ShareThisThree best performances from last week:
QB Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys. This guy takes a lot of grief, even on this page on occasion. But when he plays like he did Sunday, he deserves applause. Putting the whole Terrell Owens-Jason Witten soap opera behind him, Romo was hit hard several times but went 20-of-30 for 244 yards and two touchdowns as the Cowboys kept their playoff hopes going by knocking off the defending champs.
WR Andre Johnson, Houston Texans. This is our pick for the best wide receiver on the planet. Teams build game plans around stopping Houston's big weapon, and Johnson still goes crazy each week. In Houston's upset of the Titans, he caught 11 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown. He leads the league in catches (103) and yards (1,408). By the way, Houston has won four in a row and is 7-7.
WR Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers. This is our pick for the second-best wide receiver on the planet. And another guy who manages to make big catch after big catch even though the other team knows he's going to get the ball. Smith caught nine passes for 165 yards and a score as Carolina ran over the Broncos 30-10.
Three teams on the rise
Indianapolis Colts. While everyone is talking about the Titans and Steelers in the AFC, the Colts have quietly become the conference's hottest team. They stretched their win streak to seven Sunday. And just to remind everyone: They beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh this season. Remember in the 2005 season when the Steelers sneaked into the playoffs then won the Super Bowl? The Colts are starting to remind us of that type of under-the-radar team.
Pittsburgh Steelers. In the past three weeks, the Steelers have beaten the New England Patriots, Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens -- teams who all now have 9-5 records -- to run their win streak to five. The Steelers aren't winning pretty, but the defense is dominating. The unit has yet to allow an opponent 300 yards in a game, and despite the Colts' win streak and the Titans' record, this has become the team to beat in the AFC.
Carolina Panthers. It's not just that the Panthers have won three in a row and seven of eight, it's how the Panthers are winning. They destroyed Denver on Sunday. They wiped out Tampa Bay last week. If they can win out, they would have home field advantage in the playoffs and finish 8-0 at home this season. Right now, is there anyone in the NFC who looks better than Carolina?
Three teams on the decline
New York Giants. Two weeks ago, this appeared to be the hands-down, no-doubt-about-it favorite to win it all. But after losing back-to-back games to Philadelphia and Dallas, the Giants are in danger of not even being the No. 1 seed in the NFC. This is New York's first two-game losing streak since the first two games of the 2007 season.
Tampa Bay Bucs. Ever seen a team go from so high to so low in a six-day span? Just the other day, it seemed, the Bucs were 9-3 and had a decent shot of playing at home through the Super Bowl. But now they're 9-5 and better get it in gear if they even hope to make the playoffs. The most disturbing part is they have given up nearly 500 rushing yards total in the past two games and look miles behind the Giants and Panthers in the NFC race.
New York Jets. The Jets still control their destiny in the AFC East, but you can't like the way they are playing. After losing to Denver and San Francisco, the Jets should have lost Sunday but needed another Miracle at the Meadowlands to survive against a Bills team that has lost seven of eight. They're not exactly headed to the postseason with momentum. Fortunately, they get Seattle this week to get back on track.
Three big games this weekend:
Steelers at Tennessee Titans. The Steelers' brutal schedule continues, and this game could decide where the AFC Championship Game is played. If the Steelers win their final two, they will host the AFC title game if they advance that far. If the Titans win, they will have home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Panthers at Giants. Another game that could settle home field throughout the playoffs. Both teams are 11-3, but Carolina comes in red-hot, while the Giants are ice-cold. The game is in New York, and that should favor the Giants. The Panthers are 3-3 on the road, while the Giants are 6-1 at home.
Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings. A game that neither team can afford to lose. The Falcons are trying to hang in the NFC wild-card race, while Vikings are trying to nail down the NFC North crown, as well as the No. 3 seed in the playoffs.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service www.scrippsnews.com)
ColumnMust credit St. Petersburg Times
