Week 12 Judgements: Let Belichick direct traffic in COY race

1. So Andy Reid makes it clear that Donovan McNabb regains his starting job this week if, as expected, he's healthy. Tell me that will quiet talk of a quarterback controversy. It won't, and I can see why after what A.J. Feeley did against the Patriots.

2. Dallas-Green Bay may decide more than home-field advantage in the NFC. It may decide the NFL's Coach of the Year. Mike McCarthy topped a lot of midseason lists, but how do you ignore what Wade Phillips has done? OK, I know what you're thinking: How do you ignore what Bill Belichick is doing in New England? You don't. You don't ignore Spygate, either, which automatically disqualifies him. It's the Shawne Merriman rule. You break the rules, you don't get the hardware. Simple as that.

Think Eli Manning-led drives are bad? Try riding to Gillette Stadium. (Getty Images)

3. Oh, yeah, we better include Romeo Crennel in that conversation, too. The guy could wind up 12-4. I'm serious. And what about Tony Dungy? He plays with fewer starters than the New York Yankees, yet he still has the second-best record in the AFC? Amazing.

4. This is the stat you will hear this week: 0-8. It's Brett Favre's record in Dallas. But this is the stat I like more: 14-1. That's Green Bay's record over the last 15 games. There is no team in the NFC that is hotter.

5. Memo to Herm Edwards: If you can't trust Dave Rayner to kick a 41-yard field goal then find another kicker. There is no excuse for passing up a game-tying kick with three minutes to go.

6. I sure like those "Humble Pie" T-shirts in the New England locker room, but I couldn't find anyone there who could hum I Don't Need No Doctor.

7. Here's an idea, New England: Put Belichick in charge of traffic control. I mean, if he can solve this league he should be able to solve the tie-ups outside Gillette Stadium. I arrived at Foxborough 4½ hours before the game, and it took me 65 minutes to negotiate the last five miles. The only drive that was worse Sunday was any led by Eli Manning.

8. Don't tell me that not practicing hasn't caught up with Plaxico Burress. He had eight touchdowns and two 100-yard games in his first six starts; in his last five, he's had one score and no 100-yard afternoons.

9. Now I know Tennessee's Albert Haynesworth is the defensive MVP. In the eight games he played this season the Titans were 6-2 and allowed more than 22 points once. In the three he's missed they're 0-3 and hemorrhaged 28, 34 and 35 points.

10. I hope Brad Childress does the right thing with Adrian Peterson. I know the guy is electrifying, but there's no need to rush him back into the lineup. The Vikings aren't going anywhere. Plus, Chester Taylor's doing just fine. Remember, Brad, you're 2-0 without Peterson. More important, Peterson is the cornerstone of this franchise. Protect him at all costs.

11. I don't know what hurt Washington more: those six turnovers or passing up a field goal on fourth-and-1 at the Tampa Bay 4 late in the third quarter. C'mon, Joe Gibbs, if you make that kick you don't need a touchdown to win it on the last series.

12. Randy Moss is the front-runner for Comeback Player of the Year, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't be pushed by Minnesota's Chad Greenway. He should. Greenway missed his rookie season because of torn knee ligaments, but now he's back in a big way: He's one of the team's leading tacklers; he entered this weekend as the NFL leader in defensive fumble recoveries; and he returned an interception of an Eli Manning pass for his first career touchdown Sunday.

13. Did I hear ESPN Radio's Freddie Coleman right when he asked Tampa Bay's Greg White how it felt playing alongside future Hall of Famers Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber? Ronde Barber?