Week 9 in the NFL

Random thoughts as I contemplate if 7-9 might be good enough to finish second in the NFC North this season ... seriously.

- My, how the complexion of the NFC East has changed in the past few weeks. Dallas certainly looks like the team to beat right now following its very impressive 20-16 defeat of Philadelphia. Tony Romo was maligned by virtually every analyst early in the year, and was the guy nobody trusted to win a big game in Big D. He's certainly playing well now that Miles Austin has emerged as a go-to receiver. And Dallas' defense is good enough that they could stay in a playoff game with anybody in the NFC East ... maybe even New Orleans.

- Go back a few weeks, and the New York Giants looked like they'd run away with the East. They're now in third place and really reeling, having lost 21-20 to San Diego. Tom Coughlin's questionable decision to have Lawrence Tynes kick a 22-yard field goal with 2:07 to play backfired when Phillip Rivers and my fantasy guy, Vincent Jackson, hooked up on a winning touchdown pass in the closing seconds. Give San Diego coach Norv Turner, who I love to rip, some credit for winning a huge game and keeping his Chargers on the heels of Denver in the AFC West.

- I've lost all hope of Houston ever winning a big game with Gary Kubiak as coach. Sure, the Texans have shown lots of life early this season, as they seem to at some point every year. But the pieces were in place for them to beat Indianapolis on Suday, and they couldn't get it done, losing 20-17. Matt Schaub's put up some outstanding passing numbers, Andre Johnson is one of the very best receivers in the game, the Texans have finally come together defensively ... and yet, they're just 5-4 and already with little hope of winning the AFC South.

- One coach who's pretty good at winning big games is New England's Bill Belichick, who got his Patriots back in control of the AFC East by beating Miami 27-17 Sunday. Ronnie Brown and the once-dominant Dolphins running game have been slowed, and while Tom Brady had just one touchdown pass Sunday, he is back to playing at a Tom Brady-like level. I am very intrigued to see what happens at next Sunday's made-for-TV matchup between the Colts and the Patriots.