NFL Nation reporters look ahead to what Monday has in store for each team.
AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills: The Bills took their bye week off to get healthy, and they should get a least a few of their injured players back for Sunday's game against Miami. Head coach Rex Ryan said last week that he was "confident" that Tyrod Taylor would return from his knee injury, while right tackle Seantrel Henderson tweeted Sunday that he "can't wait to get back out there with my teammates," specifically mentioning next week's game. -- Mike Rodak
Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins and quarterback Ryan Tannehill begin their preparations for the Bills with the goal of improving their third-down offense. Miami has converted on just 3 of 20 third downs in the past two games, against the Patriots and Texans. -- James Walker
New England Patriots: The Patriots had the weekend off after beating the Dolphins on Thursday night, and coach Bill Belichick wants to see penalties cut down. The team had eight in Thursday's win, seven of which were on offense. Belichick has cautioned that if the trend continues, it will cost the Patriots at some point. -- Mike Reiss
New York Jets: Quarterbacks Ryan Fitzpatrick (torn ligaments in his left thumb) and Geno Smith (left shoulder) will have additional tests Monday to determine the severity of their injuries. At that point, the Jets can determine whether they need to acquire a quarterback. Chances are, they'll need to bring in a veteran. -- Rich Cimini
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens: The season-ending injury to Steve Smith Sr. makes Kamar Aiken the Ravens' No. 1 wide receiver. After Smith left with a torn Achilles, Aiken was targeted on half of Joe Flacco's 10 passes. He caught five for 59 yards in a little over a quarter. "[Smith] has always told us to keep pushing," Aiken said. "That's what he's embedded in our heads." -- Jamison Hensley
Cincinnati Bengals: Cincinnati has an important stretch looming, as prime-time games against Cleveland and Houston are next up. A quick turnaround with a Thursday game will provide a unique challenge, as the Bengals try to see if they will have enough time to get back players who were injured in Sunday's physical 16-10 win at Pittsburgh. Carlos Dunlap, Andre Smith and Rey Maualuga are among those players whose statuses will be evaluated this week. -- Coley Harvey
Cleveland Browns: The Browns begin a short week with a trip to face the undefeated Bengals ahead on Thursday. The team has only a few days to get Josh McCown healthy and make a decision about who starts at quarterback. -- Pat McManamon
Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers must tweak the offense -- again -- as they await the results of Le'Veon Bell's knee injury tests. The Steelers are hopeful Bell's ACL is intact, but he will be out for a while regardless. Good thing they signed DeAngelo Williams, who will get a heavy workload against Oakland. -- Jeremy Fowler
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans: Texans safety Rahim Moore was signed in free agency to be a starter for Houston, but the Texans benched him Sunday. Moore, who entered the game having played the third most defensive snaps of any Texans player entering Sunday, was inactive. "We felt like that was the best combination of safeties that we brought to the game today," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said. Andre Hal and Quintin Demps were the team's starters. -- Tania Ganguli
Indianapolis Colts: The Colts have gone 41 straight games without having a 100-yard rusher. The last time they had a 100-yard rusher was Vick Ballard in the 2012 season. Frank Gore rushed for 98 yards against the Texans in Week 5. Could they break the streak on Monday at Carolina? -- Mike Wells
Jacksonville Jaguars: One of the big questions facing the Jaguars as they begin preparation for the Jets is whether wide receiver Marqise Lee (hamstring) will be able to practice. He hasn't played since Week 3 and it wouldn't be a surprise if the Jaguars placed him on IR if hasn't shown enough progress. -- Mike DiRocco
Tennessee Titans: The Titans offered no real details on Kendall Wright's knee injury. If they are without their top receiver for next week at New Orleans they are in real trouble. Harry Douglas (ribs) has missed the past two games and Justin Hunter and Dorial Green-Beckham have been unproductive. -- Paul Kuharsky
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos: People wondered what the offense would look like if Peyton Manning stopped turning the ball over and they started to run the ball well. They found out as Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson combined for 161 yards and three touchdowns and Manning was without a turnover as the Broncos beat the Packers. -- ESPN.com staff
Kansas City Chiefs: After returning home from London immediately after Sunday's game, the Chiefs will have the week off. But they need to return from their long break ready to go. They face a pivotal matchup in their next game against the Broncos in Denver on Nov. 15. A win could put the Chiefs back in the wild-card race. -- Adam Teicher
Oakland Raiders: Taiwan Jones continues to become a part of the offense. Sunday, he had a 59-yard touchdown reception in which he broke several tackles and used his great speed. Jones is no longer just a special teamer. He is a legitimate offensive option. New Oakland offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave loves what Jones brings to the offense and will continue to exploit it. -- Bill Williamson
San Diego Chargers: At 2-6, the Chargers have lost four straight and nine of their past 12 dating back to last season. But quarterback Philip Rivers still believes San Diego can turn things around. "Until we are mathematically eliminated, we're playing to make the playoffs," Rivers said. The next chance for the Chargers to turn things around is on Monday Night Football at home against the Bears. -- Eric D. Williams
NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys: Somehow the Cowboys have to figure out a way to get in the end zone. For the second time in three games they failed to score a touchdown. Matt Cassel threw for 97 yards and the receivers caught four passes for 32 yards. The Cowboys ran the ball well enough (30 carries, 129 yards) but the only explosive plays they got were on Cassel scrambles. They did not have a pass go for more than 15 yards. After performing decently in the loss to the Giants, even with three interceptions, Cassel was unable to repeat his downfield success against Seattle. If there is good news it's this: Tony Romo can practice this week for the first time since breaking his collarbone. -- Todd Archer
New York Giants: The Giants have to regroup after Sunday's dizzying 52-49 loss in New Orleans and get ready to go back on the road next week to face Tampa Bay. Cornerback Prince Amukamara has an MRI scheduled Monday on the injured pectoral muscle that has kept him out of the past three games. After the way Drew Brees carved them up Sunday, the Giants' defense could use some good news on Amukamara this week. -- Dan Graziano
Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles had a pretty productive bye week. Both NFC East teams that played lost. The Eagles can catch the division-leading Giants with a win next week. They face a Dallas team that looks lost without quarterback Tony Romo -- even after Dez Bryant returned. -- Phil Sheridan
Washington Redskins: As the Redskins return from their bye week, they find themselves only one game out of first place and tied with Philadelphia for second, a game ahead of Dallas. But the Redskins' concerns entering the week involve injuries, as in who will return from this list: receiver DeSean Jackson, corners Chris Culliver, DeAngelo Hall and Bashaud Breeland and center Kory Lichtensteiger. They need most if not all these players back if they want any shot at beating New England on Sunday. -- John Keim
NFC NORTH
Chicago Bears: Matt Forte's knee injury is the latest blow to the banged up Bears. Coach John Fox said he intended to "keep [the media] posted" on the severity of Forte's right knee ailment. Fox is the only member of the organization available to reporters on Monday. While it's highly unlikely that Fox will say anything of substance regarding Forte's situation, Bears players sounded as if they expected rookie Jeremy Langford to carry the load in the backfield in coming weeks. Langford, drafted in the fourth-round to be Forte's heir apparent, has been gradually used more and more in recent weeks. There is also concern over the status of wide receiver Eddie Royal, who left Sunday with a knee injury. Royal has battled nagging health issues much of the year. -- Jeff Dickerson
Detroit Lions: The 1-7 Lions enter their bye week with more questions than before. The offensive coordinator switch from Joe Lombardi to Jim Bob Cooter did not pay immediate dividends, although Cooter will now have time to implement more wrinkles with no game this Sunday. But with his bosses -- coach Jim Caldwell and general manager Martin Mayhew -- having their own job security questions, no one can feel good about much of anything in Allen Park during the week off. -- Michael Rothstein
Green Bay Packers: It won't be a fun day around Lambeau Field on Monday. Not only will the Packers have to figure out what went wrong in Sunday night's blowout loss to the Broncos, but they also have a couple of defensive injuries to deal with. Cornerbacks Sam Shields and Quinten Rollins both got knocked out with shoulder injuries, and Clay Matthews finished the game on a bum left ankle. -- Rob Demovsky
Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings had a handful of injuries at the end of Sunday's win over the Bears, but coach Mike Zimmer said he thought defensive end Everson Griffen and offensive tackle T.J. Clemmings would be fine after suffering stingers. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs also should be ready to go next week after leaving the game briefly when he slipped on the Soldier Field turf in the fourth quarter. -- Ben Goessling
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons: Falcons coach Dan Quinn said he'll have an update on injured cornerbacks Desmond Trufant (back) and Robert Alford (groin) on Monday, while the same goes for center Mike Person (ankle). Tyson Jackson and Justin Durant both finished Sunday's game despite getting banged up. -- Vaughn McClure
Carolina Panthers: Starting for a Pro Bowl center is nothing new for Fernando Velasco if he gets the nod over injured Ryan Kalil (ankle) in Monday night's game against Indianapolis. Velasco started 11 games for the Steelers in 2013 after Pro Bowler Maurkice Pouncey suffered a season-ending injury. Kalil is listed as doubtful. If he doesn't start it will be the first time since a Lisfranc injury ended his 2012 season that he has missed a start. Coach Ron Rivera said it will be a game-time decision. -- David Newton
New Orleans Saints: The Saints (4-4) still have some flaws, but there is a sense that they have weathered the storm after starting 1-4. Remember when it felt like Drew Brees' shoulder injury would linger the entire season? Feels like ancient history after he just threw for 511 yards and seven touchdowns Sunday. The Saints have now won three straight games for the first time since 2013, and the schedule softens up considerably during the second half of the year. -- Mike Triplett
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: After their overtime victory in Atlanta, the Bucs said they benefited even from the game's negatives -- squandering a second-half lead and failing on a fourth-and-1 attempt that would have put the game away in regulation. Running back Doug Martin said Lovie Smith's decision to go for it late showed that coaches "have confidence" in the offense. That the Bucs (3-4) lost a 17-point lead didn't matter nearly as much as the fact that they stood tall to squeak out a win. This is not the same Tampa Bay team that lost 56-14 in Atlanta last season. "What a difference a year makes," Smith said. "Totally different press conference than I had here last season." -- Matt Winkeljohn
NFC WEST
Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals accomplished last week's goal of heading into the bye week and then into Week 10 at Seattle with a 6-2 record. They can rest easy during their four days off knowing they still control the NFC West. The bye comes at the right time for Arizona with cornerback Jerraud Powers (hamstring), wide receiver John Brown (hamstring) and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (ankle) all nursing injuries. -- Josh Weinfuss
St. Louis Rams: At 4-3, the Rams are above .500 in November for the first time since 2006 and have put together consecutive wins for the first time this season. But before leaving the locker room, they were already talking about the Vikings, next week's opponent. There's a belief within the walls of the Rams' locker room that a win there to get to three in a row against a tough opponent on the road would be the one they need to prove they are for real in 2015. -- Nick Wagoner
San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers will anxiously await the MRI results on Reggie Bush's knee, as well as the X-rays of Mike Davis' injured hand. The Niners' running back corps is beaten and bruised, and Carlos Hyde's injured left foot makes him a week-to-week proposition. -- Paul Gutierrez
Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks enter the bye week with a 4-4 record after Sunday's win in Dallas. The good news? Their defense hasn't allowed a touchdown in its past two games. The bad news? The offense continues to be maddeningly inconsistent. If they can find some fixes on that side of the ball, with three straight home games coming up, the Seahawks could make a run. -- Sheil Kapadia