Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley
The NFC Beast came roaring back Sunday with big wins over NFC South and AFC North teams. The Redskins' win over the Lions wasn't quite as impressive, but it sure beats the alternative. Now, settle in for another exciting edition of Overreaction Monday:
Cowboys
- Randy Galloway of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram praises the "Stewart 3-4" in his Monday column.
"Let us celebrate fairness by saluting the Stewart 3-4," writes Galloway. "After a 13-9 sweatfest of a win, it wasn't defensive coordinator Brian Stewart who received the praise, or the game ball, from up high. Jerry Jones was mushy and benevolent in saluting head coach Wade Phillips, who no doubt had a rough week of criticism.
"Then again, Stewart had to endure the embarrassment of being publicly demoted, at least in theory, from his defensive play-calling duties. An exhaustive search, however, of the postgame locker room failed to uncover even one defensive player who thought anything was different, either in practice or during Sunday's game."
- Tim MacMahon of DallasNews.com fame has the scoop on punter Sam Palescu's game-changing tackle in the first half.
"But, when pressed on the subject, it's clear that Paulescu does take pride in his tackling ability. After all, the guy was a pretty good safety for itty-bitty Whittier Christian, his private high school in Orange County, Calif."
- Dallas Morning News NBA columnist David Moore takes a break from hoops to document the Bucs' issues on offense.
- Gil Lebreton of the Star-Telegram says the Cowboys might need to score more than one touchdown in future games.
- Jean-Jacques Taylor gives most of the credit to Wade Phillips. And it doesn't sound like he had an issue with Phillips' decision to go for it on fourth down in the fourth quarter.
- Tim Cowlishaw says the season was saved -- for at least another week.
Eagles
- John Smallwood of the Daily News says that Donovan McNabb can still make plays with his feet when he has to.
- Ray Parrillo discusses Brian Westbrook's big day in the Inquirer.
- Bob Brookover said the Eagles had a little help from the officials in Sunday's win over the Falcons.
- Marcus Hayes says it was an up-and-down day for local kid Matt Ryan.
- Les Bowen has more on Lawyer Milloy's shot to the head of Eagles tight end L.J. Smith. A lot of regular Philly columnists are focused on the Phils winning a World Series. And who can blame them.
Giants
- Gary Myers talks about how Eli Manning outplayed Ben Roethlisberger on Sunday. And you have to appreciate this quote from defensive end Justin Tuck: "Everyone wants to call him dopey when he looks on the football field and he has no expression on his face," Tuck says of Manning. "But he's clutch. He really doesn't get rattled. He's just as calm as the back side of a pillow." Now that's calm!
- Steve Serby of the Post thinks it's high time the Giants instituted a zero tolerance policy toward Plaxico Burress.
- Thankfully, Johnette Howard ignores the Plaxico Burress story and talks about a great game in Newsday.
- Joe LaPointe of the New York Times talks about another Coughlin motivational ploy that appeared to pay off.
- Ralph Vacchiano focuses on the Giants' defense in the Daily News.
Redskins
- Jason Reid talks about the dramatic impact that Santana Moss had in Sunday's 25-17 win over the Lions.
- Mike Wise says that head coach Jim Zorn continues to fuel the Redskins' surprising 6-2 start. And on Sunday, the Z Man was on fire.
- Sally Jenkins has more on the Zorn-Portis sideline squabble.
- David Elfin focuses on the remarkable Jason Campbell, who still hasn't thrown an interception this season. Campbell, by the way, will appear on ESPN2's "First Take" on Tuesday at 11 a.m. ET.
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