NFC South: best and most baffling

For all the publicity the NFC East gets, it's the NFC South that would send three teams to the playoffs if the season were to end today. That includes the Atlanta Falcons (8-4), who already have doubled last year's victory total. The Falcons are only a game behind Tampa Bay and Carolina. If Atlanta wins the division, it would be the sixth consecutive year in which the NFC South has had a team go from worst to first. The average increase in number of victories from one year to the next has been 5.6. Atlanta goes to New Orleans (6-6) and Tampa Bay is at Carolina this week.

Amen, Leon

A week ago, the New York Jets thrashed host Tennessee, handing the Titans their first loss of the season and staking the Jets' claim as the best team in the AFC. Today? Well, let's just say a 34-17 home loss to Denver means even the Jets are now doubting themselves. "We realize we're not as good as we thought we were," said reserve running back Leon Washington. The Jets play only one team with a winning record (Miami at home), but they also have to travel to the West Coast twice in three weeks.

The Matt Cassel fairy tale is on hold after the Pats QB was spanked by Pittsburgh's No. 1-ranked defense. In one overwhelming 33-10 home loss, Cassel has gone from the surprising career backup destined to make gazillions in free agency to a more typical career backup who is in danger of being one of the reasons New England misses the playoffs for the first time since 2002. The Pats have won five consecutive AFC East titles. They've lost five games for only the third time in Bill Belichick's nine seasons in New England. In a scheduling quirk, the Patriots now play back-to-back West Coast games for the second time this season.

Giants can match Vikings' NFL mark

The Giants are enjoying one of the best winning streaks in NFL history. They've won seven in a row, including the past six against teams with winning records. The NFL record for consecutive wins over teams with winning records is seven, set by the Vikings in 1970. The Giants can match that record if they beat visiting Philadelphia (6-5-1) on Sunday. If they beat the Eagles, they can break the record the following week at Dallas (8-4).