SN's correspondents take a look at each team in the AFC:
AFC East
Tim Tebow brings some hope to Denver despite another loss. SN's team of correspondents looks at that and other Week 15 news around the AFC. Buffalo Bills
The Bills have been waiting for someone to give them a consistent pass rush, so the emergence of rookie OLB Arthur Moats is encouraging. Moats has 2 1/2 sacks in the last two games and three for the season. That doesn’t seem like much until you consider he spent half the season at inside linebacker. The coaches initially thought he was a better fit inside even though he was a defensive end at James Madison. Once the coaches put him where he’s more comfortable, he began to flash the pass-rush skills that earned him the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defender in Division I-AA last year. Moats (6-0, 250) has good quickness off the edge and uses his strength and low center of gravity to gain leverage vs. offensive tackles. He still is a work in progress vs. the run and shedding blockers at the point of attack. OLB Aaron Maybin is a ’09 first-round bust, so stealing Moats in the ’10 sixth round could balance that draft equation. — Allen Wilson
Miami Dolphins
For most of the season, K Dan Carpenter had been the team’s MVP. He had been the consistent force on a team that has far too often settled for field goals. So when even Carpenter couldn’t get it done Sunday, missing four long field-goal attempts, it spelled the end of any legitimate shot at the playoffs. Miami’s dismal season reached another low point, this time on a day when its always-reliable kicker couldn’t get it done, either. Miami’s offense will require a serious makeover in the coming months, particularly when it comes to figuring out a way to make this offense more electric and less reliant on the kicker. ... The defense again gave Miami a good chance to win. The unit, which has been particularly solid vs. the run, again halted another opponent. On 18 carries, the Bills rushed for just 55 yards, a credit to ILBs Karlos Dansby and Channing Crowder. If the Dolphins can return this group on defense and figure out their issues on offense, they could be good next year. — Jeff Darlington
New England Patriots
For most of a potential magical ’10 season, the Patriots avoided key mistakes and costly penalties. It was one reason they took a five-game winning streak into Sunday’s game vs. Green Bay. Yet as they showed Sunday night, the margin of error is not as large as some may have thought—even with the Patriots eclipsing 30 points in each of the previous five weeks. Mainly, it was the penalties that stung the Patriots. An offsides penalty by NT Vince Wilfork prolonged a 14-play, 82-yard drive that put the Packers up 17-7 before halftime. That drive also included an unnecessary roughness penalty on CB Devin McCourty and a pass-interference penalty on S James Sanders. On the Packers TD drive to start the third quarter, Wilfork’s facemask penalty sprung Green Bay. That can’t continue. ... S Brandon Meriweather has found himself in the dog house once again. In the first half, he knocked into McCourty on a long catch-and-run to Packers WR James Jones, creating an open field for the 61-yard TD. With too many missed tackles, Meriweather has found himself replaced often by Sanders or Jarrad Page. — Ian R. Rapoport
New York Jets
Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and QB Mark Sanchez both had been feeling the heat after the Jets’ 10-6 loss to Miami, and both redeemed themselves Sunday at Pittsburgh. Schottenheimer called an excellent game, keeping Pittsburgh off-balance with runs and rollout passes, and Sanchez snapped a streak of eight games in which he had thrown at least one interception. Schottenheimer made good use of Sanchez’s mobility by rarely making him a sitting duck for Pittsburgh’s excellent edge pass rushers and used Sanchez’s feet to his best advantage on the 7-yard TD bootleg run off a play-action fake of a line plunge by RB Shonn Greene. ... Reserve CB Drew Coleman had an unusual game. Although he was burned in coverage several times, he was credited with 10 tackles, including two sack/strips. Coleman is not good covering receivers but is a sure special-teams tackler and is excellent at blitzing the QB. — J.P. Pelzman
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Running the ball is a key for teams in December, and the Ravens finally had a signature game. The Ravens ran the ball 39 times compared to 20 passes vs. the Saints. RB Ray Rice, who struggled with injuries early in the season, looked like his old self gaining 153 yards on 31 carries. He also had five catches for 80 yards. The Ravens tried to mount a strong running game last week vs. Houston by moving Oniel Cousins to right tackle, Marshal Yanda to right guard and putting RG Chris Chester as a tight end on many runs. On Sunday, they went back to the old lineup with Yanda at right tackle, Chester at guard and Cousins on the bench. This game could be a turning point because the coaches took the ball out of Joe Flacco’s hands and put it in the hands of their best offensive player, Rice. ... KR David Reed sustained a concussion and did not play in the second half Sunday. This could be a big loss because the Ravens’ return game had performed well in the last month. Jalen Parmele will fill in but lacks Reed’s speed and acceleration. — Mike Preston
Cincinnati Bengals
It took nearly the entire season, but the Bengals finally found their identity. They stayed committed to the run vs. Cleveland and ended a 10-game losing streak. RB Cedric Benson’s performance (31 carries, 150 yards, TD) gave him consecutive 1,000-yard seasons for the first time in his six-year career and offered a glimmer of hope for a turnaround in ’11. Led by LT Andrew Whitworth, the line blocked more aggressively and controlled the line of scrimmage, using good leverage to get a push up front. Among Benson’s strengths are his patience and balance. He waits for blocks to unfold, then uses his speed, quickness and power to accelerate through openings and finish runs. ... WR Terrell Owens (torn cartilage in left knee) is expected to be placed on I.R. His return to the team in ’11 is doubtful because third-year WRs Andre Caldwell and Jerome Simpson deserve more playing time. — Chick Ludwig
Cleveland Browns
QB Colt McCoy’s numbers Sunday, his first start in four weeks because of a high ankle sprain, were much more impressive than the offense he directed. Continuity problems, which have had the Browns near the bottom of the league in yards and points all year, continued. McCoy started fast Sunday, hit a long lull, then had the poise to muster drives at the end to make it a game. McCoy still can be bothered into sacks, ineffective short completions and near-interceptions by the blitz, and he will see plenty of that against Baltimore and Pittsburgh the next two weeks. He does stand in the pocket fearlessly, though, and isn’t afraid to try to fit the ball through small windows. Against Cincinnati, he completed 19-of-25 passes for 243 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 132.6 passer rating. Despite the flaws and the loss, he stayed on course to be the Browns’ QB in ’11. ... WR Brian Robiskie’s patience is starting to pay off. Despite terrible statistics and reviews that paint him as a draft bust, Robiskie has stayed focussed. He isn’t fast, but he is a precise route-runner who adjust well to passes. What looked like a 50-50 jump ball turned into a 46-yard TD Sunday when he outmaneuvered Bengals S Keiwan Ratliff. It would be a huge help to the Browns if Robiskie and WR Mohamed Massaquoi keep developing. Ideally, the team would add a true No. 1 receiver ahead of Robiskie and Massaquoi. — Steve Doerschuk
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers clinched a playoff spot despite their loss to the Jets, but their focus is on getting one of the two playoff byes in the AFC. They can do that by winning their last two games, but it means they might not be able to rest some key injured players. S Troy Polamalu did not play Sunday because he aggravated a lower-leg injury last week and likely won’t play Thursday night vs. Carolina. It is possible Polamalu might not play again in the regular season, especially if the season finale at Cleveland is meaningless. TE Heath Miller (concussion) missed his second game in a row, and he also might not play vs. Carolina because of the short week. Miller had been cleared twice to practice last week, only to develop headaches after each session. ... Rookie WR Emmanuel Sanders is becoming more involved in the offense. He had seven catches vs. the Jets, including a 29-yarder on third-and-24 from their own 27 that kept alive the last chance at victory. Sanders caught two passes for 40 yards on the final drive and was the intended target on four others, an indication of how Ben Roethlisberger is starting to rely on him. — Gerry Dulac
AFC South
Houston Texans
The Texans have spent most of a disappointing season playing from behind. Sunday’s 31-17 loss at Tennessee was another example. They fell behind 21-0 in the first quarter and trailed 24-3 at halftime. They’ve been behind by 14 or more points in 10 games. They’ve faced deficits of at least 21 points in five games. Said SS Bernard Pollard: “When you get down like we do, chances of coming back and winning in this league are slim and none.” With games remaining vs. Denver and Jacksonville, the Texans are in danger of having their worst record in Gary Kubiak’s five seasons. In ’06, his first season, they were 6-10. Last season, they were 9-7 and missed the playoffs. ... When MLB DeMeco Ryans sustained a season-ending ruptured Achilles tendon Oct. 17, the Texans were 4-2. They’re 1-7 without him. Ryans is their best tackler, defensive captain and team leader. — John McClain
Indianapolis Colts
The team might have lost WR Austin Collie for the season after he sustained his second concussion in seven weeks late in the second quarter Sunday when Jaguars LB Daryl Smith delivered a hard forearm to Collie’s helmet. Prior to being injured, Collie had eight receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns. It’s hard to imagine team officials allowing him to play again this season, even if in the playoffs. He missed four of the previous five games after sustaining a concussion Nov. 7. Losing Collie would be a huge blow to an offense that has had to deal with injuries all season. QB Peyton Manning has confidence that Collie will be where he’s supposed to be, when he’s supposed to be there. Also, Collie is an excellent after-the-catch runner. He leads the team with eight touchdowns despite missing five games. ... Without Collie, rookie WR Blair White again will shoulder a stronger workload. He has been solid off the bench (30 catches, 284 yards, four touchdowns) but lacks Collie’s big-play potential. — Mike Chappell
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars blew a chance to wrap up their first AFC South title for the strangest reason: They weren’t physical enough to beat the finesse Colts. A sub-par Maurice Jones-Drew (15 carries, 46 yards), who missed two practices last week with a right knee problem, didn’t have his normal running lanes. On three different occasions, he failed to get 1 yard for either a TD or a first down. The offensive line often was confused by the Colts’ constant shifting. Jones-Drew, whose streak of six consecutive 100-yard games was snapped, had only 16 yards after the first quarter. ... It turns out the absence of SS Courtney Greene (left shoulder), who has been pretty reliable in run support, played a significant factor Sunday. The Colts ran for an uncharacteristic 155 yards, and two Donald Brown runs of 49 and 43 yards (for a TD) would have been prevented with good tackling. Since it’s not a certainty that Greene or OLB Justin Durant (groin) will play next week vs. Washington, the Jaguars (8-6) suddenly have issues vs. the run, which make it more difficult to win the last two games necessary to have any hope of making the playoffs. — Gene Frenette
Tennessee Titans
WR Kenny Britt continues to show just how much of a factor he can be. Britt had six catches for 128 yards Sunday, and his presence opened things up for the offense for the second week in a row. Britt is physical, has nice hands and can run after catch. He should be a force for years to come. ... The youth movement in under way, and on Sunday it came at the expense of veteran TE Bo Scaife, who was inactive. The coaches instead elected to play second-year TE Jared Cook, who had three catches for 42 yards but also had two holding penalties. ... The defense had an interception Sunday for the first time since Nov. 21, as rookie Alterraun Verner picked off Houston QB Matt Schaub. Verner shows good instincts, reacting well to passes. — Jim Wyatt
AFC West
Denver Broncos
The Broncos were looking for some vestige of hope with rookie QB Tim Tebow replacing an injured Kyle Orton (ribs) on Sunday. Tebow did some things well as the coaches emphasized the run to keep Tebow’s throwing to a minimum. In the end, the team again was gashed via the run—Denver allowed nearly 600 yards to Oakland in two games—and allowed at least 35 points for the fifth time in the last seven games. Tebow was expected to start next week vs. Houston’s bottom-ranked pass defense at home, but Orton’s injury pushed up the timetable. Tebow’s 40-yard run on a quarterback draw was the longest by a Denver QB in team history, but the offense managed only nine first downs as he attempted only 16 passes. Tebow completed eight, with a beautiful TD strike to WR Brandon Lloyd between two defenders and a 32-yard fingertip grab by WR Jabar Gaffney on a crossing route the highlights. Tebow did demonstrate poise if not eye-popping totals and appears to be the starter moving forward. ... RB Knowshon Moreno (ribs) left the game in the first half and didn’t return. Moreno just can’t stand good fortune, it seems. He looked good in spring practices, then hurt his hamstring the first day of camp. He worked his way back into full shape and been his most productive the last month since being a ’09 first-round pick. — Lee Rasizer
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs need WR Chris Chambers to be as involved with the offense was he was Sunday at St. Louis. The Chiefs need another viable threat to take pressure off WR Dwayne Bowe. With the Chiefs being dangerously thin at wide receiver, Chambers is the most likely option. Terrance Copper and Verran Tucker are mostly special teams players, and rookie Dexter McCluster is best suited to play out of the slot. Chambers was a healthy scratch three times this season, so the coaches had stopped counting on him. ... DE Wallace Gilberry is emerging as a viable second pass-rush option to Tamba Hali. Gilberry had three sacks vs. the Rams, giving him seven for the season. Gilberry struggles vs. the run, so he probably never will be an every-down player but deserves to be part of the nickel package. — Adam Teicher
Oakland Raiders
Darren McFadden became the first Raider since ’07 to rush for 1,000 yards by going for 119 on Sunday. He now has 1,112 yards despite missing two games with a hamstring injury. McFadden continues to impress with his ability to make defenders miss, get into the open field and run past and over would-be tacklers. In the process, he is making the passing game more effective because opponents are forced to commit extra defenders to stopping the run. ... QB Jason Campbell sustained a stinger for the third consecutive game and the fourth time since camp started. He missed only one play Sunday but is at greater risk of recurring injury to his neck. He finished the game Sunday and is expected to start next week vs. Indianapolis. The Raiders are reliant upon Campbell to stay healthy if they are to have a shot at making the playoffs. Backups Kyle Boller and J.T. O’Sullivan haven’t played much this season and likely wouldn’t be able to match Campbell’s production if called upon. — Steve Corkran
San Diego Chargers
The Chargers hope the long layoff before their next game, Dec. 26 at Cincinnati, allows a number of their key players to heal. WR Malcom Floyd (hamstring) and OLB Larry English (foot) have the best chance to return by then, but the coaches will not rule out (and would welcome) the return of TE Antonio Gates and WR Patrick Crayton. Gates is likely going to remain shut down until postseason—should the Chargers make it—because of torn plantar fascia. The coaches want to test Crayton (wrist) before the playoffs, but that might not come until Week 17. ... RBs Michael Tolbert and Ryan Mathews have had the same number of carries (16 and 17) in the past two games, and with the ramped up participation of Darren Sproles, coach Norv Turner says that gives the running game the best “rhythm” going forward. — Kevin Acee
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