Oh, so very close...

I'm not going to lie ... the reason I didn't send out a "Hey, I could win this!" email earlier today was that I didn't want to tempt fate. But there I was, tied with Brad "Bettis Molests Collies II" Launer for the lead, and I felt confident that Green Bay was going to dominate the Saints in Nawlinz.

Well, congrats to Mr. Launer, because I got that one wrong, big time. For anyone who watched the game (and I only saw part of it), the Saints beat up the Packers and there went my chances for winning a week in my league.

I should call a special shout-out to Paul Boudrett, aka P-Diddy, who was in the hunt as well even though he didn't get his pick submitted for the Thursday games.

Speaking of Thursdays, this one is, of course, Thanksgiving -- and there's THREE games on, at least if you get the NFL Network.

This was one hell of a week in the NFL - featuring 'comeback' games from guys like Terrell Owens and Randy Moss, and a serious fall from grace by Donovan McNabb. Say what you like about McNabb - and he's played awfully in recent weeks - but Andy Reid absolutely blew this one. You don't pull a veteran for a 2nd year QB in the middle of a game (against a top notch defense like the Ravens) who hasn't even taken a first team snap in practice that week. Of course Kevin Kolb didn't fare much better than McNabb.

Worse yet, apparently Reid didn't even show McNabb the courtesy of telling him he was benched himself. That's just not right.

The big news in the NFL was, of course, the previously unbeaten Titans losing to the Jets. It sort of took a loss like this to remember how improbable it would have been before the season for the Titans to start off 10-0, which wasn't much more random than it being the Jets who beat them. Both teams weren't very good last year, but they are the odds on favorite to meet up again in the AFC Championship. The Jets actually are a more complete team than the Titans, even if their defense isn't up to Tennessee's level.

And hey, how about those Raiders? That might have been the most improbable win in the league this season, at least next to the Browns beating the Giants on MNF earlier on. How bad do the Broncos have to feel right now?

Finally, I'll end here talking about the good guys, the 49ers, who really are in a bad place. Specifically, if anyone believes in The Genius Of Mike Martz (besides Martz himself), they aren't paying attention. Martz refuses to appreciate the run, which was bad enough with Marshall Faulk in St. Louis when he had a top notch passing offense and a strong offensive line, but downright criminal when the only legitimate offensive threat is Frank Gore. On the brighter side for the team but not for Martz's reputation, it's clear that Shaun Hill was and is the best QB on the roster, and Martz refused to give him a chance until J.T. O'Sullivan had forced his way out of the role with a litany of bad decisions and turnovers. Dallas certainly looks close to being back to their old self, and if anyone is going to get in the Giants way, it is likely the Cowboys.

It should be a fun string of games to finish out the season, starting with Turkey Day.

Hope you all have a good holiday, and eat lots of turkey and cranberry sauce.