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Risers & Fallers: Lions roar, Wentz Wagon wobbly

Each week, theScore looks at teams, players, and units trending upward, and those taking a step back.

▲ Baltimore Ravens

In ending the Dolphins' six-game winning streak on Sunday, the Ravens also improved their chances of clinching a playoff berth. Since a four-game swoon in October, Baltimore has won four of its last five to keep its hold on the lead in the AFC North.

The Ravens have also done their part to eliminate the Bengals from contention, but the hated Steelers remain. The division championship will likely come down to their Christmas Day meeting, but Baltimore already has a leg up on Pittsburgh by virtue of their head-to-head victory in Week 9.

▼ 49ers' quarterbacks

You can't fall much harder than quarterback Colin Kaepernick has. A participant in the Super Bowl just four seasons ago, Kaepernick managed just four passing yards in three quarters Sunday. That's tough to do.

Now, the Nevada product may not be adept at playing in the snow, but he was thoroughly outplayed by Matt Barkley, a USC alumnus making just his second career start. Unfortunately for the 49ers, they don't have much in the form of an alternative. Backup Blaine Gabbert managed just 35 yards with his 10 pass attempts in relief.

With Kaepernick expected to void his contract after the season, the Niners appear to have zero options at QB until the 2017 draft, one that may be short on franchise-altering quarterbacks.

▲ Casey Hayward

Hayward is the league leader in interceptions and he has a two-pick cushion on the Giants' Landon Collins. With the help of the fifth-year pro, the Chargers also own the most interceptions in the league at 15. The team had 11 in 2015.

Hayward has displayed impressive ball-hawking tendencies of late. He has four interceptions and a pick-6 in his last five games. His latest effort came against Jameis Winston and the Buccaneers in a game in which he also helped limit star pass-catcher Mike Evans to just three receptions and 38 yards.

In his first season in San Diego, Hayward is helping the Chargers' secondary earn some respect.

▼ Carson Wentz

The rookie has fallen back to earth in recent weeks. The start to his NFL career was sterling, but Wentz has thrown six interceptions in the last three weeks, all Eagles losses.

Wentz's regression has coincided with the absence of stalwart lineman Lane Johnson. In addition, the Eagles lack a reliable running game, so Wentz has been forced to throw much more than head coach Doug Pederson would like him to. He had 47 pass attempts in Week 9, 45 throws against Seattle in Week 11, and 60 against Cincy on Sunday.

Wentz has already won over Philadelphia, but he'll need much more help in order to turn the Eagles into winners.

▲ Detroit Lions

Don't look now but the Lions appear in prime position to win the NFC North and secure a No. 3 seed in the playoffs. Detroit has a two-game lead over Green Bay and Minnesota and has finally taken advantage of a down year from its division foes.

It will take a collapse of epic proportions for the Lions to miss out on the playoffs now. The Lions have won four straight and relied on a dependable defense to stifle its opponents. Ziggy Ansah has yet to record a sack still, but Kerry Hyder has picked up the slack in his first full season with seven sacks.

The Lions have the Bears next and a legitimate shot at a double-digit win season.

▼ New York Jets

We've had the Jets in this space before, but that was when they were 1-4 with plenty of season with which to right the ship. That ship has since been abandoned.

The Jets were embarrassed Monday night by a Colts team with plenty of problems of their own. At 3-9 and last place in the AFC East, their year is effectively over. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick's time in New York has come to a close, but future plans don't look all too promising either. Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg may require much more seasoning and the rest of the roster has grown old in little more than a blink of an eye.

The Jets appear set for a top-five draft pick and a lengthy rebuild.

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