Dallas CowboysConsider this a quiz: Name the top three teams in the NFL.

There's the New York Giants, the undefeated Tennessee Titans, and . . . and . . .
It gets a little tricky after that, with teams fluctuating from week to week with all the stability and predictability of the stock market.

Some thoughts and observations heading into Week 7:

Hurt hand vs. old hand


At first blush, it looks like a devastating blow to the Dallas Cowboys that they're losing quarterback Tony Romo for at least a month with a broken pinkie on his throwing hand. They're giving the starting job to 40-year-old Brad Johnson, who hasn't started a game since 2006, so that's got to be unnerving for them.

But the Dallas Cowboys actually might be OK. Sometimes, older quarterbacks thrive when surrounded by a talented supporting cast. Consider what Jeff Garcia did with Philadelphia two years ago, or what Kerry Collins is doing in Tennessee now.

Johnson is a plodder, but a smart one. Don't immediately assume Big D stands for doomed.

Trading places

Today is the NFL trade deadline and there probably won't be a flurry of activity. The Dallas Cowboys could be wheeling and dealing, though, because they'll need another quarterback whether or not Johnson pans out, plus a punter to replace Mat McBriar, who, according to the Dallas Morning News, suffered a fractured foot when his punt was blocked in overtime and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks.

Other players who could be on the trading block are Oakland running backs Justin Fargas and Michael Bush -- more expendable with the emergence of rookie Darren McFadden -- and the biggie, Kansas City tight end Tony Gonzalez.