LOSERS TO WINNERS

1 There were 12 teams with losing records last season. Two of them -- the Browns and Buccaneers -- have clinched winning records this season. And two others -- the Vikings and Redskins -- can do so with victories Sunday. Meanwhile, there were 12 teams with winning records last season. Four of them -- the Jets, Ravens, Chiefs and Bears -- had clinched losing records heading into Monday night's game. A fifth team, the Broncos, was 9-7 last season and went into Monday night's game at San Diego with a 6-8 record. And two more of them -- the Eagles and Saints -- would finish under .500 with a loss Sunday. The Bucs are the only division winner to go from worst to first. Three teams -- the Ravens, Eagles and defending NFC champion Bears -- went from first to worst within their divisions.

NOT ALL GOOD NEWS FOR PATS

2 Yeah, New England is the first team to be 15-0 in the regular season. But Sunday wasn't a complete success for the greatest team in league history. After all, the 49ers upset visiting Tampa Bay for their fifth victory, dropping at least temporarily out of the top five in next year's NFL draft. Why does that matter to the Pats? Because they own the 49ers' first-round pick in 2008 as part of this year's draft-day trade in which the 49ers ended up picking tackle Joe Staley No. 28 overall. So, yes, the great will get even better next April, even though the NFL took New England's first-round pick as part of the punishment for "Spygate." Heading into the final week of the regular season, the 49ers -- or we should say the Patriots -- have the eighth pick in next year's draft. Based on records and strength-of-schedule tabulations, San Francisco can climb no higher than fifth.

CARL PETERSON IN RARE COMPANY

3 Speaking of the draft, Carl Peterson heads into his 20th one as the Chiefs' top personnel man. Only twice in his first 19 years were the Chiefs bad enough to get a top-10 pick. And the highest was a No. 4 when Peterson was first hired in 1989. He took outstanding linebacker Derrick Thomas that year. At 4-11 this season, the Chiefs are in the top eight with a slim chance of playing Peterson into a top-two pick for the first time. Miami and new boss Bill Parcells have clinched the No. 1 pick. The Jets, Rams and Falcons are next at 3-12, followed by three 4-11 teams, including the Chiefs. The Chiefs would need to lose, have the Jets, Rams and Falcons win and then have the weakest strength of schedule among those teams.

HAVE QB, WILL START

4 Last year, Troy Smith won the Heisman Trophy. Sunday, he became the record 61st quarterback to start a game during the same season. His Ravens lost 27-6 to Seattle as Smith completed 16 of 33 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown. There's a chance the record could reach at least 62 when the No. 1 overall pick, Oakland's JaMarcus Russell, starts at home against San Diego in the season finale. "If you have more than one quarterback, chances are you're going to end up using those other guys at some point in the NFL," Browns General Manager Phil Savage said.