THE NFL / BILL PLASCHKE : In Crazy Eights, Who Has the Hot Hand?

More than just a number on a ball behind which one can always find Wayne Fontes, eight has always been special to the NFL.

Eight was worn by Larry Wilson, Hall of Fame defensive back, and the game’s two best quarterbacks, Steve Young and Troy Aikman.

Eight is the number of seasons that Jim Brown led the league in rushing, and Don Hutson led the league in touchdowns, and George Blanda led the league in extra points.

And with eight weeks left in any season, coaches and players begin to squirm.

Suddenly, playoff possibilities are being publicly dissected by guys who have previously been too paranoid to reveal the day of the week.

Routine injuries end seasons. Dropped balls end careers.

And everybody rushes home from locker rooms to watch ESPN’s “NFL Prime Time.”

When Pittsburgh Steeler Coach Bill Cowher used Neil O’Donnell as a wide receiver Sunday? He was thinking about eight weeks left.

When Emmitt Smith demanded that the Cowboys leave him in Sunday’s rout of the Atlanta Falcons until the bitter end so he could pad his rushing yardage? Eight weeks, baby.

With eight weeks left in this season, as in every season, the NFL has become a game of ins and outs.

The Indianapolis Colts are in.

The New England Patriots are out.

The Philadelphia Eagles are in?

The San Francisco 49ers are out?

A division-by-division breakdown:

NFC EAST

In: Dallas Cowboys.

If they lose another game in the regular season, even in their Thanksgiving showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs, somebody should be fired. Or at least made to go partying with Jerry Jones.

On the bubble: Philadelphia Eagles. They have the league’s best defense--William Thomas is the NFC’s hottest linebacker--and a respected coach named Ray Rhodes who will go far in December. They must play the Cowboys twice, and travel to Chicago on Christmas Eve, but their five other games are against teams with a combined 15-26 record.

Out: New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Arizona Cardinals. One could make a case for firing all three coaches, even Norv Turner of the Redskins, who will not soon forget his ridiculous decision to bypass a field goal in Giant territory while trailing by nine points midway through the fourth quarter Sunday.

Division brawl: Dallas at Philadelphia, Dec. 10.

NFC CENTRAL

In: Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.

The Bears will survive because of Erik Kramer, Curtis Conway and a can’t-miss schedule featuring only two of their last eight games against teams with winning records. Both of those games are at home, against the Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

If Brett Favre can learn to live with Keith Jackson, the Packers will win their final four home games in frozen Lambeau Field--they always do, don’t they?--and then clinch a spot in New Orleans on Dec. 16.

On the bubble: Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The football world is quietly rooting, but Sam Wyche is still, painfully, coaching. Can they get four more victories with only three of their last five games at home?

A better question might be, what was Alvin Harper doing catching only one pass on Sunday? Perhaps the same thing Errict Rhett was doing carrying the ball only 13 times.

Out: Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings. Too much of young defenses and embattled coaches.

Division brawl: Chicago at Green Bay, Nov. 12.

NFC WEST

In: You kidding me?

On the bubble: Just about everybody in football’s most unsettled division.

The San Francisco 49ers are going so bad, they may rush Steve Young back into the lineup against . . . Carolina?

The Atlanta Falcons are so wacky that their quarterback and coach nearly engage in a sideline fistfight?

And we’ll hold off on that “Rich Brooks for coach of the year” talk until he can give St. Louis Ram quarterback Chris Miller a brain transplant. While he’s at it, he might want to look into Jerome Bettis’ heart.

The depleted and demoralized 49ers face difficult games at Dallas and Miami while facing a potential home loss against the Buffalo Bills. That would make them 9-6 and no lock.

The Rams also have the Bills and Dolphins at home, plus a game at San Francisco. The Falcons, whose offense can win any game as long as George keeps his wits, may actually be in the best shape, with home games against the 49ers and Rams and only one certain loss, in Miami.

Out: New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers, who will serve only to place in jeopardy the job of any coach who loses to them in these final eight weeks.

Division brawl: San Francisco at Atlanta, Dec. 24.

AFC EAST

In: Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts.

Sure, the Dolphins have games against the San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs and 49ers. But they also have determined Dan Marino, who proved Sunday that he can lead a team to victory with more diatribes than touchdown passes.

Jim Harbaugh and a good defensive line brought the Colts this far, now their schedule will carry them to the playoffs. Their eight games include two against the New England Patriots, a visit to New Orleans, and visits to each of the expansion teams.

On the bubble: Buffalo Bills. We love Wade Phillips’ new defense, but that dodges the question, which is, can Jim Kelly survive an eight-game finish, five of them against winning teams, without going totally bald?

Out: New England Patriots, New York Jets. You’re sick of watching them. We’re sick of writing about them.

Division brawl: Miami at Indianapolis, Nov. 26.

AFC CENTRAL

In: None, yet. These teams present a good argument that the NFL, almost like college football, should require even division champions to win a certain number of games to make the playoffs.

On the bubble: Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers.

So the Browns’ Andre Rison is happy now that Eric Zeier has been made quarterback. That still doesn’t account for an aging defense that must help win at least one of two big non-division games, against the Packers or in San Diego.

So the Steelers are happy that they have a running game again. If little Erric Pegram is not dismembered by the Oakland Raiders on Dec. 10, he will turn blue in Green Bay on Dec. 24.

Out: Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Oilers, Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Bengals needed to defeat the Browns at home on Sunday. It was that simple. As simple as the Oilers and Jaguars still being at least a year from contention.

Division brawls: Browns and Steelers meet twice in 13 days, in Pittsburgh on Nov. 13 and in Cleveland on Nov. 26.

AFC WEST

In: Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders.

Even if Steve Bono suddenly gets the yips, the Chiefs can win home games against Washington, Houston, Denver and Seattle to clinch a spot.

Even if Jeff Hostetler doesn’t show up until the Cowboys come to Oakland on Nov. 19, the Raiders can survive road games against the Bengals and Giants with Vince Evans. Then they close with three home games in the final month.

On the bubble: San Diego Chargers, Denver Broncos.

Hate, hate, hate that Charger schedule, with games against the Dolphins, Chiefs, Raiders, Browns and Colts in the final two months.

Love, love, love the Broncos’ rejuvenated defense--only the Dolphins in the AFC have allowed fewer points--and games against the Cardinals, Oilers, Jaguars and Seahawks.

Out: Seattle Seahawks. Hey, Dennis Erickson, things could be worse. You could be Butch Davis.

Division brawl: Kansas City at Oakland, Dec. 3.