The more things change, the more they stay the same. That about says it all after the 1pm games of week 12 are in the books. Complete imperfection remains intact, as the Indianapolis Colts are still winless, falling 27-19 to the Carolina Panthers. The playoff picture from the Baltimore Ravens perspective really doesn't change much, although the Houston Texans (8-3) kept pace for at least another week, holding on for a 20-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, with original starting QB Matt Schaub already out for the season, backup QB Matt Leinart was lost for the day (and reportedly the season with a broken collarbone) and replaced by T.J. Yates.
In the AFC North, the Cleveland Browns tried to help out the Ravens gap between them and the Cincinnati Bengals, but a Phil Dawson 55-yard FG was nowhere close and the Bengals drove down the shorter field for the game winning FG to go to 7-4. In the AFC South, the Tennessee Titans kept pace with the Texans by winning, but still are two games behind Houston with only five left to play, including a week 17 match-up that could be a big game in the division standings.
Over in the AFC East, the Buffalo Bills free-fall continued and they are all but out of the playoff picture at 5-6, including two losses to the New York Jets, including 28-24 today, which keeps the Jets (6-5) in the hunt. The New England Patriots have a chance to reclaim the #1 playoff seed for the time being if they can win on the road at the Philadelphia Eagles, who are leading 7-0 as this is being written (Go Eagles!).