The New England Patriots are last in the league in defense, allowing 404.2 yards per game, a notion that would have seemed ludicrous for almost any Bill Belichick team in almost any other year.
They have showed signs of aging, of shaky personnel decisions and a general lack of momentum.
And yet they could finish the season 13-3.
For despite their blemishes, the Patriots sit atop the AFC East, again, two games in the win column in front of New York, including a season sweep of the Jets in hand, and the reeling Bills.
Then there is the matter of the Patriots’ schedule. Their remaining six opponents are a combined 20-41 (.328), and none of the six has a winning record.
The Broncos are 5-5 and on the list Dec. 18, as are the Bills (5-5) in the regular-season finale. Also remaining are the Colts (0-10), the Dolphins (3-8), the Redskins (3-7) and the Eagles (4-6) today.
It’s pretty clear this Patriots team isn’t like its previous 14-2 edition in Belichick’s tenure, but the record could still look like it.
Must-see game of the week
Bears at Raiders 2 p.m.
The skinny: The Bears must now try to survive in a crowded NFC playoff wild-card chase without QB Jay Cutler, who fractured his right thumb last week. The Bears tried to claim Kyle Orton off waivers Wednesday, but the Chiefs beat them to it. So they will go with former Colorado State quarterback Caleb Hanie behind center. The Bears also signed veteran Josh McCown last week. Hanie has thrown only seven passes this season, but the Bears hope Hanie can play like he did filling in for Cutler during last year’s playoffs. The Raiders are trying to win their first division title since 2002.
The difference will be: If the Raiders can slow Bears RB Matt Forte. With Cutler out, the Bears will lean on Forte even more, and he is the only player in the league with at least 900 yards rushing and at least 450 yards receiving. Forte also leads the Bears in catches. For their part, the Raiders continue to get QB Carson Palmer acclimated to the offense, but because of Darren McFadden’s foot injury, McFadden and Palmer have yet to line up in the same formation together.
The call: Raiders 24-21
Catch them if you can
Texans at Jaguars 11 a.m.
The Texans, still in line for the first playoff appearance in the franchise’s history if they can hold things together down the stretch, will give QB Matt Leinart his first start since November 2009. Texans RB Arian Foster, who is averaging 148.1 yards from scrimmage per game, has rushed for 292 yards in his last two games combined against the Jaguars. Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew needs 59 yards rushing for his third consecutive 1,000-yard season.
The call: Texans 23-9
Bills at Jets 11 a.m., KCNC-4
The reeling Bills have lost four of their last five games and have surrendered at least 27 points in all four of those losses, at least 35 points in the last two losses. Things won’t get any easier after RB Fred Jackson fractured his lower leg against Miami last week. Jackson was 40 percent of the Bills’ offensive output, and now the team will try C.J. Spiller in that role. The Jets spent much of the week trying to snap QB Mark Sanchez out of his funk, but they are 4-1 at home this season.
The call: Jets 28-13
Bucs at Titans 11 a.m.
Titans QB Matt Hasselbeck left last week’s game with a right elbow injury and was limited in practice this past week. The Titans expect the veteran to start, however, a game they need to stay in the AFC wild-card race. The Buccaneers will feature former Titans DT Albert Haynesworth, who was released by the Patriots this season. The Titans have won five of the last six meetings.
The call: Titans 24-20
Patriots at Eagles 2:15 p.m.
Many in the league believe the Eagles, after plenty of early-season struggles, have finally gotten their act together on defense. The key has been the pressure on opposing quarterbacks. DE Jason Babin is fourth in the league in sacks with 10, while Cullen Jenkins is tied for the league lead among DTs with 5 1/2. Patriots QB Tom Brady is always difficult to rush because he gets rid of the ball so quickly, but he has been sacked 15 times in the last six games, including at least three times in four of those games.
The call: Eagles 35-31
Quick hits
Vikings at Falcons 11 a.m., KDVR-31
The Falcons need this one in a crowded NFC playoff race and have been consistently good in November in recent seasons. They’ve won seven of their last eight November games, and overall QB Matt Ryan is still one of the safest home bets with a 23-4 record in home starts with 41 TDs in those games.
The call:Falcons 28-17
Browns at Bengals 11 a.m.
The Bengals have won six of the last seven meetings in Cincinnati. The Browns are offensively challenged these days — they’re one of just five teams in the league that are not averaging at least 15 points a game — and the Bengals’ defense figures to add to their struggles.
The call: Bengals 21-9
Panthers at Colts 11 a.m.
The once-mighty Colts’ offense is 30th in the league in scoring and has scored just 7, 10, 7 and 3 points in the last four games. The Panthers score plenty, and in the climate-controlled comfort of Lucas Oil Stadium, QB Cam Newton should have a big day.
The call: Panthers 27-14
Cardinals at Rams 11 a.m.
The Cardinals have won 10 of the last 11 meetings, and in the last 10 meetings have outscored the Rams 278-161. As the week drew to a close, Kevin Kolb looked set to return to Arizona’s lineup from a leg injury.
The call: Cardinals 24-23
Redskins at Seahawks 2 p.m.
It’s been a dismal season for former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, whose Redskins have been inconsistent at QB, injured at RB and are among the league’s worst in turnover margin at minus-10.
The call: Redskins 27-17
Steelers at Chiefs 6:20 p.m., KUSA-9
If Kyle Orton is fortunate, the newly acquired QB for the Chiefs won’t have to take the field behind Kansas City’s shaky offensive front in this one. As it stands, Tyler Palko — three interceptions last week against the Patriots — has the unenviable task of taking on the Patriots and Steelers in prime time in back-to-back weeks. And the Steelers are coming off a bye.
The call: Steelers 23-6
