Now that the conference playoffs are over, what have we learned?

Eli Manning can deliver in a close game.  What we don't know is whether he can deliver down by ten points early in the second quarter.  We'll know after the Super Bowl.

Tom Brady can win on an off day.  He can also win without Randy Moss dominating.  Finding a way to shut down Brady is like trying to game plan against the Chinese Army.

Brett Favre must read his own press clippings.  What other reason can there be for forcing a throw to Donald Driver in overtime that Superman couldn't have made?  The Packers made it to the finals because of Favre, and are sitting at home because of him now.

Tony Romo is not a finished product, and he's also not finished.  The big story wasn't Jessica Simpson's effect on him.  It was an out of sync fourth quarter against New York.  Romo looked lost and frustrated.  That smile sure wasn't there on the last drive against the Giants.  Forget the doom and gloom, this was a good learning experience and Romo is a quick study.

Phillip Rivers is everything his critics say.  Loud and brash.  He's also a leader who played hurt against the Patriots and produced under pressure.  This one bears watching.

Tiki Barber wrote bad checks with his mouth on Eli Manning's account during the off season.  Not enough people in the media called him on it.  How good were the Giants without Tiki Barber?  Good enough to go to the Super Bowl.

The Patriots are untouchable.  Put out the fire, call in the dogs.  There's one more game on the record, but this season is over.  (I can say that knowing nobody remembers the guy who wrote the Dewey beats Truman headline).

It's a passer's world and running backs are just living in it.  The tipping point has come and you won't see a three play drive with two runs in it very often after this season.  And why is it the NFL hasn't figured out that bigger, faster players require a wider field.  The playing field is the same size it's always been, but in reality it's been shrinking every year for the last 30 years.

Cornerback, cornerback, and cornerback.  The three answers to what teams need to draft in the NFL's new world order.  If you're the Cowboys you might want to throw in a receiver who doesn't remember when Hootie and the Blowfish were popular.

Are the Seahawks ever going to return to the Super Bowl?  The defense could get them there.  The offense?  Hard to say.  Matt Hasselbeck's season was on par with his Super Bowl year.  But his receivers are very average and Shaun Alexander had just 716 yards rushing.  At least the Seahawks still hold the honor of being the only NFL team without at least one opponent in an adjacent state.

Payton Manning may not be going to the Super Bowl, but if I'm an advertiser and need one QB to make the big pitch it's still the guy with the bad haircut.  And can someone explain to me how Archie Manning could have two sons as slow as Payton and Eli?  Archie could run when he was in his prime, but his sons are timed in the 40 with a sun dial instead of a stop watch.

A few questions.  Can anyone even name a player for Jacksonville?  Are the Steelers proof Bill Cowher knew when to walk away and when to run?  Is one salary cap implosion all that separates the Redskins from being the Carolina Panthers of 2008?  Vince Young-29 passes, 138 yards.  Any questions?  Is the NFC South so weak the league should let Tampa Bay go ahead and print playoff tickets for next year now?

Finally, this mental image.  Bill Belichick holding the Lombardi Trophy.  Lombardi would not be amused.