One Size Fits All for Drew Bledsoe, Raiders, Vikings . . .

A review of Week 16 in the NFL, and a reminder, only nine more shopping days to find just the right choke collar for Drew Bledsoe.

Just a Hunch

New Orleans quarterback Billy Joe Hobert completed two of nine passes for nine yards in the first half against Arizona.

Just a guess, but do you think Coach Mike Ditka had a few words of, well, let’s say encouragement, for Hobert at halftime?

An inspired, or was that a scared, Hobert completed 12 of 15 for 243 yards and three touchdowns in the second half, leading New Orleans to victory.

Domination, Baby

A year ago, third-string quarterback Gino Torretta rallied Seattle from an 11-point deficit to defeat the Raiders in the season finale, 28-21. This year’s third-string quarterback, Jon Kitna, brought the Seahawks back from an 18-point deficit to win, 22-21.

Billy Joe Tolliver is already warming up in anticipation of being the Seahawks’ victorious No. 3 quarterback at the Raiders’ expense next year.

Why Bother?

Raider owner Al Davis visits his team’s locker room win or lose to talk with his players, but after the defeat by Seattle, Davis was a no-show. Maybe he was out looking for a new coach.

He’s Got the Part

Consider it an audition--a successful audition in losing five consecutive games--if there is any validity to the rumors that have Viking Coach Dennis Green leaving Minnesota to become the Raiders’ new coach.

No Sweat

All the Jacksonville Jaguars have to do to win the AFC Central Division title is defeat the Oakland Raiders.

Oh, and have the Tennessee Oilers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers by more than 65 points.

Catch of the Year

The Chargers drafted him, needing wide receivers in the worst way, but showed no patience in evaluating Yancey Thigpen, who had trouble staying injury-free early in his career. So they cut him.

The Chargers remain desperate for quality wide receivers, but Thigpen, picked up on waivers, will be going to the Pro Bowl this year representing Pittsburgh.

He may also be returning to San Diego to play in Super Bowl XXXII, and if he does, the Steelers can look back on the diving fourth-down sideline catch he made against New England, which allowed Pittsburgh to go on and tie the score and win in overtime--all but clinching the AFC Central title.

A Tom Collins, Please

Better than a Todd or Kerry Collins, that’s for sure.

Kerry, starting quarterback for Carolina, a team needing to win to remain in the playoff race, completed seven of 26 passes for 56 yards with no interceptions--a shocker, considering he leads the league with 18.

Todd was no more effective, failing to get Buffalo into the end zone after completing 13 of 26 passes for 107 yards, and then getting lifted in favor of Alex Van Pelt.

Tutor Needed

The Chargers insist they are going to keep Coach Kevin Gilbride for another year, and why not? He won four games.

Imagine how many he might win once he gets the hang of clock management. A week ago, he let the clock run out before halftime rather than trying to score, and lost. This week he had 10 seconds, no timeouts and a shot at a field goal that would have made the score Kansas City 14, San Diego 10 at halftime.

Instead, with an offense that has shown great reluctance to score touchdowns, he elected to run one more play. Quarterback Craig Whelihan was charged with intentional grounding, and by rule, the officials were required to run 10 seconds off the clock, sending the Chargers to the locker room without a field goal, without momentum.

They didn’t score again.

Too Busy To Help

Bobby Ross would make a wonderful tutor for Gilbride, but the former Charger coach is a little busy right now trying to lock up a playoff berth.

The Chargers let Ross get away because of friction between him and General Manager Bobby Beathard. So now they have Gilbride, seven consecutive losses, an expanded stadium with fewer fans in attendance because of the team’s worst record at home since 1975, closed practices that prevent the players from being distracted by reporters’ loud laughter, and the most penalty yardage in the league.

Playoff Fever

Is there any reason for the sickly weekend performances of Miami and Tampa Bay, which were playing for playoff berths?

Don’t Want To Disappoint

Buffalo defensive end Bruce Smith, an accomplished whiner, had tried calling out Jacksonville tackle Tony Boselli last week, still upset that Boselli treated him as a rag doll during last year’s playoff meeting.

Smith wanted Jacksonville to match Boselli against him, one on one, as if his personal battle to satisfy his ego was more important than anything the Jaguars had to do--like making the playoffs.

Boselli, who has allowed only 3 1/2 sacks in three seasons in the league, received help at times, but even when left alone on Smith, held his ground, once again shutting him out.

“Any time somebody has a good game against me, [reporters] play it up,” Smith said.

Sure do.

Someone Has To Make Coffee

One week to go before Barry Switzer is no longer coaching the Cowboys, but now comes word that owner Jerry Jones will probably keep Switzer working in the team’s front office.

One man’s early opinion on who will take his place--Philadelphia offensive coordinator Jon Gruden, who was high on Al Davis’ wish list last year before Davis heeded the suggestion of his players and hired Joe Bugel.

Wouldn’t Happen in Anaheim

Ram quarterback Tony Banks leads the league with 16 fumbles, although his league record of 21 in his rookie year is probably out of reach.

Teams To Watch

1. Arizona: One more loss and the Cardinals wrap up the first pick in the draft. Happy with quarterback Jake Plummer, they will have the opportunity to improve elsewhere by dealing the top pick to a team in desperate need of Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf.

2. Washington: The Redskins still have a chance to make the playoffs and, based on Norv Turner’s history, they will falter.

3. New England: Even though Bledsoe blew a 21-13 lead against Pittsburgh with an interception, the Patriots can win the AFC East title by beating Miami, which lost to Indianapolis, 41-0.

Forget It

There could have been a case made for selecting Tampa Bay’s Tony Dungy as coach of the year, but not after the last two weeks, when he elected to stick with a limping Trent Dilfer rather than playing backup Steve Walsh.

No. 1, coming into this season there were still questions about Dilfer’s effectiveness, which should have demanded a higher quality backup if Walsh is that bad.

No. 2, Dilfer isn’t so good that you send him out hobbling against the Packers.

No. 3, as poorly as Dilfer fared on one leg against Green Bay, why have him come back against the Jets and try again? The results: two completions in 15 passes for 38 yards, and two interceptions.

The new coach of the year? The Giants’ Jim Fassel.