If they secure the No. 2 seed, chances are they will host Indianapolis in the divisional round, assuming the Colts prevail as the No. 3 seed and beat whoever finishes No. 6, currently the Jets. Against the Colts, the Ravens should be able to crank up whatever running game they desire.

Since the Colts are no lock against the Jets or anybody they host, the Ravens could end up hosting either the No. 4 Patriots or current No. 5 Broncos. They would be favored over either of those teams, too.

By then, the national press will have taken notice, just in time for the Ravens presumably to travel to San Diego for a rematch with the Chargers. It no doubt would be labeled the "real" Super Bowl in honor of AFC dominance.  

Q: When are you jerks going to start giving the Ravens some press? All we ever hear is how other teams lose to them but never how Baltimore has beaten them. If the national press had any integrity and/or competence they would be looking at the numbers and realize that 12 teams couldn't all have had 'bad days' when they played Baltimore. Look at the current articles. Ben has a bad day... Yeah, right.
— Greg Thomas, Baltimore

A: See above. I think Ben must have had at least two bad days. I agree the Ravens have been shortchanged. They came from behind early, then lost a couple close ones and people sort of lost track. Don't worry. They'll get their due sooner or later.

Q: How much of Tony Romo's success is due to him, and how much comes from having a coach like Bill Parcells? Is it easier for a rookie to come in when Parcells can provide the leadership?
— Steve Thomas

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A: Parcells never had much use for rookie quarterbacks, not even his No. 1 pick in New England in 1993, Drew Bledsoe. That's one reason he hesitated to allow Romo to replace Bledsoe during this season. Romo is in his fourth year, so he's no rookie, but he never got a shot with Parcells, who fooled around with so-called more experienced players so long that it's become too late. Had Romo been inserted earlier, like last season, maybe he could iron out his current problems faster.

It's unfortunate for Cowboy fans they are now stuck with what Parcells described as a team that obviously doesn't know how to play in important December games. Parcells coached best when he could rely on wily veterans. The best coaches now know how to get young players into the mix quickly. He's tried it more so on his defense, but they aren't responding.

Q: Knowing what we all know now, which player would you take first in last year's NFL draft?
— Austin Condor, Tulsa, Okla.

A: Vince Young beyond the shadow of a doubt.

I thought so as soon as I saw the Rose Bowl game, wrote it then, and still think so now. He is the most perfect example of paralysis by analysis I've seen in recent years. I guess scouts get paid to scrutinize players throughout their careers and general managers get paid to listen to scouts and nobody thinks common sense is often the most accurate measure. They feared his Wonderlic test score was too low. He wouldn't be able to figure out complicated defenses. His release was too sidearm. He wouldn't be able to get away with running around in the pros.

I wrote that if Vince Young failed in the NFL, shame on the NFL. He has such obvious talent and leadership ability that he could revolutionize the quarterback position. The leadership element is underrated. Anybody who ever played with him or coached him talked about it and his record proved it. At quarterback, such an intangible is invaluable, yet at least two teams refused to pay a lot of attention to it.

The Saints had a better excuse after signing Drew Brees, but the Texans had no excuse at all and will have to live with this mistake for years, maybe decades. It is possible that even had the Texans selected Reggie Bush, they would have eventually regretted it. One of the things the Texans failed to consider was the negative impact their decision would have on their selection, defensive end Mario Williams, who shows every indication of becoming a fine player, but will never be able to make the impact of a franchise quarterback. He would have to make 20 sacks a year. He would have to be the reincarnation of Reggie White, who by the way couldn't win until he hooked up with franchise quarterback Brett Favre in Green Bay.

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