With only four weeks left, “it’s still a long season.” 

New England Patriots wide receiver WES WELKER is right.  There are only four weeks left to the season.  But a lot can happen in that time.  Start a streak and it can propel you to the playoffs.  Start to lose and you could be home in January. 

So far, only two teams have qualified for the playoffs – the AFC East champion Patriots and the Dallas Cowboys, who this week can win the NFC East.     

Of course, New England has something else going – an undefeated season.  Win this week against Pittsburgh and the Patriots become one of only five teams in history to begin a season at 13-0 (1934 Bears, 1972 Dolphins, 1998 Broncos and 2005 Colts).  

There is, indeed, a lot going on in the NFL.  “It’s all about the month of December,” says New York Giants tackle DAVID DIEHL.  “Every game in the NFL is important, but when you get to this point, every game is even more important because this is make-or-break for people.” 

So as make-or-break rears up, here are some of the big games in Week 14, many with playoff implications:

 STORYLINE:  Playoff hopes on the line. 

Neither team can afford a loss if they hope to remain in the playoff hunt.

 A win could come from a lot of areas.  The Bears’ Mr. Excitement, DEVIN HESTER (with 10 punt/kickoff return TDs in his first two years), faces the league’s No. 1 and 3 units, respectively, in lowest punt/kickoff return averages allowed.  And he’ll do it in front of a mentor who boasts 18 career punt/kick/INT return TDs, NFL Network analyst DEION SANDERS.  

Or the tight ends could make the difference.  These teams have some of the best in the business.   Washington ’s CHRIS COOLEY leads the club in receptions (53), yards (584) and TD catches (7).  The Bears have the NFC rookie tight end leader in receptions (31), first-round choice GREG OLSEN, and another TE with 30 catches, DESMOND CLARK (38). 

 STORYLINE:  Big O vs. Big D! 

That’s the breakdown in this matchup.  It’s hard to imagine a clearer division of strengths by two teams.  New England leads the NFL in scoring (469 points), Pittsburgh in fewest points allowed (155).  The Patriots on offense and Steelers on defense also rank first, respectively, in touchdowns, yards-per-game and passing net yards-per-game.

  Pittsburgh , which blitzes perhaps more than any team in the league, will surely follow that pattern as shown by Philadelphia and Baltimore the last two weeks in New England ’s three-point victories.

 The QB matchup will be closely watched.  New England’s TOM BRADY and Pittsburgh ’s BEN ROETHLISBERGER have won Super Bowls and rank first and third, respectively, in both touchdowns and third-down passing.  

 “The Patriots can beat anybody by 50,” says Steelers LB LARRY FOOTE.  “But I still like our chances when we go in

there because there’s only one Steelers defense and one Steelers team.  We don’t really compare with other teams.” 

History:  Patriots head coach BILL BELICHICK is 4-1 against Pittsburgh in his tenure…the Steelers halted New England ’s NFL-record 21-game winning streak in 2004.    

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NFL FACTOID 

A BROTHER FIRST:  For the first time in NFL history last week, two sets of quarterback brothers started and won games on the same day – ELI (New York Giants) and PEYTON (Indianapolis) MANNNG, and JOSH (Oakland) and LUKE (Tampa Bay) MC COWN.

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 STORYLINE:  “We’re coming together.  We’re ready to rock.” 

So says Chargers C NICK HARDWICK.  He actually can be speaking for both teams.   San Diego has won six of its past eight.   Tennessee put an end to its three-game skid Sunday.  Both clubs are 7-5 and primed for their playoff push. 

Tennessee , of course, also will be primed for the league’s No. 3 rusher, LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON (1,049 yards), who has sped for almost half his yards (522) over the past six games.  The Titans, ranked 30th in the NFL in rush defense last year, are No. 7 now. 

Tennessee QB VINCE YOUNG has to be pinpoint in his passing because laying back there will be CB ANTONIO CROMARTIE, the NFL leader in interceptions (8), including two against Kansas City last week.   

 STORYLINE:  A division battle where takeaways could be the key. 

“Opportunistic” is the word for these guys.   Seattle had four interceptions off Philadelphia last week, with three coming from LB LOFA TATUPU.  His first two set up touchdowns.   Arizona – which topped Seattle in Week 2 (23-20) on NEIL RACKERS’ 42-yard field goal with one second left -- turned three of its four takeaways against Cleveland into TDs.  

Two players can play a key role Sunday.  Seahawks RB SHAUN ALEXANDER, who returned last week from a three-game absence with 65 yards rushing and one TD, has excelled in his last six games against Arizona , rushing for 702 yards – a 117.0 average – and 11 TDs.   

On the Cardinals’ side, if WR LARRY FITZGERALD can’t return from a groin injury and WR ANQUAN BOLDIN is out with a toe, BRYANT JOHNSON will have to pick up the slack as he did last week (six catches, 56 yards, one TD).   

 STORYLINE:  Colts are wary. 

Didn’t the Ravens almost knock off the undefeated Patriots?  Didn’t Baltimore ’s QB KYLE BOLLER match TOM BRADY in TDs (2) and its defense sack Brady three times?  And doesn’t Baltimore have a ferocious No. 6 NFL defense, as it showed Monday night? 

Of course, that defense will confront the league’s No. 4 offense, which has continued to jell without WR MARVIN HARRISON (knee; out seven of the past eight games).  Teams have concentrated on WR REGGIE WAYNE, but he still posted an eight-catch, 158-yard, one-TD day against Jacksonville last Sunday.  And the Colts got LT TONY UGOH back. 

Sunday night outdoors in December?  Fans may see some extra ground-pounding, with the Nos. 4 and 6 NFL rushers, respectively, WILLIS MC GAHEE (1,048 yards) of Baltimore and JOSEPH ADDAI (943) of Indianapolis . 

History: Colts topped the Ravens 15-6 in last year’s Divisional Playoffs with five ADAM VINATIERI field goals…Indy has won at least 10 games for the sixth consecutive year – the only NFL team to do so over that span. 

 STORYLINE:  Some changes for one, tunnel-vision for the other. 

That’s how these NFC South teams will approach Monday night.   

Atlanta may start CHRIS REDMAN at quarterback after his solid performance in Week 13.  The five-year veteran threw touchdown passes on his first two possessions after coming on in the fourth quarter.  RB JERIOUS NORWOOD, the Falcons’ third-round pick last year, got his first NFL start on Sunday and produced 94 yards.  “When you watch the video, he’s the most explosive player for us,” says Falcons head coach BOBBY PETRINO. 

The Saints will not be making any major changes.  Their focus is on the playoff hunt starting Monday with the Falcons.  “We have four games left and we’re going to have to play better football,” says New Orleans head coach SEAN PAYTON.  “It’s really not about the opponent.  It’s about us.”