Contender

in the desert

Not even the Arizona Cardinals could blow a four-game lead in the NFC West Division with six games remaining. So the next question facing Arizona (7-3) is whether it is a legitimate Super Bowl contender. The Cardinals should get a read on that Sunday when they host the Giants (9-1) in a game that could hold significant meaning come playoff time. Arizona has just two impressive wins on its resume, Dallas (6-4) and Buffalo (5-5). A win over the Giants would not only be their biggest to date, but it would also set the table for a run at home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. Arizona is 4-0 at home this season. But the last time the Giants visited Glendale, Ariz., they won the Super Bowl.

E-mail trouble

Cleveland general manager Phil Savage is feeling the heat after he lashed out with a profane response toward a fan who called him "the worst GM in the NFL." "There had been previous e-mails from him over the months and enough was enough," Savage told the Associated Press through an e-mail. "We have both apologized to each other since. The Browns' fans have overwhelmingly been supportive of me over the past three-plus seasons and I appreciate that greatly." Ironically, the profane e-mail was sent moments after the Browns (4-6) had upset Buffalo, 29-27 on Monday Night Football. The fan later said on a radio station that he was highly embarrassed by the situation. Of course, he was the one who went public with it in the first place. Cleveland hosts Houston (3-7) today.

Paging

Devin Hester

Chicago wide receiver Devin Hester led the Bears in touchdowns the previous two seasons by scoring on 12 returns. He has zero this season. Hester has been asked to develop into a No. 1 wide receiver and the team gave him a four-year, $40 million contract extension last offseason. Some speculate that the burden of playing wide receiver has hurt Hester as a return man. "Devin has set the bar so high that people expect every time he touches the ball, he needs to score . . . every time," Chicago defensive back Daniel Manning said. To ease Hester's workload, Manning will take over kickoff return duties. He's averaging 26.5 per return compared to 21.8 for Hester. "It gives Devin a chance to maybe recover," Chicago special teams coach Dave Toub said.

Start your

playoff engines

Six weeks remain in the season, but for many of the 21 teams with records of 5-5 or better, the playoffs begin Sunday. Five of this week's games involve two teams needing wins to improve their chances. Philadelphia (5-4-1) faces a must-win situation at Baltimore (6-4), which is in a crowded wild card race. The loser of the game between New England (6-4) and Miami (6-4) will fall to third in the deep AFC East. Atlanta (6-4) can narrow the gap with a win against NFC South-leading Carolina (8-2) and the Panthers are looking to remain ahead of Tampa Bay (7-3). Green Bay (5-5) is in a three-way tie for first in the NFC North and faces desperate New Orleans (5-5). San Diego (4-6) is within striking distance of Denver (6-4) in the AFC West and desperately needs a win against Indianapolis (6-4).

Aaron Fentress