prime spots in the 2014 NFL Draft

Last week removed any questions about which teams were the best in the AFC and the NFC. Peyton Manning and the Broncos picked apart the Chiefs defense just as Alex Smith and the offense were finding their groove. On Monday, the Seahawks, without Walter Thurmond and Brandon Browner, stomped the Saints and held Drew Brees to just 147 passing yards.

The scramble for the other five playoff spots in each conference continued, and so did positioning for prime spots in the 2014 NFL Draft. The top two spots this week are unchanged, but there was plenty of movement down the order over last week's rankings.


1. Seattle Seahawks

If Drew Brees plays until he's 45, he might not have another game that bad. The three remaining clean-peeing members of the Legion of Boom got down and dirty against the Saints, teaming with a ferocious pass rush and tremendous linebacker coverage to thwart New Orleans at every turn in the season's most dominant defensive display. Not to be outdone, Russell Wilson turned in a virtuoso performance. His pocket presence embodies John Wooden's old "Be quick, but don't hurry" mantra as well as any NBA'er ever has. It's looking extremely unlikely that anyone but Seattle will lay claim to the NFC's #1 seed - and just as unlikely that anyone can make a playoff trip to the Clink and come out a winner. (Last Week: 1)

2. Denver Broncos

Peyton Manning was cool and efficient in a warmer stadium, spinning his Big Wheel O' Weapons and settling on Eric Decker. Decker hazed rookie corner Marcus Cooper, and the Chiefs safeties were hamstrung by the Broncos' multiple targets and Manning's Hall of Fame eye discipline. Denver's pass defense can be exploited, but few teams can exploit it well enough to keep up with Manning. (Last Week: 2)

3. Carolina Panthers

NFL Week 13


Highlights from Sunday
Takeaways: Panthers, Bengals rolling
Current NFL playoff picture
Scores from around the league
Sunday Night Football
Giants beat Redskins, 24-17
Refs cost Redskins comeback chance
Jeff Triplette mimes call
Saints-Seahawks
Beatdown in Seattle
Fans cause mini earthquake
Guinness crowd noise record set
After stumbling past the Dolphins last week, Carolina showed some more consistent focus in methodically crushing the life from the Buccaneers. This team is starting to feel a lot like the 1999 Tennessee Titans squad that made it to the Super Bowl. The offense isnt explosive, exactly, but keeping them from gaining ten yards in three downs is easier said than done. Like those Titans, the Panthers defense is tough, stingy and mistake-free. It remains to be seen if Cam Newton can keep playing Steve McNair AND Eddie George against playoff-caliber competition, but if hes up to the challenge the Panthers have the physicality to deploy the Jets and Seahawks beat-em-up tactics against the Saints and capture a first-round bye. (Last Week: 4)

4. New England Patriots

They made things a lot more interesting than their fans would have liked, but the Pats finally dispatched Houston to move to 9-3 and keep a leg up on the competition for the AFCs No. 2 seed. Gronk as Goliath, Julian Edelman as gadfly and Shane Vereen as an Aaron Hernandez-style mismatch generator is a combination that could keep clicking for Tom Brady. The defense may just have to endure 100-yard rushers from here on in, but if Aqib Talib and Alfonzo Dennard are healthy come playoff time then the Pats could make a deep run. (Last Week: 5)

5. San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco returned the Rams to a familiar place - the NFC West cellar - while welcoming back a familiar face in Michael Crabtree. Crabtree looked to have a hitch in his gitalong - inevitable for a guy barely six months out from Achilles surgery - but he's already a massive upgrade over anything else the Niners have trotted out alongside Boldin and Davis. They may still be one weapon short of matching up with the Seahawks, but if the L.O.B. gets caught with any more P.E.D.s things could get very interesting. (Last Week: 9)

6. New Orleans Saints

Seattle blows out New Orleans on Monday Night Football


? Recap: Seattle wins 34-7, takes control of NFC ? Russell Wilson makes his case for MVP Award ? Seattle fans cause mini-earthquake during Seahawks-Saints ? Fred Couples raises the 12th man flag
For all their achievements on both sides of the ball this season, the questions continue to mount regarding the Saint's Super Bowl bona fides. Questions whether they can turn in a road performance that even approaches their work in the friendly confines of the Superdome. Questions about whether they can consistently stand up to physical punishment. And real questions about whether they can do both at the same time - questions which will loom large in their Week 16 trip to Carolina and even larger should their playoff path bring them back to CenturyLink Field. (Last Week: 3)

7. Cincinnati Bengals

The Chargers' defense has been exploited so often that it has its own human rights case worker, but Andy Dalton - his October hot streak a distant memory - could get nothing going for most of the day. Dalton nearly hospitalized AJ Green with one throw before finally finding him hilariously uncovered in the end zone. Fortunately for the Bengals, their own D is made of sterner stuff and was able to stymie Philip Rivers and his precision passing game. The Bengals' ascent to 8-4 without Geno Atkins and Leon Hall - and with Dalton - is a testament to a really stacked roster. (Last Week: 6)

8. Detroit Lions

After a couple of foible-filled weeks, the Lions finally got the win that should let them breathe easy in the NFC North. Reggie Bush atoned for an early fumble to absolutely torch the Packers for 172 combined yards, and Matt Stafford hit the usual suspects (Bush, Megatron) and some extremely unusual suspects (Kevin Ogletree? Jeremy Ross????) en route to a Fantasy-friendly 330 yard, 3 TD day. The Lions' defensive front hasn't posted gaudy sack numbers, but they've been stout against the run and can absolutely massacre a subpar OL. So, if you're a member of a subpar OL, take a lesson from Josh Sitton and don't spend all game week poking them with a stick. (Last Week: 10)

9. Kansas City Chiefs

After more than half a season of dinking and dunking, the Chiefs have finally opened up their passing attack. Unfortunately it's been out of necessity, as they've suddenly lost their ability to shut down opposing passing attacks. Sean Smith, Marcus Cooper and even Brandon Flowers took turns getting torched, and it's becoming less certain that they can thrive in the absence of an A+ pass rush. Hurry back, Justin Houston. (Last Week: 5)

10. Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinal Crescendo jangled into discord against the Eagles. The duct-tape-and-bailing-wire offensive line finally gave out against Brandon Graham and Trent Cole, and it didnt help that Carson Palmer decided to impersonate Lamar from Revenge of the Nerds on a couple of deep balls to wide open receivers. It wasnt a terrible loss from the standpoint of opponent quality, but any loss is extremely damaging given the Wild Card pace being set by the 49ers/Saints/Panthers troika. Anything short of a 3-1 finish with a win over San Francisco could leave the Cards with little to show for their surprising season. (Last Week: 8)