Membership in the 4,000-yard club hits a high

If you're thinking this has been a special year for NFL quarterbacks, well, you're right.

Heading into Week 17, eight quarterbacks have passed for at least 4,000 yards. Three more, including 40-year-old Brett Favre, are within 278 yards of reaching that mark.

The record for the most 4,000-yard passers in a season is seven set in 2007. So the record has been broken by Matt Schaub, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Tony Romo, Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger.

Favre is the next closest with 3,886 yards, followed by Eli Manning (3,880) and Kurt Warner (3,722). Favre and Manning face each other at the Metrodome on Sunday. Warner is home against a Green Bay defense that two weeks ago gave up 503 passing yards to Roethlisberger.

Nine quarterbacks have thrown at least 25 touchdown passes, and three more are within two of reaching 25. The record is 10 in 2007. Romo has 24, while Roethlisberger and Jay Cutler have 23.

Pride of the Giants The word "pride" has been tossed around the Big Apple a lot since Sunday, when the Giants were manhandled out of the playoff picture in a 41-9 loss to the Panthers in the final game ever played at Giants Stadium.

Giants Hall of Famer Harry Carson ripped the current players, saying among other things, "I don't see the same pride among many guys who are here right now that many of the older guys had."

Manning dismissed Carson's criticism and said, "We have good character on this team and guys who have a lot of pride, a lot of respect for the game and what we are doing."

Coughlin admitted that the team's pride has been displayed inconsistently this season but added that the coaches and players will approach Sunday's game no differently.

"We don't like the way we played last weekend," Coughlin said. "We need to have the kind of effort to have some pride in the way we play, and so we are doing everything within our power in that regard."

It could be worse, Vikings fans Yes, the Vikings are somewhat lacking in the momentum department. But look around: Things could be worse.

The Vikings are one of only three teams to successfully defend their division title this season. The Cardinals and Chargers were the others.

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