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FALLING

1. Rob Ryan. The Dallas Cowboys' defensive coordinator was a hot name on the head-coaching rumor mill a couple of weeks ago. But lately, Ryan's defense hasn't been able to stop anyone. He seems to blitz when he shouldn't blitz, to not blitz when he should ... the kinds of things that happen when your coverage in the secondary is failing you. And it's failing Ryan big-time right now. Terence Newman has regressed throughout the season. Mike Jenkins looks like an injury waiting to happen. And the guys behind the starting corners aren't playing well at all. Of all the Cowboys' collapses this year, the one that might haunt them the most if they don't end up in the playoffs is blowing a 12-point lead in the final six minutes against the Giants on Sunday night.

2. New York Giants secondary: The Giants as a whole are rising, as they're back on top of the division by virtue of a tiebreaker and in spite of the four-game losing streak they just ended. But if you watched Sunday's game, you noticed the Cowboys weren't the only team in it that couldn't get a stop on the back end. Giants coach Tom Coughlin called his team's coverage issues a "grave concern," and the Giants need to get some things fixed in the secondary these next two weeks against Rex Grossman and Mark Sanchez before they see Tony Romo & Co. again in what could be a critical Week 17 rematch.

3. Santana Moss, Redskins receiver. Normally one of the Washington Redskins' most solid and reliable offensive performers, Moss cost his team a chance to send Sunday's game against the Patriots into overtime. An offensive pass interference penalty moved the Redskins back as they were driving for the tying touchdown, and Grossman's final throw of the game went off Moss' hands and into the arms of Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo for an interception that ended all hope. It hasn't been the greatest year for Moss, who missed games earlier in the season with a broken hand, but Sunday was a low point.

RISING

1. Eli Manning, Giants quarterback. He's been here before, but Manning just keeps on rising and rising and rising. His 400 passing yards in his latest comeback victory established a new single-season career high. He's over 4,000 yards for the third year in a row and one of four quarterbacks who are threatening to surpass Dan Marino's single-season NFL record of 5,084 yards. If Aaron Rodgers hadn't already locked up the award, Manning would be in the MVP race. He's led five game-winning touchdown drives this year for a team that has only seven wins. If the Giants' run game can look as good as it looked Sunday behind a resurgent Brandon Jacobs, the way Manning's playing could make them one of the best offenses in the league in the final month.

2. Felix Jones, Cowboys running back. Sadly for Cowboys rookie running back DeMarco Murray, his season is over because of a severe ankle injury he suffered in the first quarter of Sunday's loss. That means a lot more carries for Jones, who was the starter earlier this season before he got hurt and Murray took over. Jones looked fresh and spry and more than capable Sunday. The problem now is that they have practically nothing behind him, so the priority has to be keeping Jones from getting hurt. I imagine the Cowboys will throw the ball more over their final three games, but when they run, they'll ask Jones to do the running.

3. Philadelphia Eagles defense. They totally cooled off a red-hot Miami team Sunday, knocking quarterback Matt Moore out of the game and shutting down the Dolphins after an early Brandon Marshall touchdown. First-year defensive coordinator Juan Castillo is working new guys into new roles and expanding what the defense is capable of doing. It was the best the defense has looked all year and the way the Eagles had hoped they'd be able to play consistently this year. The talent is there, and if the scheme and focus issues are settled, it may be enough to carry the Eagles to a strong finish, even if it is too little too late.

Some thoughts on the Philadelphia' Eagles impressive 26-10 victory against the Dolphins in Miami on Sunday afternoon:

What it means: Well, I mean, I guess, technically you've got to say the Eagles are still alive. The victory moves them to 5-8 for the season, and if they can somehow find a way to play this well on defense the rest of the way and win their final three games, they could theoretically still win the NFC East at 8-8. It's a long shot, and it would require the Giants and the Cowboys to do a lot of losing. But this year in the NFC East, no one's very good. And as bad as the Eagles have been, you just can't put that little "x" next to them in the standings just yet.

Defensive clinic: It looked bad early for the defense, as Matt Moore beat Nnamdi Asomugha with a perfectly thrown 16-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Marshall. But the Eagles' defense locked in after that. It got to Moore and eventually knocked him out of the game. Linebackers Casey Matthews and Brian Rolle made plays. Asante Samuel made a tackle and forced a fumble. It looked a lot like the way the Eagles had hoped they'd be able to play defense all season. And jeez, they went into the fourth quarter with a lead and never even looked as though they'd give it up. The defense had nine sacks, allowed 204 total yards, held the Dolphins to 3-for-15 on third downs and forced three turnovers.

Hoping it was rust, not ribs: Eagles quarterback Michael Vick played after missing three games with broken ribs, and he didn't look great. He hooked up with DeSean Jackson for a long touchdown, but ended the day 15-for-30 for 208 yards and an interception to go with the touchdown. It's possible he was rusty, and the Dolphins' defense has played very well lately, but if the ribs are still hurting Vick when he throws, you have to wonder what the Eagles will or even can do about that.

Weird day for Shady: Eagles running back LeSean McCoy entered the day ranked second in the league in rushing yards, but had just 38 yards on 27 carries against that tough Dolphins front. He did get two touchdowns to take him to 17 for the season (14 rushing, three receiving), but he wasn't his usual explosive self, and he lost ground to Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew in the race for the rushing title.

What's next: The Eagles have a tough home game Sunday against the New York Jets, who are 8-5 and making their own playoff push. New York's once-feared defense isn't quite what it used to be, and the Jets' lack of big-time pass-rushers could allow Vick a little bit more time to throw than he often gets, so it's not an impossible game. They'll just need to protect the ball, and they'll have a chance to outscore Mark Sanchez and the Jets' offense.

As you get ready for this afternoon's game against the Dolphins in Miami, here's one reason for Philadelphia Eagles fans to be feeling good and one reason for concern:

Feeling good: Well, you get your quarterback back. After three games of Vince Young, Interception Machine (yeah, he even threw three in the game he won), Michael Vick returns from his broken ribs to see if he can't salvage something -- if only self-respect -- out of the final four games of the Eagles' season. There was some thought that wide receiver Jeremy Maclin would be back, too, but he was downgraded from probable to questionable on Saturday and now looks like a game-time decision with that hamstring injury. Regardless, the return of Vick will help the offense run better, might help get DeSean Jackson re-engaged and is the Eagles' best chance to win their last four games and give them even an outside chance at the playoffs.

Cause for concern: These are not September and October's Dolphins. Miami has won four of five since it's 0-7 start and has outscored opponents 139-54 over that stretch. The defense is playing inspired and getting to the quarterback. The offense is clicking as quarterback Matt Moore is getting the ball to Brandon Marshall and tight end Anthony Fasano and Reggie Bush is leading the run game. This may have looked like a pushover second-half game a few weeks back, but (a) so did Seattle and (b) these Dolphins are playing some of the best all-around football of any team in the league right now. The Eagles will have to play their absolute best -- something we've seen them do for a full game maybe twice all season.

A couple of Thanksgiving night thoughts now that I've had a chance to digest the Dallas Cowboys' 20-19 victory over the Miami Dolphins, among other things:

This is the Romo you read about: How many times have you been told that you have to deal with the bad Tony Romo because of how good the good one is? Well, I'm sure lots of Cowboys fans were rolling their eyes about the two first-quarter interceptions. But there was Romo at the end, dancing away from pressure and finding Jason Witten on that big 23-yard gain, finding DeMarco Murray for a big completion while getting drilled and expertly moving his team into field goal range without poor decisions or unnecessary risks. Romo made the plays he needed to make to win the game, and that's what we're supposed to use to judge quarterbacks, right? Wins?

Running tough: Murray has found the going tough the past two games, playing without fullback Tony Fiammetta and against defenses that are strong up front. But for the second week in a row, Murray was in there grinding out the tough, between-the-tackles yards the team needs him to be able to get if the offense is to work as well as it can. He had 87 yards on 22 carries, which is good, hard running back work, and it's got to encourage the Cowboys and their fans that their rookie running back is tough and willing enough to handle it.

Defense a mixed bag: The Cowboys were tough up front, cutting off the Dolphins' run game between the tackles. But Terence Newman needed to basically commit pass interference on every play in his effort to stop Brandon Marshall. Marshall's touchdown catch was completely amazing for the fact that Newman was strangling him with two arms while yanking him to the ground. With Mike Jenkins out, the Dallas secondary suffers, and opponents know they can take shots down the field. The good news is that there are few receivers in the league with Marshall's size and physicality. The bad news is that the Cowboys' next game is against Larry Fitzgerald and the Cardinals. They need to sort out some coverage issues.

Automatic Dan: Could any Cowboys fan have imagined how good you feel about Dan Bailey with the game on the line? That was the rookie place-kicker's fourth game-winning field goal this year in the final two minutes or overtime. And while it was only a 28-yarder, as soon as they were in field goal range all you were thinking as a Cowboys fan was, "Just don't turn it over." You knew Bailey would make the kick. And what a feeling that's got to be for the Cowboys. They're relying on rookies at kicker and running back, and the rookies are among the most reliable players on their roster.

Loving Laurent: For most of the game, I was wondering if Romo had forgotten there were other people to whom he could throw the ball besides Laurent Robinson. But when the Cowboys get near the end zone, Romo doesn't feel the need to go anywhere else. ESPN Stats & Information reports that Robinson has been targeted in the end zone five times this year and has caught all five of them. I imagine Dez Bryant will still get his in the coming weeks, and Romo did remember his old friend Witten on that final drive when he needed him. But Robinson has earned Romo's trust in key spots very quickly.

In Summary: You may have wanted them to crush the Dolphins, and you may well be able to argue that they should. But this is a different Miami team than the one that began the season 0-7. Its defensive line is fearsome, and Romo will wake Friday morning with the aches and bruises to prove it. Matt Moore is playing very well at quarterback. Miami came in as one of the hottest teams in the league, and while a victory over a team that's now 3-8 doesn't stand out as one of the sparkling achievements of their season, the Cowboys can feel good, for the second week in a row, about a win that didn't come easily but came nonetheless.

As you get ready for this afternoon's Thanksgiving Day home game against the Miami Dolphins, here's one reason for Dallas Cowboys fans to feel good and one reason for concern:

Feeling good: The Dolphins' defense is tough up front, but they're not as tough in the secondary, and with Dez Bryant, Laurent Robinson and Jason Witten, the Cowboys and Tony Romo have enough downfield passing game targets to overmatch the Dolphins on the back end. They'll try to run it with DeMarco Murray, but even if that doesn't work and they find themselves having to outscore the Dolphins through the air, the Cowboys should be able to pull it off.

Cause for concern: The Dolphins' passing game has been better lately, with Matt Moore getting comfortable at quarterback and looking often for big, physical No. 1 wide receiver Brandon Marshall. With cornerback Mike Jenkins out and safety Gerald Sensabaugh a game-time decision due to injury, the Cowboys could have trouble finding ways to contain Marshall. If he's able to get open, he could beat the Cowboys with some big plays.

The Dallas Cowboys will host the Miami Dolphins in their annual Thanksgiving Day game on Thursday afternoon. Each team comes in having won three games in a row. The Cowboys edged the division-rival Redskins in overtime on Sunday to claim a share of first place in the NFC East. And the Dolphins have really turned it on after their 0-7 start, outscoring their last three opponents by a combined score of 86-20. Here's a look at some of the things to watch for as the Cowboys try to make it four in a row against one of the hottest teams in the league:

Air it out: The Dolphins' defense is allowing 251.1 passing yards per game this year, which is the eighth-highest average in the league. Now, during their current three-game winning streak, they're only allowing 206 passing yards per game. Their defense is playing better, especially up front. But they can still be exploited in the secondary, and none of the teams they've beaten -- Kansas City, Washington or Buffalo -- came equipped with the kind of downfield weapons the Cowboys and Tony Romo have at their disposal. While the Cowboys have shown, since rookie DeMarco Murray took over as the starting running back, a commitment to the run, I'd look for them to take some deep shots against a weak part of this Miami defense and see if they can build an early lead.

Make Matt Moore uncomfortable: The Dolphins' quarterback has played very well in recent weeks, throwing six touchdown passes and one interception during the win streak. Miami has managed to get big production out of running back Reggie Bush to take some pressure off of Moore, and he's worked tight end Anthony Fasano into the receiving mix to complement the big, physical downfield presence of wide receiver Brandon Marshall. But Moore isn't likely to find the going so smooth if the Cowboys can get into the backfield and disrupt his timing. DeMarcus Ware should be moved around some in this game so he gets to attack the Marc Colombo side of the Dolphins' offensive line as well as the Jake Long side. It's on the Colombo side, Cowboys fans will not be surprised to learn, that they're most vulnerable.

The Fiammetta factor: With fullback Tony Fiammetta sidelined due to illness last week, Murray and the run game weren't as effective as they had been in the previous four games. That's not to say Murray wasn't good. His prior four games were a lot to live up to. But with Fiammetta out, there was a clear difference in Murray's effectiveness when running between the tackles. It looks as though Fiammetta will sit out again, so watch the Dolphins stack up eight-man fronts to try and take away Murray or at least dare him to try and run inside.

Is Sean Lee all the way back?: The Cowboys were the best defense in the league against the run in the early part of this season. Then, starting with the injury to middle linebacker Lee in the loss to the Eagles, they struggled against the run for a few weeks. Was their improvement in this department Sunday because the Redskins' run game is so poor, or because Lee is getting more comfortable playing in spite of his injured wrist? The Dolphins, with Bush and rookie Daniel Thomas leading their run game, will offer a more reliable test.

Home for the holiday: Romo is 4-0 in his career on Thanksgiving Day. He missed last year's game due to injury, but he and the Cowboys are thought to have an advantage here because they play a Thanksgiving game every year and are experienced in how to handle the short week. They're also at home, and playing with extreme confidence. While they can't take the suddenly red-hot Dolphins lightly, they have what they need to establish themselves as the better team early and control the game.

As you get ready for the New York Giants' home game against the Miami Dolphins this afternoon, here's one reason for Giants fans to be feeling good and one reason for concern:

Feeling good: Well, lots of reasons to feel good. The Dolphins have yet to win a game this season, and a lot of people think they might be trying to lose on purpose so they can get the No. 1 pick in the draft. I don't buy that the players are trying to lose, but they have played very poorly and are already on their backup quarterback in Matt Moore. Even their potential strengths don't match up well with the Giants. If rookie running back Daniel Thomas were healthy, they could maybe get a run game going against a Giants defense that doesn't stop the run well, but Thomas' hamstring will keep him out of this game. Top receiver Brandon Marshall is a mismatch for most cornerbacks, but the Giants' Corey Webster and Aaron Ross have the size and the speed to cover him. Basically, it's hard to see too many ways that the Dolphins might be able to win the game.

Cause for concern: I guess a winless team can be a desperate team, and the Dolphins really do have nothing to lose. They have the kinds of players, in Marshall and Reggie Bush, who can beat you with a big play, and if they hit a couple of those they could theoretically put the Giants on their heels and control the game. The Giants showed a few weeks back in a home loss to the Seahawks that they're not immune to a "trap" game in which they play down to their opponent. I don't see it happening here, but anything is possible.

What it means: It's a great way to open New Meadowlands Stadium and it helps dim the memories from that embarrassing loss to the Carolina Panthers in the 2009 finale. But the New York Giants began last season 5-0, so no one is going to jump to conclusions. You can't call a season-opener a "must-win" but this one sort of had that feel. The Giants need to establish an identity early in the season, and that second half should provide a nice foundation. Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks served notice he is ready to challenge the top receivers in the NFC East in terms of big-play ability.

Tomorrow's talker: The headline to me was the play of the Giants' defensive line. Mathias Kiwanuka came off the bench and had two sacks. Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora and Kiwanuka took over the game in the second half and Matt Moore didn't have a chance. It made me remember those 2007 and 2008 teams. New defensive coordinator Perry Fewell has changed the mindset of this defense. I think he has brought energy to the entire team and it's good to see the defensive line responding to him in such a big way.

What I liked: That running back Ahmad Bradshaw didn't show any frustration when the Panthers were shutting him down. He kept plugging away until he finally broke a big one. Then he pounded the ball into the end zone on third down. Brandon Jacobs isn't going to embrace this situation, but Bradshaw can't worry about that. It's obvious he's now the feature back.

Big revelation: Safety Kenny Phillips proved a lot this game. Playing in his first real game since microfracture surgery, Phillips had an interception and also made a really nice shoestring tackle on DeAngelo Williams to prevent a touchdown in the first half. The Giants are stacked at safety, which is a huge change from last season.

What's next: The Giants travel to Indianapolis to play against an angry football team. Peyton Manning put up huge numbers, like he usually does, but the Colts still lost to the Houston Texans. Indy can't afford to start the season 0-2, so the Giants will encounter a desperate team. I'm anxious to see what Fewell can come up with to disrupt the elder Manning. He'll be a little tougher to rattle than Moore.

Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips has stepped away from the ledge and decided not to play most of his starters in Thursday's final "tune-up" against the Miami Dolphins. I think it's the only decision that makes much sense.

But Phillips did make the mildly surprising announcement that third-team quarterback Stephen McGee will start the game and likely receive the majority of the snaps. The Cowboys have seen McGee show some improvement the past couple weeks and they'd like to take an extended look.

Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is well aware that the club let Matt Moore get away when they tried to sneak him to the practice squad a few years ago and he doesn't want to make the same mistake with McGee.

Thanks for your prolific letter-writing campaign over the past few weeks. I've read your thoughtful e-mails/threats and I'm prepared to respond in a meaningful way. Let's start on this important journey together:

One of our Canadian readers, Anton, has a question regarding the Cowboys' defensive line: Hey Matt, I just had a thought about the Cowboys: Since they have at least four quality defensive ends (Olshansky, Spears, Hatcher and Bowen) but have little depth behind Jay Ratliff at nose tackle, why don't they move one of those players to defensive tackle?

Mosley: Anton, it takes a unique player to fill the nose tackle spot in the Wade Phillips 3-4. Jay Ratliff has such a high motor that he rarely comes off the field. In some of the sub-packages, Bowen and Hatcher can move inside. But I agree that the Cowboys could use more depth at the position. Be interesting to see what happens if Penn State defensive tackle Jared Odrick makes it to No. 27 in the first round. Pretty versatile player and the Cowboys certainly like him.

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Hunter in Anchorage has a Skins trade proposal: I'm surprised that the Redskins haven't talked to the Bills about a trade scenario that includes Jason Campbell for Marshawn Lynch. Wouldn't he be a lot better option for RB than the Skins most recent pickups of Larry Johnson and Willie Parker?

Mosley: Lynch is younger and more talented than Johnson and Parker, but he also carries some baggage. I think Mike Shanahan really has to watch who he brings into this locker room. I still wonder if bringing the petulant Johnson into the fold was the right move. If a trade's completed with the Bills for Campbell, I think it will involve a draft pick. Watch what happens at No. 9 for the Bills. If they take Jimmy Clausen, we'll have our answer. That would eliminate a potential landing spot for Campbell. I still think the Panthers would be wise to trade for Campbell, but apparently they're going to ride this out with Matt Moore.

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Constantine from London wonders if the Giants might be interested in Albert Haynesworth: Big BIG fan of the blog, read it EVERYDAY! Huge Giants fan from the UK and would like your opinion on something. Reportedly the Redskins want a second-round pick for Haynesworth now that they've paid his bonus. With the Giants being interested in him during free agency last year, would they spend a second on him? I think they should. We'll cover our most pressing need (MLB) in the first round, and since getting Rolle and Grant in free agency, we need a big defensive tackle -- especially as Jay Alford is coming off a torn ACL. Your thoughts?

Mosley: First of all, love your use of the CAPS button. Second, I'm afraid the Donovan McNabb trade has skewed the way we look at everything in the Beast. Now it seems possible that a team might trade a former All-Pro defensive tackle to a division rival for a second-round pick. And by the way, I have not seen a report with anything as specific as what you're suggesting. I've written that I think the Redskins might settle for a second-rounder for Haynesworth, but that's more of a gut feeling. And despite Mike Shanahan's apparent disgust with Haynesworth, I don't think he wants him playing for the Giants. I think he would immediately make the Giants better on the defensive line. If you're Giants general manager Jerry Reese, you make that deal in a heartbeat.

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Robert in Austin has the final word on our "owners gone wild" segment: Really, the owner of an NFL team seen mocking a former NFL head coaching legend? As a child, the Cowboys were seen as one of the classiest organizations in the NFL. Great ownership (Clint Murchison), management (Tex Schramm) and coaching (Tom Landry). Oh no more, as Jerry Jones in his short stint as owner has made the Cowboys a laughingstock from an ownership and management standpoint. The tone at the top for the Cowboys is horrible. An owner who drove out one coach because he could find "500 coaches to coach this team to a Super Bowl," and now mocking one of the great NFL coaches in the league who resurrected the football team? This incident makes me envious of the Steelers, a truly class organization.

Mosley: Hmm... It's an interesting time for a Cowboys fan to be envious of the Steelers. I didn't get the feeling that Art Rooney II felt particularly proud while delivering that public rebuke of Ben Roethlisberger on Thursday. And by the way, Jones has owned the Cowboys for 22 years now. That's not exactly a "short stint." I've been highly critical of him over the years, but I don't see this whole video incident as that big a deal. Jones likes Bill Parcells and I didn't hear anything in that video to make me think otherwise. He's made some awful moves over the past two decades (Roy Williams, Joey Galloway come to mind), but to say he's turned the organization into a "laughingstock" seems a bit harsh. OK, I'm getting tired of defending the man. Let's put this story to bed.

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Patrick from Arkansas has an Eagles question: Hey, with the draft picks the Eagles have gotten in recent trades, do you think it's possible that they trade up to get someone like Eric Berry? They have already worked him out. Your thoughts?

Mosley: Berry's a rare talent at safety. The Eagles would have to sacrifice much of their draft to move up that far. In fact, I'm not sure the No. 24 and No. 37 would get you close enough to Berry. (I'm scrambling for my trade chart as we speak.) It's much more likely the Eagles stay right there at No. 24 and select a cornerback such as Boise State's Kyle Wilson. I also think USC's Taylor Mays will be available, but there are a lot of concerns about his ability to make plays on the ball. OK, let's do this again soon. You guys have been on fire lately.

As we continue to monitor the Donovan McNabb situation in Philly, here's an interesting thought from NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas. Pat thinks there's a chance the Panthers could place the franchise tag on Julius Peppers and then trade him for McNabb. Here's what he wrote in a recent mailbag:

"Despite all the rumors about McNabb, I’m not sure the Eagles will really part ways with him. The guy’s had an incredible career, far better than a lot of Philadelphia fans give him credit for. If the Panthers tag Peppers and the Eagles made McNabb available in a trade, I think that’s something the Panthers would have to consider. But it’s sounding more and more like the Panthers just might let Peppers walk. If that happens, I don’t know that will instantly free up $20 million. I think the Panthers, like a lot of teams, are going to be conservative this year because of the labor situation. Still, somehow, I’d like to see them get a quality quarterback. I think Matt Moore is an option, but he certainly isn’t a sure thing. John Fox needs a sure thing at quarterback."

Would McNabb be excited about the prospect of playing in Charlotte, N.C., for John Fox? Well, I think he'd list the Cardinals and the Vikings ahead of the Panthers on his potential wish list. But this thing isn't even close to being resolved right now.

New York closed down Giants Stadium with what had to be one of the most disgraceful performances in franchise history. The Giants were the only team on the field with something to play for, but it didn't matter as they were throttled by the Panthers.


A promising first drive was thwarted by a key holding penalty on fullback Madison Hedgecock and a fumble by Mario Manningham. Quarterback Eli Manning connected with Steve Smith for a 26-yard touchdown, but it was wiped out because Hedgecock needlessly threw a Panthers defender to the ground. From that moment on, the Panthers played with more passion than the Giants.

Quarterback Matt Moore picked apart the Giants' secondary and running back Jonathan Stewart rushed for 206 yards. When the Giants trailed 17-0 in the second quarter, Manning was intercepted by Panthers cornerback Richard Marshall. The Giants fell behind, 31-0, before finally scoring in the third quarter.

At 8-7, the Giants need a miracle to make the playoffs. They need the Cowboys to lose their final two games. And even then, it would require the Giants to go on the road and beat the Vikings in the regular-season finale. On Sunday, Tom Coughlin learned that his team had no sense of the moment. The missed tackles that have plagued the defense throughout the season cropped up again. The inexperienced Moore completed 15-of-20 passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns.

Coughlin said he was at a loss for words following the loss. He felt like the Giants had an excellent practice on Christmas day and he was stunned that they came out and performed so poorly. At this point, it's hard to imagine Bill Sheridan keeping his job as defensive coordinator. His unit has struggled all season, but the fact that the Giants gave up so many yards on the ground has to be particularly galling. The Giants weren't as physical as the Panthers in this game -- and there's no excuse for that.

Playing in front of some of the all-time greats, the Giants left an awful stench in Giants Stadium.

Hope that you guys are enjoying the holidays. Now it's time for our weekly predictions in the NFC East. The Beast has been on a roll lately, but we didn't see the Cowboys' upset of the Saints coming. Here's a look at the predictions from our esteemed panel in Bristol.

Panthers at Giants: All eight panelists picked the Giants, which is a bit surprising. The Panthers are coming off a big upset win over the Vikings and Matt Moore is doing a nice job at quarterback. I don't think it's a given that the Giants win this game, but I'm picking them anyway.

Beast pick: Giants 27, Panthers 21. This is not going to be a blowout. The Panthers will keep it close by running on the Giants. In the end, Justin Tuck's two sacks and a Bruce Johnson interception will help preserve a win. There will be some extra emotion with New York playing in Giants Stadium for the final time.

Cowboys at Redskins: The panelists weren't having any fun this week. All eight of them picked the Cowboys to win in Washington. Apparently they watched that woeful Skins performance on "Monday Night Football."

Beast pick: Cowboys 31, Redskins 13. I'm afraid the Redskins have finally given up this season. They'll play hard at the start of the game, but an early touchdown by Miles Austin will cause them to go into shutdown mode. Not even the son of George Allen can prevent this tail-kicking. Jason Campbell will put up good numbers in this game, but he'll be undermined by some baffling play calls in the red zone.

Broncos at Eagles: We finally had someone break from the pack. Adam Schefter has picked the Broncos over the Eagles. The other seven panelists went with the Eagles -- and so will I.

Beast pick: Eagles 28, Broncos 17. After an outpouring of emotion for former Eagles safety Brian Dawkins, Philly will go out and hang at least 300 yards passing on the Broncos. I think the return of Dawkins will actually serve to keep the Eagles from overlooking a fading Broncos team that is coming off a loss to the Raiders. This team's asking to be buried and I think the Eagles will accommodate the Broncos.

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

Cowboys fans were thrilled to read a report Monday on a Miami Herald blog that owner Jerry Jones might have some interest in Dolphins quarterback John Beck. If for no other reason, it replaced the talk of Chris Simms for at least one day.

Earlier this afternoon a league source told me it's been nine days since the Cowboys inquired about Beck. Someone from Parcells' compound instructed them that the Dolphins weren't ready to deal Beck, who along with Josh McCown, doesn't appear to be in position to compete for the starting job.

If you start hearing reports soon that Beck is lighting it up in practice, you'll know the Dolphins are attempting to trade him. No matter how you look at it, when you bring in Quincy Carter for a workout, it's probably not a sign that you're in love with your quarterback situation.

How long did it take the Dolphins to sign Chad Pennington once he'd been released by the Jets? I'd have to say at least three or four minutes.

The Cowboys are actually pleased with the way 39-year-old Brad Johnson's been playing, so you shouldn't assume that Beck would immediately become the No. 2 guy.

I don't think this deal's going to happen, but the Cowboys would certainly like the opportunity to get a former second-round pick on the cheap. Last season they gambled on being able to sneak Matt Moore onto their practice squad and the plan backfired.

Right now, Richard Bartel is listed as the No. 3 quarterback in Dallas. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is fond of Bartel, but he'd probably prefer working with Beck.