49ers 26 Broncos 23: We dislike Mike Shanahan in the same way we dislike Tony LaRussa: two guys who've read one too many press clippings about their supposed genius and let it go to their heads. Shanahan totally over thought this season (starting Cutler) and over thought yesterday's game and as a result, the Broncos aren't in the playoffs. We watched just enough of yesterday's game to hear the announcers say over and over again how the Broncos need to run more and how woozy Cutler looked yet Shanahan still kept him out there throwing. The Niners should have been knocked out of the game early, yet proved they were just feisty enough to beat them.

Hey Broncos fans-- sucks to be you.

As for the Niners, bring on next season.

Jets 23 Raiders 3- The less said about this game, the better. We flipped on C-Span for a few minutes during the game and even that was more exciting to watch.

Anyways, there are plenty of eulogies out there on this, the most dreadful of seasons. Gwen Knapp sums up the Raiders season as the final tallies are wrung up on one of the worst offenses in NFL history. As for next year, how many players do the Raiders need to turn things around? And what about Shell?

Elsewhere

-The Sharks rebound to beat the Dallas Stars, 4-2

-SJSU almost makes a game out of it with Duke.

-Jason Richardson is out for at least a month.