Dec. 06--With five weeks of games remaining, the NFL is all about bubbles and troubles.
Teams all over the league are fighting to stay in the playoff race, among them surging clubs such as Kansas City, Houston, Seattle, Chicago and Tampa Bay.
Then there are the teams that started fast but now are taking on water. Atlanta, for instance, won its first five games but since has lost five of six. The Falcons will look to stop the slide Sunday at Tampa Bay, which is coming off a loss to Indianapolis but has played well with No. 1 pick Jameis Winston at quarterback.
"I believe in what we got," said Falcons running back Devonta Freeman, who returned to practice this week after missing nearly two full games because of a concussion. "I believe in the game plan. I believe in every man on this team. We all understand what we're facing. We just got to be all in on each other."
It would take a bizarre string of events for anyone in the NFC South to catch the Carolina Panthers, who at 11-0 are the NFL's only undefeated team.
In the NFC West, the Arizona Cardinals have a three-game lead over Seattle, the two-time defending conference champion. The Seahawks have a huge challenge Sunday at Minnesota, the NFC North leader at 8-3. Both teams are hot, with Seattle winning four of five, and the Vikings six of seven.
