Dyson can say he’s the greatest

Kevin Dyson was a fair-to-middling wide receiver who spent six injury-marred years in the NFL, peaking with season totals of 54 receptions in 1999 and 2001. His accomplishments included 178 catches, 2,325 yards, 18 touchdowns ... and a key role in the two greatest NFL plays of the last 10 years, according to SI.com.

In Super Bowl XXXIV, Dyson caught a last-second pass from Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair and had a chance to tie the score, only to be dragged down at the St. Louis one-yard line by Rams linebacker Mike Jones. That was the greatest play of the last 10 years, according to SI.com.

Three weeks before that, Dyson kept the Titans’ playoff hopes alive by scoring the game-winning touchdown on the “Music City Miracle,” a desperation pitch-and lateral-assisted kickoff return. SI.com named that the second-greatest play of the last decade.

Today, Dyson serves as a volunteer coach at Franklin Road Academy High School in Brentwood, Tenn., where players undoubtedly have already heard, “Let me tell you about the month I had in January 2000....”

Trivia time

Who fielded the kickoff that started the “Music City Miracle”?

Six of one ...

As the Tom Brady-Peyton Manning shootout rekindles warm memories of Tony Eason-Jack Trudeau, Briefing picks a few of today’s NFL games:

* New England over Indianapolis: Bill Belichick’s 19-year-old son, Stephen, was arrested last week on suspicion of possession of marijuana, an apparent ploy to spook the Colts, who also fare better on artificial turf than grass.

* Baltimore over Cincinnati: This week, Chad Johnson predicts the final score of the Bengals’ loss to the Ravens: Ocho-cinco.

* Green Bay over Buffalo: Dick Jauron is 1-2 against NFC North opponents in 2006, and this game should make it 1-3. Just like old times.

* Chicago over Miami: Miami ruined Chicago’s bid for a perfect season in 1985. Two words say it won’t happen again: Joey Harrington.

* St. Louis over Kansas City: Also in 1985, Kansas City ruined St. Louis’ bid for a World Series title. (Previous statement paid for by the Committee of Codgers Old Enough to Remember When the Royals Were Good.)

* Jacksonville over Tennessee: Jaguars’ 9-0 victory over Pittsburgh is not as impressive now as it seemed in September. Strength-of-schedule component weakened, Jacksonville falls in power rankings.

Half a dozen of the other

As the rest of the NFC East pulls for Tiki Barber’s wife to offer more Giants career advice, Briefing makes a few more picks:

* Atlanta over Detroit: Can Detroit stop Michael Vick? Are you kidding? Detroit couldn’t stop David Eckstein.

* New York Giants over Houston: New York media can’t get up for this one. Ron Dayne trying to help, says, “Hey, it’s my revenge game!” New York reporters wander off to interview Tiki Barber’s wife.

* Dallas over Washington: When you type “romo” on Microsoft Word, spell-check automatically changes it to “room.” For the Redskins, that room is spelled “basement.”

* Minnesota over San Francisco: Yielding an average of 43.3 points in its last three losses, San Francisco changes team name to 43ers.

* Denver over Pittsburgh: Ben Roethlisberger has thrown 11 interceptions in six starts, including four against Oakland. And his passer rating is still 5.5 points better than Jake Plummer’s.

* San Diego over Cleveland: Having lost to the Ravens and defeated the Rams, the Chargers are 1-1 against teams that moved away from Cleveland. These Browns aren’t so lucky. They’re stuck there.

Trivia answer

Lorenzo Neal, who handed the ball to Frank Wycheck, who pitched a lateral to Dyson, who ran 75 yards for the touchdown.

And finally

TNT basketball commentator Steve Kerr: “Wouldn’t you say that Chicago fans are spoiled? They’ve got the Bears, who are undefeated; the White Sox won the World Series, this Bulls team with championship hopes, and the Chicago Cubs ... well, never mind.”

mike.penner@latimes.com