It’s one of those statements that sounds true, so you assume it is: You need momentum heading into the playoffs to win a Super Bowl.

 

Look at the 2005 Steelers, who closed out the regular season with four straight double-digit victories, or the 2003 Patriots, who marched into the postseason with a 12-game win streak.

 

Clearly, it doesn’t hurt to have a hot December ... but it's probably overrated.

 

The past 20 Super Bowl champions compiled a record of 65-15 over their final four games of the season, an impressive .812 winning percentage. But these 20 teams had a comparable .791 winning percentage over the first 12 games of the season.

 

In other words, Super Bowl champions aren't just good in December. Surprise! They're usually good all season long.

 

On the flipside of the 2005 Steelers and 2003 Patriots were the back-to-back Broncos champions of the 1990s. Both teams had two-game losing streaks in December.

 

But none of the 20 teams had a losing record over their final month, which suggests that fans of the Colts (1-3 in December) might be free to spend that money they're saving for a Super Bowl trip to Miami. It’s become a familiar tune for Indy fans. Over the past two seasons, the Colts are 21-1 from September through November – and 4-6 in December and January.

 

For whatever it's worth, one team clearly has momentum in its favor this year: San Diego has won nine straight and sits atop our Dominant Dozen for the third consecutive week.

1. SAN DIEGO (previous rank: same)

2006 records: 13-2; 6-2 vs. quality opponents (teams over .500). 

Last week: LT was kept out of the end zone, but the Chargers had enough to beat the Seahawks, 20-17.

Cold, Hard Football Facts: Philip Rivers had completed a stellar 66.1 percent of his passes heading into Week 12. He’s just 64 of 136 (47.1 percent) since – but also a perfect 5-0.

Next: vs. Arizona. With a win, Marty Schottenheimer joins Shula, Halas, Landry and Lambeau as the only coaches with 200 or more regular-season NFL victories.

2006 records: 12-3; 5-2 vs. quality opponents. 

Last week: The Ravens went into Heinz Field and slapped the Steelers, 31-7. Baltimore had wiped out Pittsburgh, 27-0, in the first meeting this year.

Cold, Hard Football Facts: The Ravens are second in the NFL with 57 sacks, and free-agent steal Trevor Pryce quietly leads the team with 12. Pryce had only four sacks in his last two seasons with Denver. 

Next: vs. Buffalo.

 

2006 records: 11-4; 4-3 vs. quality opponents. 

Last week: The Patriots improved their road record to 6-1 with a win at Jacksonville; they’ve outscored road opponents by 13.6 PPG (best in the NFL). 

Cold, Hard Football Facts: Five different players, at three different positions, have led the Patriots in receiving in their last five games (TE Ben Watson, WR Reche Caldwell, WR Troy Brown, RB Kevin Faulk, TE David Thomas).

Next: at Tennessee.

2006 records: 13-2; 2-1 vs. quality opponents. 

Last week: The Bears coasted to a 26-21 win in Detroit that will not be part of the “Greatest Games Ever Played” DVD box set.

Cold, Hard Football Facts: The Bears allowed 9.9 PPG during their 7-0 start; they’ve allowed 20.0 PPG since. Chicago's 11 NFC opponents this year have a combined record of 60-105 (.364).

Next: vs. Green Bay.

 

2006 records: 11-4; 7-3 vs. quality opponents. 

Last week: The previously perfect Colts lost their fourth straight road game, 24-21, to Houston.

Cold, Hard Football Facts: Marvin Harrison leads the NFL with 53.6 percent of the passes thrown his way (74 of 138) going for first downs.

Next: vs. Miami.

6. NEW ORLEANS (previous rank: 8)

2006 records: 10-5; 2-2 vs. quality opponents. 

Last week: The Saints won their third straight blowout on the road, 30-7, over the Giants.

Cold, Hard Football Facts: New Orleans has earned a first-round bye for the first time in franchise history. The Saints lost to Minnesota in their only previous divisional playoff appearance (2000).

Next: vs. Carolina. The Saints are used to having nothing to play for in Week 17 … but this time, it’s a good thing.

7. PHILADELPHIA (previous rank: 9)

2006 records: 9-6; 2-4 vs. quality opponents. 

Last week: Jeff Garcia stuck pins in his T.O. doll, and the Eagles beat Dallas for their fourth straight win under the backup QB.

Cold, Hard Football Facts: Eagles QBs have combined for 27 TDs, 8 INTs and a 94.7 passer rating.

Next: vs. Atlanta.

 

8. DALLAS (6-4, previous rank: 6)

2006 records: 9-6; 2-4 vs. quality opponents. 

Last week: The Cowboys continued their fall from grace with a discouraging home loss to Philly.

Cold, Hard Football Facts: Marion Barber was stuffed for a loss on 4th-and-goal from the 1 in the first half of the loss to the Eagles. Before that critical play, Barber had been stopped for a loss just 4 times in 122 carries (3.3 percent, best in the NFL).

Next: vs. Detroit.

 

2006 records: 9-6, 4-5 vs. quality opponents. 

Last week: Mike Shanahan’s genius résumé got a few pages thicker as Jay Cutler’s passer rating improved to 89.8 in Denver’s win over Cincy.

Cold, Hard Football Facts: WR Javon Walker averaged 78.1 YPG catching passes from Jake Plummer; he averages 51.2 YPG with Cutler. Rookie Brandon Marshall leads the Broncos with 53.3 YPG since Cutler took over.

Next: vs. San Francisco.

 

2006 records: 8-7, 5-3 vs. quality opponents. 

Last week: The Jaguars' playoff hopes went on life support with a 24-21 home loss to New England.

Cold, Hard Football Facts: Six of Jacksonville’s seven losses have come by a touchdown or less; their eight wins are by an average of 17.4 points.

Next: at Kansas City. The Jags are 2-5 on the road, while the Chiefs are 5-2 at home.

 

2006 records: 9-6, 2-4 vs. quality opponents. 

Last week: In a game fit only for viewing by family members and meteorologists, the Jets beat the Dolphins, 13-10, in rainy Miami.

Cold, Hard Football Facts: Herm’s Jets were 0-8 on the road in 2005; Mangini’s Jets are 6-2 on the road in 2006.

Next: vs. Oakland. It's a repeat of the famous “Heidi” game. We’d rather watch “Heidi” this time.

 

12. TENNESSEE (previous rank: 14)

2006 records: 8-7, 3-6 vs. quality opponents. 

Last week: Against a good defense in Buffalo, Vince Young had his best passing performance (127.7 rating) and the Titans won their sixth straight.

Cold, Hard Football Facts: Unlike fellow first-year starter Philip Rivers, Young is getting more accurate as he goes along; he’s completed 63.7 percent of his passes in his last five games after starting out 90-for-197 (45.7 percent).

Next: vs. New England.

 

13. CINCINNATI (8-7, previous rank: 11) – The Bengals were second in third-down conversions last year (42.9 percent); they’re 24th this year (35.6 percent).

14. KANSAS CITY (8-7, previous rank: 13) – Trent Green’s passer rating: 74.6. Damon Huard’s passer rating: 97.6.

15. SEATTLE (8-7, previous rank: same) – The Seahawks led the NFL in red-zone completion percentage last year (67.3); they’re 29th this year (44.4 percent).  

16. BUFFALO (7-8, previous rank: 18) – Willis McGahee’s seasonal per-carry averages are, well, average: 4.0, 3.8, 3.9. 

17. N.Y. GIANTS (7-8, previous rank: 16) ­­– Tiki Barber could set the mark for fewest TDs (2) by a 1,500-yard rusher. The current mark is held by Tony Dorsett, who rushed for 1,646 yards and just 4 TDs in 1981.

18. CAROLINA (7-8, previous rank: 21) – Chris Weinke threw for 423 yards in a Dec. 10 loss to the Giants and just 32 yards in Sunday’s win over the Falcons.

19. ST. LOUIS (7-8, previous rank: 22) – The Reverend is still getting it done: Isaac Bruce has eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards for the eighth time.

20. PITTSBURGH (7-8, previous rank: 19) – Willie Parker vs. the Ravens this year: 23 carries, 51 yards, two postgame migraines.

21. GREEN BAY (7-8, previous rank: 25) – Good news, bad news: Packers receivers lead the NFL in yards after the catch (2,027), dropped passes (39).

22. ATLANTA (7-8, previous rank: 17) – Michael Vick led the Falcons in rushing seven games this season. Six of those games were losses.

23. MIAMI (6-9, previous rank: 20) – Excited about up-and-coming QB Cleo Lemon? Bad news: He’ll be 28 in training camp next year.

24. WASHINGTON (5-10, previous rank: 26) – RB Ladell Betts’ last five games: 678 yards, 3 TDs and a 4.98 average. In four previous years in the NFL, he never rushed for more than 400 yards in a season.

 

25. HOUSTON (5-10, previous rank: 29) – The Texans are tied with the Colts and Giants for the most games this year against quality opponents (10). The mighty Bears have faced three quality opponents.

26. SAN FRANCISCO (6-9, previous rank: 24) – NFC West favorites in 2007: 49ers, Stanford.

27. MINNESOTA (6-9, previous rank: 23) – Chester Taylor is the team's first 1,000-yard back since Michael Bennett had 1,296 in 2002.

28. ARIZONA (5-10, previous rank: 30) – Edgerrin James has averaged 99.5 YPG over the last four.

29. TAMPA BAY (4-11, previous rank: 27) – Itty-bitty-teeny-weeny silver lining: The Bucs’ 3rd-and-short run offense is second in the NFL (58.8 percent success).

30. CLEVELAND (4-11, previous rank: 28) – The Browns are the third-best team in Ohio.

31. DETROIT (2-13, previous rank: 32) – The Lions are experts at losing, but their point differential (-101) is better than the Browns, Bucs, Raiders, Texans and Niners.

32. OAKLAND (2-13, previous rank: 31) – The Raiders, who have not won a road game since Nov. 20, 2005, visit the Meadowlands Sunday with a Jets playoff spot on the line. Just try, baby!