This Week's MMQB

Fine Fifteen

1. New York Giants (10-1). Over the last four weeks, the Giants have scored 35, 36, 30 and 37, all against teams in the top 10 in the NFL in total defense -- Dallas (8), Philadelphia (6), Baltimore (2), Arizona (10). Not trying to be too gee-whiz here, but exactly who is going to stop this team?

2. New York Jets (8-3). Biggest day in the history of New Jersey sports: The Jets vs. the Giants in Tampa ... WITH SPRINGSTEEN AT HALFTIME.

3. Tennessee (10-1). Let's not go overboard because the Titans lost one game. But let's be a little bit concerned about the interior of the offensive line getting overpowered by the Jets.

4. New England (7-4). The Patriots face the very likely prospect of playing the playoffs on the road, from the fifth or sixth seed, if they make it.

5. Pittsburgh (8-3). The only thing that can stop this team is its running game. Or lack thereof. If I'm Mike Tomlin, I'm giving Gary Russell some important carries Sunday in Foxboro. What a month the Steelers have coming up: at Patriots, home vs. Cowboys, at Ravens and Titans. They'll never make it with the kind of running game we saw Thursday night.

6. Indianapolis (7-4). Not sure if I've ever seen a team win so many games in the last two minutes. And here's how nutty this season is for the Colts: Barring a major surprise, they'll be 10-4 and in the driver's seat for the fifth seed (with the head-to-head edge over the Pats and Ravens) after facing Cleveland, Cincinnati and Detroit the next three weeks.

7. Baltimore (7-4). I'll tell you what I like about the Ravens right now. They're scoring. Some of it is defense-prompted, of course, but they've won five of six and scored 27, 29, 37, 41 and 36 in those five wins. I also like that they'll end the season, barring injury, with three runners over 500 rushing yards.

8. Tampa Bay (8-3). Not to be a nattering nabob of negativism, but how do you fall behind Detroit 17-0?

9. Atlanta (7-4). You want to know the definition of dominance? After 20 minutes, Atlanta led the Panthers 182-0 in total yards.

10. Arizona (7-4). Tim Hightower, a popular midseason fantasy pickup, has given the Cards 22, 35 and 21 yards the last three weeks. Where art thou, Edgerrin?

11. Dallas (7-4). I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like for Tony Romo, having to pacify Terrell Owens for about two hours out of every workday.

12. Washington (7-4). Nice little NFL rushing race shaping up: Clinton Portis 1,206 yards, Adrian Peterson 1,180, Michael Turner 1,088. Portis showed up big with his aching knee in Seattle, rushing 29 times for 143 yards.

13. Carolina (8-3). Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? Talk about taking a day off.

14. Green Bay (5-5). Here comes Ryan Grant. Here comes Aaron Rodgers.

15. (tie) Miami (6-5), Chicago (6-5), Minnesota (6-5). Don't ask me. The Bears looked like the '76 Bucs last week, the '86 Bears Sunday.