Community Faceoff: December studs and duds? Randy Moss? Serious at 7-6?
CBSSports.com Community members take on the hottest issues of the day.
What is it about December that brings out the best in the Chargers and the worst in the Cowboys? 
thatlsk: Strong coaching is a huge part in my mind. Say what you want about Norv Turner’s past with the Redskins and Raiders, but since he has been in San Diego, he hasn’t lost in the month of the December, and I think a large part of that is his ability to keep his players focused on the goal. Norv has every member of that team believing in his system and playing together. Phillip Rivers also plays a major role in that. I think the Chargers feed off of his fiery personality and never-quit attitude. San Diego knows it has a leader it can count on. With the Cowboys, Wade Phillips seems to be the opposite. When things are going well, Phillips seems to be collected and in control, but when things start to head south, he doesn’t have a strong enough presence to will his guys to victory. Also, unlike Phillip Rivers, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo can’t seem to handle the pressure that’s placed on his shoulders. Ever since he fumbled the ball in the playoffs against Seattle, he can’t be counted on in the big game. No matter what he says, I don’t think Romo has ever been able to shake that play.
threegamer13: I really believe it's a mentality. The Cowboys came into December and their coach was more worried about getting recognition for what he had done up to that point. The quarterback jetted off to Las Vegas with the team's best receiver after a game. The Cowboys seem to be distracted by too much, rather than focusing on closing out the stretch run and getting into the playoffs. The Chargers just look like a team that knows they can win every game. When they come on to the field, they exude and ooze confidence. It starts with their quarterback and goes all the way down to the last man on the roster. There is no secret formula... it's all about the mentality that your team possesses. And you see where the focus of the Cowboys team is, and why they will only win one game in the month of December.
thatlsk: There is nothing the Patriots can do about Randy Moss. As good as Wes Welker has been this season, Moss is still the best receiver and most explosive playmaker the Patriots have. You can’t bench him, because the third best receiver on your roster only has 26 catches. Also, if you suspend him for a game, you take away a guy who has caught 39 percent of the touchdown passes Tom Brady has thrown. You could fine him, but Moss has already shown in the past that fines by the team or the NFL aren’t going to hinder his actions. Your best bet is for Tom Brady and or Bill Belichick take him into a room by himself and try to talk to him man-to-man. Make sure everybody is on the same page. This meeting would have to be closed-door, as Moss has also shown in the past that he doesn’t handle public criticism well. You try to reignite Moss’ passion for the game. With the Patriots barely holding on to an AFC East lead, they need all their players giving it all they’ve got and punishing Moss harshly will probably bring more negative results.
threegamer13: Easy... you don't do anything. He has been doing this his whole career. Randy Moss should have been the greatest wide receiver in the history of the NFL. He is bigger, faster and has better hands than anyone else in the game, yet he has always taken plays off. You know what you get with Randy Moss, and benching him, or whatever the other alternative might be, does not work for a guy like him. You have to take the horrible, which is what his effort was on Sunday against the Panthers, with the great. And "the great" is what he has been giving the Patriots prior to this. Randy Moss will always be a headcase, and benching him, which is what he deserves, will do nothing to motivate him or improve his effort.
Which 7-6 AFC team makes the playoffs?thatlsk: I think it comes down to a two-team race. I think the Jaguars will keep shooting themselves in the foot until they’re out of it. The Jets are hot and cold, and you never know which team will show up... so they’re out too. That leaves the Dolphins and the Ravens. I give the Ravens the slight edge because of quarterback play. Both teams have second-year signal callers in Joe Flacco and Chad Henne, but I give Flacco the edge because he’s been there before. Flacco had the experience of captaining a playoff team last year, and he knows how to play in the pressure cooker that is the NFL playoffs. And, in many respects, the last three weeks of the season are the start of the playoffs for all of the 7-6 teams because, more than likely, one of them is going to have to run the table to lock up a postseason spot. Henne has been decent in place of Chad Pennington, but he just doesn’t have the track record that Flacco does. I also go with the Ravens because I will never count out a defense led by Ray Lewis.
threegamer13: Well, let's go through the list. Jacksonville has a home game against Indy and road games against the Patriots and a Browns team that has played inspired football since their loss to Baltimore in week 10. I have them going 1-2, and ending up 8-8, so I don't see them making it. Baltimore has a home game against the Bears, then travels to Pittsburgh and Oakland. That's two wins there, which would put them at 9-7. Miami has to go to Tennessee, and then has home games against Houston and Pittsburgh. That's the toughest three-game series for any of the remaining 7-6 teams, and I think they win only one of those games, against Houston. New York has a home game against Atlanta, then a road game against Indy, who most likely will be sitting their starters, before meeting a Cincinnati team that will likely be doing the same thing. Looking at those opponents, I'd say that the Jets have the best two teams left, but they will most likely not get starters in either game. So, with that said, I think it will come down to Baltimore and the Jets... and I think we will see the J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets, win out, end up at 10-6, and get in to the playoffs.
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