The Chicago Bears have plenty of respect for Tim Tebow, who has led the Denver Broncos to a victory in six of their last seven games, but they’re not sure what to make of the offense he’s running.

“He's one heck of a football player,” linebacker Lance Briggs said. “And we're going to have to stop that crap.”

OK.

The Bears, who have lost two straight games to AFC West opponents, head to the division leader this Sunday in what is about as close as you can get to a must-win game for Chicago. The Bears (7-5) are slipping in the NFC wild-card race and probably need to get 10 victories to ensure a playoff berth. With a Christmas Day game looming at Green Bay, there is very little margin for error for a team that will be without quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forte.

Briggs said the Broncos do some of the same thing the Carolina Panthers do offensively. If that’s the case, they need to be better because the Panthers rolled up 543 yards offense in a Week 4 meeting at Soldier Field.

“Nothing against Tebow," Briggs said. "Cam Newton is a better athlete."

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen told NFL Network it was embarrassing last week to lose to a quarterback that doesn’t throw the ball well. So, I asked Briggs if he would be more embarrassed to lose to Tebow than accomplished passers like Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees?

"No, I will be frickin' pissed," Briggs said. "But he's a competitor. We're in a position where we can't lose."

That’s the truth right there.

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