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ALL-PRO TEAM

BECAUSE OF THE WAY TODAY'S GAME IS PLAYED, WE'RE GOING WITH A TWO-TIGHT-END, ONE-BACK OFFENSE AND A NICKEL DEFENSE INSTEAD OF A BASE 4--3 OR 3--4

OFFENSE

WR

CALVIN JOHNSON,Lions

One, two or sometimes three defenders can't stop Megatron. Injury is the only thing that has so far.

TE

JIMMY GRAHAM,Saints

How good is he? Good enough that even a partially torn plantar fascia doesn't slow him down.

OT

TRENT WILLIAMS,Redskins

One total sack allowed against Clay Matthews, DeMarcus Ware, Julius Peppers and Von Miller.

G

EVAN MATHIS,Eagles

Philly's O may be a mess, but Mathis's performance, particularly as a run masher, has been sublime.

C

NICK HARDWICK,Chargers

He's held San Diego's line together while routinely working alongside new linemates.

G

JOSH SITTON,Packers

Instrumental in protecting Aaron Rodgers and paving paths for Green Bay's revived run game.

OT

NATE SOLDER,Patriots

Equally dominant at run- and pass-blocking, he's one of the few guys Tom Brady can count on in 2013.

TE

JORDAN CAMERON,Browns

Even with three QBs, he's No. 4 among tight ends in yards per game and TDs.

WR

A.J. GREEN,Bengals

He's on pace to smash his Pro Bowl--worthy yardage output from '12. Only Megatron has been better.

QB

PEYTON MANNING,Broncos

At 37, he's having the finest of his 16 seasons—and he's been to 12 Pro Bowls.

RB

JAMAAL CHARLES,Chiefs

Frightening to think where this offense would be without his playmaking as a runner-receiver.

DEFENSE

DE

CAMERON JORDAN,Saints

Not yet a household name, he's been a stud against the run and pass on a revived D.

DT

DONTARI POE,Chiefs

Key piece of the NFL's best sack attack, the 6'3" 346-pounder also clogs the middle against the run.

DE

MUHAMMAD WILKERSON,Jets

He takes over games, such as the Week 7 win over the Pats: five tackles, one sack, one TFL.

OLB

TAMBA HALI,Chiefs

Such is his completeness: nine sacks, four forced fumbles and two turnovers returned for TDs.

OLB

ROBERT MATHIS,Colts

NFL sacks leader (11½) is poised, at 32, to make a run at Michael Strahan's record of 22½.

ILB

SEAN LEE,Cowboys

A pick machine (relatively speaking, for a Mike LB), this playmaker keeps Dallas's D ticking.

CB

RICHARD SHERMAN,Seahawks

TheMMQB columnist backs up big talk with big plays, an NFL-high four INTs.

CB

AQIB TALIB,Patriots

Was dominating the likes of A.J. Green, Jimmy Graham and Julio Jones before a recent hip injury.

CB

DEANGELO HALL,Redskins

He's held Brandon Marshall and Dez Bryant touchdown-less; meanwhile, he has two himself.

S

EARL THOMAS,Seahawks

The heartbeat of the Legion of Boom is No. 2 among DBs with two forced fumbles, and No. 1 with 59 tackles.

S

ERIC BERRY,Chiefs

I rate him a hair below 2010 draft classmate Thomas but love his physicality and shut-down ability.

SPECIAL TEAMS

K

NICK FOLK,Jets

A perfect 23-for-23 on FGs, he has hit game-winners of 48, 43 and 42 yards with under three seconds left or in OT.

P

BRETT KERN,Titans

He's already put 18 punts inside the 20-yard line—and that with just a single touchback.

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AL MESSERSCHMIDT/GETTY IMAGES

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GREG NELSON FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

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JOE ROBBINS/AP

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PAUL SPINELLI/AP

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JOE ROBBINS/GETTY IMAGES

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SCOTT BOEHM/AP

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RIC TAPIA/AP

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DAVID WELKER/AP

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MICHAEL KEATING/AP

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SIMON BRUTY/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

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DAVID E. KLUTHO/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

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G. NEWMAN LOWRANCE/AP

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DAVID E. KLUTHO/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

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BILL KOSTROUN/AP

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DAVID E. KLUTHO/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

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TOM DIPACE/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

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ROBERT BECK/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

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AARON M. SPRECHER/AP

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JOE ROBBINS/GETTY IMAGES

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RIC TAPIA/ICON SMI

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ANDREW WEBER/USA TODAY SPORTS