Ravens move into the top spot

"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F during the football season.

Nick from Milwaukee, WI
The flags, sloppy play and terrible, repetitive commercials in that Monday night game had me asking myself, “When will it end?” After considering turning the channel, I remembered the "Ketchman Theory of Maximum Pain" and forced myself to continue watching. Brutal.
The game produced 17 penalties assessed. Last year, the NFL set a record for penalties assessed, 3,472, which doesn't include penalties declined and penalties that offset; the grand total was 4,069 flagged plays. The NFL is on a similar penalty pace this season. I'm afraid to calculate how much time I've spent watching penalized plays and State Farm commercials. I've had people tell me they root against Aaron Rodgers because they hate the State Farm commercials.

Jerry from Savannah, GA
Vic, seems you decided to avoid the whole Kaepernick thing. Why’s that?
I'm not knowledgeable of what happened or what caused the site of the workout to be moved. A scout told me the whole thing was a botched event. He said there were scouts there who couldn't find the high school to which they relocated the workout. I'm not going to comment on something as sensitive as this without being knowledgeable of it. Here's what I can tell you: If a team has interest in signing Kaepernick, they'll find a way to work him out.

Eric from Eau Claire, WI
My parents got me a signed picture of Carroll Dale, a tight end from Super Bowls I and II. I had never heard of him but after seeing his career stats it looks like he was a very good player. Do you recall watching him play at all?
He was a wide receiver and he could run, which made him the deep threat in the Packers' offense.

Jim from Maple Grove, MN
Vic, you keep saying Packers at Vikings is going to decide the division. If the Packers lose to the 49ers and the Vikings but take care of business with the other four inferior teams on the schedule, the Vikings would have to win out to top the Packers or the Packers would hold the division record tiebreaker. Are you predicting either the Lions or the Bears are going to upset the Packers, or maybe the Vikings are going to win out?
It's too early to make those kinds of predictions. I'm considering all reasonable possibilities and in my mind they include the Packers going into the postseason as the Nos. 1, 2, 3 or 5 seed.

Patrick from Alexandria, VA
Are two single-person kayaks a more wise purchase than a two-seater kayak? Have you any suggestions?
Two-seaters are cumbersome. They're especially difficult to transport. Two singles are better than one double. If you're planning on kayaking in calm water, get sit-in not sit-on kayaks. Sit-on kayaks are for riding waves in the ocean; they go nowhere in calm water.

Vincent from Seattle, WA
Vic, the 49ers on MNF showed an interesting punt formation with a gunner lined up evenly with the punter, allowing for a running head start. Do you know if that player would be considered an eligible receiver?
He would potentially be an eligible receiver, as would the player at the end of the formation on the gunner's side of the field.

Brad from Jacksonville, FL
Vic, this was just plain awful. Foles was flat and I don’t feel he brings anything to the game Minshew doesn’t. The defense playing this persistent soft zone got picked apart. I understand players, not plays, but Jacksonville just looked completely unprepared to play a football game.
That's why the game in Tennessee this Sunday is so important. If the Jaguars lay an egg against the Titans, they could be headed for another offseason of change.

Allen from Manitowoc, WI
"The Packers could beat the 49ers but still find themselves No. 5 in the postseason if they lose in Minnesota." Could you explain the tiebreaker scenario if both teams finished 13-3?
That's a somewhat misleading statement because it's only partially true. It would require the Packers to lose an additional NFC North game for the Vikings to potentially win the division based on a "common games" tiebreaker. If the Packers  and Vikings each finish 13-3, the Packers would win the division because the tiebreaker wouldn't get to "common games." I believe that statement to be accurate but I won't guarantee it. Again, it's too early for this.

​Here are the Week 12 "Ask Vic" all-important power rankings:
1. Ravens -- They're the best.
2. Packers -- Defining game at hand.
3. Seahawks -- Tough stretch of schedule.
4. Patriots -- Defense, not Brady, is their calling card.
5. Saints -- Brees back in the groove.
6. 49ers -- Not playing their best football.
7. Vikings -- Cousins is "The Man."
8. Cowboys -- Best 6-4 team in the league.
9. Rams -- Living off last year.
10. Bills -- Can they close?
11. Chiefs -- Time for the "Charmin Curtain" to rest.
12. Raiders -- Gaining momentum.
13. Eagles -- Wentz looked bad.
14. Colts -- Running the ball.
15. Panthers -- Arrow pointing down.
16. Titans -- Four of the last six within the division.
17. Texans -- Heartless!
18. Broncos -- Fangio doing a great job.
19. Browns -- Tough guys.
20. Steelers -- Can't run, can't pass bad combination.
21. Chargers -- Rivers era fading away.
22. Jaguars -- Gut check in Tennessee.
23. Cardinals -- Arrow pointing up.
24. Bears -- Worst performance in the league.
25. Lions -- Hands to the face ended their season.
26. Falcons -- Am I supposed to applaud?
27. Bucs -- New coach, same old story.
28. Jets -- I wanna see more.
29. Dolphins -- Not terrible.
30. Giants -- This isn't improvement.
31. Washington -- Nobody cares, Mr. Snyder.
32. Bengals -- They could beat the Steelers.