• The NFL Network could not be happier based on the quality of the game that America got to see tonight but the quality of the production.....nothing to write home about.

• Is it just me or did the cadence for Rich Eisen's voice change since he's left ESPN? He almost sounded like he was doing a bad Howard Cossell imitation. Not to pile it on ol' Rich, but he also looks like he aged about 20 years since he left ESPN. What must Alycia Lane be thinking now?

• As much as I love Deion Sanders and Marshall Faulk, there pregame commentary was about as useless and uninsightful as could be. Even Steve Marriucci's pregame commentary seemed geared toward folks that have never watched football. I must say though that Deion and the boys looked sharp as usual.

• And on the opposite end of the "sharp" spectrum, who dresses Cris Collinsworth and Bryant Gumbel? Collinsworth looks like he got his suit at the thrift store and Gumbel looks like he's off to teach a Literature class.

• While I'm on the subject of Bryant Gumbel, I must say that he is a positively awful play-by-play announcer. He should stick to conducting interviews. How rough it is for Collinsworth to have to work with someone who always seems on the verge of wanting to cross examine him. I'd imagine Gumbel caught an afternoon matinée of Denzel's movie, "The Great Debaters" and wanted to try to pick an argument with Collinsworth.

• Could anyone else not hear the National Anthem or was it just me?

• The Giants are one corner and one receiver away from being a solid football team. Plaxico Burress and Aaron Ross are solid but Amani Toomer is not a #2 receiver anymore and the combination of Corey Webster and Sam Madison couldn't cover the chair I'm sitting in right now. Either Mario Manningham or Aquib Talib will look good in Giants blue come 2008.

• I would have nightmares if I were an AFC Secondary coach trying to figure out a way to stop Moss, Welker, Stallworth and Gaffney.\

• I would have nightmares if I were an AFC Linebackers coach trying to figure out a way to stop Ben Watson or Kevin Faulk.

• Speaking of Faulk, 8 catches for 64 yards including to catches that resulted in first downs on scoring drives for the Pats in the second half... those are solid numbers. Faulk may be the most underrated part of the Patriots offense but tonight, he was money in the bank.

• 26 rushes, 32 receptions, 4 kickoff returns and 2 punt returns. 64 "touches" and no fumbles. That's why the Pats are 16-0.

• Is anybody else sick of hearing Mercury Morris and the '72 Dolphins whine about the Patriots season?

• Alycia Lane sure is hot!  And crazy as a loon!

While I am generally not in the business of prognostication (I leave that to the talking heads on TV with the seven figure incomes and eight figure egos), I am going to go out on a limb and predict the Bears and the Patriots will win today.  I'm not looking at stats, records or any of the usual measurables to make my prediction.  I am looking at one thing.

The "Gator" factor. 

This has been a great year for Florida Gators fans.  An NCAA Basketball Championship, a BCS Football Championship, Emmitt Smith winning Dancing With The Stars.

But it goes beyond that.

If we were believers in Chinese Astrology it would truly be the "Year of the Gator."  Let's look at the other current professional champions:

NBA - Miami Heat: The Miami Heat have two former Gators on their roster, Udonis Haslem and Jason Williams.  The Dallas Mavericks have no former Gators on their roster.  Advantage Miami.

MLB - St. Louis Cardinals: The St. Louis Cardinals have World Series MVP David Eckstein on their roster, a former Gator.  The Detroit Tigers had no former Gators on their roster last season.  Guess who won the World Series.

Which brings us to todays games. 

The Bears have four former Gators on their roster (Rex Grossman, Alex Brown, Todd Johnson and Ian Scott).  The Saints have none.  Advantage: Bears. 

The Patriots also have four former Gators on their roster (Jabar Gaffney, Reche Caldwell, Kelvin Kight, Chad Jackson).  The Colts have none.  Advantage: Patriots.

While I recognize this method of prognostication is about as reliable and reading tea leaves, knife throwing, using astrology or picking based on the nicer uniforms but it will be fun to see if the year of Gator dominance continues.  Now if my predictions hold true, I have no idea what will happen in the "Big Game" since both teams would have four former Gators.  I guess I'll have to resort to dart throwing.

As Shaun Alexander's season slowly wastes away on the bench, I am left to wonder if there is any truth to this Madden Jinx?  From an intellectual side, the recognition of such a jinx is really a post hoc fallacy.  I get it.  But, after 8 years of various curses and tragedies falling upon those who grace the cover of Madden, one is left to wonder if there is some validity to the jinx.  There are many websites devoted to this subject and a recent Google search of "Madden Jinx" revelaed over 88,000 hits.  Consider the history:

• Madden 2000: Barry Sanders. Sanders was the first NFL player to be on the cover (he's in the background) and quickly became the first ex-NFL player on the cover. He retired before training camp began and hasn't been seen since.

• Madden 2001: Eddie George. He was the only one to escape the curse as he rushed for 1,509 yards and 16 touchdowns, both career highs.  However, he was on the losing team in one of the most heart-breaking Superbowl losses of all time and anyone that's watched him stumble through his current broadcast career after his playing career went south really quick may wonder if the curse just had a delay on him.

•Madden 2002: Daunte Culpepper. Missed the final five games that season with a knee injury, but the curse kicked in well before the injury. He went from being tied for the league lead with 33 TD passes in 2000 to having almost as many interceptions (13) as touchdown passes (14) in 2001.  He still isn't 100% healthy and he is playing for task master Nick Saban behind one of the worst offensive lines in football.  His curse continues today.

•Madden 2003: Marshall Faulk. He rushed for 1,000 yards in seven of his first eight seasons, but he hasn't surpassed that mark since appearing on the cover of the game. In 2002, he missed two games that season with an injured ankle.  He too got really old, really fast and was replaced by Stephen Jackson.

• Madden 2004: Michael Vick. Suffered a broken right leg during an exhibition game. He missed the first 11 games of the regular season.  Since then he has shown flashes of brilliance and has had bouts of inconsistency.

• Madden 2005: Ray Lewis. The Ravens' linebacker didn't have an interception for the only time in his career. He missed the regular-season finale because of an injured wrist.  Plus that whole murder thing kind of tarnishes your image just a bit.

• Madden 2006: Donovan McNabb. After the Eagles slipped to a 4-5 record, McNabb missed the final seven games because of a sports hernia.  He also had to endure the cancer that is T.O.  Playing a season with T.O. is like having ####, an annoyance that never goes away.

• Madden 2007: Shaun Alexander. He loses his Left Guard (Steve Hutchinson) in one of the shadiest deals in the history of Pro Football.  He gained 187 yards in the first three games, his worst start since 2002, and now is out with a broken bone in his left foot which is healing very slowly.  Quite mysterious.

Now HERE is the Question?

If we can suspend reality just a bit, let's imagine that we the people have the power to nominate the next Madden cover player.  If we are to believe that the curse is true, who would you most want to see on the cover of Madden?  Is it T.O (no explanation necessary)?  Is it Chad Johnson (too arrogant)?  Is it Tom Brady (too perfect)?  Is it Peyton Manning (too many commercials)?  Is it Sean Salisbury (I know he doesn't play but boy, anything to shut him up would be appreciated)?  Why don't you weigh in and tell us what you think.