But can one play drastically alter the course of two teams' seasons?

That's a stretch at best.

If it's somehow possible, such a play occurred last Sunday in Atlanta.

The 6-3 Falcons were hosting the 5-4 Broncos and leading, 20-17, with less than 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Broncos were facing a third-and-7 from the Denver 20-yard line and were in danger of giving the ball back to Atlanta and the Falcons' clock-grinding rushing attack.

That's when QB Jay Cutler dropped deep into the pocket and delivered a down-the-field laser that was hauled in by WR Brandon Marshall for a 47-yard gain to the Atlanta 33.

Seven plays later, the Broncos were in the end zone and had the lead.

The landscape of two division races suddenly was in the process of becoming radically altered.

The Falcons came in 4-0 at home, where rookie QB Matt Ryan had been almost flawless and RB Michael Turner Overdrive had been relatively unstoppable. Atlanta also was riding the wave of a recently-improved defense that recorded a shutout at Oakland and held New Orleans' league-leading offense to a mere two touchdowns, including one on a meaningless, last-play Hail Mary.

The Broncos came in having stopped almost no one all season. They were in such a depleted state due to injury that they took the field in Atlanta without CB Champ Bailey, with rookie sixth-round pick Spencer Larson starting at middle linebacker, and with rookie seventh-round pick Peyton Hillis destined to get the majority of the carries resulting from a running-back-by-committee approach.

Somehow, the Broncos hung in there until Cutler-to-Marshall changed the complexion of the game. The subsequent touchdown, from Cutler to TE Daniel Graham, changed the scoreboard for good.

Denver's victory, coupled with San Diego's 11-10 loss, moved the Broncos another game ahead of San Diego in the AFC West. Given the relative talent level on both rosters, it's almost inconceivable that San Diego won't still win the division. Still, the Broncos are two games up with six to play and already have beaten San Diego.

Atlanta, conversely, fell two games behind Carolina in the NFC South and already has lost once to the Panthers. The Falcons also fell into a conference crowd that includes Tampa Bay (7-3), Washington (6-4), Dallas (6-4) and Philadelphia (5-4-1) fighting for two NFC wild cards.

The Falcons get their rematch with the Panthers this Sunday at the Georgia Dome, so there's still an opportunity to continue shocking the league after 2007's four-win season. But you have to wonder how letting the Denver game get away might affect Atlanta long term.

The Broncos get to host Oakland, which means they couldn't ask for a better chance to build on the momentum generated by consecutive fourth-quarter rallies on the road.

NOVEMBER SWEEPS:

Four more division rematches are schedule for Week 12, including the Steelers' hosting of Cincinnati on Thursday night at Heinz Field.

It's traditionally been stated that beating the same team twice in one season is difficult, but in 2008 it's happened more often than not.

COMPLETED SWEEPS

Arizona over San Francisco

Baltimore over Cleveland

Chicago over Detroit

Indianapolis over Houston

Tennessee over Jacksonville

COMPLETED SPLITS

Dallas-Washington

Green Bay-Minnesota

New England-New York Jets

San Francisco-Seattle

RESUMTION OF HOSTILITIES First meeting

Carolina at Atlanta Panthers, 24-9

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh Steelers, 38-10

Oakland at Denver Broncos, 41-14

New England at Miami Dolphins, 38-13

PROSPECT WATCH

Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State: Although just a redshirt sophomore and first-year starter, Maybin (6-foot-4, 236 pounds) is eligible to enter the draft early if he desires. If that should come to pass, there will be no shortage of teams desiring to get their hands on a player who is becoming increasingly coveted as a 4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB on Sundays.

Plenty of scouts are buzzing about Maybin's amazing burst and non-stop motor as a pass-rusher (12 sacks heading into Saturday's regular-season finale against Michigan State), and consider him first-round material if he opts for early entry. Although he's not as strong as he needs to be at the point of attack, Maybin's pass-rushing prowess and potential are said by scouts to jump off the film.

Maybin will be the best potentially draft-eligible prospect on the Beaver Stadium field Saturday -- better than PSU WR Derrick Williams, PSU S Anthony Scirrotto, MSU RB Javon Ringer, who ranks second in the NCAA in rushing with 1,548 yards and first in rushing TDs with 20; or MSU QB Brian Hoyer.

Count on Maybin spending more than his share of time in the Spartans' backfield and, perhaps, continuing to rocket up the draft board.