Ballot and comments from AP Pro 32 panel voter Rick Gosselin of Dallas
Morning News:

Week 15

RICK GOSSELIN (Dallas Morning News)

1. Denver Broncos — Peyton Manning is making his pitch for a record
fourth NFL MVP award. He has steered Denver to eight consecutive
victories and thrown 19 TD passes during that stretch.

2. New England Patriots — The Patriots have the worst defense of any
division leader. New England ranks 26th in the league, allowing an
average of 376 yards per game.

3. Houston Texans — The Texans have lost twice this season, allowing
42 points in both games (Green Bay and New England).

4. San Francisco 49ers — The 49ers can join the Falcons with 4-0
records against the AFC this season with a victory Sunday in New
England over the Patriots. The NFC leads the inter-conference series,
31-23.

5. Atlanta Falcons — The Falcons were the last of the NFL unbeatens
this season at 8-0 but suddenly look very vulnerable. Atlanta has lost
two of its last five games and won two others by four points or less.

6. Green Bay Packers — A Packer win Sunday in Chicago would give Green
Bay a sweep of its three division rivals in a span of three weeks and
clinch another NFC North.

7. Baltimore Ravens — With an uncharacteristically porous defense
(24th in the NFL), the Ravens need more from their offense this
season. But a cast that includes QB Joe Flacco, RB Ray Rice and WR
Anquan Boldin was underperforming (18th in the NFL) and it cost
coordinator Cam Cameron his job. Jim Caldwell takes over Sunday
against Denver.

8. Indianapolis Colts — WR Reggie Wayne is attempting to lead the AFC
in receiving for the second time in six seasons — with two different
quarterbacks. He caught 104 passes from Peyton Manning in 2007 and has
94 from Andrew Luck this season.

9. New York Giants — K Lawrence Tynes is attempting to become the
first member of the Giants to lead the NFL in scoring since Don
Chandler in 1963. He's No. 1 right now with 137 points.

10. Seattle Seahawks — Every opening-day starting quarterback in the
NFL has passed for 300 yards in a game this season except one — rookie
Russell Wilson of the Seahawks.

11. Chicago Bears — Jay Cutler passed for 333 yards in the season
opener, but he hasn't hit 300 yards in any game since. In six of his
starts he's been under 200.

12. Washington Redskins — Sixth-round find Alfred Morris of Florida
Atlantic leads all rookie rushers with six 100-yard games this season.
He ranks fourth in the NFL with 1,228 yards rushing.

13. Pittsburgh Steelers — The Steelers have the chance to become the
only AFC team to go unbeaten against the NFC in 2012 with a victory
Sunday over the Cowboys. Pittsburgh has swept the other three NFC East
opponents.

14. Dallas Cowboys — WR Dez Bryant has taken over the Cowboys passing
game with seven TD catches in the last five games. But he has a
fractured finger and his season could be done. That would be a huge
blow to the Cowboys' playoff hopes.

15. Minnesota Vikings — Adrian Peterson is averaging 157 yards rushing
in his last seven games with eight touchdowns. He's topped 100 yards
all seven of those games.

16. Cincinnati Bengals — The key to the playoff hopes of the 7-6
Bengals rests in Pennsylvania. Cincinnati visits the Eagles and
Steelers in the next two weeks.

17. St. Louis Rams — The Rams are 4-0-1 in division play in the NFC
West this season, which bodes well for the future.

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — The Buccaneers are inept against the pass,
allowing a 500-, a 400- and six other 300-yard passers this season.
Tampa Bay also has allowed a league-high 10 individual 100-yard
receiving games.

19. New York Jets — The Jets have the only defense in the NFL that has
not allowed an individual 100-yard receiver yet this season.

20. Cleveland Browns — The Browns are no longer playing like a young
team, winning their last three games to boost the coaching stock of
Pat Shurmur in the eyes of new team owner Jimmy Haslam.

21. New Orleans Saints — Drew Brees has thrown nine interceptions in
his last three games. His 18 interceptions through 13 games already
match his career high.

22. San Diego Chargers — The Chargers have scored an NFL-runner-up six
defensive touchdowns but have little to show for them — a
disappointing 5-8 record.

23. Miami Dolphins — The Dolphins are in dire need of a big-play
receiver to accelerate the development of Ryan Tannehill as a
quarterback. Look for the Dolphins to go wideout in the first round
next April.

24. Carolina Panthers — The Panthers defense has 21 sacks in six road
games this season but only nine in seven home games. Carolina visits
San Diego Sunday.

25. Philadelphia Eagles — Nick Foles isn't the rushing threat of
Michael Vick at quarterback but he's a more accurate passer. He also
takes better care of the football.

26. Buffalo Bills — The Bills head north this weekend for their annual
game in Toronto. It's a home game for the Bills, but there is no home
field advantage — Buffalo is 1-3 in those games.

27. Tennessee Titans — A big part of Tennessee's problem this season
is its inability to compete in its own division. The Titans are 4-9 on
the season and 0-5 in the AFC South.

28. Detroit Lions — The 4-9 Lions have blown double-digit leads in
losing each of their last three games.

29. Arizona Cardinals — The Cardinals have lost nine consecutive games
with three different quarterbacks. John Skelton is 0-5 during that
stretch and both Kevin Kolb and Ryan Lindley 0-2.

30. Oakland Raiders — The Raiders have allowed 400-plus points for the
second consecutive season.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars — The Jaguars have managed a league-low 14
sacks, which helps explain why opponents are completing almost 64
percent of their passes.

32. Kansas City Chiefs — Brady Quinn has passed for fewer than 500
yards in three starts since replacing Matt Cassel at quarterback. The
Chiefs rank 31st in the NFL in passing.

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