The Lions became the first 0-15 team in NFL history with a 42-7 loss to the Saints. Then things got interesting when Detroit News columnist Rob Parker asked coach Rod Marinelli, "On a light note, do you wish your daughter would've married a better defensive coordinator?" Parker has been a consistent critic of Joe Barry, the team's defensive coordinator and Marinelli's son-in-law. Marinelli ignored the question. But Fox analyst Terry Bradshaw didn't. On the post-game show, the Hall of Famer said, "You know, Rob, you're an idiot. You're just a flat idiot. You have disgraced your profession and they ought to kick your butt out of the locker room."

See ball, fall on ball Falcons guard Justin Blalock recovered quarterback Matt Ryan's fumble in the end zone as the Falcons took a 24-7 lead in a game they won 24-17 over the Vikings. It was the second time this season Blalock has recovered a fumble by Ryan. "We're going to make that a play," Blalock said. "He's going to go dump the ball, and I'm going to go find it."

Nothing wrong with a wild card

A wild card team has won the Super Bowl twice in the past three seasons and three times this decade. It could happen again this season. In the AFC, the Colts (11-4) are in as the top wild card and the Ravens (10-5) need only to beat Jacksonville at home to clinch the second wild card. The Colts would open the playoffs at either Denver (8-7) or San Diego (7-8). The Ravens, if they clinch, would open at the winner of the AFC East. In the NFC, the West champion Cardinals, 8-7 and coming off two humiliating losses to the Vikings and Patriots, could play host to an 11-5 Atlanta team if the Falcons beat St. Louis at home.

Call it the 'Hochuli Bowl' Somehow, you knew it would come down to this when a mistake by referee Ed Hochuli helped the Broncos beat the Chargers 39-38 at Denver in Week 2. Hochuli blew the whistle too early, negating what should have been a fumble by Denver's Jay Cutler near the Chargers' goal line late in the game. The Broncos (8-7) now play at San Diego (7-8) on Sunday with the winner advancing as the AFC West champion.

MARK CRAIG