Maclin voted Week 16 Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week

Voters on NFL.com have made their choice. Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin of the Philadelphia Eagles is the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week for games played on Dec. 25-28.

Maclin made six catches for 92 yards, including a 27-yard grab along the sideline that set up the game-winning field goal in the Eagles' 30–27 victory over the Denver Broncos.

Maclin was selected from among five finalists through fan votes on NFL.com/rookies. The other finalists were wide receivers Austin Collie of the Indianapolis Colts and Mohamed Massaquoi of the Cleveland Browns, cornerback Chris Owens of the Atlanta Falcons and linebacker Brian Cushing of the Houston Texans.

After the regular season, five players will be nominated for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year honors. Fans can vote for the winner on NFL.com/rookies throughout the month of January. The winner will be announced at a press conference at Super Bowl XLIV in South Florida.

This is Pepsi’s eighth year as the official soft drink sponsor of the NFL and the fifth year that Pepsi will present the NFL Rookie of the Week and NFL Rookie of the Year awards.

Brian Cushing, LB, Houston Texans

Cushing made nine tackles, had one sack and one interception in the Texans' 27–20 win over the Miami Dolphins.

Austin Collie, WR, Indianapolis Colts

Collie led the Colts with 94 receiving yards on six catches in the Colts' 29–15 loss to the New York Jets.

Jeremy Maclin, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Maclin made six catches for 92 yards, including a 27-yard grab right next to the sideline to set up the game-winning field goal in the Eagles' 30-27 victory vs. the Denver Broncos.

Mohamed Massaquoi, WR, Cleveland Browns

Massaquoi had three receptions for 61 yards, including a second-quarter touchdown, in the Browns' 23–9 win against the Oakland Raiders.

Chris Owens, CB, Atlanta Falcons

Owens made three tackles and had one interception in the Falcons' 31–3 rout of the Buffalo Bills.

Jets CB Strickland ruled out vs. Bengals; P Weatherford might sit

Cornerback Donald Strickland will miss the New York Jets' Sunday night game against the Cincinnati Bengals because of a strained quadriceps, and punter Steve Weatherford is questionable to play with a tweaked hamstring.

Jets coach Rex Ryan said Weatherford was a full participant in practice Friday, but injured his right hamstring. Ryan said the Jets will work out other punters Saturday as a backup plan.

"The good thing about playing the late game is you can spend as much time to heal as possible," Ryan said. "We'll see what the doctors and trainers think and how Steve feels."

Kicker Jay Feely would be the emergency punter if Weatherford plays and aggravates the injury Sunday. The Jets would clinch an AFC wild-card playoff berth if they beat the Bengals, who already have won the AFC North.

Strickland was injured last Sunday while sacking Indianapolis Colts backup quarterback Curtis Painter. Strickland already has missed six games this season with other injuries.

"Sometimes you have years like that," Ryan said of Strickland. "We're hoping that if we can get through this game without him, that he will be ready to go next week."

Defensive end Shaun Ellis is questionable for the Jets after being sent home with an illness.

Cowboys can earn NFC East title, avoid decade-long drought

Ten hot topics for Week 17 Week 17 represents the last chance to make the postseason, be a spoiler or save a coach's job. There is a lot to play for, and contrary to what the Colts are doing by shutting players down, many teams will play to win. 1. Can Dallas finish strong? The Cowboys are one of the storied franchises in the NFL, but haven't won in Week 17 since 1999. They have one last chance to end that streak and need a victory more than ever. The Eagles come to Dallas with the NFC East title on the line. 2. Spoiler in the Cards? Last week, seven teams with nothing to play for but pride had the chance to be a spoiler. I thought the Panthers had the best chance to deliver and they did with a rout of the Giants. This week, the Panthers can make the Saints miserable but can't impact their playoff situation. So it's down to the Raiders hosting the Ravens. Oakland did it last year when they knocked the Bucs out of the playoffs in Week 17 and got their coach and general manager fired. The Raiders have wins over the Eagles, Steelers, Broncos and Bengals this year so it is possible. Nam Y. Huh / Associated Press Brett Favre and the Vikings need a win to have a shot at earning a bye. 3. Time to pick it up No teams have more to be concerned about than New Orleans and Minnesota. Both teams seem to have lost their mojo and need a win before the playoffs start, especially the Vikings, who are playing for a bye. I'd like to see both teams play their starters for the entire game and get back to the high scoring and solid defense that were their trademarks for much of the season. 4. Just play the game! I love the way the Steelers go about their business. They let their play do the talking most of the time, but that wasn't the case when LaMarr Woodley said the Patriots and Bengals would "lay down" this weekend to keep the Steelers out of the playoffs. Pittsburgh needs to win a tough game in Miami to even keep its slim playoff hopes alive. The Steelers only have themselves to blame for being in this position with losses to the Chiefs, Raiders and Browns during a five-game losing streak. Now their terrific young linebacker thinks the Bengals and Patriots will lose on purpose to keep the once mighty Steelers out of the playoffs. Don't think so! 5. Source of motivation The Bengals already locked up a division crown and could earn the No. 3 seed. They didn't have one player make the Pro Bowl and that's the first time this decade a 10-win team in the playoffs wasn't represented. It is hard to understand how this could happen. The only other AFC team without a Pro Bowler was 3-12 Kansas City. I hope the Bengals take their frustration out on their opponents starting with the Jets and well into the playoffs. Wade Payne / Associated Press Titans RB Chris Johnson can make history in the season finale. 6. Chasing milestones Three players to keep an eye on are Titans running back Chris Johnson, Browns running back Jerome Harrison and 49ers tight end Vernon Davis. Johnson needs 75 yards to break Marshall Faulk's NFL record of 2,429 total yards in a season and I think he gets it. Johnson is 128 yards rushing short of 2,000 and should get that as well. Finally, he needs 234 rushing yards to break the single-season mark. Since he has never rushed for that much in a game he should fall short, although he is facing a Seattle team that has played like the season ended weeks ago. As for Harrison, he has exploded with 434 yards rushing in the past two weeks and needs 214 yards to have the greatest three-game stretch in league history. In 1976, O.J. Simpson had 647 yards rushing over three games. Davis was thrown off the field just a year ago by his coach. This season, he's a captain of the 49ers and needs two touchdowns to break the all-time tight end touchdown record of 13 held by Antonio Gates. 7. How have Super Bowl winners finished? 7. How have Super Bowl winners finished? They usually win games in December. Since 2000, the eventual Super Bowl champs have gone 31-10 in the last month of the regular season. Only the 2006 Colts had a losing record (2-3) before they won the Lombardi Trophy. At the end Sunday, look back at the December record of the playoff teams for a hint about what's to come in February. 8. Don't expect a lot of openings Week 17 games are always followed by several coaches being fired. As usual, there is much speculation about the potential openings this year. There's little doubt Jim Zorn will get the news Monday in Washington, but don't be surprised if many owners resist the temptation to fire their coach. There is labor uncertainty and most owners won't want to pay the fired coach as well as a new coach, especially if a lockout becomes a reality in 2011. The one driving force that could see a coach or two getting a pink slip is a large number of no shows at a game. Check the attendance of the games where coaches are in trouble. 9. That's Moore like it John Fox has a very bright light shining in his locker room in Matt Moore, who looks like the guy to rebuild this franchise around. Moore has one more chance to solidify his position and faces the Saints without WR Steve Smith. A win in this game would be a big statement. Moore is 3-1 as a starter compared to Jake Delhomme's 4-7 mark. In his four starts, Moore has also bested Delhomme in several other key areas, including completion percentage (63.1 percent to 55.5), passing yards per game (207 to 183) and passer rating (106.8 to 59.4). 10. Beyond the playoffs The Falcons are out of the playoff picture but are driven by the opportunity to have their first back-to-back winning seasons in team history. It will be no easy task as they head to Tampa Bay. The Bucs beat the Saints last week and feel like they have to win to save their young coach's job. The Texans have more to play for than their playoff hopes. They are looking for their first winning season in franchise history. Brian Cushing and Eric Winston both told me this week that they want to be part of the team that did it first and they want it now.

Titans DT Brown not able to play in season finale vs. Seahawks

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Titans defensive tackle Tony Brown will miss Sunday's season finale against the Seattle Seahawks because of a knee problem.

Brown, who has five sacks, originally injured his quadriceps during a Dec. 13 game against the St. Louis Rams. He said Friday that blood from that injury has leaked into the knee area, causing pain and swelling.

"It's just real stiff, and the range of motion is really hard to get," Brown said. "I had to warm it up, but it's been stiff on me."

Brown said he hasn't been feeling like himself the past few games.

"I would definitely be hurting the team if I go out there and can't finish the game," he said.

Titans coach Jeff Fisher said it's possible that Brown could need cleanup surgery after the season.

Meanwhile, center Kevin Mawae, recuperating from an elbow injury, fully practiced Friday and is probable to play against the Seahawks. Cornerback Ryan Mouton was limited in practice and is questionable.

Offensive tackle Troy Kropog didn't practice and is questionable with a calf injury.

Cribbs believes Holmgren will uphold Browns' promises of new deal

BEREA, Ohio -- Josh Cribbs is eager to meet the new president of the Cleveland Browns. Mike Holmgren can write the large check that Cribbs can't wait to cash.

Cribbs said Friday that he's still confident he'll have a new contract soon, despite a recent front-office shakeup that has delayed negotiations while giving full authority to Holmgren.

Cribbs, who has been asking for a new deal since training camp, said a few weeks ago that the team assured him something would be done by the end of the season. With the Browns' final game two days away, that doesn't seem likely. But Cribbs said Holmgren already has been in contact with his agent, J.R. Rickert.

"I'm pretty sure he (Holmgren) is going to start off on a good foot and take care of me," Cribbs said. "He knows football. I've got a lot of faith in him."

A call to Rickert by The Associated Press on Friday wasn't returned.

Cribbs says he has twice been promised by the Browns that he will receive a new deal, but he's still playing on a six-year, $6.77 million contract that has three years remaining on it. Cribbs said Browns owner Randy Lerner told him after last season that he would receive a new deal, then the team started over by firing general manager Phil Savage and coach Romeo Crennel.

Browns coach Eric Mangini wanted to see what he had in Cribbs before giving him a new contract, then watched Cribbs become the most valuable player on a 4-11 team entering Sunday's finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Earlier this season, Cribbs became the NFL's career leader in kickoff returns for touchdowns with eight.

"It's going to get done," Cribbs said of his contract. "I'd prefer it to be done before the end of the season, but beggars can't be choosers. I've waited this long."

Holmgren will go to work on fixing the Browns next week, when he is expected to arrive in Cleveland. Holmgren hasn't decided whether Mangini will return for a second season, but he said he wouldn't need long to make up his mind.

Cribbs and Mangini were at odds during training camp because of the contract, but the current three-game winning streak has won over the Browns' most dynamic player. Cribbs believes Mangini deserves another year in Cleveland.

"I think he's done a very good job of turning this program around," Cribbs said. "It'd be crazy (for Holmgren) to say, 'You're coach of the Browns, I won a Super Bowl, you're gone.' C'mon now, one year? I believe he deserves another year or so to turn this program around and get us winning games. I'd love to see him back."

Young studs of today are the Pro Bowlers of tomorrow

Instead of looking at those players who were snubbed from the initial Pro Bowl voting -- some of those "snubs" will still compete with vacancies certain as Super Bowl participants won't play -- I've decided to take a different route. I want to project the next wave of Pro Bowlers, guys who didn't get in because they're too green or the guys in front of them are too established.

It will be tough for a lot of these players to reach the Pro Bowl anytime soon because young players, like NFC defensive tackles Darnell Dockett and Jay Ratliff, are going to be hard to unseat, as will AFC offensive tackles Ryan Clady and Joe Thomas. There is always some change, though, and these will be some of the position players waiting in the wings.

NFC Offense

Quarterbacks: Matt Ryan, Falcons; Josh Freeman, Buccaneers: It will take Freeman longer to crack the roster, considering he doesn't quite have the weapons that Ryan has. However, Freeman looks like the real deal and if he continues to improve, he could emerge as the best of the three quarterbacks taken in the first round this season (Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez being the other two). Ryan isn't far away from joining Aaron Rodgers and Tony Romo as regulars. He didn't have as big of a year as he would have liked this season -- partially because he was injured -- but a better running game, the return of wide receiver Harry Douglas from injury and another receiving threat are on the way next season.

Running backs: Jonathan Stewart, Panthers; Beanie Wells, Cardinals: Minnesota's Adrian Peterson and Stewart's teammate, DeAngelo Williams, could be in place for a few years, but this position is going to be fluid. Stewart has been a monster while hurt and sharing carries. At some point, he is going to be healthy and break through and make his presence a must. While it is hard to imagine a running back with the Cardinals ever breaking 1,000 yards soon, Matt Leinart -- or someone else -- will be taking over for Kurt Warner at quarterback in the next year or two, meaning the offensive philosophy could change, especially if Anquan Boldin is allowed to leave.

Wide receivers: Greg Jennings, Packers; Michael Crabtree, 49ers; Jeremy Maclin, Eagles: Larry Fitzgerald, DeSean Jackson and Miles Austin could be staples for a little while, but these other three are going to be constantly nipping. Where's Percy Harvin and Sidney Rice? Once Brett Favre goes, so too could their big numbers. Systems are in place at the other stops and though San Francisco is run-based, Crabtree has showed us in a short time that he is the real deal.

Tight ends: Brent Celek, Eagles; Kellen Winslow, Buccaneers: The Cowboys' Jason Witten could be in place for a few more years, while San Francisco's Vernon Davis should have more than a five-year run, so Celek could get bypassed for another year or two -- maybe. Celek has 69 catches after 15 games on a team that spreads the ball around. He is a legit red zone threat (eight touchdowns) and can run after the catch. "Consistency was my main goal and I think I've done that," Celek said. Winslow had a great year in the shadows of repeated losses. As Freeman improves, so will Winslow, a true baller when you get down to it.

Line: Donald Penn, T, Buccaneers; Harvey Dahl, G, Falcons; Jason Smith, T, Rams; Phil Loadholt, T, Vikings; Jason Brown, C, Rams: Most of these guys played for bad teams this season but the development of Smith is very promising, and Brown is a monster at center. Penn is a fringe Pro Bowler already and Dahl is a nasty mauler who defenders (and 49ers coach Mike Singletary) can't stand.

X-Factor: Harvin, Vikings: Just find a way to get him the ball -- returns, handoffs, receptions. It doesn't matter.

NFC Defense

Ends: Calais Campbell, Cardinals; Cullen Jenkins, Packers: A spot could open up next season if Carolina's Julius Peppers jumps to the AFC in free agency. Campbell and Jenkins technically are 3-4 ends, so they're not supposed to put up big numbers, but they have -- especially Campbell, who is a burgeoning star.

Tackles: B.J. Raji, Packers: Sedrick Ellis, Saints: Both young players have been bothered by injuries, but each is dynamically strong and athletic -- especially Raji. Since he's been healthy, Green Bay's defensive interior has been much better. Ratliff and Dockett have two spaces locked up the next few years. But one of these guys could move into a third spot.

Inside linebackers: Curtis Lofton, Falcons; James Laurinaitis, Rams: Both of these guys are hunters who make plays all over the field and cover up mistakes by others. If they're ever protected by some sound tackles up front, they are going to step into the tier of Patrick Willis, Jon Beason and Jonathan Vilma. Vikings rookie Jasper Brinkley, a thumper, could get there too.

Outside linebackers: Clay Matthews, Packers; Brian Orakpo, Redskins; Aaron Curry, Seahawks; Anthony Spencer, Cowboys: Orakpo has already earned a Pro Bowl berth as a rookie, but he will be in place for awhile. Matthews is a bona fide playmaker, and Curry is on the uptick. This year's rookie linebacker class was as good as advertised. Spencer has blown up this season and arguably could have joined teammates Ratliff and DeMarcus Ware in the Pro Bowl.

Defensive backs: Aqib Talib, CB, Buccaneers; Mike Jenkins, CB, Cowboys; Tramon Williams, CB, Packers; Thomas DeCoud, S, Falcons: This group isn't quite ready, but their ability to cover and show excellent range will make them household names. They also have good ball skills, which separates great defensive backs from good ones.

AFC Offense

Quarterbacks: Chad Henne, Dolphins; Joe Flacco, Ravens; Mark Sanchez, Jets; Matt Schaub, Texans: It's going to be tough to get through Tom Brady, Philip Rivers and Peyton Manning for a few years, but Schaub is knocking on the door, as is Flacco. Henne and Sanchez are on the right curve. Both Henne and Sanchez could hit some snags in year No. 2 as starters, but they will have better pieces to help them through.

Running backs: Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers; Jerome Harrison, Browns; Jamaal Charles, Chiefs: This trio could be longtime bridesmaids to Chris Johnson, Ray Rice and Maurice Jones-Drew, all players with four years or less in the league. However, they are just scratching the surface of what they can do, and Charles is super explosive.

Wide receivers: Vincent Jackson, Chargers; Santonio Holmes, Steelers; Mike Wallace, Steelers: Holmes and Wallace have already formed a dynamic tandem and made Pittsburgh regret/forget using a second-round pick on Limas Sweed. They also will benefit with Pittsburgh going with a more pass-first offense. Jackson already is one of the top wide receivers in the NFL. He's just in a crowded group that includes Brandon Marshall, Andre Johnson and Reggie Wayne.

Tight ends: Dustin Keller, Jets; Owen Daniels, Texans; Jared Cook, Titans: Daniels' injury took him out of contention this season, but he's a stud. Keller is going to start posting better numbers with Sanchez's development and incoming help on the outside. Cook is a phenomenal athlete but needs to learn to mix it up on running plays. He is a promising receiving target. Too bad for all these guys that Antonio Gates and Dallas Clark will hold spots for the next few Pro Bowls.

Line: Michael Oher, T, Ravens; Jared Gaither, T, Ravens; Ben Grubbs, G, Ravens: This group might have a hard time getting to the Pro Bowl because of all the youth already on the AFC offensive line, but Baltimore has built a formidable wall that will keep it in the playoff hunt for years. Oher could be a standout on either side.

X-Factor: Josh Cribbs, Browns: Other than Philly's Jackson and Tennessee's Johnson, the most dynamic player in the NFL.

AFC Defense

Ends: Tyson Jackson, Chiefs; Michael Johnson, Bengals; Ziggy Hood, Steelers: These are developmental players who are years away, but each showed enough promise to emerge into standouts. Johnson could be a John Abraham-like situational pass rusher.

Tackle: Tony Brown, Titans: The fifth-year anchor eased the departure of Albert Haynesworth and continued his trend of getting to the quarterback and forcing turnovers. His time is near.

Inside linebackers: David Harris, Jets; Rey Maualuga, Bengals; Jerod Mayo, Patriots: With Ray Lewis nearing the end of his career, a spot will come open soon. It is shameful that Harris didn't get more love for the Pro Bowl voting. He is a man who stirs the Jets' defense. Maualuga is a big-time hitter who will be a monster once he becomes more disciplined. Mayo is established; he just needs to stay healthy.

Outside linebackers: Tamba Hali, Chiefs; Larry English, Chargers: This will be the toughest position to crack, especially with fringe bystanders like Calvin Pace and LaMarr Woodley next in line, and rookie Brian Cushing making a grand entrance. Even so, Hali was a bright spot on a bad team, and the promising English could soon receive Shawne Merriman's reps.

Defensive backs: Vontae Davis, CB, Dolphins; Brandon Meriweather, S, Patriots; Antoine Bethea, S, Colts; Quentin Jammer, CB, Chargers; Antonio Cromartie, CB, Chargers; Jonathan Joseph, CB, Bengals; Leon Hall, CB Bengals: This is a huge group, but it's a solid one. It is going to be tough for any safety to make it past Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed the next few seasons, but Meriweather is knocking on the door and Bethea is a step ahead of him. One of Cincinnati's corners should have made it to the Pro Bowl this season, and the same argument could be made about San Diego. Davis is a big, tough, all-around corner who is a few years away from being ready, but is on the right path.

Rookie LB Harris becomes 19th Bills player to hit injured reserve

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills signed offensive tackle Nick Hennessey off their practice squad Friday and placed rookie linebacker Nic Harris on season-ending injured reserve leading up to this weekend's season finale against the Indianapolis Colts.

Harris becomes the 19th Bills player placed on IR after he sustained a knee injury against the Atlanta Falcons last weekend. His injury reduces a banged-up linebacking corps to five healthy players.

Safety/linebacker Bryan Scott has been ruled out of the Colts game because of a head injury. Bills starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (ankle) is probable and expected to play after missing last weekend's game.

The Bills signed Hennessey after starting tackle Jonathan Scott was ruled out because of an ankle injury.

Jaguars starters Holt, Lewis, Mathis unable to play vs. Browns

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jaguars will be without three starters in Sunday's regular-season finale at Cleveland.

Wide receiver Torry Holt, tight end Marcedes Lewis and cornerback Rashean Mathis didn't practice all week and officially were ruled out Friday. Backup defensive tackle Atiyyah Ellison (knee) also was ruled out.

Holt (hand) and Lewis (concussion) were injured during last week's loss at New England. Mathis has dealt with a groin injury for the last six weeks.

The Jaguars (7-8) are a long shot to make the playoffs. They need to beat the Browns (4-11) and have four of five other teams -- the Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers -- lose to clinch an AFC wild-card berth.

Rice-Morrison matchup could be critical as Ravens seek playoff spot

Here's a look at all the key matchups to watch in Week 17:

1 p.m. ET, CBSIndianapolis at Buffalo Indianapolis LB Clint Session vs. Buffalo RB Fred Jackson The Bills lead this series, 34-30, but the Colts have won the last six. Indianapolis saw its streak of 23 consecutive wins end last week, along with its chance to go undefeated. The question is: Will the Colts play any marquee players this week? Session, a third-year player, is the team's leading tackler. He has size limitations, but plays hard on every down. He has playmaking ability and plays with a passion. Jackson played in NFL Europe and the Arena League before entering the NFL in 2006, and is the Bills' leading rusher this season. He has the quickness needed for the position, and is a good receiver and pass protector. Jackson, who played at Div. III Coe College, grew up in a house where the new Cowboy Stadium now stands -- in fact, the house was torn down to make room.

1 p.m. ET, FOXNew Orleans at Carolina New Orleans LB Jonathan Vilma vs. Carolina RB Jonathan Stewart Carolina leads the series, 16-13. New Orleans won the Week 9 meeting, 30-20, with Drew Brees passing for 330 yards. Carolina is a big running team, and coming off wins over Minnesota and the Giants. New Orleans has lost two straight after a 13-0 start. Last week's loss to Tampa Bay was the first time in history that a team with 13 wins lost to a team with two or fewer wins. Vilma is the team's leading tackler and defensive leader. He saved the Saints with a fourth down stop and an interception vs. Atlanta, or they would be losers of three in a row. The Saints are not the takeaway machine they were earlier in the season, but Vilma competes 100 percent on every play. He's a good tackler, and plays all over the field. He needs to come up big here to stop the Panthers' running attack. Stewart is a second-year player coming off a team-record game with 206 yards rushing against the Giants. He is a very strong runner, who has excellent size (235 pounds) and ran under 4.5 at his pro day. He's a good receiver and pass protector. He is a short-step runner.

1 p.m. ET, CBSJacksonville at Cleveland Jacksonville LB Justin Durant vs. Cleveland RB Jerome Harrison Jacksonville leads the series 8-3, and is 5-0 at Cleveland. Two weeks ago, the Jaguars controlled their own destiny for a wild-card spot, but two straight losses mean they need a win and a lot of help to make the playoffs. Durant is a third-year player and Jacksonville's leading tackler, despite missing two games this season. He has very good speed for his position, and is able to make plays in space. He's a good tackler, and an outstanding competitor, who makes a lot of hustle plays. Harrison is a fourth-year player, who was seldom used in his first three years, but has run for 434 yards in the past two games -- including a club-record 286 vs. Kansas City. Harrison has a very strong upper body to go with oustanding quickness. He's not real fast but has good hands.

1 p.m. ET, CBSNew England at Houston New England QB Tom Brady vs. Houston QB Matt Schaub The Patriots lead this short series 2-0. While New England has clinched the AFC East title, Houston at 8-7 has a slight chance to make the playoffs with a win and some help. It will be interesting to see what Bill Belichick does to minimize the effect of Pro Bowl receiver Andre Johnson. New England as a team is not playing as well on the road as it has in previous years. Brady is coming off a stellar game against Jacksonville in which he completed 23 of 26 passes for four touchdowns. In two previous games vs. Houston, he has four TD passes and two interceptions. He is one of the best at throwing deep passes, and does a great job of reacting to backside pressure. He has outstanding accuracy. Schaub is coming off a very good game on the road at Miami. He has passed for 4,467 yards and 27 TDs this season, with a 99.1 passer rating. Starting for Atlanta in 2005 against New England, he passed for three TDs with a 112 rating. Schaub is very smart, and makes excellent decisions. He has outstanding poise, makes all the throws and is always looking down field.

1 p.m. ET, CBSPittsburgh at Miami Pittsburgh LB James Harrison vs. Miami OT Jake Long Pittsburgh has won 10 of 19 games in this series, but the Dolphins have scored more points. These are two teams with a slim chance of making the playoffs. Both have gone from heavy running to passing teams this season. Harrison has not played as well in 2009 as he did in 2008 when he was the top defensive player in the NFL, but he has still been very effective. He's second on the team with 10 sacks -- but has none in the last month. A leverage player, who plays well in space, Harrison knows how to hit the gaps. He never stops running, and loves to chase plays down the line of scrimmage. Long was the first player selected in the 2008 draft and has played well. He is a huge player with outstanding strength and very long arms. He has very good hand placement, and good mobility for his size. The Dolphins run some unbalanced lines and he will move to the right side on occasion.

1 p.m. ET, FOXN.Y. Giants at Minnesota N.Y. Giants QB Eli Manning vs. Minnesota QB Brett Favre Minnesota has won 12 of 20 regular-season games in this series. While the Giants were eliminated from playoff contention last week, the NFC North-champion Vikings lost in overtime to Chicago -- thus dropping to the No. 3 seed. They need a win here and an Eagles loss to get the No. 2 spot (and a playoff bye) back. I believe the Giants, after last week's embarrassing fiasco, will come to Minnesota ready to play hard. Manning's sixth season has been his best statistically. He has 27 TD passes, a 94.2 passer rating and is on pace for 4,000 yards. He has seven TDs in his last three games. I have watched him come to understand defenses a lot better. He has ideal size for the position, is able to avoid the rush with good athletic moves and is accurate. He lacks the benefit of a good running game the Giants have had in previous years. Left tackle David Diehl needs to stop pass-rusher Jared Allen. Favre has cooled off some but is still playing at a high level, as seen Monday night when he rallied his team back from 16 down in Chicago. He still has great arm strength. He knows what to do against great defenses and he does it. At age 40, he is on pace for career highs in completion percentage, passer rating, yards per attempt and fewest interceptions.

1 p.m. ET, FOXSan Francisco at St. Louis San Francisco RB Frank Gore vs. St. Louis LB James Laurinaitis The Rams lead this series, 60-57-1. But the Rams have just one win this season, and are now playing with a rookie quarterback from Div. III (Keith Null) after injuries to two veterans. St. Louis has scored just 169 points all season. Gore is the 49ers' leading rusher, averaging 5 yards per attempt with eight touchdowns, including an 80-yard TD run. He has also become the first back in franchise history with 1,000 yards rushing in four straight seasons. The speedy Gore has had many injuries, including this season, where he's missed three games. Laurinaitis is still playing defense as if his team were undefeated and fighting for the Super Bowl. He never gives up, makes tackles all over the field and is a great competitor who can play in space. He has 41 more tackles than the Rams' second-leading tackler.

1 p.m. ET, FOXAtlanta at Tampa Bay Atlanta QB Matt Ryan vs. Tampa Bay QB Josh Freeman Tampa Bay leads the series 18-14. Atlanta is 8-7 -- and a win here would give the Falcons back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in franchise history. Both teams feature good young players. Ryan is in his second year. He missed two full games and most of a third with a toe injury. He has passed for 20 touchdowns, already better than last year. He can make all of the throws needed to be a successful NFL quarterback. He's very smart with a great understanding of the game. He's somewhat of a mini-Peyton Manning with his dedication and intelligence. But he plays better at home than on the road. Freeman was a first-round pick this year and is the franchise's future. He has started eight games as a rookie and won his last two starts on the road. Freeman has above-average arm strength and the necessary athletic ability needed to make plays at quarterback. He needs even more playing time, because he left college early and didn't have a lot of experience. But if you are a Bucs fan, you have a lot to be excited about for the future with this player.

1 p.m. ET, FOXChicago at Detroit Chicago TE Greg Olsen vs. Detroit LB DeAndre Levy The Bears lead this series, 90-64-5. The last five years have been sweeps -- three for Chicago, two for Detroit. Coaches will spend lots of time watching tape from this game to see who continues to play hard with nothing at stake. Certainly the Bears showed they are still playing hard when they upset Minnesota on Monday night. Olsen has become the type of tight end that lines up at different positions to create matchup problems. He is outstanding at running fade routes and has very good athletic skills. Levy is a rookie who has started nine games. He led the Lions in tackles last week against San Francisco. Levy has good athletic ability and speed for the position, with exceptional recognition. He can play in space, and is a good effort player. He should be a solid linebacker for years to come.

4:15 p.m. ET, FOXPhiladelphia at Dallas Philadelphia QB Donovan McNabb vs. Dallas QB Tony Romo Dallas leads this fierce NFC East rivalry, 54-43. But since 2000, with Donovan McNabb at quarterback, the Eagles have won 13 of 19, including the 44-6 rout last year that knocked Dallas out of a wild-card spot. These two quarterbacks might be the most critiqued and criticized of any in the NFL. This season, they are very close statistically. With the winner of this game taking the NFC East and the loser relegated to wild-card status, there's a chance these teams can meet again next week in the first round of the playoffs. This is McNabb's 11th season and he is playing this year without a top running game and with young receivers. But he's played great, and he showed people last week vs. Denver that he can still make plays with his feet when he scrambled for 27 yards in the fourth quarter on a third-and-25 play to change the field-position battle late. Despite being an undrafted free agent, Romo -- who grew up less than 100 miles from McNabb's hometown of Chicago -- has so much expected of him in Dallas. Like McNabb, Romo was a very good high school basketball player. This will be Romo's 55th NFL start. He is very athletic with good arm strength and accuracy. He has thrown just one interception in his last five games. On the season, he has passed for 4,172 yards, with 24 TD passes, eight interceptions, and a 97 passer rating.

4:15 p.m. ET, CBSBaltimore at Oakland Baltimore RB Ray Rice vs. Oakland LB Kirk Morrison The Ravens lead this series, 4-1. If they win, it will be a short cross-country trip home knowing that they are in the playoffs. If they lose, the trip home from the Bay Area will seem like days. Rice is a second-year player, who is leading the team in rushing yards and receptions. He has become a major matchup problem. Rice is small in stature but very strong, and he does not go down easily. He has very good quickness, and is an outstanding athlete who will pass protect, and can break off a long play at any time. Morrison is a fifth-year player, who missed the first game of his rookie season and has started every game since then. He leads the Raiders in tackles -- as he has done for the past three years. He's a very competitive player with the ability to make plays in space. If the Raiders are to pull an upset here, Morrison will have to be a big part of it.

4:05 p.m. ET, FOXTennessee at Seattle Tennessee RB Chris Johnson vs. Seattle LB David Hawthorne Seattle leads this series, 9-4, and has lost only one of those at home. Both teams are out of the playoffs. Seattle has allowed an average of 25 points per game. Johnson, in his second year, has 1,872 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. He also leads the team with 47 receptions. Johnson has world-class track speed and the patience to find the running lanes. I would think the Titans will do everything possible to get him over 2,000 yards and possibly get him the NFL rushing record. Hawthorne is a second-year player starting after injuries sidelined Lofa Tatupu. He has started 10 games and is the Seahawks' leading tackler. He also has four sacks and three interceptions. He is an undersized player with a large heart. He moves well, is an excellent tackler and a very tough competitor. He will do everything possible to prevent Johnson from breaking the rushing record.

4:15 p.m. ET, CBSKansas City at Denver Kansas City RB Jamaal Charles vs. Denver LB D.J. Williams This is the 100th meeting, including one playoff game, between these two original AFL rivals, and Denver has won 54 of the previous 99. The Broncos started this season 6-0, were thought to be a cinch to make the playoffs, and now find themselves needing some help to get in. Charles is the Chiefs' leading rusher with 861 yards and a 5.2-yard per carry average. He has very good vision as a runner and despite his size will run inside. He is very fast with good cutback ability. If he manages to rush for 139 yards to reach 1,000, he would be the third University of Texas back to do so this season, joining Cedric Benson and Ricky Williams. Williams is Denver's leading tackler. He lined up at both inside and outside linebacker in the past, and he is playing well this season in the new 3-4 scheme that was brought in this year by defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. He has good speed and athletic ability.

4:15 p.m. ET, FOXWashington at San Diego Washington LB London Fletcher vs. San Diego head coach Norv Turner The Redskins lead the series 6-2, with the Chargers winning the last two. San Diego has clinched a No. 2 seed in the AFC, which means they have a bye and at least one home playoff game. The Chargers tied a record with 18 consecutive wins in a calendar month. Of course, that's the month of December, and this game will be played in January. Fletcher is an undrafted free agent, who has played and started every game for 12 years. In fact, he has missed only one play in those 12 years. According to Stats Inc., he is the leading tackler in this decade. He plays hard every play. As for the Chargers playing hard, that is up to Turner, since there is nothing to play for here. After a 2-3 start, fans wanted Turner fired. But he is a great manager of people and an ever better play-caller.

4:15 p.m. ET, FOXGreen Bay at Arizona Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers vs. Arizona QB Kurt Warner The Packers have a 42-22-4 edge in a series that dates back to 1921. Between 1937-46, the Packers won 15 consecutive games in the series -- one of which, for some unknown reason, was played in Buffalo before a crowd of 10,600. This is another one of those Week 17 matchups that could also lead to a rematch in the first week of the playoffs. Both of these teams have drafted well and have several promising young players. Rodgers is in his fifth year in the NFL, but just his second as a starter -- and he's having a career year, with 4,199 yards passing, 29 TDs and a 102 passer rating. However, he has been sacked 50 times. He has outstanding arm strength, good accuracy, very good understanding of the game and good leadership qualities. He is the first NFL player to throw for 4,000 yards in each of his first two seasons as a starter. Thus, he is joining his former teammate, Brett Favre, in the Pro Bowl. Warner, the former Rams great, threw his 100th TD pass for the Cardinals last week -- joining Fran Tarkenton as the only players in NFL history to throw 100 TD passes for two different teams. He is still playing at a high level, with lots of zip on his ball and great timing on his deep passes. He has 26 TD passes this season, and needs 278 yards to reach 4,000.

8:20 p.m. ET, NBCCincinnati at N.Y. Jets (watch live online) Cincinnati RB Cedric Benson vs. N.Y. Jets LB David Harris The Jets lead this series, 13-7, and have won six of the last seven games against the Bengals. The last Bengals win in New York took place in 1981. Cincinnati is already in the playoffs, and the Jets will be too if they can win here. These teams could easily end up playing again in the first round of the playoffs. Benson, after being cut by the Bears and unable to find a new team for weeks, was signed by Cincinnati last year out of necessity. Now, he is the team's leading rusher. He is running hard and doing a much better job as a pass protector and a receiver than he had in his previous four NFL seasons. Harris is a third-year player who is performing at a Pro Bowl level. He has 36 more tackles than the second-leading tackler on the Jets' top-rated defense. He also has 5.5 sacks and is very active and aggressive. He has very good instincts and is an outstanding tackler, taking good angles.

Changing coaching staffs isn't as easy for teams as it once was

As we get closer to the official start of the offseason it seems more likely there is going to be a nominal amount of turnover, at best, in the coaching and management circles.

Now is as good a time as any to explain some of the reasons why.

Among coaches and personnel people, it's been a topic of discussion for weeks, and while there is a perception among the general public about the relative ease with which a staff can be put together, and with which coaches and executives can move from one organization to another, the reality is that it's become increasingly difficult to assemble a desired staff for myriad reasons. It's also a reality that some teams will decide not to make changes to their staff at least in part based on the inability to land those candidates deemed better.

"No one's really that mobile," one longtime personnel executive said. "Everybody is pretty restricted."

Unless a coach already under contract is being interviewed for a head coaching job, or a personnel exec is being interviewed for a promotion to general manager that would involve final say on personnel, their existing team can block any meeting. Many out there think that only a lateral move can be blocked. That is not true on the coaching or personnel side.

Last offseason, for instance, the Redskins blocked special teams coach Danny Smith from interviewing for the same position with the Packers, and also blocked secondary coach Jerry Gray from interviewing for the defensive coordinator position with the Texans, which would have been an obvious promotion. The only reason the Browns were able to hire personnel executive George Kokinis from the Ravens is that he was promised final say on the roster in Cleveland, which he did not have in Baltimore (now, whether he actually got that authority over coach Eric Mangini in Cleveland is an entirely different matter).

Back in the day, it used to be you offered a promotion, you got your guy in town for an interview, and he got a deal done. That is no longer the case. Throw in the fact that the economy has been down, and, after the 2010 season there is no labor security -- the CBA expires and who knows what the next model will look like -- and thus some teams are hesitant to blow out existing staff only to bring in new ones with the possibility that there could be a work stoppage of some sort in 2011. None of that promotes a whole lot of movement.

There is also the matter of college coaches continuing to make higher salaries, and in many cases without having to work the kind of hours that are the norm in the NFL. It used to be that the superior benefits and pensions were a premier drawing card for the pro teams. But with those being cut for coaches by several teams in the last year, some top assistants, unable to interview for coordinator jobs and not quite deemed head coach candidates, are looking harder at college positions. Gray, for instance, was highly interested in the Memphis job, according to league sources, and would have taken it (it appeared to be his, but the university went in another direction).

Furthermore, many teams are inserting language into contracts that include coaches having to take significant paycuts should there be a work stoppage in 2011. All the more reason college might look like a better alternative to some. However, according to league sources, many teams are also inserting language preventing movement even to the college ranks for head coaching jobs, and, yes, some contracts even exclude a move to coach a high school, according to sources.

As the pensions have been cut, much of whatever burgeoning clout the nascent professional coaching union had, has diminished.

All of that creates a more static environment and makes it tougher for bright rising coaches and executives to get the chance to make that next step. And sometimes the only way to get them is by offering a drastic promotion all the way to the top, which is a gamble.

"It's become restrictive, and I'm not sure that it's really benefitting the owners," one executive said. "You can't say it's cut down on costs, because for the most part, the salaries keep going up. That's why in a year like this, I think you'll see a lot of rehashed coaches who were out of it, and it's also why you've seen so many young guys get a shot. That's why you'll see a secondary coach interviewing for a head coach, because you can't get him away as a coordinator.

"I don't think that's the best trend for our league. Nobody's being trained properly, and you're seeing younger and younger guys in those jobs, and they'll make less than some other guys, but the league is becoming less experienced because of it."

Pro Bowl roster reflections

Overall, I thought the Pro Bowl teams turned out pretty well this season. There were two position groups, however, that I thought were slighted.

The Bengals have had a marvelous season, rising to win a division title that I don't believe anyone predicted (at least no one I know). The defense (and running game) has led the way, without question, and the strength of that defense has been the secondary -- specifically, the corners. The fact that neither Leon Hall nor Jonathan Joseph made the team just ain't right. Champ Bailey has been awesome for a long time, but one of these two gets the nod over him in my book. They are the best corner tandem in the league and the backbone of that Bengals defense, holding up expertly even after sack demon Antwan Odom was lost for the season.

The other group that stood out to me for its omission was the Green Bay defensive line. This may be the most under-recognized group in the NFL. I know there are a lot of great nose tackles out there, but this unit switching to a 3-4 and anchoring the best defense in the NFL? Come on. Ryan Pickett is the truth at defensive tackle, and Cullen Jenkins is no joke, either. One of them has to be on this team.

Also, if it's me, I'm taking Vincent Jackson over Brandon Marshall as an AFC wide receiver. Also, I'm taking fullback Lousaka Polite over Le'Ron McClain as AFC fullback. This isn't like 2009 where McClain ran for 900-odd yards. His role diminished this season. I'm also not so sure Ray Lewis is still a Pro Bowl starter at this stage of his career. If anyone has earned a lifetime achievement nod, it's Ray-Ray, however. And I'm not seeing Jake Long as a starting tackle, either. That's a bit befuddling. I also might be taking Bart Scott or Jets teammate David Harris over DeMeco Ryans. I'm definitely not taking Mario Williams.

I thought the Dallas offensive line was over-represented (the Titans', conversely, was way under-represented), Bryant McKinnie being a starting tackle in the NFC shocked me, and, last but certainly not least, this was the year London Fletcher had to be on this team.

The Redskins defense played out of its mind for much of the season with no help at all from the offense, and Fletcher was the key without a doubt. Brian Orakpo had a great rookie season, but he was given a stripped down role. If you were going to put one Redskin on that Pro Bowl team, much less one 'Skins linebacker, it had to be Fletcher - had to be. And there is no one in the league it would have meant more to. Make Patrick Willis the starter, okay, as I wrote a few weeks back. But this was Fletcher's year to be on that team.

Big plays make the difference

This is a big-play league, little doubt about that. The more explosive you are on either side of the ball, the better your chances of winning.

The bottom 10 teams in the league in terms of 20-plus yard plays likely will not make the playoffs (OK, Denver still could, but otherwise you're looking at the Browns, Rams, Seahawks, Chiefs, Bills, Raiders, Lions, and Dolphins). It is also worth noting that the Patriots are tied with the Redskins for 22nd overall in big plays, with 48. Not what we expected from them, and an indication of why they took a chance on Joey Galloway. They'll have to find a big-play element with more regularity in the playoffs if they are to have a long run.

Also, another reason to like the Colts -- they have allowed just 30 plays of 20 yards or more all season, best in the NFL, and well below the league average of 54. (Safety Antoine Bethea is another guy who I'd put in the Pro Bowl, come to think of it).

Etc.

Some in the media seemed intent on propagating the idea that Charlie Weis was going straight from leaving South Bend to calling plays for an NFL team the following Sunday, but that clearly hasn't been the case and never was going to be. However, he will be in demand as a coordinator and some sources close to the situation expect him to land with Scott Pioli, his former New England colleague, in Kansas City, with former New England quarterback Matt Cassel …

» Am I the only one who finds it odd that half of the 16 teams in the NFC have only two or fewer road wins? If you're looking for a reason why the 49ers (1-6 away from home) will fall just short of the playoffs and why the Bears (1-6 on the road) have had such an unexpectedly poor season, there it is …

» I don't have a great feeling about the Bengals as the playoffs fast approach. The offense seems so limited at this point, and I'm not sure they can shake out of that in January. The Bengals go three-and-out 27.5 percent of the time, which ranks 27th in the NFL. When you couple that with a weak vertical game you could have problems, especially should they face a team like Baltimore that is best in the NFL against the run (in terms of yards per carry) …

» The Panthers will spend a good part of this offseason thinking about what could have been. If you want to see why they fell from division champs to out of the playoffs, look at the turnovers. It's all in there (and a lot of it had to do with interception-prone starting quarterback Jake Delhomme). Consider this: 34 percent of the points allowed by Carolina this season came off turnovers, including a shocking 36 points scored against the offense. Had they been able to curb even some of that, you're looking at a nine win team. Over the last eight games, only Green Bay (241) and San Diego (246) have scored more points than the Panthers (240) …

» Take any side you want in this Brett Favre/Brad Childress saga, but there is no doubt that a few things are true. Favre has had an excellent statistical season, but that offense has slowed late in the year. He has helped get the best out of guys like Sidney Rice and Visanthe Shiancoe, and has played that position in a way no one else on that roster could ever hope to. The identity of the team -- and offense live -- which was built on power football, has changed -- period. Last year the Vikings ran the ball 52.9 percent of the time in the first half of games, second-most in the NFL (by looking at the first half we're taking garbage time, chasing the game, etc., out of the equation). This season, the Vikings run the ball 43.6 percent of the time in the first half, which is 13th-most in the NFL. That's a massive difference, folks, and explains the identity crisis going on right now. If the Vikings go on to have a great playoff run, then so be it. But if that offensive line continues to get worked in pass protection and if they're one and done in the playoffs, then besides selling a whole bunch of jerseys, I'm not sure what the tangible gains will be. Plus, they'll be looking at another bizarre offseason with everyone wondering what the future will be at quarterback there, and whether the 40-year-old gunslinger will be back …

» The Ravens have suffered heartbreaking losses all season long and have only themselves to blame. Mental mistakes and penalties have cost them time and time again, with dropped passed, personal fouls and boneheaded decisions taking points off the board and leading to another tough loss, this one to Pittsburgh. Baltimore's defense, long undisciplined at the most crucial times, is pulling off a triple crown of sorts. The Ravens by far lead the NFL in pass interference calls -- 13 for a whopping 261 yards (no other team has more than 9)-- they're tied for third with five illegal contact penalties, and they have the second-most roughing the passer calls (five, one fewer than the Titans). Their also tied for sixth in the NFL with eight personal fouls called against their defense. That will cost you repeatedly over 16 weeks.