19. Houston Texans (5-8 LW 23)

Lee Russakoff's NFL Power Rankings

Someone is going to have to explain this Matt Schaub cat to me. He looks all-world in the fourth quarter and rallies the Texans to an improbable comeback, and then he gets to OT and starts throwing lollipops out of his own end zone? (AP Photo/Dave Einsel)

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Week 15 NFL Powe... When all is said and done, we may just look back on Week 14 as "Separation Week." A time when the contenders (Patriots, Falcons, Steelers, Eagles, Saints, Chargers) stood up and the pretenders (Jets, Chiefs, Bears, Packers, Rams) sat down. The again, two weeks from now we may just swap the two lists. That's the great thing about this league: Just when you think you know, you don't know.
32. Carolina Pan... I love that the controversy in Carolina is about who QB Jimmy Clausen apologizes to. "If you're going to apologize, you know, you should apologize to the people in the huddle with you," Steve Smith said after Clausen apologized to LB Jon Beason for his play. "He has a lot to learn. He ain't at Notre Dame anymore that's for sure." It’s a good point, Steve. Notre Dame was never this bad. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
31. Cincinnati B... Sure, Terrell. The coaches are to blame. Entirely. With so many team-first players in Cincy, it couldn’t be anything else. At least the fans will have their popcorn ready. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
30. Denver Bronc... So much for it all being Josh McDaniels’ fault. Say what you want about McDaniels, his team never quit on him at the end of the game like it quit against Arizona. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
29. Minnesota Vi... Since you’re already asking the fans for help, you might as well see if any of them has ever played quarterback. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
28. Washington R... You know what? Shanahan’s a coward. You’re really going to blame Hunter Smith for your “culture”? Maybe you ought to try to score on third-and-goal from the 12 before you go blaming your punter for the team’s loser mentality. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
27. Tennessee Ti... The final score looked close. But the only people who care about that are losers and the sick degenerates who had Indy -3.5. (I will neither confirm nor deny whether I am one of those sick degenerates.) (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
26. Cleveland Br... The team may be below-average, but the fans are exceptional.(AP Photo/David Duprey)
25. Buffalo Bill... "We've been in a position to win a lot of times and we didn't make the plays happen,” Kyle Williams said. “Today, if we turned the ball over, we got it right back. And that was big for us." Sure, Kyle’s missing the point that it’s easier to not turn the ball over in the first place … but the Bills won! Let’s give him this one. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
24. Arizona Card... OK, here we go. The four NFC West teams in the order they will finish. Though I’m secretly hoping for a four-way 7-9 tie. It could happen. ‘Zona wins out (@CAR, DAL, @SF), San Fran goes 2-1, losing to ARI (@SD, @ STL, ARI), Seattle goes 1-2, beating STL (ATL, @TAM, STL) and St. Louis goes 1-2, beating KC (KC, SF, @SEA). Sure it’s unlikely. But it’s hilariously possible.(AP Photo/Paul Connors)
23. Seattle Seah... There’s no doubt in my mind, Seattle will need to beat St. Louis at home to get to seven wins … and if the ‘Hawks can do that, they’ll still need help to make the playoffs. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
22. San Francisc... Ahh… the NFC West where a 5-8 team’s QB can say, "It's playoff mode right now. It was a must-win game. We knew that all week –our backs against the wall" and not get laughed at. But honestly, even if the Niners lose this week to San Diego, they’re in great shape. If they win their last two (@ STL, ARI), they’d have a 5-1 division record and win all tiebreakers. Yeah, that's right. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
21. St. Louis Ra... "I've got to be better when we're down there and I've got to be smarter with the football," Sam Bradford said about his two INTs deep in Saints territory. "I just can't make those mistakes." Don’t be too hard on yourself, Sam. Luckily, you’re in the NFC West. They set the bar much lower out there. I think the Rams are going to need to beat San Francisco and Seattle back-to-back to win this thing. And I think they’re going to do just that. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
20. Detroit Lion... Sure it took an Aaron Rodgers concussion to make it happen, but the Lions’ 20-game division losing streak is over. Huzzah. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
19. Houston Texa... Someone is going to have to explain this Matt Schaub cat to me. He looks all-world in the fourth quarter and rallies the Texans to an improbable comeback, and then he gets to OT and starts throwing lollipops out of his own end zone? (AP Photo/Dave Einsel)
18. Dallas Cowbo... Leave Tashard Choice alone. He’s the next Emmitt Smith, remember? (AP Photo/Sharon Ellman)
17. Oakland Raid... Time to officially un-sew the bust label off of Darren McFadden’s back. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
16. Miami Dolphi... Imagine how good this team would be if it played all 16 on the road… also, Sal Alosi, C’mon Man. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
15. Kansas City ... Week 14 Lesson: If your back up QB is 0-9 all-time as a starter, get a new backup QB. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
14. Green Bay Pa... As if losing a game to the Lions and Aaron Rodgers to a concussion weren’t bad enough, the Packers – who have at times this season looked like the best team in the NFC – go into New England behind the playoff eight ball . (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
13. Indianapolis... I know everyone thinks Peyton and the Colts are back on track, but beware of Jacksonville. Thirteen of the last 17 games between these two have been decided by a TD or less. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
12. Tampa Bay Bu... If Raheem Morris has a sense of humor, he picks up Hunter Smith this week. Come on, Raheem, we’re all counting on you. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
11. Chicago Bear... I’d love to blame the snow and give you guys a mulligan … but you’re supposed to be the cold-weather, hard-nosed football team. Also, that Deion Branch TD to end the half was just plain inexcusable. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
10. Jacksonville... My cluelessness about the Jags is not improving. As such, I give you Keith from Jacksonville’s take: 8-5 and a probable win-and-in scenario at Indy this week. However, Jack Del Rio may want to keep his resume fresh just in case. (AP Photo/Paul Abell)
9. New York Jets... The Jets shouldn’t be suspending Sal Alosi, they should be thanking him. ANYTHING that takes the focus off the on-field play over the last two games should be welcomed. (AP Photo)
8. San Diego Cha... The Chargers outgained the Chiefs 426 yards to 67. Read that again. This team is winning out (SF, @CIN, @DEN). But will 10-6 be good enough? (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
7. New York Gian... I’m as excited for Eagles-Giants as the next guy … but “to dog Vick”? Really? Don’t write that. It reflects poorly on everyone.(AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
6. Baltimore Rav... Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.(AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
5. Philadelphia ... Michael: You were doing so well with the whole “redemption song.” And then you go and say this. I get the point, and I dig that you want a pet, but maybe talking about it publicly isn’t the best PR move. Why can’t you be more like DeSean. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
4. New Orleans S... If the Saints ever let the salt-and-peppered Roman Harper live this down, they aren’t the championship locker room I thought they were. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
3. Pittsburgh St... As good as Troy Polamlu is (and he’s the best), you can’t win consistently when a safety is your most potent offensive weapon. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
2. Atlanta Falco... Uh oh. When articles like this pop up, often reality is diametrically opposed to the headline. (AP Photo/John Amis)
1. New England P... This is what I’m talking about New England. Embrace it. (AP Photo)