Culver City Observer -

1. Baltimore Ravens (10-2): Patrick Rickard has become the first player since 2009 to play over 100 snaps on both side of the ball. Ricard has played 249 snaps on offense, 135 snaps on defense and 78 snaps on special teams. The fullback-defensive tackle recently signed a two-year contract extension with the Ravens. Next: -5.5 at Buffalo Bills - Sun, Dec. 8

2. San Francisco 49ers (10-2): The 49ers lost to the Ravens on a 49-yard field as time expired but should be pleased with their performance on the road. The Niners held the Ravens to 283 yards in total offense, in a game that could be a preview of the Super Bowl. Next: +2.5 at New Orleans Saints – Sun, Dec. 8

3. New Orleans Saints (10-2): The Saints are currently the top seed in the NFC. That will be tested this weekend at home against the visiting 49ers. The Saints are winning but they do not look as strong as they did earlier in the season. Next: -2.5 vs San Francisco 49ers – Sun, Dec. 8

4. Seattle Seahawks (10-2): The Seahawks will become 49er fans this weekend when the 49ers travel to New Orleans. A Seahawks win on Sunday and a 49er win over the Saints, would put the Seahawks in the top seed in the NFC race for the playoffs. Next: -1 at Los Angeles Rams – Sun, Dec. 8

5. New England Patriots (10-2): Julian Edelman, Mohamed Sanu, Phillip Dorsett, Jakobi Meyers, N'Keal Harry. That is the current wide receiver group for the Pats. The tight ends are even worse. Returning to a Super Bowl will be a challenge for the Pats this season. Next: -3 vs Kansas City Chiefs - Sun, Dec. 8

6. Buffalo Bills (9-3): Cole Beasley caught six passes for 110 yards and a touchdown in the Bills' victory over the Cowboys. Beasley, who spent seven seasons with the Cowboys, signed a four-year, $29 million deal with the Bills. Beasley said after the game: "Man, there's a bond here that I don't think can happen in many places just with the way it's kind of set up. It's a different kind of brotherhood here." Next: +5.5 vs Baltimore Ravens - Sun, Dec. 8

7. Green Bay Packers (9-3): The Packers are ranked 28th in total defense in the NFL. What has helped is their +11-turnover ratio, which is tied with the Saints for second in the NFL. Green Bay has only committed eight turnovers this season. As a comparison, Philip Rivers of the Chargers has thrown eight interceptions in the past three games. Next: -12.5 vs Washington Redskins - Sun, Dec. 8

8. Houston Texans (8-4): Just in case anyone forgot him, Deshaun Watson showed the world on Sunday Night that he is still a pretty good quarterback. Watson threw for three touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass in the Texans win at home over the Patriots. Next: -9 vs Denver Broncos – Sun, Dec. 8

9. Minnesota Vikings (8-4): The Vikings game against the Chargers on December 15th has been changed from Sunday Night at 5:20 PM to Sunday afternoon at 1:05 PM. The Chargers hope the Vikings fans fail to get the message. Next: -13 vs Detroit Lions – Sun, Dec. 8

10. Kansas City Chiefs (8-4): With their victory over the Raiders on Sunday, the Chiefs basically clinched another AFC West title. The Chiefs should take the last few weeks resting their injured veterans, but first there is an AFC Conference Championship re-match to address. Next: +3 at New England Patriots - Sun, Dec. 8

11. Tennessee Titans (7-5): The Titans just keep on winning and appear to be in a position to make the playoffs. The remaining four games will be a challenge, starting at Oakland, followed by games at home against the Texans and Saints, with the season ending contest in Houston against the Texans. Next: -2.5 at Oakland Raiders - Sun, Dec. 8

12. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5): The Steelers have turned things around after a 1-4 start, behind some great defensive play. They lead the NFL in takeaways with 30, 15 turnovers from fumbles and 15 from interceptions. They need to continue that trend to overcome their mediocrity at quarterback. Next: -2.5 at Arizona Cardinals – Sun, Dec. 8

13. Los Angeles Rams (7-5): Quarterback Jared Goff is the Offensive Player of the Week in Week 14 for his performance against the Cardinals. The much-maligned quarterback threw for 424 yards, completing 32 of 43 passes and adding two touchdown passes. Next: +1 vs Seattle Seahawks - Sun, Dec. 8

14. Dallas Cowboys (6-6): The Cowboys could win the NFC East and host a playoff game with an 8-8 record this season. That is how weak the NFC East division is. The Rams would love to be in this division. Next: -3 at Chicago Bears - Thu, Dec. 5

15. Oakland Raiders (6-6): Raider Nation is in deep depression after two blowout losses on the road to the Jets and Chiefs. The schedule may help, with home games against the Titans, Jaguars, at the Chargers in Carson and on the road against a 4-8 Denver team. Those are four very winnable games. Next: +2.5 vs Tennessee Titans - Sun, Dec. 8

16. Indianapolis Colts (6-6): The Colts stated before the season that they wanted to be a running team and they have achieved that goal through twelve games. The Colts are ranked 4th in the NFL in rushing yardage, averaging 4.5 yards carry. This ball control offense has allowed them to keep games close. Ten of the twelve Colt games have been decided by seven points or less. They are 5-5 in those games. Next: +3 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Sun, Dec. 8

17. Chicago Bears (6-6): Allen Robinson is quietly having a very good season for the Bears. The 2014 2nd round pick out of Penn State has caught 71 passes for 850 yards and five touchdowns. Robinson has played well considering the fact that Mitch Trubisky is his quarterback. Next: +3 vs Dallas Cowboys - Thu, Dec. 5

18. Carolina Panthers (5-7): Head Coach Ron Rivera has been fired after losing his fourth consecutive game. Rivers won three consecutive NFC South division titles from 2013 through 2015. The 2015 season included a trip to Super Bowl 50, where the Panthers lost to the Broncos. Rivera will not be unemployed very long. Next: +3 at Atlanta Falcons - Sun, Dec. 8

19. Philadelphia Eagles (5-7): The Eagles do not appear to want to win the NFC East division. After a lackluster performance in their stunning loss to the Dolphins, this looks like a team that just wants the season to end. Next: -9.5 vs New York Giants – Mon, Dec. 9

20. Cleveland Browns (5-7): The Browns had a big opportunity to put themselves in a better position with a victory over the Steelers. The Browns had not swept the Steelers in 16 seasons and a win would have put them ahead in the wild card playoff race. Instead, the Browns failed again and are in danger of being eliminated from the playoff race. Next: -7.5 vs Cincinnati Bengals - Sun, Dec. 8

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-7): Linebacker Devin White had a terrific day in the Bucs victory over the Jaguars. The fifth overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft, White had seven tackles, a fumble recovery and returned an interception five yards for a touchdown. Next: -3 vs Indianapolis Colts - Sun, Dec. 8

22. Denver Broncos (4-8): The hard luck Broncos suffered another key injury on Sunday. Defensive end Derek Wolfe will miss the rest of the season with a dislocated elbow. Wolfe led the Broncos in sacks with seven and had two in the win over the Chargers. Next: +9 at Houston Texans - Sun, Dec. 8

23. New York Jets (4-8): The Jets had won three consecutive games and were coming off a blowout win over the Raiders when they fell flat in Cincinnati. The lackluster Jets did not show the same emotion they had in their victory over the Raiders, losing 22-6 to the previously winless Bengals. Next: -5.5 vs Miami Dolphins - Sun, Dec. 8

24. Los Angeles Chargers (4-8): Both Derwin James and Adrian Phillips returned from the injured reserve last week against the Broncos. The defense looked better with the return of the two stars. It would have been helpful to the Chargers if they could have been available for the whole season. Next: -3 at Jacksonville Jaguars - Sun, Dec. 8

25. Arizona Cardinals (3-8-1): The Cardinals lost to the Rams in 2018 in their first meeting, 34-0. They improved slightly in their first meeting this season, losing 34-7, after falling behind 34-0 after three quarters. Next: +2.5 vs Pittsburgh Steelers - Sun, Dec. 8

26. Washington Redskins (3-9): The Redskins finally got their running game going under interim head coach Bill Callahan and the results were 248 rushing yards. Derrius Guice rushed for 129 yards on only ten carries, scoring two touchdowns in the upset of the Panthers. Next: +12.5 at Green Bay Packers – Sun, Dec. 8

27. Atlanta Falcons (3-9): It is obvious that head coach Dan Quinn is gone at the end of the season. The Falcons should look to their division for their next head coach. Ron Rivera would be a good fit for the Falcons, and he knows the division well. Next: -3 vs Carolina Panthers – Sun, Dec. 8

28. Detroit Lions (3-8-1): Undrafted free agent quarterback David Blough, a rookie, saw his first NFL action on Thanksgiving against the Bears. While the Lions lost the game, Blough played well, completing 22 of 38 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns. Next: +13 at Minnesota Vikings – Sun, Dec. 8

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-8): Minshew Mania is back, as the Jaguars decided to bench quarterback Nick Foles for backup Gardner Minshew. The Jaguars will start Minshew this week in the hope of ending their current four game losing streak. Next: +3 vs Los Angeles Chargers - Sun, Dec. 8

Jevone Moore

Chargers linebacker Derwin James returns from injury to steady defense

30. Miami Dolphins (3-9): Dolphin kicker Jason Sanders was selected the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 13. Sanders caught a one-yard underhand touchdown toss from holder Matt Haack. It was the first time a kicker had caught a touchdown pass since 1977. Sanders also connected on a key 51-yard field goal in the 4th quarter. Next: +5.5 at New York Jets - Sun, Dec. 8

31. New York Giants (2-10): The Eli Manning era may not quite be over yet. Quarterback Daniel Jones has a high ankle sprain and his availability is questionable, at best. It will be interesting to see what Manning can accomplish with this offense, particularly with getting Saquon Barkley more involved in the offense. Next: +9.5 at Philadelphia Eagles - Mon, Dec. 9

32. Cincinnati Bengals (1-11): The decision to go back to Andy Dalton paid immediate dividends as the Bengals won their first game of the season, in a solid 22-6 victory over the Jets at home. This one victory does not excuse the rest of the season or improve their power ranking, but it is encouraging. Next: +7.5 at Cleveland Browns - Sun, Dec. 8