We know the Bears can still clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a tie, but that doesn't mean they have to do it, right?
Devin Hester's returns have been exciting today ... but not for the reason you'd expect, given his record-setting six returns for TDs this season. He's lost one already ... and just fumbled another one in OT. Fortunately for the Bears, it went out of bounds.
This time Rex Grossman isn't the problem. The problem is a defense that's supposed to be the cornerstone of the team's success, but has given up 21 second-half points to a Tim Rattay-led offense.
It's been a rather quiet afternoon for Vince Young and the Tennessee Titans so far.
Late in the third quarter, the Titans had all of 90 yards in total offense against the Jaguars. They also had a 24-10 lead.
In one of the more unusual box scores of the 2006 season, the Titans have scored all three of their touchdowns on defense.
Pacman Jones started it all with an 83-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter, followed by Cortland Finnegan' 92-yard fumble TD and a 61-yard INT return by Chris Hope.
Jacksonville has held the ball nearly three times longer than the Titans in this game, but when the ball has gotten away from the Jags, they've paid dearly.
Hard to believe -- if the Titans can hold on to win this game, they'll be 7-7, a remarkable turnaround after their 0-5 start.
Conventional wisdom was that even if the Bears did beat the Bucs, Tampa Bay's defense would be able to cause some problems for shaky starter Rex Grossman.
Of course, sometimes conventional wisdom just plain sucks. Grossman has thrown for almost 200 yards and two scores in the first half.
And it can't be a coincidence that stories emerged at the tail end of this week that Bears backup Brian Griese might not have the arm strength to replace Grossman after all.
What's the point of switching up QBs mid-game when you're 3-10 and your starter is only in there because the guy normally ahead of him on the depth chart is out of commission with a ruptured spleen?
Maybe we're wrong, but anyone else think Tim Rattay is the long-term answer in Tampa Bay?
Fighting to hold onto a chance at the postseason, the Panthers are without Jake Delhomme for a second straight week and have fallen behind at home to the Steelers.
Pittsburgh has won four of its last five games and has outscored its opponents 47-10 in the last two games.
Or the possibility that Jon Gruden won't be the Bucs' head coach next season?
It's an imperfect measurement to be sure, but after one quarter (the Bears lead 7-0), it looks like Gruden's job security is having a bigger impact. Granted, the disparate talent could have something to do with it, but where's the fun in that?
The Texans decided a fake punt in the first quarter was necessary to have any chance to beat the Patriots. It backfired and New England took advantage of good field position to jump out in front.
Each of New England's last four home games has been decided by seven points or less (2-2 record).
'Tis the season for some football ... fa la la la la la la la la!
Let's see what's up for Sunday ...
- Passing records are being threatened by Saints quarterback Drew Brees. Brees has thrown for 300 or more yards in six of his last seven games. Brees now has 4,033 passing yards on the season and needs to average 351 yards per game in his last 3 games to surpass Dan Marino's NFL record of 5,084 yards passing in 1984.
- The longest continuing series in the NFL returns when the Lions face the Packers at Lambeau Field. Once unbeatable at Lambeau, the Packers now appear totally vulnerable at their home stadium. Green Bay is 1-5 at home this year, and has been shut out twice. The Packers have lost 10 home games the past two seasons after losing just 10 home games total between 2000 and 2004 (30-10). The last time before this season that they had been shutout at home was 10/17/91 versus Chicago, the year before Brett Favre became a Packer.
- Can Vince Young keep the magic alive for the Titans? It's a matchup of two red-hot teams in Nashville, as the Jaguars pay a visit. Tennessee has won four straight games in the same season for the first time since they won six straight from 10/12-11/23/2003.
The Jaguars, meanwhile, rushed for a franchise-record 375 yards against Indianapolis in Week 14. It was tied for the second-highest rushing total for a team in one game since 1970 (Bengals, 407 yards vs. Denver, 10/22/2000).
- Here's what Milhouse Van Houten of the Simpsons had to say about the Texans-Patriots game in Foxboro, "New England was shut out last week. Just like my Dad and I have been shut out by every girl we've ever loved. But some day we'll score, just like New England will this week."
- The Bears have already clinched the NFC North division title. However, home-field advantage throughout the playoffs can be clinched today (complete playoff picture).
The Bears face the Buccaneers, who have just one win in its last seven games and will be looking to snap its three-game losing streak. During their three-game slide, the Bucs have been outscored 75-19.
n a role usually reserved for the Cardinals, the Seahawks are trying to give a game away. After taking the lead against Arizona, a Mack Strong fumble put the Cardinals to go back in front.
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