NFL Week 14: Tim Tebow and 8 Thoughts After This Weekend's Games

Week 14 is nearly over at this point, and it's starting to become a little repetitive to write the same things over and over.

Playoff predictions, evaluations and boldness have just become old.  Now, I've decided to go the route of just writing a pure opinion-based article.  Sure, there may still be some prediction and/or evaluation, but this isn't an article to pick the rest of the season.

With one more game still waiting to be played, here's what I'm thinking after 14 weeks of football.

Cincinnati Just Isn't Ready

Ever since the preseason began, I have backed the Cincinnati Bengals through thick and thin.  I wanted to believe rookie Andy Dalton and a solid defense would carry this team into the postseason.

Was it my being from Cincinnati?  Maybe.  Could it have been that I've been distraught after the Reds' disappointing baseball season and hoped the Bengals would rebound?  Possibly.  Or is it just that I'm a fan of the TCU Horned Frogs?  All are possibilities.

Still, after the game against Houston, I've finally accepted that the Bengals aren't ready for the big boys yet.  In fact, they just don't deserve it in 2011 after their collapse against Houston. 

The Cincinnati defense, which was so good all season long, fell apart against the young T.J. Yates in a much-needed home victory.  That has been the story of the last several games for the once-feared defense.

The secondary is in need of help, and the offense is in need of improvements at running back and the offensive line.  Having to win three consecutive games and get help just isn't good news for this young team.

In the years to come, A.J. Green and the Bengals should be a feared team in the AFC.  In 2011, the team shocked a lot of people, and that's just going to have to be good enough.

It Doesn't Matter Who the Texans' Quarterback Is—They Can Still Win

Say what you want about T.J. Yates, but the guy came out firing in Week 14.  He's now won both of his starts as a rookie and also won the first game he played in, a game in which he came on in relief of Matt Leinart.

On Sunday, Yates passed for 300 yards with a couple of touchdowns.  He also had six carries, including a 15-yard carry late in the game that really gave the offense its last burst of power.

Given that, I don't find him to be a guy who can lead a team through the playoffs—except that he plays for the Houston Texans.  He's got a tremendous receiving corps and the best running backs in the NFL.

Ben Tate and Arian Foster are good enough to get any team a victory, even by themselves.

Now, throw in the fact the defense has been lights out all year, even without Mario Williams.  No matter what seed the Texans get (they'd have the top seed if the playoffs started today), the AFC had better be on the watch for the Yates-led squad.

Raheem Morris Is Terrible

I may be a little hard on Raheem Morris, but he's the one bad coach in football that no one is talking about (OK, Marvin Lewis is also not that good).

However, Morris has almost single-handedly taken apart his own team.  This is a man who made some amazing calls last year and utilized his talented players to perfection.

Oh what a difference a year makes.  The Bucs fell to Jacksonville on Sunday in embarrassing fashion, falling to 4-9 on the year. 

Morris' play-calling is often questionable, his players usually look lost, and a lot of times it's hard to tell if he cares. 

He may have bought himself a little extra time based on his 2010 results, but Tampa Bay needs to consider taking a look at its coaching situation.

San Francisco Is Finally Showing Weakness

All year, I've had to listen to everyone discuss this "rebirth" of Alex Smith.  I have claimed all year that the guy has been efficient, but not very effective.

Smith has 15 touchdowns and five interceptions on the year, while throwing for 2,565 yards.  Through 14 games, the only intriguing stat is the five picks.

The running game isn't bad, but I don't consider Frank Gore to be a top-five running back anymore.

That being said, allow me to point out that the Cardinals beat down Smith on Sunday and got past the 49ers' tough defense for the win.  San Francisco losing to Dallas was expected (at the time—Week 2); losing to Baltimore was acceptable.

Losing to Arizona?  Call it a fluke if you want, but I don't see it that way. 

Jim Harbaugh has done a great job and has beat some great teams, no doubt—that's all on him, though.  The problem is, it can't always all be on the coach.  Harbaugh is a genius, but he's playing with a very average quarterback and even that's stretching it.  Add on that he has an aging running back, and this offense suddenly isn't going to be so mighty against New Orleans and Green Bay.

Division champs or not, the 49ers have weaknesses, and Arizona exposed them.

John Skelton Is Better Than Kevin Kolb

OK, so the title of this slide makes John Skelton sound better than he actually is.  The truth is, he would never start on most teams, but he can start in Arizona because Kevin Kolb is actually just as bad as I always thought he was.

Skelton is now 4-1 as a starter in 2011, outdoing Kolb's win total of three.  It's true Skelton has had a couple of ugly games, but he was epic in the Cardinals' Week 14 victory over San Francisco.

Skelton, while not being as patient in the pocket as Kolb, makes better and smarter passes. 

This is not to hype up either guy.  They're both not great quarterbacks, but you got to go with who's winning, and that's Skelton all the way.

Jake Locker Is Going to Be a Great Quarterback

Boy did Jake Locker look good against the New Orleans Saints.  He came off the bench firing and nearly led the Titans to what would've been a monstrous victory over one of the league's best offenses.

While Locker is completing less than 50 percent of his passes, that can't take away from what he's done.

First of all, in his minimal experience, he's thrown no interceptions—always a good thing.  He's thrown three touchdowns and also ran for one Sunday.  Locker showed great poise in the pocket, besides being a little quick to zip the ball into tight spaces.

It's true, there are some rookie growing pains that he'll fix over time.  However, he threw for 282 yards in Week 14 and 140 yards three weeks ago against Atlanta, and he's got a subpar receiving corps!

Imagine what will happen when he gets Kenny Britt back.

Here Comes San Diego! Just Way Too Late

We're seeing again just how much Philip Rivers likes December.  In two December games in 2011, he's thrown for six touchdowns and no interceptions.

The running game is alive and well with Mike Tolbert and Ryan Mathews, the receivers are healthy, and the defense is clicking on all cylinders.

Too bad it's all happening after a six-game losing streak that has doomed the Bolts.

San Diego is now 6-7 and an absolute long shot to win the AFC West.  It's possible, but it would need Tim Tebow and the Broncos to lose out (more on that later).  The Chargers would also have to win out.

I know that's a story we've all heard before a few years ago, but it won't happen in 2011.  The Chargers have gotten good just in time to get all of us saying, "Wow, they'll be great next year!" one more time.

Tim Tebow Is a Winner

Week by week, I continue to be absolutely stunned by what takes place before my eyes.  Tim Tebow and the once-lowly Denver Broncos are now a full game ahead of the Oakland Raiders atop the AFC West.

Tebow isn't the traditional quarterback—he had 12 carries Sunday against the Chicago Bears.  He won't usually get it done through the air, but he will get it done.

He's now 7-1 as a starter and has the entire league in disbelief.  The Broncos were once a laughing stock, but they're now a force to be reckoned with. 

Experts told Tebow he couldn't play in the NFL with a collegiate-style option offense.  He's doing it, and he's doing it perfectly.  Denver is the best in the league in terms of rushing yards per game, and Tebow is a big part of that.

Against Chicago, he also had 236 yards of passing—not a bad day for a guy who can't throw well.

The league has been put on notice: Tebow has arrived and he wants a Super Bowl.