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Poor Stephen Tulloch. Last October, the Detroit Lions linebacker thought he was merely celebrating a sack of Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. In reality, unbeknownst to anyone but Tebow, Tulloch was actually helping spread the word on prayer.

That was the essence of Tebow's reference to Tulloch's act of "Tebowing" after a sack in the Lions' 45-10 victory last season. Here's what Tebow said during an Easter Sunday speech in Texas, with video embedded courtesy of CNN:

"One of the first games, we're playing the Lions and I get sacked and the guy gets on a knee and is Tebowing on top of me. And I'm thinking, that's really supposed to be mocking me, but it's actually flattering, because you're praying. That's a good thing. … I'm not sure how to take it. Are you praying for me while you're on top of me or what?"

We're having a little fun, of course, but here's what was truly interesting about that game: It convinced the Broncos that Tebow couldn't be a traditional pocket quarterback, at least not in 2011. After the Lions sacked him a season-high seven times with an aggressive mixture of blitzes, the Broncos shifted to an offense that capitalized more on Tebow's running ability.

The following week, in fact, Tebow ran for 118 yards in a victory over the Oakland Raiders. That was the first of a six-game winning streak that propelled the Broncos to a playoff berth.

Theologians can debate whether Tulloch helped spread the word of prayer. But from a football perspective, it's pretty clear that he and the Lions did Tebow a favor. Had they not dominated him so thoroughly, the Broncos might not have made the changes they did so quickly.

(Hat tip to Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com for flagging the video.)

We did it!

#FreeStanton!

Drew Stanton is free!

Perhaps you've noted my obnoxious posting and tweeting about Stanton, the longtime Detroit Lions backup quarterback who signed last week with the New York Jets to be their No. 2 quarterback. Those plans changed quickly when the Jets acquired Tim Tebow this week, and we all had fun with the "campaign" to get Stanton out of New York and to a team where he would be the No. 2.

The Jets complied Friday by trading Stanton to the Indianapolis Colts, according to the Jets' official Twitter account. Stanton won't necessarily be in a position to play, considering the Colts' plan to draft Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, but at least he'll be only once-removed from the starting job rather than twice.

For our next trick, I say we shoot for #nachosonthehouse. Or maybe #cheeseburgersforeveryone. Thoughts?

We're Black and Blue All Over:

We had some fun Wednesday afternoon when the #FreeStanton hashtag started on Twitter. As you recall, former Detroit Lions quarterback Drew Stanton spent only a few days as the New York Jets' No. 2 before the acquisition of Tim Tebow via trade.

It's a harsh business, and Stanton might just have to deal with the turn of events. But the NFL Network's Jason La Canfora reported Wednesday night that he wouldn't be surprised if Stanton asks for a trade or a release.

Stanton "was promised team not looking at" adding additional quarterbacks this offseason, according to La Canfora.

Best of luck to Drew on that one.

#FreeStanton.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• This offseason has been "classic" Martin Mayhew for the Lions, writes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• The Lions' deal with left tackle Jeff Backus is worth about $6 million over two years, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• The contract signed by Green Bay Packers special-teams captain Jarrett Bush is worth an average of $1.75 million per season, according to Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was hit five times and sacked twice in the 2011 game in which the New Orleans Saints placed a bounty on him, according to Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• The Minnesota Vikings gave nose tackle Remi Ayodele a signing bonus of more than $3.5 million in 2011, notes Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune. Ayodele was released Wednesday.
• Minnesota state legislators are waiting word on whether the Minneapolis City Council will support the Minnesota Vikings stadium plan before moving forward on it, according to Doug Belden of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• It's "absurd" to think that the Chicago Bears would replace Devin Hester, writes Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune: "I think the Bears' perception of their offensive line is not the same as the public's perception of their offensive line."
• Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com has a breakdown of the Bears' recent contract signings.

Let's take a moment away from this otherwise light news day to recognize an important development to NFC North blog readers.

It's time to join a Twitter movement. I think Pride of Detroit started it, but I'm not twuent enough to say that for sure. ("Twuent:" Twitter fluent.) Regardless, let's all help out a brother and use the following hashtag the rest of the day:

#FreeStanton

Sure, the NFL has announced unprecedented discipline against the New Orleans Saints for a three-year bounty program. And yes, the Denver Broncos traded quarterback Tim Tebow to the New York Jets.

But we have a bigger fish to fry around here, assuming the Tebow trade is finalized and he lands with the Jets.

Just five short days ago, longtime Detroit Lions backup quarterback Drew Stanton signed a one-year contract with the Jets, presumably with a real opportunity to be their No. 2 quarterback. Tebow's arrival would lessen his chances, if not overwhelm the dream altogether.

So let's do it.

Let's #FreeStanton.

Give the man a chance.

Let's hope the Jets agree and let Stanton seek a No. 2 job elsewhere.

#FreeStanton.

Since the moment the Green Bay Packers have been lumped into TebowWatch, it has seemed unlikely that general manager Ted Thompson would part with a draft pick to acquire Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. And Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com confirmed that sentiment Wednesday, reporting that the Packers would consider signing Tebow as a free agent but aren't prepared to lose a draft pick in the effort.

*Update: About a minute after this post went live, the Broncos traded Tebow to the New York Jets for a fourth-round pick. OK then.


Unless that sentiment changes, the Packers would seem to be eliminated as a possible destination for Tebow. The Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets and St. Louis Rams all appear to have entered the trade bidding. And even if the Broncos ultimately decide to release Tebow, and he clears waivers, Tebow reportedly would prefer to play for a team in Florida.

We'll keep monitoring the situation, but an unlikely scenario now appears remote. It was fun while it lasted.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

We've lumped the Green Bay Packers into TebowWatch primarily because of some positive comments made two years ago by coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Ted Thompson. But citing a source, Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com reports the Packers truly have legitimate interest in acquiring Tebow and are doing their due diligence on him and the potential trade market.

As Wilde points out, Thompson tends to be methodical and might not be willing to move quickly if other teams approach the Denver Broncos to pull off a trade soon. But it apparently is not something that has been written off inside the Packers' offices.

There is no reason not to at least discuss Tebow for a backup position, considering the Packers' tenuous situation behind starter Aaron Rodgers. Matt Flynn's departure leaves former No. 3 quarterback Graham Harrell as the presumed No. 2, but it's fair to consider all options before making that promotion. A backup quarterback is expected to find a way to win games if pressed into duty, and if nothing else, Tebow has shown he can do that.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Newly re-signed Jarrett Bush said he only wanted to leave the Packers if he were offered a starting job elsewhere, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Free-agent center Jeff Saturday, who visited the Packers earlier this week, is scheduled to visit the Broncos, notes AFC West colleague Bill Williamson.
• The Packers have some interest in free-agent linebacker Manny Lawson, according to Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com looks at the Broncos' acquisition of Peyton Manning through the lens of the Minnesota Vikings' 2009 pursuit of Brett Favre.
• The Vikings signed fullback Jerome Felton, a former Detroit Lions draft pick whom they tried to claim on waivers last season. Mark Craig of the Star Tribune has more.
• Receiver/return man Ted Ginn Jr. is the latest free agent to visit the Vikings' facility. Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press traces the team's recent history with free-agent receivers.
• The Lions re-signed linebacker Ashlee Palmer, notes Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• Richardson also notes the Lions are trying to re-sign running back Kevin Smith.
• Lions defensive lineman Andre Fluellen has re-signed, writes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press: "Rather than chase big-name additions or marginal talent upgrades, general manager Martin Mayhew spent the last week ensuring the core of last year's wild-card team would remain intact."
• Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher on the acquisition of receiver Brandon Marshall, via ESPNChicago.com: "The only thing I worry about is him getting suspended. The NFL is pretty harsh on stuff like that. That's one thing I worry about, is him missing time."
• Bears coach Lovie Smith was at the Texas pro day to work out linebacker Keenan Robinson, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.

As we discussed Monday, two-year-old comments from Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy indicate that at one point he seemed interested in tutoring quarterback Tim Tebow. We haven't given McCarthy a chance to update his sentiments, but they have conspired to involve the Packers in the first round of media speculation about Tebow's next team.

To me, the most interesting part of the Packers angle is that they have absolutely no need for a starting quarterback, or even a competitor for the role, and won't for a long time. Tebow to Green Bay is a much different circumstance than Tebow to the Miami Dolphins or Tebow to the Jacksonville Jaguars or even the San Francisco 49ers. I have a hard time seeing the Packers giving up the same draft-pick compensation for a backup as other teams might for a potential starter.

But how certain are we that there will be a market of teams who want Tebow to compete for their starting job? What if he is viewed as a backup league-wide? If the trade market doesn't materialize, making Tebow available for a low pick or possibly as a free agent, then I suppose it's possible the Packers could take a flyer. In that scenario, there would be low risk, and I doubt they would be concerned about "Tebowmania" hitting Green Bay, considering how many high-profile players are already on their roster.

Again, I think the Packers make much more sense for Tebow than Tebow does for the Packers. There is no better place to go than Green Bay to learn how to play the quarterback position. But what's in it for the Packers?

I guess the best way to put it is that a backup quarterback is expected to find a way to win games in place of the starter, by whatever means necessary, and Tebow has demonstrated that competitive ability even through non-traditional methods.

Our ESPN.com blog network put together a chart of possible destinations for Tebow. I put the Packers in the "moderate" category. None of us really know what they're thinking, but I'm a bit intrigued.

Chicago Bears

Running back Kahlil Bell spent time Wednesday at UCLA working out with Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow.

Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune says the Bears are in the market for a tight end, but the options in this year's draft are minimal.

Detroit Lions

Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press says the risk outweighs the reward when it comes to defensive back Janoris Jenkins.

Barry Sanders is looking forward to the idea of seeing Jahvid Best and Mikel Leshoure on the field together in 2012.

Green Bay Packers

Coach Mike McCarthy says he's still trying to figure out how his team lost to the Giants in the playoffs.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers made an appearance and shagged some balls in the outfield at a Milwaukee Brewers spring training practice Wednesday.

Minnesota Vikings

Details of a tentative stadium agreement are expected to be revealed at a news conference Thursday morning.

With USC left tackle Matt Kalil on the Vikings' radar in next month's draft, the Pioneer Press' Bob Sansevere lists the top left tackles in team history.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Secondary play in Chicago and Minnesota: Between the two of them, the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings have maybe one or two defensive backs who should be considered 2012 starters heading into the offseason. Bears cornerback Charles Tillman qualifies, and perhaps Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield will as well if he returns healthy from a fractured collarbone. Otherwise, the Bears and Vikings need a serious overhaul to their defensive backfields. Both teams tried season-long rotations at safety, neither of which led to any personnel conclusions, and cornerback play outside of Tillman has been atrocious for both teams. It will probably be a multiyear process for these franchises to rebuild these positions. With Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Jay Cutler in this division, they better hurry.

2. Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings quarterback: We all remember ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer's harsh criticism of Ponder shortly after the draft. In brief, Dilfer said Ponder looks the part of an NFL quarterback but quickly falls from his comfort zone and loses accuracy under pressure. Dilfer softened some of that analysis after Ponder's relatively strong debut, but we should note that Ponder has been one of the NFL's worst quarterbacks against extra pass-rushers this season. According to ESPN Stats & Information, he is completing about 39 percent of his passes when opponents send five or more pass-rushers. The only player with less success against the blitz? Denver Broncos quarterback/running back Tim Tebow. It's not necessarily a warning sign if a rookie doesn't perform well under pressure, but to this point Ponder's performance hasn't veered much from Dilfer's original analysis.

3. Marion Barber, Bears running back: Barber's mental errors in a loss earlier this month to the Broncos, and his inability to keep his troublesome calf healthy, would seem to spell the end of his short tenure with the Bears. Kahlil Bell's hard-charging 123-yard performance Sunday night offers the Bears a much younger option for the role of backing up starter Matt Forte. It was a nice run, as they say.

RISING

1. Home-field advantage: The Packers have a quirky history when it comes to playing at home in the playoffs. In the big picture, the state of Wisconsin has provided one of the best home-field advantages in professional sports. The Packers are 15-3 all-time at home in the playoffs, including games played in Milwaukee. But those three losses have come in their past five playoff games at home: In 2003 to the Atlanta Falcons, in 2004 to the Vikings and 2007 to the New York Giants. One of the two victories, meanwhile, came in overtime to the Seattle Seahawks. Recently, at least, opponents haven't been intimidated by playing at Lambeau Field.

2. Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit Lions tight end: A significant debate erupted in 2009 when the Lions used the No. 20 overall pick to draft Pettigrew, passing up offensive lineman Michael Oher and receiver Percy Harvin, among others. But the Lions insisted that a multi-faceted tight end was critical to their offense, and they have followed through by utilizing Pettigrew as much as any team in the NFL. The Lions have used him as an extension of their running game, and although he is averaging a modest 8.7 yards per reception, his total of 76 catches ranks third among tight ends. By all accounts, Pettigrew is an excellent blocker as well. The Lions have gotten by this far with Jeff Backus and Gosder Cherilus as their tackles, minimizing the need for Oher. And while Harvin would have been a nice addition, the Lions have found value by signing veteran Nate Burleson and using a second-round pick to draft Titus Young.

3. T.J. Lang, Green Bay Packers offensive lineman: When the season began, how many people would have chosen Lang as the Packers' most valuable offensive lineman? Not me. Lang had been an inconsistent starter and player who couldn't find a position and was behind a rookie on the depth chart when the season began. But Lang outplayed first-round pick Derek Sherrod in camp to win the left guard job and has provided a seamless transition from departed starter Daryn Colledge. And when the Packers needed someone to jump over to right tackle after injuries to Bryan Bulaga and Sherrod, Lang successfully made the move. On Sunday night, at least, he held his own against Bears pass-rushers Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije. Center Scott Wells might be the Packers' best offensive lineman this season, but not many left guards could jump out to right tackle as well as Lang appeared to do Sunday night.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

FROM AN OUTPOST ALONG HWY. 29 IN WISCONSIN -- I've started the trek back to NFC North blog headquarters but wanted to stop and get the blog caught up. It also seemed like a good idea to get some sleep and sit out the wintry mix I'm seeing out the window.

Sunday night's wild finish in Dallas essentially added a contender to what is now a four-team wild-card race in the NFC. As the ESPN.com playoff standings show, the Detroit Lions currently hold of the No. 6 seed by virtue of their 8-5 record. At 7-6, the Chicago Bears are looking up at the Lions and Atlanta Falcons, but have the advantage over the 7-6 Dallas Cowboys because of a better conference record.

In the weekly ebb and flow of the NFL season, things are looking up for the Lions. They will get defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh back from his NFL suspension Monday and are set to face an Oakland Raiders team that I can tell you from first-hand observation is playing terribly right now.

The Bears are reeling at the moment. Normally I would say they have a favorable home matchup approaching Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, who will have a short week of practice after playing Monday night against the St. Louis Rams, but that's what I said about the Bears two weeks ago when they hosted the Kansas City Chiefs. Such is life….

Let's take a quick spin around the division, shall we?

• Bears running back Marion Barber made two crucial mistakes late in Sunday's 13-10 loss to the Denver Broncos. Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com takes you through them.
• Barber rarely speaks to the media and didn't break that policy after Sunday's game. Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Sun-Times wasn't impressed.
• Bears defensive end Israel Idonije thought he had a chance to block Matt Prater's 51-yard field goal in overtime, notes Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune.
• Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher offered an already-infamous quote about Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. Urlacher: "He’s a good running back."
• Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press after the Lions' victory against the Minnesota Vikings: "Wins are the only currency that counts in December. The Lions' 34-28 collective sigh of relief keeps them in the NFC playoff hunt, but they still resemble a team gunning for big game with nothing more than a cap pistol. This isn't a good team. It's a lucky team."
• Lions defensive end Cliff Avril, who has a career-high nine sacks, made a difference on the final play of the game. Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News takes us through it.
• The Lions are learning what it takes to sacrifice themselves for a playoff run, writes John Niyo of the News.
• Lions cornerback Alphonso Smith continues to be a playmaker, writes Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com.
• Green Bay Packers tailback Ryan Grant had a big day Sunday against the Oakland Raiders. Gary D'Amato of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel explains.
• Packers players are bracing for life without receiver Greg Jennings, who suffered a left knee injury Sunday. Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette has more.
• Tom Oates of the Wisconsin State Journal on the Packers gunning for 16-0: "That’s admirable, but is it prudent?"
• Tom Powers of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "Suddenly, the ghost of Joe Webb is hovering over the Vikings organization."
• Sunday showed that the Vikings need to get Webb on the field somehow, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Brian Murphy of the Pioneer Press goes behind the scenes on the final play of the game.
• The Vikings benched ineffective cornerback Cedric Griffin, who wasn't happy about it and hinted he wants to leave the organization. Mark Craig of the Star Tribune has more.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

The Green Bay Packers will play at least four, and potentially six, consecutive games outdoors on grass fields in cold-weather locales. That means it's time to get their running game in order. But just as they hit that stretch, the Packers are trying to figure out the best way to handle a series of injuries to lead runner James Starks.

As Kareem Copeland of the Green Bay Press-Gazette points out, Starks has been forced out of three consecutive games because of knee and ankle injuries. He hasn't practiced all week and it might make some sense to hold him out of Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders to allow for additional healing time.

The Packers have a strong fallback in veteran Ryan Grant, and rookie Brandon Saine has been seeing repetitions in recent weeks. But we all know how much of an impact Starks made on the Packers' run to the Super Bowl last season. For what it's worth, Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said that it might help to hold out Starks "from a freshness standpoint" but not a "football development standpoint" down the stretch.

The Packers have three regular-season games remaining at Lambeau Field and could have two playoff games if they win home-field advantage in the playoffs. Their only road game is in Week 15 at the Kansas City Chiefs.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Packers have 30 rushing plays this season that have lost yardage, notes the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Packers punter Tim Masthay has become a big-time weapon, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• The Detroit Lions are expecting the best shot Sunday from the Minnesota Vikings, writes Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• The New Orleans Saints went to extreme measures to defend Lions receiver Calvin Johnson last Sunday, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• John Niyo of the Detroit News: "The Calvin Rules are in full effect again, and it's up to [offensive coordinator Scott] Linehan and Matthew Stafford and Johnson's pass-catching teammates to take full advantage if the Lions are going to make the playoffs."
• Vikings receiver Percy Harvin suffered from migraine-like symptoms late last week, according to Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Mark Craig of the Star Tribune examines the "catch radius" of Vikings rookie tight end Kyle Rudolph.
• Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder needs to learn when to run and when not to, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Chicago Bears tailback Matt Forte is using a hyperbaric chamber to help his injured knee recover, notes Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune.
• The Bears don't have anything special planned for Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, according to Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• It appears that the Bears will start Craig Steltz in place of injured safety Major Wright (shoulder) this week, notes Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

ELIZABETH, N.J. -- Week 13 might have given us our most wild collection of games yet here in the NFC North.

You had the Green Bay Packers clinching the NFC North with a precision drive in the final 58 seconds of regulation at MetLife Stadium.

You had the Chicago Bears losing tailback Matt Forte to a sprained knee, possibly for the next two weeks, and losing to the Kansas City Chiefs, 10-3, at home. The margin of victory? An improbable Hail Mary at the end of the first half.

You had the Minnesota Vikings scoring 32 points with tailback Adrian Peterson sidelined by an ankle injury, only to be bested by a near-perfect passing day from Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow.

And finally, you had the Detroit Lions playing a closer-than-expected game at the New Orleans Saints, but ultimately absorbing a 14-point loss amid three costly personal fouls.

The series of events left the NFC playoff picture mostly unchanged from last week. If the season ended Monday, the Bears (7-5) and the Atlanta Falcons (7-5) would be the two wild-card teams. The Lions would be bumped out because of their loss earlier this season to the Falcons.

And away we go into the final quarter of the 2011 season. ...

• Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette: "Combine the Packers’ talent and confidence with their level-headed approach every week, and it’s an unbeatable combination. Winning isn’t just a goal for this team, it’s an expected result."
• Tom Oates of the Wisconsin State Journal on Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers: "If he hadn't won the award already, Rodgers clinched it by coming to New York and wowing everyone with a performance that illustrated perfectly how important he is to the NFL's reigning champion and best team."
• It sounds like Packers coach Mike McCarthy has decided whether he will rest his starters late this season, notes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com. McCarthy just isn't ready to talk about it.
• Packers tailback Ryan Grant, via Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "We feel like we're playing for greatness."
• Lions center Dominic Raiola was one of several players livid about the penalties in the postgame locker room, notes John Niyo of the Detroit News. Raiola shouted "Grow the [expletive up]" multiple times.
• Lions coach Jim Schwartz was critical of his team for the penalty total, according to Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press. Receiver Nate Burleson, who committed three offensive pass interference penalties, did not escape his wrath. Schwartz: "When there's tight coverage, you've gotta be able to create separation without a push-off."
• Schwartz said he won't play "guys who get penalties," according to Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• Via Twitter, Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy said: "All bad. WE gotta give yall better/smarter football. This is getting old."
• ESPN.com is reporting that Forte has a second-degree sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee, an injury that could cost him at least two games.
• The Kansas City Chiefs' only touchdown Sunday was a Hail Mary play a the end of the first half. Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher on the play, via Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com: "Same thing we always do: bat it down. The guy happens to catch that one. About 100 times, first time anyone's caught one."
• David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune: "[T]he Bears weren't beaten by an answered Chiefs prayer. They were beaten by their own godforsaken offense."
• Before you blame the loss on quarterback Caleb Hanie, writes the Tribune's Dan Pompei, don't forget that he had one touchdown pass called back and another that should have gone for a touchdown get intercepted.
• Bears receiver Roy Williams took the blame for causing that interception, according to ESPNChicago.com.
• Vikings coach Leslie Frazier was among those who was livid with the way the team's pass defense played against Tebow. Tom Pelissero's column over at 1500ESPN.com includes this quote from Frazier: "Just a poor job, and we've got to identify somebody who can come back there and make a play for us when the ball's in the air."
• Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder threw for 381 yards but also had three turnovers. Ponder, via Brian Murphy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "It's hard to look Jared Allen in the eyes and tell him I had two picks and a fumble and I cost us the game. You can't win ballgames that way in the NFL."
• Ponder got outplayed by Tebow, writes Jim Souhan of the Star Tribune.

A few thoughts on a wild game at the Metrodome with the Broncos winning 35-32:

What it means: In shades of their early-season struggles, the Minnesota Vikings lost another halftime lead and found a way to lose this game at the end. They are 2-10 and the best news is that they maintained their position near the top of the 2012 draft.

PonderWatch: We saw the best and worst of rookie quarterback Christian Ponder, who threw for 381 yards and three scores but also had two game-defining interceptions. Part of me wants to give Ponder credit for that kind of production in the absence of tailback Adrian Peterson. Ponder also appeared to be playing on a gimpy leg. But he threw his first interception into the hands of Mario Haggan, resulting in a 16-yard return for a score. And his second put the Broncos in position for Matt Prater's game-winning 23-yard field goal as time expired.

HarvinWatch: Receiver Percy Harvin, who missed practice Friday because of an illness, was the Vikings' big playmaker in the absence of Peterson. Harvin turned two short passes into long touchdown plays in the second half and finished with 156 receiving yards. He also took another five carries out of the backfield. I like the way the Vikings are using Harvin on offense under new coordinator Bill Musgrave.

Secondary woes: When Tim Tebow completes 10 of 15 passes against you for 202 yards and two scores, and isn't intercepted, you know you've got some issues in your secondary. Rookies Brandon Burton and Mistral Raymond saw plenty of action and, not surprisingly, struggled at times. The biggest insult: The Broncos' offense scored 28 points using basically a traditional offense. They didn't need to resort to the option and Tebow had only four carries.

Highlight reel: Rookie tight end Kyle Rudolph gave fans something to think about for the future by reaching over safety Quinton Carter to haul in a 19-yard touchdown reception. You can't ask more from a tight end in the red zone than to render the defender helpless with his size.

What's next: The Vikings will play at the Detroit Lions next Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge on Week 13:

Closing in: The Green Bay Packers have a great chance to clinch a playoff spot Sunday, regardless of what happens in their game at the New York Giants. (It can happen with a Packers victory, or a loss by one of the following teams: the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions or the Atlanta Falcons.) The Packers can also clinch the NFC North with a victory combined with a Lions loss to the New Orleans Saints. Even if they lose to the Giants, losses by the Lions and Bears this weekend would hand the division to the Packers. And then the real fun begins. The Packers' next goal would be to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and, possibly, a 16-0 regular season.

History: The Giants have lost three consecutive games and aren't expected to have defensive end Osi Umenyiora (ankle/knee) for this game. The Packers, meanwhile, have won 17 consecutive games, including the playoffs. But optimism in New York for an upset has centered, in part, on the Giants' history in such situations. On three occasions, the Giants have snapped an opponent's winning streak of 18 or more games. They beat the New England Patriots in 2004, the Denver Broncos in 1998 and the Chicago Bears in 1934. With that said, nothing has happened lately to suggest that these Giants are in position to make it a fourth time -- other than the fact that previous incarnations of their teams have pulled it off.

Must win: Let's be blunt: If the Bears want to participate in the 2011 postseason, they'll need to beat the Kansas City Chiefs at Soldier Field. The Chiefs have lost four consecutive games and are expected to start quarterback Tyler Palko, who has thrown six interceptions in the Chiefs' past two games. The other alternative is former Bears quarterback Kyle Orton, who has spent a week with the team. The Bears are 5-1 and are averaging 31.3 points per game at home this season, their only loss coming in Week 3 to the Packers. There is a general assumption that quarterback Caleb Hanie will settle down for his second NFL start, but the Chiefs' poor perimeter run defense could help tailback Matt Forte gobble up yards outside the tackles. (The Chiefs are allowing 5.7 yards per rush outside the tackles.) No matter how it happens, the Bears can't afford a loss Sunday.

Tough to win: As we noted earlier Friday, the Lions will have their work cut out for them Sunday night in stopping the New Orleans Saints' offense, which is particularly explosive at the Superdome. To be fair, it's worth noting that the Lions have a decent opportunity to score against the Saints' risk-taking defense. The Saints are giving up the sixth-most passing yards per game in the NFL this season (253.7) and have only six interceptions, tied for the second-lowest in the league. The fractured right index finger of Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has healed, and the Lions at least have the capacity to exchange blows in a shootout.

Defending Tebow: The Minnesota Vikings' beleaguered secondary will get something of a break this week against Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. The Vikings will be without four of the top five defensive backs they opened the season with, and on Sunday rookie Mistral Raymond will make his first NFL start. But the Broncos rarely throw downfield with Tebow and instead focus on their option running game. The Vikings will need to pay particular attention when Tebow is in the spread formation; the Broncos are averaging 6.5 yards per rush and have five rushing touchdowns when Tebow is in the shotgun.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

It's official. Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford won't be wearing his infamous gloves Sunday night when the Lions play at the New Orleans Saints. Chris McCosky of the Detroit News includes that information in this notebook.

Whether the gloves were a coincidental circumstance or a contributing factor, the numbers are undeniable: Stafford threw nine interceptions in the three games he wore gloves to protect a fractured right index finger. The finger has healed enough to allow him to play without the splint that the gloves were holding in place.

Stafford said playing without the gloves will be "more normal" but has steadfastly refused to blame them, or the injury, for his run of interceptions.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The Saints have learned how to deal with the adversity the Lions are experiencing, writes McCosky.
• Jamie Samuelsen of the Detroit Free Press cautions about drawing connections between Lions coach Jim Schwartz and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.
• Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette: "Barring an unexpected disciplinary ruling by the NFL this week, outside linebacker Erik Walden will start for the Green Bay Packers on Sunday against the New York Giants."
• Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel speaks with Evan Dietrich-Smith, who will man the Packers' right guard position for at least the next few weeks.
• Dietrich-Smith, via Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com: "It’s not really cool to be famous for getting stepped on, but it doesn’t really matter to me."
• Chicago Bears receiver/kick returner Devin Hester is dealing with a number of leg injuries that are preventing him from playing receiver, notes Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune.
• Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz on the decision to call a throwback screen Sunday at the Oakland Raiders, via Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times: "I've thrown that for 20 years, and it's never been anything but a good play. We didn't execute it well. And the ball got tipped. Screens aren't hard. It's just that something happened. I didn't think twice about the call."
• Melissa Isaacson of ESPNChicago.com examines the reduced production of Bears running back Matt Forte over the past three games.
• Minnesota Vikings coach Leslie Frazier isn't planning to lighten the load of prominent players down the stretch, according to 1500ESPN.com.
• Frazier on not using young players more liberally, via Mark Craig of the Star Tribune: "Well, you still want to give yourself a chance to win, without jeopardizing. You want to be smart about when you put a guy out there."
• Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press looks at the college rivalry between-now Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder and Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow.