3Playoff positioning watch begins Week 9

2-3, but anything can happen.Protected games: Cowboys-Giants (FOX) and Titans-Colts (CBS). Apparently, CBS REALLY thinks the Titans’ 0-5 start is a fluke. But the only reason CBS might protect ANY game is because of the weakness of the tentative game, and that's actually the best game they have all weekend. What else are they going to protect, Jags-Texans Other possible games: Eagles-Falcons is the only Saturday game this week pitting two teams with one or no losses Vikings-Cardinals is a dark horse.Week 14 (Dec. 13):Tentative game: Philadelphia NY GiantsProspects: It’s an NFC East game (always ratings), and it’s 5-0 v 3-1, currently the top two spots in said division.

There’s a better candidate later, though.Protected games: Chargers-Cowboys (CBS) and Packers-Bears (FOX).Other possible games: Those were the games I expected to be the frontrunners to potentially steal the spot, not to be protected; Bengals-Vikings, Broncos-Colts, and Saints-Falcons are better games. CBS is especially surprising because not only are Bengals-Vikings and Broncos-Colts better games, they have no shortage of starpower in Brett Favre and Peyton Manning respectively. This may have less to do with records than the fact that the only other AFC game in Cowboy Stadium, while on CBS, involves the crappy Raiders.Week 15 (Dec. 20):Tentative game: Minnesota CarolinaProspects: Incredibly lopsided, with the Vikings unbeaten and the Panthers 1-3, and CBS’ decision not to protect Bengals-Vikings last week really hurts its chances, since this is no longer NBC’s best shot to see Brett Favre. (Though since that comes in a week with a very attractive tentative game, it’s still relevant that NBC’s other two shots are the Cardinals game Week 13 and the Giants game Week 17, the latter of which will be affected by the game’s playoff implications.)Protected games: Packers-Steelers (Fox) and Bengals-Chargers (CBS).Other possible games: Falcons-Jets, Bears-Ravens, or 49ers-Eagles are all better games than Packers-Steelers, each of them involving two teams above .500; none have the name value of the Steelers, though, and while the other Fox Steelers game is more attractive against the Vikings, it’s an early game as soon as Week 7 that’s unlikely to be shown in the late slot.Week 16 (December 27)Tentative game: Dallas WashingtonProspects: Could go either way, at 3-2 v. 2-3, but it is the NFL’s biggest rivalry, so its chances of keeping its spot are probably better than even.

Given how crappy Fox’s games are and how marquee this game is regardless of records, it’s no wonder Fox left this week unprotected despite the bounty of great games last week and the (arguably) even more marquee game Week 14.Likely protections: Ravens-Steelers (CBS).Other possible games: Jets-Colts or Broncos-Eagles.Week 17 (Jan. 3):Playoff positioning watch begins Week 9. This article is also featured on Sports.MorganWick . (NYSE:TOL),the nation's leading builder of luxury homes, will broadcast live on itswebsite, , a conference call to discuss its preliminaryresults and outlook for its first quarter ending January 31, 2009 The event isscheduled for 2:00 p.m (EST) on Wednesday, February 11, 2009. It will followannouncement of the Company's first quarter 2009 preliminary results for homebuilding revenues, contracts and backlog before the market opens on Wednesday,February 11, 2009 The call will be hosted by Robert I. Podcast (iTunes required) and MP3format replays will be available approximately 48 hours after the conferencecall via the "Conference Calls" section of the Investor Relations portion of theToll Brothers website.The Company will be announcing first quarter 2009 earnings results on Wednesday,February 25, 2009, also followed by a conference call that day at 2:00 p.m.(EST).Toll Brothers, Inc is the nation's leading builder of luxury homes.