Without formally running this by the “Hot Takes Department” for vetting and verification, this is arguably the best Sunday schedule of the entire NFL season so far.
First, there are no teams on a bye, so it’s a full 14-game slate (with the Falcons’ 29-28 win over the Buccaneers on Thursday night and then Monday Night Football making it a complete 16 games).
The two teams tied for the NFL’s longest winning streak at 10 games — Denver and New England — both face major tests.
There’s a potential Super Bowl matchup, a highly-anticipated AFC East rematch, a clash of the league’s two most dynamic offenses, the potential final stand for the Chiefs Dynasty as we know it, and 44-year-old future Hall of Famer Philip Rivers first NFL game in five years.
Hopefully, the Christmas shopping is done because this is a true can’t-miss-a-minute NFL Sunday.
Let’s break it all down.
(All game times are ET; all point spreads via ESPN Bet)
5 Best Games
Green Bay Packers (9-3-1) at Denver Broncos (11-2)
4:25 p.m. Sunday on CBS
Could this be a Super Bowl preview? Why not. Both conferences remain fairly wide open with no true overwhelming favorite. While the Broncos make it interesting just about every week with seven victories by 4 points or less, they keep finding a way to win — 10 straight games and counting.
Green Bay, meanwhile, was underwhelming for most of the season, seemingly needing a fourth quarter rally every week to escape against even middling competition. But the Packers are surging at the right time, playing disruptive defense while QB Jordan Love (7 TDs, 1 INT the last two games) is back to a MVP-caliber level. He’s benefitting from Christian Watson’s re-emergence as one of the league’s most dynamic deep threats (189 yards and 3 TDs the last two games) after working his way back from offseason knee surgery.
Packers RB Josh Jacobs (knee) didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday before returning as a limited participant Friday, but all reports indicate he’s on track to play.
Denver ranks third in the NFL in fewest yards allowed (282 per game) and fourth in points allowed (18.1 per game), while Green Bay isn’t far behind at 19.0 PPG (6th) and 287.2 YPG (5th). Points will be at a premium Sunday, and the Broncos will surely find a way to make this game come down to a field goal one way or the other.
Green Bay is a 1.5-point favorite.
Prediction: Packers 23, Broncos 20
Buffalo Bills (9-4) at New England Patriots (11-2)
1 p.m. Sunday on CBS
NFL fans have had this rematch circled for weeks. It was the Patriots’ 23-20 win in Buffalo back on Oct. 5 that really put them on the radar this season, and New England hasn’t lost since while stretching its winning streak to 10 games.
Mike Vrabel is a favorite for coach of the year (along with the Bears’ Ben Johnson) and QB Drake Maye is very much in the MVP discussion with 3,412 passing yards, 23 TDs and 6 INTs (and 319 rushing yards, 2 TDs).
The Bills, meanwhile, are either electrifying or confounding. They lose games they shouldn’t lose, they come out flat far too often — these have been problems throughout the Sean McDermott Era. But when they’re right, watch out.
Reigning MVP Josh Allen is coming off one of his best games of the season, completing 22 of 28 passes for 251 yards, 3 TDs and 0 INTs while rushing for 78 yards and a score in leading a 21-point fourth quarter rally for a 39-34 win over the Bengals.
This is setting up as a must-watch duel between two of the league’s best quarterbacks in what should be a raucous (and frigid) Foxboro Stadium.
Buffalo is a 1.5-point favorite.
Prediction: Patriots 30, Bills 28
Detroit Lions (8-5) at Los Angeles Rams (10-3)
4:25 p.m. Sunday on FOX
Arguably the NFL’s two most entertaining offenses clash Sunday afternoon.
The Rams are foutth in the NFL in both scoring (29.2 PPG) and yards (373.2 YPG) while the Lions lead the league with 30.3 PPG and rank third in yards (378.7 YPG).
The major difference, though, is that Los Angeles is viewed as the betting favorite to win the Super Bowl while Detroit is currently on the playoff bubble with plenty of work to do to even reach the postseason.
Points should be aplenty Sunday with MVP favorite Matthew Stafford (3,354 passing yards, 35 TDs, 4 INTs), Puka Nacua (93 catches for 1,186 yards and 6 TDs), Davante Adams (56-718-13) and the RB duo of Kyren Williams/Blake Corum going against Jared Goff (3,334-26-5), Amon-Ra St. Brown (81-976-9), Jameson Williams (45-802-6) and Jahmyr Gibbs (1,536 combined rushing/receiving yards, 16 TDs).
This is also another opportunity to reflect on the landscape-changing Stafford for Goff trade before the 2021 season.
Los Angeles is a 6-point favorite.
Prediction: Rams 37, Lions 31
Los Angeles Chargers (9-4) at Kansas City Chiefs (6-7)
1 p.m. Sunday on CBS
The Chiefs still technically have a path to the playoffs, but it’s highly unlikely. Until they’re officially knocked out, though, nothing can be assumed with this team and the mystique it’s had for so many years now.
The Chiefs lost a must-win game in Arrowhead Stadium last week to the Texans (20-10) — and have lost four out of five overall — but it would be a surprise if they went down without a fight.
Especially considering how vulnerable this Chargers teams is with its offensive line issues, as QB Justin Herbert (already playing with an injured non-throwing hand that required surgery) was sacked seven times last week by the Eagles.
Kansas City is a 6-point favorite.
Prediction: Chiefs 27, Chargers 21
Indianapolis Colts (8-5) at Seattle Seahawks (9-4)
4:25 p.m. Sunday on CBS
Philip Rivers is back! The 44-year-old future Hall of Fame QB comes out of retirement this week to play in his first NFL game in five years, getting the start over Riley Leonard with Daniel Jones (Achilles) done for the season.
It’s a truly wild story. Rivers wrapped up his career after that 2020 season when he passed for 4,169 yards, 24 TDs and 11 INTs and later signed a one-day contract with the Chargers to retire with that franchise.
Now he’s charged with keeping the Colts’ once-promising season afloat after three straight losses.
Except a heavy workload for Jonathan Taylor (1,356 rushing yards and 16 TDs) against a good Seahawks defense.
Seattle has won three straight games and seven out of eight and suddenly is tied for the second-best Super Bowl odds, per BetMGM (+750, with the Packers).
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is authoring a historic receiving season with 89 catches for 1,428 yards and 9 TDs.
Seattle is a 14-point favorite.
Prediction: Seahawks 34, Colts 20
More Previews And Predictions
Remaining Sunday 1 p.m. games
Cleveland Browns (3-10) at Chicago Bears (9-4): The Bears are looking to bounce back after a competitive 28-21 loss to the Packers. Chicago was without leading receiver Rome Odunze (foot) for that game, and ESPN reports there is optimism the second-year standout (44 catches for 661 yards and 6 TDs) will be able to play Sunday, but that’s something to monitor. For Cleveland, Shedeur Sanders is coming off the best game of his young career (364 passing yards, 29 rushing yards, 4 totals TDs, 1 INT). Chicago is a 7.5-point favorite. Prediction: Bears 24, Browns 20
Baltimore Ravens (6-7) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-9): The Ravens have followed a five-game winning streak with two straight losses, including two weeks ago to these same Bengals. Their postseason fate is suddenly very much in peril after losing a pivotal AFC North showdown with the Steelers last week. This team doesn’t look right, but this is must-win territory so it will reveal a lot about how much the Ravens are invested in saving this season. Cincinnati will continue to be without WR Tee Higgins (concussion), but Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase were enough to beat Baltimore last time. The Ravens are 2.5-point favorites. Prediction: Ravens 34, Bengals 27
Washington Commanders (3-10) at New York Giants (2-11): If this game is taking up a screen in your home Sunday, you’re a truly devoted fan who has our sympathy or … there’s probably a helpline number somewhere that applies. Marcus Mariota is back in at QB for the Commanders while Jaxson Dart and the depleted Giants will look to snap a seven-game losing streak. New York is a 2.5-point favorite. Prediction: Giants 31, Commanders 17
Las Vegas Raiders (2-11) at Philadelphia Eagles (8-5): The reeling Eagles have lost three straight games and QB Jalen Hurts is coming off one of the worst games of his career with 4 INTs and a fumble in an overtime loss to the Chargers. The Kenny Pickett-led Raiders could be just the recipe for a get-right game for Philadelphia, but watch out for Maxx Crosby (9 sacks) going against backup right tackle Fred Johnson. Philadelphia is a 12.5-point favorite. Prediction: Eagles 27, Raiders 10
New York Jets (3-10) at Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4): Undrafted rookie QB Brady Cook makes his first career start for the Jets while the Jaguars look to build on a four-game winning streak and move closer to a playoff berth. The Jags are averaging 30.3 points over their last six games as first-year head coach Liam Coen is making his mark. Jacksonville is a 14-point favorite. Prediction: Jaguars 29, Jets 14
Arizona Cardinals (3-10) at Houston Texans (8-5): The Texans are suddenly one of the hottest teams in the NFL with five straight wins powered by the league’s top-ranked defense (16.0 PPG, 266.3 YPG allowed). Arizona is … the opposite. The Cardinals have lost five straight and 10 out of 11 and have given up at least 41 points in three of those last five games. Houston is a 10.5-point favorite. Prediction: Texans 28, Cardinals 16
Remaining 4:25 p.m. Sunday games
Carolina Panthers (7-6) at New Orleans Saints (3-10): The Panthers are fresh off a bye and before that a stunning 31-28 win over the Rams. Especially with Tampa Bay losing Thursday night, Carolina is now in the driver’s seat atop the NFC South by a half game. The Panthers would be the most surprising 2025 playoff team, but it’s time to take that possibility seriously. The Saints got a rare win last week over the Bucs, thanks to 2 rushing TDs from QB Tyler Shough, but will be without star RB Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle) for a third straight game. The Panthers have everything at stake here, but they’re also the least consistent or predictable team in the league, so who knows. Carolina is a 2.5-point favorite. Prediction: Panthers 27, Saints 24
Tennessee Titans (2-11) at San Francisco 49ers (9-4): The Titans snapped a seven-game losing streak last week with a 31-29 win over the Browns, and hopefully they celebrated that one fully because there won’t be another coming Sunday. While RB Christian McCaffrey is listed as questionable with a back injury, ESPN reports he’s good to go for the 49ers, who have won three in a row and are pushing to solidify their playoff position. San Francisco is a 12.5-point favorite. Prediction: 49ers 37, Titans 13
Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m. on NBC/Peacock)
Minnesota Vikings (5-8) at Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1): Two enigmatic teams to say the least. J.J. McCarthy pushed back against the doubters for at least a week while tossing 3 TDs in Minnesota’s 31-0 win over freefalling Washington. The Cowboys, meanwhile, lost all their newfound defensive momentum while getting run over by the Lions in a 44-30 loss. Dallas is still within striking distance of the NFC East, so this is a must-win game if it is going to have any chance of catching the Eagles and backing into the playoffs. Star WR CeeDee Lamb has cleared concussion protocol and will play for Dallas. Dallas is a 5.5-point favorite. Prediction: Cowboys 27, Vikings 17
Monday Night Football (8:15 p.m. on ESPN)
Miami Dolphins (6-7) at Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6): Miami started the season 1-6 but has won four straight and five out of six games while remaining on the fringe of the playoff picture. RB De’Von Achane (ribs) looks good to go and is having a sensational season to power this Dolphins’ revival with 1,126 rushing yards, 383 receiving yards and 11 total TDs. The Steelers are back in control of the AFC North after beating the Ravens last week, but that division could still go either way. With the Lions and a rematch with the Ravens still to come, this feels like a must-win game for Pittsburgh, which is just 3-5 over its last eight games. Pittsburgh is a 3-point favorite. Prediction: Steelers 24, Dolphins 22
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