A look back...and a look ahead

A few observations from Sunday's games of Week 14 of the NFL:

*Oh, those Detroit Lions. For an instant, it appeared as if the still-winless club's flirtation with a dubious place in history may have been coming to an end. Order was restored during the fourth quarter of yesterday's battle with rival Minnesota, however, and the Vikings pulled out a 20-16 win to send the Lions to an 0-13 mark. With a road date with red-hot Indianapolis next weekend, Detroit seems assured of becoming the first team since the infamous New Orleans 'Aint's' of 1980 to lose their first 14 games of a season. The 1976 Buccaneers are the only team of the modern era to go winless throughout a year, losing every game of a then 14-game slate.

Here's a great note courtesy of STATS, Inc. The Lions are 31-94 since 2001, the worst winning percentage in the NFL (.248) over an eight-season span since 1950.

*The initial word on the injury to Vikings quarterback Gus Frerotte, who sat out the entire second half of the Detroit game, was that the veteran journeyman suffered a lower back bruise. It's too early to say whether he'll be ready for this week's key matchup at Arizona, although maligned backup Tarvaris Jackson was sharp in leading Minnesota's comeback win yesterday. Then again, he was facing the Lions.

*There were a few notable injuries to running backs yesterday as well, with San Francisco standout Frank Gore's ankle sprain the most significant of the lot. The workhorse back's ailment could be of the high-ankle variety, which would sideline Gore for at least a couple of weeks. Denver's Peyton Hillis is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season after pulling his hamstring in Sunday's win over Kansas City, although there's a chance the versatile rookie could return when the AFC West-leading Broncos are in the playoffs. Selvin Young, who's had one carry since Week 6 due to a lingering groin injury, will likely return to the front of the line in Denver's running-back carousel until then. Lastly, Giants bulldozer Brandon Jacobs sat out the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the inspired Philadelphia Eagles after apparently aggravating a mild knee sprain to his left knee, although early indications say it's nothing too serious.

*Mike Singletary is making it an easy choice for 49ers ownership to remove the interim tag from his head coaching label. San Francisco improved to a respectable 3-3 since the Hall of Fame linebacker replaced Mike Nolan at midseason with Sunday's 24-14 upset over the erratic New York Jets, while Singletary's decision to elevate Shaun Hill to the starting quarterback position has clearly turned out to be a wise move. The Niners' impressive improvement has almost made us all forget about Mr. Intensity's amusing head coaching debut back in late October, when he reportedly dropped his pants at halftime of a loss to Seattle and did his best audition for a Coors Light commercial during the postgame press conference.

Week 15 Games to Watch

New Orleans (7-6) at Chicago (7-6), Thursday: For all intensive purposes, an elimination game in the NFC.

N.Y. Giants (11-2) at Dallas (8-5): This Sunday night showdown between NFC East heavyweights would have loomed even larger had the Cowboys been able to hold on against Pittsburgh yesterday. It's still a huge game for Dallas and now has increased importance for the Giants, who are dealing with the most tumultuous period of their season.

Tampa Bay (9-3) at Atlanta (8-5): Any time two members of the competitive NFC South get together, it's a big deal.

Minnesota (8-5) at Arizona (8-5): Could decide who gets the #3 seed in the NFC Playoffs.

Pittsburgh (10-3) at Baltimore (9-4): I'll be attending this one and frankly, I can't wait until Sunday. With two of the NFL's premier defenses, expected cold weather and a ton on the line, it'll be a playoff-like atmosphere at M&T Bank Stadium. The Steelers will clinch the AFC North with a win, but the division race is wide-open should the surging Ravens prevail.

Denver (8-5) at Carolina (9-3): The stakes are obviously higher for the Panthers, who are in a dogfight in the NFC South while the Broncos have virtually sewn up the AFC West. The Broncos have been terrors on the road as of late, having notched eye-opening wins at Atlanta and the Jets over the past month.