MMQB (cont.)

The Fine Fifteen

Jared Allen and the Vikings took care of business again this week, crushing Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears 36-10. AP

1. New Orleans (10-0). The real key tonight: Who's lining up in the Saint secondary, and how healthy are they?

2. Indianapolis (11-0). We're watching an amazing season. I don't know how it'll end, but when you win five games in a row that you've trailed in the fourth quarter, you're having one of the most compelling seasons a team's had in years.

3. Minnesota (10-1). Unless you're partial to Michael Oher, Percy Harvin's just about locked up the Offensive Rookie of the Year. He had eight touches for 146 yards and a touchdown Sunday against the Bears.

4. New England (7-3). I'll tell you what would be a crazy AFC Divisional Playoff game: Pats, seeded third, and coming off a physical wild card game against, say, Pittsburgh or Baltimore, traveling to Cincinnati to play the rested Bengals. Even against those odds, anyone picking against Tom Brady?

5. San Diego (8-3). That defense was voracious Sunday against the Chiefs. The Chargers are going to be a tough out in January.

6. Arizona (7-4). Can't kill the Cards, nor demote them, when they lose to the hot Titans on the last play of the game with backup quarterback Matt Leinart playing.

7. Cincinnati (8-3). Bengals 33, Raiders/Browns 27 the last two weeks.

8. Green Bay (7-4). Through 12 weeks, Charles Woodson has officially played his way past Nnamdi Asomugha as the corner opposite Darrelle Revis on my All-Pro team.

9. Dallas (8-3). Moments of truth coming for the 'Boys in a 14-day span, beginning Sunday at the Meadowlands: at Giants, vs. Chargers, at Saints.

10. Philadelphia (7-4). DeSean Jackson joined Brian Westbrook in dingland Sunday. In today's NFL, that could be trouble in a very big game next week at Atlanta.

11. Tennessee (5-6). Moment of truth, 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Lucas Oil Stadium: Titans (five-game winning streak) at Colts (11-game winning streak).

12. Pittsburgh (6-5). Don't fret -- assuming Ben Roethlisberger's back Sunday. Steelers will make playoffs if they go 4-1 in their last five: Oakland, at Cleveland, Green Bay, Baltimore, at Miami.

13. Baltimore (6-5). Closest of calls, Steelers over Ravens. Obviously I put stock in Dixon taking Sunday's game to overtime on Baltimore's field.

14. Denver (7-4). Encouraging signs by Broncos, particularly their defense, on Thursday night against the Giants.

15. Atlanta (6-5). Mike Smith was in with the doctors for quite a while after the Falcons' win over Tampa Bay. I think I would be too. I'd want to know if my season was in the dumpster with injuries to Michael Turner and Matt Ryan. I think they'll both be OK -- but I wouldn't bet on Turner facing the Eagles this week.

Quote of the Week I

"I'd say somebody's on our shoulder.''
-- Tennessee offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger, to me, an hour after the Titans stunned Arizona on the last play of the game on Young's 10-yard touchdown pass to Britt.

Somebody angelic.

Quote of the Week II

"Not even close.''
-- Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme after his second four-interception game of the year cost the Panthers in a 17-6 loss to the Jets, on whether he's ever had a season this frustrating.

(Ridiculously Demeaning, Insulting CBS) Quote of the Week

"The Miraculous Bra just came out.''
-- Candice Swanepoel, Victoria's Secret model, on CBS' NFL Today show Sunday.

That's perhaps the worst promotion on any NFL pregame show of all time. CBS is doing a fashion show this week and put this babe on TV as a billboard for it, and while Swanepoel was on TV, she got in a pop for a new piece of underwear.

Second thought: It is the worst promotion on any NFL pregame show of all time.

(Newsy, Informative CBS) Quote of the Week

"I've spoken to no teams and don't intend to do so while there is a current head coach.''
-- Bill Cowher, former NFL coach and current NFL analyst, on CBS' NFL Today Thursday.

That's interesting -- the first real indication of any kind since retiring that Cowher would return to coaching.