Greg de'Ville

...I take what Mike Incessant says with a grain of salt. He's the Salisbury of talk radio...whichever way the wind blows, etc.

1 p.m.--SD at Indy. The Bolts have a prime opportunity to wrest the #2 seed from the Pats, but they must first beat Peyton Who & his insurance adjuster friends in the Dome. Achieve that, and the pressure is squarely on NE to hold serve in the Swamplands in the late game. The other early games to scoreboard-watch before the Bills kick off in Frisco: Houston Problem at Jax and Ravens at Steelers. It would behoove the Tennefrauds to get the weekend off on the right foot by dispatching the fading Bronx Saturday night. Volek-to-Bennett for another five TDs would be nice.

...I sure as heck hope so. BDDB's gotta step up. Sully had a decent column this morning about the offense's inconsistency the last 2 games. That kind of play won't get it done against a team of Pittsburgh's caliber.

...Hochuli is a modern-day Jim Tunney or Tommy Bell or Norm Schachter. When those guys reffed games way-back when, you knew those crews would call the game fairly. I'd put Hochuli in that esteemed group. I miss ol' Ben Dreith "giving him the business down there,"--never forget that roughing the passer call of Jimbo against Marty Lyons. Priceless. Worst NFL official today: Tom White. By a country mile. Was good to watch him shiver his * off in the cold and snow of Cleveland Sunday. Runner-up: Walt "Aw, just give it to 'em" Coleman.

...no, all I want from Sir Claus is a Bills playoff berth. By any & all means necessary. Just GET there. Jax is the fly in the ointment at the moment.

...whoop, THERE IT IS! Imagine, the Chargers, of all teams, a possible #2? That would REALLY be something.

No, the Colts can't catch the Pats for the #2 seed because NE beat Indy head-to-head in the opener. The San Diego Super Chargers, on the other hand...I'm curious to know what the tiebreakers would favor if SD & NE tie at 13-3.

...not me. Bring on the Steelers. Let's see the AFC's other "charmed" team fall in two weeks like the Patsies did tonight. Scower Cowher won't ease up on the pedal even if Pgh clinches homefield vs. Balt. It's not his style.

The way the Patsies played tonight, they won't even GET to Pittsburgh for a rematch. A walk through to the bye week isn't a certainty anymore, not with the Dog-Ass Jets hovering in wait in the Swampland bushes. Screw up this week and your team is going to be playing Jan. 8 or 9, rather than the 15th or 16th.

...nah, the DolFelons are bad, but they're not the worst. Right now, the Browns lead by a nose over the Niners. We're not DolFelon athletic supporters by any means, but it was nice to see the high and mighty Patsies get their comeuppance for once.

A new experience, eh Thurmal? The "mighty" Marcia certainly wasn't on her game tonight. I can't remember the last time the Patsies under Belichick pissed one away like that. Now, they MUST WIN at the Swamplands Sunday or else bye-bye-bye!

...that was a bodacious win by the DolFelons and they've got the bubbly ready in Pgh for homefield. All the Steelers need now is a win over Baltimore and they've got it locked up before the Bills game. That was an uncharacteristic game for the Patsies...when's the last time they let a team hang around like that and take one away? And what was Marcia thinking on that play where he tried to throw from his backside (a la Cinci) with Jason Taylor draped over him? Four picks by Marcia? Amazing. And give Feeley credit for a bigtime clutch throw to Thompson for the gamer. Now, all of a sudden, NE is VULNERABLE. They now are in must-win territory at the Dog-Ass Jets Sunday just to get a bye. Otherwise, they may see that slip away to Indy or SD. Wow.

...practically makes the AFC title game (especially if it's Pit/NE) the "de facto" SB.

...the Iggles needed a win Sunday over Dallas to secure home field throughout (which they got). But what a price they paid with TO going down, probably for the season. It brings up the question a coach in that situation faces--how much do key starters play knowing that playoff positioning (in this case, homefield) is already a done deal? Reid has to play his key guys to keep them sharp (or in TO's case, sharpie). But the chance of an ill-timed injury--especially on the cusp of the playoffs--is always in the back of a coach's mind. How much do you play them and when? Reid put up a brave front in his PC publicly discussing his remaining WRs, but privately, he's gotta be concerned. Stinkston and Mitchell have been way too inconsistent. Greg Lewis is a possibliity--he may get some extra footballs thrown his way. McMullen will be activated, but he's a project. The thing that is really freaky? Look at the NFC East standings. The Iggles have built up a HALF-SEASON lead on the rest of the field (13-1 to 5-9 for Dal/NYG/Wsh). Almost unheard of.

...remote chance he could play in the SB IF the Iggles get there. But that's 7 weeks off. No guarantees, especially given the troubles the Iggles have had in NFC title games the past three years. No question, this is a MAJOR blow to Philly's championship hopes. And this news gives teams like Atlanta and Minnesota renewed optimism.

...speaking of the Falcons and Mr. Vick, they will be coming to Ralphie's next fall (NFC South is in the Bills' schedule rotation in '05). For a bonus, the return of Clueless Price to the premises.

...don't forget a Ravens loss to the Steelers. That's another log on the weekend fire.

...unlike the Faiders of 2003, who folded the tent early under Callahan, the 2004 Faiders have played teams hard and tough for Norv Turner throughout the season. I would expect nothing less than a max effort vs. Jax in their closer 1/2.

...can't dwell solely on the opener, as disappointing as it was. The losses to the Faiders and the Dog-Ass Jets were equally painful.

...the Bronx are toast. If the Tennefrauds don't get them, the Colts will.

...shame on Carolina for poorly defending that play. It was right there for them and they blew it. No one "stayed home" to guard the run and Vick made the Panthers pay dearly.

...how 'bout a hefty fine AND a one-game suspension? That was a bs cheap shot by Darius. No place for that.

...if it's a high ankle sprain or torn ligaments, that's Trouble with a capital T. Because after TO, you've got Timid Todd Stinkston and Freddie "The Flop" Mitchell. Not exactly all-pro caliber wideouts. McNabb can't win games with his feet all the time. He did it yesterday, but come playoff time that's another story. TO, McNabb and Westbrook are the three most indispensable Iggles. One domino's fallen. If Westbrook goes down a la 2003, the Iggles are in a serious world of hurt, homefield or not.

...you too, Joe Burns. Follow the scout motto. This is a trap game the Bills must be prepared for. Get a lead, take the crowd out of it and control the clock.

I have to disagree with you on point 2, Bob. The Bills have a GREAT chance to knock off the Steelers, especially if there is something still to play for. The Steelers were given fits by the NY teams the past two games. The Bills must keep the Bus parked in the garage and prevent Big Ben from rolling out. The Bills may have pressure, but theirs will be miniscule compared to what Pgh would play for if it's for homefield throughout. Steelers have lived charmed lives too long. Come 1/2 at Ralphie's, it's high time they get a cold dose of reality. And the Bills, with the way they've played these last two months or so, are just the team to take 'em.