NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

USA Today reports that Colts QB Peyton Manning isn’t exactly surprised about the reaction that the fans and media are having after Jim Caldwell sat him and other Colts starters last week in the first loss of the season to the Jets. The QB says he’s trying to stay away from all the commentary from everyone out there:

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning said that he isn’t surprised by the reaction of the team’s fans and media by what transpired in the second half of the Jets game. But he added that he hasn’t gotten caught up in all the post-game commentary. “I guess I really haven’t gotten into it. I haven’t really participated in it. We came in Monday and watched the film of the game and (I’ve) been home since. Like I said, at this point, we’re really just in the moving forward phase of trying to be better for it. I’ll admit it was not a pleasant experience on Sunday, but I truly feel our team can be better for it, can come together, can play with a little bit of an edge, a chip, if you will,” Manning said. “If (the loss to the Jets) may have caused it, that can be a positive for us, but I do think we have to move forward. … We’ve had a lot of positives go our way this season, and we haven’t had a lot of tough Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays. This has probably been a more difficult couple of days, but I think it’s all about how you respond to it. I think our team will respond in the right way, in moving forward and channeling any type of frustration in the right direction, as far as making us a better team.”

Much has been said about the Cowboys not being able to win in December, and with the Cowboys having played their final December game of the 2009 season last weekend against the Redskins, they come out with a 2-2 record. Not that 2 and 2 is great, but breaking even is better than a losing record. Probably the most important part of that 2 and 2 record, however, is that Tony Romo has played lights out all December and can not be blamed for the first two losses of the month.

Now comes the first game of January, the Cowboys have clinched a playoff berth and a win against the Philadelphia Eagles will give them the NFC East division title. This could easily be the biggest game of the season for the Cowboys, and just like two weeks ago against the Saints the experts aren't giving the Cowboys a lot of chance in this game, and for only one reason, past trends.

Trends however in the NFL, at least as far as game play goes, is the least effective way to determine how good a team is going to do. It was only a few years ago St Louis was one of the hottest teams in the NFL, then just like that they became one of the worst. It was just a few years ago Peyton Manning couldn't win a big game, and then one day he not only wins a Super Bowl but he becomes the Super Bowl MVP. The only thing it takes to ruin a trend is to break it, and so far the Cowboys have done that.

This past season, heading into December, Tony Romo was viewed as a Quarterback who could light up the score board and fill up a stat sheet in every month but come December, he would become Tony No More. Last season that was true though, as Tony Romo averaged just 220 yards a game in December, threw just 5 Touchdowns to 6 interceptions. This season however, Romo has thrown for 1239 yards in the month of December, averaged 309 yards a game has thrown just 1 interception to 4 touchdown passes. A trend, at least for this season, has been broken.

Now come in the Eagles, despite the fact that the Cowboys beat the Eagles and controlled their high flying, deep threat offense in the first game, at the Linc in fact, the Cowboys are considered the underdog playing at home. Their is that recent memory of the Eagles closing out the Cowboys season with a 44-6 win that was never even close, but how much relevance does last year actually have?

The Cowboys need to come out one more time in the regular season, and silence the pundits, by beating the Eagles and playing strong on both sides of the ball. The Cowboys are in the playoffs and they will have to prove something there as well, but first they need to worry about this week and breaking one more trend of giving up during the last game of the season. This Cowboys team, some are calling smoke and mirrors, but I believe this team is as legit as they come. They still have to prove it though, and that's why Sunday's game is really important.

Bills national scout Buddy Nix has been promoted to general manager in team owner Ralph Wilson's first move to revamp his front office. Nix was introduced at a news conference Thursday as the Bills (5-10) prepare to close their season hosting Indianapolis (14-1) on Sunday. Nix fills a void after Marv Levy stepped down as general manager following the 2007 season.

Chief operating officer Russ Brandon, who had been filling the GM's role, was promoted to chief executive officer, reporting to Wilson.

At 70, Nix had been out of football after retiring in 2008 following five-year stint as the San Diego Chargers assistant GM/director of player personnel.

He came out of retirement to return to Buffalo this past year after serving as the team's area scout from 1993-2000.

Nix has 14 years of NFL experience, mostly in scouting, and previously spent 26 years coaching in the college ranks. That included a nine-year term as head coach at Tennessee-Chattanooga, where he coached Bills receiver Terrell Owens during his freshman year.

He takes over what's been a dysfunctional franchise that will miss the playoffs for a 10th straight year, and closes this decade with one winning season—a 9-7 finish in 2004. Buffalo is also in the midst of its fourth coaching search since 2001 after Dick Jauron was fired in November and replaced by defensive coordinator Perry Fewell, who has a 2-4 record as interim head coach.

Nix's first task will be choosing a head coach. As a first-time head coach, Fewell is considered a candidate, but the Bills are expected to look for someone with previous experience. Two-time Super Bowl winner Mike Shanahan interviewed for the job, but has reportedly turned down the Bills.