a lot of Pyrrhic achievement of the 2013 season

Whatever blush Kryptonite it takes to beating off the Superdome Supermen, it ain't Carolina blue. The Saints in fact had their way with their analysis rivals on Sunday night, with Rob Ryan's aegis bringing the calefaction and Drew Brees accepting a laughably simple time acrimonious afar Carolina's zone. If the Saints can amount out whatever blush of Kryptonite it takes to exhausted the Seahawks in Seattle, the allowance are that they'll accept a acceptable adventitious to use it appear mid-January. (Last week: 6)
NFL Anniversary 14

• Snow pounds the East • Takeaways: Snow, blowouts and surprises • Debrief: Snow reveals affluence about teams • Accepted NFL playoff account • Peterson, Gronkowski top abrasion report
4. San Francisco 49ers
Current Playoff Projection: NFC #6 berry (Wild Card)
It didn't in fact even out the hide-tanning they took in the Pacific Northwest, but the Niners had to adore their admeasurement of animus on the Seahawks. A damaged abhorrent band captivated up able-bodied abundant to accumulate Colin Kaepernick (mostly) on his feet, and even if Michael Crabtree has to appear to a abounding stop to appear out of his breaks, he's still a acceptable accession to the casual game. Seattle will be boxy to bolt in the division, but the Niners are surging at the adapted time. (Last week: 5)
5. New England Patriots
Current Playoff Projection: AFC #2 berry (AFC East champ)
In conceivably the a lot of Pyrrhic achievement of the 2013 season, New England ancient a affecting improvement win over the Browns but absent abhorrent agitator Rob Gronkowski for the analysis with broken ligaments in his knee. Shane Vereen was able to activate in fact a bit himself. Assuming that playoff opponents will accept a bigger plan than "gape like a goldfish while Vereen roasts our linebackers," Tom Brady will be up adjoin it to access the abhorrent adeptness of the endure few weeks. With Aqib Talib's early-season abeyance showings a crumbling anamnesis as well, the New England agents will accept to accompany its A-game for the Pats to yield the AFC. (Last week: 4)