"NFL Week 11 wrap-up"

"Eagles done"
You can take one team off the list of Super Bowl contenders. The Philadelphia Eagles. After losing star quarterback Donovan McNabb to a season-ending ACL injury in a loss to Tennessee yesterday, Philly is done. At 5-5, they could, possibly, still make the playoffs with Jeff Garcia at the helm. But even then, it would just be cutting into their vacation time. Philadelphia sans McNabb is nothing better than a middle-of-the-pack team. And no one will be scared of Philly the rest of the year.

"Wacky NFC South"
Does anybody want to win this division? Despite the talented teams here, it's beginning to look like the NFC North. OK, maybe not that bad. But it's not living up to expectations. As it stands right now:

Carolina 6-4
New Orleans 6-4
Atlanta 5-5
Tampa Bay 3-7

I fully expect the Panthers to pull away because they are the best team and they have momentum (having won two straight games rather handily), but then again, things are so wacky down south, anything could happen. And momentum means nothing in the NFL. If the Buccaneers had one more win, I'd be tempted to say they've got a chance to steal the division.

New Orleans and Atlanta meet in the Georgia Dome next Sunday. That game should tell us something. If Atlanta loses, I think they're done. Injuries have decimated the Falcons' D, their running game is nonexistent, and Michael Vick got sacked five times Sunday. That's not supposed to happen to Michael Vick. New Orleans, on the other hand, somehow got blown out by Cincinnati at home despite Drew Brees throwing for 510 yards. I never know what to expect from the Saints. But I do know their defense isn't very strong. So that leaves the Panthers, who shut out St. Louis 15-0 yesterday. I'm picking them. But for all I know, they could end up missing the playoffs.

"Wacky NFC West"
This division is even more confusing. The San Francisco 49ers - who won six games the past two seasons combined - are somehow 5-5 after defeating the Seahawks 20-14 yesterday. And they're just a game back of Seattle (6-4). Meanwhile, the Rams, who began the season 4-1, have dropped five in a row - including two two-point losses to the Seahawks - and they're likely out of the race along with the 2-8 Cardinals.

It's hard to imagine the 49ers winning the division - especially with Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck expected to return soon from injury - but with another game against Seattle in December and home games against the lowly Packers and Cardinals, you can't rule them out. QB Alex Smith isn't making mistakes - he was an efficient 19-of-25 for 163 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions yesterday - and Frank Gore is quietly becoming one of the league's best backs. His ability probably can't be hidden any longer, however. Not after his 212-yard performance yesterday.

My prediction: The Seahawks will get it together and hold off the 49ers. But the fact that I'm even discussing San Fran at this point in the season is a credit to that team.

"Indy finally loses"
Better sooner than later. After the Colts fell to the Cowboys 21-14 yesterday, I firmly believe that. Last season Indy went 13-0 before finally falling to San Diego and Seattle in back-to-back weeks. The Colts - having wrapped up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs - didn't play their starters much in their regular-season finale against Arizona. And you know what happened against Pittsburgh in the playoffs. They were flat-out rusty until the fourth quarter.

The Colts' loss yesterday not only gets the burden of going undefeated off their shoulders, it also gives them six weeks to get their play up to the level it will need to be at in the playoffs. Another plus for the Colts is the challenge they're getting from Baltimore and San Diego in the AFC. Both teams are 8-2 and just a game back of Indy. The longer the Colts have to play meaningful games, the better off they are. It is essential that they enter the playoffs playing their best football of the season.

"Monday Night prediction"
New York Giants (6-3) at Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4)
Having likely lost quarterback Byron Leftwich for the season this week due to ankle surgery, the Jaguars are going to play inspired football in front of the home crowd. And QB David Garrard won't have to worry about Leftwich breathing down his back, like in past weeks. He's Jacksonville's QB for the rest of the season. He'll relax and play one of his best games. The Giants will put up a great fight, getting another solid game from Tiki Barber, but in the end the Jags will rebound from last week's loss to Houston.
- Jacksonville 24, New York 17