--Saturday games
Minnesota Vikings (7-6) at Cincinnati Bengals (7-6): Nick Mullens starts for the 18th time in his career and first with the Vikings, who turn to a fourth QB this season in the thick of a playoff chase in the NFC. Neither team can afford a loss with a logjam of teams with mediocre records surrounding them in the standings. Benched was Josh Dobbs after a punchless offense survived to win 3-0 at Las Vegas in Week 14. Mullens has a stout defense working behind him and All-Pro WR Justin Jefferson (chest) plans to play in a reunion of sorts with former LSU teammate Ja'Marr Chase. Chase had no issues connecting with backup Jake Browning. Browning produced 34 points in each of the past two games and is on a record pace for completion percentage -- 75.5 in three starts -- while rookie Chase Brown has emerged as a legitimate wingman to Joe Mixon in a more productive backfield.
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) at Indianapolis Colts (7-6): A wildcard intersection might become a postseason off-ramp for the loser of this game depending on how dominoes fall Sunday. The Colts lost for the first time since the end of October last week at Cincinnati and cracks are starting to appear in the run defense. Indianapolis has been hit for at least 125 rushing yards in six of the past seven games. Pittsburgh, what with a backup quarterback and milquetoast offense, is primed to deploy a ground-and-pound approach using a conservative running game to back the Steelers' stout defense. Indianapolis won't have top back Jonathan Taylor (thumb) again, but the combination of Gardner Minshew and WR Michael Pittman Jr. has been filthy. Pittman has at least eight receptions in six consecutive games.
Denver Broncos (7-6) at Detroit Lions (9-4): Sean Payton brought the Broncos back from the brink of self-combustion by lending a stronger voice to defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. Denver has a string of eight consecutive games holding opponents to 22 or fewer points with 18 takeaways in the past seven games and 15 sacks in the past three. Lions coach Dan Campbell sees the dashboard warning lights, but believes the easy fix to most of what ails Detroit is the turnover battle. The return of safety CJ Gardner-Johnson should spark the secondary, but more consistent play from QB Jared Goff has been the focus for Campbell and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Goff threw two picks and was sacked four times in the Lions' loss at Chicago last week.
--Sunday gamesAtlanta Falcons (6-7) at Carolina Panthers (1-12): Before the Falcons check off their rematch with Carolina as a victory, Atlanta must reassess what led to a tie game into the third quarter of their first matchup. Only a turnover turned the tide for the Falcons, who lost 25-15 at Carolina in 2022 and have one division road win (at Tampa) in the past three seasons. To remain in the playoff race, the Falcons can't afford a loss. Only the NFC South champion is likely to be in the postseason, and Tampa Bay took control of the South with a win at Atlanta last week. Carolina is long way from January football talk, and the focus next month will be finding a new coach who can help turn around the fortunes of the franchise and rookie QB Bryce Young. Young is 30th, last among qualifiers, with a 70.9 QB rating and tied for
slimy liquid hirschhausen Test 24th in with nine TD passes this season.
Chicago Bears (5-8) at Cleveland Browns (8-5): QB Justin Fields has one interception in his past 129 attempts and at least 45 rushing yards in six starts in a row, bringing the Bears back into the peripheral playoff conversation that gains a massive boost with a win at Cleveland. The Browns are down multiple playmakers, including S Grant Delpit (groin), but a strong running game and the rejuvenation of the passing game behind cannon-armed QB Joe Flacco has given Cleveland new life in the AFC North. A line of teams clawing for the same spot in the wild-card standings awaits. With a Christmas Eve trip to Houston followed by a short week of prep for a Jets team that could have Aaron Rodgers back ratchets up the importance of this Week 15 matchup.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7) at Green Bay Packers (6-7): Tampa Bay took a step forward and owns first place in a three-way tie in the NFC South standings, looking to stretch its winning streak to three games and deal the Packers' playoff chances a blow in the process. Green Bay feels the same way entering a game that could have wild-card tiebreaker implications. The Packers won three games in a row before losing 24-22 to Tommy DeVito and the New York Giants on Monday night. Packers QB Jordan Love, 25, has been a big reason for the Packers' recent optimism. In the past four games, he has passed for 1,075 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception while posting an impressive 106.2 passer rating.
New York Jets (5-8) at Miami Dolphins (9-4): The Jets will hear nothing of injury woes out of the first-place Dolphins, who could be without WR Tyreek Hill (ankle) and others on Sunday. The Jets won't have their QB1 -- yet -- but Aaron Rodgers is pushing to return this month from an Achilles injury if the Jets are still in the playoff picture. That largely depends on the play of Zach Wilson. He didn't play in New York's 34-13 loss to the visiting Dolphins on Nov. 24. The Dolphins suffered a searing 28-27 setback to Tennessee on Monday in which they allowed 15 points in a 51-second span in the fourth quarter. The high-powered Miami offense that ranks No. 1 in total offense (423.6 yards per game) and No. 2 in scoring (31.6 points per game) was severely hampered with Hill (league-high 1,542 receiving yards) hobbled. Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa was sacked a season-worst five times while completing 23 of 33 passes for 240 yards. "It's the NFL, anything can happen," said Tagovailoa, who leads the NFL with 3,697 passing yards. "We got to do a better job finishing the game with the time we had, while we had the ball." Miami has won 10 of the past 12 meetings.
New York Giants (5-8) at New Orleans Saints (6-7): The New York Giants have won three games in a row, and the Saints have lost three of four games. The Giants have a path to the wild card, while the Saints can still win the NFC South. The final margin has been eight points or less in eight of New Orleans' games this season. Six of the Giants' losses have been by 15 or more points, but rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito has given the team a lift during his four starts. Wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson said DeVito's happy-go-lucky demeanor in the locker room masks "a stone-cold killer" on the field. An undrafted rookie, DeVito completed 17 of 21 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown in Monday's win vs. the Packers. He has not thrown an interception in his last 87 passes, and he was not sacked by Green Bay after being sacked 26 times in the previous four games.
Houston Texans (7-6) at Tennessee Titans (5-8): C.J. Stroud couldn't get back to the field from a concussion that knocked him out of last week's loss to the Jets, which means Davis Mills gets the call for Houston in a must-win matchup. The Texans are in a tight race in the AFC South with the Jaguars (8-5) and Colts (7-6), who play Saturday. But Stroud is one of several key players not available in Week 15, including WR Nico Collins and pass rusher Will Anderson Jr. The Titans are on a high after Monday's rally and win at Miami, 28-27, and trying to sneak back into the South division title race. Mills has 26 career starts for the Texans, but is 5-20-1.
Kansas City Chiefs (8-5) at New England Patriots (3-10): Testy following a fourth loss in six weeks, the Chiefs are taking nothing for granted these days. Kansas City is coming off a heartbreaking 20-17 setback against the Buffalo Bills and leads the Broncos by just one game in the division.