1- Green Bay Packers (10-3) – For now, the Packers sit first in the National thanks to the loss of the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night. They finished the season in first place last year, too, before losing in the conference final at Lambeau Field to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Still, it’s always better to get home ground advantage and leave in the first knockout round, that goes without saying, especially when your home is an igloo …
2- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-3) – Currently the favorite to win the MVP title, Tom Brady is set to surpass the 5,000-yard yardstick in one season for the second time in his career. With four games to go, he has 4,134. Tom Terrific set a personal high with 5,235 yards 10 years ago. In 2011, when it was believed that its decline was imminent. Incredible.
3- New England Patriots (9-4) – The field is clear for the first place of the American for Bill Belichick and his men, but the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tennessee Titans have an identical record. Nothing will therefore be played until the end in all probability. Big test for the Pats, Saturday night, in Indianapolis. Other than the Chiefs and Patriots, the Colts have been the best team in the AFC in the past two months.
4- Kansas City Chiefs (9-4) – After beating the Denver Broncos and the Las Vegas Raiders in their last two games, the Chiefs will have the opportunity to conclude the intradivisional trifecta on Thursday night in Los Angeles. Due to injuries and COVID-19 cases, however, it remains to be seen how many Chargers players will miss the meeting, which is likely to be pivotal for the AFC Western Championship.
5- Dallas Cowboys (9-4) – Dan Quinn must have faced a lot of criticism when he was head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. He now deserves a big hat trick for his work in Dallas. The Cowboys defense is unrecognizable and the coordinator has a lot to do with it. After allowing almost 30 points per game in 2020, the unit has given up around 22 this season.
6- Tennessee Titans (9-4) – It’s not very complicated in the case of the Titans. If Derrick Henry returns to play for the playoffs, their chances of making it to the Super Bowl will be very good. But if the running back has to be away, it will be very difficult for them to win two or three playoff games, even though their defense has improved significantly from the last few years.
7- Los Angeles Rams (9-4) – The Rams learned hours before their Monday game in Arizona that they are set to play it without five starters, including Jalen Ramsey, due to a COVID-19 outbreak. Matthew Stafford, Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp and Odell Bekcham Jr. had to be at their peak and they were. A huge victory for Sean McVay’s team, who played with much more conviction than they did in November.
PHOTO JOE CAMPOREALE, USA TODAY SPORTS ARCHIVES
Los Angeles Rams Aaron Donald and Marquise Copeland
8- Arizona Cardinals (10-3) – It was the second prime-time game against a top team for the Cardinals on Monday night. And for the second time, they failed. Defeated by Green Bay Packers who played without their top three receivers earlier this season, Kyler Murray and company have this time lost to Los Angeles Rams decimated by COVID-19. Had it not been for James Conner, who is having an excellent season with 16 touchdowns, the Cards would have been planted on Monday night. Bad sign.
9- Indianapolis Colts (7-6) – Did you know that there are two former Alouettes coaches with the Colts? Marcus Brady is the offensive coordinator and Scott Milanovich is the quarterfinals coach. What do the two men and Frank Reich, the head coach have in common? They have all spent the majority of their professional careers in the Reserve Quarterback role. And former reservists often become better coaches than former starters.
10- Buffalo Bills (7-6) – We all overvalued the Bills a bit. Very good team? No doubt. Ready to take it all? Probably not. Not much is missing, but something is still missing.
11- Baltimore Ravens (8-5) – If Lamar Jackson (ankle) has to miss Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers, he will be replaced by Tyler Huntley, who almost gave the Ravens an unlikely comeback against the Cleveland Browns last Sunday. Huntley was never drafted and had signed a free agent contract with the team after the 2020 draft.
12- Los Angeles Chargers (8-5) – As of this writing, participation in Thursday night’s game against Chiefs Derwin James Jr., Mike Williams, Rashawn Slater, Austin Ekeler, Jared Cook, Linval Joseph, Justin Jones and Asante Samuel Jr. remains uncertain. A long list of important players.
San Francisco 13- 49ers (7-6) – Brandon Aiyuk has started producing again (28 catches and 3 touchdowns in his last 6 games), and when he does and Deebo Samuel and George Kittle are in the lineup, the Niners’ aerial play is as good as their ground play. . Nick Bosa is another club player who is playing better after a mixed start. The defensive end has nine sacks in his last seven games.
14- Minnesota Vikings (6-7) – Did you see the openings Dalvin Cook had against the Pittsburgh Steelers? No wonder he had more than 200 rushing yards… Receiver Adam Thielen is set to miss at least one more game with his ankle injury Monday night in Chicago.
15- Miami Dolphins (6-7) – The Dolphins’ defense allowed just 55 points during the team’s 5-game winning streak. But she will likely have to win her last four games in order to qualify for the playoffs.
16- Cincinnati Bengals (7-6) – Ja’Marr Chase has slowed down after his incredible first half of the season (25 catches in his last 6 games), but Tee Higgins (32 catches) and Tyler Boyd (23) have clearly benefited from the attention the defenses were giving. to Chase during that same streak. The three players all have between 55 and 60 catches since the start of the season.
PHOTO JEFF DEAN, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tee Higgins (85), Cincinnati Bengals
17- Denver Broncos (7-6) – Without making too much noise, rookie Javonte Williams is playing very well. The running back gained 743 rushing yards (averaging 4.8 per carry), caught 34 passes for 279 yards and scored 6 touchdowns. In order to make the playoffs, the Broncos can’t afford to lose at home to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
18- Cleveland Browns (7-6) – Like in his team’s playoff game in Pittsburgh last January, head coach Kevin Stefanski contracted COVID-19 and likely won’t be around when the Browns host the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday.
19- Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6-1) – Former Steelers safety back Ryan Clark has said he’s never seen a player more immature than Chase Claypool and it’s hard to disagree. Claypool celebrated a first game with about 30 seconds remaining and time ticked against the Minnesota Vikings. The Steelers had no more downtime and lost by eight points… Not strong.
20- Philadelphia Eagles (6-7) – Will Gardner Minshew get a starting position eventually? It was against the New York Jets, of course, but in his first start of the season, the long-haired quarterback had 22 of 27 passes for 253 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. Here is one who does not lack confidence in his means and who is not shy.
21- Saints of New Orleans (6-7) – The odds look good that the Saints will keep the same quarterbacks, Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill, in 2022 and focus on improving their receiving line, especially if Michael Thomas is not back with them. Deonte Harris is currently leading the team with 31 catches and 523 yards from the air.
22- Washington team (6-7) – Ron Rivera almost always squeezes the most out of his team since leading them, but they need an influx of talent up front. As for the defense, it will have to play with more consistency, especially the first row, which is normally entirely made up of recent first picks.
23- Atlanta Falcons (6-7) – Cordarrelle Patterson’s career is truly atypical. Drafted as a wide end, he went on to become one of the NFL’s top “returlers”. Nothing abnormal up to this point. But in his last two seasons, his eighth and ninth, he’s grown into a running back. After totaling 103 races in his first 7 seasons, he has carried the ball 186 times since 2020.
24- Seattle Seahawks (5-8) – Two wins in a row, but it will likely take four more for the Seahawks to squeeze into the tournament. Rashaad Penny finally looked like a former first pick last Sunday: 16 carries for 137 yards and 2 touchdowns. But let’s say the Texans don’t offer quite a lot of opposition.
25- Los Angeles Raiders (6-7) – Chase the natural and… If Derek Carr is so tired of losing as he keeps saying, he just has to play better. In his last six games, he’s thrown six touchdown passes and five interceptions. The Raiders have lost five of those games.
PHOTO RICK SCUTERI, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders
26- Carolina Panthers (5-8) – Like the Raiders, the Las Vegas Panthers sagged after a strong start to the season. They’ve only won 2 of their last 10 games and it makes you wonder if Matt Rhule will be back in 2022. Another example of an NCAA-born head coach getting eaten up by the pros.
27- Chicago Bears (4-9) – Justin Fields has already conceded 33 sacks in his first 11 NFL games, which is definitely too much for a mobile quarterback like him. The Bears’ priority should be to improve their offensive line over the winter.
28- New York Giants (4-9) – Although we weren’t expecting a playoff appearance this year, the Giants are underperforming. Despite all the injuries they’ve had to contend with, they should have a few more wins.
29- New York Jets (3-10) – In a division that includes three teams that are expected to be good over the next few years (Patriots, Bills and Dolphins), the Jets’ purgatory is unlikely to end anytime soon. They currently have the longest food shortage on the circuit with 11 straight playoff exclusions.
30- Detroit Lions (1-11-1) – The victories did not follow, but Jared Goff has never played with more courage and determination behind his protective line than he does this year. The Lions’ wide-winger squad is one of the leanest in the league and definitely needs to be beefed up.
31- Houston Texans (2-11) – Texans general manager Nick Caserio declined to confirm that head coach David Culley would return to his post in 2022 this week. Exactly what kind of season was Caserio expecting with the team he has put on the pitch?
32- Jacksonville Jaguars (2-11) – Trevor Lawrence is too talented not to have a great career, but the arrival of a coach who specializes in attacking play in Jacksonville seems essential. As well as leaving you know who.