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| Marshall Faulk's Rams have been a big surprise. |
Oliver Stone's new football movie, "Any Given Sunday," isn't due out until Christmas. But Stone might sense a JFK-like conspiracy because the NFL seems to have stolen the plot for its '99 season. As ESPN.com's Greg Garber reports, the league has become a place where any team can win on any given Sunday. But is all this parity good? Sure, the folks in Detroit and and Seattle would say yes, but ESPN's Chris Mortensen says the product on the field is sorely lacking.
ESPN.com experts' midseason awards
Question of the Week: Who's bound for Atlanta?
Pro Football Weekly: All-Pro Team | Midseason awards
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Sizing up the two conferences
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NFC: Funny business
ESPN.com's Tom Oates says it's been a very funny year in the NFC, and it's likely to continue in the second half.
Oates' playoff picks: Rams, Vikings, Redskins, Lions, Giants, Packers.
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AFC: It's a dogfight
ESPN.com's Mark Cannizzaro says the AFC is filled with strong teams, but he picks a surprising favorite.
Cannizzaro's playoff picks: Dolphins, Jags, Seahawks, Colts, Pats, Titans.
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More midseason features
Scales all tipped toward the AFC
The NFL pendulum appears to have swing back to the AFC, while the NFC has become a conference in transition.
Stats Class: Running to the top
When you look at the top teams in the league, one thing stands out: a commitment to the run, as ESPN's Russell Baxter explains.
ESPN.com's Power Rankings at midseason
The hot debate is in the Sunshine State, where the Jaguars and Dolphins are both sizzling on defense.
Looking ahead to the second half
Sean Salisbury
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Game to watch: Jaguars at Titans, Dec. 26
This game could decide which team will get home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. The Super Bowl champion should come out of the AFC, so getting the home field will be key -- for the Jaguars and Titans in this game, and the Dolphins who could also be affected by this outcome. Another huge game to watch will be Miami at Washington in Week 17 -- a game that could shape both playoff races. -- Sean Salisbury
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Merril Hoge
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AFC difference-maker: Fred Taylor
Without Taylor, Jacksonville has no chance at winning a championship. If he stays healthy, Taylor is the extra dimension the Jaguars need to put them over the top. The versatile running back has totaled 309 total yards in his two games since returning to the lineup. Taylor makes life easier for Mark Brunell and company. -- Merril Hoge
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Andrea Kremer
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NFC difference-maker: Brett Favre
When Favre plays at an MVP level, he can elevate the entire team. He has clearly been hurt and shaken by the events of the last two games. But Favre is a player who, when he gets into the rhythm of Sherman Lewis' offense, can be the biggest difference-maker in the league. As he showed earlier in the year, he can carry the Packers into the playoffs. -- Andrea Kremer
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John Clayton
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Coming out of nowhere: Peerless Price
Price is on the verge of getting the starting receiving job in Buffalo. The rookie had a huge game against Seattle, catching five balls for 105 yards. The Bills really need help at receiver, and he could be the answer. Other players who might emerge in the second half are the Bills' Jonathan Linton, Lions' Sedrick Irvin, Colts' Mike Peterson, Chiefs' Bam Morris and Seahawks' Ahman Green. -- John Clayton
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Mike Golic
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Going nowhere: Arizona Cardinals
The Cards went nowhere in the first half, and will continue to go nowhere for the rest of the season. Here's a team that had so much preseason hype, and basically messed it up before they even stepped on the field. Then, Arizona lost the one player it couldn't afford to lose -- quarterback Jake Plummer. The Cardinals are 2-6 now, and I don't see it getting any better. They have taken a step back. -- Mike Golic
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