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FALLING

1. The Houston Texans' confidence: They will say otherwise, but coming off of two bad losses the Texans have to be wondering about themselves. They got pushed around by Carolina, and their vaunted defense fell apart in the final minutes, allowing the Colts to drive to a game-winning touchdown. I was among those questioning this team’s mental makeup coming into the season. I thought they’d answered that question resoundingly as they ran away with the division. Is it creeping back in now?

2. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ dealings with tight ends: Marcedes Lewis will be a headliner on the AFC South All Disappointment Team, and if not for Chris Johnson, he’d be the captain. Saturday in Nashville, he pulled up on one ball across the middle for fear of a hit from notorious thumper Michael Griffin, the Titans safety (#sarcasm). On the other end, the defense let Tennessee’s Jared Cook run wild. The coverage call on Cook’s 55-yard touchdown pass that sent the safeties wide and left middle linebacker Paul Posluszny covering Cook deep down the middle was disastrous.

3. The Houston Texans’ third-down offense: On last week’s list, it was third-down defense. The Colts allowed them just one conversion in 10 chances, and that one came on a pass that bounced off Antoine Bethea twice. This team can win with games centered on defense and the run game. But if the offense can’t convert third downs and stay on the field for some extended drives, the strain on those two areas becomes too much and the margin of error shrivels.

RISING

1. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver: He talked leading up to the Colts' home finale about wanting to go out with a bang in case it turned out to be his last game as a Colt at Lucas Oil Stadium. I saw one early route where I thought his effort was questionable. But he sure cranked it up as Dan Orlovsky threw his direction 14 times. He pulled in eight receptions for 106 yards and cradled the game-winning touchdown after a 1-yard catch that provided the winning margin for Indianapolis in its second consecutive win. He’s heading toward free agency and it’s clear he can still produce. How much longer is the question.

2. The Tennessee Titans’ discipline: Mike Munchak has preached discipline from his first day as the Titans coach. Saturday, when he didn’t get a postgame question about a penalty-free performance, he didn’t leave the podium before jokingly pointing it out. It was the first time the franchise didn’t draw a flag in a game since 1972. Meanwhile the Titans benefited from six calls against the Jaguars that gave Tennessee 28 yards and three first downs.

3. Jared Cook, Tennessee Titans tight end: Following the best game for a tight end in franchise history -- 169 yards -- he’s in range of the franchise record for tight end receiving yards in a season. He’s a receiver-like threat who I believe has been under-used by offensive coordinator Chris Palmer and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck since Kenny Britt went down early in the season. Cook killed the Titans with a lost fumble in the loss at Indianapolis. The effort against the Jaguars was an excellent rebound. The Titans need to find ways to get him the ball Sunday at Reliant Stadium.

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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.

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FALLING

1. LeGarrette Blount, Buccaneers running back. He lost a fumble on Tampa Bay’s first offensive play against Carolina and coach Raheem Morris benched Blount, who has had fumbling problems all season, until the second half. Tampa Bay has all sorts of problems, but if you asked me to single out the biggest culprit among the players, I’d go with Blount. He ran for 1,000 yards as a rookie in just about half a season and probably won’t do that for this full season unless he runs wild in the finale against Atlanta. Yeah, like that’s going to happen. My main gripe with Blount is that he’s held back the entire offense because the coaches won’t use him as a pass-catcher or pass-blocker. If you haven’t learned to pass block by the end of your second NFL season, you probably never will pick it up.

2. Atlanta’s defense. I’m sure some members of the Falcons’ organization aren’t happy the Saints were still throwing the ball late in Monday night’s game. Understandable because the Saints did push the limits of decorum a little bit. But there’s an easy way for a defense to prevent that. Play better earlier in the game and you won’t put yourself in a situation where a team is blowing you out.

3. Michael Turner, Falcons running back. He carried 11 times for 39 yards Monday night. I know the Falcons had to go away from the running game after they fell behind. But this was the fifth straight game in which Turner has failed to rush for 100 yards. He has been on the injury report with a groin problem in recent weeks. Makes you wonder if the injury might be holding him back.

RISING

1. Drew Brees, Saints quarterback. His stock has hit an all-time high and that’s saying something. He broke Dan Marino’s record for passing yards in a season and he did it in a victory. Brees is having a season for the ages, but he has made it clear it will only be meaningful if it culminates with a second Super Bowl title.

2. Brandon LaFell, Panthers receiver. He had his first career 100-yard receiving game against Tampa Bay and that included a 91-yard touchdown catch, the longest in franchise history. A lot of people say the Panthers should draft a receiver early and pair him with Steve Smith. I say that’s not necessary. They invested an early pick in LaFell last year. It often takes receivers some time to develop. Plus, Carolina put in a whole new offense this season. LaFell seems to be picking it up and the coaches are happy with his progress. David Gettis, who missed his second season with an injury, also will be back next year. Put LaFell and Gettis with Smith and the Panthers might already be set at receiver.

3. Darren Sproles, Saints running back. He sort of got lost in Brees’ shadow, but Sproles had another huge all-around game Monday night. He rushed five times for 67 yards, caught two passes for 22 yards and a touchdown and added a 92-yard kickoff return. The biggest difference I see between last year’s Saints and this year’s team is the addition of Sproles. He has brought different elements to the offense and the special teams.

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FALLING

1. The Texans’ third-down defense: The Panthers converted 9 of 14 third downs against the Texans on Sunday, the sort of number that’s hard to survive. Houston’s been very good on third down this season, and it’s been a key to its defensive and overall success. But the Texans have slipped in recent weeks in the category. After Week 13, they were second in the league in third-down defense. In just three weeks they’ve dropped to eighth. It’s tough to move that much that quickly in season rankings. They must end the trend if they intend to secure one of the top seeds and increase the potential for more than one game at home.

2. The Jaguars’ national credibility: They played two of their last three games on national television in prime time and did nothing to offset the national reputation they often complain about. Nobody will remember the Dec. 11 41-14 home win over Tampa Bay because it was sandwiched by a "Monday Night Football" 38-14 loss to San Diego and the 41-14 "Thursday Night Football" debacle in Atlanta. The wheels came off in a way even the biggest Jaguars pessimist probably couldn’t have envisioned, and the offseason can’t arrive soon enough.

3. Tommie Campbell, Tennessee Titans special-teamer: He got flagged for four penalties on special teams in Indianapolis, including two 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. It was the sort of undisciplined showing that Mike Munchak has called unacceptable, and to the coach’s credit, Campbell was benched -- though it might have come a bit earlier. Campbell is a blazing fast, great athlete with a future as a cornerback for the Titans if he can avoid the combination of boneheaded plays and temper issues. But he’s got to get past such things if he wants to remain in the plan.

RISING

1. Pat Angerer, Indianapolis Colts linebacker: He’s had a great season flying around and making plays. Against the Titans, he keyed an excellent defensive effort, forcing a Jared Cook fumble that killed Tennessee momentum and picking off a bad ball from Matt Hasselbeck. In a season with so many lousy storylines for the Colts, Angerer has emerged as a reliable tackling machine who can play the run and the pass. He is definitely a piece of what the team will build around. He moved to the middle from the strong side when Gary Brackett suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in the opener. It will be difficult to take Angerer out of the spot now.

2. The image of the AFC South as a terrible division: We had to turn something negative into a riser here after bad losses by three of our four teams. Even with their win, the Colts remain the worst team in the league with a 1-13 record and the Jaguars rank in or near the bottom five. Tennessee is a completely average 7-7 and the Texans, after the loss to Carolina, rank as just the third-best division leader/winner in the AFC. The division has four fewer wins than any other.

3. Donald Brown, Indianapolis Colts running back: He’s largely regarded as a bust, but it’s not completely fair. He’s remembered for a blown pass protection that drew the ire of Peyton Manning, and he doesn’t have a fully rounded game. He’s spent a lot of time in the doghouse and not been used as much as may be warranted. He can run, and he showed it in the win over the Titans, even before a great, freelanced 80-yard touchdown run that secured the win and made Tennessee’s defense look foolish. His 161-yard day should earn him more opportunities.

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FALLING

1. New York Jets: How do you explain a team on a three-game winning streak and fighting for a playoff spot laying the type of egg the Jets did on Sunday? You can't. Jets head coach Rex Ryan was shocked and at a loss for words after his team didn't show up in a 45-19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Jets were flat-out beat in every phase. It was New York's worse loss in two years. Fortunately, New York (8-6) still controls its own destiny. The Jets need to win their final two games against the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins to secure the final seed in the AFC. Both are winnable games. But you just never know which Jets team will show up.

2. Buffalo Bills' third-down offense: What happened to Buffalo's offense? The Bills could not stay on the field in the first three quarters in a loss to the Miami Dolphins. Buffalo was 0-for-11 on third down and eventually fell behind 30-13. The offense warmed up in the fourth quarter, but it was too late. What's even more embarrassing is that Buffalo couldn't get a first-down conversion against Miami all season.

3. Wayne Hunter, Jets right tackle: Hunter allowed three sacks to Eagles defensive end Jason Babin. It was another poor performance in a string of bad games Hunter has had this season. The Jets have no depth at offensive tackle and are forced to keep the struggling Hunter in the lineup. He's pushed around way too often, which puts Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez at risk.

RISING

1. Aaron Hernandez, New England Patriots tight end: The Denver Broncos were so focused on Rob Gronkowski that they forgot about New England's other tight end. Hernandez ran circles around the Broncos with nine catches for 129 yards and a touchdown. He killed single coverage and showed why he’s also one of the top tight ends in the NFL. Hernandez could be key for the Patriots in the playoffs if opponents continue to focus on "Gronk."

2. Reggie Bush, Dolphins running back: Bush is proving that he can be a feature back. Bush dominated Buffalo’s defense with 203 yards and a touchdown. Bush needs just 27 yards for his first 1,000-yard season. Many questioned the Bush signing in Miami, but Bush has proven to be one of the best free-agent signings in the AFC East.

3. C.J. Spiller, Bills running back: Spiller had his most complete game, albeit in a losing effort. The 2010 first-round pick rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Spiller also had nine receptions for 76 yards. He accounted for a majority of Buffalo's offense and is making a good impression after the season-ending leg injury to Fred Jackson. It remains to be seen whether Spiller can be a feature back, but he's showing potential.

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FALLING

1. The health of the Jacksonville Jaguars: They’ve placed 27 guys on injured reserve this season, more than half a roster of names. Not all of them would have made a difference. But five starters on defense are gone, including three of the four starters in the secondary. It’s a crazy run of bad luck. The offense was going to hold the franchise back this season. But the rebuild of the defense was quite good, and if they had something close to their full stable they’d be awfully good on that side of the ball. A little context: The Colts were battered last season and we thought their injury count was extraordinary. They put 17 players on IR.

2. The playoff hopes of the Tennessee Titans: The loss to New Orleans stung because the Titans could have won the game at the end. Although Jake Locker played well, he couldn’t punch it in in multiple chances from close range. Considering how good Matt Hasselbeck has been in the red zone, people are missing the boat on how much the team missed him. Now, Tennessee needs three wins in a row and some help to get the last wild card berth. It’s not impossible, but winning three division games in a row is a giant challenge.

3. Anthony Castonzo, Indianapolis left tackle: The Colts did their part to help Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs’ bid for defensive player of the year, allowing him three sacks, two tackles for a loss and three forced fumbles in the Ravens' 24-10 win in Baltimore. The outside linebacker is a handful for even the best blockers, and he was a giant mismatch for Castonzo, a rookie. How about giving him more help? Quarterback Dan Orlovsky deserves mention here, too. He’s got to have some sense of when trouble is coming and protect the ball. He fumbled on all three of Suggs’ sacks, and was super-lucky that his team recovered all three loose balls.

RISING

1. The good vibe in Houston: The city’s been absolutely starving for this, and the assurance of the first NFL playoff appearance for Houston’s NFL entry since 1993 was greeted with much fanfare. I watched highlights of the impromptu rally that greeted the team upon its return from Cincinnati, and it was easy to get caught up in the emotions. Players who addressed the crowd hit just the right tone between enjoying the moment and marking it as the start of something, not the conclusion of anything. A bye and homefield advantage are still in play and give the Texans plenty of reasons to keep things going.

2. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars running back: He’s a singular weapon for the Jaguars, who rode him in a big way in their blowout win over Tampa Bay. He scored twice on the ground and twice on pass receptions while gaining 136 yards on 33 touches. The team went into the season talking about not relying on him too much, but he’s taken a league-high 277 handoffs to get to the NFL lead with 1,222 rushing yards. He’s scored seven rushing touchdowns, and no other Jaguar has found the end zone on the ground. He’s got 35 catches for 338 yards and three more scores. For those who’ve feared he’d wear down late in the season, he’s showing no signs of dropoff.

3. Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans quarterback: He didn’t get the Titans in the end zone in several chances at the end and he missed on too many passes. Still, against a tough defense, the Titans rookie quarterback played well when called on to relieve the injured Hasselbeck. His rushing touchdown was especially impressive, as he went airborne but managed to reach the ball inside the pylon. That’s the highlight/symbolic play so far to illustrate what he can do and why they are so excited about him. That said, the team needs a healthy Hasselbeck to maximize the playoff chance this season.

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FALLING

1. Miami Dolphins' offensive line: There is a reason one starting quarterback (Chad Henne) is on injured reserve and the other (Matt Moore) could miss this week's game with concussion-like symptoms. Miami's offensive line is solid at run blocking but horrible sometimes at pass protection. The Dolphins allowed nine sacks in last week's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Miami lost Moore in the game and finished with backup quarterback J.P. Losman. If Moore can't return, Losman would start against his former team, the Buffalo Bills, on Sunday.

2. New England Patriots' pass defense: The Patriots gave up 293 passing yards against Washington. There have been weeks New England allowed more yards, but considering the competition, this was one of the worst performances I've seen from the Patriots' secondary this season. Washington quarterback Rex Grossman looked like Joe Montana at times. Redskins receivers were running free all game. It's a combination of poor coverage and poor discipline -- a season-long issue. I'm not sure New England can fix this before the playoffs.

3. Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick: Buffalo's franchise quarterback is in a tough spot. His team is playing poorly, and Fitzpatrick has a lot of pressure because of his $59 million contract extension. The Bills have lost six in a row, and Fitzpatrick has been very streaky. He threw for 176 yards and two interceptions in a 37-10 loss to the San Diego Chargers. Critics are questioning whether Fitzpatrick is the long-term solution. He can silence them with a string of good games to end the season.

RISING

1. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots tight end: I don't know whether Gronkowski is the best tight end in the NFL. But Gronkowski is playing the best football of any tight end the past few weeks. "Gronk" recorded six receptions for 160 yards and two touchdowns against Washington. He set a new scoring record for tight ends with 15 touchdowns this year. The scary part is that he's only 22 and in his second season.

2. Shonn Greene, New York Jets running back: Greene has made a habit of saving his best for last. New York's bruising running back is again playing his best football late in the season and has four rushing touchdowns the last two weeks. Greene recorded a season-high 129 rushing yards and a touchdown in New York's 37-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. He also led the Jets with 58 receiving yards. It's no coincidence New York (8-5) has won three in a row and has become one of the hottest teams in the AFC.

3. Todd Bowles, Miami Dolphins interim coach: Bowles has a golden opportunity. He was promoted to interim head coach after the firing of Tony Sparano this week. Bowles is a long shot to be Miami's head coach in 2012, but these final three games are a showcase for him. Unlike many interim coaches, Bowles takes over a Miami team that is playing good football lately. The Dolphins are 4-2 in their last six games.

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FALLING

1. Josh McDaniels, St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator. The Rams were more than a few play calls away from beating the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night. Still, it was tough to justify the Rams' play selection near the goal line. Sending injured quarterback Sam Bradford on a naked bootleg made no sense. Running five consecutive plays from the 1 before finally handing off to Steven Jackson was also a head-scratcher. The joke will be on the rest of us, however, if McDaniels becomes a candidate to succeed Todd Haley as the Kansas City Chiefs' head coach.

2. Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers quarterback. Smith suffered through arguably his worst game of the season during a 21-19 defeat at Arizona. He completed less than half his passes, averaged less than five yards per attempt and took five sacks. Smith finished the game with a 9.4 Total QBR score, his lowest of the season. He was not the only one to blame, of course. Pass protection was shaky. The running game was inconsistent. Play calling was questionable at times.

3. Kevin Kolb, Arizona Cardinals quarterback. It's tough ranking any Cardinals player on the falling list after the team ended a five-game losing streak to the 49ers. This was a rough one for Kolb on a personal level, however. He took a sack, lost a fumble and absorbed a concussion on the Cardinals' third offensive play. Kolb left the game and missed a chance to build on his performance against Dallas the previous week. He has now missed four full games and most of a fifth.

RISING

1. Ken Whisenhunt, Arizona Cardinals head coach. The Cardinals have won five of their last six games to claw their way back from a 1-6 start to the season. This was the sort of reversal Cardinals ownership needed to see after the team had gone 3-15 over an 18-game period. Whisenhunt preached patience. He was right about the defense needing time under a first-year coordinator. He was right about the team developing younger talent on defense. He was right about the season turning eventually. Whisenhunt could not catch a break previously, but he caught a big one Sunday. His attempt to challenge a 49ers reception prevented San Francisco from running a successful fake field goal. The turnabout produced at least a 10-point swing for Arizona.

2. Doug Baldwin, Seattle Seahawks receiver. The undrafted rookie opened the game with a 37-yard kickoff return. He blocked one punt, downed another at the St. Louis 6-yard line and added a 29-yard touchdown reception. Baldwin was one of several young Seattle players making a positive impact. Rookie linebacker K.J. Wright finished the game with eight total tackles, three tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, one sack and one pass defensed.

3. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals receiver. Yes, Fitzgerald's stock is already through the roof. He gets special mention here following a performance that was extraordinary even by his standards. Seven receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown told only part of the story. Fitzgerald threw the key block on Early Doucet's 60-yard touchdown. He helped limit the 49ers to a field goal by tackling Dashon Goldson during an interception return. He turned a potential Goldson interception into a spectacular leaping grab and 46-yard touchdown for Arizona. Fitzgerald set up another Cardinals score with a 53-yard catch-and-run.

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FALLING

1. Buffalo Bills' defense: Buffalo has lost five consecutive games, and the biggest reason is its inconsistent defense. The Bills can't stop the run or rush the passer. That leaves very little hope on game day. Buffalo had only one sack and allowed Tennessee Titans tailback Chris Johnson to rush for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Injuries to players such as defensive tackle Kyle Williams, linebacker Shawne Merriman and safety George Wilson have contributed to Buffalo's struggles. But the Bills need to make it a point in the offseason to add more depth and defensive playmakers.

2. New England Patriots' fourth-quarter defense: I'm not going to make a huge deal about it, but the Patriots allowed 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to the winless Indianapolis Colts. It's clear the Patriots took their foot off the pedal. But Indianapolis is 0-12 and had Dan Orlovsky at quarterback. The Colts shouldn't score 21 unanswered points against anybody. Before Sunday's game, the Colts had scored 21 points or more just once in an entire game. The Patriots allowed that many points in one period.

3. New York Jets' passing offense: There are times when the Jets' passing offense makes you scratch your head -- the quarterback misses throws or receivers will run the wrong routes and aren't on the same page. There has been a lot of that lately with the Jets, at least in the first three quarters. New York's passing game isn't waking up until the end of games, and that's saved the Jets in back-to-back weeks. Quarterback Mark Sanchez struggled against the Washington Redskins but saved his best throws for last. The Jets have little margin for error and need the passing game to be there consistently.

RISING

1. Miami Dolphins' running game: The Oakland Raiders were completely run over by Miami. The Dolphins recorded 209 rushing yards and had great performances from two tailbacks. Reggie Bush had 100 yards rushing and rookie Daniel Thomas added 73 yards on the ground. Miami's offensive line dominated in the trenches. It even led to frustration by Oakland defensive lineman Richard Seymour, who hit offensive lineman Richie Incognito in the face and was ejected.

2. C.J. Spiller, Bills running back: Spiller gets an unexpected and late audition to be the main running back in Buffalo. Fred Jackson's leg injury has the 2010 first-round pick in the spotlight. Based on Spiller's first two starts, he is making progress. He had his best game as a pro against Tennessee, running for a career-high 83 yards and a touchdown. Spiller could have done more. But Buffalo went away from the running game too early, despite Spiller's averaging 5.9 yards per carry.

3. Aaron Maybin, Jets linebacker: "Mayhem" continues to get to the quarterback for the Jets. Maybin recorded his third sack in two games in Sunday’s victory over Washington. Maybin, signed by the Jets in late September after he was released by the Bills, has quietly been a solid pickup for New York. Maybin's sacks are making an impact — he has five in New York's victories and just one in New York's losses.

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

FALLING

1. The Jaguars’ ability to score points: OK, it’s not fair to say it's falling. It’s been poor all season and showed no sign of improving. The Jaguars came back from a 10-0 deficit against San Diego on Monday night to take a 14-10 lead. But once San Diego got more than 20 points, the game was over –- the Jaguars haven’t scored 21 points all season. And the Chargers were over 30 before the fourth quarter started on their way to a 38-14 victory. With Blaine Gabbert quarterbacking and Maurice Jones-Drew as the offensive centerpiece, this isn’t a team that can make much of a charge from behind.

2. The luck of Andre Johnson, Houston Texans receiver: For the second time this season, Johnson went down while running without taking any contact, victim of a hamstring injury. Last time cost him six games. This time it’s the other leg and doesn’t appear nearly as serious. Although the Texans are calling him day-to-day, they could again be without their top weapon in the passing game. Absent Johnson, teams can load up to stop Arian Foster and Ben Tate, taking their chances against rookie quarterback T.J. Yates as he looks to less-threatening downfield weapons.

3. Offensive line play in Indianapolis: The offensive line has actually played better much of this season than we could have reasonably expected, especially once the injuries started to pile up. Now it’s struggling with penalties and giving up sacks. In New England, the line accounted for four of the Colts’ five penalties with false starts and holding. With the minimal margin for error, they simply can’t afford that. A hold that might save a hit it one thing, but a false start is the sort of undisciplined stuff that gets bad teams killed.

RISING

1. Gary Kubiak, Houston Texans coach: He gave credit to offensive coordinator Rick Dennison and quarterbacks coach Greg Knapp for a sleepless week working to get Yates ready and teach two new backups the system. But Kubiak calls the Texans' plays, and Yates made a solid showing in his first NFL start. Jim Harbaugh might run away with coach-of-the-year honors for his work turning San Francisco around, but that seems only slightly more improbable to me than what Houston’s doing considering its injuries. While defensive coordinator Wade Phillips gets a lot of credit for the transformation, here’s a small bid for giving Kubiak his fair share.

2. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans running back: He’s here a second week in a row after a second big game in a row, and this one came after he lost weight because he was so sick in the days leading up to the team’s trip to Buffalo. The Titans have waited and waited, and Johnson finally looks like he’s back to the form that earned him a giant contract after his holdout this summer. To make a push for a wild-card spot out of a division the Texans are very likely to win, the Titans will need more big contributions and explosive plays from Johnson. Everyone was getting blame when it was bad, as coach Mike Munchak pointed out, everyone should get some of the credit now.

3. Taylor Price, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver: A third-round choice by the Patriots in 2010 out of Ohio University, he didn’t make a mark with receiver-needy New England. But the Jaguars are even more receiver-needy. They got him Monday with a waiver claim, and even if Price does nothing in the remainder of the season, he’s a good piece to add to the mix for the upcoming offseason. The 90th overall pick by a team that drafts well is definitely worth a look, and even if the team really addresses the position in free agency and the draft, Price could have an opportunity to stick in Jacksonville.

» 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-yard average 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. Steve Johnson, Buffalo Bills wide receiver: Johnson (eight receptions, 75 yards) had success against New York Jets Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis. But his antics and dropped passes were crucial in Buffalo’s 28-24 defeat. Johnson got a 15-yard penalty for his controversial touchdown celebration mocking Jets receiver Plaxico Burress’ accidental shooting. That helped the Jets score a touchdown before halftime in a close game. Johnson also dropped a potential score and failed to make a tough catch in the end zone on Buffalo‘s final drive. Johnson apologized to his team after the game. He made an even smarter move Monday when he apologized to Burress. Still, the NFL is expected to fine Johnson.

2. Bills’ defense: Buffalo gave up four touchdown passes to Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez and allowed 6.0 yards per carry. The Bills didn’t generate any pass rush. They had zero sacks against the Jets, who often struggle with pass protection. Buffalo needs to take a hard look at this group in the offseason and find ways to improve. The Bills do not do anything particularly well defensively.

3. Darrelle Revis, Jets cornerback: It wasn’t a typical shutdown game for Revis. Johnson made some tough catches and gave Revis more trouble than any receiver I’ve seen this season. Most of the plays were not for big gains, and the Jets said afterwards that the game plan was to keep everything in front of them. It’s kind of odd that a receiver catching for 75 yards on Revis is considered a bad game. But that’s how high his standards are.

RISING

1.Tom Brady, New England Patriots quarterback: It looks like “Tom Terrific” is back. Brady has been in elite form lately, including this past Sunday’s masterful performance in a 38-20 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Brady threw for 361 yards and three touchdowns. He had the second-highest Total Quarterback Rating in Week 12. With a cupcake schedule, expect Brady to continue to boost his numbers on his way to the playoffs.

2. Mark Sanchez, Jets quarterback: Say what you want about Sanchez, but he comes through in the big moments. There was no bigger moment this season than New York’s 82-yard drive that kept the team’s playoff hopes alive. Sanchez was 7-for-9 for 65 yards on that drive and made two huge throws to Burress and Santonio Holmes. But Sanchez needs to be more consistent in the first three quarters.

3. Matt Moore, Miami Dolphins quarterback: Moore completes the quarterback sweep this week. I don’t think Moore is the long-term solution in Miami. But he’s at least making me consider the concept. He’s had a string of good performances, including a season-high 288 yards and a touchdown in a 20-19 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving. Moore, who is under contract next year, might at least get a chance to compete with the Dolphins next year depending on whom the team and new coach bring in.

» 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

Sean McDermott, Panthers defensive coordinator. He was hired by first-year head coach Ron Rivera, who comes with a defensive background. Plus, McDermott and Rivera were following a head coach (John Fox) who was all about defense. But the Panthers have been terrible on defense, and it seems they keep getting worse. They rank No. 27 in the league in total defense and allowed 49 points to Detroit on Sunday. This isn’t all on McDermott by any means. Carolina’s defense has been depleted by some big injuries that started way back in training camp. But even with injuries, a young defense should show some improvement as a season goes on.

The defensive coordinator in Tampa Bay. Yep, that’s head coach Raheem Morris. The Bucs are No. 31 in total defense and much of the blame for that should fall on Morris. There is some talent on the defensive side, but the Bucs seem to be regressing in this area. Since Morris bounced defensive coordinator Jim Bates in the middle of the 2009 season, it has been difficult to figure out Tampa Bay’s defensive identity, although the word “mediocre’’ would be a fitting term. The Bucs don’t stop the run well, generate very little pressure up front and, and despite some talent in the secondary, give up some big pass plays.

Kellen Winslow, Buccaneers tight end. If you look only at the numbers (nine catches for 132 yards), Winslow had a good game against Green Bay on Sunday. But numbers don’t tell the whole story. Winslow had a touchdown called back because he was called for offensive pass interference. He also dropped a pass that should have given the Bucs an easy two-point conversion.

RISING

Sean Payton, Saints coach. We use the term "rising" literally here. Although Payton was back on the sideline in the last game before the bye, he was on crutches and trying to stay out of harm’s way. But the leg and knee injuries that caused Payton to sit in the press box for three games are healing nicely. On Monday night against the Giants, Payton should be much more mobile, and that should help him get a better feel for the game.

Matt Ryan, Falcons quarterback. Ryan threw for 316 yards in Sunday’s victory against Tennessee. That gave him the first back-to-back 300-yard games of his career. Ryan struggled with consistency – a common theme for everyone in Atlanta – earlier in the season. But he seems to be on a good path right now, and that could come in handy as the Falcons try to make a playoff push.

Roddy White, Falcons receiver. He played his best game of the season Sunday, with a season-high 147 receiving yards. With White seemingly getting on track and the possible return of Julio Jones from a hamstring injury, Atlanta suddenly could have the high-powered passing game that many of us expected at the start of the season.