Snap Judgments: Divisions take shape, Palmer owns Ravens, more

PHILADELPHIA -- Musings, observations and the occasional insight as we await the Cowboys-Eagles NFC East first-place grudge match to come tonight at Lincoln Financial Field ...

• Thank you, Week 9. Thanks for the dose of clarity. We needed that. We entered play on Sunday with most of the league's divisions in a jumble at the top, but we exited with considerably more definition to the NFL's pennant races as the season's second half looms. To wit:

-- In the AFC North, the first-place Bengals definitively proved themselves for real, beating the Ravens for the second time in less than a month, 17-7. Buoyed by a defense that's far better than anyone knew, Cincinnati improved to 6-2 for the first time since its most recent Super Bowl season (1988) and stayed unbeaten in the division at 4-0. It's now Cincinnati and Pittsburgh (5-2 entering Monday night's visit to Denver) at the top of the division, with the Ravens (4-4) forced to fall back and join the fight in the AFC wild-card heap. Next week: Bengals at Steelers, for control of the AFC North.

-- In the AFC South, the undefeated Colts barely survived a stern challenge from mistake-prone Houston, 20-17, but when the smoke had cleared, Indy owned a 3½ game lead over the Texans (5-4) in the division. If you think the Colts (8-0) can lose a three-plus-game lead with eight weeks remaining, I've got some swampland in the Everglades I'd like to show you. Close doesn't count in the NFL, and that's why Houston, too, got thrown back into the AFC wild-card chase.

-- In the AFC East, the Patriots fended off those always tricky Dolphins, 27-17, in Foxboro. New England is now in command of the division at 6-2, two games ahead of the idle Jets (4-4), and three games better than Miami (3-5). Just in time for their annual blood feud next week in Indianapolis, the Patriots have won three in a row and have a Tom Brady-led passing game (332 yards against the Dolphins) that is rapidly rounding back into dominating form. As for the Jets and Dolphins, good luck in the crowded AFC middle of the pack.

-- In the NFC West, the Cardinals didn't beat a key division foe head-to-head like the home-standing Bengals, Colts and Patriots did, but their resounding 41-21 beatdown of the defense-less Bears served notice that Arizona is ready to assert itself at the midpoint of 2009. The Cardinals are now 5-3, but they're undefeated at 4-0 on the road, which bodes very well for their efforts at defending their NFC West title. Arizona destroyed Chicago in the first half, scoring four touchdowns and a field goal on its five possessions. A week after throwing five interceptions against Carolina, Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner rebounded with five touchdowns against the Bears.

-- And Week 9's ability to clarify matters in the division races continued in the late-afternoon games. New Orleans improved to 8-0 for the first time in its 43-year franchise history and further solidified its stranglehold on the NFC South, rallying from down 14-0 to beat visiting Carolina 30-20. The Panthers (3-5) could have reached .500 with the upset and climbed back into contention in the division, but now the Saints lead the Falcons (5-3) by three games and Carolina by five, with a win over each of their rivals.

Lastly, Sunday night's Cowboys-Eagles showdown will leave just one 6-2 team atop the NFC East with eight games remaining in the regular season. With the fading Giants (5-4) losing their fourth in a row, the Cowboys-Eagles winner takes a huge step toward taking command in the division.

• There is one division that's not exactly put way just yet, and of course it's the one that most folks have assumed was over for weeks. Don't look now, but if the Steelers can get out of Denver with a win Monday night, the Chargers (5-3) will trail the Broncos (6-1) by just one game, having made up two games in two weeks.

San Diego never, ever does anything easily, but that was a mammoth 21-20 win at the Meadowlands on Sunday for the Norv-men. After losing at home to the Broncos three weeks ago, the Chargers at 2-3 appeared to be in their best underachieving form again this season. But San Diego is 3-0 since that game, and if it can beat the Eagles at home next week, then Week 11's showdown at Denver will be for at least a share of first place in the division.