The NFL playoff picture is starting to come together heading into Week 16, but there is still a heated AFC Wild Card race and an NFC East division title battle to keep a close eye on this week.
NFL Week 16 will depart from the usual cadence of the season, as there will be no Thursday Night Football. Instead, there will be three games on Saturday before the usual slate of early, late, and Sunday night games. And, as always, the week will close with Monday Night Football, with an especially appealing NFC North rivalry matchup on tap.
All the Saturday games are available on the NFL Network.
Saturday Early: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Houston Texans
The Houston Texans should wrap up the division after defeating the resurgent Tennessee Titans 24-21 last week, so beating a subpar Buccaneers team will enable them to seal the AFC South again.
Saturday Late: New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills
If the Buffalo Bills can upset the suddenly vulnerable New England Patriots on Saturday, then they could end up stealing the AFC East in an unprecedented turn of events.
Saturday Night: San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams
No longer the best team in the NFC West, the 49ers are fighting with three other 11-3 NFC teams for a playoff bye, while it’s desperation time for the defending NFC Champion Rams.
CBS
Red: Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens
Blue: New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Orange: Miami Dolphins vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Green (Late): Los Angeles Chargers vs. Oakland Raiders
Yellow (Late): Denver Broncos vs. Detroit Lions
Absolutely none of these games are worth your time, unless if the idea of watching arguably the NFL’s worst two teams in the Bengals and Dolphins entertains you. The Bengals are the clear favorites to land the No. 1 pick at 1-13, whereas the blatantly tanking Dolphins are suddenly tied with Washington, Detroit, and the Giants as three-win squads.
FOX Early
Red: Tennessee Titans vs. New Orleans Saints
Blue: Washington Redskins vs. New York Giants
Green: Indianapolis Colts vs. Carolina Panthers
Yellow: Atlanta Falcons vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The season looked so promising for both the Panthers and Colts at one point, but neither team is in a position to qualify for the postseason. They are both playing for pride at this point. Meanwhile, the Saints are in a battle for a bye, and the Titans are playing for their season. At 8-6, they are neck and neck with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the second AFC Wild Card bye spot behind Buffalo, but they are the favorites to make it to the playoffs with Ryan Tannehill giving them an advantage at quarterback.
FOX Late
Red: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys
Blue: Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals
With all due respect to rookie sensation Kyler Murray and the elite Russell Wilson, Dallas vs. Philadelphia is the clear game to watch here. The winner of this Week 16 matchup wins the division and goes to the playoffs. It’s all on the line here.
Sunday Night Football (NBC): Chicago Bears vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs already have the AFC West sewn up, while any last-ditch effort from Mitch Trubisky and the Bears was too little, too late.
Monday Night Football (ESPN): Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers
Minnesota is only one game behind Green Bay in the NFC North, so a win on MNF could be enough for them to steal the division from Aaron Rodgers. This game could come down to both of these talented defenses.