The AFC is a little clearer, but only because most are writing off the Jets, and only a handful think the Ravens are ready to return to the big game.

The Colts remain the team to beat. Unlike the Saints, Vikings and Eagles, their losses weren’t caused by a sudden attack of incompetence but by the team’s own indifference to winning. Still, the very idea that losing is OK takes a the glow off their image. Their light doesn’t shine as brightly as when they were 14-0. Plus, there were way too many times this year when the Colts needed to play heroically in the second half to eke out a victory. That’s not a formula for playoff success.

Until Indy can take the final two weeks off and then enjoy a bye week — a three-week vacation — and then turn it on again, they can’t be called favorites to do anything other than leave their fans wondering where it all went wrong.

No problem, a handicapper would say. The Chargers are the top team. They’re the team with the quarterback who has never lost a game in December. They’ve run off 11 straight wins and are the hottest team around. Plus, they seem to have the Colts’ number.

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

And yet the Chargers, too, have this problem with postseason disappointment. They’ve been to the Super Bowl just once, when they got scalded by the 49ers. Like the Saints, they have a ton of bad memories to drag through the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the Patriots lost possession receiver Wes Welker, the defense is suspect and the Bengals are coming off a thrashing by the Jets.

It was all so simple a month ago. The Saints were going to play the Colts, and maybe both teams would be undefeated. And there’s no question we would have worked ourselves into a lather over the prospect.

It’s hardly simple anymore. There are no true favorites in this wide-open tournament, but there are plenty of outstanding and powerful teams. It may not be legendary, but it should be memorable.

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