Hunter looks for cushion, Brooks for ladder

At the outset of the season, the powers that be in the National Football League were patting themselves on the back for brining parody to a sport that had been riddled with powerhouses during the happy-go-lucky days before the salary cap.

Fourteen weeks into the schedule, things have taken a bit of a turn in the AFC, as three distinct classes have formed. The New England Patriots (11-0), Pittsburgh Steelers (11-1), Indianapolis Colts (9-3), San Diego Chargers (9-3) and the N.Y. Jets (9-3) have emerged from the pack as the top contenders, while the Baltimore Ravens (7-5), Denver Broncos (7-5), Buffalo Bills (6-6), and Cincinnati Bengals (6-6) make up a middle class that is almost there.

On the other hand, the Houston Texans (5-7) Tennessee Titans (4-8), Kansas City Chiefs (4-8), Oakland Raiders (4-8), Cleveland Browns (3-9), and Miami Dolphins (2-10) make up the “better luck next year” class.

It isn’t the ideal picture that the organizers had in mind, but it really isn’t that bad. In the NFC, only the Philadelphia Eagles (11-1) and the Atlanta Falcons (9-3), to a lesser extent, have created some distance from the pack.

Ah yes, parody reigns supreme in the NFC—albeit with a side effect of mediocrity becoming conference chic. As ugly as it sounds, there is a very real possibility that a sub.500 team could make it into the playoffs.

Aside from the Eagles and Falcons, only the Green Bay Packers (7-5) and the Minnesota Vikings (7-5) have a winning record. After them, only the St. Louis Rams and the Seattle Seahawks are even at 6-6.

That means that 10 out of the 16 teams in the NFC just plain stink.

It isn’t pretty—consider that the N.Y. Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers still have a legitimate shot at the post-season at 5-7.

The Shell Chiefs of the Commonwealth Football League could probably knock off the 1-11 San Francisco 49ers, but the Niners would have to come and play at the CPA Airport field for them to pull it off.

It may be a long shot, but so was Rich Brooks. At 92-68, he’s just five games behind John and Big Tuna (97-63), and six games behind Jennifer at 98-62. As the season winds down, there may only be a game here and there for Rich to catch up to Will, but at 101-57 it’s not likely.