Bring the Pain

Going into their week-10 game at the Meadowlands, the Giants-coasting on the goodwill following Wellington Mara's death-looked unstoppable, leading to endless speculation of an all-Manning Super Bowl. The Vikings, meanwhile, were suffering through what would have been the most calamitous season, on and off the field, in NFL history, were it not for the debacle that is New Orleans/San Antonio/Baton Rouge Saints. And on top of that, the Vikings had lost their previous four road games by an average of 25 points, and had lost to the Giants four consecutive times.

Of course?the Vikings won 24-21, thanks to a 2004-caliber performance from Eli Manning and some of the worst special-teams play in the history of the league on the Giants' part. And even though the Vikings managed just 137 yards of total offense, they managed to win after returning a kickoff, a punt and an interception for touchdowns. One more turnover and Tom Coughlin's head may have exploded.

But even if it had, it still would not have been the most entertaining coach injury of the game. In the first quarter, the Vikings' Laroni Gallishaw accidentally (?) knocked Giants special-teamer Jamaar Taylor directly into coach Mike Tice, causing the coach to flip over and reportedly sprain a ligament in his knee. Tice's injury comes just a week after quarterback Daunte Culpepper tore three different ligaments in his knee, but unfortunately for Vikings fans, Tice, unlike his quarterback, is not out for the season.

SIMMS CITY

This whole going-for-two-when-down-by-one-with-seconds-left thing sounds great now that it's worked two weeks in a row, but let's not forget that any coach who tried that, failed and cost his team the game would likely have people calling for his dismissal.

Great game, though, that Bucs/Redskins matchup. Apparently, Eli Manning and Chris Simms traded bodies for the week. Their daddies must have arranged it.

EAGLES GROUNDED

It had all the hallmarks of a great story-the Eagles, the week after jettisoning Terrell Owens, crush the hated Cowboys at home, showing they don't need the hated TO. And that was the case for 56 minutes, with the Eagles running the ball with gusto and jumping to a lead-until Dallas scored two touchdowns in 21 seconds to go ahead 21-20, winning the game after David Akers missed a 60-yard field goal as time expired. And even worse, Donovan McNabb was injured while throwing the game-losing interception.

The pre-game "funeral" for TO held by a local radio station, complete with a burning of Owens jerseys and copies of his book, apparently failed to exorcise the demon. As for people saying, "No one will want TO!" when he becomes a free agent-please. Football people have short memories. (Remember "The Dolphins will never take back Ricky Williams"?) When free agency starts six months from now, no one will care about the ESPN interview, the Hugh Douglas fight or the "next question" speech.

THE CANTON RIOTS

And finally, the preliminary nominee list for the Pro Football Hall of Fame was released the other week, and on it were such shoo-ins as Reggie White, Troy Aikman, as well as Warren Moon, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, Ralph Wilson and Art Modell. Yes, Cleveland fans, you read that last name right.

Canton is only about 60 miles from Cleveland. When Modell gets in, the scene in Canton that day could make what's going on in Paris right now look like nothing.