ESPN NFL

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. John Skelton, Arizona Cardinals QB. Skelton started slowly again, and this time there wasn't enough time for the Cardinals to come back and win. The scoring passes Skelton threw came after his three interceptions and repeated inaccurate passes helped Cincinnati run out to a 23-0 lead. Skelton finished the game with a 6.3 score out of 100 in Total QBR, lowest among 32 starting quarterbacks in Week 16. Teams with lower QBR scores than their opponents are 1-47 (.021) over the past three weeks (the Bengals' Andy Dalton was at 70.9 in this game). Receiver Early Doucet was a candidate to represent the Cardinals in the "falling" category after missing a chance to make the tying reception against the Bengals, but he became a sympathetic figure, in my view, when Larry Fitzgerald's father criticized him.

2. Tarvaris Jackson, Seattle Seahawks QB. Jackson has been a good fit for the Seahawks this season, but his performance in defeat against the 49ers served as a reminder that the team could outgrow his limitations before long. Jackson held the ball too long and seemed indecisive when the 49ers' Larry Grant struck him from behind to force a fumble with the game on the line. Holding the ball too long has been a problem frequently this season. Jackson finished the game with decent passing stats, but he didn't do enough to help his team win the game. This was a step backward for him as the Seahawks' playoff hopes evaporated.

3. Josh Brown, St. Louis Rams kicker. The Rams have enough problems without missing relatively short field goals on those few times when the offense moves into scoring position. Brown missed from 33 yards (and also from 52) against the Steelers when the Rams badly needed points. They trailed only 13-0 after three quarters before allowing two touchdowns to lose 27-0. Brown has made 73.1 percent of his attempts this season, which would be a career low. He has missed five times from inside 50 yards and twice from longer distances. Brown has made at least one attempt from 50-plus yards in each of his eight previous seasons, but none in 2011.

RISING

1. Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers WR. The 49ers faced a second-and-18 situation while trailing the Seahawks by a point with about six minutes left in the fourth quarter. Crabtree's leaping reception along the left sideline for a 41-yard gain bailed out the 49ers and moved them into position for the winning field goal. Crabtree finished the game with five receptions for 85 yards. Both figures were game highs. Crabtree also provided a 27-yard reception to open the second half. That play jump-started an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive as the 49ers tied the game following a rough first half.

2. Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks RB. Lynch's stock had already soared over the second half of this season, but he hasn't gotten enough recognition in this space. What Lynch accomplished against the 49ers takes his stock up a few more notches, anyway. You know the particulars by now. With 107 yards and a touchdown, Lynch ended the 49ers' streaks for not allowing a 100-yard rusher (36 games) or a rushing touchdown (15 games). Teams tend to think of running backs as easier to replace than players at other positions. Lynch is an exception in Seattle. The way he runs makes him irreplaceable at this time. He is the Seahawks' MVP, easily.

3. Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers QB. Poor passing stats in the first half (6-of-15) obscured a strong overall performance from Smith, his second in a row and third in four games. Smith made clutch scrambles, protected the football and came through with that deep pass to Crabtree for the 41-yard gain. He upped his starting record to 12-3 this season. Though Smith did not throw a scoring pass Saturday, he has 24 touchdowns and only six interceptions in his last 20 starts. The 49ers have a 15-5 record in those games. Yes, the team has often won with defense, special teams and ball control, but Smith has occasionally been the difference in victory, as he was Sunday. He has also avoided the mistakes that doomed the 49ers to defeat in the past.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Free-agent wide receivers. Sidney Rice, the Seattle Seahawks' marquee addition in free agency, landed on injured reserve following his second concussion of the season. Shoulder, knee and foot injuries bothered him earlier. Another free-agent receiver in the division, Braylon Edwards, was inactive for the 49ers while recovering from knee and shoulder injuries. The 49ers invested far less in Edwards than Seattle invested in Rice. Still, these big-name receivers have seen their stock fall. Cheaper, younger alternatives stepped up Sunday, notably the 49ers' Kyle Williams and the Arizona Cardinals' Andre Roberts. Seattle has gotten strong play from undrafted rookie Doug Baldwin all season.

2. Job security in St. Louis. The Rams have lost twice to John Skelton over the past month. They failed to score against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. They are trending in the wrong direction and appear unable to do anything about it. Consider this your weekly "falling" item on the Rams. Not much more to say.

3. Bill Leavy's self-esteem. What's this about the league assigning the Super Bowl XL referee to work a game in Seattle for the first time since the Seahawks complained about multiple controversial calls in the big game six years ago? It's scheduled to happen Monday night. Fans have long memories and loud voices. This could be a rough night for Leavy.

RISING

1. Jed York, San Francisco 49ers president. The week would have been a success for York and the 49ers even if the team did not clinch the NFC West title. That is because the 49ers secured $850 million in financing for their proposed stadium. Throwing in a 26-0 home victory over St. Louis for a 10-2 record, division title and team's first playoff berth since the 2002 season was certainly nice, of course. Stocks are rising for quite a few other 49ers, including Williams, new franchise career rushing leader Frank Gore, quarterback Alex Smith, receiver Michael Crabtree, rookie outside linebacker Aldon Smith and others. There wasn't space to honor them all.

2. Tarvaris Jackson, Seattle Seahawks QB. Jackson appeared to be winding down for the season until he completed 13 of 16 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns during a 31-14 victory over Philadelphia. Marshawn Lynch certainly could have represented Seattle in this spot as well. He was phenomenal against the Eagles. Lynch's stock was already quite high, however. Jackson's enjoyed a higher percentage gain, for sure. This was probably his best game of the season even though the team lost Rice to injured reserve a few days before the game.

3. Ray Horton, Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator. The Cardinals have won four of their last five games, allowing 63 points in those victories. They held Dallas to 13 points, the Cowboys' second-lowest total of the season. They collected five sacks, a high against Dallas this season. Young outside linebackers Sam Acho and O'Brien Schofield are improving. Arizona has allowed only five touchdowns in its past five games after allowing 20 in its first seven.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Steve Spagnuolo, St. Louis Rams coach. The Rams went 0-2 against Seattle and Arizona during their recently completed two-game homestand, likely the Rams' best remaining chance to get something going under their embattled coach. The Rams created turnovers and built early leads in both games, but they were too fragile to withstand any challenges from their opponents. Allowing 268 yards rushing against the Cardinals left the Rams appearing helplessly overmatched at home against a previously 3-7 team with John Skelton at quarterback. The team now must play 9-2 San Francisco (twice), 8-3 Pittsburgh, 7-4 Cincinnati and the same Seattle team that dominated the Rams in the Edward Jones Dome.

2. Mike Williams, Seattle Seahawks receiver. The team's leading receiver from 2010 dropped passes and did not adjust to his scrambling quarterback during a 23-17 home defeat to the Washington Redskins. Williams' career revival made for an appealing storyline last season. Lately, though, Williams is more closely resembling the disappointing player he became earlier in his career. He finished with zero receptions against the Redskins.

3. Braylon Edwards, San Francisco 49ers receiver. Injuries have played a role in Edwards' struggles lately. Still, he's squandered chances to make plays. The 49ers could have used Edwards to fight for position and the ball to prevent Alex Smith's deep pass from being intercepted shortly before halftime during the team's 16-6 defeat at Baltimore. Edwards attributed the play to a misunderstanding with Smith over the best route to run against the Ravens' coverage on the play. Edwards has only 14 catches this season. His yards per reception have fallen from 17.1 with the New York Jets last season to 12.3 in 2011.

RISING

1. Beanie Wells, Arizona Cardinals running back. Wells had rushed for 198 yards over his previous four games before gashing the Rams for a franchise-record 228 yards Sunday. The total was the second highest in the NFL this season, trailing only the 253 yards Dallas' DeMarco Murray racked up against ... yes, the Rams. Wells' 8.44 yards per carry was the most since 1960 for a Cardinals player with at least 25 attempts in a game. Wayne Morris set the previous record (6.56) against Minnesota in 1977.

2. Patrick Peterson, Cardinals return specialist. Peterson's 80-yard punt return for a touchdown against the Rams gave him four of that distance or longer in only 11 games as a professional. Peterson is one of six players in league history with four punt returns for touchdowns covering at least 80 yards apiece. He needed only 31 returns to do it. Devin Hester has five in 197 career returns. Peterson and Hall of Famer Jack Christiansen are the only players with four punt returns for touchdowns during their rookie seasons. Christiansen did it in 1951.

3. Sam Acho, Cardinals outside linebacker. The rookie fourth-round draft choice has five sacks since Week 7 after collecting two against the Rams. Arizona badly needed to develop young outside pass-rushers this season. Acho has made a positive impression during his first five starts. The team should know by season's end whether Acho projects as a starter for years to come. With Acho developing, it's looking like Joey Porter has played his final game for the Cardinals.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. John Skelton, Cardinals quarterback. This feels like a late hit -- piling on. Skelton took enough criticism from coach Ken Whisenhunt following the Cardinals' 23-7 defeat at San Francisco. But if we're going to list NFC West players whose stock fell in Week 10, Skelton has to rank at the top. He completed 6 of 19 passes for 99 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions before Whisenhunt benched him to start the fourth quarter. A strong performance from Skelton against the 49ers would have put pressure on Whisenhunt to stick with the second-year passer a while longer.

2. Sam Bradford, Rams quarterback. The Rams' second-year quarterback took five more sacks, lost two fumbles and threw an interception while averaging only 4.5 yards per attempt during a 24-7 home defeat to Seattle. This was Bradford's third game back from injury, but he seems to be getting worse, not better. He has taken 31 sacks in eight starts, nearly double his rate from last season (34 sacks in 16 starts). The Rams appear inept offensively and Bradford, though hardly the No. 1 problem, has shown no ability to lift up the offense.

3. David Akers, 49ers kicker. Akers had two field-goal tries blocked Sunday against Arizona. He missed another attempt. Akers had missed only twice all season, both against Philadelphia in Week 4. There's no reason for alarm at this point. Akers has enjoyed a Pro Bowl-caliber season, even with the misses. But as the 49ers prepare to play what could be a close game against Baltimore on Thanksgiving, they'll need Akers to bounce back from an uncharacteristically rough day. In fairness, Cardinals kicker Jay Feely deserved mention in this space a week earlier. He missed twice against the Eagles. Akers, like Feely, escaped serious scrutiny because his team won.

RISING

1. Michael Crabtree, 49ers WR. Crabtree caught seven passes for 120 yards against the Cardinals. A week earlier, he caught a two-point conversion pass. Crabtree, slowed by injury early in the season, broke tackles and showed better breakaway ability in winning his initial matchup with Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson. Crabtree has made his mark as a blocker all season. He hasn't gotten many breaks as a receiver. Officials incorrectly waved off a Crabtree touchdown at Cincinnati. Quarterback Alex Smith has missed an open Crabtree a few other times. This performance Sunday marked a step forward. It was the first time this season Crabtree has reached 100 yards receiving.

2. Chris Clemons, Seahawks DE. A three-sack performance against the Rams left Clemons with eight sacks for the season. He forced two fumbles, giving him three for the season, a career single-season high. Clemons became the first Seahawks player since 2007 to collect three sacks in one game (Patrick Kerney did it three times in a four-game stretch that season). Clemons is an impact player in all areas and arguably the best player on the team. He has recorded seven of his eight sacks on the road this season. A three-game home stand against losing teams should let Clemons reach double-digit sacks for the second consecutive season.

3. Kyle Williams, 49ers WR. This was a tough call. Seattle's Leon Washington also came to mind after his punt returns helped the Seahawks control field position against the Rams. Williams was the choice because he basically came out of nowhere to catch five passes for 54 yards and a touchdown. The 49ers were having issues with consistency in the passing game when Williams came off the bench to spark the team.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Rams/Seahawks special teams. St. Louis had its game-winning attempt at a field goal blocked as regulation expired against Arizona. The Rams then allowed the second-longest punt return in NFL history. Seattle did a better job on its coverage teams, but Leon Washington muffed a kickoff return, forcing the Seahawks to begin a drive at their own 5-yard line. The Seahawks also had a field goal try blocked. Another attempt barely sailed through after the Cowboys tipped the ball. These teams aren't good enough in other areas to tolerate basic breakdowns on special teams.

2. Tarvaris Jackson, Seahawks quarterback. This was Jackson's most erratic performance of the season and one that validated the criticisms accompanying him from Minnesota to Seattle during the offseason. The Seahawks did not feel comfortable from a protection standpoint using their no-huddle offense extensively against Dallas. That seemed to hurt Jackson, who had been effective using those tactics. Life doesn't appear to get much easier for Jackson in the short term. He's got a game against Baltimore next.

3. Seahawks linebackers. Seattle's run defense entered Week 9 leading the NFL in yards per carry allowed. That ranking fell to third after the team had no answer for Cowboys rookie DeMarco Murray. Linebackers missed tackles and appeared out of position at times. The Cowboys won quite a few blocking battles. They had success running behind fullback Tony Fiammetta. Linebacker K.J. Wright seemed to learn some rookie lessons in this game.

RISING

1. Arizona Cardinals special teams. Patrick Peterson's winning 99-yard punt return followed Calais Campbell's game-saving blocked field goal during a 19-13 victory over the Rams. Cornerback Richard Marshall made a key block during Peterson's return. Peterson gets most of the credit, though. The Cardinals could very well be 0-8 instead of 2-6 without his touchdown returns against Carolina and St. Louis. Meanwhile, Campbell credited teammates Darnell Dockett, Clark Haggans and David Carter for helping him break through to block the field goal try. The Cardinals had to have those plays to break their six-game losing streak.

2. Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks running back. Lynch rushed for 135 yards, his highest total since coming to Seattle, during an otherwise forgettable 23-13 defeat at Dallas. Establishing the ground game in the second half of the season probably stands as the Seahawks' top priority. This was a good first step. Lynch ran hard and found wider running lanes. He has now scored a rushing touchdown in each of his past four games, a first for a Seahawks runner since Shaun Alexander in 2005.

3. Bruce Miller, 49ers fullback. The 49ers converted Miller from defense to offense upon drafting him in the seventh round from Central Florida this year. Miller has gotten extensive playing time with an injury sidelining veteran starter Moran Norris. He has improved significantly and broke through as a skill player Sunday with a 30-yard touchdown reception during a 19-11 victory over the Washington Redskins. Most fullbacks go their entire NFL careers without making a play such as that one. Miller needed only eight games.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks coach. Coaches lose credibility with their players over time when they risk defeat with imprudent decisions. Carroll handled the quarterback situation questionably against Cincinnati on Sunday. He clearly botched the sequence when the first-half clock ran out, preventing the Seahawks from getting points. He did not stop the team from calling another option running play for quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, even though Jackson was still playing with an injury stemming from the last time Seattle called such a play. Making mistakes is bad enough. Refusing to correct them is worse. Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times recently ran through some of the other questionable decisions from Carroll. The Seahawks deserve better for their $35 million investment.

2. Russ Grimm, Arizona Cardinals assistant head coach/offensive line. Grimm's Hall of Fame pedigree and long-established reputation as a top offensive line coach have largely buffered him from criticism. That should change given where the Cardinals' line stands five seasons into Grimm's tenure with Arizona. Grimm hasn't been able to turn a top-five draft choice, Levi Brown, into even an average starting NFL tackle. Quarterback Kevin Kolb, though largely to blame for holding the ball too long, nonetheless needs better protection than the Cardinals' line has afforded him.

3. Charlie Whitehurst, Seahawks QB. Carroll's patience with Whitehurst finally ran out against the Bengals. Whitehurst is likely finished in Seattle unless an injury forces him into the lineup and he suddenly performs at a high level for an extended stretch. The team needed to find out about Whitehurst this season. Carroll made it clear he's seen enough when he benched Whitehurst after only seven pass attempts Sunday. Whitehurst took two sacks during his brief time on the field. He appeared unsettled by the rush and unsure what to do.

RISING

1. Steven Jackson, Rams RB. Jackson is the Rams' emotional leader, but that leadership had its limits when a quadriceps injury was preventing Jackson from performing at a high level. Jackson has shown over the past two games an ability to run with abandon. Jackson carried 25 times for 159 yards and two touchdowns in the Rams' 31-21 upset of New Orleans. He now has 28 career 100-yard rushing performances with the Rams, one more than Marshall Faulk. Only Eric Dickerson (38) has more in franchise history. Jackson's four receptions tied him with Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch for sixth on the Rams' career list (343 catches). Jackson also moved past Faulk for third on the Rams' list for most yards from scrimmage.

2. Chris Long, Rams DE. Long's three-sack performance against Drew Brees and the Saints came after a quiet week for Long and the Rams' defense at Dallas. This was a breakout game in every way. Long had one sack in each of the Rams' first three games this season. He then went three games without one before breaking through against Saints right tackle Charles Brown. Long next faces an Arizona team that has juggled personnel at right tackle, switching between Brandon Keith and Jeremy Bridges. Long's rise could continue.

3. Robert Quinn, Rams DE. A few unestablished young players in the division qualified for consideration in this spot. Richard Sherman, Greg Salas, Sam Acho and O'Brien Schofield come to mind. Patrick Peterson was another consideration, but his punt return for a touchdown wasn't his first of the season, and the Cardinals ultimately lost. The San Francisco 49ers' collective stock has already surged, making it tough to pinpoint one player from that team following a routine victory over Cleveland. I went with Quinn because his stock had sagged quite a bit early in the season. He wasn't even active for the opener. But with a sack and blocked punt against New Orleans, the rookie first-round draft choice played an important role in the Rams' first victory of the season.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Coach Ken Whisenhunt and GM Rod Graves. The men who got much of the credit for reviving a dormant franchise get most of the blame now that the Cardinals have lost five games in a row and 14 of their last 17 dating to last season. Ownership opened its wallet during the offseason, spending for Kevin Kolb and quite a few free agents. The product on the field hasn't improved sufficiently. The record has gotten worse. Kolb hasn't met expectations. A trip to Baltimore in Week 8 isn't likely to trigger a turnaround. Arizona lost seven in a row at one point last season, winning only when the dysfunctional Denver Broncos arrived. The current Cardinals have a home game against the Rams in Week 9 before a three-game road trip. This team could easily be 3-10 or 2-11 when Cleveland visits in Week 15.

2. Coach Steve Spagnuolo and GM Billy Devaney. The problems on defense stand out as most troubling for the Rams' coach and GM. Just about all of the free-agent additions on defense -- Justin Bannan, Quintin Mikell, Ben Leber, Brady Poppinga, etc. -- were supposed to help shore up the run defense. The Rams have only gotten worse in that area, maintaining their No. 32 ranking in rushing yards allowed after Dallas' DeMarco Murray set a franchise record with 253 yards Sunday. Spagnuolo's expertise is on the defensive side of the ball. Some drop-off in pass defense would be understandable given injuries at cornerback, but there's no way the Rams should be this bad against the run. The team's low-keyed approach to upgrading at wide receiver also backfired. Adding Brandon Lloyd could be too little, too late.

3. Charlie Whitehurst, Seahawks QB. Completing 12 of 30 passes for 97 yards against Cleveland left Whitehurst in dubious company. In Seahawks history, only Stan Gelbaugh ever had fewer yards to show for as many attempts in a single game. Whitehurst was inaccurate even on some of the passes he completed, including a sideline pass to Sidney Rice that should have gone for a touchdown. Whitehurst's throw was far enough outside to lead Rice right out of bounds, preventing him from reaching the end zone. This was a giant step backward for Whitehurst and the offense.

RISING

1. David Hawthorne, Seahawks LB. Eleven tackles, one sack and one interception constituted a rebirth for Hawthorne, who seemed to play more freely than at any point this season. I was tempted to list teammate Red Bryant in this spot after Bryant blocked two field goal attempts and provided strong run defense, but Bryant was already regarded as one of the most important players on the team. His stock was already high, in other words. Also, the penalty against Bryant for head-butting Cleveland Browns tight end Alex Smith killed whatever fleeting hopes the Seahawks had for a last-minute comeback victory.

2. Braylon Edwards, 49ers WR. Edwards had only four receptions for 48 yards through the 49ers' first two games. A knee injury sidelined him for four games, but now Edwards appears ready to rejoin his teammates for practice this week. He'll step into an offense that has shown general improvement over the past month. Playing time shouldn't be a problem for him, either, now that starting receiver Josh Morgan is on injured reserve with a broken leg. Edwards and Michael Crabtree give the 49ers two big targets to pair with tight ends Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker. Edwards' ability to make plays downfield should help the offense.

3. LaRod Stephens-Howling, Cardinals RB. A hand injury had sidelined Stephens-Howling early in the season and limited him some during his return. That changed Sunday when Stephens-Howling turned a short pass into a 73-yard touchdown when the Cardinals were desperate for a spark. Stephens-Howling's role in the offense could grow with Beanie Wells suffering a knee injury.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Mike Sims-Walker, ex-Rams WR: That did not take long. Sims-Walker went from key free-agent addition to dropping three passes against Washington to being named inactive to being released in a short period of time. Perhaps now we know why the Jacksonville Jaguars decided against bringing back Sims-Walker even though they lacked proven players at the position. Sims-Walker was the logical Rams receiver to go once the team acquired Brandon Lloyd from Denver. The team expects to welcome back veteran Mark Clayton from the physically unable to perform list at some point, too.

2. Lockout grace periods: It's tough for the San Francisco 49ers' division rivals -- and other teams -- to complain too loudly about the lockout setting them back. The 49ers have gotten to 5-1 despite changing over just about all of their coaching staff and installing new schemes. As Arizona Cardinals president Michael Bidwill said following his team's 1-4 start, "A lot of guys are making mistakes. Can you say, 'Well, gee, that is lack of offseason?' We're now into October. We now should be able to clean up those things. These are professional athletes and they have to rise to the occasion. And none of the other 31 teams had an offseason, either. We shouldn't be at that much of a disadvantage where we've only won one game."

3. Shawntae Spencer, 49ers CB: Spencer was a starter last season and arguably the best cornerback on the team. He's not getting on the field at this point because Carlos Rogers, Tarell Brown and rookie Chris Culliver are ahead of him on the depth chart. The 49ers did a good job addressing the position in the offseason. Had they stood pat, Spencer would probably be starting. Injuries have also set back Spencer this season.

RISING

1. Aldon Smith, 49ers OLB: The player San Francisco drafted in the first round is quickly becoming a candidate for defensive rookie of the year, along with Ryan Kerrigan of the Washington Redskins. Smith has 5.5 sacks over the 49ers' last three games. He is playing well and benefiting from the talent around him. Opposing offenses must funnel additional resources toward defensive end Justin Smith in particular.

2. Vic Fangio, 49ers defensive coordinator. The 49ers' defensive performance on the road against the Detroit Lions was mostly dominant. The defense provided a safety and held the Lions to two third-down conversions in 15 opportunities. Fangio and the personnel department deserve much credit for putting together the right mix of players on defense. Drafting Smith seventh overall and Culliver in the third round helped the defense right away. Other moves that have worked out well: adding Rogers to replace Nate Clements, moving NaVorro Bowman into the lineup at the expense of Takeo Spikes, signing and moving into the lineup Ray McDonald and remaking the safety position without losing Dashon Goldson. The 49ers took some heat for not signing Nnamdi Asomugha, but no one is complaining now.

3. Delanie Walker, 49ers TE: Walker now has touchdown receptions in consecutive games. He has three for the season after catching none since 2008. Years ago, when Trent Dilfer was still playing for the 49ers, I remember him saying Walker was one of the most talented players on the team. Year after year, Walker seemed on the verge of becoming a bigger factor, but it would never happen to the extent anticipated. It's looking like the new coaching staff is finding ways to get more key plays from Walker. His game-winning touchdown reception in the final minutes Sunday stands as a career highlight, but perhaps not for long.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Ray Horton, Cardinals defensive coordinator. The Cardinals' defense hasn't made the necessary improvements five games into the season. Arizona allowed 172 yards rushing and fell behind 28-0 during the first quarter of its 34-10 defeat at Minnesota. Horton hasn't gotten much on defense from the team's two high-priced additions on that side of the ball, rookie cornerback Patrick Peterson and veteran linebacker Stewart Bradley.

2. Ken Whisenhunt, Cardinals head coach. This marks two weeks in a row for Whisenhunt on the "falling" list. His Cardinals are now 3-13 in their last 16 games. At 1-4, Arizona is two games worse than it was through five games last season, despite committing a five-year, $63 million contract to quarterback Kevin Kolb. It's tough to say Whisenhunt had his team ready to play against the Vikings.

3. Coaching discretion. Seattle's Pete Carroll and San Francisco's Jim Harbaugh enjoyed signature victories in Week 5, but both also paid for putting key players at risk unnecessarily. Carroll lost quarterback Tarvaris Jackson to a pectoral injury after approving a brazen read-option play straight out of the college ranks. Harbaugh lost receiver Josh Morgan to a broken leg when the 49ers passed on fourth-and-3 from the Tampa Bay 20-yard line while leading 41-3 with 4:46 remaining. You're not playing UCLA or Oregon any longer, guys.

RISING

1. West Coast offenses. The San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks both installed somewhat traditional versions of the West Coast offense this season. Both teams are lining up with written-off quarterbacks and young offensive lines featuring multiple high draft choices. And both teams are seeing real signs of progress on offense. The 49ers and Seahawks have combined for 110 points on offense since halftime of their Week 4 games. Alex Smith in particular could not have been much better Sunday.

2. Ball hawks. Carlos Rogers' 31-yard pick-six for the 49ers gave San Francisco a 14-3 lead over Tampa Bay, sparking a 48-3 rout. The 94-yarder Brandon Browner provided for Seattle clinched the Seahawks' upset road victory over the New York Giants. These were momentum-turning plays from cornerbacks new to the NFC West this season.

3. Doug Baldwin, Seahawks WR. The undrafted rookie free agent from Stanford caught eight passes for 136 yards and the winning touchdown against the Giants. He has repeatedly stood up to hard hits, including one that drew a $15,000 fine from the NFL last week. Baldwin is giving the Seahawks a reliable slot receiver with speed and a hard-nosed mentality.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Anything with horns on it. The St. Louis Rams are 0-4 and the most disappointing team in the league. Media coverage in St. Louis is beginning to suggest trouble ahead for coach Steve Spagnuolo and general manager Billy Devaney if the Rams do not start winning. The Rams appear to have no answers and the schedule isn't getting any easier.

2. Sam Bradford, Rams QB. Opponents have sacked Bradford 18 times in four games. Bradford is on pace to absorb 72 sacks over a 16-game season. That would tie Bradford with Randall Cunningham for the second most since at least 1982, when sacks became an official stat. David Carr set the record with 75 sacks in 2002. Carr never recovered from the beating he took early in his career. The punishment Bradford is taking could threaten his long-term outlook.

3. Coach Ken Whisenhunt, Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals have lost 12 of their last 15 games, including three in a row this season despite making a substantial investment at quarterback. That'll hurt any coach's stock.

RISING

1. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers RB. There were too many worthy candidates and too few spaces to honor them all. Gore's stock value improved the most from a week ago, when he struggled against Cincinnati, suffered an ankle injury and then watched Kendall Hunter start ahead of him in Week 4. Gore responded by leading the 49ers past Philadelphia with 127 yards and the winning touchdown. Coach Jim Harbaugh, linebacker NaVorro Bowman, defensive end Justin Smith and the entire 49ers offensive line deserve mention here. All would have been worthy choices.

2. Tarvaris Jackson, Seattle Seahawks QB. There were no indications Jackson was about to pass for 319 yards with three touchdowns against the Atlanta Falcons. The performance should quiet critics clamoring for the Seahawks to bench Jackson in favor of Charlie Whitehurst. Jackson took no sacks in this game. His offensive line deserves partial credit for that, but Jackson was the one who took advantage. He was the one whose stock jumped the most in Seattle.

3. Beanie Wells, Arizona Cardinals RB. It's still a mystery how the Cardinals could lose with Wells carrying 27 times for 138 yards and three touchdowns. Wells' physical running played a huge role in Arizona's ability to build a 27-17 fourth-quarter lead over the New York Giants. He's averaging 107 yards rushing per game, second to Darren McFadden among players with at least 20 carries this season. He's also leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns with five. Give some credit to the Cardinals' offensive line as well.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Steve Spagnuolo, Rams head coach: Cornerback Justin King would make for a convenient scapegoat here after allowing three touchdown passes to Ravens rookie Torrey Smith. Singling out King would also miss the broader point. Spagnuolo tops the list this week not only because the Rams were horrible during a 37-7 home defeat to Baltimore, but also because they've been horrible too frequently in losing their first three games. Their defense has vastly underperformed. That was the one component of the Rams that appeared best positioned to play well based on continuity and personnel. It was also the one area Spagnuolo could influence the most. The Rams rank 32nd in rushing yards allowed.

2. Frank Gore, 49ers running back: Gore is averaging 2.5 yards per carry through three games. He lost a fumble and had a pass bounce off his helmet during critical points of the 49ers' victory over Cincinnati. Gore's rookie replacement hasn't fared any better from a yards-per-carry standpoint, a reflection of shaky blocking. The 49ers haven't fielded offensive lines packed with Pro Bowl players in seasons past, yet Gore managed to get his yardage then. An ankle injury might have slowed Gore some against the Bengals.

3. Kevin Kolb, Cardinals quarterback: Two interceptions and three sacks worked against the Cardinals during their 13-10 defeat to Seattle. Kolb was not entirely to blame for the defeat, obviously, but the Cardinals acquired him with an expectation that he would make a positive difference in games such as this one.

RISING

1. Sidney Rice, Seahawks receiver: Not long ago, reports of a torn labrum raised questions about whether Rice might be headed for season-ending surgery. Those fears were misplaced. Rice caught eight passes for 109 yards in his Seahawks debut. His shoulder proved strong enough to prevent the Cardinals' Adrian Wilson from wresting the ball away after an early reception. Seattle will have to open up its offense to compete with better teams. That would be impossible without Rice.

2. Vernon Davis, 49ers tight end: Davis met with coach Jim Harbaugh to discuss his role in the offense after catching only seven passes for 65 yards through the 49ers' first two games. The 49ers made him a bigger part of the plan during their 13-8 victory over Cincinnati. Davis caught eight passes for 114 yards, becoming Alex Smith's go-to receiver with the game on the line.

3. Calais Campbell, Cardinals defensive end: The NFC West produced plenty of defensive candidates for a spot on this list. Kam Chancellor, Leroy Hill, Chris Clemons, Ahmad Brooks and Carlos Rogers come to mind. I went with Campbell for the sheer level of his dominance against Seattle. Campbell finished the game with 10 tackles, four quarterback hits and 2.5 sacks, sensational numbers for anyone, let alone for a 3-4 defensive end.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Mike Singletary, 49ers ex-coach: Singletary lasted only one full season as the 49ers' head coach. The experience featured enough turmoil -- and defeats -- to damage the chances of Singletary becoming a head coach again despite some appealing leadership attributes. The fact that Singletary has never been a coordinator could force him to become a position coach again if he chooses to remain in coaching at the NFL level.

2. Marcus Trufant, Seahawks CB: Seattle allowed five touchdown passes to Tampa Bay's Josh Freeman. The entire defense struggled. Trufant struggled in particular. Coach Pete Carroll did not sugarcoat his analysis. Carroll: " 'Tru' had a hard game. This was a tough game. He really had a fairly routine play on [Kellen] Winslow on the first touchdown because it was a zone and he was outside of him and as he looked in the backfield, [Winslow] snuck underneath him and made a nice play. The other one was a one-on-one, no help, nothing coverage on full blitz and the guy got inside of him and made a nice play for the touchdown. So those are plays that are really regrettable. The other one was a play that looks like his responsibility, but it was a zone that should have gotten taken care of. But those were tough plays. We count on 'Tru' to make those plays and he knows that and he’d be the first to tell you. But they did get him on those and so we wish like crazy he’d have come through and held outside leverage throughout the little scramble of the quarterback and flow to him, but he didn’t get it done and those are the plays you get beat on."

3. Shawntae Spencer and Nate Clements, 49ers CBs: Both players appeared confused during key points of the 49ers' elimination game against St. Louis. Clements committed a pass-interference penalty on a trick play, giving the Rams a first down deep in 49ers territory. Spencer walked away from Rams receiver Danario Alexander, mistakenly believing he had touched Alexander down following a long completion. Alexander got up, continued running and nearly scored before Spencer even knew what was happening. These plays typified the 49ers' struggles in the secondary this season.

RISING

1. Danario Alexander, Rams WR: Six receptions for 99 yards served notice that Alexander had re-emerged as a significant part of the Rams' offensive plan. St. Louis needs all the playmakers it can get. Alexander has unusual physical attributes in that he is 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds. His contributions against the 49ers -- marked by receptions on three consecutive plays as the team drove toward a fourth-quarter touchdown -- significantly enhanced the Rams' playoff chances.

2. Andre Roberts, Cardinals WR: The rookie third-round draft choice caught five passes for 110 yards and a touchdown during the Cardinals' 27-26 victory over Dallas. He had four punts returns and five kickoff returns, including a 32-yarder that contributed to the Cowboys working from a long field early in the fourth quarter. Roberts' 74-yard touchdown catch was the Cardinals' longest reception of the season. No other player on the team has caught a pass covering more than 43 yards.

3. Cardinals defense: Darnell Dockett had two sacks. Calais Campbell, Clark Haggans and rookie O'Brien Schofield had one apiece. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Greg Toler returned interceptions for touchdowns. Rodgers-Cromartie had three passes defensed. The Cardinals' defense played with renewed energy, helping Arizona build a 21-3 lead.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks QB. Three turnovers in the third quarter against Atlanta nearly cost Hasselbeck his starting job heading into Week 16. Barring a stunning reversal over the final two games, Hasselbeck will finish with his fourth subpar season in five years. Only Jimmy Clausen, Derek Anderson and Brett Favre have lower ratings this season among qualifying passers (those with at least 15 attempts per game).

2. NFC West head coaches. Let's single out Arizona's Ken Whisenhunt and San Francisco's Mike Singletary. Both coaches' teams have underachieved. Whisenhunt's record as Cardinals coach has slipped to 31-31 in the regular season. Singletary's already shaky job prospects took another hit when the 49ers were not competitive against San Diego.

3. Sam Bradford, Rams QB. The leading candidate for NFL rookie of the year has five interceptions without a touchdown pass in his past three games. Bradford is taking more punishment from opposing pass-rushers in part because his receivers are having a hard time getting open quickly enough.

RISING

1. Josh Morgan, 49ers WR. Seven receptions for 106 yards amounted to a career night for Morgan even though San Francisco suffered an embarrassing defeat at San Diego.

2. Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks RB. The running game was there for Seattle against Atlanta. Lynch carried 12 times for 60 yards. He gained 17 yards on his only reception. Turnovers in the passing game prevented Lynch from putting up more impressive numbers.

3. Young Cardinals defenders. Yes, the Cardinals allowed another 100-yard rusher. Yes, they lost to the Carolina Panthers. But there were positive signs from third-year defensive end Calais Campbell and rookie linebacker Daryl Washington. Campbell had 11 tackles, four for losses and a sack. Washington had six tackles, two for losses, a week after picking off a pass.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Derek Anderson, Cardinals QB. Cue the video. Briefly laughing on the sideline during a blowout defeat wasn't nearly as bad as Anderson's reaction to questioning on the matter. Now there's a guy you'd better not cut off in traffic.

2. Pete Carroll, Seahawks coach. The team has rebuilt its roster before without losing consecutive home games by a combined 52 points (41-7 to the New York Giants and 42-24 to Kansas City). Only Carolina has lost consecutive home games by more points this season (65). Carroll's philosophy to "always compete" seemed to take a hit when the team knelt on the ball to run out the clock during its 18-point surrender to Kansas City. Before this season, the team had allowed 40-plus points at home only once during the regular season since Qwest Field opened in 2002.

3. Ken Whisenhunt, Cardinals coach. Losing at home by double-digit margins to average or below-average division rivals will drag down any coach's stock. Seattle and San Francisco have beaten the Cardinals by a combined 39 points in Arizona's past two home games. Arizona has lost six in a row overall. Four of the six defeats came against teams that currently have losing records. There are no indications the Cardinals have hit bottom. If Whisenhunt had the ability to stop this free-fall, he would have done it by now.

RISING

1. Brian Westbrook, 49ers RB. The 49ers did not view Westbrook as an every-down injury replacement for Frank Gore when they signed him. Westbrook ran effectively enough during a 27-6 victory at Arizona to command a full workload. Twenty-three carries for 136 yards showed Westbrook was ready when called upon. That one performance justified the decision to sign Westbrook.

2. Sam Bradford, Rams QB. Bradford's stock was already high, but its value shot up outside the St. Louis market when the Rams' rookie quarterback led the team to its first road victory of the season. Rams fans won't tire of reading about how Bradford became the first rookie in NFL history to throw for at least 300 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions in a road victory.

3. Chris Long, Rams DE. Long came through with two pivotal plays when the Rams needed them most in Denver. A double-digit lead was down to three points when Denver took over possession with one last shot to force overtime or win the game. Long's first-down sack and fourth-down quarterback hit helped St. Louis take a significant step.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks RB. Two lost fumbles and two dropped passes (one of them on a pass that was tough to handle) prevented Seattle's offense from exploiting the New Orleans Saints' defense any further. The Seahawks passed the ball almost at will, particularly when Mike Williams was in the game, and Lynch averaged 5.1 yards per carry. The turnovers and dropped passes hurt. Lynch was fighting for extra yardage at the expense of ball security. The team replaced him after the second fumble.

2. Troy Smith, 49ers QB. Smith took too many sacks and struggled when Tampa Bay forced him to remain in the pocket. The game plan was arguably too conservative, but Smith did not maximize opportunities. He could have used better protection and more from the running game, too. Smith threw an interception for the first time since replacing Alex Smith as a starter.

3. Ben Patrick, Cardinals TE. The Cardinals have always wanted Patrick to emerge. Instead, Patrick has faded. Arizona replaced Patrick in the starting lineup Sunday even though the Cardinals opened the game with two tight ends (former Cardinal Leonard Pope even started for Kansas City). When Arizona took over possession near midfield late in the third quarter, a holding penalty against Patrick contributed to the drive stalling. Arizona trailed 21-6 at the time. A touchdown drive would have gotten the Cardinals back into the game. Patrick previously committed a holding penalty on the Cardinals' first drive at Minnesota.

RISING

1. Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks QB. The quarterback's second consecutive prolific passing performance suggests he could be positioned to finish strong this season. Hasselbeck has 699 yards passing with two touchdowns and no interceptions over his last two games, helping to establish Seattle as the division favorite. No player's stock has risen so sharply in recent weeks.

2. Brandon Gibson, Rams WR. The second-year pro has 19 receptions and one touchdown over the Rams' last three games. The team needed someone to emerge after losing Mark Clayton to a season-ending knee injury. Gibson has helped fill some of the void. His leaping 13-yard touchdown grab against the Atlanta Falcons gave the Rams a 17-16 lead in the third quarter.

3. Ben Obomanu, Seahawks WR. Something has clicked between Obomanu and Hasselbeck. It's easy to forget that the two have been on the same team since 2006. Obomanu has nine catches for 147 yards and a touchdown over the last two games. He ranks tied for the team lead with three touchdowns this season. He averages 15.4 yards per reception and made a nice adjustment to grab a 42-yarder against the Saints.