By The Pigskin Of Our Teeth, Week 12: A Leg (Of Lamb) Up

And Harrington is greeted with a cacophony of boos. The Lions seem ... I don't really want to say 'inspired', but more so than normal. Can no one cover a deep route in this game? Harrington looks disoriented and confused: "What is that... that... is that cheering? I haven't heard that in years!" Thumbs up for the Holt interception. If this keeps up the Lions may have to bring back Billy Sims. The Dolphins were supposed to play this well all year, right?

May I just say that the Fox voters suck. Is this really the Bucs' first Thanksgiving game? Didn't we just see this? The Williams interception was unexpected because that's exactly the kind of pass that he gets torched on with regularity. This is almost a carbon copy of the first game. How do you get lit up by Tony Romo? I'm sure the Salvation Army will put that game ball to good use.

Signal Finder: PIT @ BAL, NO @ ATL, JAX @ BUF (end), NYG @ TEN, CHI @ NE (end)

So I just found out two weeks ago that I actually have NFL Network - are people actually sitting and watching "The Red Zone"? It looks absolutely mind-numbing and pointless.

Blood hatred~~~~ I'm still astounded that nobody seems to realize that Billick is saving his job with this run. I don't want to call this a 'return' to the 'old-school' Ravens defense because, well, it's the Ravens, but they certainly look like the unit we all remember. They are absolutely crushing. Literally. Every time Ben has pump-faked, something bad has happened. Every time. He should really stop doing that. I've already crossed off the Steelers, right? OMG a Kyle Boller sighting. This one's over. Yes, already. Seriously, this game took about two hours.

This Week's Game That Shouldn't Have Been This Close: Panthers-Redskins.

I have to believe having McGahee back has helped at least a little bit. We jumped into this one during the Jags' game-tying drive and it was pointed out that they were in that 'win on Monday night then go on the road' spot for the second time this season and they lost the first one. Matt Jones! Who? Yeah, this is going to overtime PROVIDED THEY COVER THE KICKOFF. I can't remember a better catch than the one Parrish made here. There's no way that's not good.

This Week It Sucks To Be: 1. Eli Manning; 2. the Cleveland Browns; 3. a Seattle meteorologist; 4. Jake Plummer; 5. an Atlanta Falcons quarterback, wide receiver, or tight end

True Stat: LDT touchdown passes in 2006: 2. Aaron Brooks touchdown passes in 2006: 2.

Here's a good spot for Eli and the Giants to get well, no? PROTECT THE FOOTBALL. Wow, they're actually using Jacobs outside the two-yard line. This is different. Nothing has happened for the longest time in this game. When did Pacman decide to stop sucking? And why did Plaxico just give up on the route and not even try to tackle him afterwards? Well, at least they won't get shut out. All right, now this is getting interesting in the bad way. Did he just let Young out of his grasp? Are you kidding me? I mean, I know these days guys are getting roughing the QB penalties after actual sacks, but you don't let him go after you've got him. Don't you watch film? And now this game's going to overtime. Just throw it away, Eli. Just throw it aw- dear Lord. This should never have happened.

Predicted Week 15 Flex Game: Chiefs-Chargers (the best of a sorry lot)

REVENGE FOR SUPER BOWL XX. For all the hating I've done on Rex over the years, I think we all forget that this is only his 18th actual start or so. PROTECT THE FOOTBALL. This game could end up 0-0 at this rate what with nobody wanting to score and all. It's a good thing Brady makes his money with his arm and not his feet. Man, both of these teams looked like crap.

On a professional level, this matchup yielded the best headline I've ever written: "STAMPEDE!: Colts run roughshod over Eagles". The problem?: That was back in 1999. OK, I take back what I said earlier about the Parrish catch. The Wayne catch was sick. Madden keeps harping on the Eagles' need for a big back and he's right and all, but I think it'd carry a little more weight if they weren't DOWN BY 21 POINTS. Although Westbrook's playing big tonight. Damn, Lito just took that ball out of Harrison's hands. That never happens. Why are they teasing us like this? They can't pull this off. Let me remind you all that I knew this was going to be bad. I did not, however, expect it to go down like this. I mean, I know the Colts' running game has been steadily improving all year, but this is ridiculous.

Has this been the worst year for Seattle weather ever? Seems like every Seahawks game this year it's been raining or raining or ... snowing? That's a new one. And that's the opposite of a good start. On 2+2 they're trying to figure out which team's had the fewest quarterbacks since Favre's streak began. I liked Kimmel throwing out that timely question to Theismann about handling the ball in the snow, but I got lost after the bit about Branch's gloves. The Packers should really be up by 21 at least. Did Hasselbeck practice this week? He's got no timing. I don't think any running play yet has ended with an actual tackle. It's more like the ball carrier just slides sideways for a bit at the end of the run and is touched down afterwards. Seriously, how are the Seahawks only down two at halftime? Oh, wait, I know what happened: the real Hasselbeck didn't arrive until halftime. Either that or there was Chunky Soup involved. It's like night and day. That may have been the quietest 200-yard rushing day ever. Alexander hearts ESPN. Johnny: "Well, that was fun. I think."

FANTASY REPORT USFLaPa (10-2, W4): We're basically racing with Chaz now for the No. 1 seed.

JackSux (3-9, L1): You know what's really maddening? I have more total points than half the teams in the league, and yet I'm in last place.

RANKINGS TOP 3:
1. San Diego (9-2) - Why mess with a working formula?
2. Indianapolis (10-1) - Edge who?
3. Baltimore (9-2) - Best team performance of the week

BOTTOM 3:
30. Arizona (2-9) - Just fire them all already
31. Oakland (2-9) - See "True Stat"
32. Detroit (2-9) - Harringtowned