* While watching – with an ecstatic gaze, actually – the Eagles and their backup QB hang with the mighty Patriots, we wondered A) why New England never runs the football, and B) If Tom Brady tries to throw 45+ times a January game, the Patriots will eventually lose. Inclement weather happens in the playoffs. Maroney really needs more carries. Also, we wonder if Brady’s post-game attire of the black ski hat and black shirt and black jacket is something Wilbon will try and pull off today.

* Just a note to announcers: you are not obligated to actually name all the teams in playoff contention. For instance … the 5-6 Houston Texans kept getting mentioned Sunday. There is no need for that. Please allow common sense to seep into your reporting on this. The Texans have absolutely no shot at the playoffs. Nor do the Chiefs (looking your way, Tiki Barber), so let’s not make too big of a deal about Herm Edwards eschewing the game-tying field goal attempt with four minutes left to go for it on fourth down. Feel free to lump Buffalo in this group as well.

* Since Mike Shanahan has perfected an efficient running game where you can plug in a 5-foot-10 ish, 215-pound ish running back, and watch him go for 1,000 yards, why hasn’t anyone studied the tape and copied it? Doesn’t it seem like a logical move for, say, Detroit, which hasn’t had a semblance of a running game since Barry Sanders abruptly retired?

* Boomer Esiason is becoming one of our favorite NFL studio peoples. On Chad Johnson: “… I just scored my first touchdown since week two, let me go make an idiot of myself. It’s all about me, guys!” We enjoyed Ocho’s work last year, but when you can’t back up the smack talk and buffoonery …

* Since Cedric Benson got hurt (eight rushes, 47 yards), we’ll take a day off reminding you of his inexorable quest for 1,000 yards (which now looks like a longshot). Before injuring his ankle, he passed the baton to Rex Grossman: 17-for-33, 193 yards, one interception, two fumbles. Dan Dierdorf called his performance “tremendously disappointing” and we’ll go a step further – it was an abortion, and Cade McNown would have performed better. Still, the Bears won!

* By far, the funniest line of the day came on Sirius radio from a hardcore 49ers homer. We’re listening to the scintillating Cards-49ers overtime call, and dying just a little bit with every dumb penality by this wretched team. Arizona’s punter shanks one – something like a Joe Theismann playoff job – and later Neil Rackers botches a 32-yard chip shot that would have won the game (which came seconds after he made a 27-yarder, which was nullified due to penalty). Then came this gem from the ‘analyst’ – “The punter, the kicker … you can’t count on those guys.” Naturally, a penalty pins the Cards deep, Cement Shoes Warner is hit in the end zone, fumbles, and the Niners recover for the win and season sweep. That is pain, friends.

* Speaking of an end-game gaffe by a plodding, past-their-prime backup QB, which was worse, Cement Shoes Warner or Headbutt Frerotte?