Three-and-out: Cardinals shoot for winning turnaround
Three-and-out: Packers seek home field sans Greg Jennings


By Nate Davis, USA TODAY

A brief lookahead to Week 15's New England-Denver game:

  1. Important game for both teams. The Broncos are trying to hang onto their one-game AFC West lead. The Patriots are one of four 10-3 teams in the conference, though if the season ended now, they would not receive a first-round bye. A win keeps them in the race for a week off next month and also brings the ninth AFC East title of the 12-year Bill Belichick era.
  2. Player to watch -- Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez: He doesn't get the pub of record-setting wingman Rob Gronkowski, but Hernandez is plenty dangerous (59 rec., 607 yards, 5 TDs). Defending Gronkowski and WR Wes Welker should cause plenty of stress for Denver's pass defense, but quick strikes to Hernandez are another option Belichick can employ to short-circuit the Broncos' formidable pass rush.
  3. Matchup to watch -- Patriots QB Tom Brady vs. Broncos QB Tim Tebow: Who are we kidding? This is the most scrutinized showdown of Week 15 and will draw CBS loads of eyeballs. Brady is essentially playing at the same level that won him the MVP award in 2010 and has thrown one INT in the last five games (the one that led to a screaming match with OC Bill O'Brien last Sunday). But the Broncos historically flummox Brady; including playoffs, he's 1-6 all-time vs. Denver. Tebow takes aim at what is statistically the NFL's worst defense and worst pass defense, though whether his scattershot arm can take advantage remains to be seen. But given his inability to produce scoring drives before the fourth quarter, New England could well force the game onto Tebow's wing very early if its AFC-best scoring offense (30.5 ppg) gets in gear out of the chute.
Three-and-out: Cardinals shoot for winning turnaround