Bring the Pain Week 12

Going into Monday's game against the Steelers, I wasn't sure. But barring a late-season bench-the-starters gambit by Tony Dungy, I don't see how the Colts lose another game. With the Colts' undefeated season up against Ben Roethlisberger's never-lost-to-anyone-but-the-Patriots streak, something had to give, and what gave was the Steelers. My favorite part was Marvin Harrison beating Pittsburgh cornerback Ike Taylor by about 20 feet for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage, and the two players then brawling for nearly the entire first quarter.

Don't Cry For Jay Feely

Unlike with the Jets' Doug Brien in the playoffs last year, don't expect Giants kicker Jay Feely to lose his job after missing multiple game-winning field goals in a crucial loss. He may need an armed police escort when he returns to New York, but…he'll stay on the roster. For another week, anyway.

And yes, if it weren't for that pesky East Coast Bias, you'd be hearing a hell of a lot more about the Seahawks than you are. How many of you had watched more than five minutes of a Seahawks game before Sunday?

Sharper Image

The Minnesota Vikings have gone from a laughingstock to the hottest team in the league, winning their fourth consecutive game by beating the Browns to move their record, improbably, to above .500. Their defense, led by resurgent veteran Darren Sharper, has gelled into an elite unit, and Marcus Robinson caught three touchdown passes, which is certainly more than Randy Moss has managed lately. I was at the game, and it was at some point in the third quarter that I realized that both of the over-35 journeyman quarterbacks in the game—Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer—have won Super Bowls in the last few years.

"Those Drugs Belonged To My Brother/ Cousin/Some Guy"

I believe that was one of the categories in the "Week in Sports Crime" feature in our former sister paper New York Sports Express. Of course, it was Michael Irvin's friend's crack pipe. I believe that. Sure I do. After the past year of baseball players arguing that they had no idea, honest, how those steroids got in their system, I was almost nostalgic for the "how'd those drugs get in my car?" defense.

Sacking Mooch

Following the Falcons' drubbing of the Lions on Thanksgiving Day, Detroit fired coach Steve Mariucci—for some reason leaving in place teamÊpresident Matt Millen, whose next astute high-draft pick, tradeÊor free-agent signing will be his first. Perhaps the only silver lining is that the retention of Millen, whose career mark since taking over the Lions is 20-55, keeps him from returning to his previous career as a Fox broadcaster. 'Cause if you remember him doing games, Millen the Broadcaster makes Millen the Executive look like an outright genius.

Mooch will be replaced in Detroit by former Bears head man Dick Jauron, who will now be given a chance to fail with two of the four NFC North clubs. Perhaps next year the Vikings or Packers will give him the opportunity for a trifecta.

Next Week:

The Bengals try to break their can't-beat-a-good-team streak in Pittsburgh, flawed NFC East leaders square off when the Giants meet the Cowboys and the Seahawks have a chance to officially eliminate the Eagles on Monday night.