Editor's note: ESPN senior NFL writer John Clayton's weekly "First And 10" column takes you around the league with a look at the best game of the week followed by primers for 10 other games. Here's his look at Week 16.

First ... Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders: Everyone worried about a December fade from the Oakland Raiders. A five-game winning streak showed that fade was the last thing on their minds.

But a new problem has cropped up. Their four-game losing streak has come back to haunt them. If the Raiders lose to the Broncos on Sunday, they might not make the playoffs. How fragile life is in the AFC. Two weeks ago, the Raiders looked like a top seed. A loss to the Dolphins has the team in a desperate situation just to make the playoffs.

	Rich Gannon torched the Broncos for 352 yards and three TDs in Week 10.

The Raiders have all the tiebreakers except in their own division. If the Broncos beat the Raiders and the Chargers beat the Chiefs on Sunday, the Raiders would have the third worst record in the AFC West at 2-3 and no way to rectify that against the Chargers and Broncos, who would be 4-2. The Broncos have a better record for common opponents than the Chargers, so a Raiders loss could hand the division to Broncos coach Mike Shanahan.

How disgusting that would be to Raiders boss Al Davis, and how threatening that would be for coach Bill Callahan's job, who had the look of a Coach-of-the-Year candidate a couple of weeks ago.

The biggest concern for the Raiders will be at cornerback. Starter Tory James had surgery last week to install a plate to help the healing process of a leg fracture. Pro Bowl cornerback Charles Woodson has a fracture in his leg. Although he vows to play, it's uncertain that the Raiders would let him on the field.

With Terrance Shaw and Clarence Love at cornerback last week against the Dolphins, the Raiders secondary was vulnerable for the big play. Dolphins deep threat Chris Chambers had one of his best games of the season. If Woodson and James don't play, Shanahan will have Brian Griese testing the Raiders more downfield.

Shanahan, however, can't feel great coming into this game. The Raiders early season blowout of the Broncos in Denver, 34-10, ripped apart the confidence of the defense. The Raiders game plan was to attack the Broncos passing defense. For whatever reason, the Broncos have trouble with the short pass.

Opponents are completing 64.4 percent of their passes and have an 84.4 quarterback rating against the Broncos. Things have improved in the past couple of weeks, but that won't change the Raiders' strategy. Rich Gannon will try to pick them apart with a ball-possession, passing attack.

Broncos players felt that their game plan was a little too passive in the first meeting. They stayed in too many zones and didn't apply enough pressure to the Raiders. The Dolphins showed the formula of how to slow down the Raiders. They played man-to-man defense and tried to get Gannon to go to his third and fourth options.

At one point during the first game against the Broncos, Gannon completed 21 consecutive passes. The Broncos can't allow him to be in that kind of rhythm.

And 10. New York Jets at New England Patriots: Against teams with winning records, the Patriots are on a six-game losing streak. Their defense is the fourth worst against the run giving up 131 yards a game. Their third-down defense is the fifth worst, giving up a 44.6 percent conversion rate. Despite paying $4 million a year to halfback Antowain Smith, the Patriots are one of only two teams who have rushed for less than their 92.5 yards a game. Stats mean nothing. The Patriots win the AFC East if they beat the Jets and Dolphins at home during the final two weeks of the season. That's all that they care about. Forget a wild-card berth. Five losses in the conference make that possibility tough, and trying to get in with a 9-7 record will be even harder. All coach Bill Belichick can do is follow up his earlier 44-7 victory over the Jets and find a way to stop Ricky Williams of the Dolphins in the season finale. The Jets are much better since that September disaster against the Patriots. Tackling has improved. The offense has rebounded under the direction of quarterback Chad Pennington, who is trying to become more of a vocal leader.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers at Tampa Bay Bucs: On the surface, this appears to be a blowout. The Bucs stuff just about any offense, particularly those that try to win through the air. Thanks to the quick passing decisions of Tommy Maddox, the Steelers have the league's fifth-rated offense. The Bucs give up only 249.9 yards a game, period. Opposing quarterbacks are only completing 49.9 percent of their passes against the Bucs and have a puny 47.5 quarterback rating. Coach Jon Gruden bunches his receivers and spreads them out for Brad Johnson to hit with safe paases. For whatever reason, the Steelers have become a middle-of-the-pack pass defense, ranked 16th in the league. On numbers alone and the fact that the game is in Tampa, the Bucs should rule, but don't jump just at the numbers. The Bucs don't match up as well against physical teams that can deliver the first blow. If the Steelers can establish their running attack early and the defense can hold the Bucs to field goals, the Steelers have a chance. For the Steelers, the game is vital. They could lose the AFC North if they lose their last two. That loss to Houston a couple weeks ago virtually killed their bid for a bye week. Beating the Bucs on the road can make up for that horrible loss, but it won't be easy going against one of the best teams in the NFC.

8. San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs: Timing is everything. The Chargers are limping to the finish line with five losses in the last seven. Suddenly, quarterback Drew Brees looks limited in his ability to pass downfield. He's gone four games without a touchdown pass. Last week, the Bills challenged him to throw downfield by going with a 4-4-3 defense, and Brees couldn't beat that scheme. Defensively, the Chargers have fallen to 25th in the league and are giving up 361.9 yards a game. But the Chargers are catching the Chiefs at the right time. In a matter of a week, the Chiefs lost an entire backfield because of injuries and could be down three of their top four receivers. Priest Holmes has a hip flexor and is doubtful. Fullback Tony Richardson went on the injured reserve list. The receiving corps was so beat up last week that Dick Vermeil had to recruit a seldom used running back to become the third receiver. If you take most of the offense away from a team averaging 31.6 points a game, what do you have? Perhaps a Chargers road victory. The Chiefs rank last in defense giving up 393.6 yards a game. The Chargers need this victory to make the playoffs. They close the season with a winnable home game against the Seahawks. Plus, it's Marty Schottenheimer coming home to Kansas City in his first visit as head coach of the Chargers.

	Dwight Freeney leads the Colts with 10 sacks this season.

7. New York Giants at Indianapolis Colts: Colts coach Tony Dungy is preaching getting off to a good start in this game. In their losses this year, the Colts have trailed by a combined 122-23. They recovered from a 16-0 deficit Sunday to beat the Browns. That's got to stop. With two home games to finish the season and make the playoffs, the Colts have no reason to start the game tentative. The Giants aren't exactly an offensive machine. They start a seventh-round choice, Daryl Jones, at wide receiver. Giants coach Jim Fassel has squeezed about as much as he can from this offense. At home, the Colts get to use their quickness on defense. Ends Dwight Freeney and Chad Bratzke are quick on the carpet. And they love to force quarterback fumbles. For the season, Freeney and Bratzke have combined for 16 sacks and an incredible 12 forced fumbles. Of course, the Giants aren't bad on defense. Despite tons of injuries, the Giants rank ninth in the league on defense, allowing 310 yards a game. But they are banged up. Defensive end Michael Strahan has a sore neck. Stopping the run hasn't been a strength since the mid-season loss of defensive tackle Keith Hamilton. The Giants have a chance to slip into the playoffs if the Falcons and Michael Vick fall down during the last two weeks. One Giants stat is important to study. They are 0-4 against teams with winning records. The Colts have a winning record.

6. Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars: The Titans have regained their swagger. They hit hard on defense. The offense is structured to be physical at quarterback with Steve McNair and halfback with Eddie George. Last Monday's return of defensive end Jevon Kearse brought excitement and energy to the defense. But this game won't be easy for the Titans, who have the edge in the AFC South because of their sweep of the Colts. The Jaguars have had a good rivalry with the Titans since coming into the league. With Tom Coughlin struggling to keep his job, the Jaguars would love to play spoiler against the Titans. For whatever reason, though, the Jaguars haven't been solid against the run. They rank 23rd and are giving up 126.4 yards a game. McNair continues to get banged up during this playoff run and at some point that might catch up to him. He can't practice during the week because of the ribs and toe problems. Now, he has a banged up hand. This Sunday, they will need to let George carry more of the offense just to save McNair's body. One problem will be running to the left. Left tackle Brad Hopkins is out for three weeks with a knee injury and left guard Zach Piller is hurt. The Titans know that they can earn a bye week with two more victories. They could even secure homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.

5. Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens: Face it, the Browns are a weird team. How many playoff contenders are 2-5 at home and and 5-2 on the road? How many teams are 5-5 in games decided by eight points or less and have lost so many in the final seconds? Any hopes of the playoffs evaporate with a loss to the Ravens. While the Browns have squandered numerous chances to make the playoffs, the Ravens can't believe they are in the mix. Ravens coach Brian Billick started the season with a modern day record 19 rookie or first-year players. If they beat the Browns, the Ravens could enter the final weekend against the Steelers with a chance to win the AFC North. The Ravens won the first meeting, 26-21, in Cleveland. Neither team stands out in what they do. The Ravens are 29th in offense and 21st on defense. The Browns are 21st on offense and 20th on offense. Those mediocre numbers signify that neither team is really a playoff team but they are building for that chance next season. But the reality is there. The winner of this game will be watching the Monday night game between the Steelers and the Bucs to see if their last game is meaningful.

4. Buffalo Bills at Green Bay Packers:The Packers got a mental boost by whipping the 49ers on the road last Sunday. As happy as that moment was, the goal for the team is to secure a bye week and possible homefield advantage during the playoffs. Because of the tiebreakers, the Packers have the third-seed. They could win their last two games and still have to play the first week of the playoffs. But quarterback Brett Favre continues to do his magic. He doesn't turn the ball over in the cold or inclement weather. Last week, he wrapped his big right hand around the football and put on a flawless performance against the 49ers defense. There are concerns on the right side of the line because of the problems of right tackle Earl Dotson, whose back acted up an hour before kickoff and prevented him from playing against the 49ers. Rookie Kevin Barry filled in admirably at right tackle, but can he continue into the playoffs if Dotson's back problems continue. The Bills offense is starting to slow down in the final month under Drew Bledsoe. In the past six games, Bledsoe has had a quarterback rating of 73, almost 15 less than his rating this season. He's thrown only seven touchdowns compared to eight interceptions during that six-game stretch.

3. Miami Dolphins at Minnesota Vikings: There will be plenty of emotion for what would have been a meaningless game for Vikings fans. This is where the signing of former Viking great Cris Carter will either hurt or help the Dolphins playoff run. Carter's return to Minnesota will be emotional. He meant everything to that franchise, but there is an interesting rivalry between Carter and Randy Moss. Moss will try to show off against his mentor. Carter, of course, is just trying to get himself in shape after his late-season signing and get the Dolphins to the playoffs. His leadership is an important part of that playoff run. The Dolphins are starting to get back on a roll. They have Jay Fiedler back working his play action passing game. Their defense is coming off one of its best game. Ricky Williams has been unstoppable. With Priest Holmes unlikely to play against the Chargers Sunday, Williams, who is second in the NFL to Holmes (1,615) with 1,601 yards, should wrap up the rushing title against one of the league's worst defenses. One thing that has to worry the Dolphins is how hard and how well the Vikings have been playing of late. They are keeping games close and giving opponents fits.

2. Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons have to worry because they are starting to fade. The team looked quite average against the Seahawks last Sunday. It had to put a big scare into everyone in Atlanta when quarterback Michael Vick hit his left thumb on a helmet. Vick's thumb should be fine, but where would the Falcons be without Vick. The defense is having its own troubles. There is talk about demoting injured cornerback Ray Buchanan because he's giving up too many big plays. That's why playing the Lions is the perfect remedy. A win for the Falcons should put them into the playoffs. No one expects the Giants to win their last two games, so the ninth win should be enough to get the Falcons in as a wild card. The Lions won't have Joey Harrington at quarterback because of his heart troubles. But Mike McMahon is pretty good at running around and making plays. The key for the Falcons will be seeing if the Lions have much of a running attack. James Stewart, the Lions top runner, missed last week's game with a sore neck. The Falcons are just trying to get in the playoffs, and they don't need a pretty win to do it.

1. New Orleans Saints at Cincinnati Bengals: It's hard to figure the Saints. They have won more games against teams with winning records (five) than any of the other six NFC playoff teams. Yet, they've lost to the Vikings and Lions, teams with combined records of 7-21. Despite having great speed on defense, the Saints have had 14 consecutive games in which an opponent has scored at least 20 points. Their No. 27 ranking on defense is the worst among the playoff teams. Still, the Saints know their future. Barring a collapse by the Bucs, the Saints will be the top wild-card team and will play against the 49ers on Jan. 5. There should be no way that the Saints play poorly against the Bengals, who are concluding one of the worst seasons in franchise history. The key for the Saints will be to try to sharpen up some of the problems on defense over the final two weeks and to get nicked players healthy.

John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.