• Atlanta DE John Abraham recorded his first career interception with a brilliant athletic play. After leaping to bat up a pass from New Orleans QB Drew Brees, he tracked the ball and recovered it. On the previous drive, DE Chauncey Davis grabbed an ill-advised pitch by Brees and returned the pick for a TD. Abraham also had a sack in the game, giving him 13 on the season, one off the league lead.
  
  
• Philadelphia DE Trent Cole got his 10th sack of the season on Tuesday night, giving him double-digit sacks in three of the last four season (he had 9 in the other). He hasn't missed a game since his rookie season and has developed into one of the most reliable pass rushers in the league.
  
  
• Carolina DE Charles Johnson has erased any doubt about who is the successor to Julius Peppers for the Panthers. With 8 sacks in his last six games, at least one in each, he now has 11.5 sacks on the season and alleviates one key position from needing a high pick in next year's draft on a team that has some serious rebuilding to do.
  
  
• It's been a long and winding road in the NFL for Tennessee DE Jason Babin since being selected in the first round by Houston in 2004, but he has made his first Pro Bowl seven seasons later. After struggling to convert to an OLB in his rookie season, he was unable to shrug the tweener label and quickly became a journeyman. Finally getting an opportunity to start again this season on his fifth team, Babin leads the team with 12.5 sacks on the season.

Linebacker

• Rookie LB Darryl Sharpton got the start in the middle over Kevin Bentley on Sunday, with Zac Diles regaining the starting WLB job to replace Sharpton there. However, Sharpton suffered a dislocated shoulder in the game and is done for the season. Bentley should return to the middle and Diles remain at WLB.
  
  
• Injuries continue to slow Miami ILB Karlos Dansby, who was inactive on Sunday. Tim Dobbins replaced him and shared the team lead in tackles with 6 (5 solo). OLB Cameron Wake was held without a sack for the second straight game, but kept his league lead with 14 sacks on the season.
  
  
• A dislocated elbow kept MLB Stewart Bradley inactive and gave rookie Jamar Chaney another start. He had 7 solo tackles.
  
  
• New England ILB Jerod Mayo had just 5 tackles (3 solo) on Sunday, but still leads the league in tackles by a comfortable margin with 169 on the season.
  
  
• A big reason for the success of Kansas City has been the linebackers. OLB Tamba Hali recorded his 12th sack of the season on Sunday and ILB Derrick Johnson has a career high 116 tackles on the season. Hali was a Pro Bowl snub and Johnson also had a strong case.
  
  
• Arizona rookie OLB O'Brien Schofield replaced Joey Porter, who was inactive with a right triceps strain, and got his first career sack. Porter may return this week.
  
  
• Washington OLB Brian Orakpo remains questionable this week after missing Sunday with a groin and hamstring strain.

Defensive Back

• Pittsburgh SS Troy Polamalu won't test his injured right Achilles and ankle until Friday, and while HC Mike Tomlin has left the door open for a possible return after missing two weeks with the injury, don't count on him. While the Steelers are still playing for a bye, with a playoff spot secured, it seems unlikely they'll risk aggravating the injury. Ryan Mundy will continue to start in his place.
  
  
• After almost playing last week, Detroit FS Louis Delmas is expected to return from his concussion this week. Rookie SS Amari Spievey also returned to action last week after missing the previous game, so C.C. Brown returns to the bench with both safeties set to go this week.
  
  
• Green Bay FS Nick Collins continued to play through rib pain and with the Packers playoff hopes on the line, should play this week.
  
  
• You could tell Denver CB Champ Bailey suffered a significant injury on Sunday after landing awkwardly in the third quarter and immediately throwing his helmet down in frustration. He injured his heel and is expected to miss this week. An unrestricted FA after the season, he could be in a different uniform next year.
  
  
• Washington CB DeAngelo Hall left in the second quarter with a right hamstring injury and when he returned later in the game, CB Carolos Rogers left for shortly after with a strained calf. That gave nickel CB Phillip Buchanon plenty of work. Rogers sounds unlikely to play this week, so Buchanon should get the start. Reserve CB Kevin Barnes started at SS with Reed Doughty out with a concussion and the recently acquired Victor Harris got the start at FS with Kareem Moore inactive.