1. AFC Wild Card scramble » Eight teams, many of them formidable, are fighting for two wild card berths in the AFC. Denver (8-5) can take a major step toward clinching one of the slots with a win Sunday over Oakland. That leaves must-win games Sunday for Houston (6-7), which is at St. Louis, Tennessee (6-7), which hosts Miami, and Pittsburgh (6-7), hosting Green Bay. New England (8-5), Miami (7-6) and the New York Jets (7-6) are fighting for the AFC East. One of those teams will get a berth and a second could get a wild card. Baltimore (7-6) and Jacksonville (7-7) remain in the mix. Baltimore has the easiest schedule, playing Chicago and finishing at Pittsburgh and Oakland. All of Miami’s games are against fellow wild card contenders — Tennessee, Houston, and Pittsburgh. — Kevin Dunleavy

2. Reggie Wayne’s big game against Jacksonville, makes the race for the NFL’s top receiver interesting » No pass-catcher has been more intimidating this season than Andre Johnson, who leads all receivers with 1,237 yards entering Week 15, ahead of Wayne (1,210 yards), even after his big game vs. the Jaguars, and Wes Welker (1,158 yards). The Houston Chronicle also pointed out that Johnson is tied for third all-time with 13 games in which he’s had at least 10 catches and 100 yards, tying him with Tim Brown, behind Jerry Rice (15) and Marvin Harrison (14). But Johnson still has work to do if he wants the reception title, as his 81 catches lags well behind both Welker (105 receptions) and Wayne (92 receptions), and who knows what Brandon Marshall (86 rec, 1,008 yards) will finish with if the Broncos keep targeting him like they did last weekend. — Craig Stouffer

3. Josh Cribbs is looking to get paid » The Cleveland Browns and their jack-of-all-trades are said — according to Cribbs — to be nearing completion of a new deal. Cribbs, a standout QB at Dunbar High and later at Kent State, went undrafted and played his way into a kick returner/receiver role in Cleveland. He’s got three years left on his existing deal (6 years, $6.77 million), but is intent on a raise — and deservedly so. The five-year NFL vet has returned at least one kickoff for a touchdown in each season (also amassing the Browns’ team record for return TDs) and has been dangerous on punt returns as well. In last week’s game, he notched 87 yards rushing out of the Wildcat formation. Getting a deal done this season would allow the under-the-salary-cap Browns to assign the Pro Bowler’s signing bonus to the current year. — Leon Saffelle

Upset special

Dolphins over the Titans

It’s been a good run for Tennessee to win six of seven and climb out of an 0-6 hole. But one more loss and their playoff hopes are cooked. That happens this week when the Titans host Miami. The Dolphins will need another big game from running back Ricky Williams, who has posted 100 rushing yards or more in four of his last five games. That stretch also includes four touchdowns. But Williams must shake off his three fumbles in last week’s win over Jacksonville. Thankfully for Miami it only lost one of those. Expect to see a ton of eight-man fronts as Dolphins try to contain explosive Chris Johnson, the NFL’s leading rusher with 1,626 yards. — Brian McNally

Fantasy watch


Five to start

1. QB Kurt Warner » It’s hard to figure out what to expect from Warner, but when the Cardinals face the Lions’ awful secondary on Sunday you can expect a big game.

2. RB Ricky Williams » He’s rushed for more than 100 yards in four of the last five games as the running back has kept the Dolphins in the playoff race.

3. RB Jamaal Charles » The Chiefs back is coming off a 143-yard performance against the Bills and faces the Browns and their fourth-worst run defense.

4. WR DeSean Jackson » The Eagles big-play receiver has 10 touchdowns this season and eight receptions of 50-plus yards.

5. WR Randy Moss » Media speculation that this future Hall of Famer took plays off last week will spark a big game against the Bills.

Five to sit

1. QB Brett Favre » The Vikings quarterback threw just three interceptions in the first 12 weeks, but Favre has matched that total the last two games. 

2. RB Ryan Grant » The Packers back faces the Steelers, who have not lived up to expectations on defense, but are still the best team against the run.

3. RB LaDainian Tomlinson » The Chargers back has rushed for 1,000 yards in his first eight seasons, a streak likely to end this year (55.5 yards per game average).

4. WR Hines Ward » He’s been hampered with a hamstring injury. The Steelers wideout had just four catches for 21 yards last week against the Browns.

5. WR Roddy White » The Falcons receiver had just two catches last week and faces a Jets’ pass defense that is the best in the league.

— Jeffrey Tomik

Game to watch

Bengals at Chargers, 4:05 p.m., CBS

This will be an emotional game for the Bengals after teammate Chris Henry died earlier in the week following an argument and subsequent traffic incident with his fiancée. Now the Bengals (9-4), who can clinch the AFC North with a win, must fly across the country to face one of the hottest teams. San Diego (10-3) has won eight straight and can clinch the AFC West title with a win, riding hot quarterback Philip Rivers. If the Bengals want to win, they must figure out a way to get to him. Rivers, sacked 18 times in the first eight games, has been sacked just four times in the past five games. Also, the winner likely would become the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs. — John Keim

Examiner Power Rankings

Records through 12/18 — James Irwin