On Saturday I was a genius. On Sunday I was a complete idiot. That’s sports for you. Just when you think you have the league figured out, the Chargers give you a Sixth Sense plot twist, Tony Romo pulls an Eli, Eli pulls a Peyton, and Terrell Owens pulls a Britney Spears. (Best video...ever. I can't stop watching.)

Let’s take a look back at what happened:

Packers 42 Seahawks 20 

• I’ll admit it, for four minutes the Packers looked mighty young. Ryan Grant was dropping balls like a young Darnell Jefferson, the defense was making more mistakes than plays, and the Seahawks had a 14-0 lead.
• Then Brett Favre took control of a game that threatened to get out of control. The rest of the team—including the aforementioned Grant—settled in and the Pack outscored Seattle 42-6 in the final 54 minutes.
• How do you know that all of this Favre-love has gone too far? When Moose Johnson credits him with “great field awareness” just for looking up at the Tundravision, that’s when.
• I say that, and then Brett makes a play like the stumbling underhand pass to Donald Lee, and I want to have his babies.
• Leroy Hill is a heck of a linebacker. Peterson and Tatupu get a lot of press, and they deserve it, but let’s start recognizing this kid’s talent.
• Love Green Bay’s inverted wishbone. Can I get a Favre option run-pass out of it next week?
• Good call on the weather Jillian Barberie. Snow definitely cleared out before game time. It’s time forecasters are paid on commission. If you’re right, you get paid for the day. If not, sorry, be better. Why reward incompetence?
• First punt for Green Bay punter Jon Ryan came with 9:15 left in the fourth quarter. That was the trend of the weekend.
• Never was a huge fan of sideline reporting, but when Tony Siragusa dressed up as Attila the Hun, I got a chuckle.
• I hate to say I told you so…this just wasn’t a good matchup for the ’Hawks. The defense was absolutely exposed.

Patriots 31 Jacksonville 20

• The thing about New England…they make you play differently than you normally would. Fourth and one from the 40 and Del Rio felt he had to go for it on the first drive of the game?
• That Garrard throw from his knees reminded me of the MNF Randall Cunningham-Carl Banks play. Not quite as spectacular, but almost.  
• Remember all that talk by me about Belichick being a genius…whoops. How did he not challenge that Garrard play? There was a 37 percent chance Garrard’s knee was down when he threw that pass. You have to take a shot at a challenge there.
• When is the last time you saw a game start off with each team converting a fourth down and scoring a touchdown on its opening drive?
• How about Brady’s block on the Wes Welker end around. Gisele is so lucky.
• Let’s give Garrard some credit. He started 11-of-12 for 141 yards and 2 TDs (a 155.2 passer rating). Who does he think he is? Tom Brady?
• The first half of this game was over by 8:25. Time sure flies when your quarterbacks don’t throw any incompletions.
• Leave it to the Patriots to fake the direct snap (complete with the ridiculous QB-fake-like-the-snap-went-10-feet-over-your-head that all teams try but never fools anyone) and then throw out of it. The Jags were so confused, Brady could have impregnated three ex-girlfriends and then thrown to Welker.
• How about all that running…from the Pats. Who do they think they are? Jacksonville? Belichick never gives you what you think you’re going to get.
• Welker jeopardized Brady’s shot at Phil Simms’ completion percentage record (he got it anyway), and my shot at a Patriots cover. Thanks, Wes. Great time for your first drop since your placenta.
•  Isn’t Randy Moss on this team?
• Chris Hanson’s first punt came with 31 seconds left. Jacksonville’s offense kept it close, but the Jags were never in the game. They couldn’t stop the Patriots’ offense at all. With Brady playing like that, no one can.
• Can we all get on board now? He’s clearly…clearly…the best quarterback ever. He’s about to grab his fourth ring in seven years. He had exactly zero weapons for three of them. Once Bill and Scott decided to get him some weapons, he had the best year this league has ever seen from a quarterback. The Chargers are playing well, but they have no shot at beating New England. No one does. 

Chick-Fil-Emma of the Week

I’m a big Chick-Fil-A fan (blatant sponsorship solicitation) and I go there twice a week for a “Number 1 with a Coke.” So I know the cost of my meal normally comes to $5.52. Except last Thursday, my girl (Sharise) charges me $5.19.  

I don’t say anything, which on its face, is clearly wrong. But I always drop the 48 cents in the tip jar, and on this occasion, I gave Sharise the extra 33 cents.

So if I don't keep the money, is that still stealing? Am I morally bankrupt? Or can I consider myself a modern day Robin Hood—taking from the rich and giving to the poor?  Speak to me. I’ve been struggling all week with this.

Chargers 28 Colts 24

• Marvin Harrison looked like he didn’t want to get hit on that fumble. That’s a direct result of not playing. And it was the biggest play of the game. Indy was on its way to a 14-0 lead. In the RCA Dome that might have been all the momentum the Colts would have needed.
• Antonio Gates is a MAN. You could see the pain in his eyes (and his gait) and he was still making leaping catches.
• The refs in this game were awful. The phantom holding call on the Cromartie TD return and the pass interference call on Clinton Hart were both equally terrible. And no, the make-up personal foul call on Ryan Diem did not make up for them.
• Tony Ugoh, a rookie praised all year for his protection of Peyton Manning (and rightfully so), got absolutely schooled by Shawne Merriman on that last play. Most players’ “Welcome to the NFL” moment happens in Game 1. Tony’s came in playoff game 1.
• The Chargers had scoring drives of 78, 83, 74, and 78 yards. See, I was right. Indy’s defense was the difference in the game.
• The Colts were just 3-of-11 on third down. I thought that was Manning’s “specialty.”
• You can’t turn the ball over three times deep in your opponent’s zone and expect to win. Peyton’s mates left him out to dry a few times.
• Philip Rivers really needs to be yelling at Colts fans after the game? It’s one thing to say you are fiery on the field, but the game was over. That was infantile. Especially after watching SD’s game-winning drive from the sidelines. 
• It’s clear (too bad it wasn’t clear to me on Friday), the Chargers just have the Colts’ number.

Giants 21 Cowboys 17

• “It’s not fair. That’s my quarterback…my…my…teammate. It’s on all of us.” Sniff, sniff.
• How slow does your defense have to be for Amani Toomer to outrun it?  
• Tom Coughlin got baited into that challenge of the T.O. touchdown by Strahan. I guess when he’s not officiating, he thinks he can coach, too…Maybe Aikman should have commented about Strahan’s awful “field awareness”?
•  OK, it took me 70 quarters, but I’m finally drinking the Eli Manning Kool Aid. The drive at the end of the second quarter was masterful. The absolute key to the Giants’ win. And it was all Eli.
• Crazy Stat Fox put up: Before Sunday, the NFC’s No. 1 seed was 17-0 in the Divisional Playoffs. Make that 17-1.
• Wade Phillips is now 0-4 in the postseason. Jason Garrett’s stock is rising in Big D. I’m not saying it will happen, but if I were a Cowboys fan, I’d much rather have Opie at the helm than Wimpy.
• “You guys can point the finger at him. You can talk about the vacation. And if you do that…it’s really unfair…it’s really…unfair.” Sniff, sniff.
• Tony Romo made some big mistakes down the stretch. Can we hold off on the “Next Great One” talk now? He’s still a kid, one who has yet to win a playoff game because of his own miscues. 
• T.O. was definitely hurt (physically speaking). That wasn’t just an ankle sprain. Don’t be surprised if the rumors about ligament damage in that ankle prove to be true.
• The Owens injury allowed the Giants to play him straight up and blitz the snot out of Romo. That second half, G-Men were coming at Tony from Sweetwater, Brekenridge and San Angelo (thank you Google Maps).* Guarantee of the day: Steve Spagnuolo will be a head coach by 2009.
• Last play of the game, fourth and 11, and you throw the ball to Terry Glenn? That’s as asinine as Jake Taylor trying to leg out a drag bunt. The guy has no knees left…seriously, his thighs are connected directly to his calves. And you are throwing to him, in double coverage no less, on the biggest play of the season?  Not T.O., not Witten, not Marion Barber. No knees Terry. Asinine. 
• The Giants ran seven offensive plays on their last three series. Two three-and-outs and a kneel down. And they still move on. That’s asking a lot of your defense. 
• “We lost as a team…we lost as a team, man. It’s so unfair…” Sniff, sniff.

Sunday was a bad day for me but a good day for the NFL. Two phenomenal games. Give both winning defenses credit. The Chargers forced Peyton and Co. into turnovers and the banged-up Giants rode a spectacular defensive second half to their NFL-record ninth straight road win.  

Record: 4-4 overall; 4-4 ATS

* Another conspicuous sponsorship solicitation.