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 Authentic Air Jordan From China . R.J. 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After Martin Skrtel put the Reds in front from close range at Stamford Bridge after only four minutes, Hazard hit back in the 17th with a superb strike. Etoo gave Jose Mourinhos team a decisive lead from Oscars back pass in the 34th. CHICAGO -- Federal prosecutors in Chicago have filed fraud charges against an Arkansas sports memorabilia collector, accusing him of defrauding investors by offering a phony Heisman Trophy as collateral for a $100,000 loan.John Rogers of North Little Rock was charged with one count of wire fraud. According to court papers filed Friday, Rogers took a ceremonial Heisman Trophy that was awarded in 1960 to the emcee of the awards banquet and affixed a new nameplate, making it appear as if it had been given to the top college football player of the year.Rogers is set for arraignment next week in Chicago.The Chicago Tribune reported (http://trib.in/2colwLI ) that Rogers trophy purported to be from Oklahoma running back Billy Sims, who won in 1978 and is one of the few Heisman winners to sell his trophy. According to prosecutors, Rogers also created a fake letter from the Heisman winner confirming the authenticity of the trophy. While in suburban Chicago, Rogers was accused of sending an email in 2011 verifying the trophys provenance, which led to the federal wire fraud charge.The Heisman, which is the highest honor in colleege football, is given ceremonially on rare occasions to people who dont play college football, as it was in 1960, court papers said.ddddddddddddRogers is the former owner of Sports Card Plus and Rogers Photo Archive, which bought photo archives from newspapers and other collectors across the country. He apologized for his actions Monday in a Facebook post.The last thing I want is for anyone to speak or feel any ill will towards our federal government, FBI or law enforcement out of love for me, Rogers said. The men and women who have handled my case have been nothing but professional and honorable and I am thankful for them because they saved my life from a downward spiral of cocaine addiction. Had they not stepped in, I would be dead now. I made hugely regretful, shameful mistakes, clouded in the daily haze of drug addiction, that I am ready to acknowledge and accept.Rogers confirmed to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper that he wrote the Facebook post and he declined further comment. ' ' '