Five teams share the NFL's best record at 6-2 - the first time since 1981 that every team in the league has at least two losses after the ninth week of the season.
Two of the top teams are in New York. The Giants routed Seattle 41-7 on Sunday to extend their winning streak to five games, and the Jets beat the Detroit Lions 23-20 in overtime.
The other 6-2 teams are the New England Patriots, who lost to Cleveland 34-14; the Atlanta Falcons, who beat Tampa Bay 27-21; and the Baltimore Ravens, who overcame Miami 26-10.
"This league is tough," Rex Ryan, the Jets coach, said.
"I don't know how many people predicted Cleveland would win that game besides myself, but they found a way to beat New England, which was the hottest team in the league."
At the other end of the spectrum are the Buffalo Bills, who fell to 0-8, and the Dallas Cowboys, who are 1-7 after being routed by Green Bay 45-7.
Buffalo's struggles are not a big surprise, but many had picked Dallas to contend for the Super Bowl.
Jerry Jones, the Cowboys owner who said last week that he would not fire Wade Phillips, the coach, before the end of the season, promised to make changes.
He would not directly address the coach's future after the game, but it is safe to say that Sunday's rout might change his thinking.
"I've got a lot of work to do. I've got a lot of decisions to make and it's not just one, two, three or four," Jones said.
"There's several decisions. I think everybody in this country would agree, there's a lot wrong with this team that I've got to address and certainly I'm the one to address it."
Sunday’s results
Atlanta 27, Tampa Bay 21
Chicago 22, Buffalo 19
Cleveland 34, New England 14
NY Jets 23, Detroit 20 (OT)
Minnesota 27, Arizona 24 (OT)
New Orleans 34, Carolina 3
Baltimore 26, Miami 10
San Diego 29, Houston 23
NY Giants 41, Seattle 7
Oakland 23, Kansas City 20 (OT)
Philadelphia 26, Indianapolis 24
Green Bay 45, Dallas 7
Top performances
•Brett Favre, Minnesota: 36 of 47 passing, 446 yards, two touchdowns.
•Phillip Rivers, San Diego: 17 of 23 passing, 295 yards, four touchdowns.
•Aaron Rogers, Green Bay: 27 of 34 passing, 289 yards, three touchdowns.
•Peyton Hills, Cleveland: 29 carries, 184 yards, two touchdowns.
•Jacoby Ford, Oakland: 10 catches, 148 yards.