San Diego Chargers | 14-2 | 1 / 9 | 35-27 at Denver | 30-27 at Kansas City |
Positive: They enter the playoffs on a 10-game win streak and with the game's best RB.
Negative: They enter the postseason with little postseason experience.
C |
Baltimore Ravens | 13-3 | 2 / 13 | 16-13 vs. San Diego | 23-21 vs. Carolina |
Positive: Baltimore can boast that it has beaten San Diego.
Negative: That win was at home; San Diego has home-field advantage in the playoffs.
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New England Patriots | 12-4 | 3 / 8 | 17-10 vs. Chicago | 21-0 at Miami |
Positive: Tom Brady is winning with millions of dollars in cap space.
Negative: Tom Brady in winning with millions of dollars in cap space.
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Chicago Bears | 13-3 | 1 / 5 | 37-6 vs. Seattle | 31-13 vs. Miami |
Positive: Soldier Field is hosting important football games again.
Negative: Rex Grossman is the quarterback for those games.
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Indianapolis Colts | 12-4 | 1/ 7 | 27-20 at New England | 27-24 at Houston |
Positive: Peyton Manning runs one of the most efficient offenses in history.
Negative: Peyton Manning doesn't run the defense.
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Philadelphia Eagles | 10-6 | 6 / 19 | 23-7 at Dallas | 23-21 at Tampa Bay |
Positive: Philly went 5-1 vs. the NFC East this year.
Negative: The loss was to the Giants at home; the Eagles host New York on Sunday.
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New Orleans Saints | 10-6 | 4 / 14 | 42-17 at Dallas | 31-21 vs. Carolina |
Positive: The franchise is relevant again and the city is rejuvenated.
Negative: The franchise hasn't won anything yet and the city wants it all.
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New York Jets | 10-6 | 8 / 19 | 17-14 at New England | 20-13 at Cleveland |
Positive: Eric Mangini looks to be the coach to turn this franchise around.
Negative: The Jets' playoff run will be overshadowed by that other NY/NJ team.
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Dallas Cowboys | 9-7 | 5 / 18 | 23-20 at NY Giants | 39-31 vs. Detroit |
Positive: Tony Romo looks to be the quarterback of the future.
Negative: The Cowboys won one of their last four games.
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Kansas City Chiefs | 9-7 | 7 / 19 | 30-27 vs. San Diego | 45-7 at Pittsburgh |
Positive: Division-rival Denver handed them a playoff berth.
Negative: Their playoff game will not be played at Arrowhead Stadium.
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Seattle Seahawks | 9-7 | 9 / 17 | 23-20 at Denver | 24-14 vs. San Francisco |
Positive: They host a downtrodden Dallas team in the first round.
Negative: Dallas -- if it decides to show up -- is a better football team.
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New York Giants | 8-8 | 2 / 19 | 34-28 at Washington | 24-21 at Tennessee |
Positive: They play in the NFC, where average is one of the best.
Negative: They're still not on speaking terms with their fans.
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Jacksonville Jaguars | 8-8 | 6 / 17 | 44-17 vs. Indianapolis | 27-7 at Houston |
Positive: As Fred Taylor gets older, Maurice Jones-Drew will get more carries.
Negative: The Jags need a quarterback to complement their running backs.
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Tennessee Titans | 8-8 | 13 / 31 | 20-17 vs. Indianapolis | 27-26 vs. Baltimore |
Positive: Vince Young may not do it pretty, but he gets W's.
Negative: If Young doesn't win it for them, the Titans have trouble winning.
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Cincinnati Bengals | 8-8 | 5 / 17 | 13-7 vs. Baltimore | 24-23 at Denver |
Positive: Carson Palmer to Chad Johnson will be a lethal combination for years.
Negative: In case you hadn't heard, some Bengals have off-the-field problems.
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Denver Broncos | 9-7 | 3 / 18 | 24-23 vs. Cincinnati | 26-23 vs. San Francisco |
Positive: Jay Cutler has the arm Denver's been missing since John Elway.
Negative: The devastating loss of Champ Bailey-protégé Darrent Williams.
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