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NFL whip around: What we're watching in Week 12

Lindsay H. Jones
USA TODAY Sports

Aug 9, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon (12) against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – There was no one in Denver happier to see the Oakland Raiders beat the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night than Broncos second-year running back C.J. Anderson.

A native of Vallejo, Calif. , near Oakland, Anderson understands just how desperate the Raiders – as well as its fan base – were to snap a losing streak that dated back a calendar year. Anderson also considered the personal stakes for his own team.

Kansas City's loss means the Broncos can recapture their stop atop the AFC West with a win Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.

"We'll take care of that on Sunday," Anderson said.

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The AFC West placed three teams in the playoffs last year and, and have three viable candidates again this year, with the Broncos, the 7-4 Chiefs and 6-4 Chargers. San Diego, a wild-card team last year, hosts the St. Louis Rams.

"We're more concerned about us," Broncos coach John Fox said.

Still, Fox did use a moment of Thursday's game as a teaching tool for his players as they finished their week of preparation. Fox had his video staff pull up the clip of Raiders players Sio Moore and Khalil Mack celebrating a third-down sack behind the line of scrimmage, forcing the Raiders to take a time out rather than risk a penalty in the final seconds of the game.

"Very heads up on Justin Tuck's part to call the timeout," Fox said. "In those situations, you really don't want to conserve time."

Now on to the USA TODAY Sports Whip Around, your game-day guide to the NFL's best storylines.

Buffalo snow

Need to know: The Buffalo Bills finally escaped the massive blizzard that left players and coaches stranded in their homes and unable to practice this week for their game against the New York Jets. On Thursday night, the NFL decided to postponed that game until Monday night, and moved it to Ford Field in Detroit. The Bills, whose players received game plans throughout the week on their iPads, were finally able to practice Friday evening after landing in Detroit.

What to expect: So just how much of a detriment will it be to the Bills that players spent much of the week away from the training facility, and now will have to play a neutral site game? The Bills, especially their offense, could have used the practice time, after failing to score a touchdown in their last game against the Dolphins. The move to Detroit should help the healthy and rested Jets, who are coming off their bye, by eliminating the Bills' significant home-field advantage.

Josh Gordon's debut

Need to know: The Cleveland Browns made it official on Saturday by activating wide receiver Josh Gordon, who has completed his 10-game suspension. Gordon, the NFL's leading receiving in 2013, will make his debut Sunday against the Falcons. It couldn't come at a better time for the Browns, who lost last week to fall from first to last in the ultra competitive AFC North.

What to expect: The Browns have tried to downplay what sort of impact Gordon will make upon his return, but he is an elite, game-changing type of talent who should immediately rejuvenate the Browns' offense. Even if the Browns limit Gordon's snaps as he continues to work himself back into game shape, he gives the Browns a down-field threat that has been missing all season, and just having him on the field at all will change the way the Falcons try to defend the Browns. Though it would not be surprising to see Gordon have a big day in his debut, his return should be good news for rookie running backs Terrance West and Isiah Crowell and slot receiver Andrew Hawkins.

Unrest in Washington

Need to know: The pressure is on Robert Griffin III in Washington. After Griffin's postgame comments a week ago in which he said he needs his teammates to play better, Griffin has found himself in head coach Jay Gruden's doghouse, both for his leadership and his play. The fact is that Griffin's return from a dislocated ankle hasn't fixed the Redskins' offense, and it appears Washington's head coach is growing quite impatient with his star quarterback.

What to expect: This might not be the best week for Griffin to prove he can fix Washington's offensive woes. The Redskins play at San Francisco, against a Niners team also desperate for wins in order to keep playoff hopes alive in the NFC West. The Niners' defense has an improving pass rush, thanks to the return of Aldon Smith, and an opportunistic secondary that could prey on a Washington offense that is in disarray.

Game-time decision: Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians used the word "iffy" to describe the status of wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald for Sunday's game at Seattle. Fitzgerald, who suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament, last week did not practice all week, but is officially listed as questionable. Though the Cardinals have other receivers, including rookie speedster John Brown and Malcolm Floyd, quarterback Drew Stanton could certainly use the savvy veteran presence and sure-handedness that Fitzgerald provides against the Seahawks.

Fantasy play: The Cleveland Browns made a big move this week by waiving running back Ben Tate, a decision that leads to some interesting fantasy questions. Tate will play Sunday for his new team, the Minnesota Vikings, against the Green Bay Packers, but hardly looks like a reliable fantasy option, while the two remaining backs in Cleveland, West and Crowell, are both good plays – though it is a gamble because both will get carries near the goal line.

For entertainment purposes only: The most bizarre betting line of the week is that the Seattle Seahawks are a touchdown favorite against the Arizona Cardinals. Yes, the Cardinals are playing with a backup quarterback – but the Cardinals are 9-1, and have confidence from beating a better Seahawks team at CenturyLink Field last season.

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