The NFL and Fox and CBS have agreed to a six-year, $8 Billion extension to broadcast NFL games through the 2011 season. Not included in the extension was Monday Night Football, currently broadcast by ABC, and Sunday Night Football, currently broadcast by ESPN. Both networks are owned by Disney, and are the pioneers in both of those broadcasts.

The agreement continues for CBS to broadcast the AFC, and FOX to broadcast the NFC. CBS has carried football since 1956, then carried NFC games from 1970 to 1993, before losing the rights to FOX, who has carried the NFC since the 1994 season. CBS retained football in 1998, carrying the AFC, after winning the bid from NBC.

"These agreements represent the NFL's premium position as the No. 1 sports and entertainment attraction on television and in stadiums,"  Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said last week. "Our goal in the negotiations has been to continue to deliver our games to the widest possible audience. The agreements underscore a unique commitment to broadcast television that no other sport has."

The NFL also extended its agreement with DirecTv to carry NFL Sunday Ticket, a premium package that carries all the games of the week on separate channels through a satellite provider. The agreement is a five-year, 3.5 billion deal that carries through the 2010 season.

"Our DIRECTV partnership complements and supports our broadcast television packages," said Commissioner Tagliabue. "DIRECTV has been a great partner and this new agreement expands our joint commitment to the ongoing development of innovative ways for fans to enjoy the NFL."

The NFL is the only major sport to carry 100 percent of their games, playoffs included, over free, open air networks. ESPN Sunday Night games are contractually obligated to broadcast over local ABC affiliates whenever the home team is playing.

Weekend Break Down

BILLS (4-6) 37, Rams (5-5) 17 - FINAL: Big come back from last week's beating by Bledsoe and the Bills. That must feel good. And the AFC East has not been good to the Rams. Three straight this season alone, including two road losses, one of them for Miami's for seasonal win. Mike Martz must be beside himself.

Titans (4-6) 18, JAGUARS (6-4) 15 - FINAL: How'd this happen? Steve McNair is what happened. He got back into the game after a few weeks off and tossed a touchdown, while Antowain Smith (Yes, that Antowain Smith) dashed into the endzone for another. McNair also tossed a couple of INTs, but played better than Byron Leftwich backup David Garrard.

Steelers (9-1) 19, BENGALS (4-6) 14 - FINAL: Oh, Bungles, you bungled it again! You could have had the Steelers and handed them a nice loss. But no, you, Carson Palmer threw three touchdown, one of them to the other team. That's the difference, that and Jerome Bettis rushing for 129 yards. Ick. I hate the Bus.

Broncos (7-3) 34, SAINTS (4-6) 13 - FINAL: Saint lose again at home. They've been doing that sicne the days of Manning No. 1.

BUCCANEERS (4-6) 35, 49ers (1-9) 3 - FINAL: Wow! The Gruden People wasted the crap out of San Fran, once a storied franchise. But there again these are different days, and the 49ers stink, and so do the Bucs. For that, we move on.

Jets (7-3) 10, BROWNS (3-7) 7 - FINAL: Here's a snooze fest. 10-7? Ick.

VIKINGS (6-4) 22, Lions (4-6) 19 - FINAL: Lions, you had this one. You had it. Cripes, you were up 14-7 in the first quarter and you let the Vikes score 15 unanswered points. You only needed a pair of field goals to win. To win! Damnit, how can I like you if you keep losing like this?

RAVENS (7-3) 30, Cowboys (3-7) 10 - FINAL: It's more like the Owboys. Parcells pulled Testeverde for Drew Henson. Henson fumbles it on his very first play. Welcome to the NFL.

PANTHERS (3-7) 35, Cardinals (4-6) 10 - FINAL: Two loser teams and Carolina comes out on top.

Colts (7-3) 41, BEARS (4-6) 10 - FINAL: Manning No. 2 tosses 4 TDs. He could have stopped at two. Hell, he didn't even need to toss any touchdowns. Vanderjagt-ass kicked five field goals. That would have beat Chicago alone.

SEAHAWKS (6-4) 24, Dolphins (1-9) 17 - FINAL: Trent Dilfer gets the start. Trent Dilfer gets the win. Miami Dolphins: different coach, same ol' losses.

Chargers (7-3) 23, RAIDERS (3-7) 17 - FINAL: And those Chargers keep on rollin'. What got into the water down there in Diego? These Chargers are sizzling!

Falcons (8-2) 14, GIANTS (5-5) 10 - FINAL: The Debut of Manning Number 3 ends in his first NFL loss. Aww, good thing Daddy, Manning Number 1, was on hand to console No. 3. Here's how the conversations started: "Son, I've lost a lot of games in my time, so I know what you're feeling..." The Giants defense, on the other hand, kept Atlanta's offense stable, but not enough for a win for No. 3.

EAGLES (9-1) 28, Redskins (3-7) 6 - FINAL: Come on, Gibbskins! All you can muster is six lousy points? You'll never get ahead in the NFC East at that rate.

Packers (6-4) 16, TEXANS (4-6) 13 - FINAL: Some game! Right down to the final second with a 47-yard field goal for a Green Bay win. David Carr looked real upset, it is looks like those that make good players down the stretch.

New England (8-1) at Kansas City (3-6) Tonight 9 PM ABC

Oddities of Week 12's Matchups

Thanksgiving Day Games

Indianapolis (7-3) at Detroit (4-6), CBS 12:37 PM. Detroit needs to run the table to squeeze in the playoffs. And Peyton ain't there yet, either. Wins are a must here.

Chicago (4-6) at Dallas (3-7), FOX 4:35 PM. Two losing teams battle out in prime time.

SUNDAY GAMES

Cleveland (3-7) at Cincinnati (4-6), 1:00 PM. Battle for O-HI-O, Part II. No chance for the Browns. And really no chance for the Bengals...

Philadelphia (9-1) at N.Y. Giants (5-5), 1:00 PM. Manning No. 3, meet the reigning and probably returning NFC East Champions.

San Diego (7-3) at Kansas City (3-6), 1:00 PM. AFC Western. Hm. Lemme see about this one. Drew Brees and LaDainian Tomlinson versus Trent "Loser" Green and maybe Mighty Priest Holmes. And the Chiefs have played like crap this season. My money is all over Diego. Who would have thought I would have said that in August.

Tampa Bay (4-6) at Carolina (3-7) , 1:00 PM. NFC Southerner. Can you believe that at 4-6, the Bucs are in second place in the division? Gods!

Tennessee (4-6) at Houston (4-6), 1:00 PM. AFC Southerner. Battle of the 4-6's.

New Orleans (4-6) at Atlanta (8-2), 4:05 PM. The Other NFC Southerner. The Saints haven't a prayer. Get it, prayer, Saints. Yeah....

Baltimore (7-3) at New England (8-1), 4:15 PM. The NFL changed this to a late game at the last minute for the national audience. That is your Super Bowl Champions! Ironically, The Ravens were the last AFC team to win a Super Bowl before the Patriots.

Oakland (3-7) at Denver (7-3), 8:30 PM. AFC Westerner. Old fashioned rivalry. Al Davis will probably need extra heart medication for this one.

St. Louis (5-5) at Green Bay (6-4), 9:00 PM. Old Fashioned NFC Prime Timer. Wins on either side puts them in playoff races, but loses, well, makes it pretty hard to talk January play. And maybe more important, Brett Favre's 200th Consecutive start.

Patriots News

Three unidentified people traveling with the Patriots were injured Sunday while traveling to Kansas City when team buses collided...Tyrone Poole and Matt Chatham are out for Monday night's game...Deion Branch is questionable.

League News

Priest Holmes is out for Monday night...Ravens RB Jamal Lewis was injured in Sunday's game, and had to leave. The backup Musa Smith broke his leg that same first quarter...Drew Bledsoe has been named the 2004 Walter Payton Man of the Year. The award is given to a player who demonstrates professional and civic responsibilities.

Signs of the Apocalypse

On the commuter train last week, I saw a well dressed gentleman give up a seat for a young lady with a large suitcase. My first thought was that he was playing her, but then he stood near the doorway, well away from her. She also got on her cell phone to call her boyfriend, but regardless, that's not the story. The conductor came around to collect the tickets, and the gentleman could not find his monthly pass. The conductor was young and patient, and the man embarrassed and frustrated. He'd just done a good deal after all. A man sitting across from where our hero stood handed him a ticket for the ride. Neither one knew each other, and the ticket giving man refused any money. The conductor accepted the fare and moved on.

Did I mention that the man giving up the seat was black, and the man giving him a free ticket was white?

There's no apocalypse coming anytime soon.

Notes & Quotes

We just talked a little bit of how you handle things and how you deal with things when you're faced with some adversity. It was good conversation. It's nice to know you're not the only one who's been through hard times. ... It's nice to know that you have that support.

- Bills Quarterback Drew Bledsoe on his conversation with Jim Kelly this week.

Top Ten List of the Week

1. The Patriots and their Monday nighter. Hey, NFL, why not more at Gillette Stadium?

2. Never count out Brett Favre. I did, and it is a good thing I didn't put any money on that.

3. I dig Peyton Manning tosses all of these touchdown passes, but where are they in January.

4. I just saw an interview with Curt Schilling on SportsFinal. Why is he wearing a Ben Roethlisberger jersey? Why, Curt, I ask you?

5. The Monday Night Football skit, the one with Terrell Owens getting seduced by a worn-out looking Nicolette Sheridan, may have been stupid in production and writing, but racist? Come on, TO is stacked and ripped (maybe with a little help from Dr. Chems), and what housewife wouldn't want to drop her towel for him? Please. I was a little shocked at the fact that Sheridan really was naked underneath that towel, but it was nothing I had seen before. Please. Stop whining, folks. ABC is short on good ideas and ratings. They needed the attention.

6. Helluva turn around this week for Drew Bledsoe. 3 TDs. A big home win over the Rams. What a difference a week makes.

7. Manning No. 3 is probably going to go through a lot of the same growing pains as Manning No. 2 went through - interceptions, losses, etc. Just because his father and brother made big splashes in the NFL, doesn't mean Eli will, or that it will come quickly.

8. Miami doesn't need a coaching change. They need a complete overhaul of the organization, probably starting with the ownership. By the way, no surprise, the Dolphins are for sale.

9. If the Patriots are to continue to win, they will need to rely on themselves to fill in where there are injuries. Most teams do not have the type of depth New England has been able to display in the last few seasons, and I certainly don't think that most number 1 receivers would ever think about playing defensive back. Right now, that is a weakened position that the Patriots must keep dangerous.

10. At some point I will talk about that fiasco basketball game involving Ron Artest. Pathetic. How could those people be so stupid and ignorant - and make so much money!