Tampa Bay (6-9) at Atlanta (13-2)
With home-field advantage for the NFC playoffs in their possession, the Falcons could rest some folks Sunday. But they also have a bye upcoming, so getting stale could be an issue.
Plus, they’ve been on a roll the last two weeks and would like to keep sharp heading into the postseason, where they are 0-3 under coach Mike Smith.
Tampa Bay’s players haven’t given up the way they did for Raheem Morris a year ago. They also have played poorly, albeit against mostly decent teams, while dropping five straight.
Oakland (4-11) at San Diego (6-9)
Likely the final game for Norv Turner as Chargers coach, but the team has won its last two road games. San Diego has allowed only three more points than it has scored, an indication this might not be too dire a situation for someone else to tackle.
Oakland? That might be hopeless. The Raiders are better than only three teams in points and have yielded more than everyone except Tennessee and Buffalo.
Jacksonville (2-13) at Tennessee (5-10)
Two coaches with short resumes that could be marred by losing their positions.
Mike Mularkey has done nothing to improve Jacksonville’s offense—to be fair, his best player, Maurice Jones-Drew, has appeared in only six games. His first season with the Jaguars could be his last.
Mike Munchak, who spent three decades with the Tennessee franchise, was given an ultimatum by owner Bud Adams to upgrade the Titans’ performance. It hasn’t happened.
Carolina (6-9) at New Orleans (7-8)
This season won’t end the way the Saints hoped. At least they can put behind the bounty scandal and look ahead to getting back coach Sean Payton— depending on his contract situation with the team—and contending next year.
The Panthers might have saved coach Ron Rivera’s job with a surge. They’ve won three straight and four of five.
New York Jets (6-9) at Buffalo (5-10)
The mess at the Meadowlands that has been the Jets’ season mercifully concludes with Greg McElroy at quarterback trying to avoid another beatdown. Bills defensive end Mario Williams, who’s had his own disappointing year, must be salivating after seeing San Diego get 11 sacks last week.