Player who surprisingly has avoided the bench
The 2009 season has played out like an extended flashback for Jake Delhomme, who has struggled to shake off the stink of last season’s playoff meltdown against Arizona. He’s thrown multiple interceptions in more than half his starts. He’s been held under 100 yards three times — including two wins. But Panthers coach John Fox knows the franchise has to pay Delhomme big bucks in 2010 and there may be no going back once he puts in Matt Moore.

On Sunday, Fox’s faith paid off. Sort of. Delhomme completed only half his passes for 90 yards, but Carolina exacted some revenge with a win over the Cardinals. The Panthers are a rare middle-of-the-pack spoiler in a year of haves and have nots. With a decent secondary and a potentially explosive running game, they shouldn’t be pushovers for playoff contenders.

Team we know the least about (NFC)
The Eagles have blown out bad teams like the Chiefs and Redskins. They also suffered a massive beatdown at the hands of the Saints. Donovan McNabb has misfired enough to lose in Oakland, but played flawlessly leading the Eagles to more than eight yards per offensive play against the Giants.

The Eagles were my mid-summer pick to win the NFC. That still looks like a reasonable pick, but it’s hard to tell how good they are. McNabb has more weapons around him than ever, and the offensive line is improving the more it plays together. The running game is a complementary part as always, but it hasn’t suffered much without Brian Westbrook a few times. The trade for Will Witherspoon could shore up a soft middle of the linebacker group. This team could still win the Super Bowl or not make the playoffs and neither would be a huge shock.

The Eagles will be a wild card no matter how they get into the playoffs — if they get into the playoffs — but there’s no sense abandoning my pick now. This team still has enough tools to get it done.

Team we know the least about (AFC)
Texans quarterback Matt Schaub has the numbers of an MVP candidate, but he’s been way too shaky in crucial situations to consider him. Schaub is hot and cold, like the rest of his team. The Texans can look elite for one half, then hold on for dear life the next. Or vice versa.

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The inconsistency extends to the offense. Houston’s passing attack is outstanding, but the running game, led by Steve Slaton, is a headache. The defense has made a lot of plays in recent weeks, especially against the run, This is finally a team that is beating the teams they are supposed to. At 5-3, the team’s fan base gets a genuine playoff chase for the first time. The Texans have the Colts twice and the Patriots in Week 17, but otherwise the schedule sets up well for 9-10 wins. Surprise the Colts once, and it could really get interesting.

MVP Race
1. Peyton Manning, Colts: Manning won the MVP last year, and his play this season has been far more impressive. An easy schedule gives his numbers a slight asterisk so far.

1. Drew Brees, Saints: Brees may get a lot of votes at year’s end by folks sick of seeing Mannning win the award. Thus far, Manning has been a little more consistent while Brees gets points for degree of difficulty. Hard to separate the two.

3. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers: The league leader in yards per attempt is proving he can carry a pass-first team.

4. Joe Flacco, Ravens: Flacco has transformed the Ravens into a powerhouse offense. He has had nothing to do with the team’s unlucky finishes in three losses: a missed kick, some defensive penalties, and a key drop.

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5. Jared Allen, Vikings: There is no law a defensive player can’t win the league MVP award. Allen has been that good.

Honorable Mention: Adrian Peterson, Brett Favre, Tom Brady, Cedric Benson, Maurice Jones-Drew.

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