by Adam Schein

We tackle that, plus Jason Taylor's rebirth, Eli vs. Rivers and a couple of major upsets in our boom or bust version of the SCHEIN 9.

NFL Week 11

Week 11 action (all times ET)

MIA 24, CAR 17 -- Recap | Box
IND 17, BAL 15 -- Recap | Box
DAL 7, WSH 6 -- Recap | Box
GB 30, SF 24 -- Recap | Box
MIN 35, SEA 9 -- Recap | Box
NYG 34, ATL 31 (OT) -- Recap | Box
NO 38, TB 7 -- Recap | Box
JAX 18, BUF 15 -- Recap | Box
KC 27, PIT 24 (OT) -- Recap | Box
DET 38, CLE 37 -- Recap | Box
ARZ 21, STL 13 -- Recap | Box
SD 32, DEN 3 -- Recap | Box
NE 31, NYJ 14 -- Recap | Box
OAK 20, CIN 17 -- Recap | Box
PHI 24, CHI 20 -- Recap | Box
TEN 20, HOU 17 -- Recap | Box


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1. Jason Taylor is the comeback player of the year at the midway point.

Never in my life did I think that a player and personality like Taylor could be considered "underrated" with his Q rating after "Dancing with the Stars" and his legit Hall of Fame résumé.

But I think Taylor's return to both Miami and his Pro Bowl form has been very underreported. I know that quarterbacks, like Carson Palmer and Tom Brady, always get first dibs on an award like this. Cedric Benson has had a remarkable year.

But I am calling this a boom. I like to think outside the box on this award.

While the buzz Miami generates is everyone with a microphone and keyboard debating the merits of wildcat, Taylor's domination, while shifting to outside linebacker on a large percentage of plays for the first time in his career, has gone unnoticed.

Do you realize that Taylor has 5.5 sacks this year in seven games? Taylor has forced two fumbles, and last Sunday against the Jets, he picked up a fumble and returned it for a pivotal score.

In talking to Taylor for Sirius NFL Radio in a very candid interview that we will air Friday at 10:30 a.m. ET, Taylor expressed how excited he is to be back playing in Miami, "his home in every sense" as he called it. Taylor said he has no regrets about doing "Dancing with the Stars" and his relationship with Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano is excellent. And Taylor says he was totally miscast in Washington, playing the wrong defensive end position, and he told everyone in the building as much. It's a situation he seemed thrilled to get out of.

It's great to see Taylor back in a Dolphins uniform where he belongs, sacking the quarterback and providing leadership. And Taylor loved every single minute of sweeping away the team and fan base he hates the most, the New York Jets.

2. Eli Manning is better than Philip Rivers

This is what we call a bust.

Now both quarterbacks, linked forever with the draft day trade in 2004, are in the 6-12 ranking in the NFL. They are both franchise quarterbacks. And Eli has a Super Bowl ring and played great ball en route to the championship for the Giants a few years ago.

But Rivers is the more dominant player. Rivers has thrown for more yards, fewer picks and has a higher quarterback rating this season. And compared to the Giants' offensive line, San Diego's looks like swiss cheese. And throughout the years, Rivers has had the ability to take over more games than Manning, and that is the biggest difference between the two.

Can Antonio Pierce help the Giants' defense rebound? (Jared Wickerham / Getty Images)

3. The Giants defense will bounce back.

I'm on record on SNY saying that Bill Sheridan is, thus far, totally overmatched as the defensive coordinator.

Yet that's a boom, even against Rivers, Antonio Gates, LaDainian Tomlinson and Vincent Jackson.

Antonio Pierce called his own defense a "laughingstock" on Wednesday. And he's right. But there is good news with Chris Canty and Michael Boley returning to practice.

And Tom Coughlin challenged his leaders this week. Pierce has stepped up with his "us versus the world mentality," and Justin Tuck has made sure the mood around the team has been positive. While I truly wonder aloud about the defensive coordinator, I think the Giants should stop L.T. and pressure Rivers with the shaky San Diego offensive line. They have the talent.

4. Peyton Manning will throw for more touchdowns on Sunday than Matt Schaub.

We will score this one a bust.

Watch our picks, "video style," for the full effect of the major upset special. I think the Texans' linebackers in DeMeco Ryans and Brian Cushing are better than the Colts' linebackers. I don't think Indy can establish balance with the run on offense in this game, and I think it hurts them for the first time all year.

Matt Schaub throws for three touchdowns, and the Texans get a shocking win against an Indy team which owns a 13-1 all-time record against the Texans.

5. Alex Smith is a better quarterback than Vince Young.

Remember the hype surrounding both of these guys? How the mighty have fallen. Yet, they are back in the saddle as starters and square off against each this Sunday in San Francisco.

And it's a boom in favor of Smith!

I know about Young's record. And that he protected the football well on Sunday in a big win against Jacksonville. And I know Smith was glued to the pine for the legendary Shaun Hill, which says something about something.

But Smith is a better passer. Look at how he threw the ball against Houston and in the start against Indy. Smith already has a great rapport with Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis. And when it comes to leadership and accountability, I don't think it's close.

6. Percy Harvin is a Pro Bowler.

BOOM!

Actually, I give an assist on this topic to Harvin's teammate Bernard Berrian, who interrupted me during a question about Harvin on Sirius NFL Radio. Berrian just kept repeating, "Pro Bowl" whenever I said Harvin's name. And he's right! The rookie averages 30.7 yards per kickoff return, currently second in the NFL, tops in the NFC. Harvin has two touchdowns on special teams. And his returns against Green Bay totally changed the complexion of field position to put Minnesota in a spot to score! At the midway point, Harvin currently has my vote for First Team All-Pro as a return specialist.

7. Chicago's defense is better than Arizona's defense.

History says this is crazy, but it's a bust.

I understand that Chicago is coming off of a dominant performance, albeit against Cleveland. And Arizona got totally humiliated against Jake Delhomme, DeAngelo Williams and the Carolina Panthers in stunning, unpredictable fashion. But the Bears haven't been the same on defense since Brian Urlacher got hurt.

And while Matt Forte got going last week and the Cardinals' defense, previously ranked No. 1 vs. the run, got humbled in Week 8, I see 'Zona shutting down Forte. Bill Davis is an excellent coach, and the talent for the Cards is too good. The better defense can equal a road upset special for the Cardinals.

8. Brian Westbrook will make an instant impact in his return to the lineup.

Westbrook is healthy, and that means it is a boom. It's that simple.

Westbrook suffered a concussion against the 'Skins and missed the game against the Giants. LeSean McCoy was tremendous in his absence. But my philosophy on Westbrook always is if he plays, he starts and stars. Andy Reid will give him 20 touches. And while Keith Brooking has anchored the Cowboys' defense and they have greatly improved stopping the run, I think Westbrook, the only active player with 25 or more rushing and receiving touchdowns, dominates in both phases against Dallas.

Eric Mangini might not be in Cleveland after this season. (Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images)

9. Cleveland is the biggest joke in the NFL.

Ooooh. This is tough. Tampa is going 0-16. Oakland is a total mess. St. Louis didn't exactly right the ship with a win in Detroit. Washington is a train wreck.

This is a boom.

Think about it. How do you give a failed head coach in Eric Mangini full autonomy in an organization? Would you give Rich Kotite that power? Marty Mornhinweg? Richie Pettibone?

Randy Lerner has no idea how to run a ballclub, and by the end of the year, he will be paying Phil Savage, Romeo Crennel, George Kokinis (who had a great track record and didn't deserve to be fired) and Mangini not to work. Unless, of course, he is beyond clueless and somehow allows Mangini to keep his job. And in classic Cleveland fashion, reports are already starting to leak that Mangini will have a say in picking a new general manager. I'd normally insert my usual joke of "What is this, amateur hour?" or maybe "You can't make it up" applies. But it's too sad. It's not amateur hour. It's classic Cleveland.

For a daily Boom or Bust on New York Sports, watch Schein and Chris Carlin weeknights at 6 p.m. ET on SNY (DIRECT-TV 639).

Listen to Schein and Rich Gannon on the Sirius Blitz from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET on Sirius NFL Radio Channel 124.

On NFL Sundays, join Schein for the Sirius NFL Tailgate show from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET and then immediately after every Jets game on SNY for Jets Postgame Live.

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