Matt Prater Named AFC Special Teams Player Of The Week

Denver Broncos kicker Matt Prater's efforts on Sunday against the Chicago Bears were crucial to the team's comeback victory, and Prater was rewarded on Tuesday by being named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. His two kicks were especially notable because they were both high-pressure and long distance attempts. The first, which tied the score at 10 in the final seconds and sent the game to overtime, covered 59 yards. The game-winner in overtime came from 51 yards out. Prater made a little history in the process:

With his performance against the Bears, he joined Indianapolis kicker Mike Vanderjagt (at Den., 11/24/02) as the only two players in NFL history to kick a 50+yard field goal with less than a minute remaining to force overtime in addition to kicking an overtime game winner from 50+ yards.

Next up for Prater and the Broncos, the New England Patriots.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more from around the league.

Denver Nuggets Coach George Karl Impressed With Tim Tebow

As excitement over Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos seems to grow by the week, even Denver Nuggets coach George Karl -- who is a Pittsburgh Steelers fan -- has gotten caught up in it. When asked about Tebow by media members, Karl had this to say:

"I’ve always felt that leadership by words is overrated – leadership by example, approach and attitude is what people follow. And passion and enthusiasm is contagious. There’s an energy that comes with that. He’s a guy who believes in himself, has a spiritual belief."

Karl added that there was no doubt in his mind that Denver would win after Matt Prater tied the score at 10. He was also asked which player might be Tim Tebow's NBA equivalent and suggested Spurs guard Manu Ginobili.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more in-depth coverage of Tim Tebow, head over to Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more from around the league.

'We Are Better Than [Denver],' Says Chicago Bears' Israel Idonije

Brian Urlacher Still Not Impressed With Tim Tebow

ANIMATED: Tim Tebow Celebrates Vs. Chicago Bears

Bears Vs. Broncos Final Score: Matt Prater Kicks Game-Winning FG For Denver's 13-10 Victory

They did it again. The Denver Broncos picked up another victory with Tim Tebow at the helm. After Tebow threw a touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas for the team's first score of the game and Matt Prater kicked the game-tying 59-yard field goal with seconds left in regulation, the Broncos saw Matt Prater kick a 51-yard field goal to win the game against the Chicago Bears.

While Tebow and Prater are certainly a big part of this victory, the Broncos should be thankful for Bears running back Marion Barber. He went out of bounds and stopped the clock on the Bears' final drive of regulation, allowing the Broncos to have enough time to stop the Bears from running out the clock. Then during overtime, the Bears were getting ready to set up for a field goal when Barber ran the ball, picked up decent yardage, had the ball stripped by Wesley Woodyard and saw Elvis Dumervil pick it up:

That turnover allowed Tebow to set up the drive that ended with the Matt Prater game winning field goal:

Just like his 59-yarder, Prater had more than enough leg on the kick to make this a successful one.

The Broncos are now 8-5 and 7-1 since Tim Tebow took over as starter. They are also on a six-game winning streak.

For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more

VIDEO: Matt Prater Nails Game-Tying 59-Yard Field Goal

Sometimes when we deal with Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos, we just need to stay quiet and stare in awe at what happens. Like on Sunday, when the Broncos score 10 points in the final two minutes of the game. Matt Prater kicked a 59-yard field goal with just seconds left in the game to tie it at 10. He was as cool as ice when kicking the field goal, one-upping Robbie Gould, who kicked a 57-yard field goal to set the Chicago Bears' franchise record.

Here's Prater's kick:

That's just one of the best kicks we'll ever see. High pressure, game on the line and he nails it. Tebow Time, it's not just for Tim Tebow.

For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more.

Bears Vs. Broncos Score: Tim Tebow Throws TD Pass To Demaryius Thomas

Tim Tebow might be in the process of making more of his late magic. He just threw a touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas to narrow the score to 10-7 in favor of the Chicago Bears.

Thomas has had a rough day, dropping several passes. His biggest miss was a deep bomb from Tebow that would have resulted in a touchdown and changed the course of the game. But here, Tebow steps right onto the line of scrimmage to make the throw to a wide open Thomas who is in the back of the end zone.

Tebow has one minute remaining in the game to deliver a game-winning score or the game-tying score. Is Tebow Time still ticking?

For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more

Denver Broncos Injury Update: Andre Goodman Sidelined By Concussion

While the Denver Broncos secondary hasn't had many issues containing the inconsistent Caleb Hanie, the Broncos will be forced to finish out the game without starting CB Andre Goodman. According to the Denver Broncos Twitter account, Goodman will miss the rest of the game after suffering a concussion.

@Denver_Broncos: #Broncos injury update: CB Andre Goodman has a concussion and will not return.

Goodman has started 12 games for Denver this season and has recorded 40 tackles. Goodman is in his 10th year in the NFL and combines with Champ Bailey to form one of the more experienced CB tandems in the NFL. With Goodman on the sideline, Chris Harris will play a key role as the Broncos look to fight back from a 10-0 deficit in the fourth quarter.

For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more.

VIDEO: Robbie Gould Kicks 57-Yard FG For Chicago Bears Record

The Denver Broncos have been on the wrong end of a couple of field goal records. In the season opener against the Oakland Raiders, Sebatian Janikowski tied the longest field goal record that Tom Dempsey and former Broncos kicker Jason Elam shared.

Then on Sunday afternoon, the Broncos allowed Robbie Gould to set the Chicago Bears' franchise record for longest field goal at 57 yards.

Gould came out onto the field for the field goal attempt with the start of the fourth quarter. Gould nailed it straight down the middle. There was no doubt about it ever going through the uprights. He gave the Bears a 10-0 lead and made Matt Prater's earlier blocked field goal loom large for the Broncos. However, Tim Tebow likes these situations.

For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more

Bears Vs. Broncos Score: Devin Hester Punt Return Sets Up Chicago Touchdown

The Chicago Bears have scored what might be the decisive drive of the game, as they now hold a 7-0 lead late in the third quarter. Britton Colquitt had pinned Devin Hester on the sidelines with his latest punt, but Hester did his thing and emerged with a 26-yard return and a drive to start on the Denver Broncos' 42-yard line. Marion Barber was instrumental on the drive, picking up 36 yards and the touchdown on the drive. Rookie safety Rahim Moore missed a couple of tackles on that drive, including the one that Barber shed to score the touchdown.

Are the Chicago Bears just being set up to be the latest victim of some late Tim Tebow magic? It certainly looks that way right now. Tebow wants those high pressure situations.

For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more

Bears Vs. Broncos Halftime Score: Ineffective Offenses Leave Game Tied At 0-0

The Denver Broncos and the Chicago Bears are deadlocked in a game of mostly harmless offenses. At halftime, the Broncos and the Bears are deadlocked at zero. Both teams had late opportunities to put points on the board and take what would have felt like an insurmountable lead. The Bears' last drive of the half stalled just a few yards into Broncos territory and resulted in Caleb Hanie nearly throwing an interception into the hands of Chris Harris. However, Harris wasn't able to come up with the pick, forcing the Bears to punt.

The Broncos attempted a 28-yard field goal on the previous drive, but it was blocked by three Bears players.

Tim Tebow had several nice runs, including a bruising (for his opponents) 16-yard first down run, but that was the drive that ended with the block. He is 3-of-13 for 45 yards with one interception. He's rushed the ball four times for 27 yards.

Willis McGahee, dealing with a knee injury, has been rotated in and out so far, picking up 33 yards on 12 carries Jeremiah Johnson and Lance Ball have already appeared in the game.

The Broncos have won the first half battle of ineffective offenses with 135 total yards to the Bears' 84.

For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more

VIDEO: Matt Prater Field Goal Blocked By Chicago Bears

The way Sunday's game between the Denver Broncos and the Chicago Bears is going, a field could decide the outcome of this contest. As it stands, the Broncos missed a chance at taking a 3-0 lead after three Bears defenders blocked Matt Prater's 28-yard field goal attempt. This was the first successful block of a Broncos field goal since 2005, according to Broncos PR Patrick Smyth.

The drive was promising enough. Tim Tebow had a 16-yard run on 3rd-and-15 to keep the drive alive in his own territory. A roughing the passer call put the Broncos inside Bears territory, but once the team entered the red zone the drive stalled and the team attempted the blocked field goal.

This game doesn't appear ready to open up the scoring anytime soon.

For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more

Denver Broncos Injury Update: Brian Dawkins, Robert Ayers Leave Game After Collision

The first quarter of Sunday's game between the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears unsurprisingly didn't include any scoring, but the Broncos' defense did take a hit when both safety Brian Dawkins and defensive end Robert Ayers were forced to leave the game with injuries. 

Both injuries occurred on the same play in a single collision, as Dawkins was driven directly into Ayers' back in the midst of a three-yard run by Bears running back Marion Barber. Both players were down after the play and have since left the game. Denver hasn't officially announced the status of either player yet, so it's unclear at this point whether either player will be good to return later in the game.

For updates on this Week 14 matchup, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more on this week's game, visit Windy City Gridiron, SB Nation's Chicago Bears blog, and Mile High Report, SB Nation's Denver Broncos blog. Mosey on over to SB Nation NFL for more from around the league.

Bears Vs. Broncos Score: Chicago, Denver Scoreless After 1st Quarter

The Chicago Bears and the Denver Broncos had a quiet start to the game on Sunday, as they are tied at zero after oe quarter. It was mostly an exchange of punts. The Bears' Caleb Hanie was often under pressure by the Broncos defense and was bull-rushed by D.J. Williams for a sack. The Broncos weren't getting anything on offense when Tim Tebow was using options plays.

When the Broncos did start to get some offense going, Tebow was making passes to Demaryius Thomas and Matthew Willis, bringing the team into Bears territory. However, Tebow threw an interception once he went in there. Charles Tillman caught the ball on the sideline while basically on top of Matthew Willis and was able to keep possession of the ball while also getting two feet on the ground.

For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more

Chicago Bears Injury Report And Inactives, Week 14: Matt Forte, Major Wright Inactive Against Denver

A Chicago Bears season that was proving to be as promising as any in recent memory has proven to be quite far from that, as injuries have piled up and left the Bears with a fraction of the team that began to look like a possible Super Bowl contender. First there was the potentially season-ending injury to Jay Cutler, but things were only compounded by the injuries that fellow starters Matt Forte and Major Wright suffered last week against Kansas City. Michael C. Wright of ESPN Chicago has the full list of inactives for the Denver game, which is shown below:

- QB Jay Cutler

- RB Matt Forte

- S Major Wright

- QB Nathan Enderle

- OG Ricky Henry

- TE Andre Smith

- DT Anthony Adams

The Bears aren't missing that many players, but the ones that are missing are integral to the team. Cutler was the crux of the Bears offense as a near-elite quarterback, and the team can't turn to Forte to handle some of that workload now that he's on the mend, as well. 

For updates on this Week 14 matchup, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog, Windy City Gridiron, and Broncos blog, Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more from around the league.

Denver Broncos Injury Report And Inactives, Week 14: Eddie Royal Out Against Chicago

The Denver Broncos are hoping to continue their stunning run towards the playoffs by beating the struggling Chicago Bears on Sunday. Denver has been one of the league's hotter teams of late, while the Bears have stumbled to consecutive losses since losing star quarterback (and former Bronco) Jay Cutler to a presumably season-ending thumb injury.

The Broncos recently released their inactives list for Sunday's game, which can be found on the team's official Twitter feed, but it's shown below:

- WR Eddie Royal

- FB Quinn Johnson

- LB Mike Mohamed

- OG Manny Ramirez

- OT Tony Hills

- TE Julius Thomas

- DE Derrick Harvey

The Broncos will miss Royal this weekend, but the good news is that running back Willis McGahee is active and expected to play today. It's been a disappointing year for Royal, who has just 18 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown in nine games.

For updates on this Week 14 matchup, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog, Windy City Gridiron, and Broncos blog, Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more from around the league.

Willis McGahee Injury Update: Denver Broncos RB Should Be Ready To Play Vs. Bears

Willis McGahee has turned a corner in his career since joining the Denver Broncos as a free agent this season, but the 30-year-old running back still needs extra rest in order to ensure that he is up for breaking through tackles. Entering Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears, McGahee is questionable for the contest. He is listed as having a knee issue. He missed the first two days of practice before having limited participation on Friday.

McGahee had sat out practices earlier in the season for extra rest, but isn't quite the same as those times. The last time McGahee was questionable for a game was against the New York Jets. He dealt with a hamstring injury and had one of his worst games of the season.

Still, he is expected to play in the game. Lance Ball and Jeremiah Johnson will be the next in line to pick up the carries if McGahee is unable to go or needs to have a lighter load.

For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more

Von Miller Injury Update: Denver Broncos LB 'Probable' Vs. Chicago Bears

The Denver Broncos defense should receive a big boost on Sunday afternoon when the Chicago Bears visit the Mile High City. Rookie linebacker Von Miller is expected to be back on the field for the Broncos after missing last week's road game against the Minnesota Vikings. He was limited in practice for the first two days of team activities and then had a full practice on Friday, leading to a "probable" status on the injury report.

Miller missed last week's game after having surgery to repair an injured thumb that occurred against the San Diego Chargers. He wanted to play, but the team was worried about the chance of infection had he played in the game. Without Miller in the lineup, Mario Haggan took over the spot and had an interception that he returned for a touchdown. However, overall, the Broncos defense allowed 32 points and we'll never know how things would have turned out had Miller been playing the strongside linebacker position.

Miller has 10.5 sacks and could have a great day tracking down Caleb Hanie. The rookie sack record of 14.5 is very much in sight.

For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more

Bears Vs. Broncos Odds And Lines: Denver Still Favored By A Field Goal Over Chicago

The Denver Broncos and the Chicago Bears will kick off a late Sunday afternoon with the Mile High team still favored by a field goal or so. The Broncos opened the week as three-point favorites, according to Odds Shark, and that line has more or less stayed consistent leading up to Sunday. A couple of odds makers moved the line by half of a point, but that isn't a huge increase in confidence for the Broncos in this game.

Injuries during the week prevented this line from moving in favor of the Broncos. Running back Willis McGahee missed the first two days of practice before returning on Friday. Rookie linebacker Von Miller was limited in practice but is probable for the game. Having Miller back on the field should help the Broncos defense crush a bogged down Chicago offense.

Though the Broncos and Vikings went over the expected points total by around double what was expected, the Bears and the Broncos will likely stay around the 35.5 points spread.

Visit Odds Shark for more Week 14 odds and lines. For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more

Bears Vs. Broncos: Game Time, TV Schedule, Radio Streaming And More

The Denver Broncos are facing the Chicago Bears on Sunday and we have all the details regarding television, radio and schedule information.

NFL Picks And Predictions, Week 14: AOL Sporting News Predicts More Tebow Magic For Broncos

SB Nation Denver is continuing to gather NFL Week 14 picks from around the web for Sunday's matchup between the Chicago Bears and the Denver Broncos. Tim Tebow and the Broncos are looking to keep it rolling at home this week, while Caleb Hanie and the Bears are hoping to stop the bleeding and regroup to stay in the NFC Wildcard race. Vinnie Iyer of AOL Sporting News has released his picks for this week, and here is what he has to say about the game:

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 AFC West, here is how Iyer sees the action developing:

• The Green Bay Packers will rout the Oakland Raiders, 48-18.
• The Kansas City Chiefs will lose on the road against Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets, 20-10.
• Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers will upend the struggling Buffalo Bills 31-17 in Iyer's Lock of the Week.

Iyer is 127-65 for the year-to-date, and went 9-7 straight up in Week 13.    

For updates on this Week 14 matchup, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more from around the league.

Charles Barkley Is 'Tebowed Out'

Willis McGahee Injury Update: Denver Broncos RB Expected To Play Vs. Chicago Bears, According To Report

Though he is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee is fully prepared to play, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. McGahee missed the first two days of practice with a knee injury before returning to the practice field on Friday afternoon.

McGahee has proven that he was capable of resurgence as a 30-year-old running back in the league after down years in Baltimore the previous two seasons. He has six 100-yard rushing games this season and is on pace to crack 1,000 yards for the first time since 2007.

If McGahee doesn't play or has reduced carries in the game, expect Lance Ball and Jeremiah Johnson to split carries. And, of course, plenty of Tim Tebow using his legs.

For updates on this Week 14 matchup, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on this week’s game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more from around the league.

Bears Injury Report, Week 14: Chicago Without Their Starting QB And RB Against The Denver Broncos

Over the past five weeks, Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos (7-5) have needed to score just 16 or more points in order to win their games. In Week 14 against the Chicago Bears (7-5), that number may be even lower.

The Bears' Friday injury report announced they will be without their two, most important offensive cogs in Matt Forte and Jay Cutler. Missing since he broke his thumb in a Week 11 game against the San Diego Chargers, Jay Cutler had been in the middle of arguably his best season since the Broncos traded him to Chicago, leading the Bears to a 7-3 record.

With Cutler sidelined possibly for the rest of the regular season, the Bears offense had to lean on their star running back Matt Forte. But Forte went down in the Bears' Week 13 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, leaving the rushing duties to backup running back Marion Barber.

As a result, the Bears scored only 3 points in their loss to the Chiefs. Backup QB Caleb Hanie threw three interceptions and Barber rushed for only 44 yards as the offense could not take advantage of the generous field position their defense and special teams continuously gave them.

Also out for the Bears this Sunday is starting safety and second-year pro from Florida, Major Wright. Wright has started only 8 games in the 2011 season, so the Bears figure to fill the safety position admirably with the likes of either Pro-Bowler Brandon Meriweather or up-and-coming Craig Steltz.

For updates on this Week 14 matchup, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on this week’s game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more from around the league.

Denver Broncos Injury Report, Week 14: Von Miller Probable; Willis McGahee, Eddie Royal Probable

The Denver Broncos have released their Friday injury report in anticipation of their matchup against the Chicago Bears on Sunday:

Probable

LB Von Miller
LT Ryan Clady
FS David Bruton
DT Mitch Unrein
RB Jeremiah Johnson

Questionable

RB Willis McGahee
WR Eddie Royal

The good news for Broncos fans is that running back Willis McGahee -- the veritable keystone to their rushing attack -- practiced today. McGahee, who has struggled with injuries all year, but missed only one game, leads the team in rushing yards, sporting 886 yards on the ground while averaging 4.9 per carry.

Rookie sensation Von Miller, who has also appeared on a number of injury reports over the last two months, missed the Bronco’s Week 13 win against the Minnesota Vikings while dealing with his thumb injury. Miller leads the team with 10.5 sacks.

Other notable injuries include WR Eddie Royal (153 receiving yards, 1 TD through 7 starts) and starting left tackle Ryan Clady, who has not missed a start in the 2011 season despite struggling with a knee issue.

For updates on this Week 14 matchup, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on this week’s game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more from around the league.

Willis McGahee Injury Update: Broncos' Running Back Returns To Practice On Friday

The Denver Broncos get a bit of good news heading into their Week 14 matchup with the Chicago Bears, as running back Willis McGahee returned to practice on Friday. He has been sitting out the last two days, but was still expected to play on Sunday anyways. Now the team has confirmed that McGahee has been able to resume practice, which lends some credence to the idea that he will be ready to go on Sunday. Here is exactly what the team had to say via Twitter about the running back's return:

For updates on this Week 14 matchup, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more from around the league.

NFL Picks and Predictions, Week 14: Denver Broncos A Near Unanimous Pick By ESPN Panel

The eight-man panel at ESPN has weighed in on the Week 14 matchup between the Chicago Bears and the Denver Broncos, and ESPN's staff is in near complete agreement that Tim Tebow and the Broncos will win. The panel is 7-1 in favor of Denver, with Mike Golic as the only dissenter in the group. Here is the rundown for other teams within the AFC West:

• An 8-0 sweep by the panel in predicting Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets will defeat Tyler Palko the Kansas City Chiefs.
• Complete consensus that Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers will beat the Oakland Raiders.
• Yet another 8-0 agreement favoring the San Diego Chargers in their matchup against the Buffalo Bills.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Denver for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Denver Broncos be sure to visit Mile High Report. Visit SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.

Denver Broncos Vs. Chicago Bears Miscellaneous Odds

Denver Broncos Injury Report, Week 14: Willis McGahee Misses Thursday's Practice; Von Miller Limited

Broncos running back Willis McGahee missed practice for the second consecutive day on Thursday, but there may not be too much for fans to be worried about in this case, as McGahee appears likely to play against the Bears on Sunday. Wide receiver Eddie Royal also missed Thursday's practice; a concussion suffered in the team's win in Minnesota is what has him sidelined.

Offensive tackle Ryan Clady returned after missing Wednesday's practice, though his participation was limited. Safety David Bruton and linebacker Von Miller also were limited Thursday; Miller is trying to work his way back onto the field after being held out of Denver's Week 13 contest.

Safety Quinton Carter, running back Jeremiah Johnson and defensive tackle Mitch Unrein were listed as full participants.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more from around the league.

Chicago Bears Injury Report, Week 14: Major Wright Held Out Of Practice Thursday

The Chicago Bears have been dealt some very tough blows in recent weeks, as they've lost quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forte to significant injuries. Cutler may not return until the playoffs (should the Bears make the playoffs), while Forte could be sidelined for several more weeks. Forte did not participate in Thursday's practice, not surprisingly, and the Bears were also without safety Major Wright, who is recovering from a shoulder injury suffered in Week 13.

Rounding out Chicago's Thursday injury report are defensive tackle Anthony Adams, linebacker Brian Urlacher and cornerback Charles Tillman, who fully participated after being limited on Wednesday. Those three sound like they'll be ready to go for Sunday's game.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more from around the league.

Willis McGahee Injury Update: Denver Broncos RB Misses Practice On Thursday, Still Likely Vs. Chicago Bears

Another day and another missed practice for Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee. However, this all just appears to be a way of getting McGahee more rest for the game against the Chicago Bears. According to MaxBroncos' Andrew Mason:

It was "not really" a surprise that Willis McGahee didn't practice today, John Fox said, adding, "The key is getting ready for Sunday."

Since McGahee was held out of practice, the team needs to list a reason why he was out when the league-mandated injury report comes out. This knee injury goes along with his legitimate ones of a hamstring and a broken hand. He missed earlier practices with back issues.

While McGahee has had a resurgence as a 30-year-old running back, the extra rest time will surely help him down the stretch while the Broncos battle for a playoff spot. He has six 100-yard rushing games this season and will go over 1,000 yards for the first time since 2007.

For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more

Von Miller Injury Update: Denver Broncos LB Practices On Thursday

Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller appears ready to play on Sunday against the Denver Broncos. After a limited practice on Wednesday, Miller returned to the practice field at the start of Thursday during the session open the the media, reports Lindsay Jones of the Denver Post. Miller missed last week's game against the Minnesota Vikings after having surgery on his thumb, which he injured during the previous week's game against the San Diego Cardinals.

The Broncos defense allowed 32 points in the victory, which could have been partially as a result of missing Miller. However, we cannot claim post hoc ergo propter hoc with Miller's injury. But Miller certainly wants to get back on the field He could have a big day against Caleb Hanie.

Miller has 10.5 sacks in 11 games before the injury. He is still on pace to break the rookie sack record Jevon Kearse set with 14.5 in 1999.

For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more

Willis McGahee Injury Update: Denver Broncos RB Misses Practice, Ready To Play Vs. Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee missed Wednesday's practice, but he appears ready to go for Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears. After sitting out practice with what was listed as a knee injury, McGahee eventually said that he was going to play, reports Lindsay Jones of the Denver Post.

McGahee has sat out Wednesday practices earlier in the season in order to provide his 30-year-old body with extra rest. He has missed only one game this season, not playing in the 45-10 loss to the Detroit Lions. Other than that, McGahee has played through a broken hand and a hamstring injury.

He's held up remarkably well since becoming the team's starting running back in Week 2. He has six 100 yard rushing games this season. His original role was expected to be as a goal line back and to pound the ball on short-yardage situations that Knowshon Moreno was unable to get. As it turned out, Moreno was unable to stay healthy and was inconsistent as well (before a torn ACL ended his season prematurely).

For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more

Week 14 NFL Picks And Predictions: Fox Sports' Peter Schrager Is All In On Tim Tebow, Denver Broncos

Keep Fox Sports' Peter Schrager in the avowed Tim Tebow Fan Club. In his weekly cheat sheet, Schrager selects the Denver Broncos to win a close game against the Chicago Bears, 23-18. And the reason why? "All Tim Tebow does is win," obviously. There's no analysis and Schrager doesn't even mention Tebow by name. All he does include is:

Chicago at Denver: Like last week, this video is all I have to say: Watch it. Learn it. Love it. All he does is win, win, win.

The video is totally safe for work. It's just a photo of Tebow's head placed on someone's body in a song about "All I do is win." Schrager is certainly going with the flow on Tebow here. Is he going to get caught in an undertow or a riptide if Tebow stops winning?

Certainly we should enjoy this Tim Tebow success for as long as it last, but let's have a bit less of that video.

For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more

Chicago Bears Injury Report, Week 14: Matt Forte, Major Wright Don't Participate On Wednesday

The Chicago Bears are battling some major injuries right now as the team tries to keep its head above water in the NFC wild card race. Once 7-3 and looking like a serious contender, the Bears now sit at 7-5 with a rudderless offense. Quarterback Jay Cutler isn't likely to be back this season, and running back Matt Forte is now out as well. They're depending on Caleb Hanie and Marion Barber, and it just hasn't gone well. 

Here is Chicago's full injury report, which can be found here:

Full Partcipation

- DL Henry Melton

Limited Participation

- LB Brian Urlacher

- CB Charles Tillman

- DT Anthony Adams

Did Not Participate

- S Major Wright

- RB Matt Forte

Out

- QB Jay Cutler

Overall, the Bears are just banged up right now. Losing quarterback Jay Cutler forced the team to ask more of the defense, and you can see it in the injury report. Starters Brian Urlacher, Charles Tillman and Anthony Adams were limited in practice, while starting safety Major Wright didn't practice and may not play on Sunday. It's too late in the year to really look for reinforcements, though, so Chicago's depth will continue to be challenged.

For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Keep tabs on SB Nation Denver, too. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more football.

Denver Broncos Injury Report, Week 14: Von Miller Limited, Willis McGahee Out On Wednesday

The Denver Broncos are facing the Chicago Bears on Sunday as they hope to continue their stunning success, and the hope is that they'll have star linebacker Von Miller back in time for the game. He was limited in practice on Wednesday according to the team's official injury report, but the hope is that he'll be ready for Sunday. The full injury report is shown below, but you can find it here: 

Full Participation

- S Quinton Carter

- RB Jeremiah Johnson

- DT Mitch Ulrich

Limited Participation

- LB Von Miller

Did Not Participate

- OT Ryan Clady

- RB Willis McGahee

- WR Eddie Royal

The other big names here are running back Willis McGahee and wide receiver Eddie Royal. McGahee is dealing with knee issues while Royal is battling a concussion he suffered last week. 

For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Keep tabs on SB Nation Denver, too. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more football.

Willis McGahee Injury Update: Denver Broncos RB Misses Practice With Knee Issue

Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee has battle through a hamstring injury and a broken hand. Now he is dealing with a knee injury, reports Lindsay Jones of the Denver Post. He missed practice on Thursday. However, head coach John Fox has previously let McGahee out of practice when he felt the running back needed rest. The 30-year-old back certainly needs more rest than those younger than him, but he has had a resurgence in his career after signing with the Broncos.

After rushing for 111 yards against the Minnesota Vikings, McGahee now has six 100-plus yard rushing games this season and 886 yards in 11 games. He is on pace to crack 1,000 rushing yards for the first time since the 2007 season.

Lance Ball and Jeremiah Johnson will be ready to go if this is a serious injury, which it doesn't appear to be right now.

For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more

Matt Forte Injury Update: Chicago Bears RB Receives Platelet Injection To Speed Up Recovery

Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte is going to miss this Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos with an MCL tear and he could miss several games after that. However, on Tuesday he received a platelet rich plasma injection, according to Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times. The PRP injection is supposed to help speed up recovery, but it is unknown how soon he will be able to return to the field. He is still expected to miss anywhere from two to six weeks.

The Chicago Bears currently hold the No. 5 seed in the NFC playoff picture and a loss to the Broncos would be a major blow to the team's chances at playing in the postseason. After the Broncos, the Bears face the Seattle Seahawks, the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings. Outside of the Packers game, the other two are very winnable, even with Caleb Hanie at quarterback. Getting Forte back for any of those game would provide an even bigger boost of morale.

Still, no one should hold their breath for a Bears vs. Broncos game that could possibly feature Jay Cutler at quarterback. That more improbable than what Tim Tebow is doing with the Broncos right now.

For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more

Week 14 NFL Picks And Predictions: Denver Broncos Receiving Kiss Of Death Against Chicago Bears?

The Denver Broncos appear to ready to make a clean sweep of things this week among the NFL experts selections, at least based on what CBS Sports' panel of five experts have done. In a straight pick 'em the CBS sports group of five have all selected the Broncos to defeat the Chicago Bears on Sunday. It's actually a solid choice, given the Bears' struggles against the Kansas City Chiefs in a 10-3 loss last Sunday. And, as has been noted for a few weeks, quarterback Jay Cutler is out for the game. Running back Matt Forte will also be out for the game.

It seems almost too good to be true for the Broncos in this game, and the experts are expecting the Broncos to win. Yet, this also seems like it could turn into the kiss of death. Of course, when the selection went up against the spread, only Peter Prisco selected the Bears to stop the Broncos from covering the 3.5 point spread.

A 7-1 record under Tim Tebow certainly looks in sight for the Broncos, but are we discounting the Bears too early?

For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more

The Tebow Effect: Winning = $$$

Matt Forte Injury Could Lead To Kahlil Bell, Marion Barber Splitting Backfield For Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears will be without running back Matt Forte for a couple of a weeks, at the least, which will force the team to go to Marion Barber III and Kahlil Bell until the star back's return. On Monday, Bears head coach Lovie Smith hinted that there will likely be a tandem running back going forward (via ESPN Chicago's Michael C. Wright):

Lovie on Barber: "He's a different running back than Matt Forte. Kahlil can probably do more of the things that Matt Forte does."

Bell has seen limited time in the league since he entered the league in 2009. He had 40 carries for 220 yards as a rookie with the Bears but then was inactive for the entire 2010 season. He has just 15 carries for 57 yards this season.

Barber, meanwhile, has played sparingly as well this season with Forte as the feature back/. He has 281 yards on 76 carries. The Bears certainly hope the team will have better success in replacing Forte for the duration than Caleb Hanie has done in place of Jay Cutler.

For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more

Week 14 NFL Lines And Odds: Bears Vs. Broncos

The Denver Broncos are fresh off a 35-32 last-second victory over the Minnesota Vikings on the road. Now the Broncos return to Denver to host the Chicago Bears. They opened as three-point favorites over the Bears, according to Odds Shark. A couple of other lines have the Broncos favored by half of a point more, but essentially this game is still a close call for the odds makers.

It was surprising last week that the Vikings were favored over the Broncos, but that game certainly turned out to be more than what Denver would have bargained for on Sunday. But favoring the Broncos in this game makes sense. The Bears are without quarterback Jay Cutler, who broke his thumb a couple of weeks ago. Former Colorado St. Rams quarterback Caleb Hanie is the starter for now, but Donovan McNabb is available to be picked up. Additionally, running back Matt Forte appears to be out for the game after an MCL sprain took him out of Sunday's 10-3 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The over/under for this game opened at 36 points and moved up by half of a point. Despite the offensive explosion the Broncos had and allowed in Sunday's game, this one could very well reach 36 points combined.

Visit Odds Shark for more Week 14 odds and lines. For more on this week's game, visit Bears blog Windy City Gridiron and Broncos blog Mile High Report. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more

Matt Forte Injury Update: Chicago Bears RB Reportedly Out For At Least Two Weeks

The Chicago Bears will reportedly be without running back Matt Forte for at least two more weeks after he sprained his MCL on Sunday. Marion Barber will replace him in the lineup.