5 Questions for Week 14

1. Should That Ryan Clark Hit on Wes Welker Been a Flag?

Yes. For one reason and one reason only. He left his feet to deliver it. That's launching and it's illegal. But Ed Hochuli and his crew didn't whistle him for launching, instead they whistled him for unnecessary roughness, an unnecessary hit on a defenseless receiver.. And rough as the hit was - I've never seen a guy get folded back onto his helmet from an upright position - it was within the rules because the ball had been tipped but it was not past Welker when Clark delivered the hit. This is the second massive hit Welker's taken in as many weeks. Receivers have a finite number of hits like that that they can absorb before their body or mind rebels. It will be interesting to see if Welker is nearing it.

2. Should We Scratch the Chargers and Packers?

Yes. Green Bay's 5-7. The Chargers are 4-8. Neither team is going to win its division. Neither team is going to qualify as a Wild Card. These are teams that each played in their respective conference championships last year and now they will be on the outside looking in? Fallout? Minimal. Because they played in their conference championships, goodwill has been purchased. But the heat in Green Bay on Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson is going to be significantly higher than it will be on Norv Turner and A.J. Smith in San Diego. That's because Packers fans actually pay attention to their team whether they're winning or losing.

3. Crennel Needs Loaves and Fishes?

ESPN's Chris Mortensen is reporting that Browns head coach Romeo Crennel needs a "miracle finish" to retain his job. It says here (yes, right here where you're reading) that even if Romeo walks on Lake Erie, he's going to get pink-slipped. With Ken Dorsey running the offense now that Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn are on ice for the year, a miracle finish on the field isn't in the offing. And while the disappointment of not getting to see it through in Cleveland will be a regret of Crennel's, he'll happily say good riddance to the middle school backbiting in the Browns Mickey Mouse front office and ownership levels.

4. Bigger Surprise: Cowboys or Colts?
Colts. By a lot. The Cowboys had the talent and schedule breaking their way when they hit rock bottom in their 35-14 loss to the Giants on November 2. But they had a bye, they had Tony Romo returning and they had back-to-back games with the Seahawks and Niners. The Colts? They were 3-4 and had to play New England, Pittsburgh and San Diego as part of their next five. Well, they won them all and - despite being left for dead - are in the driver's seat for an AFC Wild Card. Good stuff. Without the drama.

5. What Happened to LT?
Age. Fire in the belly. Lorenzo Neal left. Injury. Really, it's a mysteriously rapid decline for a player who was fast-tracking to the Hall of Fame two years ago. Will he, can he rebound (and this year seems too late for that)? Yes. Because he still does have the breathtaking acceleration when he sees a seam. But he's a sensitive guy and it will be interesting to see if he turtles because of this or rallies.