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A mere five weeks into the NFL schedule and theres already been a massive separation between the true Super Bowl contenders, the pretenders, and the vast ocean of mediocrity in the league.For fans in New England, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Seattle, and perhaps Green Bay, making travel plans for late January and early February is not farfetched. Those appear to be legitimate championship threats.Evaluating other successful teams -- Atlanta, Oakland, Dallas, Philadelphia -- and even the defending champion Broncos, who have lost two in a row, is more difficult.And then there are the clubs who stand just outside the morass that makes up most of the league right now: Buffalo, Los Angeles, Washington, Kansas City. It probably will take two more months to figure out whether they belong in the postseason.I can tell you that 100 percent of our attention and our focus is to try to accomplish that, says Bills coach Rex Ryan, whose franchise has an almost unfathomable string of non-playoff seasons dating to 2000. But playoffs, anything like that, were not even close to that. And as Ive mentioned before, weve still got a lot of dirt on us from opening up the season, losing those first two games.What seems certain is that the NFL has too many substandard teams, even though a few of them (AFC South members, thats you) figure to be in the race right up until 2016 ends.But you cant get ahead of yourself, says Colts coach Chuck Pagano, whose team could tie for the division lead with a win at Houston this Sunday. And with the Titans (2-3) hosting winless Cleveland, a three-way tie is quite possible. You cant sit there and look at what could be. If we do this, were this -- youve got to go take care of business now. You have to worry about today. Youve got to prepare.So, looking at the NFL today:TRUE CONTENDERSTheres no denying that the 5-0 Vikings, the leagues only unbeaten squad despite several devastating injuries (Adrian Peterson, Teddy Bridgewater, Matt Kalil), have proven they belong in the conversation. Their defense, led by Everson Griffen and Harrison Smith, is championship material, and the way Sam Bradford has stepped in to replace Bridgewater at quarterback has been inspiring.Theres also no denying that the offensive firepower of Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Co. in Pittsburgh, and Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and the boys in New England has those teams on a collision course atop the AFC. We get a showdown in Steel City next Sunday, too.Seattle tends to build toward the winter months, and might have the most-balanced roster around. The Packers have Aaron Rodgers, pedigree as a playoff team and, for once, a defense that looks reliable.POTENTIALSAvoiding overreactions after each game is tough in a 17-week season. So Denvers demise is not at hand, folks; comparing these Broncos to the 2015 champions simply is unfair at this point, particularly on the Peyton-less offense. Dismissing that defense, though, is unwise.Teams on the upswing with more to prove are in position to do exactly that this weekend, when the Cowboys visit the Packers , the Eagles are in Washington,the Falcons are at the Seahawks, and the Raiders host their archrivals, the Chiefs.The biggest statements would be made by Dallas if it can move to 5-1 behind rookies Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott, and by Atlanta. Coming off the most impressive victory of the season at Denver, the Falcons would stamp themselves as legitimate candidates to be in Houston in February with a victory in Seattle.Sure, they went 6-1 last season before flopping to 8-8, but this version is more balanced and experienced.One negative thing happened and then it was like a snowball effect on us, star receiver Julio Jones says of 2015. This year, were definitely a different ballclub as far as the mentality of the team. Were just sticking together and holding each other accountable.MUCH TO PROVEThe Bills, Rams, Redskins, Ravens and Texans all have winning records. Anyone out there really believe in any of them as title threats?Kansas City needs a lengthy streak of wins like it had a year ago to make us take notice, something even less likely with Oakland having emerged in the AFC West.For now, Arizona and Carolina are outsiders who must show they can emulate in some way the clubs that reached the NFC championship last January. The Cardinals seem vastly more capable of that than the banged-up Panthers.THE SORRY SETIt sure is a challenge to have any faith in the Jets and Bengals, who each won at least 10 games a year ago, but have been either unimpressive (Bengals) or unwatchable (Jets).Pretty much everywhere else stands the uninspiring, teams such as the Dolphins and Bears and 49ers, who we expect to remain also-rans when the holidays hit.As for that AFC South race, well, a four-way slog to the finish wouldnt be a surprise.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Billy Williams Jersey Large . Thats about all he can do right now, so hes trying not to think about when he might be able to play again for the Los Angeles Lakers. Custom Sammy Sosa Jersey . The lawyers filed a 33-page amended complaint Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan, expanding on the suit originally filed Oct. 3 in New York Supreme Court. Arbitrator Fredric Horowitz last week refused to compel Selig to testify in the grievance, and Rodriguez then walked out of the hearing without testifying. http://www.customcubsjersey.com/custom-kosuke-fukudome-jersey-large-80n.html . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. Ron Santo Jersey Large . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. Carlos Zambrano Jersey Large .J. -- Marshawn Lynch said Thursday it will be good to get back to football after the Seattle quiet talking running back wrapped up his final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week. HAINAN, China -- Minjee Lee got up-and-down one last time at Jian Lake on Sunday to win the Blue Bay LPGA for her second victory of the year and third in 17 months.The 20-year-old Australian chipped to 3 feet from the front runoff area on the par-5 18th to match Jessica Kordas birdie and beat the American by a stroke. Lees chip left Korda with an 18-footer for eagle from off the back edge that she missed to the left.It was a good fight out there, and I fought to the end, Lee said.Ariya Jutanugarn tied Lee with a two-stroke swing on the par-3 17th, then hooked her 3-wood drive into the water on 18 to end her chances for a tour-high sixth victory.I knew that I had a good opportunity, but I wasnt getting ahead of myself, Lee said. I knew Jess was going to make birdie -- was probably going to make birdie -- and so I thought to myself, `I need to make birdie here. I just put myself in good spots and then I ended up making birdie. Just stuck to my game plan.Lee rebounded after losing a six-stroke lead Saturday, closing with a 2-under 70 in hot and humid conditions to finish at 13-under 275. Korda had a 71. Jutanugarn shot 70, her closing bogey leaving her two strokes back.Five days after Typhoon Sarika blew through the South China Sea beach resort, the wind jumped up on the final holes, making it more difficult to hit the valleys and plateaus on the large greens.It played like a totally different golf course, Korda said. It wasnt the same as every day. The golf course conditions were a lot harder today. Some greens were slow and there were some greens that were fast. All in all, it was a tough day out there.Lee chipped in for birdie on the par-4 first to break a tie with Korda, chipped to 2 feet for birdie on the par-5 eighth and had eight straight pars before stumbling on the 154-yard 17th. She ran her 30-foot first putt 6 feet past, watched Jutanugarn make a 15-footer for birdie, then missed the comebacker to give up sole possession of the lead for the first time since the start of the round.Lee earned $315,000 and is projected to jump from 17th to 16th in the world ranking. She won last year at Kinggsmill and in April in Hawaii.ddddddddddddThe Australian tied for 37th last week in South Korea and was one of the many players who didnt get to Hainan until Wednesday afternoon, leaving little time to prepare.I really came into this week with no expectations, Lee said. Just wanted to have fun.She did, and her mother and grandmother were there to celebrate with her.My Nan, she my biggest supporter, Lee said. I love having her around. She normally comes around for the Asia Swing, so yeah, its nice to have won in front of her. She was here, so thats really nice.Korda bogeyed the par-3 seventh, firing her tee shot over the green a day after hitting to 6 inches. The defending champion next week in Malaysia, the 23-year-old American birdied the par-3 11th and par-5 14th. She three-putted the par-4 16th for a bogey, charging a 25-footer 15 feet long.I think considering we had zero preparation for the tournament and came in on Wednesday, I think I would have taken a second place if you would have told me that thats what I would have gotten, Korda said. We didnt get a lot of preparation. But with the typhoon, theres nothing you can do.Ten shots behind Lee after two rounds, Jutanugarn made $139,681 to take the money lead from Lydia Ko with $2,439,878. The 20-year-old Thai star also moved atop the Race to CME Globe and extended her lead over Ko to 13 points for player of the year. Ko and Jutanugarn are playing next week in Kuala Lumpur.Thailands Pornanong Phatlum (72) and Germanys Caroline Masson (73) tied for a distant fourth at 6 under. Englands Charley Hull (69) was 5 under, and Swedens Pernilla Lindberg (72) 4 under.Brooke Henderson (71) was 3 under. The 19-year-old Canadian has played all four weeks in Asia and plans to make it six in a row with stops in Malaysia and Japan.Michelle Wie was one of the 13 players to break par, closing with a 74 to tie for 10th at 1 under. She had her best finish of the year, topping a tie for 25th in February in the second event of the season. ' ' '