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Fans of the Lions, Cowboys and Seahawks are finally facing the truth: Their teams were so mediocre - especially at season's end - that they should be thankful they qualified for the post-season. Winning a single playoff game would have required divine intervention. And even Deion Sanders couldn't arrange that. The Bills, on the other hand, were good enough to go all the way, but unfortunately for them, the Titans pulled off the play of the year, now dubbed the Music City Miracle. The 14-3 Titans must feel like the team of destiny. They're capable of upsetting the Colts in Indy and could get a home championship game if Miami knocks off the Jags. Meanwhile, Bills fans will spend the off-season asking several questions, including: Who placed the hex on Buffalo? Will the city ever win a major championship? Was someone punishing Wade Phillips for benching Doug Flutie? Was it a lateral or a forward pass? Does anybody know where referee Phil Luckett lives?

A FORWARD LATERAL: Yes, Buffalo, it was a forward pass. But by about six inches or less. At least that's what I believe. It was so close that Luckett, who botched two calls last year, can be forgiven for not overturning the call on the field. Still, I have to wonder what would have happened if the game had been in Buffalo. Either a Bills win or Minced Luckett for dinner.

CHAN CANNED: Whoever replaces Chan Gailey as head coach of the Cowboys better not invest in a house. Renting is far wiser, for it's likely to be a temporary stay. Perhaps a motel room would even suffice. Gailey took the Cowboys to the playoffs two consecutive years, but couldn't escape the wrath of Jerry Jones, who has dismissed all four Cowboys head coaches. The previous three, Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer, won Super Bowls. Gailey fell short of the high expectations, though he would have been a hero in New Orleans, Cleveland or Cincinnati. His firing may silence Jesse Jackson and others who believe that Ray Rhodes was fired in Green Bay because he's black. Rhodes deserved another year, but race was probably not a factor in his dismissal.

NO CLEAR FAVORITES: This weekend's divisional playoff games are the most intriguing in recent history. All of the remaining eight teams have a good shot at the Super Bowl, even the Dolphins. Dan Marino wants to get to Atlanta and is willing to run the ball almost every down - if that's what it takes. He's so desperate to win the big one that he's even willing, on occasion, to smile at Jimmy Johnson. The Jaguars, Colts and Titans are good enough to win three straight games, even without Phil Luckett's help. If Mark Brunell and Fred Taylor are healthy, the Jags will be tough to beat at home. In the NFC, Redskins fans are hoping for a repeat of 1987, when the Vikings upset the NFC favorites (Niners), giving the Skins a home championship game. Of course, the Skins would have to upset the Bucs in Tampa, a tall order, especially since Stephen Davis isn't 100%. It will probably be a low-scoring game. If the Bucs defense can hold the Skins to two touchdowns and score a touchdown themselves, all they'll need from the offense is three field goals. Tony Dungy has a simple philosophy: Winning ugly is a lot better than losing pretty. The Rams-Vikings game is the most exciting on the slate and could set a scoring record. Randy Moss doesn't need to get open to catch Jeff George's lobs, while Kurt Warner has more weapons than the Iraqi Army. Whatever happens in this game, we can be assured of one thing: Dick Vermeil will cry.

BITS AND PIECES: New Jets owner Robert Wood "Woody" Johnson IV may offer Bill Parcells more than $4 million a year to coach the team next year, making him the highest-paid coach. It won't be long before the NFL has a salary cap for coaches. . Joey Galloway says he wants to stay in Seattle, but the team will likely trade him, after slapping the franchise tag on him. After ending his long holdout, the speedy wide receiver looked so ordinary that even Warren Sapp was eager to cover him. . The Broncos could trade Olandis Gary for a first-round pick in this year's draft. Drafted in the fourth round last year, the former Bulldog rushed for 1,159 yards in his rookie year. After stealing both Gary and Terrell Davis in the draft, don't be surprised if the Broncos open a scouting department at the University of Georgia.