Eagles' offense going wild: We've all heard this old saying since grade school: Necessity is the mother of invention. So, too, in football. Case in point: the Wildcat. Just like the Miami Dolphins last season, the Philadelphia Eagles are using the Wildcat offense not as a luxury but as a necessity.

In 2008, the Dolphins couldn't run the ball effectively -- that's why offensive coordinator Dan Henning abruptly started using the direct snap to running back Ronnie Brown. Indeed, of the Dolphins' 103 Wildcat plays last season, they ran the ball 98 times, averaging 5.2 yards a snap compared to 3.7 yards a rush when running the ball out of traditional formations.

Rich Gabrielson/Icon SMI

DeSean Jackson has been a pivotal part of the Eagles' Wildcat package.

Against the Saints, with the Eagles' offensive line reshuffled thanks to injuries and running back Brian Westbrook clearly not all the way back from offseason knee and ankle surgeries, Eagles head coach Andy Reid ordered up nine Wildcat plays -- nine direct snaps to either Westbrook or wide receivers DeSean Jackson or Jeremy Maclin. It was very productive, gaining 45 yards and five first downs.

With Michael Vick now available, look for Reid to dial up more Wildcat against the Chiefs, especially if Kevin Kolb makes his second straight start at quarterback for the injured Donovan McNabb. Chiefs defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast no doubt will try to confuse Kolb with a lot of zone blitzes. The Eagles' counterpunch to that is Vick as the added real threat of throwing the ball out of the Wildcat.

-- Sal Paolantonio

Jets confident with rookie Sanchez: The Jets auditioned a new quarterback this week -- owner Woody Johnson.

"We're always looking for guys out there, and we only have four quarterbacks on the roster," coach Rex Ryan said, laughing. "We've got to work on that movement outside of the pocket, but he has a good arm."

As much fun as Ryan had watching Johnson toss some balls around with the team Wednesday, he is happy to stick with his current starter. Mark Sanchez has hardly played like a rookie so far this season, racking up a 60.4 completion percentage and a 91.3 passer rating, and he now turns his attention to a Titans secondary that gave up more than 350 passing yards against Houston in Week 2. 

The opportunity could allow the Jets to open up the offense more than they have so far this season, and Sanchez says if the coaches decide to go that way, he's ready -- and comfortable with the bulk of the Jets' playbook.

"I'm still working," Sanchez said. "But who knows? When you have a great team like we do and a confident rookie quarterback, it could work out real well for the squad."

-- Rachel Nichols

New faces coming up big for Colts: Just four years ago, Peyton Manning's offensive supporting cast included Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Brandon Stokley, Edgerrin James and Pro Bowl left tackle Tarik Glenn. Now all but Wayne are gone, replaced by the next generation of Colts stars.

In the final minutes of Monday night's 27-23 Week 2 win in Miami, Manning introduced a national audience to his new collection of weapons. First, unproven wide receiver Austin Collie converted a key third down. Then Collie threw an important downfield block on Pierre Garcon's winning 48-yard touchdown. Garcon is a second-year wideout from Mount Union who caught four passes all of last season.

Neither player had a catch until the fourth quarter.

While starting wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez is out with a knee injury, most of the balls will go to Wayne and Clark (and newly signed Hank Baskett), but Colts head coach Jim Caldwell expects Garcon and Collie to become a bigger part of the offense every week.

-- Bob Holtzman

Romo's struggles continue in Dallas: Tony Romo's inaccurate throws, poor decisions and failure to locate open receivers culminated in a big-stage loss to the Giants that reinforced all the doubt about him and perhaps created new skeptics. Romo seemed much improved at crisis management after the fifth three-interception game of his career, but game management remains a challenge for the Dallas quarterback.

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Tony Romo threw three interceptions in the Cowboys' Week 2 loss to the Giants.

"When the games are close, you have to be smart with the football, and that has been a problem with Tony," Cowboys Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman said this week. "I know the coaching staff is trying to eliminate those mistakes."

The problem is that Romo is a risk-taker by nature, and the Cowboys are asking him to play against his instincts. Now he needs to bounce back on "Monday Night Football" against the Carolina Panthers.

"Every player made mistakes in the game [Sunday]," head coach Wade Phillips said. "When he makes one, everyone sees it. And they are important to him. It is important to him. That's the key thing. It's very important to him, and he's going to try to do something about it."

Until he actually does something about it, there will be trying times for the Cowboys.

-- Ed Werder