The penultimate week of the NFL’s regular season delivers a handful of marquee matchups with major playoff implications, a potential Super Bowl preview, the potential for a new NFL record-holder and more intrigue.
The Christmas day slate was a bit of a dud with the Cowboys beating the Commanders, 30-23, in a clash of teams already out of the playoff chase, the Vikings ending the Lions season with a 23-10 win despite just 3 yards passing (3!) and the Broncos taking care of business in a 20-13 win over the depleted Chiefs and third-string QB Chris Oladokun.
But the stakes raise significantly starting Saturday afternoon, so get prepped for another wild weekend in the NFL with previews and predictions for every game.
(All game times ET; all point spreads via ESPN Bet)
5 Best Games To Watch
Houston Texans (10-5) at Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)
4:30 p.m. Saturday on NFL Network
The stakes are significant Saturday night for both teams as the NFL’s weekend slate starts with a spotlight showdown.
The Texans can clinch a playoff spot with a win/tie or a loss/tie by the Colts, while the Chargers have punched their playoff ticket but are still chasing the Broncos for the AFC West title (and technically the AFC’s No. 1 seed, but with long odds for that). A win would keep the Chargers a game back of the Broncos heading into the teams’ clash next week in Denver, with Los Angeles having already won the first meeting.
The Texans and Chargers are similar in a lot of ways — great defense, suspect offensive line — but the differentiator is at the QB position where LA has a clear advantage with Justin Herbert (3,491 yards, 25 TDs, 12 INTs) vs. C.J. Stroud (2,628-16-6).
That said, while the Chargers defense is excellent — fourth in yards allowed (283.1 per game) and eighth in points (20.1 PPG) — the Texans’ defense is truly elite, leading the NFL in both those categories at 16.6 PPG and 272.3 YPG.
The Texans have won seven in a row while the Chargers have won four straight and seven of their last eight, allowing just 14.7 PPG in those wins.
One injury to track is Chargers RG Mekhi Becton (knee), who is listed as questionable. LA’s offensive line has been progressively depleted all season, so any further setbacks would be notable against such a stifling defense.
Los Angeles is a 1.5-point favorite.
Prediction: Texans 24, Chargers 22
Philadelphia Eagles (10-5) at Buffalo Bills (11-4)
4:25 p.m. Sunday on FOX
This could legitimately be a Super Bowl preview.
The Eagles are, of course, the reigning champs and may finally be figuring out their offense. Or, it’s merely a product of having played the Raiders and Commanders the last two weeks. Hard to say — that’s why this game is going to be so telling about this enigmatic Eagles team.
Since his disastrous 5-turnover game vs. the Chargers, QB Jalen Hurts has completed 75.6% of his passes the last two weeks with 5 TDs, 0 INTs and 39.5 rushing yards per game. Saquon Barkley had 132 rushing yards and a TD last week. And after complaining about his touches most of the season, A.J. Brown has received double-digit targets in five of the last six games (all but the 31-0 blowout of the Raiders where there was little need to throw the ball), including 9 catches for 95 yards last week. With 31 and 29 points in those wins, the Eagles put up two of their four highest scoring outputs of the season.
Can it sustain?
The Bills can be a pretty frustrating and confounding team in their own right, routinely playing down to lesser competition, like in a 23-20 win over the lowly Browns last week. But they also have a penchant for rising up in the bigger games, like winning at New England the previous week.
Buffalo has matched its season-high with four straight wins and is a game back of the Patriots in the AFC East, so it has plenty at stake this week. The Eagles have clinched the NFC East and are jockeying for seeding at this point.
Philadelphia is still missing RT Lane Johnson, who has been out since sustaining a Lisfranc injury in Week 11, and has also ruled out LB Nakobe Dean (hamstring) with rookie Jihaad Campbell set to start in his stead. But the good news is star DT Jalen Carter is set to return after missing three games with injuries to his shoulders.
Buffalo has ruled out DT Jordan Phillips (ankle) for a second straight game and S Jordan Poyer (hamstring), while the status of the Bills’ top two tight ends Dalton Kincaid (knee) and Dawson Knox (knee) remains undetermined, though both got in a limited practice Friday.
Buffalo is a 1.5-point favorite.
Prediction: Eagles 27, Bills 24
Chicago Bears (11-4) at San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
8:20 p.m. Sunday on NBC/Peacock
This is another doozy of a matchup between two of the hottest teams in the league.
The Bears can clinch the NFC North with either a win Sunday or a Packers loss to the Ravens on Saturday, so the division could already be locked up before they take the field. Either way, Chicago is looking to continue its momentum (wins in seven of its last eight games) and keep adding to one of the biggest turnarounds in the league after finishing 5-12 last year.
First-year coach Ben Johnson is one of the favorites for NFL Coach of the Year, and second-year QB Caleb Williams is turning into a true star. His game-winning 46-yard touchdown pass to DJ Moore in overtime to beat the Packers last week is one of the plays of the year in the league this season, and the former No. 1 overall pick is up to 3,400 passing yards, 23 TDs and 6 INTs (plus 369 rushing yards and 3 TDs).
The 11-4 49ers, meanwhile, are in the thick of the most compelling division race in the league, in a three-way battle in the NFC West with the 12-3 Seahawks and 11-4 Rams. San Francisco has won five straight and is surging offensively with 85 points the last two weeks in wins over the Titans and Colts, including a season-high in that 48-27 win over Indianapolis.
QB Brock Purdy threw for 295 yards in each of those high-scoring wins with a combined 8/1 TD/INT ratio as he’s playing his best football of the season.
WR Rome Odunze (foot) remains out for the Bears, but rookie WR Luther Burden III (ankle) is cleared for return after missing one game.
The 49ers have listed star TE George Kittle (ankle) and WR Ricky Pearsall (knee/ankle) as questionable.
San Francisco is a 3-point favorite.
Prediction: 49ers 29, Bears 24
Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) at Indianapolis Colts (8-7)
1 p.m. Sunday on FOX
The streaking Jaguars, winners of six straight, are already in the playoffs and can clinch the AFC South with a win Sunday and Texans loss Saturday.
The stumbling Colts, losers of five straight after an 8-2 start, need to win out, have the Texans lose out (they play each other next week) and get some help for the strength-of-schedule tiebreaker for the final AFC wild card spot.
Of course, those fleeting playoff hopes could already be dashed by the time they play Sunday if Houston beats the Chargers on Saturday.
For Indianapolis, 44-year-old QB Philip Rivers was much better in his second start after a five-year layoff, passing for 277 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT last week, but the Colts’ defense failed him in a 48-27 loss to the 49ers.
Now that defense gets a Jaguars team that it struggled against just three weeks ago in a 36-19 loss, and Jacksonville has even more momentum now after a statement-making 34-20 win at Denver last week.
QB Trevor Lawrence is playing the best football of his career with 12 passing TDs, 0 INTs and 270.5 passing yards per game over the last four games (plus 2 rushing TDs).
However, that win over the Broncos came at a cost as the Jags lost CB Jourdan Lewis (2 INTs, 10 PBUs) to a season-ending foot injury, have ruled out RG Patrick Mekari after he sustained a back injury in that game, and C Robert Hainsey (groin) is questionable.
For the Colts, C Tanor Bortolini (concussion) is out along with veteran DT DeForest Buckner (neck), but star CB Sauce Gardner is expected to return after missing three games.
Jacksonville is a 5.5-point favorite.
Prediction: Jaguars 29, Colts 20
Seattle Seahawks (12-3) at Carolina Panthers (8-7)
1 p.m. Sunday on CBS
The Seahawks are in the driver’s seat in that incredible three-way NFC West standoff with a game lead on the Rams and 49ers — thanks to that thrilling if not controversial 38-37 overtime win over the Rams last week — with the No. 1 seed in the NFC also at stake.
Seattle has won five straight and nine of its last 10 overall, while star WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba leads the league with 1,637 receiving yards on 104 catches with 10 TDs.
The Panthers can clinch the NFC South with a win or a Buccaneers loss/tie. Carolina has alternated wins and losses the last nine weeks, including its 23-20 win over Tampa Bay last week.
Seattle is a 7-point favorite.
Prediction: Seahawks 31, Panthers 17
More Predictions
8 p.m. Saturday
Baltimore Ravens (7-8) at Green Bay Packers (9-5-1): ESPN surely thought it was getting a prime matchup between Lamar Jackson and Jordan Love here, but Love has been ruled out and Jackson seems unlikely to play, setting up a Tyler Huntley vs. Malik Willis showdown. The Packers have already clinched their playoff spot and are a game and a half behind the Bears in the NFC North with two weeks left. The Ravens’ playoff hopes are on life support, as either a Baltimore loss or a Steelers win clinches the AFC North for Pittsburgh. If ever Baltimore needed peak Derrick Henry, it’s Saturday. Green Bay is a 3-point favorite. Prediction: Packers 24, Ravens 14
1 p.m. Sunday
Arizona Cardinals (3-12) at Cincinnati Bengals (5-10): Joe Burrow is coming off throwing for 309 yards and 4 TDs vs. the Dolphins and gets another favorable matchup vs. a Cardinals team that has lost seven straight and given up 40 or more points in four of those games. WR Marvin Harison Jr. (heel) is expected back after missing two games. Cincinnati is a 7-point favorite. Prediction: Bengals 31, Cardinals 24
Pittsburgh Steelers: (9-6) at Cleveland Browns (3-12): The Steelers have won three straight games and can clinch the AFC North with either a win Sunday or a Ravens loss Saturday, so the division could already be locked up before they take the field if Baltimore falls at Green Bay. Star pass rusher T.J. Watt remains out for Pittsburgh. Cleveland has lost four in a row and QB Shedeur Sanders has 1 TD and 5 INTs in the last two games, but there is one bright spot for the Browns. Myles Garrett enters the weekend with 22 sacks this season, needing one more to break the NFL record of 22.5 held by Watt and Michael Strahan. Pittsburgh is a 3-point favorite. Prediction: Steelers 17, Browns 14.
New Orleans Saints (5-10) at Tennessee Titans (3-12): Believe it or not but the Saints have won three straight games. Rookie QB Tyler Shough threw for a career-high 308 yards vs. the Jets last week. WR Chris Olave is also coming off his best game of the season (10 catches for 148 yards and 2 TDs) and is expected to play despite being limited by a back injury this week. The Titans have also perked up late in the season, winning two of their last three, albeit over the Browns and the depleted Chiefs last week. New Orleans is a 2.5-point favorite. Prediction: Saints 27, Titans 20
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8) at Miami Dolphins (6-9): The Buccaneers are a game back of the Panthers in the NFC South and need a win to stay alive heading into a rematch next week with Carolina. But the Bucs have lost three straight as QB Baker Mayfield continues to struggle (7 TDs, 6 INTs in the last six games), and they’ll be without All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs (toe) this week. Rookie QB Quinn Ewers threw for 260 yards, 0 TDs and 2 INTs in his first career start last week. Tampa Bay is a 5.5-point favorite. Prediction: Buccaneers 24, Dolphins 20
New England Patriots (12-3) at New York Jets (3-12): The Patriots are down five starters — WRs Kayshon Boutte (concussion) and Mack Hollins (abdomen), DE Harold Landry III (knee), LB Robert Spillane (ankle) and LG Jared Wilson (concussion) — while RB TreVeyon Henderson seems to be trending positively after working through the concussion protocol. Even depleted, the Patriots should be fine against the Jets and undrafted rookie QB Brady Cook, who has 1 TD and 6 INTs in three starts. New England is a 13.5-point favorite. Prediction: Patriots 31, Jets 13
4:05 p.m. Sunday
New York Giants (2-13) and Las Vegas Raiders (2-13): The Giants and Raiders are in a standoff to position for the No. 1 overall draft pick. Las Vegas ruled star TE Brock Bowers out of the season, which should help in that quest. This one … should be interesting. New York is a 2.5-point favorite. Prediction: Giants 26, Raiders 17
Monday Night Football
Los Angeles Rams (11-4) at Atlanta Falcons (6-9): The Rams are part of that wild battle for the NFC West and the No. 1 seed, so they have everything to play for Monday night. Los Angeles could be without WR Davante Adams (hamstring), who did not practice Friday, but fellow wideout Puka Nacua is coming off a monstrous performance (12 catches for 225 yards and 2 TDs vs. Seattle). The Falcons have won two straight with Kirk Cousins turning back the clock (570 passing yards, 5 TDs and 1 INT in those wins), but their top two pass-catchers — WR Drake London (knee) and TE Kyle Pitts (knee) — were both limited in practice this week. Los Angeles is a 7.5-point favorite. Prediction: Rams 31, Falcons 17
