It's December, which means it's time for players, coaches, former players, former coaches and NFL analysts from Seattle to Miami to tell us just how important December is in the National Football League (these are people who never just say "NFL." It's always "National Football League.")

One could also argue that the earlier months are just as important since, after all, 13 teams were dead in the water as December dawned. But for this post, we'll focus on those teams that do indeed head into the most important month of the season. These are the teamson the doorstep of the playoff picture. They aren't in yet, but they aren't out of it with five games remaining.

In the AFC, there are six teams within one game of the sixth and final seed. That includes the defending champion Steelers and Ravens, who have the same record (6-5) as current No. 6 seed Jacksonville (does anybody, including the few fans in Jacksonville, the worst NFL fan base, really believe in the Jaguars right now?)

In the NFC, the picture is a whole lot clearer. Only two teams are within a game of the current No. 6 seed, Philadelphia. The Eagles are 7-4, while the Falcons and Giants are 6-5. Atlanta will be without QB Matt Ryan (turf toe) against Philly this week, while the Giants hobble into a game against the Cowboys with QB Eli Manning battling the painful plantar fasciitis. (I don't play QB in the NFL, but I did have plantar faciitis for about a year once. Waking up every morning feeling like your foot is broken can't be good for the passer rating).

Here are the six teams chasing the Jaguars and Broncos (7-4) in the AFC wild-card race. And speaking of the Broncos, don't look for them to collapse from here on out. Not with two games remaining against Kansas City and one against Oakland:

Ravens (6-5): They beat the Steelers Sunday and could knock them out for good with a win at Pittsburgh on Dec. 27. They have a tough game at Green Bay on Monday night, but follow with home games against the Lions and Bears. They also have a season finale at Oakland. I'd give the Ravens a better shot at making the playoffs than the Steelers.

Steelers (6-5): They should get Ben Roethlisberger back against Oakland. Then they play the Browns, which means they will be 8-5 in two weeks. The two games after that -- home games against the Packers and Ravens -- will determine their fate, probably. Will there be any fallout from Hines Ward suggesting the team is divided in its support of Roethlisberger's decision to sit out last Sunday's game because of a concussion? No. It's being overblown.

Dolphins (5-6): I like this team, but not as much without Ronnie Brown. I think Sunday's blowout loss to Buffalo sunk Miami as a playoff hopeful.

Tennessee (5-6): The hottest team in the league along with San Diego. The Titans are 5-0 since an 0-6 start, and have the exact amount of confidence to win at Indy this week. After that, it's three consecutive home games and a season finale at Seattle.

Jets (5-6): Don't know about you, but I can't see Mark Sanchez leading this team to the playoffs. Funny how in a year when everyone questions whether the Packers should have let Favre go we don't hear much about the Jets' decision to move on. I guess you can't blame them considering how his arm fell apart last year. But you have to believe the Jets would be in the playoff picture if they had Favre. And Sanchez could have watched him operate for a year.

Texans (5-6): I like this team, too, but the scars of not being able to get past Indy might be too much to carry.

In the NFC, I'll list the three teams within two games of the Eagles (7-4). Looking at this sad sack of teams, you have to think the Packers, who are currently the fifth seed at 7-4, will make the playoffs.

Falcons (6-5): I don't like their chances. Ryan is beat up and just not playing as well as he did last year. And RB Michael Turner can't stay healthy.

Giants (6-5): Don't like their chances either. Eli is hobbling. The defense isn't as dominant as it once was. And the remaining schedule is too tough.

49ers (5-6): I like their chances better than the Falcons and Giants. Three of their final five games are against Seattle, Detroit and St. Louis.

So I'd say the two sleeper teams to watch are Tennessee in the AFC and San Francisco in the NFC.