Ten NFL teams already have exceeded or tied their season victory total of last year -- Arizona, Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, New England, Pittsburgh, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle.
In the NFC Central, the rejuvenated, thrill-a-minute Bears can become the first team to qualify for the 2001 NFL playoffs with a victory Sunday at Green Bay. That's quite a change for Chicago in a year. From 5-11 last season to 9-2 so far this year. From a last-place finish in the NFC Central in 2000 to leading the division. On the verge of the playoffs after not reaching the postseason since 1994.
In the NFC West, it's a tie between St. Louis and the 49ers, who face each other Sunday in St. Louis. Think "Top Five" when it comes to these two, because that's where the teams and their players rank in the key offensive categories in the NFL/NFC. St. Louis leads the NFL in offense, San Francisco ranks second. Their quarterbacks -- the 49ers' Jeff Garcia and the Rams' Kurt Warner -- rank first and second, respectively, in NFC passer rating, and are tied for first and third, respectively, in TD passes (Garcia and Brett Favre, 24; Warner, 22).
As St. Louis head coach Mike Martz says, "It's 49er Week. Buckle up."
Chicago @ Green Bay -- 1 p.m. EST
Bears lead all-time series 83-72-6. In nine starts at home vs. Chicago, Packers QB Brett Favre is 6-3 and has 19 TDs vs. eight INTs for 97.2 passer rating. His 38 career TD passes vs. Bears is his most against any team.
San Francisco @ St. Louis -- 1 p.m. EST
Rams lead all-time series 53-48-2. 49ers RB Garrison Hearst needs 100 rushing yards for his fourth career 1,000-yard season and first since 1998. He has 71 carries for 467 yards and three TDs in the past four games.
New Orleans @ Atlanta -- 1 p.m. EST
Falcons lead all-time series 38-26. Saints are 9-3 on the road under head coach Jim Haslett. QB Aaron Brooks needs 210 passing yards for his first 3,000-yard season, a first for New Orleans since Jim Everett (3,117 in 1996).
New York @ Pittsburgh -- 4:15 p.m. EST
Steelers lead all-time series 13-1. Jets are the AFC's only unbeaten road team (5-0). Steelers are 4-1 in their first season at Heinz Field, and have won eight of past nine games against QB Vinny Testaverde.
Seattle @ Denver -- 8:30 p.m. EST
Broncos lead all-time series 31-17. Teams have combined for 245 points in the past four meetings (61.3 per game), and the past three meetings have featured eight 40-plus-yard TDs and seven kick/punt-return TDs.
Indianapolis @ Miami -- 9 p.m. EST Monday
Dolphins lead all-time series 42-21. Miami will make its NFL-high 65th appearance on Monday Night Football. The Dolphins need a victory to break tie with Dallas and San Fran for most the MNF wins (35).
Road warrior
Lions DE Robert Porcher has 10 sacks in the past 10 games vs. Bucs. He has a team-high eight sacks (his 2000 season total) with all eight of his sacks this season on road. Detroit plays at Tampa Bay on Sunday.
Tom terrific
Pats QB Tom Brady became only the fifth player to complete 70 percent of his passes in four consecutive games (min. 10 att.) in one season, tying Joe Montana (8), Troy Aikman (4), Sammy Baugh (4) and Steve Young (4).
Eight is enough
Panthers CB Doug Evans is tied for the NFL lead with eight INTs. He needs one to tie the NFL's 2000 season-high of nine (Packers' Darren Sharper) and two to become the first player since Mark Carrier in 1990 with 10.
Breaking the mold
Bills WRs Eric Moulds and Peerless Price have combined for nine catches of at least 40 yards -- tops among any NFL teammate tandem. Moulds needs 84 receiving yards for 5,000 in his six-year career.
Catching on
Jaguars WR Jimmy Smith has 895 receiving yards in the past 10 games vs. Cincinnati. He needs 34 receiving yards to become fifth player with six consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
Religious experience
Chiefs RB Priest Holmes has 366 scrimmage yards in the past two games. With 978 rushing yards, he needs 22 yards to become the first K.C. back since 1991 to rush for 1,000 yards (Christian Okoye -- 1,031).
Flattery: Brown out
Cleveland tops the NFL with 25 INTs and a 54.7 defensive passer rating. Defense has allowed 15 TDs -- tied for fewest in the AFC (Pittsburgh) -- and is allowing an AFC-low 4.29 yards per first-down play.
Flag: Luck of the draw
So, how many fantasy football teams lost because Saints WR Joe Horn was denied a TD -- on the pass breakup by Phil Luckett? Here's hoping those teams' playoff berths doesn't come down to a coin toss....
Flattery: Charged up
San Diego RB LaDainian Tomlinson needs 44 yards to become the first Charger to rush for 1,000 yards since 1994 (Natrone Means -- 1,350), and the second Charger rookie to the reach mark (Don Woods -- 1,162 in '74).
Flag: ABC-TV
Is nothing sacred? Brian's Song -- the original -- is one of the all-time best sports movies. And for giggles -- and, we presume, dollars -- Disney decided it needed a remake. Keith Jackson comes to mind: Fum-bull.
Flattery: Sack happy
Posting more sacks than their opponents has helped the clubs with the AFC's top five records. Those teams -- Pittsburgh (+19 sack differential), Miami (+15), Oakland (+7), Baltimore (+8) and New York (+12) -- are 40-16.
Flag: Gregg Williams
Getting shutout is one thing. Preventing your team from being whitewashed is another. Third-and-4 with 5 seconds remaining and you subject Alex Van Pelt to his fourth INT of the game. Kick the field goal, save a little face.
CNNSI.com's James Quintong says you can definitely tell it's December, thanks to all of the injuries and other assorted nicks, cuts, strains and pulls affecting plenty of players just this past week. If you think dealing with injuries in the middle of the season is bad, just think of the problems you'll have in setting lineups now. Check out this week's Fantasy File.
Users sounded off on the most underrated player in the NFL:
Trent Dilfer -- His record over the last two seasons speaks for itself. He has capitalized on every opportunity but can't even get a starting job. Meanwhile, bimbos like Ryan Leaf keep getting second chances. Taha, Tucson, Ariz.
William Henderson -- Used almost exclusively as a lead blocker, even though he has the best hands of any fullback. Henderson makes good things happen. Jeff, Hermiston, Ore.
Hines Ward -- He can catch passes and throws some nasty blocks, a reason why the Steelers running game is so good. Shaun, Scranton, Pa.
Sammy Knight -- He always seems to single-handedly turn a game around or hammer a nail in the coffin. Travis, Savannah, Ga.
David Boston -- He's (very) quietly becoming one of the best receivers the league. Sadly, he's playing in Arizona where the organization and the fans have given up. Kevin, Edmonton, Alberta
Lorenzo Neal -- Worst thing Tennessee could have done was not re-sign this plow. Eddie George's numbers speak clearly. Chris, Manhattan, Kan.
Troy Brown -- This season he's just being noticed for what we New England fans have known all along: Need a first down? A clutch catch? Go to Troy. Joe, Dubrave, Bosnia
Oronde Gadsden -- He is a true possession receiver, something rare in this league nowadays! His size, hands, physical play and determination, make him the most underrated player in the game! Denis, Miami
Mike Peterson -- He can do anything Ray Lewis can do and he does it without the supporting cast that Lewis has. Brian, Indianapolis
This week's topic: Which position is most critical to success?
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