The playoff picture gets more interesting by the hour. Once considered super-human in the NFL, the unbeaten Patriots are at least starting to look beatable these last few weeks. They can’t get away with one like these last three against the likes of Indianapolis, Jacksonville, San Diego or Cleveland. Yes, Cleveland! Someone once said that one of the two most likely teams to go worst to first was Cleveland. Don’t look now, but…

And in the NFC, all of Dallas is holding their breath. Tony Romo thumb is more worrisome to Cowboys fans than his choice of girlfriends. But, someone in Dallas needs to teach Jessica Simpson that she shouldn’t cheer when he gets sacked. How about the Packers? There is still a chance for them to take that number one seed from the Cowboys, and with Tony Romo nursing a sore thumb, don’t bet against it. Tampa Bay, the other of those two teams someone said were most likely to go worst to first, accomplished the division title and now have a chance to move into that third seed if Seattle wobbles. Then there are the Giants of New York Met-like collapse potential and the Vikings of recent heroics who seem a likely candidate for early elimination to the Preacher but to no one else in the NFL universe.

How about the Dolphins? It took overtime to do it, but they beat a stout Baltimore Ravens team who has figured out how to lose eight of their last eight games. It was the feel good moment of the weekend - Cam Cameron and Cleo Lemon pointing to one another, running into each others arms like lovers in a romantic chick-flick; “Miami has the Dolphins, the greatest football team… and when you’re talking Dolphins, you’re talking Super Bowl!” playing over the public address system; Ricky Williams sparking up a bowl in his bong; Wayne Huizinga wondering if this might add a few dollars to the price tag when he unloads the Dolphins in the offseason - I’m getting teary. Their reward for victory: the Patriots. Welcome back to Kansas, Dorothy.

Five members of the Atlanta Falcons were fined a total of almost $50K for their various and assorted personal support statements for Michael Vick. Everything fromt he ‘MV7’ written on DeAngleo Hall’s cheek to Roddy White’s ‘Free Mike Vick’ t-shirt that he showed off after scoring a TD. No wonder Bobby Petrino ran for the bus terminal when the game was over.

Speaking of NFL discipline, the league appears to have done the Cowboys a favor this week by suspending Cowboys FS Roy Williams. To listen to sportscasters covering the Cowboys, and to watch the game films, though he still hits with a vengeance, Williams has become a liability in pass coverage and his bloated contract makes it hard for the ‘Boys to bench him. Cowboy fans say thanks, Commish! Any chance you can extend that suspension a few weeks?

In Carolina they’re loving rookie QB Matt Moore. Imagine that? The kid can play. In New York, Jets coach Eric Mangini is wondering who to start at QB. Kellon (the Answer) Clemens has roared out to the second worst passer rating in the NFL. Yes! Then there’s Chad Pennington. Next year, maybe Joey Harrington will be available. Or Damon Huard? Vinny Testaverse? Joe Namath?

This past weekend’s hero, goat and quote:

The Hero ~ Eagles RB Brian Westbrook for his selfless play (and for ticking off fantasy football fans everywhere). With just over two minutes to play, Westbrook broke into the clear to score which would have given his team a two score advantage on the Cowboys. Instead, heeding the advice of one of his offensive linemen, Westbrook gave himself up at the one - allowing his team to take a knee and run the clock out on Dallas without the Cowboy offense getting another chance with the ball. In what’s been a tough year in Philly, team play like that deserves to be recognized.

An honorable mention in the ‘Hero’ category this week: Joe Namath returned to the University of Alabama 42 years after he left school early for a Hall of Fame NFL career and completed his Bachelors Degree this past week. Congrats Joe. That is the stuff of real heroes. Stay in school, kids!

The Goat ~ Baltimore Ravens Coach Brian Billick for his decision to kick a field goal on fourth and goal, inches from the goal line, to force overtime against the Dolphins. I do understand that the standard logic is for a road team to go for the tie in regulation in these settings. But (and this is a very big but!), these are the Dolphins we’re talking about! And they hadn’t shown any inclination to slow Willis McGahee down all afternoon. My thinking, I give the ball to McGahee and let my team who had lost seven straight know that their coach still believes in them. It’s a good thing that the Ravens owner gave Billick the old ‘vote of confidence’ this past week - because he deserves a swift kick to the curb this week. Oh yes, lest we forget - Brian Billick has long been considered an offensive genius! Hey, Genius, one foot… Willis McGahee… Miami Dolphins…

The Quote ~ Cowboy fan and football expert Jessica Simpson - I read her lips while she was on camera cheering on her beau Tony Romo: “Yeah! That’s my man! Number 9! Right there at the bottom of the pile, honey! Did you see the way his head bounced off the ground? You go, big boy! Whew!”