The Eagles today officially declared starting quarterback Donovan McNabb, who did not practice all week due to ankle and thumb woes, OUT for tomorrow night's game at Gillette Stadium. This means the Patriots will now without a doubt face former Dolphin A.J. Feeley at QB for Philly, possibly enhancing that 23-and-a-half point spread.

Meanwhile, the Patriots dramatically changed their injury report from earlier in the week to list only one player: QB Tom Brady, probable with his supposedly sore right shoulder.

KING'S CALL

Eleven and 0, here we go. No one is giving the Eagles a chance tomorrow night, especially with McNabb out. McNabb and running back Brian Westbrook have a great on-field rapport, but now the Patriots can key in on Westbrook alone. This should be a no brainer, but we'll still stay "conservative" with the score:

Patriots 35, Eagles 10

 --- TOM KING

The Patriots started their preparations in earnest today for Sunday night's game with the Philadelphia Eagles, and right now it looks as if their running game will be in tact. Both Laurence Maroney and Kevin Faulk, who spent time on the sideline last Sunday with apparent injuries (foot and head), were back on the practice field today and not listed on the team's injury report. Most notably for the Eagles, QB Donovan McNabb did not practice, nursing ankle and thumb injuries.

Officially, the Patriots reported that linebacker Adalius Thomas (team decision) and defensive lineman Jarvis Green (ankle) did not practice. Thomas had been nursing a bad ankle a couple of weeks ago, and Green appeared to get hurt in the final plays of Sunday's 56-10 win at Buffalo.

Seeing limited practice time were safety Eugene Wilson (ankle), offensive lineman Stephen Neal (out last week with a bad shoulder) and, of course, QB Tom Brady (the obligatory right shoulder listing).

Besides McNabb, the eagles said safety Quentin Mikell (knee) and tackle William Thomas (illness) did not practice today.

Practicing fully but listed on the injury report were wideout Jason Avant (groin), free safety Brian Dawkins (thigh), long snapper Jon Dorenbos (abdomen), linebacker Omar Gaither (back), guard Todd Herremans (knee), cornerback William James (foot), defensive tackle Mike Patterson (ankle) and heralded running back Brian Westbrook (knee).

LINE OF THE DAY: That came from head coach Bill Belichick, when pressed about his Thanksgiving Day plans -- the team will practice early in the day but be given most of the day off. Belichick added, "I don't think I'm going to go hungry, though, if that's what you're (worried about). I don't look like I'm undernourished, do I?"

Pats QB Tom Brady was not available to the media today, as he normally is on Wednesdays. No explanation was given.

-- TOM KING 

Here's one man's current view of the best of the best in the National Football League:

AFC

1. NEW ENGLAND (10-0) -- If this must be explained, then you haven't been paying attention.

2. INDIANAPOLIS (8-2) -- Despite injuries to Dwight Freeney (gone for the year) and Marvin Harrison, still the best of the rest.

3. PITTSBURGH (7-3) -- OK so they've lost to teams like the Jets and Arizona Cardinals. But the Steelers are still a gritty bunch who will win 11 games.

4. JACKSONVILLE (7-3) -- Where did they come from? The Jags may erase their sag of 2006.

5. TENNESSEE (6-4) -- Monday's loss to Denver aside, the Titans are still a team no one looks forward to playing. Until San Diego gets its act together, Tennessee is a top fiver.

 NFC

1.DALLAS COWBOYS (9-1) -- It should be T.O. vs. Randy in the Super Bowl.

2. GREEN BAY (9-1) -- Brett Favre is having a great, uh, comeback season, but can the Pack beat Dallas?

3. NEW YORK GIANTS (7-3) -- The best of the rest so far, with all their losses coming at the two teams ranked above them.

4.TAMPA BAY (6-4) -- Jeff Garcia is doing for Tampa what he did for Philly a year ago -- rescuing their season and their coach.

5. SEATTLE (6-4) -- The Seahawks are still in the second year of a Super Bowl loss hangover, but are also still the best of the West. The Lions need to beat a good team before they can knock Seattle or Tampa out of the top five.

--- TOM KING 

About the only advantage Buffalo will have tonight is the fact it's home and will have a loud crowd behind it. The Bills have no offense to speak of -- especially if rookie sensation Marshawn Lynch doesn't play -- and the Patriots will have to beat themselves to suffer their first loss of the year. They will, however, need a good performance from the run game, especially Laurence Maroney. Sorry, I still go with the QB comparison: Tom Brady vs. JP Losman.

RECORD: 9-0

OUTCOME: Patriots 28, Bills 13. (And we're giving Buffalo probably three more points than it should have.)

-- TOM KING

The Patriots have declared starting offensive guard Stephen Neal as out for tomorrow night's game at Buffalo with a sore shoulder. Also out are safety Eugene Wilson (ankle) and linebacker Eric Alexander (knee), declarations that likely mean the three players did not make the trip to Buffalo.

Meanwhile, receiver Wes Welker was removed from the injury report, so he will play tomorrow night. Linebacker Mike Vrabel is listed as questionable, but the reason now has been changed from "team decision" to "shoulder".

-- TOM KING

While it remains doubtful that Buffalo rookie running back Marshawn Lynch will play on Sunday night, the Patriots listed six players as questionable on their Friday injury report -- two of whom, safety Eugene Wilson (ankle) and linebacker Eric Alexander (knee) did not practice.

Cornerback Eddie Jackson (knee), offensive lineman Stephen Neal (shoulder), linebacker Mike Vrabel (team decision) and receiver Wes Welker (team decision) were also limited in practice and are questionable. Tom Brady is listed, again, as probable (shoulder) and was limited again in practice. Ho-hum.

Lynch did not practice for the third straight day and is officially listed as doubtful. Brady nemisis Aaron Schoebel (illness) practiced fully and is probable, along with tight end Robert Royal (head, limited practice). Officially out for Buffalo are tight end Matt Murphy (calf)  and cornerback Kiwaukee Thomas (groin).

--- TOM KING

It was back to work for regular preparations for Sunday night's game with the Buffalo Bills for the Patriots on Wednesday, and they appear to be relatively healthy. Only three players did not practice, three who haven't been out there in recent weeks: Safety Eugene Wilson (ankle), linebacker Eric Alexander (knee) and safety Mel Mitchell (groin).

Limited in practice were, as usual, QB Tom Brady (the obligatory shoulder injury), cornerback Eddie Jackson, who recently came off the PUP list (knee), offensive lineman Stephen Neal (shoulder) and linebacker Mike Vrabel and receiver Wes Welker (team decisions). Both Vrabel and Welker were in the locker room giving interviews earlier in the day.

As for the Bills, the big news is the somewhat questionable status of standout rookie running back Marshawn Lynch. Lynch did not practice on Wednesday, nursing a bad ankle, while neither did tighe end Robert Royal (head) or defensive end Aaron Schobel (illness). Shobel has made Brady sick plenty of times over the last couple of years with his pass rush, for certain.

 Of interesting note, yesterday in a statement released by NBC, commentator John Madden said he didn't think the Patriots would go 16-0.

:"I think someone is going to beat the Patriots,” he said. “The decision is going to come at the end of the season when they clinched the playoffs and they clinched home field and everyone tends to rest their players.  That's going to be a dilemma for them.  Do you go for the all-time record or do you go for the championship?  In my mind, you always go for the championship.”

--- TOM KING

Before we get into today's call, a couple of late developments: Eugene Wilson and Eric Alexander, both OUT for today, declared yesterday which means they likely didn't travel. Reports are that Ben Watson will dress today for the Patriots, and that Marvin Harrison likely will not for the Colts. Even if he did dress, it's probable that Harrison wouldn't have been that effective due to a nagging knee injury that reportedly surgery won't correct.

Logic says go with the Patriots, because they're so much better than the team that lost by just four points to the Colts in the RCA Dome in the AFC championship game. The key? Keeping Bob Sanders, the Colts incredible safety, at bay, which means ultimate protection for Tom Brady. It's amazing more teams haven't tried to blitz Brady like crazy. Basically, one thing that's never changed in the NFL is this: If you want to cool down a hot quarterback, then get massive pressure on him. It says here the Colts will try, but fail.

PATRIOTS 35, COLTS 28.

 --- TOM KING 

The Patriots offense for the rest of this month and the season was dealt a bit of a setback today with the news that running back Sammy Morris, who suffered a chest injury a few weeks ago, is out for the season. The team placed him on season-ending injured reserve today. Morris had averaged 4.5 yards a carry and was a dependable runner in the wake of injuries to Laurence Maroney. Now the Patriots have to hope Maroney, who is starting to become injury prone, stays healthy. This probably means more duty for backs like Heath Evans, definitely Kevin Faulk, and perhaps even Kyle Eckel. Also look for some type of pickup down the line.

Morris wasn't expected to contribute at all in the near future, including Sunday's mega-game with the Colts, but he certainly would have proven invaluable in the run-oriented days of December and the playoffs.

-- TOM KING