54-31! 54-31! How often does a team (the Kansas City Chiefs) score 31 points and still get blown out by 23 points?!?

This was the weekend of big, the weekend of extravagance, the weekend of multiple trips to the goal line. Michael Turner crossed the pylon’s plane four times. The man scored four times and tied the Falcons record for touchdowns in a game. Atlanta used every one of them and scored 17 more points to beat the Carolina Panthers 45-28. The game put any of my doubts as to the legitimacy of the team so soon after the post-Vick fallout.

Marquee players made a return to the tops of the fantasy standings as well. Terrell Ownes may have only scored one touchdown, but he also went for 213 yards on seven catches as the Dallas Cowboys easily handled the 49ers 35-22. Owens averaged 30.5 yards a catch. He averaged three first downs a reception. Apparently the 49ers safeties were under the impression that he was still on their team despite wearing a blue and white jersey.

Randy Moss put on a show scoring three touchdowns and gaining over 100 yards for the first time in four weeks to remind corners that they cannot handle him. The New England Patriots prevailed 48-28 over the Miami Dolphins to stay one game behind the Jets.

Speaking of the Jets, New Yorkers have to love Brett Favre as he leads the team through this inexplicable season. He took the Jets to new heights with a win over the Titans, the last undefeated team in the NFL. Broadway Joe is going to have to make room for Broadway Brett in the hearts of Jets fans so desperately looking for something to take them out of the looming shadow of the New York Football Giants.

Those Giants put on an offensive barrage in the second half to hold off Kurt Warner and the three-headed monster in the receiving corps. New York won 37-29 over the Arizona Cardinals to hold off the rest of the NFC East and remain comfortably atop the division.

NFL Tickets in big cities like New York, Pittsburgh, and Boston are going to be for more than just the diehard fans willing to brave the bitter winds and the plummeting temperatures. This season, they are all contenders and the fans will have to fight the fair weather crowd for their rightful place in the stands.