The Fine Fifteen

1. Indianapolis (13-0). Ball's in your court, Tony Dungy. You've got one heck of a chance to run the table now.

2. Denver (10-3). Black Sunday around the NFL nearly caught the Broncos with their pants down.

3. New England (8-5). Slowly, methodically, they're starting to look like the old Patriots. And that might be trouble for someone the first weekend of the playoffs. Probably Jacksonville. You must be asking: How can you move New England up so far so fast. Simple answer: I don't love anyone else.

4. Seattle (11-2). Do I think the Giants, on five out of 10 days, would beat Seattle? I do. This all comes down to one thing: I trust Matt Hasselbeck more than I trust Eli Manning right now.

5. San Diego (8-5). Rerun of the late 2004 Indy-San Diego game this week at the RCA Dome. Even at the same site. Only this one means so much more to the Chargers. If they don't win here, there's a very good chance they won't make the playoffs. Very good chance.

6. New York Giants (9-4). Jay Feely for mayor of Moonachie!

7. Cincinnati (10-3). I'm not asking for style points on a win, but they let the Browns hang around too long. That was just waaaaay too hard. Either that or Romeo Crennel ought to get some Coach of the Year votes.

8. Chicago (9-4). Not a shocking loss, certainly. But a disconcerting one. Blame the slippery field if you'd like, but a Steelers team that had been running in quicksand quasi-pulverized the Bears.

9. Dallas (8-5). A heroic win. A game Dallas had no business winning. And the Cowboys won it because ...  well, because a bunch of guys, including Drew Bledsoe, made plays when it kept looking as if the Chiefs were about to be in control.

10. Tampa Bay (9-4). Chris Simms started the game 13 of 16. Against Carolina. In Carolina. That's pretty good. The one thing Jon Gruden has wanted out of Simms is accuracy, and he's getting it.

11. Carolina (9-4). Let's dissect the NFC South, the only division deadlocked at the top. Carolina and Tampa Bay are 9-4. Division record: Tampa 3-1, Carolina 2-2. Conference record: Tampa 7-3, Carolina 6-3. Remaining schedule: Tampa -- at New England, Atlanta at home, New Orleans at home. Carolina -- at New Orleans, Dallas at home, at Atlanta. Ladies and gentlemen, suddenly, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in the NFC South driver's seat.

12. Pittsburgh (8-5). "Every game is a playoff game for us now,'' said Hines Ward. They're 1-0 in the playoffs, then.

13. Minnesota (8-5). Not really sure what to make of this team, but any team playing mistake-free on offense, forcing turnovers on defense and riding a six-game winning streak in December is a threat.

14. Kansas City (8-5). My guess is that on the charter home from Dallas, Dick Vermeil picked a Bee Gees' song as the players boarded. Help Me Mend My Broken Heart. Fitting.

15. (tie) Jacksonville (9-4). Last three: Niners at home, at Texans, home with the Titans. Combined record: 6-33. Jags will finish the year 12-4 and none of us will know what to make of 'em.

Atlanta (7-5). It sounds really hopeful to say the Falcons will be a game back of Carolina and Tampa with three to play with a win tonight. Hopeful until you realize their next two outings, both on the road, are against the Bears and Bucs. Ouch.