If anything, Thursday Night Football truly set the tone for Week 14 and we now know that this weekend of football is going to be filled with one hard fought, brutal contest after another because there isn't one team out there comfortable with the prospect of losing another game.

That means come tomorrow, every team taking the field is going to dig deep and give their opponent everything they've got because losing is no longer an option and it should be fascinating to see what will happen with teams that have to win to keep their season alive, or how the teams with targets painted on their backs respond to adversity. Either way, we are in for some incredible games tomorrow and here are the ones that we will definitely keep an eye on.

Despite the fact that the Denver Broncos won last week, there is still plenty of concern in the Mile High City as to whether or not the team can rely on the offense to win a game. After all, the offensive line didn't do Paxton Lynch any favors since he was under fire all day long, the run game was non existent and speaking of Lynch, he also struggled with his accuracy. All of these concerns are valid simply due to the fact that the Broncos are going up against a Titans team that well...is pretty darn decent on offense. They can run the ball, Marcus Mariota is learning how to play quarterback in the NFL and the key to Denver winning this one is for the offense to help out. That means somehow, the Broncos have to figure out how to run the ball and keep whichever QB starts, since Trevor Siemian is still questionable for this game, safe; and if they can't do that, then the defending champions are going to be in for one long day...and possibly see their shot at the playoffs fade away.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in quite the unique situation right now. They're tied with Baltimore for first place in the AFC North and as fate would have it, the Ravens face off against the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football and let's be honest...there's a fair chance that the Ravens will lose against a resurgent and angry Tom Brady. Which means the path to the playoffs becomes crystal clear for Pittsburgh. If the obvious goes down and Baltimore loses...all the Steelers have to do is beat the Bills and they find themselves atop the AFC North and in control of their playoff destiny. But one question remains, can they beat the Bills? Well I think the answer to that question is a resounding yes. If anything, Buffalo has proven that they are strictly a mediocre team at best so if the Pittsburgh defense can contain Tyrod Taylor and the Steelers can unleash their passing game, they can continue to bask in one sweet victory while they tune in to Monday Night Football to watch the Patriots lend them a hand.

The Houston Texans are about to take part in their biggest game of the year. This embattled team, on paper, was supposed to be quite the upgrade with a brand new QB and RB to take the offense to new heights. But none of that has worked out as planned and after enjoying a comfortable lead in the AFC South, their entire season may come down to this game. If Houston loses this one, the Colts take over first place in the division and considering how competitive the AFC is this year, a loss could also knock them out of the playoffs, signaling the end of the Texans season. So if there was ever an opportunity for this rattled squad to show the league just how talented they are, this is it. But truth be told, I don't think Houston wins this game. Osweiler simply isn't ready to be a starter in this league yet, and they've only won on the road once this season, so don't be shocked to see a resurgent Indianapolis take control of their playoff destiny and send the Texans home with their seventh loss of the season.

Of all the games taking place this weekend, this is the one that may turn out to be the 'game of the week'. It's an NFC East Divisional matchup for starters and well...there's a good chance that this one is going to be a clash of the titans. The New York Football Giants are having one heck of a year and you know they are itching to prove their worth to the league by beating the Dallas Cowboys and well...it is possible for them to pull off such a feat, but it likely won't happen. This team has to contend with the most dynamic and powerful offense in the game right now, and Dallas will make life difficult for the New York defense by scoring at will, But don't expect the Giants to just roll over and lose, Eli Manning will no doubt attack the mediocre Dallas defense, airing it out to his talented receivers to try and hang with the Cowboys. So while the Cowboys will likely walk away with another win, I fully expect the New York Giants to do everything they can to draw Dallas into a shoot out.

Four weeks. That's all that remains of the NFL Regular Season, which means every single team is going to buckle down and play some incredible football this weekend since every game matters from here on out, making for some incredible stories that we will no doubt be discussing for days on end so let's not waste any time today and get right into some of the top stories that we will be keeping an eye on from Week 14 in the NFL.

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Will the return of Robert Griffin III make a difference for the Cleveland Browns?
The Cleveland Browns are a team without focus, direction or hope as they continue to lose one game after another, inching closer to the ever embarrassing possibility of becoming the second team in the NFL to go 0-16. But for the first time in a long time, the team received some good news this week since Robert Griffin III, their prized free agent acquisition, was cleared to practice this week and will start at QB this Sunday when the Browns host the Bengals, and that is a big deal for one reason and one reason alone...RG3 may finally be the spark that this team needs to do something special on offense. He may be a QB that is injury prone, but if Coach Jackson allows for Griffin to improvise in the pocket and scramble about there's a good chance he can make some incredible plays that may finally inspire this team to be something more. Granted his return doesn't necessarily mean all of the problems for this team are fixed but seeing a QB take the field that can actually score points for this team is an exciting prospect for certain.

Who will take control of the AFC West? 
Thursday Night Football is often hit or miss when it comes to the quality of games that it provides us with but tonight's game...well this is one to be excited about. Because after weeks of buildup, the Raiders and Chiefs take the field one more time and the winner of this one, will likely find themselves in control the coveted AFC West which means...this is going to be one incredible football game, and considering how these two teams have been playing the last few weeks, I think it's safe to say that this one will not be a game that starts off slow. These two teams are going to go right at it in a furious effort to establish an early lead and bend their opponent to their will so expect plenty of scoring and plenty of nail biting moments in what could be the finest game of the week.

Can the Colts take the lead in the AFC South?
Not that long ago, the Houston Texans, despite their obvious flaws on offense, were more or less expected to make the playoffs due to the fact that everyone else in their division was downright awful. But things have gone from bad to worse in Houston as they continue to lose game after game and to make matters worse, the Indianapolis Colts are getting better week by week which means this weekend's matchup between the two of them an important one because if the Colts win, they take the lead in the AFC South and well...there's a strong possibility they will be able to pull this off. For starters the Texans are 1-5 on the road this season and they're riding a three game losing streak. Whereas the Colts are coming off of an epic win over the Jets and they're itching for a chance to claim the division title and well...considering how bad Brock Osweiler has turned out to be and how badly the Texans are playing right now, I think there's a good chance the Colts will come out on top.

Can Tampa Bay continue their momentum?
The Buccaneers continue to impress and their four game win streak has brought them one step closer to earning their shot at the playoffs, but while Tampa Bay is finally demonstrating what this team is capable of, I think all of us are wondering one particular thing, can they keep this momentum going? The answer is yes, but it won't be easy, especially considering that this weekend they face off against the wily New Orleans Saints, a team that consistently finds themselves in shootouts with other teams because Drew Brees loves nothing more than scoring touchdowns. That kind of game can frustrate a young team that simply wants to put their opponent away so if the Bucs can keep a level head and worry about the next play and only the next play, there's a fair chance they'll be 8-5 and that much closer to locking up a spot in the playoffs.

Can the Giants upset the Cowboys?
In any other year, a respectable 8-4 record would mostly like put the New York Giants in first place in the NFC East. But this year has been quite the aberration and the Giants' return to their winning ways has been grossly overshadowed by the Dallas Cowboys dream season. As fate would have it, these two teams meet on Sunday Night for what will no doubt be a powerhouse matchup and while the Giants have zero chance of winning the division barring some kind of epic Cowboys meltdown, they can certainly play the spoiler on Dallas' magical season by defeating this juggernaut of a team...but can they? Is there actually a chance New York could upset the Cowboys? Of course there is, because just about anything can happen in a football game...but it's unlikely. The only way the Giants could pull off such a feat is to stop the Cowboys run game, but Ezekiel Elliott is running behind the best offensive line in the NFL and as much fun as it is to play what if, the Cowboys are also in the hunt for a divisional title and home field advantage, meaning they will be bringing their A game, but don't be shocked if the Giants make a game out of this one and make Dallas truly earn this win.

​Basketball season is already a quarter of the way over. While the season is still young, the fate of many teams has begun to take shape. As teams jockey to separate from the pack, or in some cases try to dig out of a hole before it gets too deep, here are some key storylines to keep an eye on in an already exciting season.
 
Are we on the brink of 'Warriors v. Cavaliers: The Trilogy'?
In 2015, the Golden State Warriors capped off a monster season with a convincing championship run, besting the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games. In 2016, the Cavaliers turned Cleveland into Believeland, winning the rematch and their first title in franchise history. Both teams are starting off the new season as if they want to make the NBA Finals a “best two out of three” affair. The Warriors are in first place in the tough Western Conference with an 18-3 record. The Cavs are keeping pace, leading the Eastern Conference with a 14-5 mark. In typical Warriors fashion, Golden State leads the NBA in shooting the ball, dropping a blistering 120.2 points per game. On the other side, LeBron is doing LeBron things, putting up solid numbers across the stat line. There’s no doubt that these teams will stake their claim to top seeds in their respective conferences and, if it’s up to them, we likely may be treated to Part III of this battle on the biggest stage come June.
 
A number of teams look different, but which new-look team looks best?
Dwyane Wade wasn’t in South Beach. Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah moved from The Windy City to The Big Apple. Kevin Durant wasn’t wearing a Thunder jersey. Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Garnett weren’t wearing jerseys at all. The 2016-17 season felt like a Bizarro World version of the NBA when it started. Now, over twenty games in, the new-normal is starting to feel normal. Teams are adapting to their new identities, some thriving and some faltering. The Miami Heat are struggling without D-Wade, the face of their franchise for thirteen years. A 3-seed in last year’s playoffs, Miami is stumbling out of the gate at 7-14. Meanwhile, Wade is contributing 19.8 points a game and adding unquantifiable leadership, mentoring, and stability to the Chicago Bulls (though he has missed a few games due to injuries). To no one’s surprise, the San Antonio Spurs are proving to be a well-coached, well-oiled machine even without The Big Fundamental, Tim Duncan. The Spurs are off to a 18-4 start. Over in Oklahoma City, what once belonged to the Durant-Westbrook dynamic duo, the Thunder are now Russell Westbrook’s team alone. Westbrook is tearing up the stat sheets with MVP-caliber numbers, averaging a triple-double, with 31.0 points, 11.3 assists, and 10.9 rebounds per game. It’s much too early to declare any team a winner or loser when it comes to their new pieces, but some teams are having an easier time putting together the puzzle than others are.
 
Can the Denver Nuggets cement an identity?
The Denver Nuggets and Coach Mike Malone are riding the young roster roller-coaster. The good wins, the bad losses, and the ugly heartbreakers have all started to pile up for this young squad in a frustratingly inconsistent start to the season. The team has had difficulty putting away close games late, squandering last minute leads to the Blazers, Grizzlies, Thunder, and Raptors, going on to lose at the buzzer or in overtime. They’ve shown flashes of greatness in other games, racking up convincing wins against the Celtics, Pelicans, Suns, and Jazz. They’ve also looked really bad in their not-so-close losses, getting rocked by the Pistons and Jazz (twice each already) and the Warriors. Much of the ugliness can be attributed to confusion with the roster. Malone has had challenges finding the right personnel combination for various situations. Are the Nuggets looking to be a team that relies on their bigs, playing Jokic and Nurkic together? Do they have anyone that can take the big shots late? Can they find anyone to rely on as the next-man-up to overcome the injuries hitting early in the season? Do they need to trade some of their depth for a bona fide superstar or should they stand pat and grow over time? Until they can answer these questions and create an identity for themselves, the 8-13 Nuggets may see their early season struggles stick around.
 
Are this year’s Los Angeles Clippers the real deal?
The Lob City squad put themselves on the map back in 2011 and have been competitive ever since. But while they have transformed into perennial contenders, they have yet to become closers. In each of the past five seasons, the Clippers have finished between third and fifth in the Western Conference, but they have failed to make it past the second round of the playoffs in any of those years. Can they finally turn the corner this season? They’re off to a good start, sitting among the top teams in the Western Conference and the NBA as a whole with a 16-6 record. They’ll face stiff competition in the West down the stretch, but it seems likely that they’ll finish in the top four. DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul are among the top five in the NBA in rebounds and assists/steals per game, respectively. If Jordan, Paul, and Blake Griffin can maintain their current level of play, the Clippers may finally make a push to the Western Conference Finals this year.  
 
Also in L.A., can the Lakers keep their momentum going?
In a Tale of Two Teams in one city, it has been the best of times for the Los Angeles Clippers and it has been the worst of times for the Los Angeles Lakers. While that feels really strange to say, it’s been true for the past few years as the Lakers have struggled. Things are starting to look up though. Twenty-three games into the season, the Lakers ten wins are already more than half as many as they had all of last year (not a particularly hard feat to accomplish given that they only mustered seventeen wins last season). They’re not quite ready to contend just yet, but they are moving in the right direction. 

The fight for the playoffs, simply made for an incredible weekend of NFL Football. We saw games that were once again decided by the last play because every team on the bubble, or fighting for a particular seed gave it their all. It showed us just how much a championship means to these franchises and how far they're willing to go to get it and with Week 13 now in the books here are a few other things we learned from this past weekend of football.


There is a good chance that Panthers Head Coach Ron Rivera is losing control of his team.
The Carolina Panthers have had one ugly, ugly season, there's no doubt about that. But Sunday night's game featured several surprises that have me concerned about how much faith the players on this team have in their Head Coach. The obvious stunner from this game was the fact that Cam Newton was benched briefly for violating the team's dress code standards and while some see this as no big deal, it is. He's the leader of the team, a captain on offense and a league MVP and he chose to disregrard the coach's direction, and he's not the only one. Just go back and watch this game one more time. So many players took to the field in lackadaisical fashion, earning stupid penalties along the way and demonstrating a severe lack of effort on the field and this is scary to see. Because this ego fueled team only has one legitimate check and balance, Rivera. He was able to control and mold this team last year and clearly as they continue to lose and blame everyone but themselves for it...he may be losing control of this team and that will spell disaster if he does. So here's to hoping Coach Rivera has a long, humbling talk with this squad to right the ship so they can end the season with a high note and if not...well...as Terrell Owens once said, 'getcha popcorn ready!'

Congratulations to the Dallas Cowboys, the first team to earn a playoff berth in 2016.
The NFL Playoffs have proven to us on several occasions that seeding is irrelevant, any team that makes it into the tournament can be crowned a Super Bowl Champion and when it comes to the the 2016 Playoffs, the first team is in. With Washington losing to Arizona on Sunday the Dallas Cowboys clenched a playoff berth and well, there really is no other team more deserving of such an honor right now than the Cowboys. Of course there is still work to be done for this team. They still need to win the Division and lock up Home Field Advantage if they truly want to be viewed as the team to beat in the NFC when January rolls around, but for now...they can take comfort in the fact that they are truly in control of their championship destiny from here on out.

The Kansas City Chiefs refuse to lose. 
For a brief moment on Sunday afternoon, in the midst of a shootout with the Atlanta Falcons, it seemed as though the Chiefs were about to lose quite the heartbreaker. Matt Ryan had just led his boys down into the endzone for a touchdown and all they needed was a two point conversion to take the lead and let the defense handle the rest...but Eric Berry refused to let that happen, intercepting the ball and taking it back in the other direction for Kansas City's own two point conversion, stunning football fans everywhere and well...this kind of tough nosed play from the Chiefs is something they've been needing to accomplish for quite some time. The upset by Tampa Bay a few weeks ago helped this team realize that losing is an awful feeling as is being viewed as a mediocre team and at this point they will do whatever it takes to win, making them a dangerous team to face down the stretch.

The Los Angeles Rams made a poor decision by signing Jeff Fisher to a contract extension. 
For the most part, it's safe to say ownership in the NFL does their best to put the right people in place to win football games. But sometimes, owners make poor decisions too and well, Stan Kroenke made a boneheaded one this past weekend by signing Jeff Fisher to a contract extension. I get that part of this decision was likely made to build continuity for QB Jared Goff, but on the other hand, let's face facts...Jeff Fisher is a bad head coach. The game has simply passed him by, he refuses to change his playbook or adjust in game and his 31-43-1 record during his tenure as the head coach of the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams reinforces these facts. It just doesn't make sense for an owner to have their team move to one of the largest markets in the United States, start construction on a new stadium, draft a potential franchise QB...and have a garbage head coach. So...who knows what Stan was thinking, but he has doomed his team to mediocrity for at least one more year.

The time has come for the Houston Texans to consider benching QB Brock Osweiler.
Okay, I know full well this is a bold statement to put out there. Especially considering that Brock is making a ton of money this season, needs live reps to learn the offense and the Texans aren't out of playoff contention just yet. But let's be honest here, this season has been a complete and utter disaster for Brock Osweiler. He's struggling with the playbook. He's struggling with the pressure being put upon him to be 'the guy' and the team is in free fall mode right now. It's about putting the players on the field that give you the best chance to win...so you know what? Bench him. It's time for Houston to take the pressure off his shoulders. Give him more time in the film room to figure out this offense and invest in his success because guess what? They're stuck with him for a little bit thanks to that bloated contract they offered him, and really...what's the worst that could happen by sitting him down? They actually win a game or two? Either way, something has to be done to salvage the season for this team and at the moment, Osweiler is not the answer.

Perhaps the true beauty of these final few weeks of the NFL regular season, is the fact that in many ways...this is the game at its purest. A fair amount of the bluster and bravado and showmanship that we find earlier in the season simply goes the wayside, as players come to realize their entire season is on the line and it's time to buckle down and play some football.

That means these next few weeks are all about fundamental football. For the teams that execute at a high level and protect the ball...are the ones who will see their season continue in January and there are several games tomorrow featuring teams that are on the bubble of reaching the tournament, and they'll need to be perfect on the field to get there and those are the games we will be keeping an eye upon, because a simple mistake may cost them the season and seeing how these teams will handle this kind of pressure will be downright fascinating.

It's a foregone conclusion that the Jacksonville Jaguars will be missing the postseason again this year, but they could certainly have a little fun tomorrow and play the spoiler when it comes to the Denver Broncos playoff hopes. Expect the Jags to attack the right side of Denver's offensive line all day long in an effort to get to the quarterback, or the tailback and more or less shut down the offense completely for the day. However, Denver's destiny is completely in their own hands. If the coaching staff spent some time working on fundamentals with Right Tackles Ty Sambrailo and Donald Stephenson, they could come out and slow the Jacksonville pass rush and as an added X Factor, Rookie QB Paxton Lynch will be making his second career start in place of the injured Trevor Siemian; and his ability to scramble may extend plays if that right side breaks down and to top it off, there's a fair chance Lynch may be more comfortable at the position now which means he could be in for quite a big day. Either way, it's up to Denver to buckle down and play at the Championship level they know they can and not let a 2-9 team get under their skin in the slightest and if they can execute the basics, they will walk away from this one with the win.

While both of these teams appear to be playoff bound, since the Falcons are first in the NFC South and the Chiefs are second in the AFC West...they both run the risk of seeing their playoff fortunes change on a moment's notice. The Chiefs have the Broncos and Dolphins fighting for a spot and a suddenly resurgent Tampa Bay could make things interesting in the playoff picture and close the gap on Atlanta's first place standing, because if the Falcons lose this game and the Bucs win they will both be 7-5, which means...this game is going to be a knock down drag it out fight from both teams. Expect some serious defense and low scoring early on in the game as both squads do their best to not fall behind and learn about their opponent. But you never know, this could just end up being an old fashioned shootout, but one way or another...someone has to lose and this is one of those games that will most likely come down to who wants it more, and who plays mistake free football.

If it were any other year, we'd be talking about Aaron Rodgers and the Packers more than likely rolling over the Texans on their way to another victory. But this is a strange year in football and the Packers are on the outside looking in playoff wise while the Texans own the top spot in the AFC South...but that doesn't mean they are invincible like the Packers of yesteryear. Houston is a team that continues to struggle, they've dropped two critical games over the past two weeks and Brock Osweiler continues to spiral downward in both quality of play and confidence which means...this is simply their game to lose. If they can find a way to settle down and play the basics of the game, there's a fair chance Houston walks away with the win. But considering that they have yet to win on the road and that Green Bay will be itching to further rattle Osweiler, the odds are in the Packers favor, so don't be surprised if they hand the Texans another embarrassing loss.

On paper this looks like a pretty lopsided matchup. The Giants are 8-3 and cruising toward a Wild Card spot and the Steelers are 6-5 and in danger of missing the playoffs. But while Pittsburgh isn't exactly having a stellar season on defense, never count them out. They are a tough and scrappy team and with the Giants coming into their house, and with a shot at the tournament on the line...there's a fair chance they will come out swinging on both sides of the ball to make a statement. But the key for Pittsburgh here is to stay consistent because the Giants offense is one that enjoys toying with defenses to slowly wear them down before delivering a punishing blow. So if the Steelers can keep a level head on defense and find ways to neutralize Eli Manning and that offense, they'll come away with quite the win and if not...well, then expect plenty of Odell Beckham, Jr. highlights on ESPN on Sunday Night.