It seems that the blame for the Pats defensive letdown was enough for defensive coordinator Dean Pees to leave his post. The team announced just four days after the playoff loss to the Ravens that Pees is leaving after four seasons as the defensive coordinator.

Pees said he told team owner Robert Kraft and coach Bill Belichick that he would not seek a new contract after his current one expires at the end of January. “I enjoyed my time in New England, but feel this is the right time to pursue other opportunities,” Pees said in a statement issued by the club on Thursday.

For the New York Jets, they felt that they were being overlooked heading into the 2009 NFL Playoffs. Saturday afternoon in Cincinnati, they put the other four AFC teams left on notice. Led by a great outing by rookie QB Mark Sanchez and a defense that held Carson Palmer in check, the Jets will move on to round two after a 24-14 win.

Charlie Weis signed on with the Kansas City Chiefs as offensive coordinator.  He’s come back to the NFL just about a month after being fired from Notre Dame.

Although Weis only had a so-so  run with Notre Dame, his NFL record speaks for itself assisting in three Super Bowl victories with the New England Patriots.

Chiefs head coach Todd Haley used to take orders from Weis thirteen years ago, but now the tides have turned as Haley is the one who hired Weis.

Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis skeptical about the legitimacy of Brady’s injury reports.  He speaks out  during the opponent’s conference call.

The last time these teams played, Baltimore players thought officials were far too quick to throw flags that kept the pass-rush heat off Tom Brady. In a conference call this week, Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis sounded wary about reports of Brady’s broken ribs and broken index finger on his throwing hand.

Until tonight, it was doubtful the New York Jets could make the NFL playoffs.  The Jets played an impressive game at home against the Cincinnati Bengals, shutting them out 37-0.  This win gives the Jets a rematch with the Bengals next Saturday, less one week, but this game will be in the AFC Playoffs at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.

The Jets dominated from start to finish, putting up 320 yards of offense, and holding the Bengals to 72 yards, 1-for-11 on third downs, 5 first downs, and zero net yards passing. Cincinnati  threw just 19 times, completing just four passes, three for backup J.T. O’Sullivan and one for Carson Palmer. They also had little impact running the ball, and held onto the ball for just 18:46 to 41:14 for the Jets.

Following the controversy caused by the Colts pulling their starters during the week 16 game against the Jets, the NFL will ask the competition committee to re-review the rules on playoff bound teams resting their key players during games later in the regular season.

“This is an issue that we have reviewed in the past. The position of the Competition Committee, and affirmed by the clubs, when it was reviewed in 2005 was that ‘a team that has clinched its division title has earned the right to rest its starters for the postseason, and that preparing for the postseason is just as important as protecting some other team’s playoff opportunity.’ That is the current policy.” said Greg Aiello, the NFL’s senior vice president of public relations on Friday.

The New England Patriots took a major step in wrapping up the AFC East Division on Sunday as they defeated the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium 17-10. Both teams in second place in the Division the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets also lost on Sunday giving the Patriots a 2 game lead in the Division with just 2 games left in the regular season. However if the way that New England performed against Buffalo is any indication of how they will play in the NFL Post Season; expect the Patriots to be eliminated in their first game.

For New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan, this can be considered a season of learning and growing pains. They (the team) indeed had some high points and some low points, as part of the learning process. The Jets perhaps learned a football lesson in their game on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons at Giants Stadium in that the Falcons have a weapon in tight end Tony Gonzalez, and they’re not afraid to use it. Quarterback Matt Ryan was miondful of that fact as he tossed a 6-yard touchdown pass to Gonzalez with 1:38 left in the fourth quarter, leading Atlanta to the 10-7 win over New York.

Will the Indianapolis Colts rest some of their starters before the playoffs or go for the gusto and try for a 16-0 perfect finish this season.  This would put them in the record book next to the New England Patriots.

CHICAGO (Reuters) – The Indianapolis Colts, unbeaten at 14-0, have yet to decide whether to play a full strength team for the final two games of the regular season or rest their top performers before the playoffs, coach Jim Caldwell said.

The Indianapolis Colts have a chance to finish this season with a perfect 16-0 wins.  Will their starters rest before the playoffs or go for the gold that would put them in the record book along side the New England Patriots.

CHICAGO (Reuters) – The Indianapolis Colts, unbeaten at 14-0, have yet to decide whether to play a full strength team for the final two games of the regular season or rest their top performers before the playoffs, coach Jim Caldwell said.