Steelers’ struggles could sink their playoff hopes

Detroit has its star
This will be a successful season for the Lions no matter what happens; they found a quarterback.

It’s one thing for Matthew Stafford to rack up 422 yards and five touchdowns against Cleveland. But capping it off with a 88-yard game drive that ended with a touchdown throw after a serious shoulder injury is the type of performance on which NFL legends are made. The kid may miss his first Thanksgiving game in Detroit, but it was worth it.

Jets completely grounded
Whatever flicker of hope the 2009 Jets had before Sunday has been extinguished. Mark Sanchez has enjoyed plenty of strong moments this year, but the NFL is a passing league more than ever. And the Jets can’t pass the ball consistently. The Patriots didn’t get much pressure on Sanchez, but their coverage schemes confused him. The Jets were never a team with a big margin for error, and that margin eroded after Leon Washington and Kris Jenkins were injured. Sanchez has thrown 14 interceptions during New York’s 1-6 slide.

Patriots continue to rise — with Welker
All the talk about Darrelle Revis and Randy Moss was misplaced. Wes Welker was the missing ingredient in New England’s Week 2 loss, and the key to the Patriots’ 31-14 win over the Jets. He’s got 80 catches already despite missing two games!

Slideshow   Week 17 action Take a look at shots from the NFL's 17th week of play in 2009. NBCSports.com

Tom Brady’s ACL surgery and the concerns about his post-surgery accuracy is a distant memory now, and it’s largely because of Welker’s health. The Patriots offense certainly didn’t start out like the ’07 Patriots, but they have a good chance to finish stronger than them.

Chargers rising, Broncos falling
What a difference a month makes. On October 19, the Broncos won in San Diego to go to 6-0, pushing the Chargers to 2-3. The Chargers have won five straight times since, and the Broncos have lost four.

San Diego’s 32-3 win over the Broncos didn’t just put them in the driver’s seat for the AFC West, it gave them a chance to get a bye in the AFC. Philip Rivers has played like a MVP candidate all season, but San Diego’s defense has steadily improved. The outside linebackers are once against getting pressure.

Whoa. The Jags are 6-4?
No team underwhelms while winning like the Jaguars. They made Ryan Fitzpatrick to Terrell Owens look like Jim Kelly to Andre Reed, but a late touchdown pass from David Garrard to Mike Sims-Walker was enough to win 18-15.

Bills interim head coach Perry Fewell had his team playing hard, but he also managed the clock like Les Miles. At 6-4, the Jaguars are right in the playoff race. They have saved Jack Del Rio’s job for another year, but this isn’t a very good team.

NFL game stories Quick look at Week 3 games JETS 31, DOLPHINS 23: Edwards returns to makes key TD catch  |    Highlights COWBOYS 27, TEXANS 13: Dallas avoids rare 0-3 start  |    Romo excited FALCONS 27, SAINTS 24, OT: Champs miss short FG in OT  |    Saints explain loss TITANS 29, GIANTS 10: Johnson scores 2 TDs  |    Coughlin takes blame EAGLES 28, JAGUARS 3: Vick makes Reid's decision look great  |    QB thrilled COLTS 27, BRONCOS 13: Manning throws 3 TD passes VIKINGS 24, LIONS 10: Peterson's career-long 80-yard TD keys win PATRIOTS 38, BILLS 30: 14th straight win in series for New England SEAHAWKS 27, CHARGERS 20: Washington has two kickoff returns for TDs CHIEFS 31, 49ERS 10: K.C. 3-0 for first time since '03  |    Chiefs confident STEELERS 38, BUCCANEERS 13: Batch shines in first start in 3 years RAMS 30, REDSKINS 16: Only second win in last 29 games for St. Louis RAVENS 24, BROWNS 17: Flacco fires 3 TD passes BENGALS 20, PANTHERS 7: Clausen struggles in first NFL start CARDINALS 24, RAIDERS 23: Janikowski misses 32-yard FG on final play