Judgements: With lead bird clipped, Seahawks likely flying south

1. OK, Seattle, let me pose the question again: How do you overcome a history that's sunk the last five Super Bowl losers? Not only didn't they make the playoffs, but all five failed to have winning seasons. What do you think Seattle's chances are without Matt Hasselbeck? I'm with you.

2. Man, am I sure glad Denny Green straightened out that Arizona offense.

Matt Hasselbeck's knee injury is a concern for Seattle. (AP)

3. Like I said, Michael Vick can't rally the Falcons with his left arm. Check, please.

4. It wasn't that loss to Kansas City that has me revising San Diego's playoff hopes. It's the loss of linebacker Shaun Phillips. The guy's been a monster since taking over for Steve Foley and led the AFC in sacks entering Sunday's game. Now who takes over? Marques Harris, that's who. Yes, the Chargers are deep, but they're running out of players. Phillips is the third defensive starter to bow out.

5. So if not San Diego in the AFC, who? Give me Denver for two reasons: 1) Nobody can score on these guys, and 2) they have San Diego's number, winning five of the last six and seven of the last nine against the Chargers. OK, let's add one more: No one ... and I mean, no one ... has a bigger home-field advantage. Pass the oxygen, please.

6. Once, there was a quarterback controversy in Miami. Now, there's just a quarterback problem. I never thought I'd say it, but the Dolphins were better off with Gus Frerotte and Sage Rosenfels than they are with Daunte Culpepper and Joey Harrington.

7. Edgerrin James went for the money. Indianapolis Colts' president Bill Polian went for Joseph Addai. Tell me who knew what he was doing.

8. So much for Martyball. Since the Chargers suffered an Oct. 1 loss at Baltimore, San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers averages 40 passes a game. On Sunday, Schottenheimer did what I never thought possible: He trusted Rivers early in a hostile environment, with the Chargers throwing on eight of their first 10 snaps and 32 of 43 in the first half. Unbelievable. So is this: That loss was the Chargers' ninth straight by four or fewer points.

Nate Kaeding's missed field goal doesn't help the cause in San Diego. (Getty Images)

9. Yep, Washington, I'd say it's time to give Jason Campbell a look. All that money spent, and this is what happens? Disgraceful. It's time to start over and look to the future. 10. This is why that Cincinnati victory was important: It marked the first time in the team's last seven home starts that it beat an opponent with a winning record. "We put a little penicillin on the virus," said coach Marvin Lewis. "But it's still there."

11. Peyton Manning bashers wonder why we make so much of the guy, and I'll tell you. It's not the four touchdown passes against Washington or the three against Houston. It's his record when it matters most. On third downs, Manning has 10 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Nobody is even close.

12. Yeah, I'd worry about New England flexing its muscles again. But this is what keeps me wondering just how good the Patriots are: They've beaten one quality opponent (Cincinnati) and were hammered by Denver in Foxborough. OK, so it's no big deal. The AFC East is so bad the Patriots could have the division wrapped up by early December.

13. Eagles' fans would like to know: When is Ronde Barber going to announce his retirement? He's the guy who returned a Donovan McNabb interception for a touchdown in the 2002 conference championship game, too.

14. In case you missed it: That was former Seattle standout Steve Hutchinson in the middle of Chester Taylor's 95-yard scoring run. Taylor had 42 more yards on that dash than Seattle's backs had all afternoon. Yeah, I'd say the Seahawks miss Hutchinson.