Jon Beason and the Panthers are playing their best ball of the season as crunch time approaches

While it doesn’t look like the NFL is doing well in its “parity drive,” a closer study shows it couldn’t be doing a better job.   In each conference, there are eleven teams with realistic shots at the six playoff spots up for grabs after Week 17.

Over the next four weeks, teams will either play themselves into contention or they will fall the pace like well-cooked turkey meat from the bone.  A couple teams have “easy” schedules while others will play four games against other teams trying to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The Cincinnati Bengals will play three “trap” games over the next three weeks.  Games at Oakland, then home for Cleveland and Detroit should have the Bengals sitting at 10-2 heading into their Week 13 game in Minnesota.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be right on their heels.  After playing in Kansas City this weekend, the Steelers head to Baltimore for a tough one.  Then the Raiders head to Pittsburgh before the Steelers head to Cleveland.

The team that decides who makes it out of the AFC East may be the Carolina Panthers.  Thursday night the Panthers host the Miami Dolphins.  After a ten-day break, the Cats head to New Jersey to play the Jets.  After a week back in the division against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Panthers go back north to play the New England Patriots.

The Patriots have one of the toughest schedules over the next four weeks.  this week they host the Jets.  Then it is to New Orleans and Miami before wrapping up the stretch with the Panthers.

The New York Giants are the other team playing four potential playoff teams during the stretch.  The G-men are home to Atlanta this weekend before heading to Denver Thanksgiving night.  The Giants are then home for Dallas and Philadelphia.

The San Francisco 49ers are two games behind the Arizona Cardinals, but have a head-to-head meeting in Week 13.  the Niners are in Green Bay this weekend and at Jacksonville next.  The Cardinals are at St. Louis, at Tennessee, and home to Minnesota before going to San Fran.

This weekend, there seven games to keep an eye on.  The San Diego Chargers head to Denver to take on the Broncos.  A month ago, the Broncos were cruising to a division title and possible first-round bye.  A loss to SD and the Broncos are in second place in the division.

Indianapolis heads to Baltimore.  The Colts have a two-game lead in the conference and would love to keep Ray Lewis and company out of the January fun.  The Ravens have struggled offensively in recent weeks and cannot afford to fall further behind.  Right now the Ravens are on the outside looking in.

The New York Jets are in New England.  The Jets started strong but have faded.  The Patriots will be looking to rebound from last week’s improbable loss in Indy.

Thursday night the injury-plagued Miami Dolphins are in Charlotte to play the almost-as-equally-injury-plagued Carolina Panthers.  Since the Panthers defense got a little healthier, the demands on Jake Delhomme have lessened and the Panthers have been winning.

Sunday night, the Philadelphia Eagles will be in Chicago to take on the Bears.  The Bears are a mess while the Eagles will look for a healthy running back to fill the void left by Brian Westbrook.

The Atlanta Falcons look to bounce back from last week’s loss in Charlotte by giving the Giants their fifth straight loss.  The giants are coming off a bye-week and should be ready to get back in the win column.

Lastly, the Green Bay Packers are in SF.  Look out for Green Bay the rest of the way.  Last week the players had one of those “air it out” sessions and the team responded with a dominating performance over the Cowboys.

While every weekend is a good football weekend, the games now are starting to carry a bit more weight.  Win, and survive another week.  Lose, and all those two-a-days in July will seem like a waste of time.

- Photo courtesy Carolina Panthers