From the ashes

Lost in the collapse of the Kansas City Chiefs has been one of the best coaching jobs of 2008. Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey lost his first two options at quarterback, Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard, because of injuries by mid-October, forcing Kansas City to play Tyler Thigpen. It's a big jump from Coastal Carolina to the NFL, and Thigpen, in his second season, had thrown six NFL passes before being rushed onto the field. Gailey contoured the KC offense to fit Thigpen, implementing the QB's college formation, the spread. Thigpen has made 10 starts and has passed for 2,417 yards and 17 touchdowns while rushing for 382 yards and three more scores. The season has been lost with a 2-13 record and the Chiefs might wind up firing this coaching staff. But Kansas City may have found its quarterback of the future in Thigpen - and the Chiefs can thank Gailey.

Bills, Lions on clock

With the Arizona Cardinals in the playoffs as the NFC West champion, the teams with the longest playoff droughts are the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions. Both last qualified in 1999.

Turnover math

The Cowboys aren't breaking even in turnovers. They have forced 21 on defense and committed 28 on offense for a minus-7 margin. The Cowboys are one of four playoff contenders with a minus, joining Arizona (minus-1), Minnesota (minus-5) and Denver (minus-15). The other 13 contenders heading into the final weekend are all even or better. Miami and Tennessee lead at plus-14. Only once in the last 16 years has a team won a Super Bowl with a minus differential - the 2007 Giants, who finished the regular season minus-9. New York turned it around in the playoffs, however, posting a plus-5 in its four victories.

UPSET OF THE WEEK

Miami is finding ways to win in December, with a three-game winning streak to surge to the top of the AFC East. The Jets are finding ways to lose, with three losses in their last four games to fall from the East lead. The Dolphins visit the Jets with a chance to clinch their first division title since 2000. Normally, this would be a monumental challenge for the warm-weather Dolphins. But these aren't your typical Dolphins. They won in Kansas City in single-digit temperatures with subzero wind chills. The Jets are three-point favorites. Go with Miami.

AROUND THE NFL

NFC

Having clinched home- field advantage for the playoffs, nothing changes for the New York Giants today when they close the regular season against Minnesota. "We are expecting to win," said Giants QB Eli Manning, who prepared this week to play 60 minutes. But coach Tom Coughlin may have other plans. He may not want to risk injury to any of his front-line players and jeopardize his team's chances for a Super Bowl repeat. ... A victory over San Diego would have given Tampa Bay a 10-5 record and control of the NFC's sixth seed. But the Bucs suffered their first home loss of the season and now need a win and a Cowboys loss to the Eagles to get into the playoffs. "Fortunately, I've got some good friends in Philadelphia," said Bucs coach Jon Gruden, who was the Eagles' offensive coordinator from 1995 to '97. ... The Carolina Panthers hold the No. 2 seed but could wind up as low as No. 5 by tonight. If the 11-4 Panthers lose and Atlanta defeats St. Louis, the Falcons would win the South based on a better conference record. ... This is the final chance for the Detroit Lions to avoid the label "worst team in NFL history." They need a victory at Green Bay today to avoid becoming the first 0-16 team. The Packers paddled the Lions, 48-25, in Detroit in the second week.

AFC

Division titles are on the line today in the East and West. Miami, New England and the New York Jets are vying for the East title. The 8-7 Broncos and 7-8 Chargers square off in San Diego tonight for the West title. Both division champions will have home games in the opening round of the playoffs, with 11-4 Indianapolis visiting the West champion and 10-5 Baltimore the most likely opponent for the East winner. ... If Miami wins its fifth straight game, it would culminate one of the most dramatic turnarounds in NFL history. The Dolphins would make a 10-game improvement from last season, vaulting from 1-15 in 2007 to 11-5 in 2008. The only other team in recent history with a 10-game improvement was the 1999 Indianapolis Colts, who went from 3-13 to 13-3. ... The Houston Texans need a victory over Chicago to finish at .500 for the second consecutive season. But the Bears are in a must-win situation - they can still win the NFC North.