FanHouse

Every week, NFL FanHouse hits the lowlights from Sunday's action, looking at those players who did the most to move their head coaches that much closer to returning to the Bed and Breakfast business.

Herm Edwards, Chiefs
Two weeks ago, Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs was highlighted in this space because of his inability manage timeouts and the clock. I have no recollection of Gibbs struggling with such problems during his first coaching run back in the '80s and '90s, but I'm convinced that Edwards is, by light years, the league's worst coach when it comes to making in-game decisions.

I don't make that accusation cavalierly, and with the full understanding that in addition to Gibbs, guys like Brian Billick, Marvin Lewis, Mike Holmgren and Norvell Turner make seemingly hair-brained decisions. But none can match Herm's lunacy.

The latest addition to Edwards' legacy came Sunday against AFC West rival, Oakland. With Kansas City trailing 20-17, less than five minutes to go in the game, and the ball on the Raiders' 27, Brodie Croyle completed a four-yard pass on 3rd and 5. Bring in the field goal team, right? Wrong.
Sorry, No Photos
Instead, Edwards called a timeout to discuss what to do on fourth down, and then, when it was obvious to everybody in the building that kicking the field goal was the right call, Edwards challenged the fourth-down spot. No, really.

Shockingly, the referee upheld the ruling on the field, and the Chiefs lose two timeouts without one snap being taken. Awesome. I feel confident in writing that the better team won Sunday. Nice work, Herm.

Eli Manning, Giants
Wow, that was ugly. The Vikings somehow managed to get their hands on a time machine, stuffed Manning in, set it for 2004, and, well, you saw how the rest played out. How's this for a stat line: 21 of 49, 273 yards, 1 TD, 4 INTs.

And not only did Manning toss four picks, three went for touchdowns. That's right, THREE PICK-SIXES, started by Darren Sharper (20-yard return), and followed by Dwight Smith (93 yards) and Chad Greenway (37 yards).

Interestingly, the last time Manning threw four interceptions was against the Vikings in 2001, and Sharper had three of them (only one went to the house, however). And just like today, the Giants lost that game too.

Usually, it would be ludicrous to suggest that the head coach of a 7-4 team might be in danger of losing his job, but that's not the case with Tom Coughlin. Virtually everyone was surprised when the team gave him a one-year deal last off-season, and we all just assumed he'd be a lame duck for 2007. To Coughlin's credit, he's done a great job in a nearly impossible situation.

Still, barring a miracle, Coughlin won't be back next year. And if the Giants string together a few more of these stink bombs, Coughlin might not make it to January.

Jason Campbell, Redskins
This FanHouse headline pretty much says it all: Buccaneers 19, Redskins 13: Seven Turnovers Are a Little Hard to Overcome. Washington was down 19-3 at the half, but managed to outscore Tampa Bay 10-0 in the final 30 minutes. Didn't matter.

The problem was the seven turnovers, three courtesy of quarterback Jason Campbell. Campbell has been inconsistent in his first full year as the starter, and Sunday was a microcosm of that. He was 30 of 49 for 301 yards with a nice touchdown to Chris Cooley, but also had two game-deciding picks late in the fourth quarter.

The first came with Washington trailing by six points with 3:46 to go. Campbell underthrew an out route on the Bucs' 28-yard line, right to Ronde Barber. The Redskins would get the ball back, still trailing by six, and with 23 seconds to go, Campbell would again throw a pick, this time in the end zone to Brian Kelly. And that was that.

The 'Skins find themselves in a familiar position: faltering late in the season. Whatever happens, Joe Gibbs will be back. And i suspect we'll be having a similar conversation in 12 months or so.

Titans Defense
Look, I understand that Albert Haynesworth didn't play Sunday. But, jeebus, does that mean the entire defense doesn't have to show up? For the second time in as many weeks, the Titans' D was schooled. Sunday against the 3-7 Bengals, Tennessee, fighting for a wild card spot, allowed 148 rushing yards, and had a great view of Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh putting on a passing clinic.

Palmer was sacked only once on the day, and threw just six incompletions. He finished 32 of 38 for 283 yards, and three touchdowns. And all three scores were to the before-today embattled Ocho Cinco, who really needed the pick-me-up. Johnson had 12 receptions for 103 yards, and the NFL's leading receiver, Houshmandzadeh, added seven more.

More proof the Titans' defense was dominated: the Bengals were on the field for more than 38 minutes. Of course, Tennessee's offense isn't blameless, but quarterback Vince Young has been inconsistent most of the season. The only constants have been kicker Rob Bironas and the defense. And right now, it's just Bironas.

The loss drops the Titans to 6-5, and almost guarantees they'll miss the playoffs. Unless they can win out (not likely), or the Jags falter (even less likely), Tennessee is playing for pride.

Ravens Defense
There's no shame in being the team responsible for LaDainian Tomlinson cracking the 10,000-yard mark. LdT is arguably the best back in the NFL, and even though the Ravens pride themselves on stopping the run, you have to tip your cap to Tomlinson.

But allowing Philip Rivers to throw three touchdowns -- all on blown coverages -- is unacceptable. Rivers has bumbled his way through the '07 season after a solid 2006 effort. He's looked indecisive and harried most of the year, and he's also come down with a raging case of rabbit ears.

But Sunday against Baltimore, Rivers went off. On the first touchdown pass, Antonio Gates ran a seam route, and Ravens linebacker Bart Scott was playing coverage-optional. Thirty-five yards later, Gates waltzed into the end zone uncovered.

On touchdown pass No. 2, Rivers did a nifty job of buying time, rolled left, and found Chris Chambers -- wait for it -- uncovered in the back of the end zone. Cornerback Samari Rolle was juked out of his shoes, and all he could do was watch as Chambers celebrated.

The final touchdown went to Gates again, but this time he abused Ray Lewis on his way to the hizzie. I know Lewis is a Hall of Fame linebacker, but at 32, I'd suggest that defensive coordinator Rex Ryan might not want to leave him in single coverage on somebody like Gates. Just a thought.

On the bright side, Brian Billick didn't make Coach Killers for the first time in a month, and Steve McNair didn't lose a fumble or throw an interception. So there's that.