1. That booing you heard in Pittsburgh was aimed at the Steelers' defense, and there's a reason: In five of the team's six losses this season the defense blew fourth-quarter leads. Forget Ben Roethlisberger. If Pittsburgh is to have any chance down the stretch safety Troy Polamalu absolutely must be on the field.

2. That three-man MVP race? It just became a head-to-head duel between Peyton Manning and Drew Brees.

3. The big winner Sunday night wasn't Arizona; it was New Orleans. With Minnesota's defeat, the Saints move two games ahead in the push for home-field advantage in the playoffs. I know New Orleans hasn't lost anywhere, but their two closest calls -- Miami and Washington -- were road games. They desperately want to be home, and it looks as if they'll make it.

4. I didn't want to mention it, Minnesota fans, but I can't help it: It was the 12th game last season when Brett Favre started to fall apart. He had nine interceptions in his last five games, one of which the Jets won. Now he produces two interceptions against Arizona, or one less than his season total, in the 12th game of the season, and the Vikes get drilled. Uh-oh.

5. Please tell me Philip Rivers makes the Pro Bowl. It's Rivers or Tom Brady to back up Peyton Manning, and, sorry, New England, it's Rivers in a walk. I'm not sure what impresses me more -- those seven straight wins or no interceptions in eight of his last 10 games. Rivers should have made the Pro Bowl a year ago and was jobbed. Let's make sure that doesn't happen again.

6. Before they fire Jim Zorn, the Washington Redskins should can Shaun Suisham. He missed two field goals -- including a 39-yarder -- in the club's one-point loss to Dallas, and he blew a 23-yarder that would have clinched a victory over New Orleans. No wonder Zorn said he feels "awful." The Redskins played hard for him the past three weeks, and they have nothing but three more losses to show for it.

7. Look at it this way, Redskins fans: At least you're getting something out of last year's draft. With Washington's decline and fall, the team is playing second-round choices Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly and Fred Davis, and finding that maybe, just maybe, there's a future in them. Davis and Thomas combined for four touchdowns the past two weeks, while Thomas had his first 100-yard game vs. the Saints.

8. I think it's time for Sherm Lewis to ask for an extension.

9. Somebody get with the program and put Justin Tuck and Flozell Adams on Pay-Per-View. Just once, I'd like to see these guys go at it without helmets and pads ... and without a cheap-shot like the one Adams put on Tuck from behind. "It takes a coward and some more words I can't say to push a guy in the back when the play is dead," Tuck said. "It just proves what kind of dirtbag he is." Nice. That should sell tickets.

10. Uh, no, Philadelphia, this does not mean there's a quarterback controversy.

11. Seems like Matt Cassel needs Josh McDaniels more than McDaniels needs Matt Cassel.

12. Suddenly, Bill Belichick looks as troubled on the sidelines as all those coaches who opposed him in the past, and I understand why: He knows that having Tom Brady no longer is enough to get to the top -- especially when Tom Brady isn't playing like Tom Brady.

13. Here's something to consider: Mike Shanahan to Houston. I'm not saying it happens. I'm just saying it makes a lot of sense, maybe too much not to occur. Gary Kubiak runs Shanahan's system. The Texans' GM, Rick Smith, was in Denver with Shanahan. There's a franchise quarterback in place. And Shanahan's son, Kyle, is the team's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Shanahan will have his pick of places, but Houston may be the most attractive.

14. When they talk about 40 times for Adrian Peterson and Bernard Berrian, is that with or without car keys?

15. It's time for Philadelphia to appreciate what it has in Andy Reid. Sunday's win was the team's 100th of this decade, and only four of the 13 teams that accomplished that feat did it with the same coach: New England with Belichick, Dallas with Tom Landry and Miami with Don Shula. Two of those guys are Hall of Famers, and Belichick is a dead-bolt cinch. Remember that next time you knock your head coach, Eagles fans.

Sez them ... or Rapid Reporters' Rewind

From Steve Reed in Carolina ... Look for Matt Moore to start next weekend against New England. He's 3-1 in his career as the Panthers' quarterback.

More from Reed ... The difference between Carolina and Tampa Bay was the red zone: The Panthers defense made the plays, and the Bucs offense didn't. The evidence: Tampa Bay had 469 yards in offense, but in six trips inside the red zone the Bucs produced six points and three interceptions.

From Alex Raskin with the Giants ... Sooner or later, the Giants will throw rookie tackle Will Beatty the ball. Beatty frequently lines up as a third tight end in short-yardage situations, but Sunday might have been the first time he actually went out for a pass. Eli Manning did not throw him the ball, but Beatty was open and had his hand in the air.

More from Raskin ... Guard Chris Snee's knee injury doesn't appear serious. Snee bowed out of Sunday's game and will undergo tests Monday.

And more from Raskin ... Dallas kicker Nick Folk has some explaining to do: He hasn't connected on five field goals inside the 50, including the 42-yarder he shanked against the Giants. Coach Wade Phillips said he thought there was a dropped snap or improper hold, but neither was accurate. Maybe that says more about what's going on with the Cowboys these days.

From William Bendetson with the Patriots ... New England's cornerbacks aren't holding up. Rookie Darius Butler struggled against Miami, Jonathan Wilhite hasn't been much better lately and Leigh Bodden has disappeared on occasion. The team's highest-paid cornerback, Shawn Springs, hasn't been active the past four games, while the team's 2008 second-round pick, Terrence Wheatley, has been inactive most of the season.

From Josh Katzowitz with the Bengals ... Detroit coach Jim Schwartz said he was undecided if he would sit quarterback Matthew Stafford next weekend because of his injured left shoulder. Stafford dressed slowly afterward, clearly favoring his left shoulder.

More from Katzowitz ... With 136 yards, Cedric Benson became the third Bengals' player in three weeks to rush for 100 yards or more. But it will take more than that to impress coach Marvin Lewis. "I wish we were more consistent on offense," Lewis said. "I'd like to run for 200 yards instead of 100."

From Jason Butt in Atlanta ... The injuries keep on coming to the Falcons. Three starting linemen are hurt, and nobody knows when Matt Ryan and/or Michael Turner return. Now that starting cornerback Chris Owens and Chris Houston are added to the list you start thinking that maybe this just isn't the Falcons' year.

Five things I like

1. Andy Reid making Michael Vick a team captain in Atlanta, then cutting him loose once the game was decided and fans started chanting for the guy. So Vick hadn't done much until Sunday. Reid knows what his experience in Atlanta meant to Vick and to Falcons fans. Class move.

Receiver Hakeem Nicks is making a big impression with the Giants. (Getty Images)

3. Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks. For the life of me I don't know why he didn't play more this season after overcoming injuries. He's the Giants' most dangerous outside threat and, as he proved against Dallas, a dominant downfield blocker.

4. Arizona as a threat in the playoffs. The Cards are legit and Sunday's defeat of Minnesota proved it. The only question about them had been their play at home. I'd say Sunday night took care of that.

5. The play of Cleveland cornerback Eric Wright. His latest conquest? The Chargers' Vincent Jackson. Wright held him to two catches. The Browns stink, but Wright doesn't.

Five things I don't

1. Anyone on the skids who says the next game is his team's "Super Bowl." Antonio Pierce tried it, and the Giants lost. Then Fred Smoot tried it, and the Redskins lost. Enough, guys. The Super Bowl isn't until February. Let's leave it at that.

2. The weekend in Pittsburgh. One day the Pitt Panthers lose in the last 40 seconds; the next the Steelers lose in the last 10. Paint it black, Steel Town.

3. The home-field advantage in Cleveland. What home-field advantage? Though Sunday's game was a sellout the stands were one-third empty.

4. Joe Burnett's hands. The Steelers cornerback could've ended Sunday's game with an interception, but somehow he dropped the ball. The Raiders later scored, and say it ain't so, Joe.

5. New England out of Gillette Stadium. The Patriots are 0-5 away on the road when that road doesn't extend to England. Their only road win was at Wembley Stadium.

Just asking but ...

• One word, Charlie Weis -- Huh?

• Who wins the AFC East?

• Does the Giants' win say more about them or Dallas?

• What is JaMarcus Russell's future in Oakland?

• Does Jake Delhomme play another down in Carolina?

Significant numbers

• 3 -- Bruce Gradkowski fourth-quarter TD passes

• 4 -- Washington scoring drives Sunday of nine plays or more

• 4 -- St. Louis games this season without an offensive TD

• 5 -- Cedric Benson 100-yard games, tying a Bengals' record

• 18 -- Consecutive road losses for the Lions

• 52 -- Chad Henne passes, the most for him since his freshman year at the University of Michigan

• 127 -- Consecutive Brady Quinn passes without an interception

• 0-4 -- Houston without Owen Daniels

• 44-1 -- Philadelphia when Donovan McNabb's passer rating is 100 or better. It was 101.8 vs. the Falcons.

My top five

1. Indianapolis
2. New Orleans
3. Minnesota
4. San Diego
5. Cincinnati

My bottom five

32. Cleveland
31. St. Louis
30. Detroit
29. Tampa Bay
28. Kansas City

Next weekend's three best games

Denver at Indianapolis ... Colts look to stretch their streak to 22 straight.

Cincinnati at Minnesota ... Will the real Brett Favre please stand up?

San Diego at Dallas ... What falls faster in December: The temperature or the Cowboys?