NFL power rankings

NFL POWER RANKINGS

AFTER MONDAY NIGHT GAME

1. New England (14-0)

2. Indianapolis (12-2)

3. Green Bay (12-2)

4. Dallas (12-2)

5. Jacksonville (10-4)

6. San Diego (9-5)

7. Cleveland (9-5)

8. Tampa Bay (9-5)

9. Pittsburgh (9-5)

10. Tennessee (8-6)

11. Vikings (8-6)

12. Seattle (9-5)

13. Houston (7-7)

14. New Orleans (7-7)

15. Washington (7-7)

16. Giants (9-5)

17. Philadelphia (6-8)

18. Buffalo (7-7)

19. Carolina (6-8)

20. Arizona (6-8)

21. Chicago (5-9)

22. Denver (6-8)

23. Oakland (4-10)

24. Jets (3-11)

25. San Francisco (4-10)

26. Cincinnati (5-9)

27. Detroit (6-8)

28. Kansas City (4-10)

29. St. Louis (3-11)

30. Baltimore (4-10)

31. Atlanta (3-11)

32. Miami (1-13)

JAGUARS BUILT FOR SNOW

1 This could be the third time in six seasons since realignment that an AFC South team goes 12-4, loses the division to Indianapolis and has to open the playoffs as a wild-card team at a cold-weather division champion with a worse record. Tennessee did it in 2003, winning at Baltimore (10-6). Jacksonville did it in 2005, losing 28-3 at New England (10-6). And the Jaguars (10-4) are facing the possibility yet again after the Colts clinched the division Sunday. Jags coach Jack Del Rio is better prepared this time, having built his team to resemble a rugged Northern contender with a strong run defense, an even stronger running game and a careful quarterback (David Garrard). That's the reason Jacksonville upset the Steelers at snowy Pittsburgh on Sunday. And that's why the Jaguars could be in good shape for a January rematch in Pittsburgh or a trip to Cleveland.

8-0 HAD BEEN AWHILE

2 On Nov. 10, 1929, the Minneapolis Red Jackets lost 8-0 to the host Chicago Cardinals. The NFL went another 78 years without an 8-0 final until Sunday, when the Browns beat the Bills in a snowstorm in Cleveland. A lot has changed since then. For example, in 1929, former Gophers All-America player George Gibson worked as an assistant coach for the Gophers and the Red Jackets. According to footballresearch.com, which posted an article based on a 1991 interview Gibson did with the Midland (Texas) Reporter Telegram, Gibson was the assistant line coach at the U and moonlighted most mornings with the local NFL team. After a 1-9 season in 1929, Red Jackets owners Jack Dunn and Van Ness hired Gibson as a player-coach.

COUGHLIN FALLS AGAIN AT HOME

3 So you like the Patriots, and you're worried about that season-ending trip to Giants Stadium a week from Saturday? Relax. With Sunday's loss to Washington, Tom Coughlin is 2-5 at home in December as Giants head coach. He's 3-6 at home in December and January combined, and 9-11 in all games played in December and January. So the Pats (14-0) are safe, assuming they slip past the Dolphins (1-13) this week.

BE CAREFUL BETTING THE COLTS

4 The Colts typically have nothing tangible left to play for heading into the final two weeks of the season. That's the case again this year. They've clinched the AFC's second seed and cannot catch the Patriots. In his first five seasons as Colts coach, Tony Dungy is a combined 55-15 during the first 14 games of a season, and a combined 5-5 during the last two games of a regular season. The Colts finish at home against Houston and Tennessee, two teams still fighting for a playoff spot in the AFC.

MARK CRAIG