ESPN analyst Joe Theismann answers five key questions about Week 14 in the NFL:

In retrospect, were the Steelers and Broncos too hasty in putting Maddox and Griese back in their lineups?
No, I don't think so. Pittsburgh Steelers QB Tommy Maddox and Denver Broncos QB Brian Griese were back on the field because the team's coaches and doctors felt they were ready. I would always defer to a doctor's diagnosis and counsel.

It's impossible to say whether the Steelers would have won Sunday if Kordell Stewart got the start at QB. We know that the Texans shocked them 24-6 with Maddox at the helm. Ditto with the Broncos and their 19-13 loss to the Jets. Would backup QB Steve Beuerlein somehow have made the difference for Denver? Who knows? An NFL game isn't like a science experiment. You obviously can't replay the game -- with different QBs -- to see what would have happened.

The Steelers' QB situation is more complicated than Denver's, since Stewart led the Steelers to the AFC championship game as the starter last season. Then he faltered early this season, and Maddox stepped in and played superbly. Now that Maddox is healthy again, I would go with him -- unless he really struggles. If he does, Stewart is ready to go.

What should we expect from Fiedler tonight in his first start since the injury?
I don't expect QB Jay Fiedler to throw the ball much when the Miami Dolphins (7-5) host the Chicago Bears (3-9) on Monday Night Football (ABC, 9 p.m. ET). I saw Fiedler last week and spoke with him, and he said his thumb is fine. But the strength of his forearm isn't up to par yet.

	Williams

	Fiedler

I expect the Dolphins' game plan to focus on establishing the run with Ricky Williams. If they're successful on the ground, it would enable Fiedler to ease his way back into the offense. I think he'll be fine in his first start since Oct. 13.

How important is Fiedler to Miami? The Dolphins were 5-1 when Fiedler went down with a broken right thumb. They're 2-4 since.

Some might think that it will help Fiedler to play a non-playoff team like the Bears in his return as a starter. But not me. Miami must guard against relaxing versus Chicago. The Bears are far from a playoff team this year, but they're all professionals with pride. This could be a dangerous game for the Dolphins.

Which AFC team -- Raiders, Jets or Pats -- has had the most impressive turnaround from a four-game skid?
The Jets. The Raiders have tons of experience at key skill positions, while the Patriots are the defending Super Bowl champs. Of these three teams, I believe the Jets had fewer expectations heading into this season. So their success after a 1-4 start has been most impressive.

The Jets' success is even more surprising given the situation at quarterback this season. They opened with veteran Vinny Testaverde at QB, but due to his (and the offense's) ineffectiveness, third-year backup Chad Pennington became the starter by Week 4. Pennington is now No. 2 in the AFC's quarterback ratings.

By contrast, the Raiders have Pro Bowl QB Rich Gannon, the AFC's top-rated passer. And the Patriots have Tom Brady -- like Pennington, in his third year -- who led the Pats to a Super Bowl victory.

Which 10-3 NFC team -- Packers, Eagles or Bucs -- is more likely to get homefield advantage?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They don't run as effectively as they would like, but their defense is so strong.

Schedule will be a key factor in who claims home-field advantage. The Green Bay Packers have the toughest remaining schedule, I believe: at 49ers, Bills, at Jets. The schedule isn't as tough for the Philadelphia Eagles (Redskins, at Cowboys, at Giants) or Bucs (at Lions, Steelers, at Bears).

Injuries will likewise be a factor. Philly is still without injured QB Donovan McNabb. The Packers have several starters still out with injuries, but they were able to defeat the Vikings 26-22 on ESPN's Sunday Night Football.

The Bucs beat the Packers head-to-head, while the Eagles but the Bucs. Still, the Bucs have fewer injuries and the NFL's top-ranked defense. Both are essential in December when seeking home-field advantage.

Believe me, the Bucs want to stay home in Tampa so they can stay warm. They don't want a postseason trip to frigid Green Bay -- I know because I was there Sunday night in single-digit temperatures!

Which playoff hopeful -- the Chiefs or Browns -- do you give a better shot of making the postseason?
Both teams are 7-6, but I like the Kansas City Chiefs.

RB Priest Holmes is one huge reason why I give the Chiefs the playoff edge. Holmes had 132 yards on 24 carries and two TDs as the Chiefs routed the Rams 49-10 Sunday. The Chiefs are also a more prolific scoring team than the Cleveland Browns. In fact, Kansas City leads the NFL in points scored per game (32.2).

Meanwhile, the Browns have been winning on on a wing and a prayer -- as they did Sunday on a Hail Mary TD pass with no time left on the clock to beat the Jaguars.

Remember, the Browns and Chiefs met in Week 1 -- the infamous Dwayne Rudd helmet-removal game. The Browns had the game won, but Rudd was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct for taking his helmet off to celebrate after what should have been the game's last play. Instead, the Chiefs got 15 extra yards and another play ... which became the game-winning field goal. The final score: Chiefs 40, Browns 39. It was a classic case of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

If you take away that penalty, the Browns would be 8-5 and in first place in the AFC North, ahead of the Steelers (7-5-1).

A game analyst for ESPN's Sunday Night Football, former NFL QB Joe Theismann won a Super Bowl and a league MVP award. He reviews the NFL each week for ESPN.com in Cup o' Joe.