NEW YORK -- Kyrie Irving will miss at least two more games, sitting out trips to his old homes in Cleveland and Boston.

The way Spencer Dinwiddie is playing, it might not matter to the Brooklyn Nets.

"Just, difference-maker right now," Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said.

Dinwiddie scored 30 points in another strong start in place of the injured point guard and the Nets beat the New York Knicks 103-101 on Sunday for their season-high third straight victory.

Irving continues to rest an injured right shoulder, and Dinwiddie is making sure the Nets get by without him, scoring 20 or more points in a career-best five straight games after stepping into the starting lineup. He was 13 of 14 from the foul line, where the Nets had a whopping 27-9 advantage in makes.

Jarrett Allen had 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Nets, and Taurean Prince had 14 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. Joe Harris scored 13 points, with four coming after the Knicks had cut it to one with 1:20 left.

Marcus Morris scored 26 points for the Knicks, who lost their third straight. They played without rookie RJ Barrett. He was scratched after feeling sick before the game.

The Nets are missing their starting backcourt, with Caris LeVert out after right thumb surgery. But they have won four of five to even their record at 8-8.

"We don't have some of our better players on the court, but we're still finding a way to win," Allen said.

The biggest reason has been the play of Dinwiddie, who could go back to the bench as soon as Friday if Irving is cleared to return. Or, perhaps Atkinson could choose to start them together until LeVert is recovered.

"I'm not the coach, I don't make those decisions," Dinwiddie said. "If that's the new role, then that's what I'll do, and if it's not, then it's not."

The Nets opened a 29-15 lead but struggled when Dinwiddie and Allen went to the bench and let the Knicks close the gap to 52-46 by halftime.

New York cut it to one after back-to-back 3s by Morris and another by Wayne Ellington, but Harris scored on a drive and later added a pair of free throws.

The Knicks had a much stronger effort than a night earlier, when they never led in a home loss to San Antonio. But they fell to 4-13 ahead of a tough five-game stretch against Toronto, Philadelphia, Boston, Milwaukee and Denver.

"I embrace the challenge," coach David Fizdale said. "I don't feel like we need to be looking at that like that's impossible. We're going to take it a game at a time and continue to try to give ourselves a chance to win every night."

TIP-INS

Nets: Atkinson said Irving wouldn't travel with the team to Cleveland on Monday but wasn't sure yet about Wednesday to Boston. ... It was the most points Dinwiddie has scored in 12 games against the Knicks.

Knicks: Mitchell Robinson was called for a sixth foul with 4:54 left, but Fizdale challenged the call and it was overturned, allowing Robinson to stay on the floor. Not for long: He then picked up the sixth 42 seconds later and was given a technical foul after saying something to a referee on his way off the floor. ... Morris has scored 20 or more in four straight and six of his past seven games.

KNOX'S CHANCE

Kevin Knox II had five points starting in place of Barrett. He not only hadn't started this season, but his minutes off the bench had been dwindling. He had been limited to 10 or fewer in the past two games, with Fizdale seeking a more consistent defensive effort from the 2018 lottery pick. So he was hoping to make the most of his opportunity Sunday but picked up his fourth foul less than four minutes into the second half.

"Like I say you've got to be ready when your name gets called," Knox said. "My dad used to always tell me growing up: You're an ankle sprain away from that time."

MORE NOISE

The sound around the Nets has changed -- on and off the court -- since the recent signing of Iman Shumpert, who began his career with the Knicks, won a title with Cleveland and has done some rap music.

"I just see Theo [Pinson], DeAndre [Jordan], the communication is better because he talks a ton and his aggressiveness, he's pushing the other guys," Atkinson said. "And then our music has definitely improved in the locker room. We've taken a step up in our music selection. Obviously, he's pretty sophisticated there."

UP NEXT

Nets: At Cleveland on Monday night.

Knicks: At Toronto on Wednesday night.

LOS ANGELES -- After the Clippers acquired Montrezl Harrell in a seven-player deal for Chris Paul, the team had a discussion about whether to invite the gritty big man to camp and see if he could earn his roster spot, according to coach Doc Rivers.

Rivers said the front office acknowledged how hard Harrell plays all the time and that was enough to warrant seeing what he could do in the 2017 training camp. More than two seasons later, Harrell continues to thrive and he's an issue for opposing defenses focused on trying to slow Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

Harrell matched his career high with 34 points to go with 12 rebounds off the bench to spark the Clippers to a 134-109 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night at Staples Center.

The Clippers (12-5) won their fifth straight game and improved their franchise-best start at home to 11-1. Harrell has been a big part of the Clippers' success so far, averaging a career-high 19 points and 7.5 rebounds while making 60.4% of his shots.

"Once he's going downhill, once he is playing really aggressive and attacking the rim, he is virtually unstoppable with a guy of his size and the footspeed that he has," Clippers guard Lou Williams said of his pick-and-roll partner. "He had a monster night."

With defenses trying to trap Leonard and George while also trying to contain Williams, opponents might underestimate what Harrell can do even outside of the damage he can deliver on pick-and-rolls.

"That'll be a problem that they have," Williams said of opponents. "With his footspeed, he catches that ball at the top of the key, he has moves that he can go to and he is a great finisher at the rim. They're watching film and underestimating him, that's their problem."

Harrell made 13 of 18 shots overall Sunday but hurt the Pelicans in the second half when he made 9 of 11 shots and scored 24 of his points.

"Honestly, I had a lot on my mind coming into today's game and I just really wanted to go out here and just leave it all out here on the floor," Harrell said. "... I'm just really out there just having fun, taking what the defense gives me.

"A couple moves I made tonight, I made them going left, because down there toward their bench, I heard the coach yelling, take away his right hand. So I feel like I got a step quicker on a couple guys."

Not bad for a player for whom Rivers calls only a couple of plays each game outside of the pick-and-rolls with Williams, Leonard or George. Rivers said Harrell basically has one post play, an isolation play at the top and what Harrell does in transition that he does his damage in outside of the pick-and-rolls.

"I think people think that Trez is good, only because of Lou," Rivers said of the pick-and-rolls between the two super subs. "And I think that they are starting to see Trez is good. Period. There is nothing else after that.

"He can score in the post, he can score in isos, he can do it in a lot of different ways and it has been great to watch. Like each year, it seems like he adds more and more to his game."

After playing 10 of their past 12 games at home, the Clippers now will be on the road for nine of their next 11. And that stretch starts at Dallas against the red-hot Luka Doncic.

In only his second season, Doncic is nearly averaging a triple-double with 30.6 points, 10.1 rebounds and 9.8 assists. He has three triple-doubles in his past six games and is coming off a 41-point, 10-assist performance Sunday against Houston.

Both Leonard and George were already on the same page, describing Doncic as "the head of the snake" in separate postgame interviews.

"I think we just both understand the game and we know the dynamics of this and where he's taken his game," George said. "... I think they're really performing higher than people would expect and he's the reason for it. He's doing everything. I've been watching and keeping up and following what he's been doing. And he's doing it. He's in MVP conversations right now. It is kind of hard to not know what is going on in Dallas."

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is fully involved in running the Premier League side and will not entertain "bargain bids" for the club, chairman Bruce Buck said.

Abramovich ran into problems renewing his British visa last year and has not been seen at Chelsea's home games this season. He has also cancelled plans to redevelop Stamford Bridge.

British media reported Abramovich had grown weary and was looking to sell the club but Buck said that the Russian billionaire, who took Israeli citizenship in May last year, had no such plans.

"I have never heard a word from Abramovich: 'Let's get this ready for a sale,' or something," Buck told the Guardian.

"Because of the political situation, there are people who think they might want to buy Chelsea at a bargain. We do get inquiries and we really have nothing to say to these people.

"In terms of being involved, in looking at new players, talking about whether to extend players' contracts... [he] was always intimately involved in that from day one and is just as intimately involved now."

Chelsea are currently unable to add any new players to their squad after being hit with a transfer ban by FIFA. Manager Frank Lampard has guided an inexperienced team to fourth in the league after 13 games.

"The transfer ban has led to more opportunities for young players," Buck said.

"It makes Mr Abramovich very happy, because he is interested in the academy. I would guess he's one of the few owners that have been to lots of academy matches."

The Raiders were blown out by the Jets, and the Eagles couldn't get anything going against the Seahawks. The Panthers-Saints and Lions-Redskins matchups both ended with game-winning field goals, and the Bills got to eight wins and earned some cushion in the AFC playoff race. In the afternoon slate, the Cowboys failed to make a statement in a loss to the Patriots. In the night game, the Niners rolled the Packers.

All that and more in Week 12's biggest takeaways from NFL Nation.

Jump to a matchup:
SEA-PHI | TB-ATL | CAR-NO
MIA-CLE | DEN-BUF | NYG-CHI
OAK-NYJ | DET-WSH | PIT-CIN
JAX-TEN | DAL-NE | GB-SF | IND-HOU

Seattle Seahawks 17, Philadelphia Eagles 9

The Seahawks' defense is hitting its stride. Over the past two games, that group has allowed a combined two touchdowns and four field goals, and one of the TDs was during garbage time in the win over the Eagles on Sunday. The pass rush was effective for the second consecutive game, even with Jadeveon Clowney inactive and Jarran Reed missing the second half. It was a reversal of the first half of the season, when Russell Wilson and the offense had to bail out the defense. Said linebacker K.J. Wright: "This defense can be the best in the league. I'm proud of us ... I believe this defense is a Super Bowl-caliber defense [and this is a] Super Bowl-caliber team." -- Brady Henderson

Next game: vs. Minnesota (8:15 p.m. ET, Dec. 2)

Quarterback Carson Wentz committed four turnovers, all part of an awful offensive performance that puts the Eagles (5-6) in a precarious position. Wentz (33-of-45 passing, 256 yards, TD) threw two interceptions and had three fumbles -- two of which Seattle recovered -- in what proved to be one of his worst performances as a pro. The Eagles have two things going for them: a resurgent defense and the easiest closing schedule in the NFL, starting with a trip to Miami next week. But with the offense sputtering this badly, nothing is guaranteed. -- Tim McManus

Next game: at Miami (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 35, Atlanta Falcons 22

After failing to match the Saints' sense of urgency last week, the Bucs overcame two early interceptions from quarterback Jameis Winston to win on the road and improve to 4-7. While this is not a playoff-caliber team, and Winston continues to be wildly inconsistent (he became the first player since Jon Kitna to turn the ball over 100 times in 67 games), the Bucs do have a realistic shot to better their matching 5-11 records of the past two years, as only two of their final five opponents -- the Colts and Texans -- have a winning record, and three of their final five games are at home. -- Jenna Laine

Next game: at Jacksonville (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

The Falcons blew a golden opportunity to build off the momentum from a two-game winning streak. When the Falcons failed to score touchdowns after Matt Ryan's early 53-yard connection to tight end Jaeden Graham and after linebacker De'Vondre Campbell's interception gave the offense the ball at the Bucs' 19-yard line, you knew it was going to be a long day. The Falcons looked more like the team that started the season 1-7 than like a team on a mission to save its season and coach Dan Quinn's job. Now at 3-8, the playoffs are a far-fetched possibility. -- Vaughn McClure

Next game: vs. New Orleans (8:20 p.m. ET, Thursday)

New Orleans Saints 34, Carolina Panthers 31

The Saints can't feel good about the way they kept letting the Panthers back in the game. But ugly or not, they do have to feel good about essentially slamming the door shut on the NFC South race. The Saints (9-2) now have a four-game lead over Carolina (5-6). But they will need to play a lot cleaner over the next five weeks, especially when it comes to their continued penalty woes, if they want to last into February. -- Mike Triplett

Next game: at Atlanta (8:20 p.m. ET, Thursday)

Kickers were 134-for-134 on field goals of 28 yards or less before Carolina kicker Joey Slye missed with 1:56 left. He also missed two extra points in a game the Saints won on a last-second field goal. Slye, who said he felt terrible after the game, knows he let a lot of people down and all but ended Carolina's playoff hopes. He also could have put coach Ron Rivera's job in jeopardy unless the Panthers (5-6) win their final five games and make the playoffs. -- David Newton

Next game: vs. Washington (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Cleveland Browns 41, Miami Dolphins 24

Baker Mayfield might finally be finding a groove with his wide receivers. He tossed a season-high three touchdown passes Sunday -- two to Jarvis Landry and another to Odell Beckham Jr. It was the first time Mayfield had found Beckham and Landry for touchdowns in the same game, with all three coming in the first half. Mayfield set a season-high passing efficiency of 118.1, while OBJ and Landry combined for 232 receiving yards, also a season high. "They executed today at a high level," coach Freddie Kitchens said. Next up is an emotional trip to Pittsburgh, which figures to be tense given last week's melee with the Steelers. The rematch will be the dominant storyline. Yet quietly, Cleveland is playing its way back into playoff contention. -- Jake Trotter

Next game: at Pittsburgh (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

The Dolphins' feel-good progress is at a halt, and the needs to be addressed this offseason are growing by the game. Giving up 41 points and season-best performances to Mayfield and Landry exposed just how much work Miami has to do with its pass rush and secondary. At 2-9, it's about time to officially turn the page to the offseason and draft. -- Cameron Wolfe

Next game: vs. Philadelphia (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Buffalo Bills 20, Denver Broncos 3

Everyone at New Era Field witnessed history, as Bills running back Frank Gore passed Barry Sanders for third place on the NFL's all-time rushing list. But as Gore, himself, would say, the most important takeaway of the day was the notch in the win column. Buffalo (8-3) is now two games ahead of the glut of teams vying for the second AFC wild-card spot. It was a much-needed win for the Bills with a Thanksgiving Day matchup against the Cowboys on deck and games against the Ravens, Steelers and Patriots awaiting in the following weeks. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

Next game: at Dallas (4:30 p.m. ET, Thursday)

The Broncos' struggles on offense go well beyond who plays quarterback. Sunday's loss means they have now scored 16 or fewer points six times this season and have scored 16 or fewer points 13 times in the past 27 games (48% of the time). Since the start of the 2017 season, the Broncos are now on their sixth quarterback -- rookie Drew Lock will be the seventh if the Broncos choose to activate him off injured reserve and play him before season's end -- their third offensive coordinator and second head coach. They're basically playing out the string, headed for their fourth consecutive losing season under John Elway. -- Jeff Legwold

Next game: vs. L.A. Chargers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Chicago Bears 19, New York Giants 14

The Giants made a serious mistake by not double-teaming Khalil Mack on every play. Mack had been quiet lately -- one sack over the previous six games -- but the All-Pro broke out of his slump with a strip-sack of New York quarterback Daniel Jones that set up what proved to be the Bears' game-winning touchdown on Sunday. "I finally got singled up," Mack said with a smile. "And I knew I had to make the most of the opportunity." After not recording a single stat for the Bears in Week 11's loss to the Rams, Mack was credited with three total tackles and two additional quarterback hurries against the Giants. -- Jeff Dickerson

Next game: at Detroit (12:30 p.m. ET, Thursday)

It keeps getting uglier for the Giants after their seventh consecutive loss. Missed field goals, endless neutral-zone infractions and poor pass protection led to another loss. "It's tough, man. We have to get back to the drawing board," wide receiver Sterling Shepard said. It begs the question: Just who can the Giants (2-9) beat right now? Maybe the Dolphins or Redskins over the final five weeks? Can they even get to four wins? -- Jordan Raanan

Next game: vs. Green Bay (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

New York Jets 34, Oakland Raiders 3

With strong play by quarterback Sam Darnold and a suffocating run defense, the Jets won their third consecutive game. This sounds crazy, but if they can beat the lowly Bengals and Dolphins the next two weeks, they will be 6-7 for a Thursday night game against the Ravens. The Jets are making this interesting. -- Rich Cimini

Next game: at Cincinnati (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

The Raiders may be in the playoff hunt, but a poor showing in the elements against Jets leaves the impression Oakland is more pretender than contender. A first-place tie with Kansas City was at stake, and now the Raiders see the Chiefs next week. "We're not the '85 Bears," Raiders coach Jon Gruden said. "We're a development football team, we're developing our roster, we're making strides. Today was a setback. We're going to give our preparation every ounce of diligence that we can. We know what we're up against in Arrowhead [Stadium]; they're coming off a bye week, so it's not going to be easy." -- Paul Gutierrez

Next game: at Kansas City (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Washington Redskins 19, Detroit Lions 16

Dwayne Haskins has a long way to go and his inaccuracy remains an issue, but he did show poise in leading two late scoring drives. The game also showed the Redskins have some solid young talent at receiver with Terry McLaurin and Kelvin Harmon. Both made tough catches late in the game. McLaurin, in particular, has developed into an excellent player, and if Haskins had been on target more often, McLaurin would have finished with more than 100 yards and at least one touchdown. Haskins also showed his 22-year-old side by taking a selfie when the offense was taking a knee in victory formation. That won't sit well with some. In the end, this was the entire Haskins experience: You saw the arm talent, the inaccuracy, the poise and some of his youthfulness. It's going to take him time to mature as a pro. -- John Keim

Next game: at Carolina (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

The Lions are in precarious territory, losers of seven of their past eight games -- and Sunday's defeat might be the worst. Players were at a loss after the game, and when veteran safety Tavon Wilson was asked what it says about Detroit that it lost to Washington, he said, "They were better than us today, so that gives you my thoughts on us." Wilson said the Lions have "to keep pushing" and play well in spurts. But spurts haven't been good enough this season for this team. -- Michael Rothstein

Next game: vs. Chicago (12:30 p.m. ET, Thursday)

Pittsburgh Steelers 16, Cincinnati Bengals 10

The Steelers may be on their third starting quarterback the next time they take the field. Quarterback Mason Rudolph was pulled for ineffective play after one drive in the third quarter in favor of backup Devlin Hodges. "I felt like our offense needed a spark," coach Mike Tomlin said. "Mason wasn't doing enough. [Devlin] came in and provided us with a spark. Made a couple plays. We'll see what next week holds." Three plays into his first drive, Hodges ignited the offense with a pass to James Washington that the wide receiver took to the end zone by way of a stiff-arm for a 79-yard score. Tomlin wouldn't disclose his plan for next week at quarterback, but Hodges' spark did enough to get this win -- and may yield a permanent starting job. -- Brooke Pryor

Next game: vs. Cleveland (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Rookie quarterback Ryan Finley will need a serious turnaround if he wants to prove that he can be the quarterback of the future. Finley's struggles continued as he completed 46.2% of his passes for 192 yards and had another turnover, his fifth in three starts. Three of those are lost fumbles in the pocket, an area of major concern for Bengals coach Zac Taylor. "We had to be strong in the pocket, and we put it on the ground too many times," Taylor said. The Bengals have five games left and are in danger of becoming the third franchise (Detroit and Cleveland) to go through a 16-game season without a win. -- Ben Baby

Next game: vs. N.Y. Jets (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Tennessee Titans 42, Jacksonville Jaguars 20

The Titans seem to have finally gotten it right. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith dialed up Derrick Henry for 19 carries, and the 6-foot-3, 247-pounder rewarded him by picking up 159 yards and two touchdowns. Henry has 347 yards in two games against two of the NFL's worst run defenses. But next week against the Colts (ninth-ranked run defense) will be a major test for Henry and the Titans' rushing attack. -- Turron Davenport

Next game: at Indianapolis (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

This was the Jaguars' third double-digit loss in a row, and no one can be safe after another embarrassing and demoralizing performance. Owner Shad Khan said after last season there were too many long Sundays and he expected that to change. It clearly hasn't, and the Jaguars' sixth consecutive road loss to the Titans may force his hand as early as Monday. Coach Doug Marrone is 19-24 in his two-plus seasons, which includes a 9-18 mark since winning the AFC South with a 10-6 record and appearing in the AFC title game in 2017. General manager Dave Caldwell and executive vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin have drafted well the past two seasons, but they are in jeopardy, too. It will depend on whether Khan trusts them to make the decisions in free agency and the upcoming draft, which includes two first-round picks. -- Mike DiRocco

Next game: vs. Tampa Bay (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

New England Patriots 13, Dallas Cowboys 9

The Patriots' defense saved the game, holding twice inside the red zone after the Cowboys had advanced to the 11-yard line. That was ultimately the difference. But while the defense continues to define this Patriots team, with a blocked punt on special teams as an extension of that, the short-handed offense is still searching for answers. The optimistic view is Tom Brady (17-of-37 for 190 yards, TD) and the offense will soon get receivers Phillip Dorsett II (concussion) and Mohamed Sanu Sr. (ankle) back. The pessimistic view is, regardless, there simply might not be enough firepower when the Patriots eventually need the offense to carry the day if the defense and special teams falter. -- Mike Reiss

Next game: at Houston (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Jerry Jones called the Cowboys' loss a "significant setback." The owner and general manager felt like his team needed a win against a quality opponent to improve its chances of being more than just a playoff team. At 6-5, the Cowboys remain in first place in the NFC East but partly because of Philadelphia's struggles. "We're fortunate," Jones said. "We've got a chance to really step up here and do this, but I want to see us coordinate our defense, offense and special teams ... I want to see a winning game, all of those guys acting a little bit in coordination and unison. And I'm disappointed we didn't do that." -- Todd Archer

Next game: vs. Buffalo (4:30 p.m. ET, Thursday)

San Francisco 49ers 37, Green Bay Packers 8

The 49ers delivered a complete performance in a game they had to have against the Packers. With a long road trip in which they face Baltimore and New Orleans next, the Niners couldn't afford to drop the one home game in what could be the most difficult three-game stretch a team has faced this late in the season during the Super Bowl era. That San Francisco thoroughly dominated Green Bay should only bolster the 49ers' confidence, and it keeps them in position to lock up the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. "Everybody kind of has been sleeping on us," 49ers offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey said. "I don't know what else we can do to kind of say, 'Hey, we're a force to be reckoned with too.' But I think we sent that message tonight to not only the Green Bay Packers but the rest of the NFL, as well. We know what we have in here, and we know what we're capable of, and these next two weeks are going to be a good test again." -- Nick Wagoner

Next game: at Baltimore (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

In game that might end up having home-field advantage implications in the NFC, the Packers showed they're not worthy. The Packers can't just discount their inability in win in California as unimportant because now it looks like they might have to come back here to have any chance at the Super Bowl. What's to make anyone think the Packers can come West and actually win after getting rolled in their two California games this season -- at the Chargers and at the 49ers? -- Rob Demovsky

Next game: at N.Y. Giants (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Houston Texans 20, Indianapolis Colts 17

The Texans called their Thursday night game against the Colts a "must-win" all week long. Houston players backed up their words, turning the page from an ugly loss in Baltimore. Now the Texans will prepare for the toughest game of this three-game stretch when they host the Patriots on Sunday Night Football. -- Sarah Barshop

Next game: vs. New England (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday)

The Colts (6-5) will need help to make the playoffs after their loss to Houston. They went from having a 74% chance to win the division with a win, per FPI, to seeing those odds reduced to 19% with the defeat. Their best chance for the postseason may be as a wild-card team. The Colts went into Sunday with just one game remaining against a team with a winning record (at New Orleans). -- Mike Wells

Next game: vs. Tennessee (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

We've reached clinching season in the NFL. If all goes well in the coming days for the Saints, they'll have secured the NFC South by this time next week and become the first division winner of the 2019 season. That's one of several upshots from an eventful Sunday in Week 12, including a pair of teams reaching 10 wins atop their respective conferences.

Let's take a closer look at the playoff picture as it stands now through Sunday night of Week 12, using ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) to inform our analysis.

Jump to: AFC | NFC

AFC

1. New England Patriots (10-1)

The Patriots are closing in on another AFC East title, but their winning formula is about to be tested. They'll play consecutive games against the Texans and Chiefs, two of the NFL's 10 highest-scoring offenses. Will the Patriots' league-leading defense hold up against them? Or will their offense, which has averaged 16.7 points over its past three games, need to keep pace? Regardless, the Patriots' favorable schedule thereafter -- they'll finish the season against the Bengals, Bills and Dolphins -- makes them a reasonable bet to clinch both the division and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. FPI gives them a 78% chance of the latter.

Next up: at Houston

2. Baltimore Ravens (8-2)

As they enter Monday night's game against the Rams, the Ravens are in a great position to win the AFC North and in a really good position to get a first-round bye. FPI gives them a 98.8% chance to clinch the division and a 62.1% chance to wind up with the No. 2 seed. They'll need some help from the Patriots, however, to get home-field advantage in the playoffs. FPI sees a 20.8% chance of that happening.

Next up: at Los Angeles Rams on Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN App

3. Houston Texans (7-4)

How important was the Texans' comeback victory Thursday night over the Colts? It returned them to a commanding position in the AFC South and made them a near lock to at least make the playoffs, all while severely diminishing the Colts' chances to claw back into the race. The Texans now have an 89.7% chance to reach the postseason and a 74.5% chance to win the division. The schedule won't deal them any favors in Week 13, but at least they'll have the Patriots at home.

Next up: vs. New England

4. Kansas City Chiefs (7-4)

In a matter of six days, the Chiefs moved from a virtual tie in the AFC West to an opportunity to all but lock up the division by the end of Week 13. First, they held off the Chargers in Mexico City last Monday. Then, the Raiders dropped an embarrassing loss Sunday to the Jets. So if the Chiefs can beat the Raiders at home next week, they'll complete a season sweep and clinch the head-to-head tiebreaker. In essence, that means they would have a three-game lead in the division with four games remaining. The likelihood of that scenario gives the Chiefs a 96.8% chance to win the division, per FPI.

Next up: vs. Oakland

5. Buffalo Bills (8-3)

The good news is that the Bills have some separation from the rest of the AFC wild-card field. They're likely going to need it as they embark on the most difficult stretch of their schedule. Only one of their eight wins has come against a team that currently has a winning record -- Week 5 against the Titans -- but four of their final five games will be against teams that are above .500 as of Sunday. That list includes three division leaders. Still, FPI is giving them an 82.3% chance to clinch a spot in the postseason, largely because they might need only one or two more wins the rest of the way.

Next up: at Dallas

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5)

There is no problem too big to be solved by playing the Bengals. Fresh off their disastrous loss to the Browns, the Steelers did just enough to win in Cincinnati. That victory, plus the Raiders' loss to the Jets, pushed the Steelers to the top of a four-team pileup at 6-5. The Steelers have a better conference record than the Raiders and hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Colts. (The Titans would be eliminated from the four-way tie because they lost earlier this season to the Colts.) But there is a long way to go for the Steelers, and FPI sees only a 30.5% chance to make the playoffs.

Next up: vs. Cleveland

Next four

7. Oakland Raiders (6-5)
8. Indianapolis Colts (6-5)
9. Tennessee Titans (6-5)
10. Cleveland Browns (5-6)

NFC

1. San Francisco 49ers (10-1)

The 49ers put up an awfully impressive start Sunday night to one of the most challenging late-season stretches we've ever seen for a conference leader. They thrashed the Packers at home to keep one step ahead of the Saints (in the NFC) and the Seahawks (in the NFC West). But two taller tasks await: consecutive games at the Ravens and Saints. They looked awfully good Sunday night. But could any team make it through that gantlet unscathed?

Next up: at Baltimore

2. New Orleans Saints (9-2)

After squeaking by the Panthers and winning their third division game, the Saints are in position to tie the NFC South record for the earliest clinch of the division title. They'd do it with a win on Thanksgiving against the Falcons and a Panthers loss on Sunday to the Redskins. Whether it happens in Week 13 or later, the Saints are a near lock to win the division at 99.8%, according to FPI. Their chances to clinch a first-round playoff bye also got a boost after the Packers' loss Sunday night in San Francisco.

Next up: at Atlanta

3. Green Bay Packers (8-3)

Sunday's loss left the Packers clinging by the smallest of margins to the NFC North lead. They have the nominal head-to-head tiebreaker against the Vikings and also a better division record. Even better news: Their schedule eases considerably in the coming weeks with games against the Giants, Redskins and Bears in consecutive weeks. In fact, the only team with a winning record remaining on their schedule is the Vikings in Week 16.

Next up: at N.Y. Giants

4. Dallas Cowboys (6-5)

The Cowboys would be in trouble if anyone else in the NFC East -- namely the Eagles -- had their act together. But after losing two of their past three games and failing in four opportunities this season to beat a team with a winning record, the Cowboys remain atop the division. FPI gives them a 70.1% chance to win the NFC East, but the Cowboys should be nervous. The Eagles' next three opponents -- the Dolphins, Giants and Redskins -- are all currently 2-9.

Next up: vs. Buffalo

5. Seattle Seahawks (9-2)

Sunday's game in Philadelphia carried one of the largest postseason swings in Week 12. Gathering a conference win gave the Seahawks an additional 19.1% chance to make the playoffs; FPI now puts their chances at 95.0%. Now the question is whether they can catch the 49ers. That question might not be answered until Week 17, when the teams meet in Seattle. As long as the Seahawks are within one game of the 49ers at that point, they can overtake them with a victory on the strength of the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Next up: vs. Minnesota

6. Minnesota Vikings (8-3)

And there it is. The Packers' loss Monday night put them in a numerical tie with the Vikings in the NFC North. The Packers have a lead in the first two tiebreakers, head-to-head and division record. But the Vikings could render those moot by matching the Packers over the next three weeks before the teams meet at U.S. Bank Stadium in Week 16. That is easier said than done, of course. The Vikings play in Seattle in Week 13, while the Packers will play at the Giants.

Next up: at Seattle

Next four

7. Los Angeles Rams (6-4)
8. Chicago Bears (5-6)
9. Philadelphia Eagles (5-6)
10. Carolina Panthers (5-6)

Leeward Islands 255 for 8 (Kieran Powell 105, Jangoo 69, Thomas 3-59) beat Jamaica 242 (Rovman Powell 106, Boatswain 4-85) by 13 runs

Rovman Powell hit a blistering 38-ball century - the fifth fastest in men's List A cricket - against Leeward Islands, but his ton was not enough for Jamaica to avert a 13-run loss in a chase of 256 at the Super50 Cup in Basseterre, as they folded for 242 in 28.3 overs.

Rovman, the Jamaica captain, steered the better part of Jamaica's chase from No. 5, stitching together three 40-plus partnerships, including a sixth-wicket half-century stand with Derval Green, to take his side past 150. However, once his 40-ball 106, featuring 13 fours and seven sixes, came to an end in the last ball of the 15th over, courtesy Quinton Boatswain, who had him caught behind, the rearguard proved inadequate.

Aside from Rovman, who was adjudged the Player of the Match, none of the Jamaica batsmen could make a fifty. That the next best score from their line-up was a mere 26-ball 30, struck by No. 8 Jamie Merchant, was in part down to Boatswain's 4 for 85. Boatswain was complemented well by Sheeno Berridge and Jason Campbell, who took two wickets apiece.

The other century in the match came from the Powell in the opposition camp, Kieran, and stood in sharp contrast to Rovman's. Built on 13 fours and no sixes, the Leeward Islands opener's 125-ball 105, however, anchored his side's 255 for 8 after they were sent in.

Kieran's big 154-run second-wicket stand with half-centurion Amir Jangoo in 29 overs set them the perfect platform to eye a total close to 300. However, medium-pacer Green's double-strike in the 35th over accounted for Kieran and then sent back No. 4 Devon Thomas for a duck.

Kieran's dismissal also triggered a collapse that saw them lose four wickets for eight runs, and then five for 23, with Jamaica reduced to 214 for 6 in the 43rd over. During that slump, Jangoo holed out to Oshane Thomas for an enterprising 85-ball 69. Thomas later capped off his day with the ball with 3 for 59, as Leeward finished on 255 for 8.

Australia's cricketers will be just one of many voices in a debate over next summer's schedule that will be influenced by the Gabba's chronically low crowds, India's preferences and also the need to find a host venue for an inaugural Test against Afghanistan.

The captain Tim Paine and the coach Justin Langer will be pushing hard for the Gabba to host the first test against India next summer by way of competitive advantage, as Australia seek a series win at home to press for a place in the World Test Championship final in 2021.

Kevin Roberts, the Cricket Australia chief executive, has already flagged the possibility of next summer's Gabba Test being a day-night affair against Afghanistan prior to the four matches against India, and on Monday the head of national teams Ben Oliver emphasised that while Paine and the national team will get a say as to their venues next summer, they will have to fit in with the views of many others.

ALSO READ: 'We're open to anything' - Kohli on a pink-ball Test against Australia

"There's no doubt that the Gabba is a really good place for our team to play. I think we'll work through what the schedule for coming summers looks like. I think Tim's comments are just a reflection on the fact the team enjoys playing at the Gabba," Oliver said. "Obviously they've had a lot of success there and it's been traditionally the venue where we start out the Test summer. Whilst there's no decisions made on next year, I think it's important we start to work through that and the discussions with India are moving positively.

"We're part of an international game with a lot of partners. So all of the stakeholders have some discussion or some say in how the schedule takes place. [India] are an important stakeholder for us but equally we've got to do what's right for our fans and our players and we'll continue to have those discussions. The team has certainly got a voice in the schedule. And again they're one of a very important group of people we need to take into consideration when we build out our schedule each year."

As for the prospect of Brisbane getting a Test against Afghanistan, Oliver said: "There are no discussions that have been made on that. And they're all discussions that'll take place over the coming months ahead of confirming the schedule for the coming year."

The alternative view to Paine, who made it completely clear he wanted the team to host India at the Gabba for the first Test of their series next summer, has been articulated by the former Test opener and now Cricket New South Wales board director Ed Cowan, who described a Sunday crowd of little more than 4,000 as "an absolute disgrace".

"There was no one there, it was Sunday, the last day of the Test match and there were 4000 people there, it's an absolute disgrace," Cowan told ABC Radio. "So you can kick and scream and say 'the wicket's the best in the country and they deserve to have the first Test of the summer', if people don't go and watch, it will not continually have the first Test of the summer. That's the cold, hard facts. There will be a Test match there, no doubt.

"Brisbane is not a great place to watch Test cricket. It's hot, it's sweaty, you're in a concrete bowl, there's nothing great about the Gabba except probably the wicket. What can make that better and more appealing is to play day-night cricket there. So I think it's one of those venues, a little like Adelaide, that is suited to day-night cricket."

Following their innings victory over Pakistan in four days, the Australians enjoyed a day off on Monday, and on Tuesday will be rejoined by James Pattinson, the fast bowler banned from the Gabba Test for obscene personal abuse of Queensland's Cameron Gannon in a Sheffield Shield match. Langer had claimed in a radio interview that Pattinson's words to Gannon did not constitute a "homophobic slur".

"It clearly wasn't a homophobic slur, that's my view, but he's been penalised because he had three strikes in 18 months," Langer told Alan Jones last week. "He's a terrific bowler, I love his energy, love his passion, but he's just got to be calmer in the contest."

Oliver, however, stated that Pattinson had been left in no doubt that his words were inappropriate. "He'll rejoin the team in Adelaide as was planned and be part of full preparation there and I guess we play on. There was a discussion prior to the first Test here that reinforced the team's values and how they want to carry themselves on the field.

"There's no need or purpose to go into exactly what was said there, we're not going to go into that. What is really clear is that James knows that it was inappropriate. He's acknowledged it, apologised and he's a good human being and he's paid a fairly hefty penalty in missing the first Test."

ESPNcricinfo's live updates on the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy games

A failure to capitalise on a solid foundation in the first innings cost England dearly in their defeat in the first Test against New Zealand, Joe Root has admitted.

England were well-placed at 277 for 4 on the game's second morning, before Ben Stokes' dismissal set in motion a collapse of four wickets for 18 runs, and an eventual score of 353 all out. Root told Sky Sports afterwards that "getting into the position we did and not kicking on is probably what cost us the game", but defended his side's performance, insisting that there was "no need to panic" despite another crushing defeat away from home.

"We missed an opportunity, if we're being brutally honest," he said. "You look at the two [first] innings in comparison: two of their guys went on and made really big contributions. We had a couple of guys play really well, but could have done with making those big scores - making a score over 450, really.

"That was a big opportunity for us that we missed. There were probably a lot of similarities where we had them four or five down for the score where we finished on day one… the difference being they had a guy with a double-hundred and someone support him with a hundred.

"We had three guys [Stokes, Joe Denly and Rory Burns] play very well. [I'm] not trying to take anything away from our boys - we played extremely well, we just have to do it for longer, do more of it, and make those nineties, seventies and fifties into two hundreds and hundreds."

ALSO READ: Watling innings reignites questions about England's game

The build-up to this series was dominated by Root's declarations that England would revert to an old-fashioned method in Test cricket, with a batting blueprint that involved occupying the crease for long periods after a couple of years playing "in fast forward". And England's captain insisted that there was no need to panic ahead of the second Test at Hamilton, saying that defeat should not be considered "the end of the world".

"It's not going to happen overnight," Root admitted. "It's quite different to the style of cricket we've had to play in our own conditions of late, so it is going to take a little bit of time. There are areas that we can address, and get better at, and we'll have to look at very quickly.

"We have to be honest with ourselves, not panic, not think that it's the end of the world, and make sure that we continue to work really hard. It's a mentality thing more than a technical thing - it's a mindset thing. So trying to harness that early and trying to learn from mistakes like this game and move on very quickly from it… if we can do that, then we'll see rapid improvement.

"I can't fault the effort from the guys. I think we tried extremely hard. It's very easy to look too in-depth at the things we could have done better and not give credit to the opposition, who played very well."

Root admitted that several dismissals in the second innings had been "soft" - including his own, as he tamely steered a Colin de Grandhomme bouncer to gully - but said that it was important to give credit to New Zealand's "very disciplined bowling attack".

He also echoed Jos Buttler in defending Jofra Archer's underwhelming performance in his first overseas Test. Archer finished with figures of 1 for 107 in 42 grueling overs, and was repeatedly used as an enforcer.

"He's obviously an extremely exciting talent, and [has] got a huge amount of skill," Root said. "[But] he's a young guy at the start of his career. He's come onto the international scene and taken it by storm, but this is a new ball [the red Kookaburra] that he's never bowled with before, completely foreign conditions for him, and it might take a little bit of time to adjust to that and get used to that.

"Having too much an expectation for him so early in his career is a very dangerous thing for us as a team, and us as guys around him that know what he's capable of. I think we've got to be quite patient and understanding that he's not going to get it straight away."

Usman Khawaja has bluntly directed Shane Warne to his record in all forms of cricket in response to criticism that he needs to "show how important playing for Australia is to him".

Having been dropped from the Australia Test team during the Ashes and not chosen in the squad for the Gabba Test, Khawaja will instead lead Queensland against Western Australia in the domestic limited-overs tournament final on Tuesday, and made his irritation at Warne plain when asked about it.

"I don't think there's any need to answer that question," Khawaja said of Warne questioning his desire to play for Australia. "I'm a batsman, I'm a run scorer first and foremost so that's my currency, but if you look at my Shield record, you look at my one-day domestic record, my record for Australia, my BBL record, I score runs. That's all that matters. Not really [going to change my body language], I'm a pretty cool bloke. You either get it or you don't, that's the way it is."

Asked whether he had given up on playing for Australia, he said: "No, never. If I had, I would've retired. You always have the goal of playing at the highest level. I feel like I belong at international level, but I've got to score runs, and if I do that, the rest will take care of itself."

Warne, who has criticised Khawaja on other occasions in the past, lauded the selectors Trevor Hohns and Justin Langer for dropping him. "Justin Langer and Trevor Hohns have done a good thing with Usman Khawaja," Warne said in a News Corp column. "By leaving him out they have asked him to show how important Test cricket, and playing for Australia, is to him.

"Throughout his Test career, he always seems to do just enough. Sometimes you just want to shake him and get him to show a bit more. Different personalities make up the team and some people aren't as exuberant and emotional as others, but he can be better, particularly with his body language."

However, there will be an insight provided into how Khawaja felt about playing for Australia in a new fly-on-the-wall documentary series, commissioned by Cricket Australia in 2018 and depicting the team's road back from the Newlands scandal to the dual campaigns for the World Cup and the Ashes. Khawaja is captured in the trailer holding his head in his hands after England's one-wicket triumph at Headingley, which meant Australia had to win at Old Trafford to retain the Ashes. Khawaja was dropped after Headingley and has not played since.

"Yeah it was very tough, a tough moment. I think it was a tough moment for the whole of Australia, let alone the guys playing," Khawaja said. "So that stuff's the down of sport, the stuff you don't see, I keep my emotions in check when I'm on the field, but it's probably the stuff off the field that you don't see. I think I just wanted to win the Ashes there, and it felt like we had and then we lost it. That's all it was, that's why it hurt so badly at the time, it was devastating.

"For a long time Australian cricket's been very closed off, especially at international, not allowing people into the change rooms. I think this documentary is great, to see the other side of it, a lot of the fans wouldn't have seen it ever, unless you were invited to come in. It's a pretty special place, very different to what you see on the outside.

"We just got used to it, you could have the camera in the shower and we wouldn't even notice. A lot of the time the Doc just had the cameras up in the change room and we had no idea they were even there. Once it happens all the time you just get so used to it."

The selectors chose to drop Khawaja after he suffered a string of poor umpiring decisions in the Sheffield Shield, but in the domestic one-day tournament has delivered scores of 138, 112, 5, 31 and 86 not out to drive Queensland to the final at Allan Border Field. Speaking about how his Test fortunes had seemingly been cruelled by the judgments of umpires, Khawaja took a fatalistic view of events.

"That's frustrating, but that's life, I've got to move forward, there's not much I can do about it now," he said. "I'm quite happy playing for Queensland, doing what I need to do for my state. I actually don't think too much into a lot of things these days, I'm literally just going out and for me I'm a batsman trying to score runs, or in the field trying to take catches or get run outs, try to keep it really simple."