NFL Playoff Picture: 10 Things We'll Know for Sure by End of Week 15

The NFL playoff picture just got better or a hell of a lot more muddled.

Teams moved closer to clinching, gaining a first-round bye and having star players rest during the last week of the season.

Some teams, however, became a puddle of melted Jello, and then there are those who are on the outside looking in, praying to Santa and anyone who will listen for help in reaching their destiny.

There are still two weeks left and while teams with losing records are playing for pride and draft positions, there are some who have to answer questions about injuries and whether they can gain strength moving toward the postseason or will limp in only to fall as soon as they play their first playoff game.

Here are some things we already know.

10. Even with the Loss, Tim Tebow Is Getting Better

He has played the best football of his pro career over the last three games.

Tebow is now winning John Elway over, which is a good thing.

If they win this week, they should find a way into the playoffs.

Then, who knows what happens?

9. Green Bay May Have Some Issues Once They Get into the Postseason

But everyone else could as well.

It is amazing how we all talked about how this was a team of destiny two weeks ago. But now, there are "issues" on defense, at receiver and on the offensive line.

I am sure those "issues" will be forgotten if the Packers win huge this week.

8. Pittsburgh Needs Ben Roethlisberger To Be Healthy

Pittsburgh lost to San Francisco Monday night with a banged-up quarterback who seems to overcome injuries every season.

Since they are a lock to be in the postseason, they need to shut Big Ben down this week against St. Louis and concentrate on Cleveland and then the postseason.

Before Monday night, Pittsburgh was the top seed in the AFC and controlled its own destiny.

Now, they are fighting to be the top seed.

Stay tuned.

7. San Diego Is Hot Again in December

This team always finds a way to make things interesting in the last month of the season.

Philip Rivers has found his mojo.

Norv Turner's offense is moving forward and the talk about both Turner and general manger AJ Smith being fired have died down.

Looks like a playoff run.

6. Matt Ryan and the Falcons Receivers Are Red-Hot

Ryan was a machine against the Jaguars, finding receivers throughout the game as if it were sandlot football.

But Ryan, Julio Jones and Roddy White are peaking at the right time and could be the sleeper team heading into the playoffs.

They look to be the Packers of last season.

5. The Baltimore Ravens Are Starting To Look Like an Old Football Team

Despite their record, the defense took a beating against the Chargers.

Can this mean the defense that has been the stalwart of the team for the last decade is starting to slow down?

Ray Lewis has been slowed by injuries and they looked average against a strong-armed Philip Rivers.

And of course, Joe Flacco needs more consistency to help the Ravens get to the Super Bowl.

4. Caleb Hanie Is Not the Answer for the Bears at Quarterback

With their injuries at receiver and running back, Chicago looks like it may really have needed Kyle Orton this past week.

And they still may need him.

Caleb Hanie is not the man to lead this team to the postseason. Isn't it ironic that he filled in for Jay Cutler in the NFC Championship game and now is looking to lead the team into the playoffs if certain teams fall in the final two weeks?

The Bears needed a solid veteran to lead them to the promised land.

3. Seattle Got Too Hot Too Late

Pete Carroll has done a pretty good job corralling this team.

The running of Marshawn Lynch has been dynamic and the defense has stepped up.

Could the play at quarterback be the only thing that kept this team from the postseason?

2. The Missed Field Goal Will Cost Oakland a Playoff Berth

While the field-goal miss by Sebastian Janikowski will help Detroit get into the playoffs, it will cost Oakland the postseason.

Denver is still in the driver's seat, San Diego is playing better and the Raiders are the third-best team in that division right now.

Even if Carson Palmer is playing better and the receivers are heating up, the loss to Detroit will be the downfall of this team.

1. Drew Brees Is a Scoring Machine

While other players are getting all this mention for MVP, Drew Brees is tearing up the record books and chasing Dan Marino.

The Saints are very much a Super Bowl contender.

At the beginning of the season, I picked New Orleans and New England to play in the NFL's last game.

My prediction looks pretty good right now, but a lot has to happen.

But with Brees leading this offense, anything can happen.