Dirty dozen
The top six and the bottom six heading into Week 16:
| Team | Comment |
| 1. Pittsburgh (13-1) | Close call in N.Y., but a win is a win |
| 2. Philadelphia (13-1) | What next without T.O.? |
| 3. Indianapolis (11-3) | Manning and Dungy are a class act |
| 4. San Diego (11-3) | Could be a playoff surprise |
| 5. New England (12-2) | Didn’t play Patriots football in Miami |
| 6. Atlanta (11-3) | One of two legitimate NFC contenders |
| 27. Miami (3-11) | Moving up. Jim Bates deserved a shot at coaching job |
| 28. Tennessee (4-10) | An unaccustomed spot for the Titans |
| 29. N.Y. Giants (5-9) | Better against Pitt, Eli most of all |
| 30. St. Louis (6-8) | Bulger makes a difference |
| 31. San Francisco (2-12) | Last or next-to-last. Take your pick |
| 32. Cleveland (3-11) | Ditto |
Source: Associated Press