Separation Sunday

Separation Sunday is a classic album by The Hold Steady. It's also happening this week in the NFL.

Who's good in the NFC? Lots of teams in that conversation. The only undefeated team is the 4-0 49ers. But are they the best team in their division? We'll get closer to an answer when they play the Rams on Sunday.

Then there's the Seahawks who have to go on the road to struggling Cleveland. If Seattle wins, they belong in the conversation of best NFC teams and we can stop taking the Browns seriously this year.

The Eagles play the Vikings and one of them will be .500 and the other will be firmly in their division winner race.

If the Panthers can beat the Bucs in London, it's time to take the Panthers seriously. If not, then both will become 2nd fiddle to the Saints.

And on Monday Night, the Packers can bolster their case as the best team in the conference with a win at home over the Lions.


In the AFC, the marquee showdown is Texans at Chiefs. If the Texans win, they'll have the same record as KC and own a tiebreaker for playoff seeding. Watson could gain steam and hype as a top 3 or top 5 QB. If the Chiefs win, they reassert themselves as an AFC favorite along with the Pats.

Even the Miami-Washington game has relevance for our Calcutta loser money race. Who will stake their claim as the true winless team and the inside track for $$$. (That's three dollars.)