Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
Ryan Callahan scored for the fifth time in four days and defenseman Ryan McDonagh snapped a second-period tie to lift the New York Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday.
PBT: Jeremy Lin wasn't his hot self on Saturday, but he still led the Knicks to victory.
Arc's five up, five down: After No. 11 Michigan State's 58-48 upset of No. 3 Ohio State, you'd be a fool to discount the Spartans' national title chances now.
Miami coach Al Golden says the worst is behind him, but his headaches figure to continue now that former booster Nevin Shapiro, now in jail, says his involvement with the Hurricanes program will result in stiff penalties.
Golf's dream pairing - Woods and Mickelson - is on the course in the final round at Pebble Beach. Jason Sobel has hole-by-hole reports.
The United States completed a 5-0 rout of Switzerland in the Davis Cup on Sunday, with 19-year-old Ryan Harrison and John Isner winning closing singles matches.
Euro Roundup: First-place Manchester City won 1-0 at Aston Villa on Sunday on Joleon Lescott's goal in the 63rd minute, maintaining its two-point lead over Manchester United in the Premier League.
Tessa Worley of France fought off gusting winds to win a second consecutive World Cup giant slalom Sunday in the Andorran Pyrenees. Overall leader Lindsey Vonn was more than a second behind and finished eighth.
Robins: It’s the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar calendar, and this Chinese influence could extend to it also being the year of the Pekingese on the green carpet at the 136th Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday.
APThe great balance of the 2007 Patriots has been demonstrated in other ways. By NFL statistics that measure yards, the Patriots rank first in offense and fourth in defense. By the Aikman ratings, they are even better — first in offense and third in defense by only a half point behind leader Minnesota.
Aikman ratings take into account by formula many considerations besides yardage. They are akin to the complicated passer ratings. Among coaches, the Aikman ratings serve as a more popular measure of strength than the NFL system. The Vikings' defense, for example, ranks 20th in yards allowed, but jumps to the top in the Aikman ratings when points and other statistics are factored.
The Patriots rank first in eight different offensive categories and in the top five in seven defensive categories. They rank first in turnover differential.
Tom Brady is enjoying an astonishing year for a quarterback and was the league MVP, of which there was no debate this season.
The arrival of Randy Moss gave the Patriots a pairing of two all-time greats at quarterback and receiver, and the arrival of underrated slot receiver Wes Welker made both Brady and Moss better.
Bill Belichick was a good coach before Brady, a great one since. The defense boasts an outstanding collection of talented veterans from Vince Wilfork, Ty Warren and Jarvis Green up front to Mike Vrabel and his linebacker friends to safety Rodney Harrison. Don't ever think this is a defense without Hall of Fame players.
A solid combination of quarterback-receiver-coach-defense almost guarantees success. Among the great dynasties, the Browns of the 1950s with Otto Graham, Dante Lavelli and Paul Brown helped usher in the modern era, followed by the Colts with Johnny Unitas, Raymond Berry and Weeb Ewbank, the Packers with Bart Starr, Boyd Dowler and Vince Lombardi, the Dolphins with Bob Griese, Paul Warfield and Don Shula, the Steelers with Terry Bradshaw, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth and Chuck Noll, the Cowboys with Roger Staubach, Drew Pearson, and Tom Landry, the 49ers with Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, and Bill Walsh, and the Cowboys with Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Jimmy Johnson.
All had great defenses and running games, both necessary foundations in order for passing, catching and coaching to flourish.
But no team ever did it as well as the Patriots are doing it today.
Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.
Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.
 | Slide show |
 |
Hot QBs, hot times See images of NFL quarterback stars such as Tom Brady, Tony Romo, who are as popular off the field as they are on. more photos |
| Slideshow |
 | Super Bowl XLVI shots See the best moments before, during and after the Giants' win over the Patriots more photos |
Latest from ProFootballTalk |
 | Video: Football from NBC Sports |
 Getty Images |
| Slideshow |
 | NBCSports.com |
Special feature |
 |
Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.
NBC Sports TV and livestream listings
Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.