1. Cowboys (8-1)
Rookie RB Ezekiel Elliott was great at the Steelers but did you see the way his o-line opened big holes? The Cowboys tied a franchise record with eight straight Ws.
2. Seahawks (6-2-1)
They got four stops inside their 2-yard line to clinch W at the Pats. With QB Russell Wilson looking heathier they are the top challenger to Dallas in the NFC.
3. Patriots (7-2)
It’s no shock that the Pats lost at home to the Seahawks. The surprising part was how they got physically beat down.
4. Raiders (7-2)
Post-bye schedule includes Texans, Bills, at Chiefs, at Chargers, at Broncos.
5. Chiefs (7-2)
Chiefs came back from 17 points down to win at Carolina. The defense is carrying them until the offense sorts itself out.
6. Broncos (7-3)
Broncs won at New Orleans when Justin Simmons leaped over center Justin Drescher and blocked an extra-point attempt that teammate Will Parks returned for the decisive two points. That was big for Denver’s AFC West chances.
7. Giants (6-3)
QB Eli Manning had one of his all-or-nothing kind of games in W vs. Bengals. Giants are loaded with talent but can he be trusted?
8. Falcons (6-4)
The Falcons had too many third-and-longs at Philly because they couldn’t run the ball. Then again, hard to get the running game going when they only had 48 plays.
9. Eagles (5-4)
The defense was looking a bit shaky before rising up to stifle the Falcons. RB Darren Sproles is a great old pro.
10. Texans (6-3)
Texans won their first road game in four tries this season. It was at Jacksonville, but still.
11. Lions (5-4)
The Vikings and Packers lost so the Lions moved into the NFC North lead during their bye week.
12. Washington (5-3-1)
Washington came back to beat the Vikings and now get the Packers, Cowboys and Cardinals.
13. Dolphins (5-4)
Miami won at San Diego with a late pick-six. More promising is that the offense is starting to come to life.
14. Vikings (5-4)
They lost their fourth straight game when QB Sam Bradford had a critical pick late in the game. The Vikings were shut out in the second half after scoring 20 points over the final six minutes of the first.
15. Ravens (5-4)
They beat the Browns to become one of the middling teams with a winning record that we’re supposed to take seriously.
16. Steelers (4-5)
QB Ben Roethlisberger threw for 408 yards and the last of his three TDs, on a fake spike play, put them ahead of Dallas with 42 seconds to play. It still wasn’t enough.
17. Packers (4-5)
The Packers got beat down at Tennessee. They continue to lose and QB Aaron Rodgers continues to take indirect shots at coach Mike McCarthy by questioning the team’s energy and effort.
18. Cardinals (4-4-1)
They outlasted the 49ers at home but still aren’t going anywhere. Falcons should handle them at the Dome after the bye.
19. Titans (5-5)
They were up 21-0 on the Packers and went on to score 47 points.
20. Bills (4-5)
They’ve got a manageable schedule after the bye but lots of teams ahead of them in wild card race.
21. Chargers (4-6)
QB Philip Rivers moved past John Elway with 301 TD passes on the same day his pick six sank the Chargers.
22. Saints (4-5)
Saints long snapper Justin Drescher on Justin Simmons leaping over him to block the extra point that led to the two-point return: “It's my responsibility to get up and get him and I didn't do it, and I feel horrible. It's a horrible way to lose the game."
23. Colts (4-5)
During their bye the Titans and Texans both won so now it’s a tough road to AFC South title.
24. Buccaneers (4-5)
QB Jameis Winston was at his improvisational best in W vs. Bears.
25. Rams (4-5)
Didn’t score a TD at Jets but snapped a four-game losing streak.
26. Bengals (3-5-1)
The loss at Giants probably means they are finished.
27. Panthers (3-6)
They were quite creative in blowing that 17-point lead to Kansas City at home. What a far, fast fall for the Panthers.
28. Jets (3-7)
Former Baylor standout QB Bryce Petty got the start against the Rams and flopped.
29. Bears (2-7)
Triumphant in his first game back from injury, QB Jay Cutler was back to being bad at Bucs.
30. Jaguars (2-7)
Texans won their first road game at Jags, who are 0-4 at home.
31. 49ers (1-8)
QB Colin Kaepernick was good in loss at Arizona so I guess that’s something.
32. Browns (0-10)
VP of football ops Sashi Brown said coach Hue Jackson’s job is safe but Brown probably needs to worry about his own status.
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