Here are the NFL's top five newsmakers and storylines this week:
1. BILL PARCELLS: The Cowboys continue to make news win, lose or draw. Parcells finally announced the inevitable this week, as he benched quarterback Drew Bledsoe in favor of little-known Tony Romo, who played in the second half of Dallas' 36-22 loss to the Giants on Monday night.
The Cowboys take on the Panthers on Sunday night. Carolina is -5 on WagerWeb.com.
"Deep down, I feel like Tony is a different kind of quarterback than Bledsoe," Parcells said. "And, maybe, we might be able to put some of those abilities to work. Maybe we can alter our circumstances for the better."
The Cowboys better. Dallas (3-3) — equipped with Pro Bowl wide receiver Terrell Owens — entered the season with Super Bowl expectations, but has battled inconsistency and currently sits behind the Giants and Eagles in the NFC East.
"I really in my heart of hearts," Bledsoe said, "believe that I give us the best chance to win."
Who knows, he may get that chance again soon. Just not Sunday night against the Panthers.
2. MATT BRYANT: You can't hit a 62-yard, game-winning field goal and not make the list. Bryant, a journeyman previously known more for his missed kicks as a Giant than any made ones with the Buccaneers, converted an absolute bomb Sunday that broke the hearts of the Eagles.
"I was stunned. I don't make a living doing this, kicking 61- or 62-yard field goals to determine outcomes of games," Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden said.
"I am a big believer in trying to manufacture plays and all that. But to count on a 62-yarder is hard to do."
Either way, the kick had plenty of leg, plenty of distance and plenty of accuracy.
"I hate to say this because it's going to sound like I'm lying. As soon as I hit it I said, 'Well maybe,' but I didn't hit as good as I thought I could have hit it," he said. "I saw it probably going three-quarters of the way and then I lost sight of it and then somebody jumped on me and I heard a cannon go off, and I said, 'Well, I guess I made it."
Give credit to Bryant for being honest and for having quite a leg. We're not big believers in the Buccaneers the rest of the way, but this guy is good.
Tampa Bay takes on the Giants on Sunday at the Meadowlands. New York is -9 on WagerWeb.com.
3. MAURICE CARTHON: Musical coordinators continued this week, as Carthon left his offensive post with the struggling Browns. Carthon, a former NFL fullback schooled under Bill Parcells, and his schemes placed the 1-5 Browns last in the league in offense. Against Denver on Sunday, a 17-7 home loss, Cleveland managed just 165 total yards. Jeff Davidson, who had been coaching the offensive line, has taken over and will make his debut on Sunday at home against the Jets. New York is +2 on WagerWeb.com.
"It's a long overdue job for him," Cleveland guard Joe Andruzzi said of Davidson.
Let's see if he can do something with the opportunity.
4. BYRON LEFTWICH: The Jaguars quarterback came down with a mysterious ankle injury over last weekend, and all of a sudden was a question mark for the game at Houston. He ended up playing despite the injury, but perhaps he shouldn't have.
Leftwich and the entire offense struggled in the 27-7 loss. He finished 14 of 28 for just 125 yards in a defeat that dropped the Jaguars to 3-3.
"I missed a few balls, but I don't think my ankle had anything to do with it," Leftwich said. "That's just my opinion."
The big unknown now is will he play Sunday, when the Jaguars — in dire need of a victory — travel to Philadelphia. Monitor the line all weekend on WagerWeb.com as he is listed as questionable.
5. MATT HASSELBECK: One quarterback who certainly won't be playing Sunday is Hasselbeck, who suffered a strained ligament in his right knee during Seattle's stunning 31-13 home loss to Minnesota. Rather, Seneca Wallace, an unproven pro who had a masterful career at Iowa State, will get the call as the Seahawks try to regroup at Kansas City. The Chiefs started -6 on WagerWeb.com, but this line is in flux with Chiefs QB Damon Huard's status in question..
Analyze that line with caution. As good as Seattle is, keep in mind both Hasselbeck and Pro Bowl running back Shaun Alexander are out.
"When you lose your quarterback," Coach Mike Holmgren said, "that's a fairly dramatic thing."
But will the Chiefs capitalize?
