NFL news and notes, Week 16

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, December 25, 2010

Upset special

Raiders over Colts

The Colts, coming off a big victory over the Jaguars, could be in for a tough game with the Raiders in the Black Hole.

Headline of the week

“Joe Flacco looked like Trent Dilfer, but it was a good thing."

In Baltimore Sun, on Ravens QB Joe Flacco

Did you know?

Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez became the first player in NFL history to boast 60 catches or more for 12 consecutive seasons. That's one more season than Jerry Rice, the best receiver of all time. "It's incredible," Gonzalez told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "That's one where I can look back on and say, 'Wow, Jerry Rice! I got to break a record of his?' That's something that I thought would never be possible."

What they're saying

"You need to call (Bob) Woodward and (Carl) Bernstein 'cause I don't know if that's as groundbreaking as Watergate, but the fact that the Lions got the benefit of a couple calls, that might be a major story the way this season's gone. … It seems like a lot of things haven't gone in our favor this year, but you need to be able to react to them, and you need to be able to adjust."

Lions coach Jim Schwartz, joking about getting favorable calls in a win over the Bucs (including the pass-interference one on TE Kellen Winslow that cost the Bucs a TD)

Talking Tebow

Though it was just one start, Florida legend Tim Tebow made quite an impression in Denver. The Broncos rookie quarterback didn't post eye-popping numbers (216 yards total and a 100.5 rating) at Oakland, but as Denver Post columnist Woody Paige wrote, "This could be the start of something big."

"Tim Tebow started … for the first time in his NFL career and proved he will be the Broncos' starter for a long time in this man's league. Those people who wondered if Tebow even belonged in the NFL will be quiet today. The kid is a QB-in-progress, but many people in the bay area were reminded at the dank tank of another left-handed quarterback who used to run wild and, occasionally, throw wild hereabouts. Steve Young made the Hall of Fame."

Nice gesture of the week

Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger has been a part of tons of wins in his 16-year coaching career. But after last week's victory over the Texans, coach Jeff Fisher awarded him his first game ball.

Considering Heimerdinger is battling cancer and undergoing chemotherapy — an illness revealed in late November — the little gesture meant a lot.

"I appreciate it," Heimerdinger told AOL Fanhouse. "It probably should have gone to our assistants. The whole staff did a great job in helping us get ready. But what a nice surprise.

"I took it home. It's on my mantel. But I've got to bring it back and get it painted up. Since I never had one before, I wasn't sure what to do with."

Milestone watch

The Cowboys' Jason Witten quietly moved up the ranks among the best at his position last week, becoming the fourth tight end in league history to reach 600 receptions. Witten, who now has 605, is the fastest to get there, needing only 125 games. By comparison, it took Tony Gonzalez 134, Shannon Sharpe 155 and Ozzie Newsome 160. "It's humbling for sure when you see those guys on that list," Witten told the Dallas Morning News. "It's a heck of an accomplishment, but I have a lot of great people around me … and was very fortunate to be able to do it because those are three great tight ends."

Information from Times wires and the NFL was used in this report.

Power rankings

1. Patriots

2. Falcons

3. ravens

4. eagles

5. steelers

6. saints

There was a time not too long ago when the Bears were afterthoughts in the NFC North. And their coach, Lovie Smith, was on the hot seat.

Heading into this season, the Packers were the popular pick to win the division and, potentially, the Super Bowl (full disclosure: They were my pick, too). If not Green Bay, maybe the Vikings would send QB Brett Favre out on top.

Instead, it is Smith and the Bears who put on the NFC North championship hats Monday night in Minnesota and are heading for their first playoff game since their Super Bowl run in the 2006 season."You assume you'll be back (in the playoffs) every year, but it doesn't work like that," Smith told the Chicago Tribune. "You realize how hard it is to get there."

But how far can they go? The Bears (10-4) might not have the MVP candidate, like Eagles QB Michael Vick or Patriots QB Tom Brady. They won't boast homefield advantage throughout the playoffs, like the Falcons probably will. But they do have a talented defense, one that former Bucs LB Derrick Brooks said on ESPN last week compares favorably to the unit on Tampa Bay's 2002 Super Bowl championship team.

The Bears have a shot, as Chicago Tribune columnist David Haugh points out, and are "back where they belong."

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