The Fine Fifteen

	Shawne Merriman pressured Bills quarterback J.P. Losman into throwing an interception in the first quarter of San Diego's 24-21 win over Buffalo. AP
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1. San Diego (10-2). Welcome back, Shawne Merriman. On his fourth play back from the steroid suspension, he harassed J.P. Losman into a hurried sidearm throw that Quentin Jammer picked off. The Chargers went ahead to stay four minutes later in wintry Orchard Park and hung on to beat the Bills.

2. Dallas (8-4). In three hours, Martin Gramatica proved himself the kicker of Bill Parcells' dreams. To make a 46-yard field goal on the road, a kick that drove a stake through the Giants' playoff hearts, is about as clutch as you can be. "That kick gets him on the team right there, and nobody's wondering about it,'' said Parcells.

3. Indianapolis (10-2). The Titans know how to play the Colts. Aggregate score of the two games between them this year: Tennessee 33, Indianapolis 31. Something's missing from these Colts, isn't there? Like a defensive backbone against the run.

4. New England (9-3). Difference in the Pats this year from past years, to me: Everything just looks harder for them.

5. Chicago (10-2). "We're not changing,'' Chicago coach Lovie Smith said after another weak performance by QB Rex Grossman ( 6-of-19 for 34 yards, three interceptions). "We're 10-2, and we just won the division with Rex as our quarterback.'' I agree. For now. But maybe not for long. Grossman's quarterback rating Sunday: 1.3. I repeat: 1.3. "I'm thinking too much,'' said Grossman. "I need to just start playing football.'' You're running out of time, buddy.

6. Baltimore (9-3). Interesting observation about Steve McNair from Cris Collinsworth: "He really struggled throwing the wet ball Thursday night.'' Hmmm. With Cincinnati up 13-0 early in the third quarter, McNair had 74 passing yards.

7. Cincinnati (7-5). Chad Johnson's last four games: 32 catches, 664 yards. But a very strange, quasi-silent appearance on the Football Night in America halftime show.

8. New Orleans (8-4). Deuce McAllister is a forgotten man. Deuce might be on his way to the quietest 1,200-yard rushing season in recent history.

9.  Seattle (8-4). That was Josh Brown's fourth game-winning field goal this season. 

10. Carolina (6-5). Hey, Julius Peppers: That's the hot breath of Shawne Merriman on your back. After missing four games with the steroid ban, he came back with two sacks in Buffalo, and now the sack race has Peppers, with 11, a half-sack ahead of Merriman.

11. New York Jets (7-5). First-half drives in Green Bay: 63 yards, field goal; 51 yards, touchdown; 83 yards, touchdown; 70 yards, touchdown; 77 yards, touchdown. Score at halftime: Jets 31, Pack 0.

12. Denver (7-5). How much you wanna bet: Mike Vanderjagt will be in Denver Monday afternoon for a workout. I'll give anyone out there 2-1 odds he's in Broncos blue at San Diego Sunday.

13. Atlanta (6-6). "What'd you say to Mike Vick before the game?'' I asked Jim Mora. "FOX showed you guys chuckling and laughing before the game.'' Mora told me he didn't remember, but he often tries to tell Vick a good joke before the game. Must have been a really good one.

14. Jacksonville (7-5). David Garrard is better than Byron Leftwich. And the Jags know it.

15. (tie) New York Giants (6-6). There are no moral victories in the NFL, but the Giants can take solace in that they didn't implode in the East Rutherford dusk. With the exception of a couple of really stupid personal fouls, and poor coverage in the final seconds by safety Will Demps, they played a good game. There's no way they're not one of the top 15 teams in the NFL.

15. (tie) Kansas City (7-5). Lost at Denver, at Pittsburgh, at Miami, at Cleveland. Very good teams, teams that play deep into January, don't lose in Cleveland in December.