AROUND THE LEAGUE
The Texans host the 49ers this week in a matchup of teams who’ll be golfing in January. Meanwhile, there are plenty of intriguing games to watch in Week 14.
WILD, WILD WEST
RAIDERS AT CHIEFS Noon Sunday After the Chiefs started 5-0, did anyone expect a three-way tie for first place in the AFC West at any point this season? Yet, that’s where were are after Kansas City has gone 1-6 since that fast start. The pressure is mounting on the Chiefs, especially QB Alex Smith, although he acquitted himself well with four TD passes against the Jets last week.
GAME OF THE WEEK
EAGLES AT RAMS 3:25 p.m. Sunday (Fox) If people told you Fox’s No. 1 team of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman would be calling Eagles-Rams in Week 14 instead of Cowboys-Giants, you would’ve laughed at them. But this is a huge game with the inside track to a first-round bye potentially up for grabs. The Eagles saw their ninegame winning streak end last weekend in Seattle while the Rams have won two straight following a loss at Minnesota. The Eagles also can clinch the NFC East crown — which would be their first since 2013 — with a victory at the Los Angeles Coliseum, where they last won in 1986, when the Raiders called the venue home.
CHANGING OF THE GUARD?
SEAHAWKS AT JAGUARS 3:25 p.m. Sunday For the past half-decade, Seattle and its Legion of Boom have set the standard for NFL defenses. Alas, the Legion has been decimated by injuries this season. Meanwhile, Jacksonville has allowed the fewest points in the NFL this season with 178 through 12 games, with only two of the Jaguars’ past eight opponents reaching 20 points. Plenty of NFC teams will be rooting for the Jaguars given that conference’s crowded playoff picture.
NORTHERN EXPOSURE
RAVENS AT STEELERS 7:30 p.m. Sunday (NBC) After the sheer brutality of the Steelers’ win at Cincinnati on Monday, QB Ben Roethlisberger simply described the hostilities as “AFC North football.” Another prime-time dose of that comes this weekend against the Ravens, who unlike the Bengals actually are the Steelers’ fiercest rivals. Baltimore-Pittsburgh games have always been hard-hitting, but lacking the dirtiness of the Cincinnati series. Expect the NFL overlords to keep a close eye on this one.
NO GRONK FOR YOU
PATRIOTS AT DOLPHINS 7:30 p.m. Monday (ESPN) After his widely reviled cheap shot on Buffalo’s Tre’Davious White following an interception, Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was suspended for this game, with his appeal predictably denied. The Patriots have lost three of their past four visits to Miami, but managed to win the Super Bowl without Gronkowski last year and still have this guy named Tom Brady.
THEY SAID IT I’m gonna coach this team as long as my key card works. BEN McADOO, Giants coach, on his future after last week’s loss at Oakland. His key card apparently stopped working Monday, when he was fired along with general manager Jerry Reese.