The Absolutely Worst of the NFL, Week 8 Edition

The NFL division races are at full throttle. The leaders are trying to open up a lead, the teams at the back of the pack are still hanging on, and everybody else is jockeying for position. With half the season in the books, nearly the entire 32-team pack still has a reason to keep it in one piece.

But just because they should doesn't mean they will. The Absolutely Worst of the NFL are about to get black flagged.

The Absolutely Worst Depth Chart: Washington Redskins

The Redskins weren't bristling with weapons before, but injuries to Tim Hightower and Santana Moss have downgraded the Redskins' offensive firepower from "pack of firecrackers" to "child-safe lighter." The Buffalo Bills scoring defense was ranked 23rd in the NFL before shutting out John Beck and the Redskins. Mike Shanahan might have stepped in and played quarterback himself, if the offensive line hadn't surrendered nine sacks.

The Absolutely Worst First-Place Team: New York Giants

The New York Giants, riding high atop the perennially allegedly "toughest division in the NFL," hosted the hapless, hopeless, helpless Miami Dolphins. Giants tailback Brandon Jacobs challenged Ron Dayne's team record for Biggest RB Ankle-Tackled Most Often, and somebody slathered the Giant wideouts' gloves with axle grease. Unheralded Dolphins QB Matt Moore spent most of the game putting a clown suit on the vaunted Giants defense, and it looked like New York was going to be Miami's first victim.

Eli Manning powered through, though. Like Tim Tebow in Week 7, Manning broke the Dolphins' heart with a game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Incredibly, the 5-2 Giants still have a two-game lead on the rest of the division.

The Absolutely Worst Franchise Savior: Tim Tebow, Denver Broncos

After that stirring comeback defeat of the Dolphins last week, many thought Tim Tebow had a chance to outplay a struggling, limping Matthew Stafford. It didn't take long before the Lions defense brutally demonstrated just how little help Tebow has around him—and how much he needs.

The Lions sacked Tebow seven times for a loss of 55 yards, including a sack-fumble that Cliff Avril returned for a score. Chris Houston returned a Tebow end-zone pick the full length of the field for a score. Tebow did find Eric Decker in the end zone during garbage time, but the Lions defense still defeated the Broncos, 14-10.

Oh, Stafford and the offense tacked on 31 insurance points, too.

The Absolutely Worst Off-Season Move: Trading for Donovan McNabb, Minnesota Vikings

McNabb was supposed to be the veteran hand guiding the veteran Vikings to playoff contention while Leslie Frazier and the Vikings staff hurriedly restock the roster for the future.

Instead, McNabb steered the good Viking ship right into the 1-4 rocks.

Giving up on competitiveness this season, the Vikings installed first-round rookie Christian Ponder as starter. All he's done since is push the undefeated Green Bay Packers to the very last possession and outduel fellow rookie quarterback Cam Newton in a 24-21 win over Carolina.

When you bench your veteran for your rookie and the hand at the tiller gets steadier, that's bad. Especially when the veteran's questioning your decision in the media.

The Absolutely Worst Press Conference: Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys 

After an suffering an indefensible 34-7 beatdown at the hands of the dysfunctional Philadelphia Eagles, the Dallas Cowboys needed to look at the tape. They needed to go forward. And look at the tape. They'll have to look at the tape, but they need to get better going forward. After they look at the tape.

After Garrett stonewalled his way through his segment of the presser, Tony Romo finally came before the media. Romo answered the first question, then the reporter who asked it said, "Oh, I guess I'm the only one here." Apparently, the juicy storylines of a crushing division loss on Sunday Night Football weren't tempting enough to sit through Garrett's filibuster.