Michael Strahan (92) had two of the Giants' six sacks of Donovan McNabb.

The defense may not be the Ravens', but it once again mauled the Eagles. Michael Strahan embarrassed Philly right tackle Jon Runyan, who may be the most over-hyped player in recent years. Jason Sehorn will need some of that athleticism for the Vikings. Defensive coordinator John Fox did the best job in recent memory of containing Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.

Offensively, it looked like Fassel had offensive coordinator Sean Payton playing close to the vest after Ron Dixon's opening kickoff return. Ron Dayne looked fairly motivated and got his big tush moving a little faster, which is a good sign.

Speaking of Dixon, the Giants need all the playmakers they can get for Sunday's NFC title game against the Vikings. The Giants need wide receiver Amani Toomer to rebound from his knee and ankle injuries. Something tells me they're going to need more than 20 points when Minnesota comes to town.

Vikings 34, Saints 16: All week, the Vikings worried because Daunte Culpepper's high ankle sprain was not making as much progress as they publicly led people to believe. Well, Randy Moss and Cris Carter sure made it feel better, not to mention an offensive line that kept Culpepper virtually spotless.

It was difficult to really tell if the Vikings' defense actually played an "A" game. The Saints were playing with receivers that had no business being on a playoff field. And as much as I admired what we saw of young Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks, in a game where your offense is so void of weapons, I had to second-guess his reluctance to not create more plays on his own. It's almost as if he's afraid of his own athleticism.

Back to the Vikings -- Dennis Green can make up for their NFC title slip two years ago by getting this team ready to play. One thing we shouldn't forget is that the Vikings were the best team in the NFC the first half of the season. Have they recaptured that?

	Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis recorded a team-high nine tackles against the Titans.

Ravens 24, Titans 10: In Week 16, when the Baltimore Ravens squeaked past the Arizona Cardinals 13-7, a frustrated Ravens coach Brian Billick was bemoaning the impotency of his team's offense on the bus ride to the airport. He told team fellow staff members something like, "I can't do this. If this is what we are ... playing Tony Dungy ball, where you're always one mistake away from losing a game ... I don't know if I can take this."

Like all coaches, Billick wants his team to be whole, especially because he has been an "offensive guru." Sunday, in the joy of this sweet victory over Tennessee, Billick admitted, "I've been pulled over to the dark side." Six first downs, just one offensive TD, that on a 57-yard drive. Still, a great win.

When the Titans opened the game with a very convincing touchdown drive to take a 7-0 lead, I thought it was over. The Ravens showed again that they can take a punch. They came off the mat to deliver this crushing defeat to the AFC Central division champ and Super Bowl favorite.

If I had to recast my All-Pro ballot today, Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis wouldn't just be my defensive player of the year, he'd be my MVP. As for Ravens quarterback Trent Dilfer, what can you say? He's in the AFC title game. Give Billick some credit for checking his ego (well, part of it) at the gate by not trying to prove that he can do more with Dilfer.

The Titans will have a bitter taste for a long time. Al Del Greco may have cost them a Super Bowl. Even I noticed that his first extra-point kick was low in trajectory. No surprise that the Ravens (specifically defensive end Rob Burnett) also noticed. If Del Greco kicks the first two field goals, the Ravens may have been forced to ask Dilfer to play a more expansive (and dangerous) role.

But before the Titans put the blame on Del Greco, how about an offense that failed to truly capitalize on two blocked punts? Where is the downfield passing game? They need to find it by next season.

Raiders 27, Dolphins 0: Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt's priority was to not let the Raiders get off to a big start. One play is all it took to turn this game around. Dolphins quarterback Jay Fiedler's interception on a drive that should have resulted in a Miami TD instead produced a 90-yard score for the Raiders' Tory James. End of game.

The Raiders now may be the best-balanced team left in the playoffs. But they now play a Ravens squad that has beaten the two teams the Raiders probably feared most going into the postseason: Denver and Tennessee.