Tebow Time. The legend will only grow larger as the left-handed wonder continues to find ways to win games. While this is surely not the biggest matchup of the day, there is a good chance that it will attract the most viewers. People who have no interest in football have been drawn towards the game this year as Tebow, in all his glory, continues to find ways to win games.

This game will be no different. The Bears are a shell of the team that they started the season. Without Jay Cutler and Matt Forte, the Bears will be featuring the feared combo of Caleb Hanie and Marion Barber, a duo that was good..never. Last week was a disaster of epic proportions as Da Bears fell 10-3 to the lowly Chiefs. Now that Forte is hurt, the Bears season is spiraling out of control. This week will be no different as the power of Tebow comes to smite them for their transgressions.

The Broncos are favoured for the first time in the Tebow era, and that does make things a bit more interesting. No longer can they squeak by with an outright win to cover. They need to stick it to one of the best defenses of our generation and put up some actual points on the Bears. Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker need to have games like they did last week if they hope have a chance. Willis McGahee has been running like a man possessed lately, but Tebow needs to get the ball down the field in order for any running lanes to open up for the ridiculous spread option that the Broncos run.

Von Miller returning from a hand injury could be vital towards the Broncos success. The rookie outside backer, along with Elvis Dumervil coming off the other side, will give headaches to the Bears ugly offensive line. Hanie struggles to get the ball down the field to begin with, and when he is under pressure and deciding whether to hand off to Barber or toss to Devin Hester, time will be of the essence.

As long as the Broncos don't do something ridiculous, like kick to Devin Hester, then they should be safe to cover in this game. You can guarantee that Hanie will throw a pick, or two, or three, so limiting mistakes is the key to this game.

The Broncos have the best rushing attack in the league, and they need to stick to their game plan if they are going to take down the Bears. If they get over anxious when the Chicago starts stacking the box and start throwing the ball down the field, the game could get out of hand. Urlacher, Briggs and company are mean, but Tebow can take anything that comes at him.

We all know this game will come down to the fourth quarter. Tebow will have to drive the ball down the field late in the game and take the game into his hands. If anyone can do it, it is the man himself. ESPN will commit an entire week of programming to the man himself, and he will be working his way towards the playoffs.

Can you imagine a Packers-Broncos Super Bowl? That would obviously mean that the Tebows get past the Steelers and/or the Ravens in the playoffs, but nothing at this point is impossible. The world may in fact come to an end if Tebow leads his minion to the ultimate victory.

But until then, take the Broncos to cover this week and pray for forgiveness if you don't.

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According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Ben Roethlisberger has been diagnosed with a high ankle sprain, and he's now wearing a walking boot following an MRI today to determine the extent of the injury he suffered against the Browns last night.

A league source told Pro Football Talk that Ben is "not feeling good."

While the diagnosis makes last night's performance by Roethlisberger all the more impressive, it does raise the question of his status for next weeks game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Given that we often hear the term "high ankle sprain," I think it's prudent that we understand the seriousness of the injury. High ankle sprains often take far longer to heal than other types of ankle sprains. The walking boot Roethlisberger is wearing restricts his ankles motion, specifically where the tibia and fibula meet.

While most high ankle sprains take longer than the 10 days between now and the Steelers' game against the 49ers to heal, you can bet that Roethlisberger will do everything he can to be ready to play next week.

Should the Steelers be without Roethlisberger, which appears to be a very real possibility, they'll turn to their long-time backup Charlie Batch. Batch played his first 4 seasons with the Lions before moving to the Steelers beginning in 2003. He has historically been an efficient passer, throwing 60 career touchdowns to just 47 career interceptions.

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The time is here and the end is near. For those fortunate enough to make it through the weekly grind of fantasy football I congratulate you. For those on the brink with a week to go I wish you good luck. This is why you have spent far too much time in front of the computer the last 14 weeks. Why you have ignored friends and family. Why you have know more about Atlanta’s tendencies on grass versus turf. Why you have left a fantasy widow or widower wondering when it will all be over.

FANTAST FOOTBALL GLORY!

Cutting to the chase. With fantasy playoffs upon us or starting next week time to put some extra thought into your lineup.  Here is who to start and who to sit for week 14.

It’s almost Christmas time and if you haven’t bought Justin Bieber’s Christmas album yet then you are not enjoying the holiday season as you should be. Children around the world are getting ready to open up their new gifts and hoping everything they wished for comes true.

That being said let’s look at what NFL teams are wishing for this year.

Arizona Cardinals

Trade back Kevin Kolb or have Kevin Kolb to resemble even half of the QB they were hoping to trade for

Atlanta Falcons

Matt Ryan return to Matty Ice and find their way into the playoffs

Baltimore Ravens

Finally be the team that can go to the next level in the playoffs

Buffalo Bills

Taking back the contract they offered Ryan Fitzpatrick

Carolina Panthers

Finding a defense that can matchup Cam Newton in excitement

Chicago Bears

Getting healthy (Cutler, Forte)

Cincinnati Bengals

A playoff spot

Cleveland Browns

Wide receivers who can catch and Peyton Hillis never being on Madden cover

Dallas Cowboys

Tony Romo become clutch (Santa would have to be very generous)

Denver Broncos

Spending quality time with Tim Tebow  (can anyone ask for anything more?)

Detroit Lions

Suh learning some manners

Green Bay Packers

Nothing they are good

Houston Texans

A bye week (need to get healthy)

Indianapolis Colts

Peyton Manning back  or Andrew Luck ASAP

Jacksonville Jaguars

Tim Tebow

Kansas City Chiefs

Health (Cassel, Charles, Moiaki, Berry all on IR)

Miami Dolphins

Dan Marino

Minnesota Vikings

The season to end

New England Patriots

Whatever Rob Gronkowski eats for breakfast

New Orleans Saints

Aaron Rodgers injury making them Super Bowl favorites

New York Giants

Tony Romo being Tony Romo leading to Giants taking NFC East

New York Jets

A QB even though they will never admit it

Oakland Raiders

Darren McFadden and their play makers back and maybe their draft picks back for Palmer

Philadelphia Eagles

Too long of a list, but Kleenex for all of DeSean's issues

Pittsburgh Steelers

Big Ben being okay

San Diego Chargers

A refresh button on the season

San Francisco 49ers

They are also good, well until they lose to the Packers

Seattle Seahawks

Life time supply of skittles

St. Louis Rams

The season to end, and Sam Bradford to be good again

 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Raheem Morris to shut up 

Tennessee Titans

Chris Johnson starting his season in week 1 and not week 11

Washington Redskins 

Peyton Manning

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all!

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One of the few bright spots all year in the steaming pile of crap that is the St. Louis Rams has been the play of Chris Long. Finally living up to his number two overall draft status this year, Long is currently 3^rd  in league in sacks with 12 through 14 games.

The Rams defensive end is having a phenomenal year overall. Long is hurt, obviously, by the fact that he's playing for a struggling team. The Rams are enduring a ridiculously brutal season, losing what seems like half the team to the IR. But this shouldn't hinder Long from getting the proper recognition he deserves for a stellar season. Chris Long deserves more credit than he's getting plain and simple.

Chris has recorded a sack in six straight games and has recorded a sack in all but three games this season. While the Rams have struggled in nearly every category this season, they tie for fifth in the league as a team in sacks, thanks to Long's career year. And Long is getting it done with opposing teams targeting him, and with a bad ankle that has cut down his practice time. In all, he looks like he’ll become the bookend on the defensive line the Rams hoped he would back in 2008.

Against San Francisco, Long extended his sack streak to six consecutive games. Bad wheel, bad team and all, Long just keeps working. His sacks have gone up in all four seasons in the league and he has been a bright spot for the club in an otherwise disappointing defensive year. In the Rams signature win of the season over the New Orleans Saints, Long recorded three sacks in the game.

For some perspective here is how Chris stacks up against another Left Defensive End through his first four years: his father, Hall Of Famer Howie Long.

The Pittsburgh Steelers earned a closer than expected win Thursday night against the Cleveland Browns, 14-3, but the big thing to come out of tonight's game is the long-term status of Ben Roethlisberger's left ankle. Roethlisberger was sandwiched between two Browns players on a sack in the second quarter and had a nasty turn of his left ankle.

After x-rays of Roethlisberger's left leg showed no breaks, he returned to the game for the second half, but was clearly limited by the injured ankle. The Steelers ran the ball more than they have most of this year, and the passing game was much more focused on short quick passes designed to limit Roethlisberger's need to scramble. When Ben did throw downfield, his accuracy was sometimes off.

No matter, though, as after the Browns had a Colt McCoy scramble touchdown taken off the board and settled for a field goal on their opening drive they struggled to move the ball effectively. The Steelers took a 7-3 lead on a Roethlisberger pass to Jerrico Cotchery the first time they had the ball and would have put the Browns away early but for Hines Ward and Heath Miller fumbles in the red zone. After Roethlisberger's injury, the Steelers struggled to move the ball as well both with Charlie Batch and with an injured Ben, but a late Antonio Brown touchdown sealed the win.

Three Stars
1. Antonio Brown, WR, Steelers. Five catches for 151 yards and the game-clinching 79-yard touchdown, a spectacular play where he weaved and juked several Browns defenders. Mike Wallace is the bigger deep threat, but Brown may now be the Steelers' top receiver.
2. Jason Worilds, LB, Steelers. Sure, he's probably playing because of injury, but he had two sacks and a forced fumble and finished second on the team with nine tackles, eight of them unassisted.
3. Brad Maynard, P, Browns. He doesn't have the league's strongest leg, but he did a good job of pinning the Steelers deep.

Three Duds
1. Colt McCoy, QB, Browns. Two interceptions, no touchdowns, and few good throws. He struggled against the Steelers' pass rush, struggled to read the coverage, and doesn't have the arm strength to hit open receivers downfield. He no longer looks like a long-term answer at quarterback unless all of the pieces around him are upgraded.
2. Charlie Batch, QB, Steelers. If Roethlisberger is out for any length of time, the Steelers' long-term fate may include missing the playoffs and likely won't include a long trip there if they manage to make it.
3. Browns running game. Chris Ogbonnaya ripped off a 28-yard run on a nicely-schemed draw play to convert third-and-twenty. Beyond that, though, the Browns didn't have a run longer than eight yards and Ogbonnaya, Peyton Hillis, and Montario Hardesty combined for 52 yards on 22 carries.

The Packers may play in one of the most historic stadiums in the United States, Lambeau Field, but that doesn't mean that they can neglect to upgrade their facilities.

That is the purpose for the Packers putting up 250,000 shares of the famed team at just $250 a pop plus a $25 handling fee. According to Darren Rovell of CNBC, the stock sale is off to a very fast start:

The Packers are hoping to raise a total of $62.5 million after all the shares are bought up. Considering that this is only the 5th time the Packers have ever sold stock, it comes as no surprise to anyone that investors have been buying the stock at an unbelievable pace. The $62.5 million raised by the sale will go towards the $143 million expansion of Lambeau Field.

The fact that the stock is virtually without value doesn't seem to be deterring anyone from buying it. The stock has a set value (in this case it's $250), and that value can never increase or decrease. In addition, the stock cannot be traded or sold. It can only be transferred to a family member, and stock holders do not receive any preference in terms of ticket sales.

It's not all bad news for those that buy the stock in the Green Bay Packers, however. Stockholders do have voting rights. Stockholders can also attend annual meetings where they can meet team executives and take tours of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. They're also allowed to attend training camp.

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CLEVELAND BROWNS (4-8) at PITTSBURGH STEELERS (9-3)
Thursday, 8:20 P.M. ET, NFL-Network, Sirius (Cle 92, Pit 93), Westwood One Radio

Why Watch
Well, we could spend time bashing the BCS, but this is a pro game and the only one on tonight. The NFL playoff system is why the BCS is held in light regard by football fans. BCS computer-based rankings are as legit as financial derivatives for setting value. Both the BCS and derivatives share the virtues of being risky, subject to manipulation and something of a fraud. The BCS is a cartel of conferences whose aim is to direct all revenue to them. Upstarts need not apply. The NFL is the same, but they give us playoffs as fair exchange.

You just know the Pittsburgh Steelers will be in the playoffs. And, you have a deep abiding suspicion that they will vie for the conference championship. Cleveland figures to be a road bump in their path. The NFL does so many things well, but flexible scheduling is not one of them. Under current policy, the NFL flexes Sunday games only. The league uses Thursday games to entice more cable companies to carry the NFL Network into more markets. They need more compelling games than this mismatch for that to happen. We will watch anyway if only to see how Pittsburgh can lose the division and still make it to the conference title game.

What To Watch
The Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens are the twin terrors of the AFC North, especially on defense. Both have crushing pass rushes and hard-hitting secondaries. Is there any real difference between safeties Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu? The difference is on offense. The Steelers pass where the Ravens run. The Browns lost to the Ravens last Sunday because they could not stop Ray Rice who rushed for 204 yards and a score. Baltimore controlled the clock for 37 minutes.

The Browns are no match for the Steelers in passing. The Steelers' top two wide receivers, Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown, combined for twice the output if the Browns' Greg Little and Josh Cribbs. Browns QB Colt McCoy would do considerably better if he were playing with talent like the Steelers. The one thing the Browns do well is to suppress passing yards. The Steelers are right behind them as the league's second best, after the Browns. There's a chance Cleveland will lose its No. 1 pass defense ranking after this face-off against Ben Roethlisberger and company.

Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers must shudder in his sleep at the prospect of being next year's Madden cover boy. That status does nothing for Peyton Hillis who won the honor after a ballot-stuffing campaign by Browns fans. Hillis rushed for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns for Cleveland last season. He is on a pace for 400 yards and three touchdowns this season—another proof point that the Madden Jinx is real. Pittsburgh is favored by 14.

Who Will Win
If Pittsburgh coughs up three turnovers, Cleveland has a 50-50 shot to win. Otherwise, PITTSBURGH.

The Giants are notorious for starting quick and sliding towards the end of the season. 4 weeks ago, the Giants were a stellar 6-2, and they were widely considered one of the best teams in the league. With Eli Manning's elite level play, they were fighting for the 2 seed in the NFC playoff picture with the San Francisco 49ers.

4 weeks and 4 losses later, they're clinging to hopes of a postseason birth. The Giants are currently the 8th ranked team in the NFC, just 1 game back in both the NFC East divisional race and the NFC wild-card race.

The Giants schedule has afforded them some level of luck however. They have still not played the division leading Cowboys this year. At 7-5, the Cowboys own a 1 game lead over the 6-6 Giants, but the tie-breaker between the two teams has not even started being determined. Their first matchup comes on Sunday Night Football this weekend. The winner of the game will be in first place in the NFC East; the loser will likely be on the outside looking in. To say the least, it's a high stakes game.

Even if the Giants can pull out the win against the Cowboys, they're not out of the woods. The two teams round out their season series in a week 17 matchup that could become a winner-take-all game. I've got my fingers crossed for that scenario.

Outside of their two games with the Cowboys, the Giants do have what most would call relatively easy games. The Giants host a terrible Redskins group that can't seem to ever get their feat under them, and then they "visit" their own stadium against the Jets. The key for them to be the Jets is simply to ring up the score, and that's something the Giants are certainly capable of doing.

The scenario for the Giants to get into the playoffs is actually quite simple. That being said, the team has to pull themselves together after 4 straight losses in order to pull it off. As with most teams that struggle late in the season, it's all about cleaning up the small, fundamental aspects of their game. Stupid penalties need to be eliminated, form tackling needs to be a priority on defense, and the offense and special teams units can't put the defense into short-field situations.

That all starts and ends with Eli Manning. In the Giants' 6 wins, Manning has thrown a total of 2 interceptions. In their 6 losses, Manning has thrown a total of 9 interceptions. That all goes back to the fundamental strategy of not giving away points, something the Giants have become very proficient at doing in their losing efforts.

The Giants may be the most fortunate 6-6 team in the league right now. They still control their own destiny with 4 games to play, despite only being a .500 team. They'll get 2 shots at the Cowboys as the 2011 season comes to a close. Winning both of those games would nearly ensure an NFC East title for the Giants and another playoff birth. The only question for the Giants is whether or not they're equal to the challenge at hand.

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Sometimes, ESPN makes it far too easy for us to poke fun at them, and this is one of those cases. During virtually every Monday Night Football broadcast, ESPN shows overhead shots of the host city and some of its landmarks. I've always assumed that these were live shots from the Goodyear blimp, and I've never had a reason to believe otherwise, that is, until now.

According to ESPN AFC South blogger, Paul Kuharsky, viewers of the game came to ESPN's AFC South blog to complain about outdated shots of the city, and even one shot of the skyline of Charlotte, North Carolina. Here's what an ESPN spokesperson told Kuharsky about the gaffes:

"The Charlotte aerial was an inadvertent mistake. It should not have aired. We apologize that it was part of the telecast.

“The scenics of Jacksonville that were used during 'Monday Night Countdown' were shot the night of the previous MNF game there in late October. We did not have a crew shooting scenics Monday. There were no graphic or audio mentions indicating the shot was live, though we understand viewers may have been under this assumption."

To say the least, the missteps by ESPN tend to be comical, but this one just appears to be cheap. As the spokesperson said, the outdated shots of Jacksonville were filmed earlier in the season when Jacksonville hosted the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football.

Somehow I believe that this won't be happening again. It's embarrassing, to say the least, for ESPN, the biggest all sports network in the world, to be recycling images and showing clips of a city 3 states away. While a bit perplexing, ESPN isn't exactly known for their geography prowess.

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