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A look at a hard fight by the Kansas City Chiefs:

What it means: The Chiefs are 4-7 after a 13-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. They are tied for last place in the AFC West with the San Diego Chargers. The Chiefs trail the first-place Oakland Raiders, 7-4, by three games. The banged-up Chiefs very likely will not defend their AFC West title. Kansas City has now lost four straight games after winning four in a row.

Palko’s last stand: As he did in his first NFL start, in a 31-point loss at New England, Tyler Palko had his moments. Yet, he threw three interceptions for the second straight game. Expect Kansas City to try to get newly clamed Kyle Orton ready to start at Chicago next week.

The heat is on Bowe: Kansas City receiver Dwayne Bowe was roasted by NBC announcer Chris Collinsworth after not trying to go after a pass in the final seconds of the game. The ball was intercepted. He is a free agent and this is another example of the dilemma surrounding Bowe. He has his moments when he shines, but his effort has often been questioned.

Kansas City defense plays well: The Chiefs’ defense played very hard Sunday. It kept the Chiefs in the game.

What’s next: The Chiefs’ brutal stretch continues when it plays at the Chicago Bears on Sunday. The Chiefs have the toughest remaining schedule in the NFL. Expect the Chiefs to insert Orton in practice quickly and try to have him ready to play his former team. Ironically, the Bears claimed Orton as well (as did the Dallas Cowboys) but the Chiefs were awarded him because they have the worst record of the three teams.

Thoughts on the Pittsburgh Steelers' 13-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs:

What it means: The Steelers survived a last-minute comeback by the Chiefs to improve to 8-3 and remain tied with the Ravens atop the AFC North (Baltimore holds the tiebreaker over Pittsburgh because it swept the Steelers). It wasn't an impressive win for the Steelers, which was held to a season-worst 13 points. Pittsburgh looked rusty coming off its 10-day break but it's now 14-9 after byes.

Fourth-quarter stop: For its second straight game, Pittsburgh needed an interception late in the fourth quarter to seal the win. This time it was Keenan Lewis who caught an overthrown pass from an overmatched Tyler Palko. Before the turnover, the Chiefs were making the Steelers sweat, driving to the Pittsburgh 37 with with 38 seconds left.

Turnover time: The Steelers nearly matched their season total in turnovers in one game, thanks to the lapses by Palko. Pittsburgh finished with four takeaways (three interceptions and one fumble recovery) after entering this game with an NFL-low six in its first 10 games. The Steelers converted 10 points off turnovers.

Injury concern: Pittsburgh played most of the game without two Pro Bowl players. Safety Troy Polamalu left in the first quarter after taking a blow to the head, and center Maurkice Pouncey came out of the game with an illness in the second quarter. Both didn't return. Ryan Mundy, Polamalu's replacement, made an interception in the second quarter that led to the game's only touchdown.

Out of the zone: One reason why the game was so close was Pittsburgh's struggles in the red zone. The Steelers have scored one touchdown despite being inside the Chiefs' 10-yard line three times. On Pittsburgh's opening drive, Mike Wallace dropped a pass in the end zone and Mewelde Moore fumbled at the Kansas City 2.

Thumbs up or down?: In his first full game since fracturing his right thumb, Ben Roethlisberger completed 21 of 31 passes (67.7 percent), which was his fourth-highest completion rate this season. But he was held to a season-low 193 yards passing. He also had one touchdown and one interception.

What's next: The Ravens return home to play the Cincinnati Bengals (7-4).

Some thoughts on the Philadelphia Eagles' 38-20 dismantling at the hands of the New England Patriots on Sunday in Philadelphia.

What it means: Well, if you thought the Eagles still had a shot at the playoffs (and for the record, I did not), I'd like to hear you try and convince me now. The Eagles now need to win their remaining five games just to get to 9-7, and on Sunday they didn't look like a team capable of winning two of them. The Eagles once believed they could be one of the elite teams in the NFL this season. The Patriots just showed them what such a team looks like. This was the first game all season that the Eagles really didn't have a chance to win. This time, they got outplayed, outcoached, outclassed and outmuscled. This banged-up, wrung-out Eagles team didn't belong on the same field as the Patriots.

Andy Reid's not helping himself: I assume Reid wants to return to coach the Eagles again next year, but he's started to coach like a guy who wants to get fired. The persistent refusal to lean on LeSean McCoy, who's one of the best running backs in the league, is a symptom of career-killing stubbornness. The Eagles were up 10-0 in this game, and though they showed while building that lead that they could beat the Patriots in the deep passing game, everybody knows the best way to keep Tom Brady from beating you is by keeping him off the field. Once you get your lead, it might not be a bad idea to switch to a run-heavy offense -- especially when you're the No. 1 running team in the league, your running back is leading the league in rush yards, and your quarterback is a better runner than he is a thrower. McCoy should have had more than 10 carries. The Eagles sure as heck should have run the ball when they had fourth-and-one from the Patriots' two-yard line in the third quarter. Ride the defensive schemes all you want, but even with their starting quarterback and best wide receiver out, the Eagles have weapons that could be helping them win games on offense, and they're not using them.

That all for D-Jax?: The worst individual performance of the game on offense was that of wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who needed to play big with Michael Vick and Jeremy Maclin out and instead dropped two touchdown passes. Vince Young wasn't throwing the ball so well that he could afford to have receivers dropping the ball, and Jackson's drops were crushing. He watched the final series from the sideline, leading to reports that Reid benched him for poor performance. That contract extension Jackson thought he was getting once upon a time is looking more and more like a pipe dream. The question now is how big a factor he'll be in these final five games.

Defense shredded: The Eagles' defense held up fine early, getting pressure on Brady and dominating the physical battles the way they did against the Giants a week ago. But once the Patriots shored up the protection and got Brady some time, he was able to pick apart a diminished Eagles secondary. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie missed the game with an injury, and fellow cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha was clearly limited due to his knee injury. Add in an awful game by safety Nate Allen and more stubbornness by a coaching staff that insists on playing soft zones and giving receivers cushions, and you have a recipe for disaster on the back end of the defense. Brady found the soft spots in the defense and put on a clinic.

Oh, and by the way: I'm not buying his garbage-time stats as evidence Young should start over a healthy Vick. Just because he's way down the list of blame for what happened Sunday doesn't make him Johnny Unitas. I'd say he's helped himself if he wants to convince some other team he can be a starter for them next year, but I don't think he's a better player than Vick is, and I don't think he should play ahead of him once Vick is able again.

What's next: The bad news keeps on coming. The Eagles get exactly three days off before their next game, which is on Thursday night all the way across the country against the Seahawks in Seattle. The good news I guess is that the Seahawks are 4-7. But if you're the Seahawks, you see a 4-7 team coming in and think you've got a shot. Yeah. That's what the Eagles are right now.

Thoughts on the Oakland Raiders' 25-20 victory over the Chicago Bears:

What it means: The Raiders are piling up the victories. They are 7-4 and have won three straight. Oakland is leading this division and looking like a good bet to win the AFC West for the first time in nine years as the season shortens.

Tomorrow’s talker: The Raiders were fortunate to face Caleb Hanie and not Jay Cutler. It was Cutler’s first game he missed since breaking his thumb. It would be inaccurate and unfair to say Chicago would have definitely won this game had Cutler played. But Hanie threw three interceptions and he clearly was overmatched. Oakland played well otherwise. But Oakland has its own injuries that it's dealing with and yet found a way to win.

Seabass is back: After dealing with a nasty hamstring injury for a month, Oakland kicker Sebastian Janikowski was, once again, the nastiest kicking weapon in the NFL on Sunday. The Raiders overcame a stingy Chicago defense by seeing Janikowski boot six field goals, including four of 40 yards or more.

What’s next: Oakland plays at the much improved Miami Dolphins in Week 13, then plays the perfect Packers at Green Bay in Week 14.

Thoughts on the Titans’ 23-17 win over the Buccaneers at LP Field:

What it means: The Titans improved to 6-5 by finding their balance in the fourth quarter of a wet and sloppy game against the Buccaneers. Chris Johnson had his best day of the season with 23 carries for 190 rushing yards, though he lost a fumble for one of Tennessee’s four turnovers. With Matt Leinart now also hurt for the Texans, the Titans have to still feel like they can catch Houston. But they need to pair some wins with some Texans losses to do so.

What I liked: Matt Hasselbeck had a poor overall game, with two picks -- one returned for a touchdown -- two sacks and only 160 passing yards. But at a crucial moment with 3:01 left in the game and facing a fourth-and-goal from the Tampa Bay 2-yard line, he got great protection, showed great patience and found Damian Williams with a dart in the back middle of the end zone for a touchdown that provided the game-winning points. The Titans were down 17-10 at the start of the fourth and took control, outscoring Tampa Bay 13-0 in the quarter.

What I also liked: Great play on the first-quarter kickoff return with Tommie Campbell taking a reverse handoff from Marc Mariani and bolting to an 84-yard touchdown.

What I didn’t like: Four turnovers, including the two picks by Hasselbeck and lost fumbles by Johnson and running back Javon Ringer. Tampa Bay turned those into 14 points. Meanwhile, the Titans had five takeaways and turned them into a grand total of six points. They were quite fortunate to win the game given that discrepancy.

What I wonder: Will rookie linebacker Colin McCarthy, who had a game-high 10 tackles and a game-sealing pick, keep the starting middle linebacker spot even after veteran Barrett Ruud (groin) is healthy?

What’s next: The Titans travel to Buffalo, where the weather may be tough but the opposition is a lot less dangerous than it was early in the season.

Thoughts on the Cincinnati Bengals' 23-20 win over the Cleveland Browns:

What it means: The Bengals (7-4) remained in the thick of the playoff hunt with their fourth fourth-quarter comeback of the season. After not leading for the first 59 minutes of the game, Cincinnati won the game on Mike Nugent's 26-yard field goal with 38 seconds remaining. The Bengals rebounded from a two-game losing streak by scoring the final 13 points against Cleveland. The Browns (4-7) lost their eighth straight AFC North road game.

Key play: The decisive moment in this hard-fought game was A.J. Green's 51-yard leaping catch-and-run over the middle that put the Bengals inside the Browns' 10 with one minute left. It came against Joe Haden, the AFC North's best cornerback, and converted a third-and-8. This led to Nugent's short game winner. Green finished with 110 yards on three catches.

Benson bashes Browns: Benson continued his success against the Browns and became the latest running back to gain more than 100 yards against them. He finished with 130 total yards, gaining most of them on the left side. His 16-yard touchdown run tied the game at 7 in the first quarter.

Bad snap ... again: The Browns missed their opportunity to break the tie with 1:51 left in the game, but Ryan Pontbriand's bad snap caused Phil Dawson's 55-yard field goal attempt to fall short. It was Pontbriand's bad snap two weeks ago that led to another missed go-ahead field goal in a 13-12 loss to St. Louis.

Browns' defense steps up in first half: Cleveland took a 17-7 halftime lead because of its defense. The Browns made a goal-line stand in the first quarter and forced Andy Dalton's first fumble of the season, which led to the Browns' second touchdown of the game. Jabaal Sheard forced the turnover.

Hillis returns: Browns running back Peyton Hillis ran hard in his first game back after missing five straight with a hamstring injury. He made a bigger impact than expected, rushing for 57 yards on 15 carries.

Browns end drought: Cleveland scored its first first-quarter touchdown when Colt McCoy hit Jordan Norwood for a 24-yard pass in the end zone.

What's next: The Bengals travel to Pittsburgh just a couple of weeks after losing to the Steelers at home. The Browns play host to the Ravens next Sunday.

Thoughts on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 23-17 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at LP Field.

What it means: The Bucs now are on a five-game losing streak. But this one was particularly painful because Tampa Bay had a shot to win. The Bucs were driving at the end, but that fell apart when quarterback Josh Freeman was stopped on a keeper on fourth down. The Bucs are now 4-7 and have one more loss than they did all last season. Time to face reality. A team that supposedly was on the rise coming into this season has clearly taken a step back and will not make the playoffs. The seat continues to get hotter for coach Raheem Morris.

Johnson runs over defense: Tennessee running back Chris Johnson has been in a slump all season. Well, he found a surefire way to break that slump. Maybe he just needs to play against the Bucs every week. Johnson ran for a season-high 190 yards. Yeah, I know the Bucs lost defensive tackle Gerald McCoy to a season-ending injury and that didn’t help the defense. But even before McCoy got hurt, the Bucs were struggling to stop the run.

Talib’s time: We saw evidence Sunday why the Bucs are willing to put up with cornerback Aqib Talib and his assortment of off-field troubles. In the third quarter, Talib forced a fumble and intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown. The guy can cause headaches for ownership, the front office and the coaching staff, but Talib can play.

Mixed bag for Blount: Running back LeGarrette Blount rushed for 103 yards and actually made a contribution in the passing game, catching three passes for 56 yards. But Blount lost two fumbles. In fact, fumbles were a big problem for the Bucs. Receiver Mike Williams and Freeman each lost a fumble as well.

What’s next: The Bucs host the Carolina Panthers next Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.

A few thoughts on another loss for the NFC North's last-place team:

What it means: Down 17-0 at halftime, the Minnesota Vikings made it interesting but ultimately absorbed their ninth loss of the season. It's the franchise's first 2-9 start since 1962.

HarvinWatch: With tailback Adrian Peterson sidelined by a high ankle sprain, receiver/running back Percy Harvin was the team's lone remaining offensive playmaker. And Harvin made two huge plays to give the Vikings a chance in this game, hauling in a 39-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-13 in the fourth quarter and also returning a kickoff 104 yards to the Atlanta Falcons' 3-yard line with six minutes, 28 seconds remaining. Harvin caught eight passes for 95 yards and, including special teams, accounted for 200 all-purpose yards.

Late-game questions here: The final seven minutes in this game will be hotly debated among Vikings fans. Here are the primary questions: Even without Peterson, were the Vikings justified in using Harvin on two consecutive inside running plays on the goal line after his kickoff return? Should coach Leslie Frazier have challenged Harvin's second run, in which he appeared to have crossed the plane on second effort? Down by 10 points, should the Vikings have taken an easy field goal rather than go for a touchdown on fourth down? And should they have given the ball to tailback Toby Gerhart, who hasn't been much of an effective short-yardage runner in his career?

Opinion here: My quick reaction to those questions goes as following. I'm fine with using Harvin. He was the Vikings' best player Sunday. Frazier would have had nothing to lose by challenging the ruling on third down. I would have taken a field goal, but either way you need a field goal and a touchdown to force overtime. But handing the ball to Gerhart on fourth down, especially with a quarterback in Christian Ponder who excels at plays that give him a pass-run option on the outside, was the least defensible of the decisions we saw from Frazier and offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave.

Injury report: Already playing without safety Husain Abdullah and cornerbacks Antoine Winfield and Chris Cook, the Vikings lost safety Tyrell Johnson (hamstring) and cornerback Asher Allen (shoulder) during the game. I thought their defense played well considering they had Benny Sapp, on the street two weeks ago, playing at one cornerback spot and rookie Mistral Raymond at safety. The Vikings also lost long snapper Cullen Loeffler to a back injury. Defensive end Jared Allen did a flawless job as Loefller's replacement and even made a special teams tackle after his first snap.

What's next: The Vikings will host the Denver Broncos next Sunday at the Metrodome. Remember, the game has been moved from CBS to FOX. As of last week, the team had more than 5,000 tickets to sell to avoid a local television blackout.

Thoughts on the St. Louis Rams and Arizona Cardinals following the Cardinals' 23-20 victory at the Edward Jones Dome in Week 12:

What it means: Patrick Peterson's legend continues to grow after the Cardinals rookie scored on a punt return for the fourth time in his first 11 NFL games. The Rams, having lost to Arizona previously on Peterson's 99-yard return in overtime, will face tough questions about kicking to Peterson at all in this game. Little about this game will quell speculation about Steve Spagnuolo's future beyond this season as the Rams' head coach. The Rams' inability to stop the Cardinals' Beanie Wells from setting a franchise single-game record for rushing yards stands as another mark against Spagnuolo's defense.

What I liked: Wells, though limited by a knee injury in recent weeks, ran with power and speed in setting the Cardinals' single-game record for rushing yards. Wells carried 27 times for 228 yards. LeShon Johnson set the previous record with 214 yards against New Orleans in 1996. Wells' third-quarter touchdown run moved him past 150 yards while giving Arizona a 13-10 lead following Lance Kendricks's fumble. This was Wells' eighth touchdown of the season, a career high. Kendricks bounced back from his fumble to make a tough catch in traffic as the Rams moved into the red zone while trailing 20-13 in the final eight minutes. Rams quarterback Sam Bradford then found Brandon Lloyd for the tying 16-yard scoring reception.

What I didn't like: The teams with the most expensive quarterbacks in the NFC West struggled to get much going in the passing game. The Cardinals remained without injured starter Kevin Kolb, a disappointment after Kolb practiced during the week. The Rams had Bradford in the lineup, but they once again struggled through the air, in the red zone and in general for three-plus quarters. Kolb's backup, John Skelton, threw two more interceptions. He has five picks without a touchdown pass over the Cardinals' past two games. Turnovers were a problem for both teams. Josh Brown missed a 50-yard field-goal attempt that wound up being pivotal. Spagnuolo opted to pass on a late third-and-1, understandable given the state of his offensive line and his team's short-yardage problems against Arizona this season.

What's next: The Rams visit the San Francisco 49ers. The Cardinals are home against the Dallas Cowboys.

Thoughts on the Atlanta Falcons’ 24-14 victory against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at the Georgia Dome.

What it means: The Falcons continue to be a hard team to figure out. They came out and started fast. They looked like they were going to have a very easy time with the Vikings. But Atlanta let Minnesota back in the game in the third quarter and that made things more interesting than they should have been. That’s kind of been the story of Atlanta’s entire season. The Falcons have been maddeningly inconsistent and nothing has come easy for them. But the bottom line is the Falcons are 7-4. They’ve pulled even with the Saints, who play Monday night, and they’re very much a factor in the NFC South race.

Roddy’s on a roll: After starting the season very slowly, receiver Roddy White has come on strong in the past two games. White had his second straight 100-yard receiving game and caught a touchdown pass. Fellow receiver Julio Jones also returned from a hamstring injury. Jones didn’t show up big on the stat sheet, but his presence helped White, Harry Douglas and Tony Gonzalez have big games. That’s a big part of the reason the Falcons traded up in the draft to get Jones.

What I didn’t like: I don’t think it was by design, but middle linebacker Curtis Lofton wound up in deep coverage on Percy Harvin on a fourth-down play in the fourth quarter. Lofton is a solid linebacker, but he shouldn’t ever be put in a situation where he has to cover a speed receiver downfield.

Defense rising: I’ve said several times throughout the season that the NFC South race will come down to defense. I realize the Vikings were playing without Adrian Peterson and were starting rookie quarterback Christian Ponder. But the Atlanta defense shut the Vikings down. Minnesota had only two first downs in the first half. It took some time for things together, but Atlanta’s defense has played well in recent weeks and seems to be improving. If that continues, it could help the Falcons tremendously down the stretch.

What’s next: The Falcons travel to Houston to play the Texans next Sunday at Reliant Stadium.

Thoughts on the Carolina Panthers’ 27-19 victory against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at Lucas Oil Field.

What it means: You can diminish this win by saying it came against the worst team in the NFL. But any win is important for Carolina these days. This was the first win for the Panthers in more than a month. That’s significant, because the Panthers need to build some positive momentum the rest of the season to show that coach Ron Rivera and his young team are making progress. At 3-9, the Panthers need to use the rest of this season to build for next year. This was a start.

Note to Rivera and offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski: See what happens when you use DeAngelo Williams? He had a 25-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and a short touchdown run in the fourth. The Panthers certainly have done a nice job of improving their passing offense. But Chudzinski and Rivera need to remember they’ve got two very good running backs in Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Aside from receiver Steve Smith, Williams is the most explosive player on the offense. The Panthers need to remember that and keep Williams involved.

What I liked: The Panthers got second-year receiver Brandon LaFell more involved in the offense. That’s great. LaFell has had a pretty quiet career to this point. But he has some talent, and his size theoretically should make him a nice complement to Steve Smith.

What else I liked: Carolina’s defense played one of its better games of the season. Yeah, it came against an Indianapolis offense that’s not very good without Peyton Manning. But the Panthers have played so badly on defense most of the season that any sign of improvement is encouraging.

What’s next: The Panthers travel to Tampa Bay to play the Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium next Sunday.

Thoughts on the San Francisco 49ers' 16-6 road defeat to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 12:

What it means: The 49ers dropped to 9-2 and can no longer clinch the NFC West title in Week 12. Their offense was not ready to handle a physical, formidable defense in a big game on the road. This game served as a reminder that defense and special teams will not always be enough for San Francisco to beat strong opponents. But there's no reason for the 49ers to panic. They lost a hard-fought, low-scoring game to a playoff-tested opponent on a short week following a cross-country road trip. No shame there.

What I liked: The 49ers still have not allowed a rushing touchdown this season. This was also the 32nd consecutive game they've played without allowing a 100-yard rusher. Those are the longest active streaks in the NFL. Quarterback Alex Smith found Michael Crabtree for a first down on a third-and-17 play when the game was in danger of slipping away in the second half. Smith scrambled for a first down on a first-and-10 play shortly thereafter. David Akers connected on a 52-yard field-goal try, his sixth successful try in as many chances from 50 yards or longer. The 49ers' defense prevented Ravens receiver Torrey Smith from beating them deep.

What I didn't like: Two penalties against the 49ers made this game an uphill fight for them. A chop block against Frank Gore nullified a 75-yard touchdown pass from Alex Smith to Ted Ginn Jr. Later, the Ravens gained 50 yards when 49ers cornerback Tarell Brown committed pass interference while picking off a pass. The call against Gore seemed ticky-tack to me, but Mike Pereira, the Fox analyst and former NFL officiating czar, said the call was technically correct. The 49ers' offense had problems handling the Ravens' pass-rush, both physically and tactically. Losing right guard Adam Snyder to injury was one factor, but not the only one. Smith took nine sacks, the most for a 49ers team since 1952, according to Pro Football Reference. Smith appeared to lack quick options against pressure, a change from past weeks. Receiver Braylon Edwards was ineffective for the second week in a row. He could have done more to break up the deep pass Baltimore intercepted in the end zone right before halftime. The turnover prevented a field-goal try that could have tied the game. The 49ers were flagged for being offside on their first two kickoffs, the second week in a row special-teams penalties have gone against them. Ginn dropped a pass with 1:15 left when the 49ers trailed by 10, essentially ending the game.

Turning point: The 49ers held a roughly nine-minute advantage in time of possession after driving to the tying field goal on their first possession of the second half. They needed a defensive stop at that point to take control of the game. Instead, the 49ers gave up a 16-play, 76-yard touchdown drive consuming more than seven minutes.

Ravens had the better defense: This could have been a showcase game for Patrick Willis and the 49ers' defense. It was odd to see Ravens fullback Vonta Leach putting a pancake block on Willis early in the game.

Sack disparity: The 49ers allowed nine sacks and never sacked the Ravens. Not since 2006 had one team collected nine or more sacks while allowing none, according to Pro Football Reference.

What's next: The 49ers are home against the St. Louis Rams in Week 13.

Here are some thoughts on the Dallas Cowboys' 20-19 victory over the Miami Dolphins:

What it means: The Dolphins entered this week on a roll but had their three-game winning streak snapped. Miami was extremely competitive and there is no shame in losing to Dallas, which needed a last-minute field goal at home to win its fourth straight. Miami falls to 3-8 and is guaranteed its third consecutive non-winning season.

What I liked: There was a lot to like about Miami's performance. The Dolphins were sizable underdogs but forced five lead changes between the two teams. The Dolphins' starting cornerbacks played well. Sean Smith and Vontae Davis each recorded an interception against Dallas quarterback Tony Romo in the first quarter. That helped set the tone for Miami’s defense. Dolphins No. 1 receiver Brandon Marshall also had another big game. Marshall caught five passes for 103 yards, which included a 35-yard touchdown catch over Dallas cornerback Terence Newman.

What I didn’t like: It's hard to fault Miami's defense. But the Dolphins needed one key defensive stand in the fourth quarter and didn't get it. The Dolphins led 16-10 and 19-17 in the fourth quarter but blew both leads. Romo was masterful late in the game and made several clutch throws against Miami's secondary. Other than that, Miami’s defense performed well.

MooreWatch: Matt Moore continues to make his case to be Miami's starting quarterback beyond this season. Moore put forth another good performance against a tough Dallas defense. He was 19-for-32 passing for 288 yards and a touchdown. He also had a 99.5 passer rating. Moore fell to 3-4 as Miami's starter this season but played well in his past four games.

What's next: The Dolphins have 10 days off to prepare for a home game against the AFC West-leading Oakland Raiders (6-4). It will be another chance for Miami to play spoiler against a playoff contender. The Dolphins have won their last two home games.