NFL Whip Around: What we're watching in Week 10

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Peyton Manning can rattle off decades worth of NFL trivia, so it was no surprise that Manning has kept pretty close tabs on the fellow members of his 1998 draft class.

It was a heck of a draft – headlined by Manning at No. 1 overall. The first round alone included 10 players who would be selected for at least one Pro Bowl. Now, 16.5 seasons later, just three 98ers remain: Manning, Colts backup quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, and Oakland Raiders safety Charles Woodson, whom Manning's Broncos will play on Sunday in Oakland.

Manning will add San Francisco 49ers kicker Phil Dawson to the class as well – as he signed with the Browns as an undrafted rookie that year.

That Manning and Woodson, the No. 4 pick in the '98 draft, have outlasted their peers and hundreds of other players drafted in the years since truly make them what Woodson described this week as "generational players."

Or maybe it's just a nice way to describe them both as old.

Indeed, their youngest current teammates were born in 1993 (Broncos running back Kapri Bibbs) and 1991 (Raiders safety Jonathan Dowling) and were just children when Woodson bested Manning to win the 1997 Heisman Trophy.

"For both of us to still be playing 17 years later just says a lot about both players and what the game means to us," Woodson said.

They played each other little for much of their careers, but they nearly became teammates last year when Woodson took a serious free agent visit to Denver. He chose to return home to Oakland instead, and now gets to play Manning twice a year.

"I see him sticking his nose and shoulders in there making tackles like he did when he was 23, 24 years old, so that is a credit to him. He's kept himself in great shape, taking great care of his body," Manning said. "That he could play that long at that position shows that you have a real passion for football, so he's truly a great player and truly a unique athlete."

Now on to the NFL whip-around, your game day guide to Week 10's biggest stories:

ROMO'S BACK

Need to know: You didn't think Tony Romo was really going to fly all the way to London to spend another week on the sidelines, did you? The Dallas Cowboys quarterback will indeed be back on the field Sunday against Jacksonville, 13 days after suffering two small fractures in his back during a game against Washington. Romo did not play last week against Arizona because of a combination of lingering pain in his back and his lack practice time. Well he was back on the practice field in London by Thursday and was listed as probable on Friday. But the question now is just how close to normal Romo will be, and just how much pain he will have to play through against a Jacksonville team that has 27 sacks.

What to expect: Even if Romo isn't at full strength, and even if the pain in his back will hamper his mobility, he's still a better option for the Cowboys than backup Brandon Weeden. That was the takeaway from last week's loss to Arizona, when the Cowboys' passing game was non-existent. Though the Cowboys defense might be good enough for Dallas to win against Jacksonville's hapless offense, the Cowboys are desperate to a two-game losing streak to extending into the bye week. And Romo certainly gives Dallas its best chance to do that.

ROETHLISBERGER'S RIDICULOUS PACE

Need to know: As if things haven't been bad enough for the New York Jets, this Sunday brings a new sort of nightmare: Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who has been hotter than any player in the NFL over the past two weeks. In the Steelers' last two games, Roethlisberger has thrown for 862 yards and 12 touchdowns without an interception. There are 11 teams that haven't recorded 12 passing touchdowns all season. Consider the Jets' defense has allowed 24 passing touchdowns, and this could be another big week for Roethlisberger.

What to expect: The Jets on Friday ruled out cornerback Darrin Walls, who had started seven of eight previous games, forcing another shakeup in the secondary. Look for Roethlisberger to take advantage. But he won't do it alone. No one in the NFL has found a good way to stop both running back Le'Veon Bell and receiver Antonio Brown this year – and it doesn't seem like Rex Ryan and that ailing Jets defense will be the ones to do it.

CAN THE CARDINALS SNAP THE RAMS' STREAK?

Need to know: The St. Louis Rams likely won't win the NFC West, but they sure will make it hard for their division opponents. The Rams have already notched wins this season against the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers. On Sunday they'll get their first shot at the first-place Arizona Cardinals, the NFC's first team to seven wins.

What to expect: The Cardinals, whose only loss came at Denver last month while quarterback Carson Palmer was still sidelined, seem better equipped to hold off an upset bid than their fellow NFC West opponents. The Cardinals can score multiple ways, with running back Andre Ellington, and a deep group of receivers, and Palmer has made few mistakes. The Cardinals defense, meanwhile, has been able to blitz and stop the run and that should make things difficult for a St. Louis offense led by an inexperienced quarterback in Austin Davis.

Game-time decision: Buffalo Bills quarterback Kyle Orton could be without one of his favorite targets if Sammy Watkins' groin remains too sore for him to play against the Kansas City Chiefs. Watkins did not practice on Thursday or Friday and is considered questionable to play on Sunday. Watkins has five touchdowns this season, and losing him this week could be a big blow to a Bills offense that already lost running back C.J. Spiller. Veteran running back Fred Jackson is also listed as questionable.

Fantasy watch: With fantasy staples such as Andrew Luck and Tom Brady off this week, do you dare pick up new Eagles starter Mark Sanchez, who has replaced the injured Nick Foles? It might not be a terrible idea. Sanchez wasn't a hot fantasy commodity when he was with the New York Jets – he committed way too many turnovers, he had a pretty bad group of receivers to throw to, and played in an offense that favored the run. But now he's in an up-tempo system in Philadelphia with far better teammates, like running back LeSean McCoy and receiver Jeremy Maclin, than he ever had in New York.

For Entertainment Purposes Only: Las Vegas is predicting fewer close games this weekend. Six of 12 games have a spread of at least a touchdown. The biggest spread is with the Broncos an 11.5-point road favorite over the Oakland Raiders. Other big favorites include the Packers over the Bears at Lambeau Field, and the Seattle Seahawks at home against the New York Giants.