As temperatures decrease around the nation, NFL action heats up. Teams can't leave anything on the field for the postseason to become a reality.
Granted, not all teams are preparing for a potential playoff run after early-season failures. Still, even those squads have plenty to achieve or questions to answer.
Bleacher Report's team of NFL writers banded together to grade how each of the situations below and more are progressing:
• The San Francisco 49ers may be the team to beat in the NFC.
• The New England Patriots look vulnerable.
• The Buffalo Bills don't appear as ready for the postseason as their 9-4 record indicates.