Cardinals Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Punting is not a sexy topic, but it's an important one in the NFL. The lack of production in that department has haunted the Cardinals for two years and highlights the biggest personnel mistake during Ken Whisenhunt's two-year tenure as head coach.

This week, the Cardinals released punter Dirk Johnson and signed Ben Graham, who was released earlier this year by the Jets and the Saints.

Graham is the fifth punter the team has utilized since training camp of 2007. That's when Whisenhunt decided to cut Scott Player just before the start of the season and go with Mike Barr, a rookie who had tried for a few years to catch on with a team.

Barr was a disaster as a punter and a holder for kicker Neil Rackers.

Loss of Williamses rocks Vikings’ playoff boat (SportingNews.com)

After losing defensive tackles Kevin and Pat Williams for the final four games, staying in first place will be a big challenge for the Vikings, says Vinnie Iyer.

NFL Power Poll: It’s the Giants, then the rest (SportingNews.com)

At this time last season, the New England Patriots were just a month away from their eventual undefeated...

The not-at-all premature playoff picture: Week 13 (Yahoo! Sports)

In : Ravens, Falcons Out : Patriots, Redskins AFC First-Round Byes : Tennessee Titans Pittsburgh Steelers Other...

Seeing through Savage (Yahoo! Sports)

Browns GM Phil Savage has no qualms about throwing coach Romeo Crennel under the bus to save his job.

AccuScore: Giants should be fine without Burress (Yahoo! Sports)

Throughout the postseason, simulations show that the Giants are favored to win regardless of whether Plaxico Burress plays.

Cardinals release P Johnson (PA SportsTicker)

The Arizona Cardinals on Monday released punter Dirk Johnson.

Chargers’ collapse goes well beyond coaching (Yahoo! Sports)

GM A.J. Smith made plenty of questionable decisions leading up to what has become a miserable season.

Chargers’ collapse goes well beyond coaching (Yahoo! Sports)

GM A.J. Smith made plenty of questionable decisions leading up to what has become a miserable season.

NFL Capsules (AP)

Pittsburgh's NFL-best defense stopped Matt Cassel's two-game offensive surge and pushed New England closer to strange territory: a sideline seat for the playoffs. The Steelers held the Patriots to 267 yards, got two touchdown passes from Ben Roethlisberger and four field goals from Jeff Reed and beat the Patriots 33-10 on a cold, rainy Sunday.