FootballDiehards€¦ · Web viewDallas last did that in the first four games of 2007, finishing...

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FLASHUPDATE WEEK WILDCARD WEEKEND TEAM NOTES/Wednesday, 31 December, 2014Compiled By FlashUpdate Editor Bob Harris

=========================ARIZONA CARDINALSThe Cardinals were able to generate some offense in their regular-season finale and can breathe a bit easier if Ryan Lindley is their quarterback in their playoff opener.

But as Associated Press sports writer Bob Baum noted, the defense, once the backbone of the team, is coming off its two worst performances of the season.

Those games came against athletic, mobile quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick -- and Arizona faces another one in Cam Newton when the Cardinals play at Carolina in a wild card game on Saturday.

''He presents different problems than Colin and Russell,'' head coach Bruce Arians said Monday. ''He's more of a combination of both those guys. He can really throw the football extremely well from the pocket. It presents a multitude of problems for us.''

Lindley toss his first two NFL touchdowns but was intercepted three times in the Cardinals' 20-17 loss at San Francisco.

At least publicly, the Cardinals still hold out hope that Drew Stanton will be back this week. He has missed the last two games with a sprained right knee and had it scoped last to relieve swelling. ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported that doctors found an infection during the procedure, putting the rest of the season in doubt for Stanton.

On Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, Arians said he didn’t think the procedure mattered in relation to Stanton’s recovery.

“It’s still going to be down to the wire,” Arians said. “Mentally, he’ll be ready to go.”

I'll follow up as needed in the News & Views section of the site in coming days, but nobody should expect Stanton to be ready.

http://www.footballdiehards.com/newsmain.cfm

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Assuming Stanton can’t play in the postseason, Arizona will stick with Lindley, who had showed marked improvement Sunday against the 49ers.

Arians said he saw improvement in ''a little bit of everything.''

The coach added: “Obviously, we’re all much more comfortable with Ryan after his performance today. And we look forward to the challenge. Ryan was very cool [in the loss to Seattle], and I thought he was extremely poised, [and] knew the game plan today. And all that situation that happened Wednesday was my fault. I should’ve just kept my mouth shut.”

In case you missed it, Arians benched Lindley after the Seattle game, only to watch Logan Thomas apparently author what Arizona Republic columnist Dan Bickley characterized as "a perfectly awful practice session" last Wednesday. It was bad enough to prompt Arians to switch back to Lindley on Thursday.

It's safe to say the coach was pleased with the outcome.

''The command of it, where he was going with the ball and Mike [Floyd] made some plays for him, which we didn't do in the other game, which we had chances to,'' Arians said. ''It's just a matter of continuing to grow.''

Indeed, as ESPN.com's Josh Weinfuss put it, "The Ryan Lindley who showed up in San Francisco wasn't the same Ryan Lindley in Seattle."

He looked calm, poised and comfortable despite throwing three interceptions in just his sixth career start. But he threw for a career-high 316 yards in addition to those two touchdowns, snapping an NFL record for pass attempts without a score on his 229th career throw.

On throws 20 yards or shorter in the air, he was 21-for-33 passing (63.6 percent) for 248 yards despite a touchdown and two interceptions against the Niners, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The Cardinals kept his plays short, and he flourished.

But on passes of 21 yards or longer, Lindley struggled, connecting on just 2 of 6. When he was blitzed, Lindley handled the rush well. He faced the 49ers' blitz 11 times while completing nine of his passes. He threw both touchdowns against the blitz.

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It would help if the run game continued to produce. Arizona ran for 98 yards on 25 carries against San Francisco. As the Sports Xchange notes, however, what the Cardinals lacked was the long run. Their biggest gain was 11 yards.

In general, the team needs to regain momentum.

After a 9-1 start, the Cardinals lost four of their final six games.

A litany of injuries finally caught up with the team after Stanton, who had been Carson Palmer's backup, was injured. That left the job to Lindley, who was released by Arizona at the end of preseason then re-signed off the San Diego practice squad.

The offense's problems, then, were predictable.

The defense's weren't.

In the last two games, the Cardinals allowed 596 yards against Seattle and 395 to San Francisco. Wilson ran for 88 yards in six carries, Kaepernick 63 yards in seven attempts.

Arizona, among the league leaders in run defense most of the season, allowed 267 yards on the ground against the Seahawks and 206 against the 49ers.

''It's just because of tackling,'' Arians said. ''Guys missing tackles.''

But the pass defense had problems, too.

After the game on Sunday, cornerback Patrick Peterson said the defense ''can't win like that.''

''As a defense, we can't give up big plays as we did today,'' he said. ''We can't have those mistakes next week, because everything is on the line. It's win or go home.''

Through most of the season, Arizona was among the league leaders in takeaways. They haven't had any the last two weeks.

But now is the time when the Cardinals most need a dominating defense. With Lindley at quarterback, it's important that the defense force turnovers and the special teams make big plays.

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Arians said Arizona will have inside linebacker Larry Foote back. The 13-year NFL veteran missed Sunday's game with a sore knee. Before that, he had played on all but two snaps for the Cardinals' defense all season.

''There's no doubt we missed him out there,'' Arians said. ''... the spirit that he brings. When a big play happens, it's not woe is me, he's getting in somebody's face.''

The coach was asked if his team simply is not peaking at the right time.

''I would think you'd say that,'' he said. ''But I don't think there's any concern, because we're in the playoffs and it doesn't matter.''

Other notes of interest. ... According to Weinfuss, "this was the Michael Floyd the Cardinals expected to see all the season."

This was supposed to be Floyd’s breakout season. He was supposed to show the Cardinals’ that he was their No. 1 receiver, taking that reign from Larry Fitzgerald. After the first three weeks, he was, having games of 119 and 114 yards in Weeks 1 and 3, respectively. Then Floyd all but disappeared until Sunday afternoon in Silicon Valley.

He had season highs in targets (12), receptions (eight) and yards (153), and tied a season high in touchdowns (two).

"That’s the way he’s supposed to play," Arians said. "He made some great ones today."

He did. Just in time to help not a single fantasy owner in the land. ... That said, he did give some hope to value hunters next summer.

On last note here. ... Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles is a hot name in this year's coaching carousel. However, candidates from playoff teams aren't allowed to interview for other positions unless they have a bye week. Once the Cardinals are eliminated from playoff contention, or win the Super Bowl, he'll be eligible to interview with other clubs. The 49ers, Falcons and Jets are all interested. Much could depend on how long they have to wait to talk to him.

DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 00:00 CT QB: Ryan Lindley, Logan Thomas, Drew Stanton

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RB: Stepfan Taylor, Kerwynn Williams, Marion Grice FB: Robert Hughes WR: Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd, John Brown, Jaron Brown, Ted Ginn, Brittan Golden TE: Darren Fells, John Carlson, Robert Housler PK: Chandler Catanzaro =========================

=========================BALTIMORE RAVENSAs Associated Press sports writer David Ginsburg put it, "As a reward for squeezing into the playoffs on the final day of the regular season, the Baltimore Ravens face a loathsome foe in a very unfriendly environment.

"Baltimore's contentious rivalry with the Pittsburgh Steelers resumes Saturday night at Heinz Field, where the Ravens have experienced nothing but agony during the postseason. ..."

Pittsburgh and Baltimore met in the playoffs in 2002, 2009 and 2011. The Steelers won each time.

And now, here we go again.

''It's a great challenge,'' head coach John Harbaugh said Monday. ''It's another playoff game there. We'd like to win one, one of these days.''

Pittsburgh and Baltimore have already played twice this season, with each AFC North team winning by 20 points at home. Including the playoffs, the Steelers lead the series 24-17.

''We love this rivalry, we love being a part of it,'' Harbaugh said, ''and I believe they feel the same way.''

Asked what stands out most, Harbaugh replied, ''The physicality, first of all, and the intensity. Every play, whether it's a playoff game or not, is played at that level.''

Baltimore (10-6) finished third in the division behind Pittsburgh (11-5) and needed some help Sunday just to qualify as the sixth seed. A combination of the Ravens' 20-10 win over Cleveland and San Diego's 19-7 loss to Kansas City provided Baltimore a return to the postseason after last year's 8-8 disappointment.

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Harbaugh sent a thank-you text to Chiefs coach Andy Reid, his former boss in Philadelphia.

''I promised Andy dinner, and he responded very favorably to that,'' Harbaugh said. ''It probably won't be cheap.''

The Ravens stumbled in Houston before rallying to defeat the Browns, so it's not as if they're entering the playoffs with a full head of steam. But here they are, and they figure they've got as good a chance as anyone to advance to the Super Bowl.

''It's all equal now,'' Harbaugh said.

''All you've got to do is win all your games,'' Suggs said. ''If you ask me, I think we're a (heck) of a team on the road. Sometimes, that's the way you've got to go. But everything's 0-0, all things are new, and we've gotten to the second season.''

Two years ago, Baltimore needed to win at Denver and New England to advance to the Super Bowl. That is exactly what happened.

So, why not now?

''I think that we're battle-tested and we've been through a lot,'' guard Marshal Yanda said. ''We're ready to roll.''

Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata returns from a four-game suspension for using the amphetamine Adderall. But Baltimore might be without rookie defensive lineman Timmy Jernigan, who hurt his left foot against Cleveland.

That will be sorted out this week. Regardless, after enduring the suspension and subsequent release of Ray Rice, the Ngata suspension and injuries to more than a dozen key players, Baltimore made it to the postseason for the sixth time in seven years under Harbaugh.

''It says a lot about the organization,'' the coach said. ''I feel really happy for the guys who have a chance to play after what we've been through this year. I'm happy for them and proud of them and excited for the opportunity to walk with them through this next challenge. ...''

Other notes of interest. ... According to ESPN.com's Jamison Hensley, Joe Flacco put together the best fourth quarter of his career against Cleveland,

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completing 8 of 9 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns. It marked his 21st game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime.

It was a strange game for Flacco because he struggled for the first three quarters. He had completed 14 of 27 passes for 151 yards entering the fourth quarter.

So what changed? The Browns stopped sending pressure.

The Browns blitzed Flacco only once in the fourth quarter after doing it more than one-third of the time in the first three quarters, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Flacco went from completing 51 percent of his passes in the first three quarters to throwing one incompletion in the fourth quarter.

Hensley was quick to note that Flacco can expect more pressure Saturday.

In two meetings, the Steelers blitzed Flacco on 38 of his 55 dropbacks (69 percent), according to ESPN Stats & Information.

There was little time for Flacco to throw in the previous meeting with the Steelers. He was sacked four times and hit a total of eight times. It's going to be a challenge for the Ravens to protect Flacco if they're without both starting tackles -- Eugene Monroe was inactive Sunday with an ankle injury and Rick Wagner was placed on injured reserve last week.

When Flacco has been sacked multiple times, the Ravens are 0-4 this season.

As always, a successful rushing attack would help mitigate that.

The Browns had the league's worst run defense, allowing 142.4 yards per game, and that trend continued against the Ravens, who ran for 129 yards on 28 carries. Justin Forsett had 119 yards on 17 carries and finished with a career-best 1,266 yards. That 119-yard effort ended a two-game slump for Forsett, who will need to continue running well in this one. ...

Harbaugh said on Monday that Monroe has a 50-50 chance to play in against the Steelers. ...

Meanwhile, Hensley also suggested, with Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell hurting his right knee Sunday night, the Ravens will put all of their attention into slowing down quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

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Of course, that's easier said than done with a Ravens' secondary that has started seven cornerbacks and four safeties this season. It was nine weeks ago when Roethlisberger ripped apart the depleted Ravens for six touchdowns, which surpassed his total in the previous five meetings with the Ravens (five touchdowns).

In that game, the Ravens allowed touchdown passes of five, 19, 47, 54, 18 and 33 yards. ...

One last note here. ... ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Jets requested to interview offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak for their head-coaching vacancy. Kubiak won't be available to interview until the Ravens are eliminated from the playoffs.

DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 00:00 CT QB: Joe Flacco, Tyrod Taylor RB: Justin Forsett, Fitzgerald Toussaint, Bernard Pierce FB: Kyle Juszczyk WR: Torrey Smith, Steve Smith, Kamar Aiken, Marlon Brown, Jacoby Jones, Michael Campanaro TE: Owen Daniels, Crockett Gillmore, Phillip Supernaw PK: Justin Tucker =========================

=========================CAROLINA PANTHERSAs ESPN.com's David Newton pointed out this week, Cam Newton is playing at a high level as the Panthers enter the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

But to be remembered as a top quarterback you have to play at a high level in the playoffs.

Newton hasn’t done that.

For him to prove he’s worthy of a long-term deal – if he hasn’t already with a 14-3 career record in December – he needs to win in the playoffs. Otherwise, he’ll fall into the category of Cincinnati’s Andy Dalton, who is 0-3 in the postseason.

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Newton is 0-1 in the playoffs heading into Saturday’s 4:35 p.m. game against the Arizona Cardinals at Bank of America Stadium. If he goes to 0-2 the critics will question whether he’s good enough to get Carolina (7-8-1) to the next level.

It’s the same for head coach Ron Rivera. He and Newton have been linked since the Panthers used the top pick of the 2011 draft on the Heisman Trophy quarterback from Auburn.

There were rumblings when they didn’t make the playoffs the first two seasons.

There will be more if they don’t win on Saturday.

“Until we can do that, I think there’s always going to be the doubters that say, ‘Well, you can only get them that far as a coach.’ ’’ Rivera said on Monday. “Or, ‘You can only get them that far as a quarterback.’ Or, ‘You can only get them that far as a middle linebacker.’

“I don’t want to be the guy that can only get them that far. I’d love to see us obviously go all the way, but we’ve got to take it one game at a time, and the next step, obviously, would be to win a playoff game.’’

It wasn’t that Newton wasn’t good enough to win a playoff game last season when the Panthers fell 23-10 to San Francisco in a divisional game at BOA. It was the team wasn’t good enough.

Newton didn’t help. He threw two interceptions and was sacked five times around completing 16 of 25 passes for 267 yards and one touchdown.

“He made plays, but he missed plays,’’ Rivera said. “We made plays, and we missed plays. It just wasn’t him. There were some opportunities we had as far as making catches, making throws, making blocks, making tackles.

“You have those opportunities, you’ve got to make those plays.’’

Newton has been making plays lately in a season hampered by injuries -- fractured ribs in the preseason and broken bones in his back from a car crash two weeks ago.

He’s had a passer rating of more than 100 in two of his last three starts. He completed 10 of 16 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown and rushed six times

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for 51 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s 34-3 victory at Atlanta that clinched the NFC South title for the second consecutive season.

He’s doing little things that he wasn’t doing earlier in the season, such as audibling out of a run in the first quarter and throwing a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Ed Dickson.

“The biggest thing is just keep playing,’’ offensive coordinator Mike Shula said. “Just keep doing what we’ve been doing. We’re not going to sit there in our team meeting tomorrow and say, ‘We’ve got to take the next step.’ It’s like saying, ‘Hey, don’t fumble.’ ’’

But for Newton to join the elite status that he openly admits he wants to achieve, to have his name mentioned in the same breath as Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, winning playoff games is the next step.

The step after that is winning a Super Bowl.

It’s what ultimately will define Newton in the NFL the way winning a national championship defined his college career. It could be what leads the organization to commit more than $100 million over six years.

“It’s really the next step for all of us,’’ Shula said. “It’s that time of year now where you’ve got to play four solid quarters of football.’’

Fullback Mike Tolbert was playing the role of reporter for the team television network and interviewing running back Jonathan Stewart, who summed up what many in the locker room felt after the win over Atlanta.

"We repeated as NFC South champions," Stewart said. "But we aren't going to repeat what we did last year. ..."

Worth noting. ... The Cardinals were one of the hottest teams through the first three-quarters of the season until being hit hard with injuries at quarterback. They enter the playoffs with four losses in their final six games. The Panthers finished as one of the hottest teams in the NFL, winning their final four games.

As David Newton put it, "If you're a believer in momentum, the Panthers have the edge."

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They also have an edge in this series with an 8-5 advantage, although the Cardinals have won the past two, including a 22-6 victory in Arizona last season. ...

Other notes of interest. ... Kelvin Benjamin added two more drops Sunday to take his total to 11 for the season.

Still, the Panthers aren't sweating the rookie receiver's drops.

"He'll be fine," Shula told the Charlotte Observer. "... I think of Cam having a receiver open and he just overthrows him. Do I get disappointed about it? No. Am I concerned about it? No. Just working on it and getting ready to play the next week."

Rivera echoed those thoughts saying he'd like to see Benjamin make those catches, but the team isn't going to stop using its most dynamic receiving target.

Benjamin's 11 drops are tied for the second-most in the NFL this season and his drop rate of 13.1 percent is third highest, per Pro Football Focus.

The rookie is likely to see a matchup against cornerback Patrick Peterson this weekend. Going against one NFL's best corners will likely mean Benjamin needs to be ready to make catches in tight spaces.

The Panthers can't afford a big drop in a key spot in the playoffs, but they aren't going to worry about that happening either. ...

Since undrafted rookie Philly Brown has given the Panthers more speed at wide receiver, the offense has been more efficient in keeping opponents off balance. Brown had a 28-yard catch and a reverse in the first half. He added a 13-yard reverse in the third quarter. ...

Tight end Greg Olsen has been the most consistent player on an inconsistent team. He led the Panthers in catches with 84 for 1,008 yards and six touchdowns. He personified what this team wanted to be all season. ...

Dickson scored his first touchdown since Dec. 8, 2013, when he was with the Ravens.

On the injury front, DeAngelo Williams missed his fourth straight game with a broken bone in his hand. He is expected to be ready for Saturday's playoff game, but Stewart will continue to start.

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And finally. ... The Panthers have been one of the more effective defenses in the NFL the past four games, holding opposing quarterbacks to a 22.1 rating. According to ESPN Stats & Information, only two teams have held quarterbacks to a worse rating.

It begins with pressure. The Panthers sacked Atlanta’s Matt Ryan six times in securing the NFC South title.

Ryan finished with a quarterback rating of 15.3.

Cardinals quarterback Ryan Lindley has a quarterback rating of 37.8 this season. That ranks 36th out of 45 players with at least 100 action plays.

DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 00:00 CT QB: Cam Newton, Derek Anderson, Joe Webb RB: Jonathan Stewart, DeAngelo Williams, Fozzy Whittaker FB: Mike Tolbert WR: Kelvin Benjamin, Philly Brown, Jerricho Cotchery, Brenton Bersin TE: Greg Olsen, Ed Dickson, Brandon Williams PK: Graham Gano =========================

=========================CINCINNATI BENGALSAs Associated Press sports writer Joe Kay framed it, "With another horrid performance in prime time, the Bengals let it slip away. ..."

The defending AFC North champions surrendered their title - and the chance for a home playoff game - on Sunday night. Pittsburgh came away with the division championship by beating the bumbling Bengals 27-17 at Heinz Field.

Cincinnati (10-5-1) had to settle for a wild-card berth after leading the division most of the season. The Bengals will play at Indianapolis (11-5) on Sunday in the first round.

It was a huge disappointment for a team that hasn't won a playoff game since the 1990 season and has been at its worst in the biggest games, such as the one on Sunday night.

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Andy Dalton threw two more interceptions, and the defense allowed Ben Roethlisberger plenty of time to throw - two very bad signs heading into the postseason.

''So last night was kind of a warm-up,'' offensive coordinator Hue Jackson said on Monday. ''We kind of didn't pass that test. But that one didn't count for what this one will count for, so we're lucky that way. But onto the next.''

Up next is a familiar foe that provided some of the Bengals' worst moments of the season.

Cincinnati went to Indianapolis on Oct. 19 and lost 27-0, the first time in five years that the Bengals were shut out. They didn't even cross midfield until the fourth quarter and finished with 135 total yards.

Receiver A.J. Green was sidelined for the game with an injured big right toe, and rookie Jeremy Hill hadn't yet been promoted to a starting job, so the Bengals will be a bit different in the rematch.

''Oh, there's a much different mindset,'' Jackson said. ''And there should be. There should be a mindset that has some confidence.''

The Bengals have been knocked out of the playoffs in the first round each of the past three seasons, with Dalton playing some of his worst games. It's contributed to one of the worst stretches of playoff futility in NFL history.

Cincinnati's 23-year stretch without a playoff win is tied for sixth-longest in league history. Marvin Lewis is 0-5 in the playoffs; a loss on Sunday would tie him with Marty Schottenheimer, Jim Mora and Steve Owen for most consecutive coaching losses in the playoffs.

A loss also would leave Lewis tied with Mora for most consecutive playoff losses to start a career.

And then there's Dalton, whose 0-3 mark in the playoffs leaves him one shy of tying Warren Moon for most consecutive opening-round losses. He's thrown for one touchdown and six interceptions in the postseason with a passer rating of 56.2.

''No, we don't feel any more pressure,'' Dalton said on Monday. ''We understand what we're trying to accomplish. It's something that ever since I got here we've

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been trying to do. We've got a good test this week and a good opportunity to go get our first (playoff) win.''

The Bengals also have never won a playoff game on the road in their history.

Even after a first-round loss at home to San Diego last season, Lewis got an extra year added to his contract, which runs through 2015. And Dalton got a six-year deal in the offseason as well, so he's likely to be around again, regardless of what happens in Indianapolis.

With so much focus on just getting one playoff win, Lewis is talking about a bigger picture - winning a Super Bowl, which the Bengals have never accomplished. They're 0-2 in title games.

''In my mind, there's a bigger one than this one,'' Lewis said. ...

Remember, Green is being evaluated for a concussion after a hard hit knocked him out of the game on Sunday. It's unclear whether he'll be available to practice later in the week or to play on Sunday. ... Those interested will want to watch the News & Views section of the site for more in coming days. ...

The same goes for tight end Jermaine Gresham came out of the game twice in the first half with a back issue and was deemed questionable to return after his second exit from the game. He was able to make it back and score a fourth-quarter touchdown to bring his team within three points, though as CBSSports.com noted, he appeared to be shaken up on the play.

Cedric Peerman left Sunday's game with a concussion. He's a key special teams producer, but not a viable fantasy threat. ...

Other notes of interest. ... As ESPN.com's Coley Harvey noted, prior to Sunday's game, Dalton had been pressured on approximately 23 percent of his dropbacks this season. The Steelers bucked that trend, though, getting to him on 37 percent (16 out of 43) of his dropbacks in the game.

With two interceptions to go along with his two touchdowns, he finished with a minus-0.2 passing grade from Pro Football Focus.

On passes that traveled 20 yards or more in the air this season, Dalton had an accuracy percentage of 33.3, according to PFF. That was enough to tie him at 29th among 38 qualifying quarterbacks.


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Hill forced three missed tackles and collected 59 yards after contact. He rushed for 100 overall. As well as he may have ran the ball, Hill wasn't as effective in the pass-blocking game. He allowed one hurry and a sack on three pass-block attempts.

Hill became the first Bengals back to run for 100 yards against Pittsburgh since Rudi Johnson did in 2004.

Targeted seven times, fellow running back Giovani Bernard caught all seven passes for 56 yards.

Of those catches, he forced three missed tackles and had a touchdown. He only ran the ball three times, gaining eight yards. Bernard scored on a 17-yard reception Sunday night, giving him four touchdowns in three prime-time games against Pittsburgh. Seven of his 15 career TDs have come in his six career prime-time games.

Mike Nugent saw his streak of 15 consecutive made field goals end Sunday night when he was wide right on a 50-yard attempt.

DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 00:00 CT QB: Andy Dalton, Jason Campbell, AJ McCarron RB: Jeremy Hill, Giovani Bernard, Rex Burkhead, Cedric Peerman WR: A.J. Green, Mohamed Sanu, Brandon Tate, Dane Sanzenbacher, James Wright, Greg Little TE: Jermaine Gresham, Ryan Hewitt, Tyler Eifert PK: Mike Nugent =========================

=========================DALLAS COWBOYSTony Romo took all but one snap for a regular-season finale that had little chance of meaning anything for the playoff-bound Cowboys.

DeMarco Murray got his 20th carry late in the fourth quarter with a 10-point lead, not long after Dez Bryant made his final catch of the day.

Sure enough, a 44-17 win over Washington didn't change Dallas' postseason position. Not that head coach Jason Garrett cares.

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''We have been playing well as a football team the last few weeks and that's certainly an important part of it,'' Garrett said. ''But I think as much as anything else is to take advantage of an opportunity to get better as a football team. Guys embraced the opportunity to play. I think we saw that in the spirit and demeanor we played with.''

As Associated Press sports writer Schuyler Dixon noted, the team that couldn't win big games in December went 4-0 this time, zooming past Philadelphia to win the NFC East and earning a first-round home game against Detroit (11-5) on Sunday.

Now the question is whether keeping to the routine over resting Romo's surgically repaired back will make a difference against the Lions, or if matters that Murray missed a chance to ease up at the end of by far the NFL rushing leader's busiest season as a pro.

According to Dixon, two things have already broken the Cowboys' way.

They got a Sunday playoff slot - and extra day for Romo after even he admitted that the much shorter Thanksgiving week was a problem. And Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who figured to be the most important player in trying to control Murray, will play against the Cowboys after winning his appeal that means he will not be suspended for stepping on Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers' leg Sunday.

Needless to say, players were on board with Garrett's plan to play to win.

''I think everybody was serious and just to hear that come out of his mouth, it motivated us even more,'' Bryant said. ''We know what we have to do and we did exactly what we wanted to do. We just have to keep fighting, have to keep playing together.''

Here are some tangible things that Sunday's dominating win did for Dallas:

The Cowboys are one of five teams that tied for the best record in the NFL at 12-4. They averaged more than 40 points per game in their December victories and won four straight by double digits. Dallas last did that in the first four games of 2007, finishing the season as the top seed in the NFC.

''This game's about momentum and how you go into the playoffs,'' tight end Jason Witten said. ''We didn't want to come in here and get beat and then try to go into the playoffs and turn it on.''

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Dallas' last two trips to the playoffs offer glimpses of each approach. Seven years ago, they pulled the starters in an uninspiring loss at Washington to finish the regular season, then had the bye before losing to the New York Giants in the divisional round.

Two years later, the Cowboys had to beat the Eagles in the finale to win the NFC East and secure a home game, then turned around and beat them again in the first round. That's the only playoff win for Dallas since 1997.

''I don't think '07 really was (a comparison), just because we had the bye and worked hard to get to that position,'' Witten said. ''I know in '09 we played well, finished the season and then come back in the playoffs and kind of that momentum, you kind of ride that into the playoffs. I think that's good.''

If nothing else, the Cowboys get ready for the Lions feeling like they're playing as well as any team in the NFL.

''I just think we're gelling,'' said Murray, who finished with 1,845 yards rushing, broke all-time NFL leader Emmitt Smith's franchise record from 19 years ago and tied for the league lead in touchdowns rushing with 13. ''We're executing the pass game and running it well. I think we're playing good, situational football. Our defense is playing good, our specials teams is playing well.''

Garrett simply didn't want any of that to change. ... It's something fantasy owners will want to take into account the next time the coach claims he intends to play to win even when it doesn't make all the sense in the world.

The biggest example of Garrett's mentality came early in the second quarter when he called an onside kick following a field goal.

Six plays later, Murray walked into the end zone from 9 yards out to make the score 27-7. It was a very fantasy-friendly move. ...

Other notes of interest. ... As ESPN.com's Todd Archer notes, Romo concluded the best regular season of his career with two more touchdown passes and 299 yards passing, his second-highest total of the season.

Bryant had four catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Cole Beasley had six catches for 57 yards and Terrance Williams had three catches for 68 yards. Romo was sacked just once.

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Romo used to regularly rip off 300-yard games. He had 18 from 2011-13, but the Cowboys were much more balanced in 2014 and Romo's efficiency rose.

He finished with a career-best 69.9 completion percentage. He would have been better than 70 percent if not for a 6-of-14 second-half showing against the Redskins. He also had his first interception of the month when he attempted to lob a pass to running back Joseph Randle. The turnover did not come back to hurt the Cowboys, but it was a reminder of when to simply live for another day.

The Lions have the NFL's best run defense, but they can also attack the passer (42 sacks) and they can take the ball away (20 interceptions).

Romo will have to be sharp mentally and physically against the Lions. And with Suh playing, Murray will have to be on top of his game.

That said, Murray has been at his best against three of the top-10 ranked rushing defenses he has faced this season. He had 118 yards against the San Francisco 49ers (seventh), 136 yards against the Houston Texans (10th) and 115 yards against the Seattle Seahawks (third).

And finally. ... Garrett essentially ruled out defensive tackle Henry Melton against Detroit because of a right knee injury sustained against Washington. Garrett said it was not a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Melton tore the ACL in his left knee last year in Chicago, ending his season after three games. In addition, an ankle injury could keep linebacker Anthony Hitchens out Sunday when the team hosts a first round playoff game against Detroit.

On a more positive note, Garrett told reporters that linebacker Rolando McClain will practice this week, as the team prepares for Sunday's wild-card game against the Lions, per the team's official website. McClain missed the final week of the regular season due to illness. As CBSSports.comnotes, McClain posted 81 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and an interception through 13 games.

DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 00:00 CT QB: Tony Romo, Brandon Weeden, Dustin Vaughan RB: DeMarco Murray, Joseph Randle, Lance Dunbar FB: Tyler Clutts WR: Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley, Dwayne Harris, Devin Street

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TE: Jason Witten, Gavin Escobar, James Hanna PK: Dan Bailey =========================

=========================DENVER BRONCOSPeyton Manning confirmed last week he plans to return to Denver in 2015. It might just be without the man who's in his earhole every Sunday.

With Black Monday came word that the San Francisco 49ers and Atlanta Falcons want to speak with Adam Gase, the Broncos' 36-year-old offensive coordinator, about their head coaching vacancies.

According to Associated Press sports writer Arnie Stapleton, the Broncos (12-4) will allow Gase to interview with those teams and any other suitors in Denver later this week. Players have Thursday, Friday and Saturday off after earning a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs.

''We've been through this many times,'' said head coach John Fox, who lost coordinators Dennis Allen to the Raiders and Mike McCoy to the Chargers in recent years. ''It'll be done in a way that they've got to come here. And it won't bother our coaches as far as their prep, and all their focus is on what we're trying to accomplish. During the bye week, I think it's an opportune time to do those things.''

Gase was pursued last year, too, but he rejected overtures from the Cleveland Browns in part because he wanted to devote his full attention to the Broncos' Super Bowl quest.

Gase has proven adept at handling quarterbacks as varied as Manning and Tim Tebow, whom he got eight wins out of back in 2011, including a stunning playoff victory over Pittsburgh.

After Denver scored an NFL-record 606 points last season, Gase's unit has become as much run-oriented behind C.J. Anderson, the first undrafted running back to score seven TDs in a month since Priest Holmes in 2004, as Manning-oriented.

The Broncos tied for the league's best record for the third consecutive season with Manning as their QB, and their 30.1-point scoring average trailed only Green Bay's 30.4.

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Gase's troops are more than happy to give testimonials on his behalf.

''I think he's used the knowledge of the coaches that he's worked with, you know, the offensive coaches especially, and the Nick Sabans that have been instrumental in some of his coaching philosophies,'' Manning said recently. ''He's used those to apply to his coaching style and it's helped him a lot.''

''He's a coach that you want to play hard for,'' backup signal caller Brock Osweiler said Monday. ''He treats you with respect. He makes it fun coming to work and he's brilliant at what he does. I hope we're able to keep him here.''

Wide receiver Andre Caldwell said it would be bittersweet to lose Gase.

''I'm happy for him getting interest and the potential to make more money and get a better position in the league,'' Caldwell said. ''But I'm bitter because he'd be leaving us.''

Caldwell said Gase certainly has the chops for a head coaching gig, though.

''He's a good guy. He knows the game up and down, back and forth,'' Caldwell said. ''He's a great football mind. He's studied under a lot of great coaches like Mike Martz. And he's a people person. He knows how to interact with his players and he knows how to get the best out of them.''

Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio's name might also come up in coaching searches - a signature performance in the playoffs would certainly burnish his credentials.

Del Rio went 69-72 in 8 1/2 seasons as Jacksonville's head coach from 2003-11, a mark that looks better and better as the Jaguars have gone 11-42 since his firing. Del Rio also guided Denver to a 3-1 record last year after Fox underwent heart surgery.

Nose tackle Terrance Knighton said he wouldn't be surprised to see Denver lose both coordinators. After all, the Broncos finished fourth in the NFL in offense and third in defense.

''You've got two great coordinators who have had a lot of success. Eventually, they're going to get their shot,'' Knighton said. ''Specifically, coach Del Rio, a guy who drafted me as a head coach, he's definitely still a head coach in my mind. And I feel like we have two head coaches on the staff with him and

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coach Fox. So, I'm pretty sure they're high on a lot of people's lists because of the success they had.''

Like Manning, Knighton is on record saying he wants to return to Denver in 2015. Yet, when asked Monday if he was torn in wanting Del Rio to get another head coaching job and preferring he stuck around Denver, Knighton smiled.

''I want to be wherever Jack is,'' he said. ''I'll just leave it at that. ..."

Meanwhile, as Profootballtalk.com's Josh Alper reminded readers, through the first nine games of the season, tight end Julius Thomas had 38 catches for 423 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Thomas hurt his ankle in the team’s 10th game, however, and added just five catches and 66 yards to those totals while sitting out three games before making a quiet return in the final three weeks of the regular season. Thomas called the experience a “frustrating” one and said that he hopes the bye before the Broncos open their playoff schedule helps him get back into form.

“I just try to do everything I can, continue to get better and try to get healthier,” Thomas told ESPN.com. “Some things feel great, some things I’m still trying to improve on. It kind of changes day-to-day, but I’m just going to keep working with it and keep doing all I can. That is definitely the goal. I’m hoping that in two weeks it’ll be a big change for me. So get over that hump and get back to looking like the guy I used to be. So I’m looking forward to it and definitely anticipate being in better health.”

Thomas’s injury and ensuing absence from the lineup coincided with the Broncos’ offensive turn toward a more run-heavy look as well as an uneven stretch of play for Manning. Having Thomas somewhere closer to full speed would provide a boost to the passing game for Denver, although it will be a while before we know if the extended rest has served as the right tonic for Thomas’s troubles.

Along those lines. ... When Fox said he hoped the bye week to open the postseason would shorten the team’s large injury report, he meant it.

The Broncos worked for just over 90 minutes on the field Tuesday, and several high-profile Broncos who have battled injuries were held out of the practice, including Manning (right thigh) as well as wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker and Emmanuel Sanders. Thomas has dealt with a right

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ankle injury for several weeks and Sunday left Sports Authority Field with a splint on his right middle finger, but also was shaking his left hand following a smattering of plays in the game. He had a wrap on his left elbow Monday.

In the days leading up to the Raiders game the Broncos had as many as 22 players listed on the team’s injury report.

Asked about Manning following practice, Fox said: “It’s just a rest day. One of the advantages of a bye week is you get to rest some veteran players and we did such.’’

When Manning, who was 21-of-37 passing for 273 yards, finished without a touchdown pass in the regular-season finale, it was just the second time in his 48 regular-season starts for the Broncos that he hadn't thrown a scoring pass. And both of those games have come in the last four weeks.

Manning said he physically needs the bye in the wild-card round that the team earned with the win over the Raiders.

Manning's two games without a touchdown pass -- against Buffalo and Oakland -- came at home and represent an intent by the Broncos to add a meaningful running game to the offense. ...

One last note here. ... Juwan Thompson was inactive last Sunday. Thompson has practiced and played through hip and knee injuries, but the Broncos hope that a game of rest, plus the bye, will freshen the bruising back for the playoffs.

DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 00:00 CT The Broncos are idle this week due to the NFL bye. =========================

=========================DETROIT LIONSAs the Sports Xchange noted, with a 30-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 17, the Detroit Lions fell to the No. 6 seed in the NFC and will travel to Dallas for a first-round matchup with the Cowboys on Sunday, but their best defensive player will not be on the field.

The NFL suspended All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh for one game without pay for stepping on Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers' injured left

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calf. NFL Vice President of Football Operations Merton Hanks imposed the suspension and sent a letter to Suh outlining the reasoning behind the ruling.

"You did not respond in the manner of someone who had lost his balance and accidentally contacted another player who was lying on the ground," Hanks wrote. "This illegal contact, specifically the second step and push off with your left foot, clearly could have been avoided.

"You unnecessarily stepped on your opponent's unprotected leg as he lay on the ground unable to protect himself."

But Suh appealed the suspension to former player Ted Cottrell, who is jointly appointed by the NFL and NFL Players Association to rule on appeals of on-field incidents and won.

Instead of getting suspended, Suh will be fined $70,000. As Profootballtalk.com noted, that’s actually a harsher financial penalty than a suspension would have been, as players on wild card teams are paid $22,000 for their first playoff game.

Whatever the case, given the way the Lions struggled in all three phases against Green Bay, having all hands on deck will be crucial this week.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford was inaccurate, completing 20 of 41 passes for 217 yards with three touchdowns and one lost fumble. On special teams, they gave up a 55-yard punt return touchdown to Micah Hyde in the first quarter and had a few other blunders that cost them needed field position. The defense couldn't stop the run, allowing 152 yards on the ground, or pressure a hobbled Rodgers, finishing with just one sack that came during Matt Flynn's four plays of relief.

Now, what had been a stout defense will be without Suh, who led the Lions with 8.5 sacks and was second with 13 tackles for loss in the regular season. Suh will also likely be named a first-team All-Pro for the third time in his five NFL seasons after being the top player on the league's No. 2 overall defense.

"He's a dominant force in our defense," Lions strong safety James Ihedigbo said. "He's kind of the key centerpiece, but we have faith that guys are going to step up and fill that void and do the best job they can to get this win."

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The Lions will have to stop a Cowboys offense that has the NFL's No. 2 rushing attack.

Meanwhile, the Lions reinstated center Dominic Raiola Monday after his one-game suspension, and he spoke publicly for the first time since the NFL handed down the suspension last Monday. Rookie Travis Swanson started in his place.

"I was disappointed, but that's the way they saw it," Raiola said. "Apparently, they didn't hear what I had to say and that's the way it is and that's the way it went. It was a rough week - probably one of the more difficult weeks of my life. It was tough. ..."

Guard Larry Warford had his right knee wrapped on Monday and was spotted walking with a limp. He has been listed as day to day leading up to Sunday's wild-card showdown against the Cowboys, according to the team's official website. Warford was carted off the field during the second quarter of Sunday's regular season finale against the Packets after getting rolled up on. ...

Other notes of interest. ... As ESPN.com's Michael Rothstein notes, Stafford regressed in the final week of the regular season and there is little evidence to prove otherwise. His completion percentage dipped under 50 percent for only the second time this season after a 20-of-41 performance in which he missed multiple open receivers and had, frankly, some odd throws.

His 217 yards passing marked the third straight game in which he threw for under 250 yards after back-to-back 300-yard games.

The biggest positive for Stafford is that he didn’t turn the ball over -- the fumble he was credited with was more the fault of running back Joique Bell -- and didn’t throw an interception for the fourth time in five games.

Now Stafford heads back to his hometown, Dallas, for only his second playoff game as a pro. This is good news for the Lions. Stafford has beaten the Cowboys both times he’s played them -- in 2011 and 2013.

His numbers haven’t been great against Dallas, although those two wins are big. He’s completed 59.3 percent of his passes for 728 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s been sacked only once by the Cowboys, too.

Facing the Cowboys will likely bring up memories of one of the best comebacks of his career as well, the fake spike touchdown run on the game’s penultimate play from scrimmage. At the time, it appeared to be a career-

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changing play for Stafford, but he struggled during the second half of the 2013 season.

He’s been better with the ball this season, but the Lions will need some of the slinging Stafford to return if they're going to beat the Cowboys in the playoffs. ...

As for the rushing attack. ... Bell's pair of fumbles - as noted above, the one he lost was credited to Stafford - marred what was an otherwise solid effort. Unfortunately, the Lions' coaches gave Bell just two carries after he had 11 for 58 yards in the first half. Reggie Bush had a 14-yard carry, but went for just 5 yards on his other four. ...

According to PFT's Michael David Smith, head coach Jim Caldwell is terrible at challenges.

Smith went on to remind readers that when Caldwell was the head coach of the Colts, Indianapolis hired former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel solely to serve as an advisor on instant replay challenges. The Colts’ brass knew Caldwell wasn’t good at it and wanted to get him some help. Maybe the Lions should do the same, after Caldwell made what Smith considered "an absolutely ridiculous decision" to challenge an obviously correct call on which Packers running back Eddie Lacy had the ball knocked out of his arms while he was on the ground and was correctly ruled down by contact.

Smith added: "Throwing away a timeout in the second half of a close game is inexcusable, but that’s what Caldwell did. Caldwell is good at the slower, more deliberative aspects of coaching — game planning, getting his players prepared during the week, that kind of thing. But Caldwell just isn’t good at split-second decisions, and that’s easy to see when he throws his challenge flag. ..."

And finally. ... The Falcons have requested permission to speak with Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Austin won't be able to officially interview with another team until they are no longer in the playoffs.

DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 00:00 CT QB: Matthew Stafford, Dan Orlovsky, Kellen Moore RB: Joique Bell, Reggie Bush, Theo Riddick, George Winn FB: Jed Collins WR: Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate, Jeremy Ross, Corey Fuller, Ryan Broyles

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TE: Eric Ebron, Brandon Pettigrew, Kellen Davis PK: Matt Prater =========================

=========================GREEN BAY PACKERS"The Packers locker room was noticeably quiet Monday, other than the ruckus caused by a couple dozen players scrambling in following a meeting, then scooting out the door for a few days off."

So wrote Associated Press sports writer Genaro C. Armas, who added "That's just the way they wanted to start the postseason, a day after a rousing victory over the Detroit Lions secured a fourth straight NFC North title and first-round bye. Practice resumes Friday. ..."

''This is a time, obviously, to step away from it, just enjoy what you accomplished. ... You'll know we have the holiday here,'' head coach Mike McCarthy said.

''So hydration testing on Friday morning will be the first thing we do,'' he added with a sly smile.

Holiday cheer, indeed.

Some players may be taking it a little easier, notably limping quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The two-touchdown performance in the 30-20 victory over Detroit is still drawing raves from teammates and coaches after Rodgers fought through a lingering left calf injury.

McCarthy spoke to Rodgers on Monday morning. His quarterback had some tests but feels good, he said. A rehab plan is in place for this week, though it's apparently not arduous enough that it would force Rodgers to stay in town during the time off.

''We've got a good plan for him,'' McCarthy said. ''Frankly, I'm not sure if he is staying.''

The Packers (12-4) earned the time off after piecing together perhaps two of their most complete games of the season to finish with two straight wins following a loss at Buffalo.

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Sure, Green Bay's passing game might be shifted down a gear with Rodgers' calf injury. It has limited his mobility the last two weeks.

But an injured Rodgers might be better than most healthy quarterbacks. From the press box, offensive coordinator Tom Clements said he didn't even know that Rodgers was thinking about coming back into the Lions game in the middle of the third quarter after being carted into the locker room late in the second.

His return provided a spark.

"Yeah, I, for sure, thought he was done for the night," said receiver Randall Cobb, who caught the four-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers just as the scrambling quarterback fell to the frozen turf in a heap.

"I came in during halftime, I went and checked on him and saw him lying on the (training) table," Cobb added. "Definitely a tough time, but we understood that the rest of us had to step up, and then for him to come back out was huge for us."

The defense got just as much of a lift from Rodgers' return as the offense.

''If you can't find anything to play for, play for No. 12, play for the offense,'' defensive end Datone Jones said. He was pressuring Matthew Stafford when the quarterback was whistled for intentional grounding while in the end zone, which gave the Packers a safety late in the game.

''They've backed us up so much, there are times when we've got to back them up,'' Jones said.

For Rodgers, the reward of leading the Packers to the crucial victory and keeping them from falling to the No. 6 seed in the NFC and thus having to play a first-round game this weekend outweighed the risk of doing further damage to the lower leg.

"I wanted to be back out there competing with my guys," Rodgers said. "I wasn't going to put myself in major harm's way. But, at the same time, I feel like if I could be out there I could give our team a little jolt.

"(And) as bad as (the calf) felt, I thought if I can go out there and be able to do some things and we win, I get another week to rehab it. That was definitely in my mind."

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While a self-deprecating Rodgers said he didn't think he did "anything heroic" a week after he suffered the calf injury early in Green Bay's win at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, wowed teammates said he locked up a second NFL MVP award.

Rodgers finished the game 17-of-22 for 226 yards and the two touchdowns to Cobb without an interception for a superb passer rating of 139.6.

"He's just a tough son of a bitch," right guard T.J. Lang said. "Like he said last week, it's going to take a lot to keep him out of a game like this. To see him obviously limping off the field and then to come back in the second half and just play lights out was pretty damn impressive.

"So, anytime you get your leader back, your captain back, obviously it's a big boost for the team. It was impressive to see him come back out there."

In all fairness, the defense had been playing well even before Rodgers got hurt. Coordinator Dom Capers' crew has tightened up against the run since the middle of the season, in part because the Packers are using Clay Matthews and Sam Barrington more at inside linebacker to add athleticism.

Receiver Calvin Johnson scored two touchdowns, though Capers' proudly noted Monday that the Packers were able to limit Johnson and fellow playmaking receiver Golden Tate to a combined seven catches for 84 yards.

Rookie Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and second-year player Micah Hyde are a big improvement at free safety over last season, while strong safety Morgan Burnett is having one of his best seasons, especially against the run. The steady Burnett is so respected that he was chosen a playoff captain, along with linebacker-end Julius Peppers.

''Just keep an even-keeled mindset,'' Burnett said when asked about the defensive performance the last three weeks. ''You can't dwell on the past. ... Just keep pushing forward and find ways to get better.''

The last three games, in particular, the Packers have held opponents to 21 points or less. If the defense can keep it up when Green Bay plays its first postseason game on Jan. 11, it will be more than enough cushion for the potent offense - assuming Rodgers doesn't have a major setback. ...

I'll have an eye out on that and will report further in the News & Views section of the sight as developments warrant. ...



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Other notes of interest. ... Jordy Nelson ended the regular season in Sunday's division-clinching victory over the Lions as the most productive pass catcher in team history. Nelson, who had six receptions for 86 yards Sunday, became the first Packer to have 1,500 receiving yards in a season. Nelson finished with 1,519 yards, breaking the single-season club record of 1,497 by Robert Brooks in 1995.

Nelson also had a career-high 98 catches, fourth highest in team annals, and 13 touchdown receptions.

Cobb didn't finish far behind Nelson on the list of most receptions in a season. With four catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's big win over the Lions, Cobb completed the regular season with a career-best 91 receptions for 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Eddie Lacy ran 26 times for 100 yards against the Lions. It is the third time this season Lacy reached 100 yards on the ground in addition to three separate occasions when he reached 97, 98 and 99 yards. Lacy finishes the 2014 regular season campaign with 1,139 yards and nine rushing touchdowns, just shy of the numbers he put up in his rookie season of 1,178 yards and 11 touchdowns.

DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 00:00 CT The Packers are idle this week due to the NFL bye. =========================

=========================INDIANAPOLIS COLTSMission accomplished. ... Sort of.

The Indianapolis Colts wanted to get their ship righted heading into this week's AFC wild-card round of the playoffs.

Indianapolis posted a workmanlike 27-10 road win over AFC South rival Tennessee Sunday, giving the Colts an 11-5 regular-season record and an unblemished 6-0 division mark for the second straight year.

As the Sports Xchange noted, most of the starters played only one half against the Titans as Indianapolis battled back from last week's 42-7 loss at Dallas.

Good news is that the Colts got a win. But questions remain as to whether Indianapolis has worked out all of his late-season issues.

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The Colts will now face Cincinnati in a home-field wild-card matchup this weekend. Indianapolis secured a 27-0 win at Lucas Oil Stadium over the Bengals on Oct. 19.

Head coach Chuck Pagano knows that this second meeting with Cincinnati won't be easy. And he understands what's on the line for his Colts squad.

"It's one and done. We all know the stakes get higher and it's single elimination (in the post-season). So whatever we have to do to win a game that's what we are going to do, whatever it takes," Pagano explained.

In 2012, the Colts were one and done in the playoffs as they lost a road game to eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore.

Last year, Indianapolis posted a 45-44 come-from-behind wild-card home-field victory over Kansas City before losing 43-22 at New England in a divisional-round matchup.

Pagano knows what the stakes are this year.

"We're not satisfied, by no means. We understand that we have a huge game coming up this weekend. But (after the Tennessee win) we just talked about how proud we are and I am of the coaches and players and everybody that's involved in this process. And really proud of what went down (against the Titans)," he said.

"Again, we're not satisfied, we understand that in order to reach our ultimate goal, there are steps that we got to take and we're going to take it one step at a time and one game at a time.

Meanwhile, the Colts may be getting healthy just in time.

On Monday, Pagano said he anticipated having most of his injured players back this week and available for Sunday's playoff game against the Bengals.

''Yeah, and I think you'd love to be 100 percent from a health standpoint,'' Pagano said. ''We're not 100 percent. You're never going to be at this time of year. We're hopeful to get the guys that I talked about earlier, get them back and get them back on the field.''

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The two-time AFC South champions have been riddled with injuries over the second half of the season, particularly along the offensive line where the Colts have used 10 different starting combinations this season.

Although the Colts (11-5) did not earn a first-round bye, they did have two weeks to rest injured players and tune up for the postseason.

Pagano is optimistic that tight end Dwayne Allen (knee), safety Sergio Brown (bruised hand), right tackle Gosder Cherilus (groin), inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman (hamstring), guard Joe Reitz (ankle) and receiver Reggie Wayne (groin, triceps) will all be on the practice field later this week after the team takes Tuesday off.

Wayne did feel a “twinge” in his groin following his career-long 80-yard touchdown catch Sunday. After the game, Wayne was adamant that the injury would not impact him playing in the Wildcard round.

“I’ll be ready next week,” Wayne said after the Colts regular season finale.

“It’s crunch time. You ain’t got time to sit down and cheer. ...”

Meanwhile, two players, backup offensive lineman A.Q. Shipley (left ankle) and outside linebacker Bjoern Werner (shoulder), are considered day to day.

Pagano also said the team is awaiting test results on right guard Hugh Thornton, who was carted off the field after injuring his right shoulder in the regular season finale Sunday.

But the possible return of Cherilus and Reitz could help solidify the makeshift line. Last weekend, rookie Jack Mewhort moved from left guard to right tackle for the first time. Shipley, who opened the season as the starting center, played left guard. And with Thornton hurt and Reitz out, backup Lance Louis took most of the snaps at right guard.

''Optimistic, hopeful, all of that,'' Pagano said when asked about having some semblance of his original starting line intact Sunday. ''That'd be nice.''

Other notes of interest. ... In each of the last two weeks, Andrew Luck hasn’t seen the field in the fourth quarter. However, last Sunday’s spectating from late in the game was much more enjoyable for the Colts third-year quarterback.

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It was a productive afternoon for Luck with the Colts offense producing 17 points in the first two quarters.

Individually, Luck set the Colts franchise-record for passing yards in a single season (4,761).

The record breaker came on the above-mentioned 80-yard catch and run by Wayne in the second quarter.

“Great milestone, great record for Andrew, but very fitting it was 87 on the other end of that,” Pagano said after handing Luck a game ball.

“What a great play, what a great catch. In traffic, over the shoulder, all that stuff. Right when you get ready to write somebody off, just be careful.”

With two scoring catches in Tennessee, Coby Fleener reached eight touchdowns for the season.

And with that, a little NFL history was made.

According to the league, the Colts are the first club to have two tight ends score at least eight touchdowns in the same season.

In addition to Fleener (51 catches, 774 yards), Allen also hauled in eight touchdowns. Allen’s scores came in just 29 catches in 13 games.

And as Profootballtalk.com notes, that’s not it for Colts tight ends scoring multiple touchdowns. Second-year pro Jack Doyle also hauled in a pair of TDs for Indianapolis, the AFC South champion.

Fleener and Allen were each part of the Colts’ vaunted 2012 draft class, a haul that started with the selection of star quarterback Andrew Luck. Overall, 23 of the Colts’ 42 TD receptions this season were caught by three players selected in succession in 2012: Fleener (Round Two, No, 34 overall), Allen (Round Three, No. 64) and Hilton (Round Three, No. 92).

Luck, for the record, threw 22 of those 23 TD passes. ...

Daniel "Boom" Herron has taken over as the Colts' starting running back. Herron has started the last two games. He had 35 yards in 10 carries against Tennessee. Undrafted rookie RB Zurlon Tipton played primarily in the second

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half and added 21 yards in nine carries. Trent Richardsonhad limited work and ended the day with 11 yards in five rushing attempts.

The Colts overcame two lost fumbles to gain 506 yards, their second highest total of the season, including 171 yards on the ground against the Bengals.

As ESPN.com's Mike Wells suggested, the Colts can’t afford to turn the ball over in the playoffs because their offense isn’t the same unit from Week 7 -- or even four weeks ago against the Washington Redskins. The Colts have gained more than 300 yards of total offense just once in their past three games.

DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 00:00 CT QB: Andrew Luck, Matt Hasselbeck RB: Trent Richardson, Dan Herron, Zurlon Tipton FB: Mario Harvey WR: T.Y. Hilton, Reggie Wayne, Donte Moncrief, Hakeem Nicks, Josh Cribbs TE: Coby Fleener, Jack Doyle, Dwayne Allen PK: Adam Vinatieri =========================

=========================NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTSAs the Associated Press put it, "The New England Patriots are moving on from a game they didn't have to win to one they can't afford to lose. ..."

Their 17-9 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday had no bearing on their status as the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. Key starters didn't play and subdued fans rested their voices for the postseason.

Any momentum gained by a victory would disappear by the time New England plays its next game at home on Jan. 10.

''I don't really believe that you can get bad habits in football,'' safety Devin McCourty said. ''Ia think everything is all about preparation each week. You do everything great one week, it doesn't mean next week you created good habits and it'll happen again.''

Not knowing their next opponent, the Patriots (12-4) will spend this week scouting themselves, figuring out where they can improve as individuals and a team and then practicing to do that.

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Their division-round foe will be determined this coming weekend.

They'll play the wild-card winner with the lowest seed. It would be No. 6 Baltimore if it beats No. 3 Pittsburgh on Saturday. If Pittsburgh wins, the Patriots will play the winner of Sunday's game between No. 4 Indianapolis and No. 5. Cincinnati.

The Patriots beat Indianapolis (42-20) and Cincinnati (43-17) this season. Against Baltimore, they lost in the playoffs in the 2009 and 2012 seasons and won in the 2011 season, but the Ravens roster has changed substantially the past two seasons.

''We'll have to be ready for the different possibilities,'' Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Monday. ''Certain members of our staff will be doing the forward preparation on them. But we know where we'll be playing. ... We know the potential for some of the conditions that we'll be playing in.''

Winter in New England brings cold, wind and snow that can take a toll on the body.

Belichick said Monday he's ''fine'' after meeting with club medical personnel about his health immediately after Sunday's game.

His team should be rested and relatively healthy for the playoff game with some regulars playing for the first time in at least three weeks.

Julian Edelman, the Patriots' top receiver, was inactive against the Bills. So was Rob Gronkowski, the powerful tight end who got through the season uninjured after being limited to seven games last season following forearm, back and knee problems.

Edelman is Tom Brady's reliable, sure-handed, go-to receiver. Gronkowski overpowers defenders and demands double coverage that opens space for other receivers.

Without them - and inactive linemen Dan Connolly and Sebastian Vollmer - Brady struggled in the first half against Buffalo. Then he watched from the sideline as rookie Jimmy Garoppolo played the rest of the way.

''Hopefully, Gronk is ready to roll and Jules is ready to roll and the guys up front are ready to roll'' in the next game, Brady said. ''It's good when you have your very good players out there.''

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Jonas Gray (ankle) did not play against Buffalo, ruled out on the final injury report of the week on Friday.

Brandon LaFell limped off with an apparent leg injury during the second half against Buffalo. He returned later in the game, but was also reportedly seen leaving Gillette Stadium in a walking boot.

Worth noting, LaFell was the only player not practicing on Tuesday.

But all those guys will have ample time to get themselves sorted out. And Sunday's game gave backups extended playing time, experience that could come in handy in the postseason.

On defense, Jonathan Casillas started for linebacker Dont'a Hightower and Logan Ryan replaced cornerback Brandon Browner with both regulars inactive.

Still, the Patriots didn't allow a second-half touchdown for the sixth straight game.

''We're trying to improve as the game goes along,'' defensive coordinator Matt Patricia said. ''I think every play as the game goes becomes more critical. I think our guys understand that and that's something we put a point of emphasis on.''

Once the Patriots know their opponent, the emphasis will be on devising a game plan.

''No matter who we play, there are things that we're going to need to work on'' this week, Belichick said. ''We definitely would want to have the preparation work done so that when we do find out how things unfold that we can just dive right in.''

Other notes of interest. ... Brady has once again reworked his contract with the goal of giving the Patriots more spending money in the offseason. According to multiple reports, Brady removed the "skill" guarantee in his contract. Brady's contract remains fully guaranteed for injury.

Under the new contract, the Patriots will free up $24 million in cash flow.

It does not impact the Patriots' salary cap situation. The change means that Brady could theoretically be released in the future for performance issues, and

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they wouldn't owe him any more money. (As NFL.com pointed out, this is true of the vast majority of players. And considering he's vastly underpaid, there's no reason to think the Patriots will be cutting Brady any time soon.)

The move was intended to help the Patriots spend money on free agents and keep veterans. Brady, 37, doesn't give away any salary in the restructure. In fact, Brady will get a raise of $1 million annually. The quarterback will now earn $8 million in 2015, $9 million in 2016 and $10 million in 2017, per ESPN.com's Mike Reiss.

Brady previously restructured his contract in 2012, a move that created $7.2 million in salary cap space. In February 2013, Brady signed a team-friendly three-year extension. A Patriots source told NFL Networks Albert Breer at the time that the extension created "well over" $30 million in salary-cap space over 2013 and 2014. ...

And finally. ... NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports the Falcons and 49ers have requested permission to interview offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels for their head-coaching vacancies. He is available to talk to those teams during the bye week.

DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 00:00 CT The Patriots are idle this week due to the NFL bye. =========================

=========================PITTSBURGH STEELERSAs Associated Press sports writer Will Graves framed it: "The instant the helmet of Cincinnati safety Reggie Nelson slammed into the right knee of Pittsburgh running back Le'Veon Bell in the third quarter Sunday night, the bubbling euphoria that gripped Heinz Field only moments earlier vanished. ..."

Bell, the budding second-year running back, lay in agony on the turf. Harris, an undrafted free agent turned unlikely backup, suddenly found himself prepping to go into the biggest game of the season.

''It was a shock at first,'' backup running back Josh Harris said.

For the rest of the Steelers, too. Pittsburgh held on to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals 27-17 and win the AFC North. Head coach Mike Tomlin stressed there was no major structural damage to Bell's knee, but the Steelers (11-5)

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head into Saturday's wild-card game against Baltimore (10-6) wondering if their chances for a seventh Vince Lombardi Trophy hinge on Harris and Dri Archer.

That's couple of rookies who have combined for 56 yards rushing in their brief careers.

No pressure or anything.

''At the end of the day, they have me here to do what I'm here to do,'' Harris said.

Maybe, but the Steelers are hoping Harris doesn't have to clock in. Bell underwent further testing Monday to judge the severity of what the team is calling a hyperextended knee. While the 22-year-old has joked in the past that he's a quick healer, bouncing back on a short week on a bum leg to face the Ravens appears daunting.

''Injuries happen,'' center Maurkice Pouncey said. ''If he can't go the next man has to step up and play just like him or better.''

Good luck with that.

As Graves notes, Bell's constantly churning knees were so vital to Pittsburgh's resurgence that in the vote for team MVP, the Steelers selected him over quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Antonio Brown. They did so even though the two established stars put up numbers hard to duplicate in a video game, let alone real life. Bell set club records for all-purpose yards (2,215) and receptions by a running back (83). Oh, and he did it without fumbling once.

His talent became so prevalent the Steelers considered LeGarrette Blount expendable. Pittsburgh cut the well-traveled veteran in November after Blount headed to the locker room with the clock still running in a win over Tennessee, a silent but deliberate protest over a lack of touches.

The Steelers didn't go looking for a free agent to replace Blount, instead promoting Harris from the practice squad. Harris shared backup duties with Archer, a third-round pick who has struggled to find any traction. Neither saw much action after Blount left. They had six carries combined following Blount's departure until Bell half-jogged/half-limped to the sideline in the third quarter Sunday night.

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Harris appeared to provide a momentary spark in the fourth quarter, sprinting over right guard for a 60-yard gain. The play was called back due to a holding penalty on Ramon Foster, though it did little to dampen Harris' optimism that he can play.

''It was just great blocking up front, I just made one cut and I was out,'' he said. ''It (stinks) that it was called back, but the fact that run happened showed everyone I can actually play and do things like that.''

Harris managed just 7 yards on five carries on the runs that did count, while Archer caught two passes for 19 yards. Not exactly Bell-like with the NFL's fourth-ranked run defense looming.

Given Bell's now-expected absence this Saturday along with their lack of experienced depth, the Steelers added some insurance at the position.

Free agent running back Ben Tate was signed on Tuesday.

Tate has bounced around the league this year, first signing with the Browns, then getting cut and going to Minnesota. He didn’t play particularly well in either stop, averaging just 3.1 yards a carry in Cleveland and 2.9 yards a carry with the Vikings. But Tate had three solid seasons with the Texans from 2011 to 2013, and he’s probably the best running back available right now.

To make room for Tate on the 53-player roster, the Steelers released wide receiver Justin Brown.

The Steelers will need to get something going on the ground to prevent Baltimore pass rush specialists Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs from teeing off on Roethlisberger.

The quarterback tossed six touchdowns in a 43-23 victory on Nov. 2, the second half of a two-game stretch in which Roethlisberger found the end zone a league-record 12 times.

He has cooled off considerably since as the Steelers became more reliant on Bell to eat up clock and yardage behind a rapidly improving offensive line. That formula will have to be altered if Bell is forced to sit. ...

For the record. ... Bell rode a stationary bike Tuesday and whether he plays against the Ravens will depend on how he feels and how effective he can be,

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not on whether he gains medical clearance, Tomlin told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Bell was pedaling away as if he was "going to prepare for the Tour de France," Tomlin said with a laugh. "But that's Le'Veon."

When asked whether that was a good sign, Tomlin smiled.

"If you're looking for comfort, it is," he said at his weekly news conference, "but there won't be any bikes on the field Saturday night."

The Steelers will monitor Bell closely this week, and Tomlin said the AFC's leading rusher has to show the coaches that he is both healthy and able to protect himself against the Ravens, who finished fourth in the NFL in rushing defense (88.3 yards allowed per game).

I'll be following up on his status in the News & Views section in coming days, but nobody should get their hopes up too high. ...

Safety Troy Polamalu and cornerback Ike Taylor might also be spectators Saturday night.

Taylor has missed the last three games because of forearm and shoulder injuries while Polamalu has not played the last two weeks because of a knee injury, and there is no indication that either will return Saturday against the Ravens.

Worth noting. ... After the game, Tomlin and Nelson jawed at one another and had to be separated by Bengals coach Marvin Lewis. Tomlin said a misunderstanding led to the heated exchange and that he did not have a problem with Nelson or what the eighth-year coach called a "legal play."

"I guess a teammate told him that I said something regarding him," Tomlin said. "That's untrue. Ask him. I have a lot of respect for Reggie Nelson. He's a good player."

Nelson rebuffed repeated inquiries about his exchange with Tomlin after the game but said his hit on Bell was a "football play."

Other notes of interest. ... Roethlisberger, who holds most of the team records, tied for the NFL lead with Drew Brees with 4,952 yards passing, a team record. He also tied his own TD record with 32 this season and broke his own record with a 67.1 completion percent in 2014.


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A stomach virus did not stop his from throwing for 317 yards and two touchdowns against the Bengals this past week.

As noted above, Roethlisberger threw for 340 yards and six touchdowns against Baltimore on Nov. 2, while Bell managed just 20 rushing yards on 10 carries. That had been Bell’s lowest rushing output of the season before Sunday night when he rushed for 20 yards against the Bengals before leaving the game in the third quarter.

While the Ravens have been plenty tough against the run, they haven't been nearly as stingy against opposing quarterbacks. Baltimore finished 24th in the NFL in passing defense (249 yards allowed per game) and its secondary is suspect.

The Steelers aired it out on 59.7 percent of their plays against the Ravens two months ago.

It will be a surprise if they don’t exceed that run/pass ratio Saturday night at Heinz Field given the state of the Steelers' running game. ...

Brown became the first Steeler to lead the NFL with 1,698 yards receiving and 129 catches, the second-most in NFL history. He also set a Steelers record with his 13th TD catch.

Martavis Bryant's eighth touchdown pass was second most by a rookie in Steelers history. Louis Lipps caught nine in 1984.

DEPTH CHART AS OF WEDNESDAY AT 00:00 CT QB: Ben Roethlisberger, Bruce Gradkowski, Landry Jones RB: Dri Archer, Josh Harris, Ben Tate, Le'Veon Bell FB: Will Johnson WR: Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton, Martavis Bryant, Lance Moore, Darrius Heyward-Bey TE: Heath Miller, Matt Spaeth, Michael Palmer PK: Shaun Suisham =========================

=========================SEATTLE SEAHAWKSAccording to Associated Press sports writer Tim Booth, even when the Seattle

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Seahawks were slogging along at 3-3 and 6-4 around the midpoint of the season, finishing on top of the NFC still remained the goal

That's exactly where the Seahawks ended up after closing the season on a dominant six-game win streak. And now they get their reward: A needed week of rest and a guarantee that they will not have to leave the Pacific Northwest throughout the NFC playoffs.

''The rest is important but we're playing fast at the end of the year right now. Our energy is there and we look like we're in midseason form in that regard,'' head coach Pete Carroll said on Monday. ''I don't have any problem with that. But for the injury factor and we'll be a little bit fresher. And that is really a plus this time of the year so of course it works out really well.''

Seattle clinched the NFC West title and home-field advantage with Sunday's 20-6 win over St. Louis. Turned out the season finale against the Rams was a microcosm for Seattle's entire season. The first half was a struggle, just as the first-half of the regular season was tough at times as the Seahawks adapted to being defending Super Bowl champions.

But the finish against the Rams was nearly flawless - the Seahawks closed out the season on a six-game win streak. Seattle's defense - best in the NFL for a second straight season - again came through with critical, game-changing plays.

The Seahawks forced three turnovers in the fourth quarter, scoring on one when Bruce Irvin returned an interception 49 yards for a touchdown and denying another touchdown when Earl Thomas karate-chopped the ball free from Benny Cunningham at the 1-yard line when it appeared St. Louis was going to score.

Statistically, the Seahawks led the NFL in total defense (267.1) and pass defense (185.6), and were third in run defense (81.5). Seattle was the only team in the NFL to give up less than 300 yards per game for the season.

What Seattle accomplished in its finishing push really stands out. Over the final six games, the Seahawks allowed three total touchdowns, 39 total points and kept five of six opponents to 7 points or less. None of the six gained more than 250 yards of offense and only San Francisco in Week 15 gained more than 64 yards on the ground. Seattle's averages allowed during the six-game streak: 6.5 points per game; 202.2 total yards per game; 66 yards rushing; and 136.2 yards passing.

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But the statistic that might trump them all: Seattle did not allow an opponent to score in the fourth quarter in any of the six games. While that might not seem like a major accomplishment, it's a rarity in NFL history. According to STATS, the Seahawks were the first team since Tampa Bay in 1996 to hold six straight opponents scoreless in the fourth quarter in the same season. Throw in that Seattle won all six games and it was the first team since Washington in 1940 to accomplish that feat.

Seattle played from ahead in all of the games, with the exception of Sunday's win over St. Louis. In the previous five, Seattle held the lead going to the fourth quarter. Carroll said playing with a lead has taken the worry of the run game out of the defensive plan and allowed Seattle to be more precise in its pass defense.

The Seahawks have also forced six fourth-quarter turnovers during the win streak.

''I think that's a really cool stat. I love that stat. Fourth quarters of these games haven't been able to score,'' Carroll said. ''It's about finishing and that's something we take great pride in.''

Other notes of interest. ... As Profootballtalk.com's Michael David Smith noted this week, Russell Wilson is running like no other quarterback.

Wilson finished this season with 849 rushing yards, the fifth best total for a quarterback in NFL history, and by far the best total of any quarterback in the NFL this season. Wilson is running better than any other quarterback in the league right now. He looks ready to run Seattle into the Super Bowl.

Also worth noting. ... Center Max Unger (ankle), tight end Cooper Helfet (ribs) and wide receiver Jermaine Kearse (hamstring) all have a chance at returning for Seattle's playoff opener. ...

And finally. ... The Jets have targeted five candidates to replace the fired John Idzik as general manager, reports the Newark Star-Ledger (via CBSSports.com). The list includes Seahawks pro personnel director Trent Kirchner, who will interview this weekend, the paper said. The Jets have also requested interviews with five potential candidates for their vacant head-coaching job, including Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and assistant head coach Tom Cable. The Falcons and 49ers will also interview Quinn.

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