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Cincinnati Bengals

Key additions: RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, S Reggie Nelson, G Travelle Wharton, CB Jason Allen, CB Adam Jones, DE Jamaal Anderson, DE Derrick Harvey

Key losses: DE Frostee Rucker (Browns), G Nate Livings (Cowboys), G Mike McGlynn (Colts), DE Jonathan Fanene (Patriots), WR Andre Caldwell (Broncos)

Grade after first wave of free agency: B. The Bengals were the most active team in the division and they should have been. Cincinnati entered free agency with over $50 million in salary-cap space, which was more than the rest of the AFC North combined. The Bengals upgraded at running back and left guard while bringing back their top free-agent priority in safety Reggie Nelson. The biggest knock against the Bengals is they didn't make a splash by signing a high-profile free agent like guard Ben Grubbs or wide receiver Robert Meachem.

The prize of the Bengals' signings is running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who is an improvement over Cedric Benson. Green-Ellis isn't known for breaking long gains, but he is a force in the red zone and has never fumbled in the NFL. Wharton is a step up from Nate Livings at left guard because he is a strong run-blocker who will open holes inside. The biggest losses came on the defensive line, where Cincinnati will miss Frostee Rucker on run defense and Jonathan Fanene in the pass rush.

What’s next: The Bengals can still close the gap between the Ravens and Steelers because they have two first-round picks in the draft (No. 17 overall, which came from Oakland in the Carson Palmer trade, and No. 21). Even with the signing of Wharton, Cincinnati needs a right guard and could have a shot at the top interior offensive lineman coming out of college. Stanford's David DeCastro is one of the safest picks in the draft and would start immediately for the Bengals.

The second first-round pick could be used on a wide receiver or a cornerback. The Bengals surprisingly didn't add a free-agent wide receiver to pair with A.J. Green. Georgia Tech's Stephen Hill or Baylor's Kendall Wright should be available in the bottom third of the draft. Another need is cornerback because Cincinnati could use an eventual replacement for Nate Clements, who is entering his 12th season. Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick, the second-best corner in the draft, has a chance of sliding to the Bengals.

Cleveland Browns

Key additions: DE Frostee Rucker, LB D'Qwell Jackson, CB Dimitri Patterson, DE Juqua Parker

Key losses: RB Peyton Hillis (Chiefs), S Mike Adams (Broncos), G Eric Steinbach, OT Tony Pashos

Grade after first wave of free agency: C. Browns president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert said they were building this team through the draft and they weren't joking. The Browns desperately needed to improve at quarterback, wide receiver and right guard. But Cleveland's offense came out of the initial wave of free agency empty-handed. Blame the Washington Redskins. The Browns attempted to move up in the draft to take Robert Griffin III, and the Rams instead traded the second overall pick to the Redskins. Cleveland reportedly pursued wide receivers Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan, and both took high-priced deals from Washington.

The Browns provided more help to the defense in free agency. Frostee Rucker will make an impact in stopping the run, which was the biggest weakness on the NFL's 10th-ranked defense. Juqua Parker, who has 31.5 sacks over the past six seasons, will team with Jabaal Sheard to give Cleveland a strong rush coming off both edges. The Browns didn't try to keep Peyton Hillis and Mike Adams from going elsewhere.

What’s next: Offense, offense and offense. Did I mention offense? The Browns need a quarterback but there's no one worthy of the fourth overall pick. Cleveland could trade down to select Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill or wait until the second round for Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden. The big decision comes if the Browns stay put at No. 4. Cleveland's choices are Alabama running back Trent Richardson or Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon. The Browns could use either one because they don't have a starting running back or a No. 1 wide receiver.

Cleveland has a second first-round pick as a result of last year's trade with the Atlanta Falcons. The Browns need to target a wide receiver (if they don't take one earlier in the first round), right tackle or outside linebacker with the 22nd overall pick. Baylor receiver Wright, Mississippi offensive tackle Bobby Massie and Nebraska outside linebacker Lavonte David have been linked to Cleveland.

Baltimore Ravens

Key additions: C Matt Birk, ILB Jameel McClain, OLB Brendon Ayanbadejo, CB Corey Graham, S Sean Considine

Key losses: G Ben Grubbs (Saints), OLB Jarret Johnson (Chargers), DE Cory Redding (Colts) and CB Domonique Foxworth

Grade after first wave of free agency: D. The Ravens lost three starters (Ben Grubbs, Jarret Johnson and Cory Redding) from last season's AFC North champion team and have yet to add anyone to replace them. It was a a rough start to free agency for Baltimore, which didn't sign any of its first three visits (guard Evan Mathis, defensive end Mark Anderson and receiver-returner Ted Ginn Jr.). The toughest part of free agency was when the Ravens failed to sign Mathis, who re-signed with the Eagles, after Baltimore had just lost Grubbs.

Baltimore was able to keep two free-agent starters, Matt Birk and Jameel McClain, and boost a struggling special-teams group that allowed three touchdowns last season. The Ravens signed Cory Graham, a Pro Bowl special-teams player from the Bears; Brendon Ayanbadejo, a three-time Pro Bowl special teams standout; and Sean Considine, who played special teams for three seasons under John Harbaugh in Philadelphia.

What’s next: The Ravens' biggest need is at left guard, but there might not be one that warrants being taken at No. 29. Wisconsin center-guard Peter Konz's stock has slipped recently even though he can guard right away before switching to center in future seasons. It's hard to pin down a player for Baltimore, which can go in a lot of different directions in the first round.

The Ravens could take the best wide receiver available (especially if he's a returner) because they need a third target who can eventually take Anquan Boldin's starting spot. They could take a safety because Ed Reed turns 34 at the start of the season and Bernard Pollard is a free agent next year. And they could take an offensive tackle because they don't have a reliable backup and Bryant McKinnie is a free agent in 2013.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Key additions: None

Key losses: CB William Gay (Cardinals), LB James Farrior, NT Chris Hoke, G Chris Kemoeatu, DE Aaron Smith, WR Hines Ward

Grade after first wave of free agency: D. It's been a quiet free-agency period so far for the Steelers. Then again, it's usually quiet for the Steelers at this point in the offseason. The only team that consistently does less than the Steelers in free agency is the Green Bay Packers.

The Steelers avoided a failing grade because they've only lost two starters from last season's playoff team. James Farrior was cut in the team's salary-cap purge, and William Gay left as an unrestricted free agent. What Pittsburgh really lost in trimming $25 million to get under the cap was veteran depth and leadership. Injuries would force young players to step up into starting roles.

What’s next: There are question marks at running back, guard, inside linebacker, nose tackle and cornerback. Despite all of those needs, the consensus has been Pittsburgh will draft Alabama inside linebacker Dont'a Hightower if he's available at No. 24. He has a great combination of size and speed and excelled in a 3-4 defense in college. It seems like Hightower would be the perfect fit for Pittsburgh.

There's no chance that Memphis' Dontari Poe falls to the Steelers, but there some quality nose tackles in the draft. Those who should be available after the first round are: BYU's Loni Fangupo (second round), Washington's Alameda Ta'amu (third round) and Alabama's Josh Chapman (fourth round). The Steelers likely will become active later in free agency, especially in retaining their own players. Wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery, running back Mewelde Moore and quarterbacks Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch could potentially return to the team.

So, your AFC North team hasn't lived up to expectations in the first couple of days in free agency. I hear you fans from Cincinnati, Cleveland and Baltimore. For those in Pittsburgh, you're used to taking a fan vacation during this time, because the Steelers rarely do much in free agency.

It's now time for you to vent. Let is all out. Put all your frustration into slamming that keyboard as you vote in today's poll: Which AFC North team has had the most disappointing start in free agency?

The Bengals have more cap room than the other three teams in the division combined. But they don't have a starting running back, a No. 2 wide receiver or any quality guards.

The Browns have made some solid signings with defensive end Frostee Rucker and cornerback Dimitri Patterson, but they have ignored the team's biggest weakness -- the offense that rarely scored more than 17 points in 2011. Cleveland doesn't have a proven running back, a speedy wide receiver or a starting right tackle.

The Ravens have lost the most starters in the division since free agency began, parting ways with guard Ben Grubbs, linebacker Jarret Johnson and defensive end Cory Redding. A fourth starter could be added to the list as linebacker Jameel McClain is visiting Denver.

And finally, there's the Steelers, who released a good chunk of their veteran depth before free agency, and can't do anything to address that because of paltry salary-cap space. It would've been nice to upgrade the offensive line, add a veteran running back, or sign a nose tackle in free agency.

Go ahead and register your vote, or let me know what you think in the comments section below. I'll follow up by Monday.

It won't be considered a scintillating move, but it was a smart one for the Cleveland Browns to re-sign cornerback Dimitri Patterson.

I expect a potential ripple effect from the Browns keeping Patterson. Judging by the size of his contract -- three years for $16 million with $6 million guaranteed, according to the Akron Beacon Journal -- the expectation is for Patterson to go from nickel back to starter.

Patterson, 28, would push Sheldon Brown, who got picked on by quarterbacks last season, to nickel back or to a different position entirely. The Browns could move Brown to safety depending on their faith in speedy Buster Skrine becoming the No. 3 cornerback. Shifting Brown to safety would eliminate the need for Cleveland to re-sign free agent Mike Adams, who is visiting the Denver Broncos.

Excelling last season as the nickel back, the 5-foot-10, 200-pound Patterson broke up 12 passes and made 26 tackles. While keeping Patterson is a solid move for the Browns -- I had him as the ninth-best free agent available in the AFC North -- it doesn't preclude them from using the fourth overall pick on LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne.

The Browns continue to be the most active AFC North team in signing free agents, adding defensive end Frostee Rucker and retaining Patterson, tight end Alex Smith and offensive lineman John Greco.

The AFC North is running a series where every position will be ranked and what could change at that position.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

1. STEELERS: Pittsburgh had the top-ranked pass defense, and it wasn't all about the pass rush this time. Actually, the pass rush was extremely inconsistent this season, so that No. 1 ranking is more of a reflection of the Steelers' secondary. Cornerback Ike Taylor and free safety Ryan Clark had career years. Taylor's season, though, was marred by a late-season decline that ended with him getting stiffed-armed by the Broncos' Demaryius Thomas on the touchdown that ended the Steelers' season. Clark had the best season of any safety in the division, which is saying a lot when Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed are in the AFC North. He finished second in the division with 100 tackles. Polamalu was solid, but didn't play up to his usual spectacular level. William Gay was a pleasant surprise, taking back the starting cornerback job that he lost in 2010. What could change: Gay is an unrestricted free agent, but it shouldn't take much to retain him. Look for rookie cornerbacks Cortez Allen and Curtis Brown to make more of an impact in their second seasons.

2. RAVENS: This group exceeded expectations, and did so in a surprising manner. Instead of starting Domonique Foxworth and Chris Carr at cornerback, the Ravens finished fourth in pass defense with Lardarius Webb and Cary Williams. Webb was the division's top cornerback, recording five interceptions and breaking up 20 passes (and that doesn't include three interceptions in the playoffs). Williams was a physical presence at corner. The biggest disappointment was Reed, who intercepted three passes -- his fewest in a season where he played more than 12 games. The Ravens' other safety, hard-hitting Bernard Pollard, provided more of an impact than Reed. First-round pick Jimmy Smith endured an up-and-down rookie season. What could change: Smith should take over for Williams as a starting cornerback this season. Foxworth is expected to get cut, and the same could happen to Carr. Both backup safeties, Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura, are free agents, but I suspect Nakamura will get re-signed.

3. BROWNS: Joe Haden showed signs of being a shutdown corner, even though he failed to make an interception. He held his own against some of the best receivers in the NFL, from Larry Fitzgerald to Brandon Marshall. His worst games came against Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green. While Haden is among the division's best cornerbacks, Sheldon Brown was the worst starting corner in the AFC North. Brown's biggest asset is the experience he provides to a young secondary. The defensive backfield was hurt by the loss of strong safety T.J. Ward, who missed the final 10 games with a foot injury. Teams took advantage of Ward's replacement, Usama Young. Free safety Mike Adams beat out Young for a starting job in training camp. Dimitri Patterson was a reliable nickelback, breaking up a dozen passes. What could change: The Browns might replace Adams, who is a free agent, and they could give rookie seventh-round pick Eric Hagg a shot at doing so. Cleveland is very interested in bringing Patterson back. It wouldn't be a surprise if Patterson starts in place of Brown.

Browns cornerback Joe Haden has a sprained knee and "may miss some time," coach Pat Shurmur said Monday.

Haden is one of the players the Browns could least afford to lose for a significant time because he's the best player on the defense and perhaps the team. He is regularly assigned to shut down the other team's No. 1 wide receiver.

The 2010 first-round pick will have an extra week to rest because the Browns are on their bye week. Cleveland plays at Oakland on Oct. 16.

An MRI on Monday revealed the sprain, but he won't need surgery. Haden wore a brace to team meetings.

"We'll just have to see as we move forward how significant it is," Shurmur said at his Monday news conference. "At this point, I don't know anything."

If Haden is sidelined, the Browns would likely start Dimitri Patterson, who has been solid as the team's nickelback. Haden has been one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL this season, quieting the likes of A.J. Green, Reggie Wayne and Brandon Marshall.

With the offseason in full swing, let's take a look at one major question facing each NFC East team as it begins preparations for the 2011 season:

DALLAS COWBOYS

Can Rob Ryan fix this defense?

I understand that folks are already predicting a bounce-back season under new coach Jason Garrett, but that would have to be fueled by the defense. The defense caused a lot more turnovers once Wade Phillips was fired at midseason, but teams still put up plenty of points.

The Cowboys gave up an embarrassing 27.2 points per game, which ranked 31st in the league. The passing defense was ranked 26th. And help might not be on the way when you consider the fact that a lockout could wipe out free agency this offseason. (Do we really think free agency could take place during a one-week period in, say, late August?) The Cowboys need to make changes at safety and cornerback. But at this point, their best hope is landing a starter in the draft.

The thought is that Ryan's fiery presence will spark some of the veteran players. Nose tackle Jay Ratliff's coming off a down season -- by his standards. Perhaps Ryan will turn him loose as a defensive end this season if the Cowboys can find a suitable replacement in the middle. And it will be interesting to see what Ryan does with second-year inside linebacker Sean Lee. Will this be the season when Lee supplants veteran Keith Brooking on the field?

NEW YORK GIANTS

What can GM Jerry Reese do about the back end of this defense?

It would be a mistake to make massive changes to this talented unit, but a major flaw was revealed down the stretch. With a chance to lock up the division, the Giants' defense out and out collapsed against the Eagles and Packers. It was a stunning turn of events for a team that had fed off its defense throughout the season. Reese has vowed to address the situation that allowed Michael Vick and Aaron Rodgers to put up monster numbers in consecutive weeks.

Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell was a head-coaching candidate after the 2010 season, but he'll be back with the Giants for at least one more season. I didn't like the fact that he was bemoaning the loss of the versatile Mathias Kiwanuka late in the season. Did anyone hear the Green Bay Packers complaining about losing all those starters to injured reserve?

As defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul continues to develop, it can only help this secondary. It took him a while to find the quarterback, but once he did, Pierre-Paul began causing havoc. I think this defense will be a lot more instinctive in its second year with Fewell. I like the three-safety look with Antrel Rolle, Kenny Phillips and Deon Grant, but Reese won't be complacent when it comes to acquiring talent. He needs more speed on the back end. Terrell Thomas has emerged as a solid cornerback, but he needs more help. Watch what the Giants do in this draft. Something tells me Reese will continue to focus on defense.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

How will Juan Castillo perform as defensive coordinator?

You have to hand it to coach Andy Reid. The man knows how to keep us on our toes during a coaching search. Who knew that he was disguising his future defensive coordinator as an offensive line coach all these years? I've discussed the O-line with Castillo over the years, and I believe him to be one of the most underrated offensive assistants in the league. How does that translate to defense? I have no clue.

I do think he'll bring a tremendous amount of energy to the job. Sean McDermott was undermined by injuries in his two years in that role. The Eagles didn't take enough quality cornerbacks into the 2010 season, and they paid dearly. You can't afford to send Asante Samuel and the Funky Bunch out there in 2011. Dimitri Patterson and Joselio Hanson are serviceable players, but they were eventually exposed. Howie Roseman and Reid have to address this position. And then Castillo has to figure out a way to put the teeth back in this pass-rush. At least the man knows what a quarterback sack looks like.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

What will Mike Shanahan do about this quarterback situation?

Seems like we're asking this same question every year. It looked like the Redskins had the answer heading into 2010, but the Donovan McNabb experiment was an epic failure for all involved. Shanahan certainly bears a lot of the blame. Now we'll see what he can do with a young quarterback. Cam Newton's suddenly vaulted into the top five in some of the mock drafts, so the Redskins might be looking at Missouri's Blaine Gabbert.

Gabbert has less of a boom-or-bust factor, according to ESPN's Mel Kiper. He might be ready for prime time sooner than Newton. Shanahan and son Kyle will have to get Rex Grossman ready as the starter until a young quarterback is ready to take over. And that can't sound good to Redskins fans who are starving for a playoff appearance.

Dan Snyder told me two weeks ago that he hopes McNabb will return as his starting quarterback. That's nonsense when you consider what happened last season. But no matter who lines up behind center, Shanahan has to surround him with more talent. The Redskins might be able to re-sign Santana Moss, but he's no longer a true No. 1 receiver. The Redskins desperately need an impact player at that position. At running back, it looks like Ryan Torain will get a shot as the starter. The only way Clinton Portis is coming back is if he restructures his contract. He may have a season or two left, but you can't count on him to make it through 16 games anymore.

It's all about the quarterback, though. As usual.

I'm planning to take a look at the biggest offseason questions for the four teams in the division for my Thursday column. But let's get a head start with the NFC East's only playoff team.

Bob Ford of the Inquirer wonders whether the Eagles' playoff failures over the years should be blamed on Reid or an overall lack of talent. I've hit on this theme before that Reid has an arrogance that suggests he can win with his players or your players. He often comes back from his offseason self-scouting camp and concludes that a few personnel tweaks might get the job done. Last offseason was more dramatic than most because of the Donovan McNabb trade, but you can't say all the turnover on defense really amounted to much.

"It is as if Reid believes he has the staff and the system capable of winning the Kentucky Derby with whatever plow horses wander into his stable," writes Ford. "You can get lucky with players sometimes, but it isn't how the NFL really works. Look at the team on the field Sunday against Green Bay. There were 10 starters among the 22 on offense and defense who entered the league either as undrafted free agents or seventh-round draft picks.

"There were seven starters among the 22 who entered the league as either first- or second-round picks, a number that includes both Ernie Sims and Winston Justice, one of whom is probably gone and one of whom wasn't a starter by the end of the game.

"The old basketball coaches always say, 'It's not the X's and the O's. It's the Jimmys and the Joes.' That's the case here. The Eagles aren't talented enough. Whether that is because the player personnel department hasn't done a good enough job of identifying and acquiring the talent, or whether the coaching staff hasn't done a good enough job of developing it is a fair question."

Ford concludes that a roster overhaul is needed for the Eagles to take the next step. I'm not sure the Eagles are in a position to make massive changes. They had 11 of their 13 rookies on the field at some point this season. And some of them -- Nate Allen, Brandon Graham, Kurt Coleman, Keenan Clayton -- showed a lot of promise. You expect that from Graham and Allen because of where they were taken in the draft (first and second rounds), but it seems like GM Howie Roseman has also done a nice job hitting on players in the later rounds. If you examined the New England Patriots' starters, I think you'd also find quite a few undrafted free agents and late-round picks. And you don't have to look further than quarterback for a good example.

The Eagles did not have enough quality depth at cornerback heading into the season, and that ultimately played a large role in their issues on that side of the ball. I still don't understand how and why they convinced themselves that Ellis Hobbs was a starter. He played poorly and then suffered a season-ending injury. And when Pro Bowler Asante Samuel was injured, the Eagles were left with Dimitri Patterson, Joselio Hanson and rookie Trevard Lindley receiving most of the reps.

I don't think the Eagles need to make the types of sweeping personnel changes that we saw last offseason, but they do need to zero in on some specific positions. And if that means spending some serious money on free agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, so be it.

I do think the Eagles' roster is in much better shape than it was at the end of '09. But that doesn't mean much when you keep losing in the wild-card round.

» Wild-card Final Word: NY Jets-Indy | Baltimore-K.C. | N.O.-Seattle | G.B.-Philadelphia

Three nuggets of knowledge about Sunday's Eagles-Packers wild-card game:

Are Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg capable of committing to the running game? If they were ever going to do it, this would be the game. The Packers allow 4.7 rushing yards per game -- among the most generous in the league. LeSean McCoy is also a weapon in the passing game with 78 catches, and I think he needs at least 20 touches in this game. In the second half of the season, the Eagles rarely gave him more than 15 carries per game, and that needs to change against the Packers. The longer you keep Aaron Rodgers off the field, the better chance you have of winning. Rodgers' numbers over the past seven starts are pretty remarkable in terms of TD/INT ratio (16-2). The Eagles have a big-play offense, but they've shown the ability to sustain drives with the running game in the fourth quarter this season. Why not do some of that in the first half Sunday?

Can the Eagles' secondary do anything to slow down the Packers' receivers? You hear coaches talking all the time about "tackling the football." We know the Eagles are going to give up some plays against the Packers, but the defensive backs have to be fundamentally sound when it comes to wrapping up the Packers' wide receivers. Greg Jennings is about as good as it gets at running after the catch (RAC). The Eagles will concede some of the underneath passes, but they can't get caught gambling on interceptions. Asante Samuel's a Pro Bowl corner, but he's also a boom-or-bust player. He has to keep his eye on these receivers before looking back at the quarterback Sunday or he'll get beat on a double move. And the same thing goes for Dimitri Patterson on the other side. You better believe that Rodgers will be throwing to Patterson's man from the start.

The Eagles need to put points on the board early. Every team talks about setting the tone early, but the Eagles are one of the best teams in the league at making it happen. Eagles tight end Brent Celek told me last night that the Eagles have emphasized starting quickly all week. And this goes for both sides of the ball. I think Reid and Mornhinweg will try to send a message early in this game. If they can get DeSean Jackson or Jeremy Maclin loose on a double move, it could put the Packers in a tough spot early. I realize the Packers are prolific on offense, but remember that they had to win one game this season 9-0, and they beat the Bears last Sunday by scoring only 10 points. If the Eagles can open the game with one of those patented big plays, the Packers might feel a little pressure. And yes, I'm predicting a deep ball to Jackson on the first play from scrimmage.

» NFC Wrap-ups: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Arrow indicates direction team is trending.

Final Power Ranking: 7
Preseason Power Ranking: 15

Biggest surprise: Perhaps the biggest surprise in the league was the breakout season for quarterback Michael Vick. The Eagles traded Donovan McNabb because they were convinced Kevin Kolb was ready to be the franchise quarterback. But when Kolb suffered a concussion in the first game of the season, Vick came in and performed brilliantly. By the time Kolb was healthy enough to return, Eagles coach Andy Reid had named Vick the starter. I don't think anyone saw this coming. The Eagles went from what looked like a transition season to becoming Super Bowl contenders. In fact, their entire season now hinges on Vick's health heading into Sunday's game against Green Bay.

Biggest disappointment: The secondary allowed 31 passing touchdowns. I realize that the pass rush has a lot to do with giving up passing yards, but the Eagles' group of nondescript cornerbacks (outside of Asante Samuel) didn't do its part. Aaron Rodgers could torch this group if the Eagles can't figure out a way to apply some pressure. It was also disappointing that Brent Celek went from being one of the best tight ends in the league in 2009 to an afterthought in this season's offense. Vick has looked for Celek more in recent weeks, so perhaps the tight end will get hot in the playoffs, as he did in 2008.

Biggest need: The Eagles need to bring in reinforcements at cornerback. I always felt like trusting Ellis Hobbs to start at cornerback was a mistake. He had an awful game against the Tennessee Titans and then he had to be placed on injured reserve. Now the Eagles have had to bench corner Dimitri Patterson for poor play. I said before the season the Eagles needed more depth at cornerback, but they didn't do enough to address that issue. GM Howie Roseman has done a really nice job in other areas, but it always seemed like the Eagles were going to be exposed in the secondary. The good news is that rookie safety Nate Allen played really well before suffering a season-ending injury.

Team MVP: Do I really have to say it? It's none other than Vick, who should finish No. 2 behind Tom Brady in the league MVP voting.

Worst moment: I'd have to say that "effort" against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16 ranks near the top. The Eagles were still playing for a shot at a first-round bye, but they didn't act interested in playing that game, which was postponed until Tuesday night because of a snowstorm. When the game started, it was obvious that Vikings coach Leslie Frazier had prepared his team for battering Vick. I thought the overall lack of effort against the Vikings in a meaningful game really stood out this season. And the defense made Joe Webb of the Vikings a household name around the league.

Are you ready for some Tuesday night football? For the first time in 64 years, the NFL will hold a game on a Tuesday. The Minnesota Vikings have been hanging out in Philadelphia since Saturday, and they'll likely be starting rookie quarterback Joe Webb unless Brett Favre has a little more drama up his sleeve. Here are five thoughts on tonight's battle between the Philadelphia Eagles and Vikings:

1. Which team does the 48-hour delay help more? I've enjoyed all the rhetoric coming out of the Pennsylvania governor's office. Gov. Ed Rendell, an unabashed Eagles fan who appears on Eagles postgame shows, thinks the postponement was un-American and that China wouldn't have considered delaying a game because of a little blizzard. But Rendell should actually be pleased that the Eagles will play on a relatively dry field tonight. The Eagles may have the fastest offense in the league, so the snow could have neutralized that advantage over the Vikings. I know Philadelphia will have to play the Dallas Cowboys on short rest on Sunday, but I don't think it'll be intimidated by the prospect of facing young Stephen McGee at the Linc. In the big picture, perhaps it will hurt the Eagles that they could end up playing three games in a 12-day span, but it won't be an issue against a Vikings team led by a rookie quarterback. Even the great Adrian Peterson can't bail this team out at this point.

2. The Eagles must shut down the Vikings' running game early. The delay may have allowed Peterson (knee, ankle) to be able to play. His backup is Toby Gerhart, a powerful inside runner who's not really a home-run threat. The Eagles have been excellent against the run since defensive tackle Antonio Dixon took over as the starter in Week 5. The Eagles allow only 89.1 rushing yards per game. If Philadelphia can keep Peterson and Gerhart down early, it will put a lot of pressure on Webb. Peterson has had only one 100-yard rushing day in his past seven outings, so it's hard to imagine him going off Tuesday night.

3. Andy Reid may want to consider a few handoffs early in the game. The Eagles will invariably try to go up top with a deep ball to DeSean Jackson or Jeremy Maclin early in this game. Every team in the league should know what's coming on that first possession, but most of them can't do anything about it. Vikings interim coach Leslie Frazier has a ton of respect for Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. He'll try to emulate what the Bears did against the Vikings, but I don't think he has the personnel to get it done. The Vikings have an All-Pro defensive end in Jared Allen, but I think the Eagles could actually run the ball at him. If LeSean McCoy can rip off a couple of nice runs early in this game, it will make Michael Vick even more effective in the play-action game. The Vikings will do everything they can to make him roll right, but that's easier said than done.

4. The Eagles will be vulnerable to big plays by the Vikings' tight ends. The Vikings have an excellent tight end in Visanthe Shiancoe. I believe Minnesota will try to get Shiancoe matched up on Eagles rookie middle linebacker Jamar Chaney. The rookie played really well against the Giants last week (16 tackles), but Shiancoe is a tough cover down the seam. The Vikings are at their best when they can get their big targets (Shiancoe and Sidney Rice) the ball in the middle of the field. The Eagles must make sure they tackle in the secondary in this game. Cornerback Dimitri Patterson had an awful game against the Giants, so look for the Vikings to take some shots to his side.

5. The Eagles must win this game in the first 10 minutes. Philadelphia has been prolific in the first quarter this season. Reid and Mornhinweg do a tremendous job scripting those first 15 plays, and we've seen teams (Redskins, Cowboys) get overwhelmed against them from the opening snap. If the Eagles can grab a comfortable lead in the first quarter, it will put the Vikings in a really bad spot. The best-case scenario for Reid is if Vick and several other starters are hanging out on the sideline midway through the third quarter. The Eagles have the firepower to cause that scenario. If that happens, this whole 48-hour delay can sort of be mitigated.

And for those of us who watched that Yanks-Giants game 64 years ago, we know how exciting Tuesday night football can be. Enjoy the show. And the Beast will be available for postgame comments.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 16 games:

Can the Giants shake off last Sunday's devastating loss to the Eagles? Giants quarterback Eli Manning requested time alone with his teammates Monday, and coach Tom Coughlin was happy to oblige. His speech was short, but it grabbed everyone's attention. Defensive tackle Barry Cofield told me Thursday that he couldn't believe how much energy he saw in the locker room this week. The Giants have done a nice job of recognizing their obvious failure late in last Sunday's game and then moving on to Green Bay. Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride has tried to get his unit to come out with a sense of urgency in recent weeks, and I think you'll see that against the Packers on Sunday afternoon. New York will want to take the crowd out of the game as soon as possible.

Can Eagles cornerback Dimitri Patterson bounce back from an embarrassing performance against the Giants? Patterson has played well at times this season, but the Giants' wide receivers made him look silly in the first half. The Vikings still have firepower at receiver, so it will be interesting to see what happens if Patterson gets matched up with Sidney Rice. "I'm looking forward to it," Patterson said Friday. "As far as I'm concerned, that was two quarters, three plays, however you want to look at it. I finished that game, I came back in the second half. And I will finish the rest of the season." I think Patterson will do a lot better this week because the Eagles will likely have a better pass rush against the Vikings' offensive line.

Jason Garrett needs this win to finalize his campaign to become permanent head coach. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones admitted last week that a loss to the Washington Redskins would've given him pause about Garrett's future. But the Cowboys pulled out a 33-30 win with a late field goal, so Jones didn't have to worry about that. Dallas should dominate the Cardinals, who are playing with a rookie quarterback. If the Cardinals somehow pull off a Christmas miracle and beat the Cowboys, fans will call for Jon Gruden and Jeff Fisher as the next head coach. But I'd be really surprised if the Cowboys found a way to lose this game.

Eli Manning needs to have a big-time game in Green Bay. As I wrote in Thursday's column, Manning has struggled in December throughout much of his career (14-16). He played well against the Eagles last week, but still has a good shot at leading the league in interceptions. The good news for Giants fans is that Manning has wonderful memories of Lambeau Field. He's said that he actually enjoyed winning the '07 NFC Championship Game (played in Jan. '08) more than the Super Bowl. Those wins helped define his career, and I think he'll draw on that experience from three seasons ago in beating the Packers on Sunday.

Can Mike Shanahan get something accomplished in Jacksonville? We learned Friday that Pro Bowl outside linebacker Brian Orakpo (hamstring, groin) will miss a game for the first time in his NFL career. Orakpo will be replaced by Rob Jackson, who will make the first start of his career. And there's also a chance that Kevin Barnes and Macho Harris could be the starting safeties. Reed Doughty is out with a concussion and Kareem Moore will be a game-time decision. I don't know if the Skins have much hope of winning, but Shanahan will have a chance to evaluate some young players. And it will be interesting to see how Rex Grossman performs following his excellent second half against the Dallas Cowboys. Shanahan will make massive roster changes this offseason, but a few players could help their cause with strong performances against Jacksonville.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Everyone wondered how much the New York Giants would miss wide receiver Steve Smith, who is out for the season with a knee injury. But so far today, Mario Manningham is making up for Smith's absence with huge plays in the passing game.

He put the Giants on the board with a 35-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter and he's added a 33-yarder in the second quarter to put New York up 14-3. The Giants obviously love the matchup of Manningham against cornerback Dimitri Patterson. On the 33-yard score, Patterson whiffed on a tackle attempt and Manningham raced for a touchdown.

The Eagles have done a decent job against the run, but they haven't come close to stopping Manningham.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Let's take a quick look at the Philadelphia Eagles' comeback 30-27 win over the Dallas Cowboys:

What it means: The Eagles are in sole possession of first place in the NFC East -- until we see what happens with the Giants Monday night against the Minnesota Vikings. And technically the Eagles will have the lead no matter what happens to the Giants by virtue of their win against New York at the Linc. This was a gut-check win for the Eagles, who trailed 20-14 in the third quarter. Quarterback Michael Vick once again took too much punishment and threw a couple of interceptions, but he made plays when the game was on the line.

Jackson stings the Cowboys: You might recall DeSean Jackson vowing to sting the Cowboys' [rears] in a tweet before last season's playoff game. He didn't make good on that promise last season, but he made up for it with a huge game against the Cowboys on Sunday night. Jackson had four catches for 210 yards and a touchdown. For some unknown reason, the Cowboys were caught off guard when the Eagles opened the game with a deep ball to Jackson. It set up an early Eagles touchdown and they led, 14-10, at halftime.

The goat: On Jackson's 91-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, Cowboys cornerback Mike Jenkins foolishly tried to dive in order to break up a short pass near the sideline. Jackson caught the pass and then raced for the game-winning touchdown. Safety Gerald Sensabaugh took a poor angle toward Jackson on the play, so we'll also assign him a little blame. On the first play from scrimmage for the Eagles, Jackson beat Terence Newman for a 60-yard reception. Vick had all day in the pocket before delivering a perfect pass.

Vick can't do this every week, can he? The Eagles have to do something to keep Vick from taking so many shots. The Cowboys hit him repeatedly -- both legally and illegally in this game. When players such as fullback Owen Schmitt get embarrassed by DeMarcus Ware, Vick is going to get leveled. LeSean McCoy is a superb running back. Why not mix in a few more running plays in the first three quarters. McCoy took over late, but he deserves even more touches.

Here comes the big game: The Eagles (9-4) have done their part to set up a great matchup against the Giants in the Meadowlands next Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. ET. Now, we'll see if the Giants (8-4) can do their part against the Vikings after taking several flights due to inclement weather and faulty Teflon.

It looked like Eagles Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel (knee) would be ready to go Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, but he's apparently had a setback. Samuel practiced Wednesday on a limited basis, but he didn't take the field Thursday. If he's unable to play, Dimitri Patterson and Joselio Hanson will once again be the starters.

Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett has immense respect for Samuel, so I'm sure the game plan will look a little different if he's not on the field. We'll keep you posted on Samuel's progress. In Giants news, Tom Coughlin told reporters that Ahmad Bradshaw (wrist) should be good to go Sunday against the Vikings.

The Eagles coughed up a 20-10 halftime lead, but quarterback Michael Vick led them to a 34-24 comeback win in the fourth quarter Thursday night. Let's take a closer look at how it happened:

What it means: The Eagles are in sole possession of first in the NFC East (at least until Sunday afternoon). Philadelphia (8-4), which plays at Dallas in 10 days, will have a great opportunity to be 9-4 when it faces the Giants in two weeks. It was a gut check for the Eagles after they dominated much of the first half. The Texans came roaring back to take a 24-20 lead, but Vick calmly led a touchdown drive early in the fourth quarter. He took way too many hits in the first half, but he managed to stay on his feet and make some huge plays down the stretch. Vick threw for 302 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for a touchdown. I'm still not sure why Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg allowed Vick to take so much punishment. They could've run the ball more in this game, but that's nothing new.

The real McCoy: Eagles running back LeSean McCoy was too much for the Texans to handle in the open field. He had eight catches for 86 yards and destroyed Houston in the screen game. The Texans dropped seven players back in coverage, but none of them could tackle McCoy in space. He added 44 rushing yards on 12 carries, but he did most of his damage in the passing game. He has become one of the best pass-catching backs in the league. It looked like the Texans weren't adequately prepared for his quickness. It was just a brilliant performance by McCoy, who reminds me a lot of Brian Westbrook when he gets in the open field. He makes defenders look really bad.

A huge play by Brent Celek: Clinging to a 27-24 lead with 6:36 left, the Eagles faced a third-and-19 from Houston's 24-yard line. Vick threw a short pass to Celek, who was ruled down after an 18-yard gain. Replays showed that he was able to whip his body around and reach past the first-down marker, and Celek campaigned for Reid to throw the challenge flag. Reid, not known for his game management skills, wisely let the clock tick before challenging. The Eagles won the challenge and scored two plays later on a 5-yard touchdown pass to Owen Schmitt.

The drive: The Texans put together a 13-play, 86-yard scoring drive in the third quarter to take a 24-20 lead. But after a ridiculous squib kick by Neil Rackers, the Eagles had good field position at their 40-yard line. (Were the Texans scared of Jorrick Calvin?) Vick quickly hit DeSean Jackson on a gorgeous 33-yard pass that set up the go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Jackson finished with three catches for 84 yards, and something tells me he won't get chewed out by Reid following this performance. He and Vick connected on the Eagles' first play from scrimmage, setting the tone for the offense. Philadelphia scored on its first three possessions and it was 2-of-4 in the red zone in the first half, a big improvement over the past two weeks.

Laws makes a nice grab: Texans quarterback Matt Schaub tried to dump the ball to Arian Foster late in the first half, but Eagles defensive tackle Trevor Laws reached up and snagged the ball for an impressive interception deep in Houston territory. The Eagles settled for a field goal and a 20-10 halftime lead. It was the first takeaway of Laws' NFL career.

Allen was exhumed from the goal line: The Eagles did a fairly nice job on Texans running back Arian Foster, but he ran over rookie Nate Allen on a touchdown reception in the third quarter that trimmed the Eagles' lead to 20-17. It looked like something Herschel Walker would've done to a defensive back (Bill Bates, anyone?) when he was at Georgia, and Allen had to be a bit embarrassed.

What's next: The Eagles will get an extended break before heading to Dallas for a Sunday night game. I'm sure Reid will give the Eagles Friday through Sunday off . That should give them a chance to finish strongly. There's a decent chance the Eagles and Giants will be 9-4 when they play in two weeks, setting up a great Dec. 19 matchup at New Meadowlands Stadium.