Ralph is the week fourteen champion with a 12-4 record. Bow down, plebes. Home teams are in caps. All picks are against the spread. Here are my selections: On THURSDAY NIGHT, TEXANS even over Broncos; on SATURDAY NIGHT, Bengals -8.5 over NINERS; on SUNDAY, SAINTS -3.5 over Cards, BUCS -13 over Falcons, DOLPHINS +3.5 over Ravens, BROWNS -5.5 over Bills, RAMS +10 over Packers, Jaguars +3.5 over STEELERS, PATRIOTS -23.5 over Jets, Seahawks -7 over PANTHERS, CHIEFS +4 over Titans, RAIDERS +10.5 over Colts, CHARGERS -10 over Lions, Eagles +10.5 over COWBOYS, Redskins +4.5 over Giants, and, on MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL, VIKINGS -10 over Bears. Make your selections in the comments section.

TEXANS
BENGALS
SAINTS
BUCS
DOLPHINS
Bills
RAMS
Jaguars
PATRIOTS
Seahawks
CHIEFS
Colts
CHARGERS
COWBOYS
Redskins

Monday Night

VIKINGS

Denver
Cincinnatti
New Orleans
Atlanta
Baltimore
Cleveland
Green Bay
Pittsburgh
New York (Jets)
Carolina
Kansas City
Indianapolis
De-Riot
Philadelphia
New York (Giants)
Chicago

Who's the greatest? This guy.

Broncos
Bengals
Saints
Bucs
Ravens
Browns
Pack
Steelers
Pats
Seahawks
Titans
Colts
Lions
Boys
Giants
Vikings

(1) Wow, Dan. Miami?

(2) You'll all be happy to know my fantasy team made the playoffs. If I win in week one, I at least get my money back. The grand prize is $100. What a merry Christmas that would be.

(3) Just to keep everyone informed, Terry Glenn practiced today. He's likely not going to play on Sunday, but he probably play next Saturday. He said the he feels great and the knee is as good as new. As if opposing defenses didn't have enough to worry about already.

I too, am in the playoffs. However, just barely. I started off 8-2 before going through a second half of the season collapse and finishing out 9-5.

broncos

Be afraid. Be very, very afraid.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3152148

TEXANS
NINERS
SAINTS
BUCS
Dolphins
Bills
RAMS
STEELERS
PATRIOTS
Seahawks
Titans
Colts
CHARGERS
BOYZ
GINTS
VIKINGS

Broncos,
Bengals,
Cards,
Falcons,
Ravens,
Bills,
Packers,
STEELERS,
Jets,
Seahawks,
Titans,
Colts,
Lions,
Eagles,
Redskins,
Bears

Just read that Glenn article. Pretty funny. An undersized, inconsistent head case with two bum knees. Scary.

Well, the knees may be an issue (but he says they feel great), but he hasn't been a head case since he's been a Cowboys. And undersized? You mean like Welker? Comparing him to Welker (who I've liked since his Texas Tech days) if Glenn is close to 100%, he's more dangerous in the slot than Wes.

'Cept Glenn can suffer from alligator arms occasionally. Welker is fearless.

At this point, I'd be more worried about a healthy Welker than a guy on two shaky pegs.

At this point, you're right. But there's a lot of football left to be played. More than enough to find out whether Glenn's knees are solid and for him to get into the flow. And if all goes according to plan, I think Dallas's offense will be able to score with NE's. In fact, they'll pretty much be mirror images of the other (except I'd give a slight edge to the Boys' running game).

Ralph: The Patriots have the best offense in the history of football. The Cowboys have an excellent offense in the 2007 NFL.

I've got to tell you, the buzz up here is that the Pats don't need a running game because their passing is so prolific. But, down the stretch as the weather gets worse running is essential. And (yes, I am a broken record on this) a good running game helps the passing game.

Have to agree that not only does Dallas have a one - two punch with regard to running the football but the Boyz #1 is better than our #1.

We had a choice of two Minnesota running backs and we got the indicisive first rounder while you got the stud fourth rounder.

Unfortunately, I think the NFL is going through what MLB went through a few years back. Fans like the passing game, just like they like the home runs. The interpretation of the rules have changed so much as to distort the game. The result of this is inflated numbers for QBs and receivers. Another result is the diminution of the running game. I like ball control. I think the Giants 9 1/2-minute drive against the Bills in the '91 Super Bowl was football at its best. Unfortunately, those days are gone. The Pats, a la Indy and WarnerRams, have taken advantage of the no-touching-the-receivers rules to the extreme.

I wish NE ran the ball more and better. If, for no other reason, than it would make play action all the more effective. The Pats' attitude seems to be "Yeah, we got five wideouts and no backs. We're going to pass and there's nothing you can do about it." So far, no one has been able to do anything about. But as you point out, ASDF, the weather isn't getting any better and windy conditions can adversely affect the pass. A snow storm (which can help the pass) is expected to hit New England on Sunday morning.

Dan,

You're right about the Pats' offense, but wrong about the Boys' offense. The 2007 Dallas offense is also one of the best in the history of the NFL.

Just compare the numbers between the two. New England averages 425 yards and 38 points a game. Dallas averages 390 yards and 32 points a game. Yes, the New England offense is better, but not by much. Consider that, at this point, the Boys are averaging as many points a game as the 99 Rams, and only 10 yards less a game than the 99 Rams.

If Glenn had been healthy at the start of the season, there's no reason not to believe that Dallas would have numbers equal to (or better than) New England's. Moss and Owens are having comparable seasons. Each team will have a second 1,000-yard receiver with double-digit TDs (Welker and Witten). The teams' third receivers (Stallworth and Crayton) are having similar years. Adding Glenn is adding a 1,000-yard receiver from a year ago.

asdf,

It's getting tougher and tougher to pick RBs in the first round. I read a story not long ago that listed the top 10 rushers in the league along with their draft position, and most of them were not first rounders.

That said, I think the Pats should definitely take McFadden (if they can) and not trade down. Yes, he'll be expensive, but imagine this offense with his slashing, fast running added to it. That would be scary.

Ralph: I think you overrate Glenn, who, I realize has had a late-in-career resurgance in Dallas, but I think that has a lot to do with him hooking up again with Bledsoe in '05 and '06. I don't think there's a huge difference between Crayton and Glenn, particularly a 33-year-old Glenn with bad knees. I also think that adding one into the mix necessarily subtracts from the other. Put another way, Dallas' overall offensive numbers wouldn't have been much different had Romo had Glenn as a third option instead of Crayton. One of those guys would have caught for 750 yards, but not both. I get the feeling that you think that Crayton's numbers would be the same had Glenn been playing, and that Glenn would have somehow reverted to all-pro form.

Again Dallas has an excellent offense when compared with the rest of the NFL. New England's offense compares favorably to every other team that has ever stepped onto a field.

ASDF: I think McFadden might be available for the Pats. I think when you are as good as the Pats are, you draft talent and not position. This is why I think they should take him. The one position where Miami already has real talent is RB. Why draft McFadden when you already have Ronnie Brown? Perhaps Brown's injury will affect how they select. Looking at the schedule, I think New England, owning the Niners' selection, has an excellent shot at the second pick. I don't see a win on the Niners' schedule.

Dan,

Glenn has had a resurgance in Dallas, but his great season in 2006 cannot be attributed to Bledsoe. Romo was his QB most of last season, and threw to him for 689 yards (Bledsoe threw to him for 358 yards).

There is a huge difference between Crayton and Glenn because, while both have great hands and run good routes, Glenn is much faster and quicker than Crayton. Unlike Crayton, he stretches defenses and requires double-teams.

I don't think Crayton's numbers would have been the same as they are now if Glenn had been healthy all season. But I disagree that it's a zero sum game. I think that Dallas would have had three 1,000-yard receivers, and that Crayton would have been around 500. That's because, with Glenn (as opposed to Crayton) it would have been difficult to impossible for defenses to roll coverage to Owens and Witten. That is, there would have been alot more opportunities for everyone in the passing game.

I'm saying that Glenn's impact (whether measured in catches or in opening up the defense for others) would have been at least an additional 6 points and 35 yards a game for the offense. That would bring them even with the Pats.

Maybe Dan, but good running backs can be had on the open market (Sammy Morris? Who knew!) and I'd much prefer to see the Pats get a young stud linebacker. Unfortunately, next year's draft will be thin.

McFadden may be the best pick but the only time the Pats got lucky picking a running back was with Curtis Martin. And they got him in the third round.

Maroney was a first rounder and was a stud in college but has been a disappointment. I remember his first run from scrimmage as a rookie and I really thought they had something. But, he's stopped hitting the hole and is oft injured.

It's a tough position and a lot of really good college players never make the transition. Yeah, you could say that about all transitions between college and the pros but running backs are targets. So, my thoughts are that a team should wait and see who turns up on the free agent market when you know already what you're getting.

"We had a choice of two Minnesota running backs and we got the indicisive first rounder while you got the stud fourth rounder."

I was just remembering what a pair they were in college. Two 1,000-yard backs, a burner and a bruiser. I love Barber. He has great vision and balance, not to mention power. And you just can't teach the attitude he runs with. I think if he were a couple of steps faster, he'd be a Pro-Bowler.

I think it's way too early to judge Maroney. He's talented, but NE didn't feed him enough. A RB has to be able to get into a rhythm, no only in a game, but over the course of several games. If you're uncertain how many carrier you'll get, or whether you'll get any (the Philly game), it's hard to perform.

Yes, I understand the part about the rythym thing and it might be different if he were featured in the offense. But with their passing game, they don't demonstrate any patience with the run thus don't emphasize it as a big part of the offense so we may not get to see the real Maroney.

Still, when Morris was healthy, he would run the ball with reckless abandon and saw a lot of carries. So it seemed that they continued with a balanced attack when he was around because it was working. With Maroney, they give him a few carries and (much like what happened with Dillon in his final days here) if he doesn't cut the mustard, they pretty much abaondon him.

Won't matter tomorrow though. Brady will be throwing all day looking for the endzone. If the weather is bad, I see short high percentage stuff. If it's moderate, bombs awaaaay!

Ralph: I think one team in the history of the NFL--the 2004 Colts--has had three 1,000-yard receivers. Terry Glenn would not have given Dallas three 1,000-yard receivers had he been healthy. If you believe that he would without adversely impacting Crayton's numbers, and the numbers of other receivers, you have to argue that Romo would also be setting yardage records this year. With Glenn, I don't see Romo breaking Marino's yardage record.

Aside from Glenn eating into the yards of Crayton, methinks T.O. would be eating into the yards of Glenn. Aside from Bledsoe, who used him as a security blanket the way Romo uses Witten, there is the Wade Phillips factor. He's obviously making T.O. the centerpiece of the offense, the playmaker. Parcells didn't necessarily see it that way. Glenn benefited, ironically, from being coached by the man who once referred to him as "she." I think Glenn, apart from age and injuries, gets lost in the shuffle of the Phillips deal.

ASDF: Agreed on Maroney. It's unfair to grade him. He deserves an incomplete. I'd like to see what he can do and judge him on that rather than see him not get the ball and surmise that it's because he's terrible. He may be a bust. We just don't know.

That awesome Cowboys offense couldn't score a TD today. Can you say Overrated!

What I can say is 'Bruised thumb with partial ligament damage.' That was the post-game diagnosis of Romo's thumb on his throwing hand. Surprisingly, they say he won't miss any time. However, if he can't play at the level he has been, I think it would be wise to sit him for the rest of the season. That would give his thumb three weeks to heal before the Boys first playoff game.

Even though it was against the Jets, Maroney showed something yesterday and was certainly the difference maker in a very weird game. He seemed to be hitting the holes better than any other time of the season.

I thought Brady would use Welker more for the short high percentage stuff but, when he did throw, he kept forcing it downfield to Moss. Something that just didn't make much sense.

Anyway, an ugly win is a win nevertheless. Good job by the whole team on a miserable day.

Ralph, tough break with Romo. And isn't clear that, like the Pats, the Boyz will go as far as TR's arm will take them.

When you look at the elite teams, the one thing that sets them apart is the guy under center.

Hope he recovers soon so that they can compete the way they should and so Jessica sticks around.

By the way, did you see that she was wearing a Brady shirt?