Bears vs. Broncos: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Radio, Game Time and More

One of the biggest inter-conference matchups of the week takes place in the Mile High City when the Denver Broncos host the Chicago Bears. Both teams have been surprises this season, but appear headed in opposite directions

The Bears were riding high three weeks ago. They had just won five straight games and looked like the second-best team in the NFC. Unfortunately, Jay Cutler suffered a broken finger against the Chargers and is out for the season.

Then, last week, Matt Forte goes down with a knee injury, and the team’s playoff hopes likely went down with him.

The Broncos are the hottest team in the AFC with five straight wins. They aren’t always pretty or easy to watch, but at the end of the day, they are getting the job done. Tim Tebow is getting all the headlines, but the defense and running game, and an easy schedule, have been critical to the turnaround.

Where: Sports Authority Field in Denver, Colorado

When: Sunday, Dec. 11 at 4:05 p.m. EDT

Watch: FOX

Listen: WBBM 780 AM and 105.9 FM, Sirius Channel 94 (Chicago); 850 KOA, KJMN 92.1, KMXA 1090, Sirius Channel 93 (Denver)

Betting Line: Denver (-3.5)

What’s At Stake?

The Bears are desperate for a win right now. Two straight losses have put a damper on their postseason hopes, though they are still in control of their destiny if they win out. With three other teams fighting with them for the last two spots, each week becomes that much more critical.

The Broncos have battled back from a 2-5 start to tie the Raiders for the AFC West lead. They are doing it with solid defensive play, a great running game and Tim Tebow. Their schedule works out well for them winning this division, and the only “hard” game they have left is against New England next week. A 10-6 record is very much attainable for them.

Bears Injury Report

Out: RB Matt Forte (Knee), QB Jay Cutler (Finger)

Questionable: DE Julius Peppers 

Probable: WR Devin Hester (Shin Splints)

Broncos Injury Report

Out: WR Eddie Royal (Concussion)

Questionable: LB Von Miller (Thumb)

Probable: RB Willis McGahee (Illness)

Fantasy Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em, Sleeper

Start ‘Em: Broncos RB Willis McGahee

Quite honestly, with Cutler and Forte out, the only two starting options for fantasy owners in this game are McGahee and Tebow.

McGahee gets the nod here because he has been so good all season long and has really caught fire in the last two weeks. He has run for over 100 yards in each of the previous two games and appears to be getting stronger at a time when most running backs wear down.

He is going to be the focal point of the offense as long as Tebow is playing quarterback, so expect another game with at least 20 carries and 100 yards.

Sit ‘Em: Bears RB Marion Barber

I think that the best way to describe Barber to someone who has never seen him play is that he tries really hard, but ultimately, he just isn’t that good.

Barber was once a feared running back because he was a physical presence, but those days are long gone. Now, he just runs into tacklers and is unable to actually get out of their clutches.

He is being given the starting job with Forte out, so fantasy owners are going to be tempted to start him. You need to fight that urge because it is not going to pay off.  Expect a stat line of 50 yards on 15 carries with no touchdowns.

Sleeper: Bears WR Johnny Knox

It is dangerous to bank on any Bears receiver right now, but if you were to take a chance on one, it should be Knox. He is averaging over 20 yards per reception this year and has been the big play threat that they need.

When Cutler went down, Knox’s value took a huge hit. But Caleb Hanie has to have someone to throw to when he drops back, and Knox did have 145 yards against the Raiders in Week 12.

The Bears offense is going to be bad for the rest of the season, but Knox should have plenty of chances to make something happen.

What They Are Saying

Arnie Stapleton of the Denver Post wrote an article in which he talked to a number of quarterbacks who were labeled scramblers, a la Tim Tebow, to get their perspective on what it means and how it feels. 

Former Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann said that he is going to enjoy what Tebow is doing right now rather than criticize what he isn't doing. 

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"You've got Aaron Rodgers, you've got Drew Brees, you've got Tom Brady that set a standard of excellence in football that we haven't seen," said Theismann. "What makes 2011 so unique is we have seen quarterback play in this league at such a high extreme and in Tim's case, the bottom rung when it comes to completions."

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Bears Player To Watch: RB Marion Barber

Filling the shoes of Matt Forte can’t be easy, but it is the task sitting right in front of Barber now and for the foreseeable future.

The Bears are a run-first team, so Barber will have to step up his game and be the player that he was in 2006-07, when he averaged nearly five yards per carry.

It is not an ideal situation, but one that Barber could thrive in if he decides to run away from contact instead of right towards it.

Broncos Player To Watch: QB Tim Tebow

What else is left to say about Tebow that already hasn’t been?

I was impressed with his throwing last week, though he obviously still has a long way to go before being the kind of quarterback that you can put on your back.

The Broncos are winning with Tebow starting, but I want to see him continue to evolve into more than just an option quarterback as the regular season comes to a close and the postseason, assuming they get in, starts.

Key Matchup: Marion Barber and Caleb Hanie vs. Broncos Defensive Line

The Bears offense was led by Jay Cutler and Matt Forte. With them out, everything is up in the air, and there has been very little to get excited about the last two weeks.

Marion Barber and Caleb Hanie have to be at least average players at their respective positions in order for this team to have a chance to win this game.

The Broncos defense has played better lately, and the defensive line has been much improved from last season. Von Miller is a star in the making and has the potential to take over a game on his own. If they can dominate the Bears suspect offensive line, this will get ugly early.

Prediction

I feel bad for the Bears because they had high hopes three weeks ago. Now, they will be staring a three-game losing streak right in the face.

Broncos 24, Bears 10