WILD-CARD GAMES
OAKLAND RAIDERS (12-4) AT HOUSTON TEXANS (9-7)
TV: Saturday, 4:35 p.m. ET, ESPN (Sean McDonough, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters) Line: Texans by 3
Injury report: Raiders S Karl Joseph (toe) and WRs Amari Cooper (shoulder) and Michael Crabtree (ankle) are expected to play. Texans QB Tom Savage (concussion) will not play. Texans RB Lamar Miller (ankle), DE Jadeveon Clowney (elbow, wrist) and ILB Brian Cushing (back) are expected to play.
Key to the game: Establishing the run will be important for both teams, given the issues at quarterback, where we probably will see Connor Cook facing Brock Osweiler. Texans RB Lamar Miller rushed for 1,073 yards and Alfred Blue added 420. For Oakland, the trio of Latavius Murray (788 yards, 12 TDs), Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington combined for 1,746 yards rushing plus 573 receiving. Matchup to watch: Raiders edge rushers Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin vs. Texans OTs Duane Brown and Chris Clark. Oakland is last in the league in sacks per pass play, but Mack especially can be disruptive with strip-sacks. Brown and Clark will try to keep that from happening.
DETROIT LIONS (9-7) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (10-5-1)
TV: Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET, NBC (Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya, Heather Cox) Line: Seahawks by 8
Injury report: Lions C Travis Swanson (concussion) ad RT Riley Reiff (hip) are day-to-day.
Key to the game: Containing the escape artist: The inability to control a scrambling quarterback on third downs doomed Detroit in both of its losses to the Green Bay Packers. The Lions will face another elusive quarterback in Russell Wilson. If he gets free on a couple third-and-longs, that could decide the outcome.
Matchup to watch: Lions WR Golden Tate vs. Seahawks CB Richard Sherman. Tate had an interesting departure from Seattle three years ago, and he has continued to prove himself as a complete receiver and serious big-play threat. Sherman will be a part of the game plan to slow him, and S Steven Terrell also might be a factor as he continues to try to fill the void left when Earl Thomas went down four weeks ago.
MIAMI DOLPHINS (10-6) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (11-5)
TV: Sunday, 1:05 p.m. ET, CBS (Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Tracy Wolfson, Jay Feely) Line: Steelers by 10
Injury report: Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill (knee) is unlikely to play. Steelers TE Ladarius Green (concussion) expects to play.
Key to the game: The Dolphins did a good job containing Steelers allpro receiver Antonio Brown in the first meeting by double-teaming him on virtually every play. They limited him to four catches for 39 yards.
Player to watch: Dolphins QB Matt Moore. The veteran has done a decent job filling in for Tannehill. Moore has made plays and kept mistakes to a minimum, throwing eight touchdown passes and three interceptions while guiding Miami to two wins in his three starts. It will be interesting to see how he handles the pressure Pittsburgh brings.
NEW YORK GIANTS (11-5) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (10-6)
TV: Sunday, 4:40 p.m. ET, Fox (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews) Line: Packers by 41⁄ 2
Injury report: Giants CB Janoris Jenkins (back) will play. Packers CB Makinton Dorleant (torn ACL) will not play; WR Randall Cobb (ankle) is day-to-day but should play; CB Quinten Rollins (concussion) is expected to play.
Key to the game: Pressure. The sack numbers don’t tell the whole story of how New York has frustrated opponents lately with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s blitz packages. Against Aaron Rodgers, he likely will have to get creative to apply pressure against an excellent offensive line that didn’t allow Rodgers to be hit in the October game. Pro Bowl S Landon Collins leads an aggressive blitzing secondary that supplements Olivier Vernon and Johnathan Hankins. Matchup to watch: Jenkins vs. Packers WR Jordy Nelson. While the coverage plan for Beckham remains unclear, the Giants undoubtedly will line up Pro Bowler Jenkins across from Nelson outside. In the Packers’ 23-16 Week 5 win at Lambeau Field, Nelson was limited to four catches for 38 yards and a touchdown.