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We're all familiar with disappointments. The job you didn't get even though you aced the interview. The double-bogey on 18 when you needed a par to break 80. The second season of "True Blood." Disappointments are sad facts of life, and sports fans know this as well as anyone.

With this in mind, Football Outsiders has ranked its 10 most disappointing NFL teams of all time. Only one NFC East team made the list, and we don't have to think back too far to remember it.

The 2009 Giants authored an all-time collapse, starting the season 5-0 and losing 8 of their final 11 games while averaging more than 30 points allowed. As FO's Sean McCormick writes in his post, those Giants "finished the season by allowing 41 and 44 points in their last two games, prompting owner John Mara to issue a public apology for the team's effort."

What I remember is that it was worse than it even looked. The 5-0 start was a mirage. It included four wins against lousy teams and the one in the first-ever game at Cowboys Stadium in which Dallas ran for 251 yards but lost by two points thanks to turnovers. The game that made them 5-0 was against a Raider team that was less competitive than the East Dillon Lions were on the night when Coach Eric Taylor made them forfeit their inaugural season opener.

So what the Saints did in Week 6 (and what the Eagles did twice, and what the Broncos did, and what the Panthers and Vikings did in those final two games) was more in line with what that year's Giants were all about. They couldn't stop anybody. They hated defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan (who would be fired after just one year on the job), and by the second half of the season they weren't even trying. The games they won in the second half were (a) a home game against the Falcons in which neither team could stop the other and the overtime coin toss effectively decided the outcome, (b) a Dallas game they won on hate and spite because they were still mad at Flozell Adams for the first matchup and (c) a memorable Monday nighter in Washington in which the Redskins set a new standard for quitting. The 2009 Giants stunk, and that 5-0 start was just camouflage.

Having witnessed this up close, I was expecting more of the same when the 2010 Giants started to go bad. But while the '10 team did lose two of its final three games, there were key differences. Sure, they fell apart in the second half against Michael Vick and the Eagles. And they got thumped a week later by a Green Bay team that was clearly putting together something big. But you never saw the lack of heart and effort that defined the second half of that 2009 year. They won that Week 17 game against Washington that they hoped would get them into the playoffs. They rallied around Tom Coughlin and cheered in the postgame locker room when he announced where the world could plant one.

There are still championship players on the Giants' roster, and had they followed up the collapse of 2009 with another in 2010, they ran the risk of being labeled a bunch off quitters. Instead, they fought. The 2010 failure can be chalked up to the brilliance of Vick and the jelling of the Packers as much as any New York failure. And fortunately for the sake of Coughlin and those Super Bowl veterans, that 2009 season now stands on its own as one of the NFL's all-time disappointing seasons.

New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin didn't want to conduct another search for a defensive coordinator this offseason. He fired Bill Sheridan following the '09 disaster, but his replacement, Perry Fewell, performed well enough in 2010 to warrant interest as a head-coaching candidate.

Both defensive end Justin Tuck and tackle Barry Cofield have been unabashed supporters of Fewell. They would've been pleased for him personally had he landed a head-coaching position, but they're ecstatic that he'll spend at least one more season with the Giants.

When I sent Tuck a text this morning asking what he thought about Fewell returning, he immediately responded, "Awesome." Then he asked me to add a couple of "smiley faces" to indicate how pleased he was with the news. " :) :) ," said Tuck.

Cofield, who had a Pro Bowl-caliber season for the Giants, had this to say via text:

"The best thing about Fewell returning is the opportunity to build on what we accomplished this year. There would have to have been a complete overhaul if he left, because this is his defense. No one could have just picked up where he left off. Guys will get more comfortable with him and the defense will become second nature. It was a learning process this season, and there is much room for improvement. If the Giants are able to keep the core guys together, the sky is the limit for Fewell's defense."

Cofield might command a pretty hefty contract in free agency, but it obviously sounds like he wants to remain with the Giants. General manager Jerry Reese would be wise to take care of him.

What should the Giants do with Mathias Kiwanuka? Well, let's save that for another blog entry.

New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck is obviously tired of hearing about the other team in town. He told the New York Post that the Giants were poised for a special season, and shared some interesting thoughts on the current and former defensive coordinators.

"You can tell he loves what he's doing," Tuck said of new coordinator Perry Fewell. "He has that fire about him, like he really loves defense. I think that is contagious. I've seen him lead a safety or corner into the end zone after a pick in practice. ... Bill would high-five us, but it sometimes didn't feel like he wanted to be there."

That would be former defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan who Tuck's mentioning. For whatever reason, Sheridan never seemed to be on the same page with his players last season. And I don't think it helped that he followed in the footsteps of the extremely player-friendly Steve Spagnuolo.

"Bill got stagnant in his play calling," Tuck said. "We didn't do a lot of adjustments last year. ... We kinda played individual ball a lot, me included. It made it easy for teams to single us out and block us."

Until now, Tuck hasn't publicly criticized Sheridan very much, but you could tell how frustrated he was last season. The Beast will have exclusive interviews with both Tuck and Fewell in Albany next week. We'll be on the ground Sunday for the Giants' first practice at 3 p.m. ET.

Believe it or not, we're a little more than three weeks away from the Dallas Cowboys opening training camp. The rest of the NFC teams will open camp soon after. With vacation looming for at least one blogger, let's take a close look at the most compelling storylines for all four teams:

Dallas Cowboys: The defending NFC East champs are legitimate Super Bowl contenders, although they've asked me not to write those words. There are a number of intriguing story lines, including the development of wide receiver Dez Bryant. How long will it take the former Oklahoma State star to overtake Roy Williams in the starting lineup? I'd give it at least six games.

But there's also this little thing about getting Bryant under contract. You might recall that he's represented by the same folks who advised San Francisco receiver Michael Crabtree to skip camp last year. The good thing for the Cowboys is that Jerry and Stephen Jones have a good working relationship with Bryant's agent, Eugene Parker. But it's something that bears watching. It would not surprise me one bit if Bryant missed the first week of camp while waiting for some other players to sign.

But the most compelling story line to me is whether Doug Free can adequately replace Flozell Adams at left tackle. I think Free has all the tools, but there will be bumps along the way. The Giants, Eagles and Redskins will structure their game plans around putting pressure on Free. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett needs to be ready to counter. I keep reading that the left tackle spot is not as important as it used to be. I think that's a dangerous line of thought.

I've seen one position hold whole teams hostage, and that's why I'll have a close eye on how Free does in training camp. Can Alex Barron challenge Free for the starting spot in camp? I know that the other NFC East teams believe that to be the case.

New York Giants: I think the Giants are the X factor in the NFC East. There's a chance they show that the past season was an aberration caused by a rash of injuries. But I could also see them struggling again. The Giants will either have Jonathan Goff or rookie Phillip Dillard starting at middle linebacker. I suppose Chase Blackburn's in the mix, but we pretty much know what he is at this point. The Giants should be infinitely better in the secondary. Last season was a nightmare for the unit.

Safety Antrel Rolle will immediately solidify this situation and Kenny Phillips' return would be an enormous boost. But the Giants have protected themselves against Phillips not being ready to go. Deon Grant's a decent option who is very durable. And Aaron Ross is capable of playing either cornerback or safety.

But the No. 1 story line for this team revolves around new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell's ability to rev up the once-great pass rush. Truth be known, we haven't seen the Giants' vaunted pass rush since Nov. 2008. There was a significant falloff late in that season and the defensive line has never regained its swagger.

Fewell has to put the best pass-rushers on the field while being able to manage Osi Umenyiora's enormous ego. That's no easy task. Just ask former defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan about that situation. But if Fewell can get Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka going again, the Giants could be in the mix for a playoff spot. Seriously, who has the best chance of winning the division outside of the Cowboys? I can't remember it being this much of a crapshoot. And that's why the Giants have a major opportunity next season.

They're stacked at wide receiver -- especially with Hakeem Nicks' development. If Brandon Jacobs can rediscover the player that he was in 2007 and 2008, this can once again be a dangerous offense. But again, the most important piece to this puzzle is the pass rush. Can Linval Joseph and Jason Pierre-Paul help that situation immediately? Your guess is as good as mine.

Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles attempted to retool their defense via free agency and the draft. I'm still concerned about the depth at the back end of the defense, but the linebackers are in a lot better shape. The Eagles need defensive end Brandon Graham out of Michigan to make an immediate impact. I took a long look at him during an organized team activities session and was impressed with his motor. But he's raw in terms of pass-rushing moves at this point. He's going through a crash course right now of watching smaller pass-rushers such as Elvis Dumervil on tape. And he's doing a nice job of bringing it to the field.

But this season will be all about whether Kevin Kolb's up to the task of replacing Donovan McNabb. I think he is and that's why I believe the Eagles are the second best team in the division right now. The former Houston Cougar will be smart enough to let all his weapons makes plays for him. Jeremy Maclin has made a huge leap this offseason, according to the folks I've talked to in the organization. The most important thing for Kolb is to protect the football.

He'll go through some growing pains, but I think the Eagles have enough talent to help Kolb survive the process. To me, this will be just as fascinating a story line as how McNabb performs for the Redskins. But that's just me.

Washington Redskins: Since I don't think Albert Haynesworth will be playing for the Redskins this season, I'm going to stay away from him in this column. The most compelling aspect of this season for Washington is obviously the performance of Donovan McNabb.

And that first matchup with the Eagles is going to be one of the most intriguing moment of the season. He's trying to play it down, but I think McNabb realizes that he has an opportunity to change his legacy if he can get the Redskins to the playoffs.

But is one man worth six additional wins? I have my doubts. Even with the addition of Jammal Brown, you still have questions along the offensive line. And Santana Moss has more on his mind than just football. Can Malcolm Kelly or Devin Thomas emerge as a consistent threat? That remains to be seen.

McNabb makes this a better team, but he's not a miracle worker. He had Brian Westbrook in his prime when he was going to all those NFC title games. How will he do with three aging running backs? We're about to find out.

I'm about to catch a flight to Philadelphia for Eagles OTAs, but I wanted to leave you with some Giants information. Mike Garafolo of the Star-Ledger spoke with the Giants' cornerbacks and safeties coaches today and came away with some interesting insight.

The way Garafolo tells it, new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell will roll out multiple looks in the secondary. He suggests that Bill Sheridan didn't have a lot of flexibility, which is true. But in Sheridan's defense, it's not like he had a lot to work with when key players started disappearing because of injuries. Here's what secondary coach Peter Giunta said about Fewell's approach today:

"We were very aggressive. We didn’t want to give the quarterback a chance to throw the checkdowns to hopefully discourage him from making those completions,” Giunta said of the '09 approach. “Well, now we may give up a few more completions, but we’re going to have more guys swarming to the ball and making hits and tackles on the receiver and ball carrier."

I'm thinking that makes Giants fans feel a lot better about things heading into training camp.

I'm sorry, it's time to let the '09 season go. This is almost impossible for Cowboys fans who are still trying to figure out whether the Vikings are really 31 points better than their team. The other three NFC East teams are already looking to the future.

The Redskins have renewed hope with the arrival of Mike Shanahan. Eagles fans are beating their annual "let's dump Donovan" drum. And the Giants are trying to figure out exactly what went wrong while hiring new defensive coaches. Now let's address the burning questions for all four teams.

Dallas Cowboys

The Burning Questions: Now that we know Wade Phillips will return as head coach, we can stop obsessing about his replacement. I think the Cowboys' 09 season was an unequivocal success. I know it ended in embarrassing fashion, but there are signs that this team will have more opportunities to win divisional playoff games. You no longer have a question mark at quarterback. Yes, I know Tony Romo reverted to some of his old ways during Sunday's loss, but that shouldn't overshadow the fact that he completely changed his reputation during the '09 season. Romo learned to trust that his defense would get the job done and he treated the football with a lot more respect. When praising offensive coordinator Jason Garrett (yes, it's possible), we need to start with Romo.

The only significant change the Cowboys could make is replacing left tackle Flozell Adams with Doug Free. Is that the right move? I don't know how anyone could answer that question at this point. All I know is that Free did an excellent job in the seven games he replaced an injured Marc Colombo at right tackle. And I'm not going to judge the man's ability to play left tackle off a game in which he was thrown into the lineup because of an injury and had to face the wild dog known as Jared Allen. I think there's a 50-50 shot the Cowboys go ahead and pull the trigger on releasing Adams. They'll have a hard time getting anyone to trade for a 33-year-old left tackle with a relatively high salary.

(Read full post)

The pool of candidates for the Giants' opening at defensive coordinator continued to shrink Tuesday with the news that Jim Haslett had accepted that same role with the Redskins. And former Giants assistant coach Romeo Crennel is apparently going to be part of Todd Haley's attempt to recreate the Patriots' coaching staff of last decade.

Mike Garafolo of the Star-Ledger has been following every twist and turn of the Giants' search, and he says a lot hinges on what happens with Perry Fewell, who could end up becoming the defensive coordinator for the Bears. Garafolo even comes back around to another Bills castoff, Dick Jauron. That's the name we were telling you about from the start. And by process of elimination, Jauron's name might be moving up the charts.

It's pretty obvious that Coughlin's not interested in promoting from within. I bumped into The New York Times' Giants beat writer, Joe LaPointe, the other day in Irving, Texas, and he was very surprised that Coughlin fired defensive line coach Mike Waufle. The former Marine had been a player favorite and I've heard Justin Tuck talk about him many times. But it may have been Coughlin's way of sending a message. Several players complained about former defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan, so I don't think his firing upset them that much. But firing a guy like Waufle puts the players on notice that they got one of their favorites fired.

I wouldn't put it past Coughlin to make a sacrifice like that for what he feels like is the greater good.

The New York Giants have already fired defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan and defensive line coach Mike Waufle this week. Do we think there are more firings to come? As I talked about yesterday, players were much more emotional about Waufle's firing than Sheridan's.

Sheridan's firing was expected by everyone except maybe him. But players swore by Waufle, and his firing may have sent a stronger message. I think Tom Coughlin wants his players to know that there are consequences for their poor play, so he was willing to sacrifice a trusted coach.

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A team-by-team analysis of the division. The arrow indicates which direction each team is trending.

Dallas Cowboys

Final Power Ranking: 4

Biggest surprise: It was obviously wide receiver Miles Austin becoming one of the top wide receivers in the league. When Roy Williams missed the Kansas City game with a rib injury, Austin burst onto the scene with a 250-yard day. His confidence just grew from there, and now he's Tony Romo's most-potent weapon. One of the most remarkable stories we've seen in the league this season.

Biggest disappointment: Has to be Williams. The Cowboys gave up valuable draft picks (round Nos. 1, 3 and 6) and gave him a $45 million contract. At this point, it's hard to say whether Williams is even the third-best receiver on the team. Patrick Crayton has certainly been more productive, and a lot of folks believe Kevin Ogletree could accomplish more than Williams. Despite what he says, there's no way Romo can trust Williams at this point. Williams doesn't get many passes thrown his way, but he's still managed to drop at least 10.

Biggest need: The Cowboys are surging into the playoffs, so there aren't a lot of needs right now. I suppose you could get picky and say the team needs an upgrade from Ken Hamlin at safety. He hasn't lived up to his lucrative extension and he's someone who's capable of giving up a big play at any minute. But it's not like this team has a ton of needs right now -- especially since Doug Free filled in so admirably for an injured Marc Colombo.

Team MVP: Romo's been outstanding down the stretch, but I have to give the MVP to Austin. In a lot of ways, he saved the season.

Mosley's crystal ball: I think the Cowboys will finally break through Saturday night and win their first playoff game since '96. I don't have a real good feel for how they would perform on the road, but a deep playoff run wouldn't shock me at this point.

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Philadelphia Eagles

Final Power Ranking: 7

Biggest surprise: DeSean Jackson has had an amazing season, but I don't think we're all that surprised after what he did as a rookie. You'd probably have to go with tight end Brent Celek, who belongs in the Pro Bowl with his eight touchdowns and 12-yard per catch average. He's brought a different dimension to the Eagles' offense, and could end up being for the Eagles what Jason Witten is for the Cowboys. That makes sense because Celek has patterned his game after Witten's since arriving in the league.

Biggest disappointment: Considering how much attention his signing received, I would list Michael Vick as a disappointment. I know he's receiving all sorts of courage awards, but let's not act like this experiment has been a huge success on the field. It was more of a sideshow that yielded a series of 3- and 4-yard carries and the occasional pass completion. Other than that, I think the injuries to Stewart Bradley and Shawn Andrews were certainly big disappointments. And you can throw Shawn's big brother Stacy into the disappointment file.

Biggest need: One of the reasons this team doesn't match up well with the Cowboys is that no one can cover Witten. Will Witherspoon and Jeremiah Trotter aren't the long-term solutions at linebacker. Getting back Bradley will help, but it's time to bring in more talent at the position, either via free agency or the draft.

Team MVP: It's obviously Jackson. He's emerged as one of the most-dangerous offensive players in the game. He's capable of scoring from anywhere on the field, and he's the most-exciting punt returner since Devin Hester was focusing on that area.

Mosley's crystal ball: I think this offense has become too reliant on the deep ball and the defense struggles against teams with potent weapons such as the Cowboys and Saints. The Eagles may come out with an inspired performance Saturday night, but I don't think it will be enough.

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New York Giants

Final Power Ranking: 20

Biggest surprise: It's hard to find a lot of positives at this point, but Steve Smith emerging as a true No. 1 wide receiver has to rank near the top. He made big plays downfield and he continued to be a valuable third-down target for Eli Manning. Smith definitely deserved Pro Bowl consideration. When we look back at what went wrong, it will be difficult to point a finger at the wide receivers.

Biggest disappointment: It's obviously the defense. As Tom Coughlin said, this team lost its identity in the second half of the season. It couldn't stop the run, and the pass rush was almost non-existent. How can Pro Bowl players such as Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora suddenly go silent? It's a question this team has to answer in the offseason. Coughlin has already made one change by firing defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan. That had to happen.

Biggest need: You better fix the situation at linebacker. Decide what you're going to do with veterans Antonio Pierce and Danny Clark, and then find a way to get younger and faster. Clint Sintim may be part of the equation, and young Jon Goff seemed to play well at times from the middle linebacker spot. Michael Boley had an up-and-down season because of injuries, but you have to figure out if he's the real deal. It's time to take a long look at this defense and then start making changes. You also need to find out why the running game regressed this season. If an injury to Brandon Jacobs slowed him down, bring in more reinforcements.

Team MVP: I'm having a difficult time with this pick. Let's allow Smith and Manning to share the trophy. I realize Manning had some less-than-stellar moments midway through the season, but he rallied and actually put up some pretty good numbers. You also have to admire that he never blamed any of his issues on what appeared to be a painful foot injury.

Mosley's crystal ball: General manager Jerry Reese and Coughlin need to solidify the offensive line. I think there are some tweaks that could allow the offensive line to become more effective. Take a long look at right tackle before you insert Kareem McKenzie back into the lineup. How did Will Beatty look at the position? I think the Giants will come back and be a factor in the NFC East race next season, but only time will tell.

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Washington Redskins

Final Power Ranking: 29

Biggest surprise: I guess you'd have to say that Sherm Lewis going from calling bingo to calling plays for the Skins was a pretty major surprise. Dan Snyder didn't have the stomach to fire Jim Zorn when he stripped his play-calling duties in October because he didn't want to pay the man to sit around and do nothing. Thus began the slow march toward a 4-12 season.

Biggest disappointment: Based on the amount of guaranteed money he made ($41 million), I think Albert Haynesworth was a disappointment. He came across as a whiny brat as he took shots at defensive coordinator Greg Blache on Christmas. If you want to complain about a scheme, at least try to be on the field for the games. I'm not saying he was faking an ankle injury, but when you miss several games, I don't think it's wise to start going after the coaches. I know he has a lot of defenders out there, but the guy didn't impress me that much at all this season. I know what he's capable of doing because I watched him with the Titans. Haynesworth looked like a different guy to me. If you're an elite player, you should be able to flourish in any system.

Biggest need: Let's start with the offensive line. The Redskins tried 11 different linemen this season. Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan need to get to work on building a cohesive unit.

Team MVP: I think you can make a strong case for quarterback Jason Campbell, who decided at midseason to stop worrying about the offensive line and just focus on making plays. He had the best statistical season of his career, and I think Shanahan might be able to take him to a much higher level. I'd split the defensive MVP award between Andre Carter and Brian Orakpo. Some people want to give Haynesworth the credit for their success, but I saw them making plays when he was out of the lineup. Both of those guys are solid players.

Mosley's crystal ball: I think Allen and Shanahan will go down every path in order to improve the offensive line. It will be hard for Shanahan not to take a quarterback with that No. 4 overall draft pick, but he should take a long look at an offensive tackle at that spot. The Redskins have some premium picks in this draft, and it's the new regime's first chance to start putting its stamp on the organization. The free-agency crop should be pretty watered down because of the potential for an uncapped season. I wouldn't put too much stock in free agency.

Giants head coach Tom Coughlin said Monday afternoon defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan would be evaluated this week, but apparently the process didn't take too long. Sheridan was fired today after his defense gave up a staggering 427 points this season.

You knew Coughlin had to fire Sheridan. The Giants entered the season as a potential top-five team in the league. By the end of the season, they had one of the worst defenses in football. It wasn't all Sheridan's fault. The Giants lost an excellent safety in Kenny Phillips early in the season. Then they lost linebacker Antonio Pierce, an inspirational leader for the team.

But someone had to pay for this disappointing performance, and Sheridan is the first man to go. I would not be surprised at all if former Bills head coach Dick Jauron replaces Sheridan. We'll keep you updated if anything else develops.

In the days leading up to the Giants' season finale in Minneapolis, embattled defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan told reporters he "absolutely" expected to return in the same role in 2010. But according to a report in the New York Daily News, Sheridan is expected to fired at some point over the next few days.

Citing unnamed players, coaches and other members of the organization, Ralph Vacchiano reported that Tom Coughlin will likely make a change. It wouldn't be much of a surprise given the fact that the defense gave up a staggering 427 points in '09. The pass rush was almost non-existent for much of the season, and the secondary was constantly in a state of flux. There's also the fact that Sheridan clashed with his players during the season, namely Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora.

Defensive tackle Barry Cofield, one of the most thoughtful players on the team, didn't think that last point was such a bad thing.

"I think he has some good intangibles," Cofield said of Sheridan after Sunday's game. "He can do some things right. First-year rookie players aren't expected to light the world on fire a lot of times but coaches don't get that leeway.

"I've never gone into a game thinking, 'We can't win with this game plan.' And I think he showed a lot of heart to stand up to some of the guys we have on this team, guys that are intimidating and well-established players. He wasn't run over by anybody. Those are things he should get credit for. Everything's not his fault. It never is."

Sheridan wasn't helped by key injuries to safety Kenny Phillips and linebacker Antonio Pierce. But that still doesn't explain ending the season with two embarrassing performances. When a team underachieves like the Giants did in '09, someone has to pay. It looks like Sheridan's the first name on the list.

All the good will that Tom Coughlin built with a Super Bowl title two years ago is all but gone. It's not like his job is in jeopardy, but the Giants' final two performances of the season were a disgrace. The Vikings had been fading down the stretch but the Giants' once-proud defense offered the perfect pick-me-up.

Brett Favre torched the Giants' secondary and once again we saw a bunch of missed tackles. We'll see if Coughlin makes immediate changes to his defensive staff. I wouldn't be surprised to see defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan fired this week. The players have supported him in public, but the numbers speak for themselves.

How did this go from one of the most feared defenses in the game to one that has given up 40 points or more five times this season? It's an embarrassing way to end the season. The Giants will need to make some significant changes. I think Justin Tuck was banged up for much of the season, but he's about the only player who has an excuse.

I know the loss of Kenny Phillips hurt, but New York should have been better prepared. C.C. Brown did not get the job done. But it's not like he did anything with the Texans to make us think he could.

This is a flawed team that needs to make changes on the defensive line and at linebacker. There's a possibility that the Giants could move on without veterans Antonio Pierce and Danny Clark.

This is not one of the season where you look back and think the Giants were a play or two away from being a playoff team. They earned their .500 record. Now they have to find a way to rectify the situation.

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Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 17:

I thought we had looked at every conceivable angle of Eagles-Cowboys this week, but let's go even deeper. I'm interested to see how the Cowboys attempt to defend wide receiver DeSean Jackson. He wasn't effective in a 20-16 loss at the Linc and the Cowboys did a really nice job of keeping someone behind him at all times. Since that game, cornerback Mike Jenkins has been playing at a Pro Bowl level. You'll see him try to get a good jam on Jackson and then you'll see safeties Ken Hamlin and Gerald Sensabaugh helping over the top. One of the underrated matchups will be Jason Avant against cornerback Orlando Scandrick. That will be an important contest because Avant is capable of making big plays.

I'm curious to see how much pride the Giants display after a disgraceful performance against the Panthers. Will the defense stand up and play for embattled defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan? The host Vikings are a team that desperately needs a win heading into the playoffs after a December collapse.

This is the type of game we'll find out about some of the Giants' young players. They need players such as Jonathan Goff and Bruce Johnson to make plays. And after being gashed by Jonathan Stewart, let's see how the defense reacts against another elite runner in Adrian Peterson.

The Redskins appear to have little if any chance of winning this game at the Chargers. But let's take a look at how right guard Edwin Williams and safety Kareem Moore play.

These are young guys being asked to play well in starting roles. And you could even see Lendy Holmes starting at safety now that LaRon Landry's been ruled out.

This has to be coach Jim Zorn's last game, although he's in full denial mode. Will his players put it on the line for him one more time or fold like they did against the Giants? We're about to find out.

I'm anxious to see how the Eagles use their linebackers. Akeem Jordan saw the majority of the snaps at middle linebacker last week. He can't cover Jason Witten in the middle of the field. Defensive coordinator Sean McDermoot could go with Will Witherspoon and Jordan as the only linebackers if he wants to try to nickel cornerback Joselio Hanson on Witten.

Jeremiah Trotter can help blow up the running game at middle linebacker but he would get abused by Witten. McDermott has some interesting decisions to make.

I could see Eli Manning getting in a shootout with Brett Favre. And this could be Hakeem Nicks' game of the season. He's shown the ability to make plays after contact. If the offensive line can give Manning time, I think he'll light up this Vikings' secondary.

I'm also very interested to see how Ahmad Bradshaw performs as the feature back. The Vikings have an excellent defensive line but there will be some cutback lanes available. If he has a big day, Giants fans will spend the offseason calling for him to be the starter in 2010.

I think these teams will combine for at least 68 points. Just call it a hunch.

While we rev up the engines for the Redskins' coaching "search" next week, we should also keep an eye on the Giants' defensive coordinator position. Head coach Tom Coughlin has defended Bill Sheridan at times this season, but he can't be happy with the first-year coordinator's results. On Thursday afternoon, Sheridan may have addressed reporters for the final time as Giants defensive coordinator. Asked about his shaky job status, Sheridan provided this response:

"I'm not concerned about it," Sheridan said. "I know you guys are very concerned about it, but I'm not concerned about it. You guys do a great job of being concerned about it, but I'm not."

This is either the most focused guy in the league or Sheridan has attended the Jim Zorn school of denial. There's no doubt that Sheridan's job is in serious jeopardy. You can certainly give him the benefit of the doubt on the injury to talented safety Kenny Phillips and the late-season loss of linebacker Antonio Pierce. But there's no good reason for why some of the most feared pass-rushers in the game came up empty for much of the season. A secondary comprised of men such as C.C. Brown, Aaron Rouse and Bruce Johnson was torched, in part, because Pro Bowlers Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck couldn't get to the quarterback. And almost as disturbing, the Giants were gashed in the running game by the Cowboys, Eagles and Panthers. This is suddenly a defense without an identity -- and someone will have to pay the price.

Sheridan was asked Thursday what he would say to Coughlin if the head coach asks him why he should keep his job:

“The same reason why he gave me the job, because he thinks I’m competent and do a conscientious, diligent job,” Sheridan said. “That’s what I told him when I interviewed for it before. I said, ‘To me the most important thing is competence, that you can give [the players] a plan on a weekly basis that will put them in the best position to defend and beat your opponent. That’s why he gave me the job. And if he’s evaluated I’m still competent in that area, that’s what I would tell him."

Sheridan has said that he "absolutely" thinks he'll return as the team's defensive coordinator. Again, he's either living in denial or Coughlin has privately assured him that his job is secure. I highly doubt the latter part of that statement.

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Falling

1. Albert Haynesworth, Redskins defensive tackle: He picked an interesting time to take a few shots at the organization that guaranteed him $41 million. Haynesworth, who hasn't been able to stay on the field because of an ankle injury, was sent home Christmas Day for being 20 minutes late to a meeting at Redskins Park. He then fired a few shots at defensive coordinator Greg Blache's scheme via The Washington Post that evening. Let's use a little common sense, Albert. Every one of these coaches will likely be gone in a couple of weeks. Does it really do any good to throw them under the bus at this point? Haynesworth's reputation as an elite defensive tackle has exceeded his actual production on the field this season. But at least he talks a good game.

2. Giants' D-line: It's hard to single out someone since the entire group has struggled this season. But at some point you have to have some pride in stopping the run. Allowing Jonathan Stewart to go for 206 rushing yards in the final game at Giants Stadium is embarrassing. And go ahead and throw in the linebackers, too. They look slow at times, and when they're in position to make a play, they miss tackles. Bill Sheridan will probably lose his job as defensive coordinator, but I put more responsibility on the players.

3. Macho Harris, Eagles safety: I normally give rookies a little grace, but Harris has played enough this season to be held to a higher standard. His hit on a defenseless receiver after an Asante Samuel interception helped put the Eagles in poor field position. And after the Broncos had trimmed the Eagles' lead to 10 points, Harris fumbled a kickoff return to give Denver another quick score. If you're going to give Harris meaningful playing time in the playoffs, he has to use better judgment.

Rising

1. Jay Ratliff, Cowboys defensive tackle: He absolutely took over the game Sunday. He finished with two sacks but he also stuffed the Redskins' running game. Center Casey Rabach and the Skins' guards had no chance against Ratliff's power and speed. It's hard to imagine that this guy was a seventh-round draft pick. He's now one of the best defensive players in the league. Also a special mention here for Tony Romo, who had a superb December. If Roy Williams makes a play on the ball, Romo would've made it through the month without a single interception.

2. Brent Celek, Eagles tight end: He's emerged as one of Donovan McNabb's most reliable weapons. When the Broncos sold out to stop DeSean Jackson, it was Celek who burned them in the first half. He finished with four catches for 121 yards and a touchdown. And his one-handed catch in the center of the field was brilliant. Tony Gonzalez will probably get the most Pro Bowl votes in the NFC, but I think Jason Witten and Celek are playing at the highest level right now. Jackson gets most of the attention, but Celek's put up huge numbers this season.

3. Jeremy Maclin, Eagles wide receiver: The Eagles needed someone to make a big-time play at the end of the game and Maclin was up to the task. His 27-yard catch on the sideline with 59 seconds left against the Broncos put the Eagles in position to win the game, 30-27. He's made the adjustment from the spread offense in college to the West Coast offense a lot sooner than some of us expected. The combination of Jackson, Maclin and Jason Avant at wide receiver gives the Eagles one of the best groups in the league.