The coaches that can are the ones you keep

Some better personnel decisions would help, as well.Say what you want about some of the blowouts the Raiders have suffered, but Cable gets this teama team mired in dysfunction (some of that admittedly is Cable's fault), with no hopes for the postseason, with no hopes of winning most games they playto perform to the fullest of their abilities. Sometimes that is all a coach can do.Most coaches can't even do that.The coaches that can are the ones you keep.And then you get him a better offensive coordinator.. Tomlin said his team was going to unleash Hell in December, well aware that his next two opponents were on the bottom-rung of the league, Cleveland and Oakland. Pittsburgh proceeded to unleash a steaming pile of failure, against Cleveland and Oakland.This is another case of being hampered by assistants though; looking at you, Bruce Arians. And injuries to Troy Polamalu and Aaron Smith have really, really, really, reallyReallyhurt their defense.But right now, it must be said that Tomlin has won with Bill Cowher's players, Dick LeBeau's defensive schemes, and an amazing throw and catch in the last minute of the Super Bowl; his fire and brimstone podium speech backfired; and he couldn't lead his defending champions to wins over Cleveland and Oakland in the middle of playoff run.That's not the recipe of a good coach.Tomlin could, should, and more than likely will prove me wrong But not if he keeps this up..

Chris Johnson is having one of the greatest seasons a running back has ever had in the NFL.He is the fastest player in football.He is probably not human, but rather an android from the future, or a genetically-engineered mutant from one of the Hawaii islands.It would be a surprise if he Doesn't get 2,000 rushing yards.And he is still not better than Adrian Peterson.Tennessee's offensive line should all go to the Pro Bowl, most notably left tackle Michael Roos, and guards Eugene Amano and Jake Scott.The holes Johnson receivesthe lanes and creases on pulls, screens, and drawsare large and numerous.Johnson hasn't been touched on several of his long touchdowns runs.Johnson deserves credit for cashing in on those opportunities, but the line deserves credit for creating so many of them.Meanwhile, Adrian Peterson is having his worst season rushing the ball (though it is his best season receiving the ball), and he is getting stuffed at the line of scrimmage more than ever.It's the line.Steve Hutchinson is not pulling and blocking the way he used to, and some believe he is hiding an injury.Bryant McKinnie is his typical half-hearted self.John Sullivan and Phil Loadholt are learning on the job, and all that added together results in a lack of explosive Adrian Peterson plays.The fumbles are a red herring; LaDainian Tomlinson fumbled the ball six times in his fourth season.And Peterson is still third in the NFL in rushing, in addition to second in the NFL in 20 yard rushes...behind Chris Johnson.Johnson is definitely having the best season, and should be in the MVP conversation.But if they traded offensive lines, they'd probably be trading stats, too; quite the twist for this new-age "Barry Sanders or Emmitt Smith" debate.. This is a myth, much like the myth of generosity at Christmas time, that could very well prove true.Who knows what will happen; that's why we watch.Doesn't mean you should bet on either happening, though.People can be right stingy around Christmas, and the Cowboys can still slide into that last NFC playoff slot.The Cowboys have dug themselves a hole in the past couple of weeks, but it's not as large as it seems.They should lose against favored against New Orleans this week, but with their running game (as inconsistent as it may be), and Romo (as inconsistent as he may be), and even without Ware (as great as he may be), they still have enough tools to take apart a Saints team that isn't playing it's best football...And even if they lose, the Giants are no sure bet to go into Washington and win, or Carolina and Minnesota; although, they aren't bad bets to do that either.But the NFL can drastically change with just one play, and the Cowboys have the talent to beat New Orleans, or even make up for that loss despite the whines about December swoons, and everyone digging a grave for Wade Phillips' coaching career.Dallas will play in the playoffs.This is all contingent on the Eagles resting players in week 17, by the way. A few weeks ago, it seemed obvious that the Saints would play the Vikings in the NFC Championship game.Now, it seems obvious oneif not bothof those teams will not make it that far. Philadelphia, Green Bay, and Arizona all possess explosive offenses led by distinguished quarterbacks; confusing, play-making defenses; and game-changing players all over the field.All three of those teams are a matchup nightmare for the Vikings; the Cardinals just beat them to a pulp, the Vikings haven't beat the Eagles in years, and the Vikings Do Not.

want to play the Packers a third time this year.All three of those teams should scare the Saints, despite how invincible they may look.All in all, the NFC playoffs should be good.. What an old, dumb myth.Like the sun revolving around the Earth, or monogamous marriage.Randy Moss has ten less first downs than Wes Welker on 36 less catches. He is sixth in receiving yards (six yards behind third place), and was first until two weeks ago. Tied for second in 20 yard catches (16), and tied for third in 40 yard catches (6). That doesn't seem like the stat-line of someone who has shut it down.As for the Patriots, they were up 31-14 in Indianapolis in the fourth.They lost, yeah, but...well...um...By no means should they be favored to beat Indianapolis, or San Diego. But they shouldn't be the after-thoughts they have become.The reports of Belichick, Brady, and Moss' demise are greatly exaggerated The pass-rush's demise isn't exaggerated, though That will be hard to overcome.. Perhaps it isn't even a myth, but there are a lot of people saying the Coltsdespite their undefeated record, their experienced players, and their developing youngstersaren't the favorites to win the Super Bowl.And those detractors have some decent reasoning.The Chargers are peaking, and 'own' them Too many injuries in the secondary.