1. There is no quarterback controversy in Tampa Bay. The Bucs are a better team with Jeff Garcia. Period. I don't care when Brian Griese gets well. Jon Gruden should nail him and his interceptions to the bench.
2. Dallas should be nervous. Commissioner Roger Goodell is expected to rule on Pacman Jones this week, and if there's a suspension, the Cowboys secondary is in deep kimchi. Hey, it's in deep kimchi, anyway, and so are the Pokes.
3. I told you to beware of the Indianapolis Colts. September was their warmup for the rest of the season, and now that Oct. 27 date at Tennessee looks like it could determine the division heavyweight.
4. Yep, I'd say the Cardinals should start talking about a new deal for Kurt Warner.
5. Memo to Arizona's Travis LaBoy: Treat Sean Morey and Monty Beisel to a week of free dinners at Richardson's. They just saved your hide.
6. Now watch the Jacksonville Jaguars go on a tear. Their next three games are against Cleveland, at Cincinnati and at Detroit. Good news, Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor: Prior to Sunday those clubs ranked 22nd, 29th and 30th against the rush. That's three wins waiting to happen before the Jags host Tennessee on Nov. 16.
7. Shame on Chicago's Lovie Smith. Never, ever, ever, try a squib kick in the last 20 seconds when a field goal can beat you. I've seen it backfire too many times. If the Bears were up a touchdown, OK, maybe. But never when a field goal can beat you -- especially when you're indoors with Jason Elam as an opponent.
8. Jim Haslett, Coach of the Year.
9. Credit Minnesota's Brad Childress for good timing. That move to Gus Frerotte just might save Childress' neck. The Vikings are 3-1 under Gus and back in the NFC North picture.
10. Washington fans can come in off the ledge. Four of the Redskins' next six games are at home, and their next two are against Cleveland (1-4) and Detroit (0-5).
11. Maybe it's time to rethink that idea of spending a week on the opposite coast. It didn't work for Arizona, and it didn't work for the Patriots. In fact, both got torched. If I'm an NFL owner, I'd like to know what competitive advantage I get by spending a gazillion bucks to keep my team out of town.
12. I don't care if Detroit's Dan Orlovsky runs with the eighth string; he should know better. You step on the back line of the end zone it's a safety; you start circling behind it while trying to pass you should look for a seat.
13. Baltimore is paying for Joe Flacco's learning curve. Through five games he has one touchdown, seven interceptions. Just my opinion, but I think he misses a veteran backup to serve as a mentor -- just as Kyle Boller did his rookie year.
14. Six games into the season, and I'm ready to vote for the league's Offensive Rookie of the Year. Would Matt Ryan come on down? I can't believe the throws he made against Chicago. He looks more like a six-year veteran than a six-game pro.
15. Yep, Al Davis was right. Lane Kiffin was the problem.
Just asking but ...
• If you're Roger Goodell, what do you do with Pacman?
• What does this loss say about the Patriots?
• Think Ken Whisenhunt ever tries to freeze a kicker again?
• If you're the Chiefs, do you deal Tony Gonzalez -- and, if so, what do you demand in return?
• Which is stronger -- the NFC South or the NFC East?
Five things I like
1. Good things happening to Arizona's Whisenhunt. He's one of the class guys in this business, and he's doing the impossible: Turning Arizona into ... and this is not a misprint ... a legitimate playoff threat.
2. Drew Brees to throw for 300 yards. That was the fifth time this year he's done it and the third time he threw for three TDs.
3.The Chargers' powder blues. There is no better uniform in pro football.
4. Andre Johnson's heroics. He makes three catches on the Texans' game-winning drive, including an acrobatic 23-yard-grab on fourth-and-10. "I was able to redeem myself," said Johnson, who fumbled near the goal line earlier in the game. So were the Texans, who blew a 17-point fourth-quarter lead a week ago.
5. Dan Henning's trick plays. Miami's offensive coordinator keeps it interesting by keeping defenses guessing.
Five things I don't
1. New Orleans' upcoming schedule. If you count the Oct. 26 game in London, the Saints' next four are on the road. They don't return to the Superdome until Nov. 24.
2. Seattle's chances of repeating in the NFC West. I officially gave up on the Seahawks Sunday. There are more holes in that defense than there are tourists at Pike Place Market.
3. JaMarcus Russell's accuracy. So he has a strong arm. Big deal. It doesn't mean squat when you can't hit a moving target.
4. The New York Jets' (Titans) throwbacks. There was a reason they changed the color scheme. Please, Woody, do us all a favor and retire these things for good.
5. The pressure on Jay Cutler. Denver's defense leaks so badly the poor guy has to put up 30 or more points every week. He may lose another 25 pounds by the end of this season trying to catch up with opponents.
Numbers, numbers, numbers
1 -- Indianapolis winning streak at home
7 -- Consecutive Baltimore road losses
9 -- Games in a row where DeMarcus Ware has a sack
10 -- Consecutive Detroit losses at the Metrodome
10 -- Games in a row where Terrell Owens fails to reach 100 yards in catches
23 -- Fourth-quarter points by Philadelphia
24 -- Consecutive games with Baltimore not allowing a 100-yard rusher
1-12 -- Detroit's record in its last 13 games
My top five
1. N.Y. Giants
2. Tennessee
3. Pittsburgh
4. Buffalo
5. Tampa Bay
My bottom five
32. Detroit
31. Cincinnati
30. Kansas City
29. Oakland
28. St. Louis
