Players to watch: Colts RB Joseph Addai has far more starts with less than 60 yards rushing (six) than 100-yard efforts (one). An Addai resurgence would take some of the pressure off QB Peyton Manning, who has carried the offense on his back during the Colts' five-game winning streak. Despite being a rookie, Titans RB Chris Johnson shows no signs of fatigue as he motors toward a 1,000-yard season. The Titans, though, would be wise to temper Johnson's use down the stretch if home-field advantage in the playoffs is clinched early.

Coaches under pressure: None, as Houston's Gary Kubiak and Jacksonville's Jack Del Rio will be given another season to right their ships. Should Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy retire, top assistant Jim Caldwell will be his replacement.

Key injuries: The Colts just aren't the same defensively without SS Bob Sanders, who is out for the second time this season with a leg injury. Colts C Jeff Saturday (calf) also is gimpy entering December. The extra rest from playing Detroit on Thanksgiving Day will do a world of good for Tennessee's injury-riddled secondary and DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (groin).

Something you may not know: Houston still hasn't made the playoffs after seven seasons, the longest postseason draught for an expansion franchise since Seattle missed out from 1976 to 1982.

AFC North

Projected winner: Pittsburgh (9-3).

In the hunt: Baltimore (8-4).

Wait til next year: Cleveland (4-8), Cincinnati (1-10-1).

Biggest remaining games: Steelers at Ravens (Dec. 14) — A rematch from one of the season's most entertaining prime-time games. Pittsburgh won that meeting, 23-20, in overtime; Ravens at Cowboys (Dec. 20) — The NFL's lone Saturday night regular-season game should have playoff implications for both squads. Because it's on NFL Network, not everyone will be able to see it.

Players to watch: Baltimore rookie QB Joe Flacco enters December coming off the best game of his young NFL career, having skewered Cincinnati for 280 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 34-3 spanking. But is Flacco ready for a brutal three-game stretch against Washington, Pittsburgh and Dallas? Browns QB Ken Dorsey will have to run out the string in Cleveland with Derek Anderson (knee) and Brady Quinn (finger) sidelined.

Coaches under pressure: Romeo Crennel is a goner in Cleveland just 11 months after receiving a two-year, $8 million contract extension. For most franchises, a three-season slide would lead to termination. But most franchises don't operate like Cincinnati, where Marvin Lewis could be back because of Bengals owner Mike Brown's reticence to fire head coaches.

Key injuries: The Steelers sorely missed RB Willie Parker last season when he was lost in December to a broken leg. Parker enters this December with a bum knee and shoulder but could be ready for a heavier workload this Sunday against Dallas. The Steelers also could use DE Brett Kiesel (knee) down the stretch. Bengals QB Carson Palmer (elbow) will throw next week to determine whether he can play again this season. I know — why bother?

Something you may not know: The AFC North's 2008 non-division games came primarily against the NFC East and AFC East, whose teams have a combined record of 60-35-1.

AFC West

Projected winner: Denver (7-5).

Wait til next year: San Diego (4-8), Oakland (3-9), Kansas City (2-10).

Biggest remaining game: Broncos at Chargers (Dec. 28) — Something is terribly wrong if Denver hasn't clinched this division long before then.

Players to watch: No running game, no problem for Broncos QB Jay Cutler. Cutler's passing is the main reason why Denver has won three of its past four outings. If he slumps, the Broncos will slide. Chiefs QB Tyler Thigpen will have the rest of the season to show he deserves the chance to start in 2009.

Coaches under pressure: Even with the Chargers considered the NFL's most disappointing team, it should come as no shock that Chargers general manager A.J. Smith has already guaranteed Norv Turner's return in 2009. Smith entered the season as an ardent Turner supporter and will give him a chance to rebound from a hard-luck campaign. Oakland's Tom Cable has done a decent job under difficult circumstances but that doesn't mean he will keep the position beyond an interim basis. Herm Edwards will probably be given another season to spearhead Kansas City's rebuilding effort.

Key injuries: Denver's defense will get a big boost from the imminent returns of CB Champ Bailey (groin) and LB D.J. Williams (knee).

Something you may not know: Once considered one of the NFL's stronger divisions, the AFC West is set to field three losing teams for the second consecutive season.