SB Nation Chicago is continuing to gather NFL Week 14 picks from around the web for Sunday's matchup between the Chicago Bears and the Denver Broncos. The teams are heading in different directions, as Tim Tebow and the Broncos have been surging while Caleb Hanie and the Bears have been faltering. Vinnie Iyer of AOL Sporting News has released his picks for this week, and here is what he has to say about the Bears' chances:
This was supposed to be a showcase for Jay Cutler against his former team. Instead, it becomes the hard-luck Bears as the next team in line to lose to Tim Tebow. You can bet Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs will be ready to chase down Tebow as a runner, so it's important that Tebow takes some high-percentage shots in the middle of the field. Chicago has had trouble covering the tight end, and Tebow's two talented second-year wide receivers, Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, have good size...
...Still, this is the kind of game Tebow loves: physical, gritty and close. Stop if you've heard this before: He'll do something to set up a game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter.
Broncos 16, Bears 13.
As for the rest of the NFC North, here is how Iyer sees the action developing:
- The Green Bay Packers will rout the Oakland Raiders, 48-18.
- The Detroit Lions will bounce back against the Minnesota Vikings, 34-22.
Iyer is 127-65 for the year-to-date, and went 9-7 straight up in Week 13.
Stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Chicago Bears be sure to visit Windy City Gridiron. For Broncos analysis head to Broncos blog Mile High Report. Visit SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.