Mark Curnutte

By contrast, last year, none of the 12 coaches in the playoffs had won a Super Bowl. And in 2001, just one, Baltimore's Brian Billick, had a Super Bowl ring.

Six of this year's playoff coaches have won the Super Bowl, including the Chiefs' Dick Vermeil, at St. Louis in 1999.

Two coaches, Bill Parcells and Mike Shanahan, have won two championships. Parcells won with the New York Giants in 1986 and 1990, and Shanahan won in Denver in 1997 and '98.

The others who have won championships are Seattle's Mike Holmgren (with Green Bay in 1996), Billick (2000) and New England's Bill Belichick (2001).

Five coaches in this postseason have lost Super Bowls: Vermeil (Philadelphia, 1980), Parcells (New England, 1996), Holmgren (Green Bay, 1997), Tennessee's Jeff Fisher (1999), and St. Louis' Mike Martz. (2001).

HE'LL BE BACK: Decisions about all Bills players, including quarterback Drew Bledsoe, will be made by the new coach.

But Bledsoe will be back next season. Though he had a miserable season, he has support from the front office.

Bledsoe had his worst numbers for touchdowns (11) and yards (185 a game) for a full season. He also suffered 49 sacks, most in the league. He did have plenty of legitimate excuses: The offensive line and receivers struggled. The offensive coordinator insisted on employing a pass-happy scheme and wouldn't pound the run with Travis Henry.

BACK FOR PACK: Word out of Green Bay is that Packers linebackers coach Mark Duffner was not interested in talking to UC about its head coaching vacancy. The former Bengals defensive coordinator was the Bearcats' defensive coordinator from 1977-80.

FOUR FOR FOUR: The Titans are the only team in the league with four wide receivers who each finished with at least four touchdown catches this year, and not one was a first-round pick: Derrick Mason is a former fourth-round pick (1997). Justin McCareins is a former fourth-round pick (2001). Drew Bennett was signed as an undrafted rookie (2001). Tyrone Calico was a second-round pick (2003).

SKINNED: For $10 million paid to former coach Steve Spurrier, Redskins owner Dan Snyder got 12 victories; a refusal to adapt to NFL schemes, personnel or work ethic; and his third coaching search in four years.

DOUBLE RING: If the Colts win the Super Bowl, Tony Dungy will join Mike Ditka and Tom Flores as the third to win world championship rings as players and coaches.

NUMBERS GAME: The Dolphins are the first 10-6 team to miss the playoffs since the 1991 Eagles. ... The Redskins were outscored 58-7 in their last two home games. ... New England's 12-game winning streak ties for third with the 1985 Bears behind the 1972 Dolphins, who won all 14 regular-season games, and the 1998 Broncos, who won their first 13.

AFC NORTH: Jamal Lewis rushed 27 times for 114 yards against Pittsburgh to finish with 2,066 yards on the season, second to Eric Dickerson's 2,105. Word around Baltimore is Billick took an unnecessary risk by playing Lewis so long against the Steelers. The Ravens won the division when the Bengals lost earlier in the day. ... For the third straight season, Browns coach Butch Davis fired at least one coach from his staff. The day after his 5-11 season ended with rookie Lee Suggs rushing for 186 yards and two touchdowns against the Bengals, Davis fired offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, RB coach Todd McNair and QB coach Carl Smith. ... Speculation is swirling in Pittsburgh that defensive coordinator Tim Lewis is on his way out. Lewis and coach Bill Cowher have never fully agreed on defensive philosophy. The Steelers could have two coordinator openings if offensive chief Mike Mularkey - a hot candidate for head coaching openings around the league - gets a job this year.

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Written from notes submitted by NFL beat writers.

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