Raven scores big: The biggest winner Sunday was Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs. Like his close friend Dwight Freeney, Suggs put a sack escalator clause in his contract that could earn him big dollars in the fifth year of his contract. With his sack of Buffalo's J.P. Losman in the final minute of the first half, Suggs hit a $5 million escalator clause in his 2007 contract. Suggs was scheduled to make only $545,000 in base salary in 2007. He gambled with the team that he could make 40 sacks in his first four years. Now that he has hit the escalator, the Ravens may elect to begin negotiations on a contract extension next year. Freeney hit a similar escalator clause in his Colts contract and had a $5 million base in 2006. Freeney's contract will void after this season, but don't think he will be a free agent. The Colts will franchise him if they can't get a deal done by March.

Trouble at QB for Jags? Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio has a mess on his hands at quarterback, but that's what happens when you bench a franchise quarterback and go with a backup. Del Rio benched Byron Leftwich after six games and went with David Garrard, who proved to be nothing more than a good backup. You know the story on backups. They can come off the bench and win three games, but if you play them six games, they can lose you three games. Garrard won his first two starts but lost five of his last eight. On a three-game losing streak after losing 35-30 to the Chiefs on Sunday, Del Rio benched Garrard for poor play and went with Quinn Gray. In his past three starts, Garrard has thrown four interceptions and the passing game hasn't had many big plays. It might be difficult, but the Jaguars may need to go back to Leftwich, who would have to be a big person to put aside the disappointment of having his starting job taken from him. It's possible the Jaguars may have to trade him.

Ryans caps huge rookie year: Houston linebacker DeMeco Ryans, who had seven tackles in a win over the Browns on Sunday, should have clinched defensive rookie of the year. Ryans finished the season with 156 tackles, the most by any defensive player in the past 20 years. Among the 156 tackles, he had 126 solo stops and 3 ½ sacks. Ryans had nine double-digit tackle games. The next closest rookie tackler was Ernie Sims of the Lions, who had 123.