The advent of this holiday week forces us all to sit back and give pause. We relish the time we spend with our friends and family. We think of the events of the year past ... the good, bad and ugly, keeping in mind that they all combine to make life what it is.

This NFL season has been no different. Fans and fantasy owners pour their hearts and souls into rooting for their collective teams, real and fictional. The season has its highs (such as the phenomenal stories of the New Orleans Saints and the individual wonder of LaDainian Tomlinson), its lows (the TO spitting incident, the Albert Haynesworth stomp) and the usual ebb and flow of a game that has been described by some as having the weekly drama of any television serial.

Why do we love the NFL? As they say, let me count the reasons.

1. It's unpredictable.

Did you think that Ladell Betts would run to five consecutive 100-yard games and reach 1,000 yard in place of Clinton Portis? Did you think that the Saints would rebound so quickly as a team, let alone that Drew Brees would dominate after shoulder surgery? What about the rejuvenation of Steve McNair, or the fact that Week 17 has the Packers still alive for a possible playoff berth? Did anybody see preseason darling Carolina sitting at 7-8 and clawing for a shot at the playoffs with Chris Weinke under center?

2. New heroes emerge, and old ones are rediscovered.

Jay Cutler was inserted at a curious time in the season, and in spite of some rookie mistakes, has still thrown multiple touchdown passes in four consecutive games to start his tenure. Nobody has even done that.

Ron Dayne has scored five touchdowns in the last three weeks and proved to be a huge component of fantasy champions' lineups.

Frank Gore of the 49ers has amassed over 1,500 rushing yards.

Former 2,000-yard rusher Jamal Lewis has scored in seven of his last nine games coming into the season finale.

Eric Mangini has the Jets becoming the toast of the NFL while Tom Coughlin and the Giants (along with Eli Manning) are limping to the finish.

In Jacksonville, a 5-foot-7 powerhouse named Maurice Jones-Drew has everyone wondering what he'll do next.

3. The Game's Villians Have Their Come-Uppance

The Raiders sit at 2-13 with one game remaining, and Randy Moss has been a non-factor. Poor Art Shell.

Daniel Snyder continues to spend heavy money, but watched his team grossly underwhelm this year, particularly on the defensive end.

4. Fantastic Finishes

We've seen multiple game-winning field goals from at least 60 yards.

We watched a team possibly see their playoff hopes dashed on a botched extra point.

And, we saw the quarterback "whose play wouldn't translate to the NFL" (Vince Young) rally the Titans to the brink of the playoffs. Is there anybody outside of Boston and the cities of the other wild card hopefuls not rooting for Jeff Fisher and the Titans this weekend?

5. The New Blood Arrives

I've already written about Vince Young, Jay Cutler and Maurice Jones-Drew, but what about the immediate impact of Reggie Bush, Marques Colston, Laurence Maroney, Joseph Addai, Matt Leinart, DeAngelo Williams, Leon Washington and Bruce Gradkowski (for a spell)?

6. The Song Remains The Same

For all the unpredictability in the league, there are some things you can set your clock to. Mike Shanahan will kill fantasy owners on a weekly basis with his running back platoons. Tony Dungy's Indianapolis defense will have its lapses (although the run defense this year is beyond explanation). Lee Evans will come alive in December.  And we'll be wondering whether Sunday night's game against Chicago really is the end of Brett Favre's career.

All in all, it's been a fun exciting journey to this point. Thanks for joining me for the ride.