The Athletic NFL writers Mike Jones, Ted Nguyen and Dan Pompei share their thoughts on all of these storylines and more. There is plenty of buzz that the Cowboys locker room wants Mike McCarthy back — is that a good idea or a bad idea for Dallas?

Micah Parsons said Joe Burrow was not among the NFL's top six QBs, adding that there were "some games like he's not there."

After the Cincinnati Bengals narrowly beat the Denver Broncos, the AFC playoff picture has gotten a lot more complicated.

Here's where every NFL team stands in both conferences in the race to make the playoffs ahead of Week 17's late Sunday and Monday action.