In Denver, the final day of 2006 is all about San Francisco.
Beat the not-so-scary 49ers, and move on to the playoffs. That’s all the Broncos care about. They know a victory today over the 49ers at Invesco Field at Mile High will give them the No. 5 seed and a wild-card game next weekend, likely at New England, a team the Broncos have beaten three times in the past 14 months.
A victory would more than help erase the memory of a four-game losing streak that nearly capsized their season.
“We know what we need to do,” Denver safety John Lynch said. “We’ve been playing playoff football the past few weeks. We have to win to continue to play.”
But there is far more to the final day of the year, with intriguing story lines throughout the NFL. As the season winds to a close, a look at 10 key things to watch for that will have great bearing heading into the new year.
Sunday stories tell postseason tales
Several unsolved mysteries will be determined in topsy-turvy league
Out with the old and in with the new. The defending Super Bowl champion Steelers will end their season today, but when the calendar turns 12 teams will be left standing with a chance to replace them as champions. The final hours of 2006 will have great impact on the start of 2007 throughout the NFL. The coaching carousel also is sure to begin spinning as the U.S. rings in the new year. NFL reporter Bill Williamson lists 10 things to watch today that will impact 2007:
Pack of losers
Five 7-8 teams in the NFC – Atlanta, Carolina, Green Bay, New York and St. Louis – are vying for the sixth and final spot in the playoffs. All five must play on the road. The tiebreaker scenarios make solving a Rubik’s Cube seem simple by comparison.
Never in a nonstrike season has a team with a losing record made the playoffs. Having a .500 team in the postseason is not ideal, but at least the league can spin that it makes for an exciting finish. It says here that the five-way scrum of losers is more an indictment of the lousy football being played in the NFC.
The rookie QBs
The quarterback class of 2006 could go down as one of the best. The first-round picks of Tennessee’s Vince Young, Arizona’s Matt Leinart and Denver’s Jay Cutler has the making of the best quarterback class since 1983, which boasted Hall of Famers John Elway, Jim Kelly and Dan Marino. We’re a long way from guaranteeing that Young, Leinart or Cutler will be enshrined at Canton, but this will be a special group. This will be a much more productive group than the highly touted but underachieving class of 1999.
Cutler and Young have a chance to lead their teams into the playoffs. Cutler’s Broncos have a much easier road than Young’s Titans, but Young can cement his case for NFL offensive rookie of the year honors with a strong showing against New England.
Can Colts stop the run?
The Indianapolis defense is giving up rushing yardage at a horrifying clip for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Former Bronco Ron Dayne looked like Earl Campbell against the Colts last week. Halfway through the season, the Colts were the favorites to win the Super Bowl. Now, because of a defensive collapse that has led to four losses in their past six games, the Colts are trying to hold on to the No. 3 seed with a win over Miami.
Against a meager Dolphins running attack, the Colts should be able to prevail and at least get a home playoff game.
Texas-sized problems
The Cowboys are the NFC’s version of the Colts, falling apart before our eyes. Earlier this month, the Cowboys were the sexy choice to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. Quarterback Tony Romo was hot and the Cowboys won five in a row. Now, Dallas has lost two of three. It will lose the NFC East title and have to settle for a wild-card spot if the Eagles beat the Falcons at home.
There are big concerns in Dallas. Romo no longer looks like Roger Staubach and receiver Terrell Owens is dropping passes, and complaining. What a shock. The Cowboys have to get right against Detroit to get ready for the playoffs.
Cowher bowing out?
Steelers coach Bill Cowher has said he will reveal his plans shortly after the season-ending game against Cincinnati. There are rampant rumors Cowher, the dean of NFL coaches, will retire after a miserable season for the defending Super Bowl champions.
If he steps down at Pittsburgh, look for Cowher to coach again in the NFL, perhaps as soon as 2008 in Washington after Joe Gibbs retires.
Will Favre play in January?
Football fans across the country are rooting for the Packers to emerge from the 7-8 cluster in the NFC and make the playoffs. Why? Because of Brett Favre, naturally.
It would be a great playoff story line to see Favre back in the postseason for perhaps the last time. At 37, Favre isn’t going to have many more chances, so it could be a special postseason treat to see the gunslinger play in January again. But the overachieving Packers might have to win at Chicago to get in.
Where will surging Jets land?
While the Saints are the story of the NFC, the Jets are the surprise tale of the AFC. The Jets are 9-6 and will clinch a playoff spot if they win at home against the hapless Raiders. The Jets were 4-12 last season and were expected to be horrible under Eric Mangini, who at 35 is the youngest coach in the NFL. But now they are a win away from being in the playoff mix, and Mangini is a strong coach-of-the-year candidate.
Charging in San Diego
The Chargers can take control of the AFC playoff hunt with a victory over Arizona in San Diego. Because of their firepower on both sides of the ball, the Chargers (13-2), who have won nine consecutive games, are primed to win their first Super Bowl. Securing the home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs will be a major step toward reaching that goal.
Help wanted
This will be the final game for several NFL head coaches. Cowher has the choice whether to step down. Among the coaches who don’t have a choice but are on the hot seat are the Giants’ Tom Coughlin, Arizona’s Dennis Green, Atlanta’s Jim Mora, Oakland’s Art Shell, Cleveland’s Romeo Crennel and Tampa Bay’s Jon Gruden.
Prime-time audition
Eagles quarterback Jeff Garcia is playing for much more than an NFC East title. He is playing for a starting spot next year. The journeyman is experiencing a career resurgence while helping lead Philadelphia to the playoffs after Donovan McNabb went down with a season-ending knee injury. Garcia, 36, could be a candidate for a starting job elsewhere next season.
Teams such as Oakland, Minnesota, Houston and Tampa Bay might take a look at Garcia, who could edge out Jake Plummer as the best quarterback likely to be available in the offseason.
Staff writer Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
