Going 1-5 in six championship games and an ugly 3-13 ATS this week, I'm calling 12/21/2008 "Black Sunday" in the course of history. Actually, I had fun on the day, tailgating at the Raiders game with my buddies, rain and all. And let me tell you, some classy individuals showed up at McAfee Coliseum on Sunday, and since I actually didn't watch most of Week 16's carnage, it's almost as if it didn't truly happen, and assuredly, outcomes would have been different had I willed my teams with my own two eyes. Of course, the results did in fact occur, and in hindsight, I couldn't have picked a better Sunday to leave the TV behind. Alas, I must move on with life, so after two days digesting as much "Short Cuts" (best invention in the history of mankind?) as humanly possible, let's go over the Week 16 action:

The Colts had no business winning that Thursday night game. Then again, the same could be said about five other Indy wins this season. At some point, it's obviously more than just luck, but some of that good fortune may have run out, as the team clearly preferred traveling to Denver than the now more likely scenario of going to San Diego…I've resigned the fact Peyton Manning is going to win the MVP, but I must admit, that was an awesome performance last week…If the Jags cut ties with Fred Taylor and bring in little competition in their backfield, I'll have Maurice Jones-Drew ranked as the No. 2 fantasy back. There are less than a handful of backs who get most of the carries between the 20s, catch passes and also dominate at the goal line, and none of them are as talented as MJD. It would help if Jacksonville improved as a team, but right now I'm closer to putting Jones-Drew No. 1 than I am moving him lower.

You won't find a bigger Marion Barber fan than me – possibly the toughest RB to tackle in the NFL. However, his lack of long speed is apparent and hurts his overall upside quite a bit. Even a healthy Barber would deserve losing touches to the exciting Tashard Choice – this kid can play. And Felix Jones will be a factor next season as well…What is wrong with Roy Williams? Looks like the guy is running in quick sand. What a trade by the shrewd Lions!...It's looking likely the AFC's No. 3 and No. 4 seeds will be home dogs during wild card weekend, and no one should want to play this dangerous Ravens team…I'm not exactly jumping off my Cowboys bandwagon, but it's getting lonelier with yet another disappointing performance. Fitting two of the league's biggest underachievers with possibly the greatest potential meet Week 17 in Philadelphia.

Did the Bengals really attempt just nine passes Sunday?...I'm beginning to think Ken Dorsey might not have a future in this league…The Browns have gone five straight games without an offensive touchdown…During Weeks 15 and 16, fantasy football's most important time, the leader in yards from scrimmage was? Cedric Benson!...Word is, Carson Palmer will in fact require Tommy John surgery. Good thing they didn't take care of it 10 weeks ago.

What's up with Sean Payton's refusal to give Pierre Thomas a full workload? He'll still be a recommended fantasy pick next year, but his ceiling is lowered by Payton's usage…What an awful drop by Jeremy Shockey. He's actually a solid blocker in the run game, but his career as a receiver has been a massive disappointment…I'm for sure in the minority here – in fact, I may be the only one at all – but I thought Rob Parker's comment was funny, not offensive. He even started the question by prefacing, "on a light note." Rod Marinelli's endless supply of optimism and willingness to put all the blame on himself is admirable, but one can't improve –both on the football field and in life - if unable to admit faults. As such, there is no reason for change.

Sunday marked the first time this season the Dolphins committed more than one turnover, yet the team still prevailed since they also forced three takeaways. What a turnaround…Ricky Williams gets 2.8 YPC and loses a fumble, while Ronnie Brown gets 4.0 YPC yet four fewer rushes. I don't get it, but it's become a theme…Tyler Thigpen is a much better fantasy quarterback than he is a real life one, but that doesn't mean he's not fun to watch.

How bad are the Cardinals? That performance was disgusting Sunday, and any weather excuse doesn't work since Matt Cassel threw for 345 yards. It's the fourth loss by at least 21 points this season for the NFC West champions. They'll be yet another home dog during the first week of the playoffs…The Patriots have scored 40 points in a game the same amount of times this year as they did last season…It's a cruel world when the 11-5 Patriots could possibly be left out of the postseason when an 8-8 Chargers team gets in.

Steven Jackson looked like he was playing with a broken leg Sunday. If things break right, Jackson has about as much fantasy upside as anyone in the league. In reality, he's always hurt and stuck on one of the worst teams in the NFL. Let someone else take him early during next year's draft…I like Shaun Hill as a quarterback, but his lack of arm strength was apparent last week…You do not, let me repeat, do not mess with umpire Garth DeFelice. 

Impressive win by the Titans, but if anything, it really just makes it that much more likely the Steelers win if there's a rematch in the playoffs. The game was much closer than the final score indicated. Still, quite surprising it was Tennessee who was the first team to reach 300 yards against Pittsburgh this season…Here are Willie Parker's YPC over the last five years: 5.8, 4.7, 4.4, 4.1, 3.6 – notice a trend?...Tony Brown and Jason Jones (who?) were flat-out dominant Sunday. Even without Albert Haynesworth, that defensive line is incredible.

I've been calling Philip Rivers MVP since the middle of the season, and now that the team looks likely to make the playoffs, maybe those who are obsessed with team success in a sport that starts 22 players can even throw me bone (but probably not). He leads the NFL in TD passes (32), YPA (8.3) and QB rating (104.0) – in fact, the second best QB rating is nearly 10 points lower! With the season on the line, he went into Tampa Bay and got 9.3 YPA with a 4:0 TD:INT ratio. Rivers doesn't throw many picks or take a bunch of sacks and also isn't aided by a comfy home stadium that's a dome. If win/loss record is so important, consider San Diego's defense ranks 25th in the league, and there isn't a single above average weapon at his disposal on offense, unless you consider Vincent Jackson one. LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates haven't been close to their former selves, and everyone knows Chris Chambers sucks. Week 1 they lost when Carolina scored a touchdown as time expired. Week 2 was the "Ed Hochuli game." Week 12 they lost on a 51-yard FG as time expired. My point? Judging individual performance based on team record is a dangerous endeavor. Rivers has been the best player at the game's most important position in 2008, hence making him the most valuable…Where do you rate Antonio Bryant in your WR rankings next year? Top-15? Top-10?...It's probably just a coincidence, but the Bucs have had three straight disappointing defensive efforts right after the Monte Kiffin departure came to light.

My man P.J. Pope was off to a big start Sunday, running for 44 yards (7.3 YPC) over the first 7 minutes of the game. Too bad torn hamstrings are so tough to predict. Then again, wasn't it obvious? After all, Denver has placed a staggering seven RBs on the IR this season…Fred Jackson would be an upgrade at RB for at least 15 other teams (and maybe even his own). I hope he ends up on a bunch of my rosters next year…The final two plays of Sunday's game were a microcosm of Jay Cutler's season. First he misses a wide open Brandon Stokley in the end zone. Then he throws a perfect pass while off his back foot under pressure that lands directly in Stokley's hands for a would be TD had the defender not knocked it away at the last second. Cutler needs to improve his consistency and accuracy, but I still believe…Update on my Randy Moss vs. Brandon Marshall bet with Chris Liss: Moss (68 catches, 995 yards, 11 TDs), Marshall (98 catches, 1,210 yards, 6 TDs). Looks like I'm going to need a big effort from Baby T.O. Sunday night!

What a disappointing performance by the Texans. As usual, the Raiders left Nnamdi Asomugha at RCB all game, so Chris Johnson also deserves plenty of credit for shutting down Andre Johnson (and Kevin Walter). Matt Schaub is now 2-10 on the road over the last two years…Darren McFadden was in for just 30 of Oakland's 60 snaps, so apparently Tom Cable didn't get the memo…Is there a better TD call than Greg Papa's "TOUCHDOWN, RRRRAID-ERS!!!"? I say no.

Brett Favre has a 1:6 TD:INT ratio over his last four games. In other news, he's in the Pro Bowl and Philip Rivers isn't. Awesome. Please, just retire already…How funny would it be if the Pats win the early game, and then the Jets rest all of their starters to ensure a Dolphins win, and therefore, keep Eric Mangini's good buddy out of the postseason? Come on, you know he's at least considered this…The Seattle game was so boring, even Gus Johnson only got high pitched 20-25 times – approximately 80 fewer than usual.

Fumbles are the great equalizer and can make predicting outcomes seem futile. Minnesota outgained Atlanta in yards 350-222, yet five backbreaking fumbles were the difference. Meanwhile, Matt Ryan puts the ball on the carpet, and it's recovered by the Falcons for a TD. Adrian Peterson really needs to figure this problem out fast. Speaking of AD, I love me some Purple Jesus more than anyone, but talk of him as an MVP is silly – is Minnesota really that much worse with Chester Taylor in the backfield?…Tarvaris Jackson continues to impress. He'd be a sneaky fantasy option if he continues to run like that…It's a lot easier when playing with the lead in the NFL, and Atlanta's plus-82 margin in the first half this year is best in the league…A Falcons division title is inevitable, no? After all, it would mark the sixth straight year the previous last place NFC South team won the division the next year, which is as long as the division has been in place. The Saints might want to consider tanking Sunday's game as insurance.

I haven't flip flopped more on a team than this year's Eagles, and true to form, they disappointed yet again last week just when I bought back into them. And against a bad Washington squad to boot. Tough to blame Donovan McNabb with all those drops Sunday, but how good can a team really be if its quarterback has gotten just 6.0 YPA over the last seven games?...With 2,023 career carries and a body that looks less healthy than the lead singer from Deerhunter, I'm letting someone else draft Clinton Portis next year.

What an awesome Giants/Panthers game, highlighted by a terrific backdoor cover of my "best bet." Why was Jonathan Stewart getting the OT carries? Do you realize DeAngelo Williams entered Week 5 with zero touchdowns? How was that Carolina's first pass interference call of the season? How does Derrick Ward run for 215 yards on just 15 carries and without a TD? He's a perfect nickel runner...Hines Ward is the best, but Muhsin Muhammad isn't far behind when it comes to run blocking. He's a big reason why Williams has six 30-plus yard TD runs this year…As fantastic as Williams has been – hands down the fantasy MVP – I'm not sure I'd take him in the top-5 next year. It will be next to impossible repeating such a performance locked in a timeshare. Then again, Stewart has been prone to nagging injuries.

In the 2008 season, Ryan Grant averaged 2.9 YPC on the road…Chicago has found its long-term answer at running back and tight end, but the team still needs to address the quarterback position. Kyle Orton is simply not the answer…While the Vikings aren't great, I'd still rather see them in the playoffs than the Bears. Good thing Houston should take care of that this week.