Notes from NFL Sunday, Nov. 9.

It's sunday afternoon and there are 2 games available for those of us in the Halifax area who do not have a superfan NFL package or some type of digital cable that give 1000 channels. Currently, the Jets are blowing out the Rams 40-3, and the Bills and Patriots are matched up in a 13-3 barnburner. Some observations:

1) Why does everybody think Trent Edwards is a great QB. The analysts tell us how great he is and how he's an up and coming star. Everytime I watch him he is horrible. He's already thrown 2 interceptions today. Dick Jarron has to get him under control.

2) At least there is a Raptors game on to watch during commercials. Chris Bosh has really picked it up on defence. Being on that Olympic team with Coach K and Kobe obviously made an impression on him.

3) How big is that Colts/Steelers game today. Colts absolutely have to win to stay in wild card contention. Tough chore against the Steelers in Pittsburgh.

4) I can't remember an NFL season where there were critical games being played in early November. In the AFC, the entire East division, Ravens, Broncos, Chargers, Colts, Browns, and Jaguars are all battling for wildcard spots. In The NFC, the entire east division, Bears, Vikings, Packers, Buccaneers, Falcons, Saints, and Panthers are all battling. The NFL tries to have parity, they got it this year.

5) On my radio show on CKDU (Wednesdays at 8 am, 88.1, ckdu.ca) I talked about how the Patriots will still win 11-12 games this season without Tom Brady. They''ll simply do it the way they used too...ugly. Today's game vs Buffalo is a prime example.

6) Wonder why the Falcons are 6-3. It's not just Matt Ryan. The offensive line and Michael Turner are accounting for the league's best running attack. Today in a pivotal game with the Saints, Matt Ryan was not sacked once. The defence is pretty good too.

7) It was nearly deja vu all over again for the Chargers. Leading 20-13 with the Chiefs driving late, the Chargers fell victim to a horrible pass interference call giving KC the ball 0n the 1 yard line. The Chiefs got the touchdown, and then, just like the Broncos in week 2 vs San Diego, decided to go for 2 and the win. This time the Chargers defence stood pat and they won a critical game to keep them in the playoff chase. Pretty gutsy call by Herman Edwards. The only problem is that he's no Mike Shanahan. The Chargers are now 4-5 and need only to overtake the defenceless Denver Broncos at 5-4 to win the AFC West.

8) After the Bills/Pats game mecifully came to an end, the Bills had found themselves the losers of three straight games...versus divisional opponents none the less. Dolphins, Jets, Patriots in three weeks. Not good. The Bills still have 1 game each vs AFC east teams and 4 relatively easy games vs Cleveland, KC, San Fran, and Denver. Trent Edwards has to stop turning the ball over.

9) After nine weeks did anybody think the Dolphins would have a better chance of making the playoffs than the Cowboys? At 5-4, the Fish still have the Raiders and Niners at home, and travel to KC and St.Louis.Those 4 teams have a combined record of 7 wins and 28 losses. That should give Miami 9 wins, which means each game vs the Jets, Bills, and Pats will be critical.

10) That Colts/Steelers game was awesome. The Steelers were lucky to nearly win it, I thought the Colts really outplayed them. Marvin Harrison is a shell of what he once was.

11) Settling in for the Giants/Eagles, Eli Manning just threw a horrible interception, setting the Eagles up first and goal.