lol @ Satan Manning.
I think even the Dallas players know the "talent" thing is a crock. Several of them have said so. Too bad they don't turn that into solid on-field performances. It's the talking heads on ESPN, Fox, CBS and NBC who keep beating the talent drum.

Speaking of the Colts, am I seeing things? Or are they actually running the football with some authority?

Welcome back, Ben. Steelers rock!

No you are not seeing things they are getting that running game going, now they just need to keep the running backs healthy. I think what has happened is due in part to teams playing back to protect for the pass game and maybe more importantly they have begun to attack the middle of the line. When James was there they ran the stretch play a lot, but he was very good at it. While the current crop of running backs are good they lack James speed to outside. All three seem to have a good power game and of course J.A. has the added pass catching ability. They still have not got it going in every game but it is getting better. A total of 160+ yards on the ground in the win over the Redskins tonight. Not bad for a team with no talent or star players huh. Just think if one or two step up we might even some guys going to the Pro Bowl, or wait minute we had seven last year.

And yes what is with the Satan Manning thing Ars? Though I must admit it is a bit funny...we are now down to the point where no one can figure out how to stop him so we have to make up little names. Got news for you that won't work either!

This has been a real crazy season so far for the league has a whole. Think the league does need to hold a seminar how ever. It seems to me that far two many teams has lost track of the concept of being a favorite. Guys you are suppose to win the games that you are favored to win. Of course it may just come down to the idea that all those underdogs just are not will to accept the fact that the experts say they can not win the game and decided to play to win in spite of experts. Wow what a novel concept.

Or a final note, TR my friend if you waiting for the Colts luck to run out, might be in for a long wait. What do you think we have the horseshoes on the helmet for anyway!

Almost! The Colts look like they have 6 or 7 more wins. In playing the Colts, you must give the devil his due.

Act like you have been there before!

Well I suppose to most of the league Manning must indeed seem like the devil. Six or seven more wins....hey they only have 8 games left. I said after the Houston loss they could win the division with 12-4. The difficult part at this point is that while they have lost only 2, both are against division teams. After tonight there will be three teams in the South at 4-2 and one at 3-3. The way things are going 11-5 might get you the South title. They must beat Houston and Jacksonville the second time around if they are to have a real run at it.

It looked for awhile last night like they were trying to give the game away what with all those turnovers. For a team not prone to loosing the ball to see that many in one night was tough. Though you must credit the Skins defense with some solid play to create those turnovers.

Washington's D is pretty good. Side note: I prefer the burgundy over gold they had on last night to what they've worn since the Theismann era.

TR, Austin was acting like he'd been there before. Last week. Columbo's stop, drop and roll routine.
There's a D in Dallas. It stands for dysfuunctional.

I tell you, this is testing my resolve, big time.
I love football. Even when my favorite teams have done poorly - Chiefs, for example - I've always wanted to watch them play. ALWAYS. Even when they're cellar dwellers, I want to see what they're up to. If there's anything positive about their play.
But Dallas. Sheesh!
Even when the Saints were Ain'ts, I don't recall seeing so much self-destruction.

Okay, this is weird.

Penalty was on Hurd, not Austin

Deserved either way. And Austin fessed up to his stupidity on both the leap and the pass interference. Too bad owning up to bad decisions isn't catching on.
And once again, you can't rely on the commentators.

How do you feel about fines and suspensions for hard hitting in the NFL?

I feel that the stricter rules and regulations will most likely make it harder for the defense to do their jobs. I'm totally against a player launching themselves into another player and using their helmet as weapon a la Brandon Meriweather but stuff happens. Safeties aren't out there to hold people's hand so they can have a pleasant trip to the end zone.

The new rules will also help players like Bob Sander who knock themselves out of the game while try to knock other people out. Learn how to tackle guys.

I think there will be a certain ammount of erring on the side of caution in the area of helmet to helmet or leading with the helmet type of thing. BUT I think that fining players-unless it is the second or perhaps third infraction- fines are unwarranted. If an official wants to T a player up with a PFOUL FLAG then so be it. At the refs discretion, a player can be tossed from any game if it seems blatant or purposeful. THAT will hurt him and his team. He does that too often and the team will discipline him. SATAN Manning? THAT IS funny. Your best chance to beat him is to stop the run game and pressure him so he has to decide where he is going to throw the ball a split second earlier than he is used to. Control the ball when you are on O to keep him from getting into a groove. A handful of teams have the tools to pull this off. You see how mortal Favre and Sanchez and the guy from New England look when their run games are not there? Very ordinary.

I think this suspension-friendly crackdown is ridiculous.
Yes, go after the guys who go head to head and any blatant cheap shops. But sometimes, people just hit hard.
Defenders do need to learn better tackling techniques. I see a lot of guys drop that shoulder and launch into an offensive player. That might work if the ball carrier doesn't sidestep and get only a glancing blow, or if a second defender is there to clean up. But often I just see them bouncing off the first guy and if they can maintain balance, they're off to the races.
Another thing, some of today's commentary was about how the first guy is supposed to wrap up and the second guy is supposed to try to hit to cause a fumble.
I'm for hitting to cause a fumble.
But a lot of bad tackling comes from the first guy trying to strip the ball instead of stopping the runner.