WEEK 15 GAME PREVIEWS
Bears (4-9) at Lions (7-6)
TV: Saturday, 4:30, NFL Network (Mike Tirico, Kurt Warner, Heather Cox)
The matchup: The Bears delivered their best performance of 2017, a 33-7 rout of the Cincinnati Bengals, and although it likely won’t save coach John Fox’s job, it provides encouraging signs that GM Ryan Pace’s plan can work. Rookies’ fingerprints were all over the win with QB Mitch Trubisky tallying two TDs and S Eddie Jackson notching his second two-turnover game. Chicago can play spoiler and has a chance for its best season since 2013. The Lions ended a twogame slide, topping the Tampa Bay Bucs to remain one game off the wild-card pace and keep their bleak division title hopes alive.
Chargers (7-6) at Chiefs (7-6)
TV: Saturday, 8:25, NFL Network (Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, Jamie Erdahl)
The matchup: When the Chargers were 0-4, they were -3 in turnover differential and the playoffs seemed like a dream. Suddenly, things turned around and they have won four in a row and seven of their last eight. In the nine games since being 0-4, the Chargers are +13 in turnovers. The Chiefs beat the Oakland Raiders handily last week 26-15 to end a four-game losing streak. The Chiefs scored on their first four possessions and the Raiders’ 15 points came in the fourth quarter after the Chiefs led 26-0.
Ravens (7-6) at Browns (0-13)
TV: Sunday, 1, CBS (Tom McCarthy, Steve Beuerlein, Melanie Collins)
The matchup: The Ravens scored on five consecutive possessions last week to take a lead on the Steelers, but a short-handed secondary couldn’t hold it. Baltimore has the right makeup and enough veteran leadership to recover, but the pass defense remains a major issue. The O-line has developed chemistry and played well after an injury-riddled start, while Alex Collins has emerged as the lead running back. The Browns’ winless record forced another change last week as top player personnel executive Sashi Brown was fired and replaced by John Dorsey. However, head coach Hue Jackson will stay for 2018 despite having one win in two seasons.
Cardinals (6-7) at Redskins (5-8)
TV: Sunday, 1, Fox (Kenny Albert, Ronde Barber, Kristina Pink)
The matchup: Since Week 7, when QB Carson Palmer went down with a broken arm, offense has been a struggle for Arizona. The good news is the defense has some star power, enough to win games by itself at times, as in last week’s 12-7 victory over Tennessee. QB Blaine Gabbert, who has come back to earth after a hot start as the starter, scares no one, but CB Patrick Peterson and OLB Chandler Jones scare a lot of offensive coordinators. Washington continues to crumble in what has become a hopeless season. After a second consecutive blowout loss, players and coaches questioned the team’s preparation and effort.
Eagles (11-2) at Giants (2-11)
TV: Sunday, 1, Fox (Thom Brennaman, Chris Spielman, Peter Schrager)
The matchup: The Eagles are coming off their biggest win of the season, a gutsy comeback at the L.A. Rams that solidified their spot atop the NFC. But Philadelphia’s status is filled with concern with the news that QB Carson Wentz is out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. That leaves the Eagles offense and their Super Bowl aspirations in the hands of backup Nick Foles. Giants QB Eli Manning was back under center and coach Ben McAdoo was replaced by interim coach Steve Spagnuolo. And nothing changed. The Giants offense floundered, the defense made key mistakes that led to big plays and New York lost to the Dallas Cowboys.
Dolphins (6-7) at Bills (7-6)
TV: Sunday, 1, CBS (Beth Mowins, Jay Feely)
The matchup: Coach Adam Gase will be using these final three games to take a closer look at some of his younger players in order to make decisions about their future. RB Kenyan Drake will be one of those under the microscope. The third-year pro had career highs for carries (23) and rushing yards (120) two weeks ago and followed up with 25 and 114 vs. the Patriots. Bills RB LeSean McCoy enhanced his reputation for dashing through the snow, gaining 156 yards on a career-high 32 carries in an overtime win against the Indianapolis Colts in a blizzard at New Era Field.
Packers (7-6) at Panthers (9-4)
TV: Sunday, 1, CBS (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews)
The matchup: A comeback against the Cleveland Browns extended the Packers’ playoff hopes for QB Aaron Rodgers to return for the first time since he broke his right collarbone Oct. 15. Rodgers has looked great since resuming practice two weeks ago and has been cleared by doctors. Without additional secondary reinforcements after losing CB Davon House (back) one week after rookie Kevin King was placed on seasonending injured reserve. Carolina ended Minnesota’s eight-game winning streak by having their best pass-rushing and rushing performances of the season. They’re clinging to the fifth postseason spot, but the Panthers are still in NFC South contention after tying the division-leading New Orleans Saints, who hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Texans (4-9) at Jaguars (9-4)
TV: Sunday, 1, Fox (Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston, Laura Okmin)
The matchup: Houston’s last threads of playoff hopes were officially slashed with last week’s 26-16 loss to San Francisco. An ugly season turned uglier when QB Tom Savage appeared to have a concussion and was allowed to re-enter the game for an extra series before he was escorted off the sideline. If backup QB T.J. Yates replaces Savage, who replaced rookie sensation Deshaun Watson following an ACL tear, he’ll be throwing at the league’s best secondary in Jacksonville. After leaning heavily on the defense in the first half, Jacksonville’s offense finally erupted for a 21-point third quarter to beat the Seahawks 30-24 last week.
Bengals (5-8) at Vikings (10-3)
TV: Sunday, 1, CBS (Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, Evan Washburn)
The matchup: The Bengals are going nowhere, and they bottomed out last week when they got run out of their own stadium by the Chicago Bears. Their season had essentially ended six nights earlier when they blew a big lead and allowed the Pittsburgh Steelers to rally to win, and the hangover was brutal. But the offense has been brutal for much of the year, and though the defense has been solid it has been on the field too long. The future doesn’t look bright for coach Marvin Lewis, whose contract expires after the season. Their eight-game win streak was ended last week by Carolina, but the Vikings didn’t go quietly. They will be energized by returning home and remain in position to eventually score a first-round playoff bye.
Jets (5-8) at Saints (9-4)
TV: Sunday, 1, CBS (Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon, Otis Livingston)
The matchup: Perhaps their noncompetitive 23-0 loss at Denver was an aberration, but it might be a portent of things to come as the season winds down for coach Todd Bowles, whose team was held to 100 total yards on 48 snaps (2.1 yards per play). Getting embarrassed by the Broncos, who had lost eight in a row, is bad enough, but the Jets also lost starting QB Josh McCown to a potentially season-ending broken left hand. Backup QB Bryce Petty is expected to start this week. After winning eight in a row and gaining control of the NFC South, New Orleans has lost two of its last three games after falling on the road to Atlanta on a late field goal Thursday.
Rams (9-4) at Seahawks (8-5)
TV: Sunday, 4:05, Fox (Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis, Pam Oliver)
The matchup: A loss Sunday would be the Rams’ third in five weeks and would loosen their grip on the NFC West lead for the first time in about two months. The Rams aren’t expecting to give up 450 yards of offense as they did against the Philadelphia Eagles, but they’ll have to deal with the loss of S Kayvon Webster (ruptured Achilles tendon). Just as concerning was the way the Rams offense and QB Jared Goff sputtered during the final three quarters of the team’s first meeting with Seattle. If the Seahawks’ hobbled defense couldn’t handle Blake Bortles, what’s that mean with Goff coming to town?
Patriots (10-3) at Steelers (11-2)
TV: Sunday, 4:25, CBS (Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson)
The matchup: Patriots QB Tom Brady has dominated Pittsburgh the last decade, averaging 324 passing yards per game while throwing 22 TD passes and zero interceptions to help the Patriots win six of Brady’s last seven starts in the series. But the Patriots must recoup after their eight-game winning streak was ended by the Miami Dolphins. TE Rob Gronkowski, suspended last week, returns for the Pats. When Pittsburgh struggled early this season, QB Ben Roethlisberger intimated the end of his career might be near. But retirement has been the furthest thing from his mind lately. At 35, Big Ben is as good as ever. In his stirring 39-38 comeback win against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14, Roethlisberger completed 44 of 66 attempts for 506 yards and two TDs.
Titans (8-5) at 49ers (3-10)
TV: Sunday, 4:25, CBS (Andrew Catalon, James Lofton)
The matchup: On a collision course with Jacksonville, the Titans might have looked at this month’s back-to-back West Coast games as fair-weather primers. But the loss at Arizona and the 49ers’ two-game win streak have made this a tougher game than it once looked. The Titans need to get the running game going again, and QB Marcus Mariota has to take better care of the football. Tennessee has featured one of the NFL’s best run defenses for most of the season, and the Titans can’t afford to let up.
Cowboys (7-6) at Raiders (6-7)
TV: Sunday, 8:30, NBC (Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya)
The matchup: Dallas has one more game without suspended RB Ezekiel Elliott. The first three games without him were ugly losses as the Cowboys were outscored by a combined 92-22 by Atlanta, Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Chargers. But the Cowboys have won their last two thanks to some big plays. QB Dak Prescott passed for 332 yards against the Giants, and 185 came on three plays. Just when the Raiders were feeling good about themselves after successive home wins against Denver and the Giants, reality bit in a 26-15 road loss to Kansas City.
Falcons (8-5) at Buccaneers (4-9)
TV: Monday, 8:30, ESPN (Sean McDonough, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters)
The matchup: The defending conference champion Falcons are in the thick of the NFC South race after upending the division-leading Saints at home in Week
14. Now they go for the season sweep of the Buccaneers in the second of four season-ending games for Atlanta inside the division. After their turnover-filled
24-21 loss at home to the Detroit Lions, franchise QB Jameis Winston denied there is growing friction between him and Dirk Koetter. The second-year coach’s job security appears to be growing more tenuous by the week. Mistakes continue to stunt Winston’s growth (52 turnovers in 42 career games). Times p.m. Eastern. Compiled by Brian Allee-Walsh, Zac Jackson, Jordan Godwin, Scott Pitoniak, Arthur Arkush, Andy Friedlander, Scott Johnson, Howard Balzer.