After watching the Lions and Jaguars frame Week 13 in effortless fashion, it's reasonable to conclude that maybe more data isn't better. Get the right late-season opponent -- a team that has mentally vacated the premises -- and you can really pile up some impressive numbers.

But fortunately there isn't another team that's yet to completely give up, though that number is sure to rise in the season's final month. Top candidates are the Browns, Rams, Niners, Seahawks, Chiefs and Raiders. And don't be surprised if the Chargers fold like a cheap accordion now that their playoff aspirations have officially been junked; San Diego players know their current coaching staff is toast.

Unless the Give-Up Virus spreads uncontrollably, I will continue to have faith in the numbers -- especially after substituting net YPP (yard per play, including rushing yards) for net YPA (yards per pass attempt, including sacks).

I assess the strength of team stats by looking at how the best and worst teams at doing it fare at what most matters: winning games. There's one losing team in the top 10 in net YPA (the Chargers) and two winning teams in the bottom 10 (Jets, Patriots). Net yards per rush, just for fun, has no losing teams in the top 10, but six winning teams in the bottom 10 (Packers, Colts, Saints, Falcons, Cardinal, Broncos). And net YPP has one losing team in the top 10 (Chargers) and one winning team in the bottom 10 (Patriots). So you can make a case that it's slightly better than net YPA.

Last week the teams that won this stat alone, not looking at anything else, were 15-1 (Saints were the only loser). To date in 2008, net YPA leaders are 146-45, winning 76.4 percent of games. That's right there with turnovers, which get harped on incessantly while no one says word one on the broadcasts about passing efficiency (measured by yards).

The one change at the top at the power rankings is the Eagles, who are back in after the Donovan McNabb-led massacre of the Cardinals put them back in the top five of our stat power rankings (they are fifth most powerful, by the numbers). Even if they beat the Giants at the Meadowlands this week, not a great long shot if you look at the key numbers, their playoff path is very challenging.

Given the Panthers' win in Green Bay, it looks like there's only room for one wild card at most from the NFC East (Tampa Bay and Carolina have a big edge in the South). The Falcons (at New Orleans, Tampa Bay, at Minnesota, St. Louis) need to lose twice for the Eagles to have a chance. And the Falcons can hold off the Cowboys even if both teams finish 12-4 because the Cowboys will lose the conference record tiebreaker. And look at the remaining Cowboys schedule: at Pittsburgh, Giants, Ravens, at Philly.

We'll look at the AFC playoff picture in detail next week, but let's now use our stats to make some more specific recommendations.

Buy

Colts offense: I understand the Colts offense is overrated. But they close with Cincy, Detroit, at Jacksonville and then at home against a Titans team that will have clinched everything and be looking to avoid injury.

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers: For a while this year, Pittsburgh's sack rate was about 15 percent, which is terrible (average is about 6.5 percent). It's now down to 9.8 percent. In the last four games (three wins), he's been dumped seven times in 145 attempts (4.8 percent).

Cowboys pass rush: The Steelers get more respect, but Dallas leads the NFL in defensive sack percentage. Can the Steelers and Roethlisberger hold the fort versus them in Sunday's showcase game?

Hold

Players Who Thrived Against Give-up Defenses: Chris Johnson and Steve Slaton are good players. But the Lions did not show up at all on Thanksgiving in even a touch-football sense. Monday night, Slaton walked into the end zone untouched twice late when the Jaguars were mentally on the plane back home.

Sell

No. 1 Receivers Against the Raiders: Sunday, the Chiefs went to TE Tony Gonzales with Nnamdi Asomugha in coverage four times, completing two including a TD. But that’s' just 14 attempts to guys Asomugha is covering all year -- and half of those have been to Gonzalez (three in the first Chiefs-Raiders game). Wide receivers like Randy Moss (who plays Oakland in Week 15) are a solid bet to be completely ignored.

Red Zone Efficiency: Win money in bars by asking sports junkies to name the second most efficient red zone offense in the NFL this year. The answer is Detroit, converting two-thirds of their trips into TDs. That seems great until you realize the Lions have been in the red zone 21 times all year (NFL average is 38 trips). Net red zone possessions is the better dominance stat. Note the Giants are an unbelievable plus-32 there.