In addition to our game previews below, be sure to keep an eye on our NFL injury report and the latest fantasy football news. For player usage updates and roster context, check out RotoWire's NFL Depth Charts, and don't miss the Weekly Projections to see how this week's matchups shape up.
MONDAY NIGHT
N.Y. Giants (+7.5) at New England, o/u 46.5
Monday, 8:15 p.m. EST
Honestly, things could have gone a lot worse for the Giants this season. Jaxson Dart's a little worse for wear, but he seems to have proven he can be the team's franchise QB, and doesn't seem to have had his development too badly derailed by the chaos of Brian Daboll's sudden yet inevitable departure. Losing Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers too has Big Blue on track for a top-five pick – they'd current;y be slotted second – which means either another elite roster piece, or a draft haul if someone wants to trade up for a quarterback. With DC Shane Bowen kicked to the curb as well, the defense, or at least the front seven, might start playing up to its potential as well. They might even get a chance to ruin the Cowboys' playoff chances in Week 18! Dart should return from his concussion this week, and while he still doesn't have much in the way of reliable targets, he might be able to keep the Giants competitive just by himself, or at least with a little help from useful
In addition to our game previews below, be sure to keep an eye on our NFL injury report and the latest fantasy football news. For player usage updates and roster context, check out RotoWire's NFL Depth Charts, and don't miss the Weekly Projections to see how this week's matchups shape up.
MONDAY NIGHT
N.Y. Giants (+7.5) at New England, o/u 46.5
Monday, 8:15 p.m. EST
Honestly, things could have gone a lot worse for the Giants this season. Jaxson Dart's a little worse for wear, but he seems to have proven he can be the team's franchise QB, and doesn't seem to have had his development too badly derailed by the chaos of Brian Daboll's sudden yet inevitable departure. Losing Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers too has Big Blue on track for a top-five pick – they'd current;y be slotted second – which means either another elite roster piece, or a draft haul if someone wants to trade up for a quarterback. With DC Shane Bowen kicked to the curb as well, the defense, or at least the front seven, might start playing up to its potential as well. They might even get a chance to ruin the Cowboys' playoff chances in Week 18! Dart should return from his concussion this week, and while he still doesn't have much in the way of reliable targets, he might be able to keep the Giants competitive just by himself, or at least with a little help from useful depth pieces thrust into major roles like Devin Singletary and Theo Johnson.
The Patriots became the first team in the NFL this season with double-digit wins, which is pretty incredible considering where they were this time last year – which, now that I think about it, isn't too different from where the Giants are right now. Through Week 12 in 2024, New England was 3-9 with a rickety roster surrounding a rookie QB who had shown plenty of promise, and laboring under a lame-duck coaching staff. The Pats should be cruising to Drake Maye's first AFC East title from here, with games against the Bills and Ravens surrounded by punching bags in the Giants and Jets, plus a cold-weather home game against the Dolphins to close out the regular season. TreVeyon Henderson has finally broken out (486 scrimmage yards and five totals TDs in the last five games), Maye is spreading the ball around effectively, and the defense is.. well, it's mostly average, but it's taken advantage of that fourth-place schedule to sit in the top five in PPG allowed. Those two matches against perennial AFC heavyweights right after a Week 14 bye should provide a good test of exactly where the Pats stand before they head into January. This game... not so much.
Key Info
NYG injury report: RB Cam Skattebo (IR, ankle), WR Malik Nabers (IR, knee), WR Wan'Dale Robinson (questionable, ankle), WR Darius Slayton (questionable, hamstring), K Graham Gano (IR, neck), EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux (questionable, shoulder), DT Dexter Lawrence (questionable, elbow), LB Micah McFadden (IR, foot), LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (questionable, neck), CB Paulson Adebo (questionable, knee)
NE injury report: LT Will Campbell (IR, knee), LG Jared Wilson (doubtful, ankle), EDGE Harold Landry (questionable, knee), DE Milton Williams (IR, ankle)
Strong lean: WR Wan'Dale Robinson (NE 32nd in DVOA vs. WR1)
Strong lean: RB TreVeyon Henderson / Rhamondre Stevenson (NYG 32nd in rushing DVOA, 32nd in YPC allowed, 30th in rushing TDs allowed to RBs, 32nd in rushing yards per game allowed)
Slight fade: WR Darius Slayton (NE fourth in receiving yards per game allowed to WR2s)
Slight fade: TE Hunter Henry (NYG seventh in DVOA vs. TE)
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NFL weather report: temperature in the mid-30s, 30-40 percent chance of snow
The Scoop: Tyrone Tracy leads the NYG backfield with 70 yards and a TD, while Singletary adds 50 yards. Dart throws for less than 200 yards and a touchdown to Johnson. Henderson jets 130 combined yards and a score, while Stevenson also punches in a short TD. Maye throws for 260 yards and a touchdown to Stefon Diggs. Patriots 27-17
SUNDAY NIGHT
Denver at Washington (+6.5), o/u 43.5 – Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EST
Coming out of their bye, the Broncos have to like their chances of locking up the AFC West title. Kansas City's scuffling, the Chargers' offensive line issues are getting Justin Herbert killed, and Denver's now mostly healthy for a closing sprint that includes what should be a couple gimmes before they really need to buckle down. The Broncos have won eight straight on the strength of an elite defense that survived three games without Patrick Surtain, and an offense that isn't always consistent but seems to find plays when it needs them. Six of those eight wins were by a single score (including games that shouldn't have been close against the likes of the Jets and Giants, so maybe they shouldn't be getting the benefit of the doubt that they'll just walk over the Commanders and Raiders...), so they're either really lucky or battle-tested, depending on how much orange you wear on a daily basis. Having RJ Harvey finally discover his inner Alvin Kamara would help erase some of those doubts. The rookie got held in check before the bye in a tough matchup against KC's front seven, but this clash with a wounded Washington defense should be better suited to his talents. Bo Nix might just decide to pick apart the Commanders' secondary instead though, or what's left of it. The Broncos have blown out a couple opponents already this season – most recently a 44-22 pasting in Week 8 over a Cowboys squad facing similar injury woes – and Sean Payton's had extra time to get his roster focused on making a strong playoff push. This one could get ugly in a hurry.
The Commmanders have lost six straight to fall into a top-10 draft slot, and the freefall likely isn't done. Jayden Daniels is inching closer to a return, but he might not even be the biggest injury worry for Washington at this point. The team's lost its top two boundary corners, Marshon Lattimore and rookie Trey Amos, and neither one seems likely to play again in 2025. Did I mention that the Commanders' final slate of games includes Justin Jefferson, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith (twice), and CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens? Jinkies. Dan Quinn doesn't have the pass rush to scheme up some help for his back end either. Terry McLaurin will return this week, and the team may have found something in Titans castoff Treylon Burks, but this defense is probably going to be digging holes too deep for the team to climb out of, no matter who is throwing passes to those guys.
Key Info
DEN injury report: RB J.K. Dobbins (IR, foot), LG Ben Powers (IR, bicep)
WAS injury report: QB Jayden Daniels (out, elbow), RB Austin Ekeler (IR, Achilles), WR Noah Brown (IR, groin), EDGE Dorance Armstrong (IR, knee), EDGE Deatrich Wise (IR, quadricep), CB Trey Amos (IR, lower leg), CB Marshon Lattimore (IR, knee), S Will Harris (IR, ankle)
Strong lean: WR Courtland Sutton (WAS 32nd in DVOA vs. WR2)
Slight lean: WR Treylon Burks (DEN 22nd in DVOA vs. WR3)
No DEN fades. The WAS defense is headed in the wrong direction, and fast
Slight fade: QB Marcus Mariota (DEN third in passing DVOA, first in passing TDs allowed)
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NFL weather report: temperature in the high 30s, 9-12 mph wind, 35-45 percent chance of rain
The Scoop: Harvey breaks out for 120 scrimmage yards and two scores, one rushing and one receiving. Nix throws for 240 yards and a second TD to Sutton, who tops 100 yards. Chris Rodriguez leads the WAS backfield with 60 yards. Mariota throws for less than 200 yards but finds Deebo Samuel for one touchdown while running in another himself. Broncos 27-17
EARLY SUNDAY
L.A. Rams at Carolina (+10.5), o/u 45.0 – Sunday, 1:00 p.m. EST
Six straight wins have put the Rams atop the NFC West, and they haven't just been skating by. The average score during the win streak has been 31-12, and only one of those games (a 21-19 home victory over the Seahawks) was particularly close. Even then, Sean McVay's crew never trailed in the contest. Five of those wins came against potential playoff squads, with the list of victims including the Ravens (17-3), Jags (35-7), Niners (42-26) and Bucs (34-7). Matthew Stafford might be headed for his first MVP Award at age 37, as he's got a stunning 25:0 TD:INT over the last eight games, while DC Chris Shula's unit has multiple takeaways in five of the six wins during the streak, totaling 13 turnovers and 16 sacks. The offense is having no trouble producing points, and the defense is having no trouble keeping them off the board, which is generally a pretty good combination. If I had to pick a team right now that I think is going to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, this would be it.
The Panthers remain in the playoff picture at 6-6, although they have a better chance of winning the NFC South than they do of claiming a wild-card spot. They don't look like a playoff team, though. Carolina did steal a win in Lambeau, but then immediately lost a home game to the Saints to balance it out. Otherwise, their victories have come against also-rans, while any time they've faced a real opponent they've come up way short – 42-21 by the Pats, 40-9 by the Bills, even 20-9 by an injury-wracked Niners squad last week. Bryce Young should really think about moving to a team with an indoor stadium – he's got a 6:1 TD:INT in two games in domed stadiums this season (at Arizona and Atlanta) with 388.0 passing yards a contest; in nine outdoor starts, he's got a 9:8 TD:INT and just 150.6 passing yards a game, failing to reach 200 yards in any of them. (Hey, the Cardinals and Raiders will probably be in the market for a new QB this offseason...) Rico Dowdle and Tetairoa McMillan have been bright spots on the offense, but the defense is firmly in the bottom half of the league in most categories, and bottom three in sacks and third-down efficiency against. Carolina's season could end up resting on their two meetings with Tampa Bay in Weeks 16 and 18, but staying close enough to the Bucs for those games to matter will be the trick.
Key Info
LAR injury report: TE Tyler Higbee (IR, ankle), RT Rob Havenstein (IR, ankle), CB Ahkello Witherspoon (IR, shoulder), CB Quentin Lake (IR, elbow), S Kamren Kinchens (questionable, shoulder)
CAR injury report: C Cade Mays (out, ankle), RG Robert Hunt (IR, bicep), RG Brady Christensen (IR, Achilles), RG Chandler Zavala (out, calf), LB Christian Rozeboom (out, hip), CB Jaycee Horn (out, concussion), S Tre'von Moehrig (out, suspension)
Strong lean: TE Colby Parkinson (CAR 32nd in DVOA vs. TE)
Slight lean: TE Ja'Tavion Sanders (LAR t-20th in receptions per game allowed to TEs)
Strong fade: WR Davante Adams (CAR first in DVOA vs. WR2)
Strong fade: QB Bryce Young (LAR second in passing DVOA, t-sixth in passing TDs allowed)
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NFL weather report: 15-25 percent chance of rain
The Scoop: Kyren Williams pops for 130 scrimmage yards and two TDs. Stafford throws for 310 yards and two scores, finding Parkinson (for a fourth straight game) and Puka Nacua. Dowdle puts together 70 yards. Young throws for less than 200 yards and gets picked off twice, but he does hit McMillan for a touchdown. Rams 34-13
San Francisco at Cleveland (+4.5), o/u 36.5 – Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
At 8-4, the Niners are actually third in the NFC West, but they're hanging onto the third wild-card spot over the Lions, who have a game in hand. Kyle Shanahan's crew has won two straight games since Brock Purdy returned to action, but beating up on the Cards and Panthers didn't prove a whole lot. The offense is mostly healthy, especially if you view Brandon Aiyuk's absence as having less to do with his knee and more to do with him just generally being done with the organization, but the defense is another matter. San Francisco's front seven is held together by duct tape and chewing gum, as in addition to the loss of Nick Bosa, first-round pick Mykel Williams and multiple depth options are on the shelf. The linebacking corps isn't in much better shape, with Fred Warner's loss being the biggest hole. An Arizona offense led by Jacoby Brissett put up 488 yards of offense against this group a couple weeks ago. The Niners' schedule will keep them in the playoff hunt for a while – they get the Titans after a Week 14 bye – but a tough closing slate that features the Colts, Bears and Seahawks could be their undoing.
Last week's win over the Raiders was a nice feather in Shedeur Sanders' cap, but it didn't do the Browns any favors. Cleveland would be picking sixth in 2026 if the season were already over, and they've got at least one more winnable game against Tennessee in Week 14 on the horizon. Sanders didn't actually do a whole lot to earn the win either, so it's not like he made a strong case to be the team's long-term solution under center. The 2025 fifth-round pick will probably get a long look from Kevin Stefanski down the stretch though, because what other option does he have? Dillon Gabriel didn't show anything in his six starts, and there would be little point in giving Deshaun Watson snaps, unless GM Andrew Berry thinks he might be able to sucker the Raiders or somebody into taking on that contract in the offseason. Quinshon Judkins is also feeling the weight of being the team's only offensive threat. The rookie RB did score two TDs in last week's win, but over the last four games he's got a 3.1 YPC, and nobody is seeing more stacked boxes this season than he is. Judkins' facing eight-man fronts nearly half the time (45.22 percent), more even than Derrick Henry (39.76 percent). Myles Garrett's quest for the single-season sack record – he's got 7.0 in the last two games and 18.0 on the year, which means he needs only 5.0 in the Browns' last six games to get there – might be the only compelling reason to tune into Cleveland games in December.
Key Info
SF injury report: WR Brandon Aiyuk (PUP, knee), K Eddy Pineiro (out, hamstring), EDGE Nick Bosa (IR, knee), LB Fred Warner (IR, ankle), LB Tatum Bethune (out, ankle)
CLE injury report: TE David Njoku (questionable, knee), LT Dawand Jones (IR, knee), LB Carson Schwesinger (questionable, ankle), LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (PUP, neck), CB Martin Emerson (IR, Achilles), CB Tyson Campbell (questionable, hip)
Strong lean: WR Demarcus Robinson (CLE 31st in DVOA vs. WR3)
Slight lean: WR Isaiah Bond (SF 30th in DVOA vs. WR3)
Strong fade: RB Christian McCaffrey (CLE first in rushing DVOA, fourth in YPC allowed, t-third in rushing TDs allowed to RBs, sixth in passing DVOA vs. RB)
Slight fade: TE Harold Fannin (SF fifth in DVOA vs. TE)
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NFL weather report: temperature in the mid-30s, 15-20 mph wind, 50-60 percent chance of snow
The Scoop: McCaffrey collects 80 scrimmage yards. Purdy throws for less than 200 yards but does toss a touchdown to George Kittle. Judkins grinds out 70 yards and a TD. Sanders throws for under 200 yards and manages to toss a pick-six to the aptly named Dee Winters, given the likely conditions. 49ers 14-13
Houston (+4.5) at Indianapolis, o/u 44.5 – Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
The AFC South could end up being the most competitive division in the league for the stretch run. The Texans have won three straight games to stay in the hunt, but they're still two wins back of the Colts at 6-5, with the Jaguars nestled in between them. All three of those Houston wins have come with Davis Mills under center, and the 27-year-old already has the coveted Earl Morrall Award for best backup QB in the league all sewn up for 2025. C.J. Stroud appears ready to return from his concussion though, so Mills' work may be done for the season. The identity of the person guiding the offense almost doesn't matter though, given the way the defense is locked in right now. Only two teams have scored more than 20 points against the Texans all season – the Seahawks at home in Week 7, and the Jaguars in Houston in Week 10 – and only three have produced more than 300 yards of offense. Since a Week 6 bye, the Texans have allowed an average of 20.2 points and 263.0 yards per game with 13 takeaways and 21 sacks, including eight in last week's win over the Bills. That sets the bar very low for Stroud and the offense, but Mills also seems to have left the unit in better condition than he found it, as rookie wideout Jayden Higgins has a 13-135-2 line on 23 targets in Mills' starts, and Christian Kirk had his best game of the season in Week 12.
I really don't know what to make of this. The Colts are reporting that Daniel Jones has a fractured fibula, but he isn't even on the injury report Thursday and Indy seems to have no qualms about sending him out there with what you'd have to assume is limited mobility against a pass rush that just terrorized Josh Allen. Granted, Jones' backup is sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard, who's attempted a grand total of two passes so far in the NFL (both incompletions), and the team probably can't afford to just give away a win to a divisional rival, but it's still going to be heart in mouth time for Colts fans on every dropback, with Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter circling like sharks. My score-generating algorithm spat out an Indy win and cover with the over, and I'm completely reversing it because, again, Jones is going to be playing on a broken leg. Maybe that just means another three-TD game for Jonathan Taylor, and I look silly for doubting old Al, but I just can't get there. The collapse of the Colts' run defense without DeForest Buckner can't be overlooked either. The defense's two worst performances on the ground have come in its last two games, as the Bijan Robinson-Tyler Allgeier combo and then Kareem Hunt gouged the Colts for a combined 245 rushing yards and three TDs. Woody Marks and the hollow shell masquerading as Nick Chubb are more in the Hunt/Allgeier category, but that's probably still enough to keep the Indy offense off the field. For Jones' own protection, if nothing else.
Key Info
HOU injury report: RB Joe Mixon (NFI, foot), WR Tank Dell (PUP, knee)
IND injury report: K Spencer Shrader (IR, knee), DT DeForest Buckner (IR, neck)
Slight lean: TE Dalton Schultz (IND 28th in DVOA vs. TE)
No IND leans against this fearsome HOU defense
Slight fade: WR Nico Collins (IND fourth in DVOA vs. WR1)
Strong fade: QB Daniel Jones (HOU first in passing DVOA, fourth in passing yards per game allowed, t-second in passing TDs allowed)
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NFL weather report: indoors
Head-to-head record, last five years: 5-4-1 IND, average score 26-19 IND, average margin of victory nine points. The Texans have won four of the last five meetings including three straight at Lucas Oil Stadium, but those three wins have been by a combined seven points.
The Scoop: Marks leads the HOU backfield with 80 yards and a score. Stroud throws for 200 yards and TDs to Higgins and Schultz. Taylor thunders for 120 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns. Jones can't do much on one good leg though, throwing for less than 200 yards. Texans 24-20
New Orleans (+6) at Miami, o/u 41.5 – Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
Heading into Week 13, the Saints are set to pick third in the 2026 draft, but there's still plenty of volatility at the bottom of the standings. New Orleans has games against the Jets and Tennessee coming up, and Atlanta and Carolina (who Kellen Moore's squad got one of their two wins this season against) aren't guaranteed Ls either. Tyler Shough has looked semi-competent in his first four NFL starts, completing 65.3 percent of his passes with a 6.7 YPA, but just a 3:3 TD:INT. It would help if he had better targets to throw to, but Chris Olave and Alvin Kamara are both banged up, and tight end Juwan Johnson might be Shough's most dependable option Sunday. Rookie sixth-round pick Devin Neal will get a chance to show what he can do in Kamara's place, but he might not be 100 percent either. It's not like the team was scoring points anyway – the Saints haven't put up at least 20 in a game since Week 5 – but that offensive futility has been wasting some decent efforts by the defense. Of the teams flitting like moths around the first overall pick in 2026, I might be least surprised by a big turnaround next season for the Saints (the only competition could come from the Giants, depending on their coaching hires.)
The Dolphins are also looking at a possible top-10 pick next year, but to their credit they don't seem to have quit on Mike McDaniel, or at least not on DC Anthony Weaver. Miami's won two straight and three of their last four thanks to an opportunistic defense, and the team's 3-1 this year when it records multiple takeaways – and 1-6 when it doesn't. Coming out of their bye, the Dolphins could get some pieces back along the offensive line soon, but De'Von Achane has been doing just fine behind the current group, reaching 120 rushing yards in three of the last six games and topping 100 scrimmage yards four times in that stretch, just missing in the other two contests. Tua Tagovailoa has been erratic over that span, posting a 7:9 TD:INT, but sticking to the ground game will give the Dolphins a steadier floor, and better odds of taking advantage when the defense is feeling frisky.
Key Info
NO injury report: RB Alvin Kamara (out, knee), WR Chris Olave (questionable, back), C Erik McCoy (IR, bicep)
MIA injury report: WR Tyreek Hill (IR, knee), TE Darren Waller (IR, pectoral), LG Liam Eichenberg (PUP, undisclosed), RG James Daniels (IR, pectoral), RT Austin Jackson (IR, toe), K Jason Sanders (IR, hip), CB Storm Duck (IR, knee), CB Rasul Douglas (questionable, foot), CB Kader Kohou (IR, knee)
Slight lean: WR Devaughn Vele (MIA 27th in DVOA vs. WR3)
Slight lean: WR Malik Washington (NO 30th in DVOA vs. WR2)
Slight fade: WR Mason Tipton (MIA second in receptions per game allowed to WR2s)
Slight fade: WR Jaylen Waddle (NO t-fourth in receptions per game allowed to WR1s)
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NFL weather report: 10-15 mph wind, 15-25 percent chance of rain
The Scoop: Neal starts but ekes out just 50 yards, while Taysom Hill runs in a TD. Shough throws for less than 200 yards. Achane gallops for 90 yards and a touchdown. Tagovailoa throws for under 200 yards and a touchdown to Waddle. Dolphins 20-10
Atlanta at N.Y. Jets (+2.5), o/u 39.5 – Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
Last week's win over the Saints ended a five-game losing streak for the Falcons, and I suppose kept their playoff hopes alive – they're 4-7, just two wins back of the Bucs for first place in the NFC South, with the Panthers at 6-6. Atlanta's 0-3 already this season against those two clubs, so just catching them in the standings won't be enough. Those playoff hopes are resting on the achey 37-year-old shoulder of Kirk Cousins, with Michael Penix done for the year and probably a good chunk of 2026 due to ACL surgery. Well, at least the Falcons can just tank and... oh, right, they traded their 2026 first-rounder to the Rams to move up and grab James Pearce. Whoops. Cousins still has Bijan Robinson and his Robin, Tyler Allgeier, to lean on, and Darnell Mooney did get going last week, which could be crucial with Drake London set to miss a second straight game. A closing schedule which features the Rams and Seahawks in addition to that final tilt against the Bucs makes a division title seem like a pipe dream, but if any group in the NFL this season is going to have an eight-win champ, it'll be the NFC South.
Shockingly, the switch at QB from Justin Fields to Tyrod Taylor last week didn't improve the Jets' fortunes. Their next savior under center isn't on the roster right now, and frankly he might not be in the 2026 draft class either, as New York's currently set to select fourth from a cohort that's beginning to look similar to 2025 when it comes to quarterbacks deemed worthy of being taken at the top of the first round. It might be smarter to bulk up the roster around a temp first anyway. The Jets' defense remains toothless, somehow managing just one takeaway all season and sitting in the bottom five in sacks and dead last in QB knockdown rate and total pressures, which means the pass rush isn't even getting close enough to be an annoyance for opposition pivots. Did I mention that Aaron Glenn is a defensive coach, and he has a fairly experienced DC working under him in Steve Wilks? Sure, the front office sent the unit's two best players packing at the trade deadline, but they were bad before then too. The question on whether to draft a QB next year should really come down to whether you want to entrust such a valuable asset to Glenn, or if you think about building a more attractive roster for a new head coach in 2027 before considering QB options.
Key Info
ATL injury report: QB Michael Penix (IR, knee), WR Drake London (out, knee), RG Chris Lindstrom (questionable, foot), RT Kaleb McGary (IR, leg), EDGE Zach Harrison (IR, knee), CB Billy Bowman (IR, Achilles)
NYJ injury report: RB Braelon Allen (IR, knee), WR Garrett Wilson (IR, knee), WR Josh Reynolds (IR, hip), RG Alijah Vera-Tucker (IR, tricep), DT Harrison Phillips (questionable, foot), CB Jarvis Brownlee (questionable, hip), S Andre Cisco (IR, pectoral)
Strong lean: WR David Sills (NYJ 31st in DVOA vs. WR2)
Slight lean: WR John Metchie (ATL 26th in DVOA vs. WR1)
Slight fade: WR KhaDarel Hodge (NYJ fifth in receptions per game allowed to WR3s)
Slight fade: WR Allen Lazard (ATL seventh in DVOA vs. WR3)
Watch: Stream NFL games on Sling
NFL weather report: 10-15 mph wind, 15-25 percent chance of rain
The Scoop: Robinson compiles 90 yards and a score. Cousins throws for less than 200 yards but does find Mooney and Sills for touchdowns. Breece Hall pops for 100 yards and a TD. Taylor throws for less than 200 yards and a score to Metchie. Falcons 21-20
Arizona (+3) at Tampa Bay, o/u 44.5 – Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
Maybe Kyler Murray wasn't the problem after all. Jacoby Brissett is on the best run of his career, posting a 67.0 percent completion rate, 11:3 TD:INT and 7.2 YPA over the last six games while chipping in a rushing TD to boot, and the Cardinals have still gone 1-5. Brissett has given the offense a steadier floor while also turning Michael Wilson into a second-half fantasy savior, but Jonathan Gannon and Nick Rallis' defense has generally failed to get a stop when it needs one of late, which is what tends to happen when you're scrambling to find healthy cornerbacks. The front seven is starting to see some attrition too. Stud rookie DT Walter Nolen, who completely hosed me by scoring a TD in Week 12 instead of Week 11 like I predicted, and Josh Sweat, the Cards' only consistent threat off the edge, are both banged up, and Mack Wilson won't be back for at least one more week. Looking at Arizona's remaining games, the team might not win again this year, which you would have to think would make Gannon's future very dicey, and put the Cardinals firmly in the mix to draft a new QB with a premium pick.
After a dazzling start to his time in Tampa Bay, the version of Baker Mayfield that Cleveland fans are more used to seeing has begun to show up for the Bucs. They've lost three straight games while Mayfield has stumbled to a 58.9 percent completion rate, 5:3 TD:INT and 5.4 YPA, and now he's nursing an injury to his non-throwing shoulder he'll likely play through. At least the offense around him is getting healthier. Bucky Irving should rejoin the backfield Sunday, while Chris Godwin eased back into action last week after being out since Week 5. The Bucs' defense has been the bigger issue during that skid, however. Tampa's been gashed on the ground and through the air since its bye, with Josh Allen's bonkers six TD performance (three rushing, three passing) combining the two vulnerabilities. Fortunately for the team's chances of securing a fifth straight division title, that stretch might be the last time they face a playoff-caliber opponent. Two games late against Carolina could end up deciding the NFC South, but only if Tampa struggles against Arizona, New Orleans and Atlanta – all at home – before then.
Key Info
ARI injury report: QB Kyler Murray (IR, foot), RB Trey Benson (IR, knee), RB James Conner (IR, foot), RB Bam Knight (questionable, knee), RB Emari Demercado (out, ankle), WR Marvin Harrison (questionable, appendix), WR Zay Jones (IR, Achilles), RG Will Hernandez (out, hip), RT Jonah Williams (IR, shoulder), RT Christian Jones (IR, knee), DT Walter Nolen (out, knee), LB Mack Wilson (IR, ribs), CB Sean Murphy-Bunting (NFI, knee), CB Starling Thomas (IR. knee), CB Max Melton (questionable, heel)
TB injury report: QB Baker Mayfield (questionable, shoulder), RB Bucky Irving (questionable, shoulder), WR Mike Evans (IR, collarbone), WR Jalen McMillan (IR, neck), LG Ben Bredeson (questionable, hamstring), RG Cody Mauch (IR, knee), EDGE Calijah Kancey (IR, pectoral)
Slight lean: RB Michael Carter (TB 31st in passing DVOA vs. RB, 32nd in receiving yards allowed to RBs)
Slight lean: TE Cade Otton (ARI 25th in DVOA vs. TE)
Slight fade: WR Marvin Harrison (TB third in DVOA vs. WR1)
Slight fade: WR Emeka Egbuka (ARI eighth in DVOA vs. WR1)
Watch: Stream NFL games on Sling
NFL weather report: 10-20 percent chance of rain
The Scoop: Carter leads the ARI backfield with 70 combined yards and a receiving touchdown. Brissett throws for 220 yards and a second score to Greg Dortch, but also tosses a pick six to Tykee Smith. Irving produces 80 yards and a TD in his return. Mayfield throws for less than 200 yards with a touchdown to Egbuka. Cardinals 23-21
Jacksonville at Tennessee (+6.5), o/u 42.0 – Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
Last week's OT victory (their second in four weeks) over the Cardinals moved the Jaguars to within a game of the Colts in what's shaping up to be a nailbiter of a finish in the AFC South, with the Texans lurking just behind as well. Trevor Lawrence threw three TDs with an 8.5 YPA, his second-best mark of the season, but he also threw three INTs and Jacksonville continues to get wins in spite of him as much as because of him. This may simply be who he is, and a Vinny Testaverde-like career arc wouldn't be surprising. Instead, Liam Coen's crew has been getting by with its running game and defense. Travis Etienne has 381 scrimmage yards and four total TDs in four games since the Jags' bye, while Bhayshul Tuten's also added a couple scores on the ground. DC Anthony Campanile's unit still hasn't figured out how to close games out, but the pass rush got to Jacoby Brissett six times last week and might be coming around.
The 1-10 Titans remain in the driver's seat for the top pick in the 2026 draft, although their chances of getting a haul from a team who wants to trade up for a QB are looking a little sketchy. (I still think someone's going to fall in love with Dante Moore if he declares, though.) Cam Ward produced multiple touchdowns in an NFL game for the first time last week, throwing one and running for another, and the rookie seems more willing to scramble since Tennessee's Week 10 bye, something he maybe should have started doing a while ago given his league-worst 45 sacks taken. Ward might have no choice now with injuries beginning to pile up along his offensive line. His pass-catching group is basically nothing but fellow rookies at this point (Elic Ayomanor, when healthy, and Chimere Dike, plus TE Gunnar Helm), but at least they can grow together? The Titans' defense is the unit that needs to most help anyway. It's generated just one takeaway over the last five games but does have 18 sacks, which is something to build around. There's probably enough talent on the roster to entice a decent coaching candidate, but in hindsight, it looks like they would have been better off just sticking with Mike Vrabel.
Key Info
JAC injury report: WR/CB Travis Hunter (IR, knee), RG Patrick Mekari (out, concussion), RG Chuma Edoga (out, calf), EDGE Travon Walker (out, knee), S Eric Murray (IR, neck)
TEN injury report: WR Calvin Ridley (IR, lower leg), WR Elic Ayomanor (questionable, hamstring), TE Chig Okonkwo (questionable, foot), LT Dan Moore (questionable, knee), C Lloyd Cushenberry (out, foot), CB L'Jarius Sneed (IR, quadricep), CB Jalyn Armour-Davis (out, Achilles), S Xavier Woods (questionable, hamstring)
Strong lean: WR Brian Thomas (TEN 31st in DVOA vs. WR1)
Slight lean: TE Gunnar Helm (JAC 26th in DVOA vs. TE)
Slight fade: TE Brenton Strange (TEN eighth in DVOA vs. TE)
Strong fade: WR Chimere Dike (JAC first in DVOA vs. WR3/slot)
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NFL weather report: 9-10 mph wind, 40-50 percent chance of rain
Head-to-head record, last five years: 5-5, average score 22-20 TEN, average margin of victory 12 points. The Jaguars have won five of the last six games, with four of the last five games getting decided by a single score
The Scoop: Etienne erupts for 130 combined yards and two TDs. Lawrence throws for less than 200 yards and a score to Thomas. Tony Pollard leads the TEN backfield with 60 yards. Ward throws for under 200 yards and a touchdown to Helm, while Dike returns his third kick, and first kickoff, of the season to the house. Jaguars 27-14
LATE SUNDAY
Minnesota (+12) at Seattle, o/u 41.0 – Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EST
Welp, here we go. Kevin O'Connell revived Sam Darnold's career and had a hand in Daniel Jones' resurrection as well, but his reputation as a QB whisperer is going to be put to a severe test this week. J.J. McCarthy is hurt, again, and with Carson Wentz already lost to shoulder surgery, the Vikings will try to salvage their season by turning the offense over to undrafted rookie Max Brosmer. Brosmer looked pretty good during the preseason, but so have a lot of guys that never panned out. Did I mention that the entire left side of Minnesota's offensive line could sit this one out, and that Brosmer will be facing a top-five pass rush? Eep. The Vikes have sunk to the bottom of the NFC North for a reason, losing five of their last six as the offense sputters and the defense creaks under the strain of trying to keep the team afloat. DC Brian Flores' unit was tied for the league lead in takeaways in 2024; this year it's tied for 28th, and while it's still top 10 in yards per play allowed, those extra possessions are adding up. To an extent, all Brosmer needs to do is get the ball to Justin Jefferson more often to be viewed as an upgrade on McCarthy, but he's got a daunting task Sunday just showing he's got a future as a reliable backup.
The Seahawks kept pace with the Rams last week, staying one game back for the NFC West title, and while NFL teams never want to get caught looking ahead, you know somewhere deep in the bowels of Lumen Field is a calendar hanging on a wall with the prime time rematch, a Thursday nighter in Week 16, circled in red. Both teams should comfortably make the playoffs, but Seattle getting its first division crown since 2020 would be pretty sweet for Mike Macdonald. Darnold cleaned things up a bit after committing seven turnovers over the prior two games, but playing mistake-free ball is a lot easier when it's against the Titans. He'll be geared up for this one, but Flores might also have a good idea of how to get him to see the ghosts that continue to plague him from time to time. He's learned the lesson that McCarthy seemingly hasn't yet though, which is that good things happen when you just chuck it up to your WR1. After last week's season-high 167 yards, Jaxon Smith-Njigba is officially on pace to top Calvin Johnson's NFL record of 1,964 yards, and with 80 catches through 11 games, he's got a real shot at a top-10 all-time finish in that category as well. Cooper Kupp knows a thing or two about going after Megatron's record, so JSN can always ask him for advice. That might end up being Kupp's most valuable contribution in a Seattle uniform. The backfield's doing its thing, as Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet have taken turns getting into the end zone in recent weeks, and the defense is third in yards per play allowed while being one of seven giving up fewer than 20 points a game.
Key Info
MIN injury report: QB J.J. McCarthy (out, concussion), LT Christian Darrisaw (questionable, foot), LG Donovan Jackson (out, ankle), EDGE Jonathan Greenard (questionable, shoulder), EDGE Dallas Turner (questionable, hip), NT Jalen Redmond (questionable, hip), CB Theo Jackson (questionable, neck), S Josh Metellus (questionable, knee)
SEA injury report: WR Tory Horton (questionable, shin), C Jalen Sundell (IR, knee), DE Jarran Reed (IR, thumb), S Julian Love (IR, hamstring), S Ty Okada (questionable, oblique)
Slight lean: TE T.J. Hockenson (SEA 29th in DVOA vs. TE)
Slight lean: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (MIN 27th in DVOA vs. WR1)
Strong fade: RB Aaron Jones / Jordan Mason (SEA second in rushing DVOA, first in YPC allowed, t-third in rushing TDs allowed to RBs, fourth in rushing yards per game allowed)
Strong fade: WR Justin Jefferson (SEA first in DVOA vs. WR1)
Slight fade: WR Rashid Shaheed (MIN sixth in DVOA vs. WR3)
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NFL weather report: 10-20 percent chance of rain
The Scoop: Jones leads the MIN backfield with 50 yards. Brosmer throws for less than 200 yards and gets picked off twice, but he does find Hockenson for a touchdown. Walker rumbles for 80 yards while Charbonnet punches in a TD. Darnold throws for 260 yards and three scores, one each to JSN (who tops 100 yards), Kupp and AJ Barner. Seahawks 31-13
Las Vegas (+9.5) at L.A. Chargers, o/u 41.0
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST
The Raiders have dropped five straight games to tumble to 2-9, but they're still only in line for the fifth overall pick in next year's draft. If you're hoping they land a franchise QB though, they're actually in pretty decent shape, as the teams who would currently be picking first (the Titans) and second (the Giants) already have young signal-callers to build around, and the Jets at fourth overall might be a wee bit gunshy about using a pick in that range on a QB for some reason. That just leaves the Saints at third overall as likely competition (plus whoever trades up of course, but let's not go there just yet) for Fernando Mendoza or Ty Simpson or whoever Vegas decides is their guy. Just so long as they don't let Tom Brady in the room when they make that decision. His track record so far when it comes to important hires for the franchise isn't great. Frankly, it was obvious that bringing back Chip Kelly was a bad idea when it was announced, but it's kind of incredible how bad it actually turned out to be. In the short term, this might be a case where Vegas goes from being the worst offense in the league to merely being bad, because there's a good chance that Geno Smith is still the same guy he was in Seattle when he's not being dragged down by an outright incompetent OC. Of course, he still doesn't have anyone to throw to other than Brock Bowers, but that's better than nothing.
The Chargers got a whole week to think about their no-show against the Jags before their bye, but I'm not sure they came up with many solutions. The Bolts are still missing their two excellent starting offensive tackles, and are still stuck with Kimani Vidal as their starting RB for at least one more week. Justin Herbert's been sacked 13 times in the last three games (plus one more for Trey Lance in relief in Week 11), and their closing stretch after this one is simply brutal, including games against the Texans and Broncos to close things out. Jim Harbaugh's squad is still in a wild-card spot right now and one game back of Denver in the AFC West, but I think they're just as likely to fall out of the playoff picture entirely in December if they can't find some way to give Herbert more protection. DC Jesse Minter's unit is hanging in there, sitting in the top 10 in yards per play allowed and PPG allowed, but that murderer's row of a finish to the schedule is probably going to put a big dent in those rankings.
Key Info
LV injury report: TE Michael Mayer (out, ankle), LT Kolton Miller (IR, ankle), RG Jackson Powers-Johnson (IR, ankle), RG Jordan Meredith (questionable, ankle), CB Darnay Holmes (questionable, illness)
LAC injury report: RB Omarion Hampton (IR, ankle), LT Rashawn Slater (IR, knee), RT Joe Alt (IR, ankle)
Slight lean: TE Brock Bowers (LAC 23rd in DVOA vs. TE)
Slight lean: WR Quentin Johnston (LV 24th in DVOA vs. WR2)
Slight fade: WR Tyler Lockett (LAC fourth in DVOA vs. WR2)
Slight fade: WR Keenan Allen (LV ninth in DVOA vs. WR3)
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NFL weather report: indoors
Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 7-4 LAC, average score 26-25 LAC, average margin of victory 11 points. The Chargers have won four straight home meetings in this rivalry by an average score of 25-15
The Scoop: Ashton Jeanty gets held to 40 yards. Smith throws for less than 200 yards but does hit Bowers for a score. Vidal pops for 110 yards and a TD. Herbert throws for 210 yards and two touchdowns, finding Johnston and Ladd McConkey. Chargers 27-10
Buffalo at Pittsburgh (+3.5), o/u 47.5 – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST
Last week's loss to the Texans may have ended any hopes the Bills harbored about winning the AFC East. They're three wins back of the Patriots with six to play, and while Buffalo doesn't have a particularly challenging schedule left, neither does New England. Even if the Bills win the remaining head-to-head matchup to split the season series and gain ground while the Pats get their Week 14 bye, that still leaves one more win to make up – and maybe two, considering Sean McDermott's crew is 2-2 in the division and Mike Vrabel's squad is 3-0. Josh Allen also got mauled by the Houston pass rush after losing both his starting tackles to injuries, and while he said after the game that he was fine, at various times during the loss both his left shoulder and right hand or wrist seemed to be issues for him. He'll be missing his edge protectors again this week, but it's not like T.J. Watt is dangerous, right? The Bills also seem to have given up on Keon Coleman ever becoming a reliable downfield option in a passing game that desperately needs some, instead bringing back Gabe Davis and finding Brandin Cooks on the scrap heap to try and get open for Allen, something neither wideout has been able to do even semi-consistently since about 2023.
The Steelers nearly stole a win last week in Chicago with Mason Rudolph under center by leaning heavily on their ground game, but ended up falling just short and watching the Ravens cruise by then into the AFC North lead. (For a few days, anyway – thanks Bengals!) Aaron Rodgers will be back this week, but the 41-year-old hasn't done much more than give the passing attack a slighter higher floor than Rudolph would've. Rodgers has feasted against weak opponents, at least, posting a 9:2 TD:INT in his two-and-a-half games against the Bengals and Jets, and a 10:5 ratio in his other seven starts. Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, on the other hand, combined for 190 scrimmage yards against the Bears with a Warren rushing TD, and if the Steelers are going to get to the postseason, that's probably their ticket. The defense has been good at generating splash plays – Pittsburgh's tied for second in takeaways and is fifth in sacks – but pretty bad at everything else, sitting in the bottom half of the league in PPG allowed and yards per play. Keeping the other team's offense off the field by chewing up clock might be their best approach.
Key Info
BUF injury report: WR Joshua Palmer (questionable, ankle), TE Dalton Kincaid (questionable, hamstring), LT Dion Dawkins (out, concussion), RT Spencer Brown (out, shoulder), K Tyler Bass (IR, hip), DE Michael Hoecht (IR, Achilles), DT Ed Oliver (IR, bicep), LB Terrel Bernard (out, elbow), S Taylor Rapp (IR, knee)
PIT injury report: LT Broderick Jones (out, neck), EDGE Alex Highsmith (questionable, pectoral), DE Derrick Harmon (out, knee), S DeShon Elliott (IR, knee)
Slight lean: WR Khalil Shakir (PIT 29th in receiving yards per game allowed to WR1s)
Strong lean: RB Jaylen Warren / Kenneth Gainwell (BUF 31st in rushing DVOA, 31st in YPC allowed, 32nd in rushing TDs allowed to RBs, 30th in rushing yards per game allowed)
Slight fade: WR Gabe Davis (PIT third in DVOA vs. WR2)
Slight fade: TE Darnell Washington / Jonnu Smith / Pat Freiermuth (BUF ninth in DVOA vs. TE)
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NFL weather report: temperature in the low 30s, 10-15 mph wind, 50-60 percent chance of snow
The Scoop: James Cook gallops for 130 scrimmage yards and a TD. Allen throws for 240 yards and a touchdown to Shakir while running in a score himself. Warren leads the PIT backfield with 70 yards, while Gainwell adds 50 combined yards and a TD. Rodgers throws for less than 200 yards and a touchdown to DK Metcalf. Bills 24-20
FRIDAY
Chicago (+7) at Philadelphia, o/u 44.5 – Friday, 3 p.m. EST
(You know, if the NFL is going to have Black Friday games, I appreciate that at least one of the teams has black as a primary part of its color scheme.) Every year, there's a team this gets blessed by the football gods, and in 2025 that team looks very much like it's the Bears. They're atop the NFC North at 8-3 despite being underwater in point differential at minus-3. Chicago's won four consecutive games, but by a total of 14 points, and it has a pair of one-point wins over the lowly Raiders and Commanders on their ledger as well. This is a team that's escaping by the skin of its teeth on a weekly basis, but it's kind of getting good at it. Caleb Williams has thrown for three TDs in two of the four wins during the recent streak, but just one total in the other two. Either D'Andre Swift or Kyle Monangai has scored in five straight, but not both in the same game. Similarly, Rome Odunze and DJ Moore have taken turns of late having big performances, with rookie tight end Colston Loveland also sneaking one in. DC Dennis Allen's unit has gotten by on timely takeaways (eight during the four wins), but that could begin to change this week with the secondary set to get significant reinforcements back from IR in the form of starting corners Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon. If a stiffened back end can give the defense some consistency to go with the splash plays, banking those close wins could pay off in a big way for a franchise that has only one division title and two one-and-done playoff visits since 2011.
What the heck was that? The Eagles took a 21-0 lead in the first half last week against the Cowboys, scoring on their first three possessions, and the defending champs seemed comfortably headed for their fifth consecutive win. Then they just ... didn't. Philly managed just 108 yards of offense in the second half, and the closest it came to putting points on the board came on a missed 56-yard field goal by Jake Elliott. The Eagles are still three wins clear of the Cowboys in the NFC East, and the result will probably just end up being a blip, but memories of 2023's second-half collapse are going to come flooding back if they don't bounce back in emphatic fashion. It would help if Saquon Barkley looked like he was in anything close to peak form, but since a Week 9 bye he's failed to find the end zone in three games while managing a rough 2.8 YPC. Jalen Hurts has three rushing TDs in the last two games instead, and he's two shy of his fifth consecutive campaign in double digits, and frankly there's too much talent on both sides of the ball to think it'll all just slip away again. In 2023, the team had first-year OC Brian Johnson (now the passing-game coordinator for Dan Quinn in Washington) and nomadic DC Sean Desai (currently on Zac Taylor's staff in Cincy and on his fifth team in five years, which is something. Dude must be a great interview) overseeing its demise. This year, long-time DC Vic Fangio should be able to handle whatever issues arise on his side of the ball, while the offense is in the capable hands of ... first-year OC Kevin Patullo, an internal hire who's been with Nick Sirianni since the beginning in Philly. Hmmm.
Key Info
CHI injury report: DT Gervon Dexter (questionable, hand), LB Tremaine Edmunds (IR, groin), LB T.J. Edwards (questionable, hand), LB Noah Sewell (questionable, elbow), LB Ruben Hyppolite (questionable, shoulder), CB Jaylon Johnson (IR, groin), CB Tyrique Stevenson (questionable, hip), CB Kyler Gordon (IR, calf)
PHI injury report: RB Saquon Barkley (questionable, groin), WR DeVonta Smith (questionable, chest), LG Landon Dickerson (questionable, knee), RT Lane Johnson (questionable, foot), S Reed Blankenship (questionable, thigh), S Andrew Mukuba (out, ankle)
Slight lean: WR DJ Moore (PHI 26th in DVOA vs. WR2)
Slight lean: TE Dallas Goedert (CHI 29th in receptions per game allowed to TEs)
Strong fade: WR Rome Odunze (PHI second in DVOA vs. WR1)
Strong fade: TE Colston Loveland / Cole Kmet (PHI first in DVOA vs. TE)
Slight fade: WR A.J. Brown (CHI seventh in DVOA vs. WR1)
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NFL weather report: 15-20 mph wind, 1-10 percent chance of rain
The Scoop: Swift erupts for 120 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns. Williams throws for less than 200 yards and a score to Moore. Barkley grinds out 80 yards. Hurts throws for less than 200 yards and a TD to Goedert while running one in himself, but his attempt to engineer a game-winning drive late ends on a Johnson INT. Bears 21-20
THANKSGIVING
Green Bay (+2.5) at Detroit, o/u 48.5 – Thursday, 1 p.m. EST
The NFC North has predictably become a dogfight as the season's final month approaches. The Packers and Lions are both one win back of the Bears, though Green Bay's earlier tie with Dallas gives them a half-game edge in the standings for second place at the moment. The Pack have won two straight, and while putting down the Giants and reeling Vikings isn't all that remarkable, the soft spot in the schedule did give the defense a chance to get going. Micah Parsons and company produced seven sacks and five takeaways in the two victories, the only two games in 2025 that DC Jeff Hafley's unit has recorded multiple turnovers, and consistent splash plays would turn a stingy unit (second in yards per play allowed, fifth in PPG allowed) into a truly elite one. The offense has become increasingly reliant on its run game, however, as Jordan Love has failed to reach 200 passing yards in three consecutive games and has a 2:1 TD:INT over his last four with a 61.9 percent completion rate and 6.5 YPA. That's fine against teams with quarterback or coaching troubles, but Love may need to come up with more against a more complete opponent.
The Lions have been unable to build any real momentum, alternating wins and losses since Week 5, and last week they had trouble even putting away a clearly inferior foe in the Giants, falling behind 27-17 early in the fourth quarter before Jahmyr Gibbs bailed them out. Statistically, it's hard to put a finger on what's troubling Dan Campbell's squad. The defense has been good but not great, ranking top-10 in yards per play allowed and just outside the top 10 in PPG allowed, and with similar rankings in sacks, pressure rate, takeaways and third-down efficiency against. The offense is similarly doing what's expected of it. Jared Goff's on pace for his third consecutive season with 4,000 passing yards and 30 TDs, while Gibbs has multiple touchdowns in three of the last five games and Amon-Ra St. Brown is on the brink of his third straight 1,000-yard, 10-TD campaign. Those are big-picture numbers, though, and on a week-to-week basis, the Lions seem to swing from floor to ceiling performances rather than settling on a happy medium. That inconsistency may have at least something to do with the health of the offensive line, as none of the team's five starters are 100 percent healthy, and at least two will be sidelined. Goff's on pace to be sacked 35 times this year, which would tie his career high, but the last five games he's been brought down 14 times — a 48-sack pace. If Green Bay's going to steal one here, it'll likely be due to the efforts of Parsons and Rashan Gary.
Key Info
GB injury report: RB MarShawn Lloyd (IR, hamstring), WR Jayden Reed (IR, collarbone), WR Matthew Golden (questionable, wrist), TE Tucker Kraft (IR, knee), C Elgton Jenkins (IR, lower leg), LB Quay Walker (questionable, neck), CB Keisean Nixon (questionable, neck)
DET injury report: WR Kalif Raymond (out, ankle), WR Isaac TeSlaa (questionable, hand), TE Sam LaPorta (IR, back), TE Brock Wright (out, neck), LT Taylor Decker (questionable, shoulder), LG Christian Mahogany (IR, leg), C Graham Glasgow (out, knee), RG Tate Ratledge (questionable, knee), RT Penei Sewell (questionable, ankle), CB Terrion Arnold (questionable, concussion), S Kerby Joseph (out, knee)
Slight lean: WR Christian Watson (DET 24th in DVOA vs. WR1)
Slight lean: TE Ross Dwelley (GB t-26th in receptions per game allowed to TEs)
Slight fade: RB Josh Jacobs (DET sixth in rushing DVOA, sixth in YPC allowed, t-sixth in rushing TDs allowed to RBs)
Slight fade: WR Isaac TeSlaa (GB fourth in DVOA vs. WR3)
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NFL weather report: indoors
Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 6-5 DET, average score 26-24 GB, average margin of victory 10 points. DET has won three of the last four meetings at Ford Field, and six of the last eight overall, but that one home loss came on Thanksgiving 2023 when the Packers grabbed a 20-6 first-quarter lead on the strength of Jordan Love TD passes to... Jayden Reed and Tucker Kraft
The Scoop: Jacobs puts together 70 yards. Love throws for 210 yards and two touchdowns, finding Watson and Dontayvion Wicks. Gibbs churns out 110 scrimmage yards and a TD. Goff does lose the ball on a Parsons sack, resulting in a Kingsley Enagbare score, but he makes up for it by throwing for 220 yards and two touchdowns, one each to ARSB and Jameson Williams. Lions 27-21
Kansas City at Dallas (+3.5), o/u 52.0 – Thursday, 4:30 p.m. EST
Well, they're not dead yet. Kansas City survived 23-20 in overtime at home against the Colts last week — a sentence that frankly sounds like they're in trouble, from the perspective of preseason expectations — to get to 6-5, and stay in the playoff picture. Andy Reid's crew is three games back of the Broncos in the AFC West with six to play, but they've already lost once to Denver, so a 10th consecutive division title looks like a long shot at this point. KC's only one back of the Chargers/Bills/Jaguars clump for a wild-card spot, though, which seems like a more promising path to the postseason — though again, it's lost to all three already, so tiebreakers are not in KC's favor. Patrick Mahomes has gone somewhat quiet at the worst time, throwing just one TD in the last three games, and over that same stretch the defense has zero takeaways and five sacks. DC Steve Spagnuolo's unit did produce some timely pressure against Daniel Jones in that OT win and it's still fourth in the league in PPG allowed, but that ranking is inflated by a combined 16 points allowed to the Giants, Raiders and Marcus Mariota-led Commanders. Against more competent offenses, Kansas City is giving up 23.1 points a game, which is exactly league average. Someone's going to need to step up if the team plans on making an 11th consecutive trip to the playoffs.
Speaking of teams keeping their playoff hopes alive, the Cowboys have won two straight since their bye (and since the trade deadline) to climb back to .500. Last week's comeback win over the Eagles, after they'd spotted the defending Super Bowl champs a 21-0 lead, was their first of the year over a team with a winning record, but if you're a big believer in narrative, it felt like a turning point. The addition of Quinnen Williams seems to have stabilized a defense that was reeling early following the Micah Parsons trade, and if you haven't yet seen the All-22 angle on Alijah Clark's "this is how you play FOOTBALL!!!!1!!!111!" moment that has set every high-school coach's heart aflutter, it's the kind of thing that can galvanize an entire roster. Or they could turn back into the squad that got humiliated at home by Jacoby Brissett and the Cards in Week 9, and gave Russell Wilson one final hurrah in Week 2. Who knows what you'll get with Dallas, really? Dak Prescott's three biggest yardage totals of the season have come at home, including last week's 354 yards, so at the very least you know there will probably be some fireworks in Jerryworld.
Key Info
KC injury report: RG Trey Smith (out, ankle), CB Christian Roland-Wallace (out, back)
DAL injury report: LT Tyler Guyton (out, ankle), CB Trevon Diggs (IR, concussion), S Juanyeh Thomas (NFI, migraines)
Strong lean: QB Patrick Mahomes (DAL 29th in passing DVOA, 31st in passing yards per game allowed, 32nd in passing TDs allowed, 32nd in rushing TDs allowed to QBs)
No DAL leans. The KC defense hasn't had any glaring weak spots
No KC fades. The DAL defense has been playing better, but it dug a deep hole to begin the year
Slight fade: WR CeeDee Lamb (KC fourth in receiving yards per game allowed to WR1s)
Watch: Stream NFL games on Sling
NFL weather report: indoors
The Scoop: Kareem Hunt picks up 80 yards and a TD, while a returning Isiah Pacheco adds 50 yards. Mahomes throws for 260 yards and two touchdowns, hitting Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton. Javonte Williams responds with 110 yards and a score. Prescott throws for 260 yards and three TDs, one to George Pickens and two to Jake Ferguson. Cowboys 31-30
Cincinnati (+7) at Baltimore, o/u 51.5 – Thursday, 8:20 p.m. EST
The Bengals are 3-8, but in theory they're only three games back of the AFC North lead with six games left. So sure, it's Joe Burrow time, let's gooooooo. Out since Week 2 due to a toe issue that required surgery, there's really no way to predict what impact Burrow's return will have on the team, but at least since Cincy brought in Joe Flacco, offense hasn't been the problem. First-year (last-year?) DC Al Golden's unit is 31st in yards per play allowed, 32nd in PPG allowed by a wide margin (32.7, with Dallas 31st at 28.5), 28th in QB rating against, 31st in sacks, 31st in third-down efficiency against, 28th in red-zone efficiency against ... this defense is simply a train wreck, and that's before you factor in that its two best players won't be on the field Thursday. If Burrow can simply keep this game close, it'll be a minor miracle.
Winners of five straight since their bye, the Ravens have soared to the top of the division to nudge ahead of the Steelers. Lamar Jackson chucked four TDs against Miami back in Week 9 in his return from a hamstring strain, but since then he has just a 1:2 TD:INT, 57.1 percent completion rate and 6.8 YPA while averaging less than 20 rushing yards over three games, so it's fair to wonder if he's actually fully healthy. Fortunately, Ravens football seems to be reasserting itself, so Jackson hasn't been needed much, Derrick Henry has 432 rushing yards and five TDs during the win streak, while beleaguered DC Zach Orr's crew has held all five opponents to less than 20 points while amassing 10 takeaways and 10 sacks. Baltimore wasn't exactly facing the toughest competition during that surge — Chicago was the only team with a winning record the Ravens faced — but it was a good warmup for a closing stretch that sees four of their last six games come against divisional foes (two versus Cincy and two versus Pittsburgh), plus New England at home and a trip to Lambeau. If the Ravens do claim their third consecutive division crown, as seems likely right now, they'll have earned it.
Key Info
CIN injury report: WR Tee Higgins (out, concussion), EDGE Trey Hendrickson (out, hip), EDGE Shemar Stewart (IR, knee), CB Cam Taylor-Britt (IR, foot)
BAL injury report: RB Justice Hill (out, neck), EDGE Nnamdi Madubuike (IR, neck)
Slight lean: WR Ja'Marr Chase (BAL 28th in DVOA vs. WR1)
Strong lean: QB Lamar Jackson (CIN 32nd in passing DVOA, 30th in passing yards per game allowed, 31st in passing TDs allowed)
Slight fade: WR Andrei Iosivas (BAL ninth in receptions per game allowed to WR2s)
Slight fade: WR Zay Flowers (CIN ninth in DVOA vs. WR1)
Watch: Stream NFL games on Sling
NFL weather report: temperature in the mid-30s, 1-10 percent chance of rain/snow
Head-to-head record, last five years including playoffs: 7-4 BAL, average score 27-25 BAL, average margin of victory 13 points. The Ravens have swept the last two season series since losing 24-17 in the wild-card round of the 2022 playoffs on Sam Hubbard's 98-yard fumble return TD in the fourth quarter. Lamar Jackson has won his last five meetings against the Bengals – Tyler Huntley was under center for that wild-card loss
The Scoop: Chase Brown gallops for 110 combined yards and a score. Burrow throws for 220 yards and two TDs, both to Chase. Henry romps for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson throws for 200 yards and finds Mark Andrews for a score, and a Tyler Loop field goal in overtime seals it. Ravens 30-27 in OT
Last week's record: 11-3, 12-2 ATS, 3-11 o/u
2025 record: 116-61-1 (.655), 93-80-5 ATS (.538), 81-96-1 o/u (.458)
