Tuesday, December 19
Exchanging the Baton

Jerry Rice
Rice caught seven passes for 76 yards on Sunday.
Well, we know the 49ers receiving tradition is in good hands. On the day an emotional Jerry Rice probably played his final game in the Niners' cardinal and gold at the 'Stick, Terrell Owens proved he's capable of following Rice's tough act by setting the NFL's single-game catch record with 20 in San Francisco's 17-0 shutout of Chicago. If there was any justice, though, Rice would end his Hall of Fame career as a 49er, says ESPN's Joe Theismann.

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    Tuesday Blitz
    Garber: Clearing up the playoff picture
    Seven teams are on the playoff bubble all needing different scenarios to prevent it from popping.
    Mort's Review: The lowdown on Week 16
    The Buccaneers are a long way from 3-4 -- and if they beat the Packers they'll look Super.
    Murphy: Worshipping the shrine of No. 80
    San Francisco hailed another Jerry who played like no one else -- the one who wears No. 80 for the Niners.
    Cup o' Joe: Giant question mark
    The Giants can't be considered serious Super Bowl contenders -- not if they play like they did Sunday in Dallas.
    TJ's Take on Week 16 in the NFL
    The Packers are rising and still in the playoff hunt, while the Dolphins are falling and in danger of missing the postseason.
    Clayton: King matures on Monday night stage
    The Bucs' thrilling 38-35 win over the Rams could very well be the night Shaun King grew up and became the man in Tampa.
    Dunn displays moves of an MVP, too
    Warrick Dunn showed the nation just how much he's meant to the Bucs' playoff run.
    Ratto: Time for T.O., baby!
    Terrell Owens' explosion on the day Jerry Rice was signing off leaves one question: What's next?
    Colts' defense steps up at right time
    The Colts' defense, which is used to taking heat, applied some on an offense for a change.
    Clayton: Indy learning to earn playoff berth
    Unlike last year's Cinderella run, the Colts are trying to make the playoffs the old-fashioned way -- by earning it.
    PFW: Not what we expected
    The Colts haven't been terrible, but they also haven't lived up to their lofty preseason hype.
    PFW: Whispers from around the NFL
    The Raiders, Redskins, Ravens and Jets are the leading candidates to add Jerry Rice next year.
    Clayton: Time to get rid of Aikman headache
    The Cowboys would be better off letting Troy Aikman retire, so a new QB could learn with Emmitt Smith.
    Aloha: Bucs, Titans sending eight each to Pro Bowl
    The Buccaneers will send a league-high seven starters to Hawaii for the 2001 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl.
    Review: Who got snubbed for the Pro Bowl
    Donovan McNabb, Mike Anderson and Curtis Martin are among the biggest snubs for this year's Pro Bowl.