It isn't exactly good news for the Patriots, but it could be worse, as The Boston Herald reports today that left tackle Matt Light suffered a separated shoulder in Sunday's game against the Raiders. According to an unnamed source, Light's injury is considered mild enough that he might play on Sunday against the Cardinals. If Light can't go, then Mark LeVoir will probably be back on the field, either at left tackle or at right tackle, with Nick Kaczur switching to the left side.

VERY WELL GROUNDED: Last year, they had the best passing attack (arguably) in NFL history. This season, they probably have the best running attack in the last 20-plus years of franchise history (projo.com). Twice this season -- once against Denver in October and again last Sunday -- the Patriots achieved their highest single-game rushing total since 1985, and the Patriots' 4.5 yards per rush average is behind only the Panthers, the Giants, the Jets and -- the Chiefs?

WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT: There were a lot of great moments for the Patriots in Sunday's game against the Raiders, but the one that the team couldn't stop commenting about was Ellis Hobbs' 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, one that featured great blocking and a display of speed and power by Hobbs (Boston Herald).

PRO BOWL TUESDAY: The NFL will announce today which players are bound for Hawaii. NFL.com's writers each revealed the players they support: Wes Welker, Randy Moss and Logan Mankins are the only Patriots players to get serious consideration. It'll be interesting to see how many Redskins players make the NFC squad -- because of a massive ballot-stuffing operation, Washington won the fan balloting (which accounts for two-thirds of the overall total) in nine of 19 positions, despite the team being just 7-7 and sinking like a rock.

THE LATEST PIOLI RUMORS: The Patriots' vice president of player personnel is now seen as a good candidate for general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs (ProFootballTalk.com), who will be in the market for a GM for the first time in 20 years, now that Carl Peterson has resigned (Kansas City Star). By the way, if you're wondering how Peterson hung around so long despite the Chiefs getting in the AFC Championship Game just once over his 20-year tenure, and never making the Super Bowl, take a look at the team's 176-141-1 record (a .553 winning percentage) during Peterson's tenure, and the fact that 13 of the 20 seasons found the Chiefs finishing over .500, then compare it to the mess that Peterson inherited when he arrived, and you have your answer (ProFootballReference.com).

ONE THING HE CAN'T DO: It wasn't much of a game last night as Philadelphia destroyed Cleveland (Philadelphia Daily News), so we have to focus on items like this: Brian Westbrook of the Eagles looked great last night running down the field to try to catch Brandon McDonald of the Browns, who had picked off Donovan McNabb on the last play of the first half and was heading for the end zone. But Westbrook's attempt to make a tackle was pretty weak. Just by getting there, though, Westbrook allowed Hank Baskett to eventually catch McDonald just short of the goal line to ensure a new NFL record for the longest interception return -- 97 yards -- that did not result in a touchdown.

SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER: Usually you expect veterans to influence rookies, but in Philadelphia, Asante Samuel was channeling DeSean Jackson when he let go of the ball before crossing the goal line on an interception return in the second quarter last night. Fortunately, Samuel thought better of it and grabbed the ball back in the end zone.

STANDING BY THEIR MAN: Mike Pereira, the NFL's head of officiating, told Sports Illustrated's Peter King that he agrees there was indisputable evidence to overturn the on-field call and give Pittsburgh's Santonio Holmes the game-winning touchdown at Baltimore on Sunday. King doesn't buy it, though:

GOOD FEELINGS: Things are looking much better in Dallas this week than they were seven days ago -- a prime-time win will do that. Owner Jerry Jones said yesterday that he welcomes any publicity for his team, including all the controversy last week that surrounded T.O., Tony Romo and Jason Witten. Meanwhile, Wade Phillips said that Marion Barber got through Sunday's game without aggravating his toe injury, while Tashard Choice proved that he is more than capable of spelling Barber for the remainder of the season. Phillips also reported that Romo was not seriously hurt when he was sacked on consecutive plays in the first half, which forced him to leave the game for a short stretch (Dallas Morning News).

KIFFIN RAIDING THE RAIDERS? Oakland's interim head coach, Tom Cable, says he's "pissed" about the fact that his offensive line coach, James Clegg, is skipping town to join former Raider boss Lane Kiffin at the University of Tennessee (Contra Costa Times). And Clegg's departure isn't the entire story -- director of football operations Mark Jackson and administrative aide Steve Reaves (Kiffin's brother-in-law) are also gone.

COULD HAVE FOOLED ME: You have to feel sorry for Cable. There he was, after his team had lost to the Patriots by 23 points at home, trying to accentuate the positive -- especially on offense -- and saying of his team, "There's a lot of good out there." (San Francisco Chronicle)

SICK OF IT ALL: Nnamdi Asomugha, who has won praise as both the only Raiders player who is any good and the only Raiders player who still really cares, changed agents recently, and the Contra Costa Times reports that the move might signal Asomugha's determination to get out of Silver and Black.

MAYBE, MAYBE NOT: Bills head coach Dick Jauron, who reportedly signed a contract extension on Sunday (he was putting his signature on a deal that was reached two months ago), says he expects to be back in Buffalo next season, although he acknowledges that there are no guarantees (WIVB).

TITANS IN A TOUGH SPOT: The Tennessee Titans, who host Pittsburgh on Sunday in a game that may decide home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, will have to find a way to win without defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who according to head coach Jeff Fisher has an MCL sprain (The Tennessean). The Titans are 3-13 when playing without Haynesworth since the 2004 season. The good news is that Haynesworth may be ready to return to the lineup in time for the postseason.

SAVED FROM SUSPENSION, DONE IN BY INJURY: Vikings star defensive tackle Pat Williams, whose steroid-related suspension has been blocked by a court injunction, will miss the rest of the regular season and perhaps the playoffs because of a fractured shoulder he suffered against Arizona on Sunday (Minneapolis Star Tribune).

NO DECISION MADE: Despite the eye-opening performances by Tarvaris Jackson in the last two games, Minnesota head coach Brad Childress says he hasn't decided whether Jackson or Gus Frerotte will be his starter this week against Atlanta (Minneapolis Star Tribune).

FOCUS ON NEXT YEAR: Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is reported to be making solid progress in his rehab from an elbow injury, but the team has virtually ruled out Palmer's returning for either of Cincinnati's final games this season (Dayton Daily News). With those games coming against fellow bottom-dwellers Cleveland and Kansas City, it could be argued that it is in the Bengals' best interest to do whatever they can to lose.