Nov 19, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) reacts after the game against the Chicago Bears at Candlestick Park. The 49ers defeated the Bears 32-7. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

49ers QB Colin Kaepernick was a star in his first career start on Monday Night Football vs. the vaunted Chicago Bears defense, as he completed 16/23 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns in the teams’ 32-7 win over the Bears.  Head Coach John Harbaugh was asked after the game if Kaepernick would be the 49ers starter now going forward following that performance.

We’ll see. Usually tend to go with the guy who’s got the hot hand and we’ve got two quarterbacks that have got a hot hand.

The NFL dropped a bombshell yesterday, announcing that Ravens safety Ed Reed has been suspended one game for repeated violations of the rule prohibiting hits to the head and neck area of defenseless players. Reed was flagged for a helmet-to-helmet hit Sunday night vs. the Steelers, and has already had one other incident this year vs. the Patriots, and will now be out for one game while he’s not collecting a paycheck.

The Steelers  learned yesterday they may be without their backup QB Byron Leftwhich for a significant amount of time, and they are already scanning the free agent market for available QBs. Byron was already replacing Ben Roethlisberger, who is likely to miss at least the next two games, meaning Charlie Batch is the likely starter the next two weeks.

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November 18, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich (4) passes under pressure from Baltimore Ravens strong safety Bernard Pollard (31) during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Baltimore Ravens won 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

Ravens safety Ed Reed has been suspended one game for “repeated violations of the rule prohibiting hits to the head and neck area of defenseless players.”

As if things couldn’t have gotten any worse for the Pittsburgh Steelers after they learned yesterday they may be without Pro Bowl QB for the next three weeks, as well as losing a critical AFC North home game last night to the division-leading Baltimore Ravens, the team has just learned they may be without their backup QB Byron Leftwhich for a significant amount of time, and they are already scanning the free agent market for available QBs.

As of now, the next QB in line would be Charlie Batch is the only healthy quarterback on the Pittsburgh roster. It’s not an ideal situation for a team in the middle of a playoff race and set to hit the road in three of their next four games.

The Bengals are currently sitting a modest one game behind the Steelers for one of the two Wild Card playoff spots.

Here is the Steelers’ Remaining Schedule:

As of now, at 5-5, the Bengals are set to play the Raiders, Cowboys, Eagles, and Chargers in the next four weeks before back-to-back AFC North games at Pittsbugh and then hosting Baltimore in the regular season finale. With only a game now separating the AFC North rivals, it’s now very possible that the Bengals will have a chance to overtake the Steelers for their wild card playoff spot in their Week 16 showdown.

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