hakeem Nicks, perfect pass corner of the end zone, Nicks couldn't get both feet in. That kind of year for the offense thus far. Maybe the bye comes at a good time.

Jets at Bengals: When the Jets are bad, they're very very bad. Tuned this game out early, kind of like the Jets did. But, great numbers for Andy Dalton and a breakout game for Marvin Jones. Wow. Kind of liked him coming out of college, but they drafted him after Mohamed Sanu and he's appeared to behind him most of the last two years. Not anymore. Yes, he's a Week 9 add. ... Bengals are pretty good. Didn't run on the Jets, but clearly that's not how to attack this team. The pass, though, that can work well at times.

Steelers at Raiders: This game was pretty much as we expected, other than Terrelle Pryor taking the first snap for a 93-yard touchdown run. How does that happen? It was enough for Oakland to get a lead they never gave up, even with doing very little on offense the rest of the way. Good defense the Steelers have, but that's probably it for them. Pretty close anyway. ... Haven't checked the wire, has Shaun Suisham been cut yet? Missed two field goals he should have made in a season-killing 3-point loss. Kickers don't often come back from that.

Falcons at Cardinals: Speaking of finished teams, Atlanta. We did warn you about Steven Jackson. But nobody could have foreseen this train wreck. Matt Ryan and Harry Douglas are helping you, Drew Davis finished with some functional fill-in numbers this week, Tony Gonzalez probably has a good game or two left in him. But it's over. ... Andre Ellington! I'm sure Arizona will still try to "limit his touches" and all that, but they can't minimize his role too much in favor of Rashard Mendenhall or whatever other stiff they trundle out there. I mean, right? Kid looked great, and there's Larry and Floyd catching touchdowns too. Don't look now, but maybe Arizona makes some noise in the wild-card race.

Washington at Broncos: For about a half, you watched this thinking, Are Peyton's ankles bothering him? Is it over for the players who carried my team the first half of the season? And then they exploded the rest of the way for their usual kind of numbers, and get to enjoy a bye week coming up. ... Julius Thomas injury, hopefully isn't serious. ... Same deal with RGIII, though they say he was lifted for precautionary reasons. Washington's offense is going to have some good games, but that defense is hopeless. Welcome to the new-look NFC East.

Packers at Vikings: Aaron Rodgers is really on his game right now. The long touchdown to Jordy Nelson was one of the prettiest throws you'll ever see. He's missing a couple of big receivers and it really doesn't matter. Hope you didn't start any Green Bay tight ends. There's no Finley type replacement. ... Two running backs who are awesome to watch were in this game. Peterson, obviously, with his typical punishing touchdown run leaving footprints on defenders. And Eddie Lacy looks the kind of back who will be fun to see play for years. He runs with a lot of energy and usually gets the better of collisions. Nice choice there by Green Bay.

Monday, Monday: The game is in St. Louis, which generally makes it a lesser matchup for Seattle, but the Rams are pretty bad, they're starting Kellen Clemens at quarterback, and presumably most St. Louis sports fans will be watching Game 5 of the World Series instead. Marshawn Lynch, who can help put me over 200 points in the Super League this week, should be the main story here. Give me Seahawks 27, Rams 17, and it might not even be that close.