Mark Curnutte

Philadelphia beat Green Bay in overtime, 20-17, in the divisional game - despite giving up 210 rushing yards. It was the third time this season they've given up 200-plus rushing yards in a game and the seventh time they've given up 150 or more. Yet they keep on winning. The Eagles are 2-1 in games in which they've given up 200-plus rushing yards and 6-1 in games they've given up 150 or more.

"I'm not happy about it. I wish we weren't giving up all those yards," Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said. "But I just don't think it's the most important thing. Keeping people out of the end zone is the most important thing."

IN THE AFC: Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is 0-4 at New England. The last trip was his worst, a 44-13 blowout that righted the Patriots from a sluggish start in 2001 and started the downfall of former coach Jim Mora after a 2-0 start.

That game was also the first start for Tom Brady, the unknown sixth-round pick out of Michigan, who would lead the Patriots to a Super Bowl title. Brady is 38-12 in his five-year career as a starter. He has yet to lose a playoff game in four starts. Brady is 3-0 against the Colts, and in each game the Pats scored at least 38 points, including the 38-31 victory at Indianapolis on Nov. 30.

LITTLE BIG HORN: Felix Vinatieri, the great-great grandfather of New England kicker Adam Vinatieri, was the bandleader for Gen. George Custer.

It was Custer, according to the kicker, who instructed Felix Vinatieri and the rest of his 16-member brass band to wait on a supply steamboat on the Powder River rather than join the rest of the 7th Cavalry at Little Big Horn. If not, Felix and his band would have likely been added to the list of 277 fatalities in the legendary battle against Crazy Horse and his Sioux warriors on June 26, 1876.

"If you go deep enough into family history, everybody's got an interesting story, said Adam Vinatieri, whose family still lives in South Dakota.

"That happens to be mine."

KEYSHAWN'S FUTURE: Wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson is the only Tampa Bay player working in the playoffs. But as soon as his gig on Fox TV is over, he would like to know where he is playing in 2004. Now that the Bucs hired Bruce Allen as general manager, Johnson will ask the team to release him immediately rather than wait. Johnson, who was deactivated for the final six games by coach Jon Gruden, is owed a $1-million roster bonus in March that the Bucs are not expected to pay, a release that would make him a free agent.

AFC NORTH: Though Kyle Boller has pronounced himself the starting quarterback next season, Ravens coach Brian Billick has said the position is open. It appears to be a technicality. Anthony Wright, who took over for Boller, is an unrestricted free agent. Though the Ravens would like him back, they've got to dangle the starting job in front of him to make it happen. They also will likely bring in another quarterback to compete for the job, but it won't be Mark Brunell. ... Browns coach Butch Davis promoted wide receivers coach Terry Robiskie to offensive coordinator. It was expected, and Davis had few other options: The 49ers denied permission to interview Ted Tollner. Browns owner Randy Lerner wants to maintain some stability as the team moves forward. Robiskie oversaw the receivers, who were once the strength of the team. Robiskie did damage control for Davis after the release of receiver Kevin Johnson. ... Mike Mularkey is the second offensive coordinator under Bill Cowher to leave for a head-coaching job. Chan Gailey left in 1998 to take over in Dallas. Two defensive coordinators under Cowher also were hired off the Steelers to become head coaches, Dom Capers in 1995 with the Carolina Panthers and Jim Haslett in 2000 with the New Orleans Saints.

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Written from notes submitted from NFL beat writers.

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