Some quick thoughts on the NFL Week 16 games...

SHOWDOWN GAMES (Both teams in playoff hunt)

*Oakland survived Kansas City in overtime and stayed alive, but only getting 71 yards rushing is a big source of concern as a potential playoff spoiler plays San Diego next week and then a possible first-round home game with Pittsburgh or Baltimore. They won't win if they can't run.

*The Battle Of The Big Apple, Giants-Jets, was about as appalling of a football game one can imagine for a situation that was so important to bad teams. Both teams looked like they were sleepwalking. Neither one could stand prosperity. In the end, Mark Sanchez was inept, while Eli Manning pulled some big plays out his hat, notably the 99-yard touchdown pass to Victor Cruz.

*Cincinnati took the pole position for the last AFC playoff spot when they beat Arizona 23-16, allowing all of the Cardinals' points in the fourth quarter. The Bengals shut down Beanie Wells on the ground, something that will bear them in good stead for a matchup with Ray Rice and Baltimore in the finale.

*Michael Vick was razor-sharp in the Eagles' 20-7 win over Dallas, although when you have enough time to set up and order for delivery when you're in the pocket, the job gets a lot easier. By the time this game actually kicked off, the Giant win meant Philly was eliminated and Dallas was going to a Week 17 battle in the Meadowlands regardless. The Cowboys played like it--the lack of a pass rush is the bigger long-term problem than Tony Romo's bruised hand, while the Eagles played with some pride.

*Like Philadelphia, it just took Seattle too long to get started. Even in a tough 19-17 home loss to San Francisco, the Seahawks still ran the ball on the league's toughest run defense, as Marshawn Lynch ran for 107 yards. Seattle is certainly playing better than Dallas or the NY Giants right now, but at 7-8, they have only themselves to blame for the poor start.

*Detroit's Matthew Stafford continues to mature into an elite quarterback in front of us. One week after leading a double-digit comeback in Oakland, the Lion signal-caller was flawless in a blowout of San Diego that locked up a playoff berth. Stafford was 29/36 for 373 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions.

PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS (1 team involved)

*Not only did the bloom come off Tim Tebow's rose, with his four interceptions in Buffalo, but the Denver rush defense collapsed along with it, allowing 111 yards to C.J. Spiller.

*Jacksonville hung with Tennessee defensively, containing Chris Johnson to only 56 yards, while Maurice Jones-Drew ran for 103, but the lack of a passing game continues to be the Jags' sore spot, as the Titans stayed alive with a 23-17 win.

*Not making mistakes will take you a long way. New England couldn't stop Miami's running game with Reggie Bush, they didn't run it themselves and they gave up big plays down the field to Brandon Marshall, all the while falling behind 17-0. With no turnovers though, Tom Brady eventually brought them back and the Patriots are closing on the AFC's #1 seed.

*Baltimore's 20-14 win over Cleveland put them on the cusp of the AFC North title and at least a first-round bye, but this was a disappointing effort. There was no rush defense, as Peyton Hillis ran for 112 and the Ravens did nothing particularly well offensively.

*Pittsburgh's easy win over St. Louis without Big Ben didn't come in spite of backup Charlie Batch. The #2 quarterback was solid, going 15/22 for 208 yards and no mistakes. With a game against Cleveland next week that only means something if Baltimore loses in Cincinnati, I could see the logic in Mike Tomlin sitting down his starter again.

*Chicago didn't have the firepower to beat Green Bay last night, but the Packers really have work to do on that rush defense, which was gashed for 199 yards and by all rights should have had them in a hole by halftime. With a #1 seed locked up, I would imagine we won't see too many Green Bay starters again until the divisional playoffs.

OTHER GAMES

*I don't ever like to say a team quit, especially from reading a box score, but how else do you explain Tampa Bay giving up 270 rush yards to Carolina?  I hate making character judgments of a team when I'm not in the clubhouse, so I'm open, if not anxious to hear a more strategic explanation.

*Adrian Peterson goes down for Minnesota, Toby Gerhart picks right back up, as the backup rushes for 109 yards as Washington takes an inexcusable home loss to a team that was 2-12 coming in.

Dan Flaherty is the editor of www.thesportsnotebook.com, a site offering daily analysis, commentary and historical perspective.