5-at-10: NFL power poll, More Beckham fallout, Bowl contest round 1 results, Christmas Rushmore 1

NFL power poll

The playoff picture is coming into focus.

In fact, there’s a real chance there could be no drama in the final weekend of the regular season.

If the Panthers win at Atlanta on Sunday and the Redskins beat the Eagles on Saturday, then the NFC is set and the only thing on the line for week 17 is minor positioning.

The last spot in the AFC seems to be between Pittsburgh and the New York Jets, and that may go down to the final week. The Steelers appear to have the upper hand since they play at Baltimore this week and at Cleveland next week. The Jets host New England this week and at Buffalo the following week.

Which leads us to this: As crafty as New England coach Bill Belichick is, and as dangerous as the Pittsburgh offense can be – they have scored 30-plus points in six straight games and wide out Antonio Brown is currently the most unguardable player in the league – would Commander Hoodie rest his regulars this week against a Jets team in an effort to keep them healthy and keep the Steelers out of the tournament?

That of course leads us to the power poll.

Powerful

1. Carolina. Lost in the hubbub from the Odell Beckham Jr. feud with Josh Norman was Cam Newton’s MVP moment Sunday. After his team had surrounded a big lead, Cam looked the part of Super Bowl-worthy QB even before he took the field. As long as he’s healthy, well, the Panthers are going to be a load.

2. New England. We’ve never fully understood the divide between the NFL MVP and the offensive player of the year. That said, after Newton wins the former, Tom Brady almost certainly will win the latter. Brady’s numbers – league-best 4,405 passing yards and 35 TDs to just six picks – are crazy good. Plus, he’s likely going to get his top two wide outs – Julian Edleman and Danny Amendola – back for the playoffs.

3. Arizona. The Cardinals are great at making teams defend the entire field, and Carson Palmer’s stats are crazy good: 32 TDs, nine picks, better than 64 completion percentage, 4,277 passing yards. Plus, they are top six in points scored and points allowed. That’s a complete team.

4. Green Bay. As great as the Cardinals and Panthers have been, would it surprise any of us if the Packers and/or Seattle Seahawks were in the NFC title game? That’s the power of having the best quarterback in the game in Aaron Rodgers, and having a championship-proven defense like the Seahawks do.

5. Pittsburgh. Yes, this higher than three potential division winners in the AFC, which points to the question about whether New England strategically tanks this week. And here’s a scary point about that Steelers’ offense: They are doing this without star running back LeVeon Bell and their two best offensive linemen.

Powerless

28. San Diego. Hey, at least they get to live in San Diego. Wait, they are about to move, reportedly. Nevermind.

29. Dallas. Yes injuries derailed the Cowboys plan, but Dallas is hardly the only franchise that has had injuries. Houston, Indy, Pittsburgh are but a few of the teams that have had a litany of injuries, including to stars and QBs, and still managed to compete. To make matters worse, the 1-9 freefall for Dallas without Tony Romo was pegged on Brandon Weeden’s ineffectiveness. Who came off the bench last week to lead Houston to a huge win over Indy? Yep, Brandon Weeden.

30. Cleveland. How bad has it been for the Browns? Well, amid all the drama and Johnny Manziel mess, the Browns have all of three wins, and those came against a trio of teams whose record is a combined 11-31. Here’s a question: When the Browns – and owner Jimmy Haslam – replace coach Mike Pettine this offseason, shouldn’t it be Haslam’s duty as a) a diligent owner and b) a lifelong UT fan to offer Nick Saban $12 million a year to coach the Browns? We think yes.

31. San Francisco. The 49ers are so bad, the Cleveland Browns are looking around going, hey, at least we’re not the 49ers. That said, the 49ers do have four wins, but still it’s staggering to believe the free fall of this franchise.

32. Tennessee. If Mike Mularkey plays Marcus Mariota, who sprained his ACL last week, in either of the final two games that are so meaningless that it would greatly behoove the Titans to lose, then Mularkey should be arrested. It’s just that simple.

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More OBJ fallout

OK, we get it. It’s a slow news day.

But buckets everyone has a view on the Odell Beckham Jr.-Josh Norman feud from Sunday.

In part, we certainly can see Stewwie’s starting point that it takes two to tango, and Norman likely will receive heavy fines. We also think the league acted appropriately for suspending OBJ for a game for the head-to-head hit on Norman.

That said, why the outrage?

It’s a violent and aggressive sport filled with overflowing confidence and turbo-charged bravado that is played among grown men who know at their very core that showing weakness is akin to admitting defeat and that the only thing worse than losing the game is losing your nerve.

The only real thing that truly should be surprising about the OBJ-Norman incident is that it doesn’t happen more often.

That said, what do we make of the reported threats OBJ says the Panthers made toward him with a baseball bat?

Plus, there also are whispers about homophobic slurs being used. Which brings up a whole other point we were wondering about.

Earlier this month Rajon Rondo used homophobic slurs at NBA referee Bill Kennedy, who after the game revealed that he was gay. So the world came crashing down on Rondo, and by now in the politically correct world, that’s how it works, and he was suspended.

Our question is, if Kennedy was a heterosexual, would the punishment still have been needed and pertinent? It’s still intended as an insult, but we’re not so sure if it would have been as big a deal.

Now OBJ is saying there were homophobic slurs used by the Panthers and Norman during the game. Is that as big a deal as Rondo saying it to Kennedy, and if not, why not? We’re not looking for A2 fodder, we’re really just kind of asking. (Either way, rightly or wrongly, one of the most common trash-talk from our younger days would assuredly not be acceptable in today’s realm.)

As a side point for example, remember when Andrew Harrison called Frank Kaminsky the N-word during an interview last year after Kentucky lost?

That went away rather quietly because let’s face it Harrison is black and Kaminsky is a white dude.

Is it the same on the homophobic slur, too?

Thoughts?

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Bowl standings that count

Gang, thanks for playing along, and we’ve got a great group working. If you don’t see you name and you expected to, or if you have a different point total, please let us know.

This contest is truly entertaining, and we’re trying to put together enough prize packages to pay multiple places.

Good times.

Here are the results after the one-point games (maximum 6):

* War Eagle Terry – 6

* Mrs. 5-at-10 – 5 (yes, she picked it on her own, and yes, we’re hearing it a bunch)

Mr. Spud – 5

Brian E. – 5

Todd C. – 5

* Todd G. – 5

* Killer – 5

Robert K – 4

Spy – 4

Sportsfan – 4

JonMac – 4

* Roll Terry – 4

* scole023 – 4

* Brent R. – 4

* Tommy T. – 4

* Josh T. – 4

* Joel C. – 4

Larry C. – 4

*Justin S. – 4

* Randy C. – 4

* 5-at-10 – 3

McPell – 3

* Bama Bill – 3

James B. – 3

Brandon E. – 3

Dcrotty22 – 3

* Mr. Big – 3

* Ted P. – 3

* Patty H. – 3

* Auburn Andy – 2

Dawg747 – 2

Mark W. – 2

Dwayne B. – 2

Blake J. – 2

* VolFan – 2

Max – 2

* Mark S. – 2

Mark P. – 2

* Scooter H. – 2

* Tex B. – 2

* Shelley B. – 1

* Tracy03 – 1

Joseph W. – 1

Stroker Ace – 1

* Sucker – 1

* J Stinks – 1

* Kevin C. – 1

* Scott P. – 0

* Big Shot Bob – 0

* Frank C. – 0

* Mike P. – 0

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This and that

– Speaking of bowl games, did anyone see Western Kentucky punt on fourth-and-goal Monday. Read that again. A personal foul followed by two sacks, and bang the Hilltoppers had fourth-and-goal from the 38. Punt was downed at the 3. Good times.

– We missed this over the weekend, but SAL-loot to Jeff Driskel, the former five-star recruit that struggled at Florida before transferring. He closed his college career with 458 passing yards and three TDs in Louisiana Tech’s 47-28 spanking of Arkansas State.

– Goodbye to one of the greats as Charles Woodson says this will be his final year. What a career.

– Here’s betting the Saints have more than a little fun with Dannell Ellerbe in the film room after Theo Riddick pulled the super juke.

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Today’s question

We’re set for some Christmas Rushmores.

OK, Rushmore of Christmas TV specials.

Go. (And remember the mailbag)