Derek Anderson does not have the accuracy, quick trigger or rapid-fire brain that allowed Warner to excel in Arizona, and the loss of Boldin has not eased his transition into the starting lineup. The Cardinals undoubtedly will be in the market for a new quarterback next season, and even with the addition of rookie ILB Daryl Washington, they need to find a new defensive leader and more youth at LB positions that are not producing enough.

• The Falcons made a big statement by heading into New Orleans and knocking off a Saints squad that may be the closest to being dominant in the NFL today.

• Few teams have much success without their starting quarterback. The Steelers are a bold exception, showing it does not matter if Dennis Dixon or Charlie Batch is in the starting lineup — their defense is that good. Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau is in a class of his own. The aggressive, one-gap “30” front employed by LeBeau, Green Bay’s Dom Capers, Baltimore’s Greg Mattison and the Jets’ Mike Pettine is proving to be one of the most disruptive and efficient in the league.   

• The Panthers have struggled to create pressure with their front four the way they were able to do with Julius Peppers, and the offensive line did not provide a lot of time for rookie Jimmy Clausen, as Geoff Schwartz struggled to handle the edge in place of the injured Jeff Otah. The Bengals won Sunday's game in the trenches with a physical style of play, blanket coverage on Carolina’s young, underwhelming receivers and the consistent pressure created by one of the most athletic defensive lines in the league, even if it may not have shown it. The Panthers’ offense appeared stuck in neutral.