Emerging Teams

As we head to December, several teams are beginning to emerge as Super Bowl contenders. Several teams will be tested as we head toward the postseason. Only three teams have been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs in the Browns, 49ers and Giants. Everyone else is mathematically alive but most teams only need to lose once to be eliminated. With all that being said, here is what happened in Sunday's action and the division standings, playoff positioning as well as scenarios. 

Falcons 34 Buccaneers 20
Julio Jones had 12 catches for 253 yards and two touchdowns and RB Tevin Coleman rushed for 97 yards and two touchdowns as the Falcons kept pace with the Saints with a win over Tampa Bay. Bucs RB Peyton Barber had two rushing touchdowns.

Bengals 30 Browns 16
RB Joe Mixon rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown and QB Andy Dalton threw for 214 yards and two touchdowns as the Bengals kept the Browns winless on the season. Browns QB DeShone Kizer threw for 268 yards and had a rushing touchdown in the loss.

Titans 20 Colts 16
QB Marcus Mariota threw for 184 yards and a touchdown and RB DeMarco Murray added a touchdown as the Titans got into a first place tie with Jacksonville as they took the road victory in Indianapolis. Colts RB Frank Gore rushed for 62 yards and a touchdown.

Bills 16 Chiefs 10
Tyrod Taylor threw for 183 yards and a touchdown and Stephen Hauschka kicked three field goals as the Bills upset the Chiefs at home. Chiefs QB Alex Smith threw for 199 yards and a touchdown. Kansas City has lost 5 of their last six games since they started 5-0.

Patriots 35 Dolphins 17
Tom Brady threw for 227 yards and four touchdowns and Dion Lewis rushed for 112 yards and Rex Burkhead added a touchdown as the Patriots knocked off the Dolphins to go to 9-2 on the season. Dolphins QB Matt Moore threw for 215 yards and a touchdown and Safety Rashad Jones returned a fumble for a touchdown.

Panthers 35 Jets 27
LB Luke Kuechly returned a fumble for a touchdown to turn the game around and Kaelin Clay returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown as the Panthers got the road victory in the Meadowlands over the Jets. Jets QB Josh McCown threw for 307 yards and three touchdowns.

Eagles 31 Bears 3
Carson Wentz threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns as the Eagles improved to 10-1 on the year as they knocked off the Bears. TE Zach Ertz had 10 catches for 103 yards and a touchdown in the win. Bears QB Mitch Trubisky threw for 147 yards.

Seahawks 24 49ers 13
Seahawks QB Russell Wilson threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns and also added a rushing touchdown as Seattle took the road victory over San Francisco. TE Jimmy Graham had one of the two touchdown receptions. 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo made his debut with San Francisco and threw a touchdown.

Rams 26 Saints 20
QB Jared Goff threw for 354 yards and two touchdowns and Cooper Kupp had eight catches for 116 yards as the Rams snapped the Saints eight game winning streak with a victory. Saints RB Alvin Kamara had 87 yards rushing and a touchdown. He also had six catches for 101 yards and a touchdown.

Cardinals 27 Jaguars 24
QB Blaine Gabbert threw for 241 yards and two touchdowns and Ricky Seals-Jones had four catches for 72 yards and a touchdown as the Cardinals took down the Jaguars. Jaguars QB Blake Bortles threw for 160 yards and had two rushing touchdowns.

Raiders 21 Broncos 14
QB Derek Carr threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns and Marshawn Lynch rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown as the Raiders took down the Broncos. Broncos QB Trevor Siemian threw for 149 yards and two touchdowns in the loss.

AFC
AFC East
1 Patriots 9-2
2 Bills 6-5 3 GB
3 Jets 4-7 5 GB
4 Dolphins 4-7 5 GB

AFC North
1 Steelers 9-2
2 Ravens 6-5 3 GB
3 Bengals 5-6 4 GB
4 Browns 0-11 E

AFC South
1 Titans 7-4
2 Jaguars 7-4
3 Texans 4-7 3 GB
4 Colts 3-8 4 GB

AFC West
1 Chiefs 6-5
2 Chargers 5-6 1 GB
3 Raiders 5-6 1 GB
4 Broncos 3-8 3 GB

NFC
NFC East
1 Eagles 10-1
2 Cowboys 5-6 5 GB
3 Redskins 5-6 5 GB
4 Giants 2-9 E

NFC North
1 Vikings 9-2
2 Lions 6-5 3 GB
3 Packers 5-6 4 GB
4 Bears 3-8 E

NFC South
1 Saints 8-3
2 Panthers 8-3
3 Falcons 7-4 1 GB
4 Buccaneers 4-7 4 GB

NFC West
1 Rams 8-3
2 Seahawks 7-4 1 GB
3 Cardinals 5-6 3 GB
4 49ers 1-10 E

AFC
1 Steelers 9-2
2 Patriots 9-2
3 Titans 7-4
4 Chiefs 6-5

5 Jaguars 7-4
6 Bills 6-5

In the Hunt
Ravens 6-5
Bengals 5-6 1 GB
Chargers 5-6 1 GB
Raiders 5-6 1 GB
Texans 4-7 2 GB
Jets 4-7 2 GB
Dolphins 4-7 2 GB
Broncos 3-8 3 GB
Colts 3-8 3 GB

NFC
1 Eagles 10-1
2 Vikings 9-2
3 Rams 8-3
4 Saints 8-3

5 Panthers 8-3
6 Falcons 7-4

In the Hunt
Seahawks 7-4
Lions 6-5 1 GB
Packers 5-6 2 GB
Cowboys 5-6 2 GB
Redskins 5-6 2 GB
Cardinals 5-6 2 GB
Buccaneers 4-7 3 GB
Bears 3-8 4 GB

Scenarios:
Eagles can clinch the division with a win or a Cowboys loss to the Redskins on Thursday night.