Giants quarterback Kerry Collins needs to be more accurate with his passes.

Should the Giants be considered Super Bowl contenders?
Based on how they played against Dallas on Sunday night, probably not. But if the Giants win next week, they get home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs and would only have to win two home playoff games to reach the Super Bowl. So with a bye and the home-field edge, why not consider the Giants? It all depends on who gets knocked out of the playoffs before facing the Giants.

The Giants showed enough holes Sunday to make you wonder even more about their chances. But Sunday's game was not necessarily a fair assessment of the Giants' capabilities because the inexperience of Cowboys quarterback Anthony Wright showed its face late in the game. Their defense, though, is as good as any in football. People talk about the defenses in Baltimore and Tennessee, but you have to discuss the Giants' defense in the same breath.

Where the Giants make the most mistakes is on offense. The Giants need to be more precise throwing the football. They squandered some scoring opportunities against Dallas.

Next week Jacksonville will be a tough test for the Giants. They will be facing the NFL's best quarterback-receiver combination, Mark Brunell and Jimmy Smith. The Giants need to get back to how they were playing the previous three weeks. If they play like they did Sunday, the Giants will struggle in the playoffs.

Who's the NFL's best QB: Brett Favre or Peyton Manning?
Brett Favre is still the best quarterback in the NFL. He does not have the supporting cast Peyton Manning has, but Favre can put the Packers on his shoulders and guide them to victory.

Manning could someday become the best in the league. We forget how young he really is and how much more he and the players around him can grow. But if I had to pick any quarterback in the league, I'd pick Favre every time.

Others on my short list of the league's best quarterbacks are Rich Gannon, who can make plays with his legs; Jeff Garcia, who in his second year has put the kind of numbers that Manning has; Kurt Warner, whose team should put on a different offensive display Monday night; and Daunte Culpepper. Down the road Culpepper has the potential to be more than just a quarterback who throws to Randy Moss and Cris Carter and hands off to Robert Smith.

Where will Jerry Rice end up next season?
I hope Jerry Rice would wind up in San Francisco because I would hate to see him move on to another team. If he does leave, I see him going to a team that runs the West Coast offense, teams like Oakland, Green Bay and Philadelphia. He can still be an impact player in a West Coast offense, but not outside of it.

If he went somewhere that doesn't run the West Coast offense, he would not be as effective, much like Irving Fryar in Washington or Andre Reed in New Orleans. I couldn't see Rice going to places like Cleveland or Cincinnati or San Diego. Why would he do that? It would take away some of the fond memories we have of him, even though John Unitas finished his career in San Diego and Joe Namath went on to play with the Rams. I'd rather see Rice retire as a San Francisco 49er than put on another uniform.

Should the Ravens be worried about Trent Dilfer?
The Ravens shouldn't be too worried. Although Trent Dilfer didn't play a good game Sunday against Arizona, the Ravens rely on their defense to make plays. The defense, however, gave up more yards to the Cardinals than they have in the past. Arizona coach Dave McGinnis got a contract extension, and the Cardinals were playing inspired football.

But Dilfer must play better for the Ravens to go far. Imagine if the Ravens and the Giants were to play in the Super Bowl. How much offense would be in that game? I could see a 3-2 game, or maybe 2-2 and go into extra innings. Dilfer must play better. The defense is so good that, if the offense can score points, the Ravens have the potential to reach the Super Bowl.

Who'll make the playoffs out of the AFC East?
If I had to pick two, the Miami Dolphins and the Indianapolis Colts have the best chance. The Dolphins play New England, the Colts host Minnesota and the Jets play at Baltimore. At least Miami should come out of it, since the Dolphins have a one-game edge on the others.

But I don't understand the Dolphins. Jay Fiedler was hurt badly a week ago and was hurt again Sunday. A right-handed quarterback needs his left arm as balance to throw the ball effectively. Right now, he can only hand off with his right hand. I can't believe Damon Huard is so bad that the Dolphins wouldn't trust him as their quarterback when he won four games for them last year, especially when they run the football so effectively.

Fiedler has struggled the last two weeks due to both his decision-making and his physical handicap. He's not doing the job. But the Dolphins still should make the playoffs.

Former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann works as a game analyst for ESPN's Sunday Night Football. He will review the NFL week for ESPN.com every Monday in his "Cup o' Joe" feature. He will also break down the Sunday Night Football matchup each Friday.