Well, it took until Week 15, but we finally have some teams slotted in the playoffs. And after this week's games, we'll have even more clarity about what is to come.
Parity has run amuck, a two-win team didn't get eliminated from postseason contention until last Sunday, and there remains no shortage of bad football teams bogging down the landscape and polluting the schedule. But if last week told us anything, it's that no quarterback is safe, a season can turn in an instant and this league can be utterly unpredictable.
This week should sort out the NFC West title picture, and possibly the NFC South as well. That jumbled group of teams battling for a wild card in the AFC should get sorted out at least to some degree. The Pats can lock up the first seed in the AFC with a little help, while the Cardinals could secure a first-round bye with a win, as difficult as that will be against the Seahawks. Looks like a fun week ahead, but not too fun, as, taking a peek at Week 17, I suspect we'll have ample intrigue still remaining on the final weekend of the season.
Consider this an appetizer to the forthcoming playoff feast.
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Seattle at Arizona
Sunday, Dec. 21, 8:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
Why To Watch: Bruce Arians don't need no stinkin' quarterback to win a division title! He's got Kangol Fever, damnit! So what if he's lost Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton and now he's down to the terrifying duo of Ryan Lindley and Logan Thomas. This is Arians we're talking about. He can coach 'em up and with 11 wins already, the Cardinals know at worst they'll be a wild card. So the pressure is off at least to some degree, and, yeah, so what if they're hosting the defending Super Bowl champs, who seem intent on running the table and perhaps securing the first seed in the NFC, again, in the process? You think the Cardinals are scared of that? Have you even been paying attention? Okay, I'm taking this to an extreme, but would anyone be totally shocked at this point if Arizona pulled this off? As limited as Lindley is, and as raw as Thomas is, Arians has his work cut out for him. But the Cards did get a few extra days of rest after surviving the Rams last Thursday, and their defense is still capable of shutting people down. Either way, few teams have been more interesting than the Seahawks -- thriving post-Harvin trade -- and the never-say-die Cardinals, and this will settle the division if nothing else.
What To Watch For: Hard to imagine the Cardinals are able to move the ball much here. The injuries have sapped any flow or consistency from the attack. Best case is they hit a big play or two, and the turnover-inducing defense will have to be opportunistic as well to bail out the offense ... Arizona's stagnant run game got a boost from Kerwynn Williams last week, who averaged five yards per carry and, along with Stepfan Taylor, managed a run of 20 yards, which is a rarity for this offense ... Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner is playing out of his mind. Expect more of the same here ... Robert Turbin could be more of a factor than usual here, with the Cards so aggressive trying to get to the quarterback and the screen game an essential escape valve for Russell Wilson ... Seattle's oft-injured left tackle Russell Okung suffered through another painful game last week, spitting up blood at one point. If he's out, or limited, Wilson could be in trouble. Arizona defensive coordinator Todd Bowles will exploit any weakness ... I'd anticipate some read-option plays for Thomas in the Cards offense, whether he starts or not. It's going to take a village and Arians needs to give Seattle some different looks to think about ... Can John Brown come up with another huge play? He's been especially explosive on the fast track in that dome ... Could be a game that Patrick Peterson helps steal on special teams.
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Denver at Cincinnati
Monday, Dec. 22, 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Why To Watch: This is the spot where the Bengals generally fade. A primetime home game, with their playoff future potentially hanging in the balance, coming off an emotional deconstruction of the Browns last week. This is where, history would tell us, they take a major step back and head to Pittsburgh in Week 17 possibly needing help just to qualify for the postseason after leading the AFC North pretty much wire to wire. Will they be the Bungles again? Not that losing to Denver would be shameful in any way. But these are interesting times for the Broncos as well, with them hit with a slew of injuries last weekend and with Peyton Manning hobbling around with what was called a thigh injury. Each week Denver finds a grittier way to win, doing so in throwback fashion, and Cincinnati rode a bare-knuckled approach last week as well. Could be an old-school, run-heavy game to close out the Monday night schedule, and, heck, there's nothing wrong with that. We've seen enough of the pinball, fantasy-football scores in recent years.
What To Watch For: Denver hasn't wrapped up a bye yet, but catching New England for the top seed, they know, is remote, and you have to wonder if Manning gets a respite at some point. Probably not here, unless perhaps the Colts have already lost, with that second seed in the balance, but it's all about February for this bunch and keeping Manning upright. Anyone who watched Brock Osweiler for that one series in San Diego last Sunday had to come away knowing just how little stands between the Broncos and a complete offensive implosion ... Broncos star left tackle Ryan Clady had a very tough time getting through last week's game; if he's gimpy, all the more reason to expect Denver to continue grinding the ball on the ground. The defense will feel the loss of Danny Trevathan and Brandon Marshall, as well ... C.J. Anderson absorbed quite a beating last week but I wouldn't expect any decrease in his workload. Likewise, Jeremy Hill is in store for 25 carries himself ... Andy Dalton will have a few brutal throws in this game. That's been his way. Denver's secondary has been ballhawking and its two late picks of Philip Rivers last week sealed the division for the Broncos. Dalton had best be careful, and between Aqib Talib and Chris Harris, Denver has options to mix and match on A.J. Green ... The Bengals seem to forget about how good Mohamed Sanu can be by the week. Wasn't that long ago he saved their season by starring when Green was out ... Demaryius Thomas looked better last week than he had in quite some time and the Broncos look like they managed Julius Thomas' injury well, too. They'll be big factors against a wounded secondary.
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Indianapolis at Dallas
Sunday, Dec. 21, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
Why To Watch: Everyone keeps waiting for the Dallas Cowboys to collapse, and, sure, there is still time for them to regress, but I kinda doubt it. They haven't been as impressive at home as on the road -- perhaps because they get caught up in that Jerry Jones great entertainer stuff and get a little too cute in front of the Dallas crowd -- but this is the most consistent Cowboys team in quite some time and one that seems, finally, able to manage a little bit of success. The Colts will give them another test, though I continue to wonder about whether this team is built for playoff success. If nothing else, Andrew Luck and Tony Romo can light up a scoreboard, and few quarterbacks have been more productive than this duo. Luck is the NFL leader in passing yards, while Romo is right at the top of the NFL in yards per attempt (he's at 8.37, just behind Aaron Rodgers at 8.38). So I'd anticipate a big play or two out of this game. Oh, and DeMarco Murray's assault on 500 touches could be derailed by a broken bone in his hand that could keep him out entirely.
What To Watch For: In years past, with the Colts locked into a playoff seed, they'd invariably sit Peyton Manning, with middling results come playoff time. Given all the abuse Luck has taken this season, and with Indianapolis perhaps getting cemented into a third seed, you wonder if they'd give Luck any sort of breather. I tend to doubt it, as he hones in on 5,000 passing yards, and given how strong and sturdy he is. But frankly I'm not sure it doesn't make some sense, especially if this game gets lop-sided in any manner ... Hard to imagine this big Dallas offensive line can't impose its will on a struggling Colts front ... Colts had best hope top corner Vontae Davis is 100 percent healthy, because with the way Dez Bryant is playing, they'll need him in top form to have any hope of curtailing this attack ... Expect to continue to see more of Jason Witten down the stretch. Last week was a preview of what is to come ... Have liked what I've seen the last month or so from Cowboys reserve running back Joseph Randle, and in the pass game on screens, reserve back Lance Dunbar is averaging nearly 13 yards per reception. I bet they can survive for a week without Murray ... Look for Luck to take his chances with corner Brandon Carr, especially by trying to get T.Y. Hilton lined up on him whenever possible ... Colts tight end Dwayne Allen seemed more healthy and comfortable last week than in quite some time. He'll be imperative in the playoffs with limited options at outside receiver ... Eight more rushing attempts by Luck last week is playing with fire. Boom Herron should get the ball more than 11 times. He flashed okay again late last week ...Anytime a team continues to mull offensive line changes this late in the season, born of production and not injury issues, you have to wonder. Colts don't seem to have sufficient options to put five decent linemen in the game at the same time.
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Atlanta at New Orleans
Sunday, Dec. 21, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
Why To Watch: This is potentially a battle for a division title, though it's the most shallow one I can ever remember in my lifetime. Whoever wins the NFC South in 2014 should be barred by NFL bylaws from hanging a banner in honor of the “achievement” and, in a perfect world, an asterisk would stand next to the division winner's name in the record books for all time. But someone has to win it, and then get to host a playoff game because of it, and it might be one of these two sad-sack teams. Certainly, if the Saints manage to get swept by Atlanta, then they are cooked. And the Panthers are still in the thick of this thing as well. Could New Orleans actually lose a fifth straight home game, in the span of seven weeks, in what looked like the “easy” part of their schedule? Could the Falcons manage to win a division simply by sweeping it, and only winning one other game outside of it? Yeah, I know, none of this seems particularly exciting, and I should probably have this as a Wrap and not a Six Inch, but since it's a de facto playoff game I bumped it up. If you like points, this should be your game, with neither of these defenses any good.
What To Watch For: The Falcons really need Julio Jones back if at all possible. This looks like a shootout and while Harry Douglas is a fine player and did a nice job last week, having Jones over the top off this brutal Saints secondary would be huge for Matt Ryan ... At some point I figure Mark Ingram gets back in the swing of things and has a big game. No better spot than right here ... Do the Saints shun all the exotic blitzing and just sit back in more of a shell and try to keep the Falcons in front of them? Make them earn tougher yards over the middle and try to take away the deep sideline stuff? ... Could be a big night for Saints rusher Cam Jordan, who has had a relatively quiet season but could turn things significantly here with a big game. If he and Junior Galette can run some inside-outside games against this weak offensive line, you know the home crowd will do its part in the noise department ... Will Jimmy Graham come up with a big game before the Saints' season expires? Seems like he can't really raise his arm and he is clearly not close to being 100 percent, which becomes more obvious by the week ... Will the Falcons find sporadic success in the run game against this defense? Doesn't seem all that out of the question. A semblance of balance here would go a long way.
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Kansas City at Pittsburgh
Sunday, Dec. 21, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
Why To Watch: The Steelers have a path to the AFC North title before them. Win out, and they will be hosting a playoff game after consecutive 8-8 seasons, and they'd have their first division title since 2010. Seems easy enough. Except, well, nothing has come all that easy for them this season and even last week's affair with Atlanta got a little closer than the Steelers had hoped. Can they manage to keep stringing wins together? The Chiefs need a win to keep pace in the wild card race and don't let the barrage of points against Oakland last week fool you. This is an offense very much still fighting to break through and this is a team that cannot afford to have to play from behind. It may not be entirely a must-win for Pittsburgh, by virtue of their conference record and remaining game with the Bengals, but Kansas City has no room for error at this point and with San Diego looming in Week 17, has to approach this contest as if it's all or nothing, which, you know, might even result in a downfield attack and, gasp, maybe even a receiving touchdown from a wide receiver.
What To Watch For: Chiefs remain very limited in third-down options. They went just 3-for-13 last week against Oakland -- and still managed to score 31 points -- and have been average at best in that department all season. The Steelers will target tight end Travis Kelce in those crucial situations and we'll see if anyone else can beat them ... I still have major reservations about the Steelers' secondary, and had Julio Jones been healthy last week I'm not sure they beat the Falcons ... William Gay continues to be a pick-six machine from that group, however, and he's seeing the field plenty with Cortez Allen on IR ... I feel like this is a game where the Steelers' young linebackers really shine. Stopping Jamaal Charles on first and second down will be everything. I think they're up to the task ... Sean Smith is going to have his hands full with Antonio Brown, and this could be a game where running back Le'Veon Bell is Pittsburgh's leading receiver. They'll screen the heck out of Justin Houston and Tamba Hali ... With Alex Smith so limited in his ability to go deep, I'd expect to see safety Troy Polamalu all over the place around the box looking to get an early whack at Charles ... Still have concerns about the Chiefs' offensive line, and a road game like this could exacerbate the issue ... Ben Roethlisberger is at nearly 4,500 yards passing already, and he could shatter 5,000 without overextending himself. Not nearly enough being made of the fact he's thrown just eight interceptions in the process. Offensive coordinator Todd Haley has done a helluva job there despite being under fire seemingly since the day he arrived on the job.
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San Diego at San Francisco
Saturday, Dec. 20, 8:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
Why To Watch: Jim Harbaugh hasn't already won his last game with the 49ers, has he? They won't stumble all the way down the stretch, will they? This game won't be easy, for sure, and the Cardinals are still looming for San Francisco. This is, undoubtedly, the penultimate game Harbaugh will coach at newly christened Levi's Stadium, which has been something of a house of horrors in its first season. The 49ers are just 3-3 at home including a troubling stadium debut loss to the Bears, a loss to the Rams, a Thanksgiving night beatdown by the Seahawks, and a game in which they very nearly lost to the Skins. It hasn't been pretty and it hasn't played like the fortress Harbaugh helped make Candlestick at the end of its long run. The Chargers need a win to stay in the playoff hunt in the AFC, and they continue a stretch of games against some tough defenses that appears to have taken a toll. And, hey, it's the second game of a Saturday doubleheader and it's on CBS. Who doesn't want to spend some time with JB, Deion and Coach Cowher around the holidays, and get an extra dose in prime time at that? Maybe the 49ers can play the spoiler role.
What To Watch For: Philip Rivers suffered through one of his worst outings of the season last week, in a huge game against Denver, tossing two ill-advised interceptions late in the game to undermine any chance of a comeback. Since shredding the Ravens' woeful secondary in a comeback win Week 14, Rivers has thrown for just 421 total yards (211 per game), with two touchdowns and three interceptions in losses to the Pats and Broncos. He could end up trying to force things here as well, with so much at stake ... Melvin Ingram is an impressive player for the Chargers. His continued development bodes well for that defense ... The 49ers could be down to a third string running back this week with Carlos Hyde and Frank Gore dealing with injuries; once again, have to think they let Colin Kaepernick lead the ground attack. Kaepernick is averaging one yard fewer per carry this year as opposed to last year, on almost exactly the same number of carries (92 this season; 90 last season). As a team, the 49ers' running production is down a full yard per carry from their 2012 Super Bowl season ... Kaepernick has already been sacked 10 more times than all of last season ... One thing the 49ers can still do is stop the run. Their defensive line comes in off a stout game against the Seahawks and even with all the injuries to their linebackers, they look capable of displaying some bite in that regard ... Chargers kicker Nick Novak has taken his mini-slump very hard. Was very emotional after last week's loss. Could be called on with the game on the line here as well.
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Baltimore at Houston
Sunday, Dec. 21, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
Why To Watch: The Ravens now control their own destiny in terms of a playoff spot, and they are also quite alive in the wild AFC North. There should be no shortage of motivation for them after an uninspired and undisciplined performance against Jacksonville last week, which nearly cost them their season. Perhaps it was a wake up call of sorts -- not that they should need one at this stage -- and a necessary one at that, because the Texans are now down to their fourth and fifth quarterbacks, with Case Keenum, who they just re-signed, and Thad Lewis in line for the start here. Even with sacking rookie Blake Bortles eight times last week, the Ravens were mired in a struggle. To their credit, they haven't actually blown a game to a lesser team yet this season -- which has propelled their playoff drive -- and if they can keep that up here, and at home vs. Cleveland in Week 17, then at worst they are playing on the road on wild card weekend. One would think that Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, fired as Houston's coach last season, would have some unique insights into their personnel, and every motivation to flaunt what had been a much-improved offense that ran stagnant last week.
What To Watch For: Ravens need to re-establish the run game after getting shut down by the Jags, and Justin Forsett in particular hasn't seemed as decisive or explosive since picking up some knocks a few weeks back. The extra time off during the practice week is likely in order again throughout this week ... I'd imagine that Baltimore shifts protections heavily and sells out to try to block J.J. Watt. If the opposite tackle gets beat, so be it. Watt is a one-man army capable of wrecking someone's season on any snap. All the more reason why I'd expect a four-headed attack by Baltimore in the run game ... Ravens used a lot of Owen Daniels -- and their tight ends in general -- the last few weeks, and his signing was sage given his familiarity with Kubiak. Expect him to be plenty fired up for this homecoming as well ... Ravens secondary unlikely to be exposed too badly given the state of Houston's quarterbacking, though De'Andre Hopkins in particular could be a handful. Forsett is a former Texan, too ... Elvis Dumervil with an outside shot at the NFL sack record. He's matched his career high with 17 and has nine sacks in his last five games. If rookie Timmy Jernigan keeps getting an inside push, I like his chances to crack 20 sacks for the season, at least ... Hard to imagine a big day in the Fantasy Super Bowl for Arian Foster against this defense, and with the suspect options at quarterback.
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Cleveland at Carolina
Sunday, Dec. 21, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
Why To Watch: We all kind of knew Johnny Football was going to be must-see television, at least at the onset, with his NFL debut having unique car-crash potential. It might be so hideous that you can't stop watching. And maybe, with his unique athletic ability, it's transcendent stuff. For at least the first week as a starter, of course, this was all lowest common denominator. It wasn't a car crash, it was as train wreck, with him completing 10 passes for 80 yards, getting pushed all over the field and throwing picks like he was trying to make it rain in the club. And they got shut out. At home. By an in-state division rival. Brutal start. Nowhere to go but up, however, I'd suggest. And this game will be heavily watched for the opposing quarterback as well, as Cam Newton pushes to start and miss just one game after surviving a scary car accident and suffering two small fractures in his back. The Panthers are playing for their playoff lives, and suddenly have back-to-back wins after going two months without a win at one point and having all of three victories prior to Week 14. That's how forgiving the lowly NFC South has been, and with Atlanta still looming I get the feeling Carolina, the reigning division champs, just might be up for taking this thing in the end.
What To Watch For: If Newton does start, I wouldn't fear the quick hook if he looks off at all. He's been through a lot, mentally and physically, he has almost never been healthy all season and with so much on the line, and Derek Anderson a plenty capable veteran back-up, I'll be very interested to see the first few series if Newton is starting ... Get used to that money sign being flashed all over the place -- by opposing defenders. It's already got strong drinking game potential, and with Manziel involved, that's not a surprise. At the rate he's being hit, it might get played out pretty quickly, but it was the go-to move by Bengals defenders last week ... The read-option looks, even with the less spry Anderson under center, have helped reignite the Panthers' run game. Nothing has been more welcome around there, and with some suspect tackles, I'd expect Ron Rivera to stress the need to stay on the ground all day. The Browns generally stink against the run, got absolutely gouged by the Bengals last week. They've allowed 149 yards rushing or more in six games this season, and opposing rushers will go over 2,000 yards against them, oh, probably before halftime Sunday (1,927 allowed at this point) ... Browns tight end Jordan Cameron has gone over 47 yards receiving in a game just once this season, and had just one catch last week ... Since his big debut against Atlanta, Browns receiver Josh Gordon has just 12 catches in three games for just 138 total yards, no touchdowns, and just one play over 20 yards. He's clearly not close to being 100 percent fit or effective, and the desire to toss the ball up to him has been a detriment to this offense.
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Tennessee at Jacksonville
Thursday, Dec. 18, 8:25 p.m. ET (NFL Network)
Why To Watch: It's the last Thursday night game of the season. Is that compelling enough for you? Given where I am in life -- pretty much homebound and living in my kid's world -- that constitutes a big night for me. A game on the TV, as the backdrop to me making a ton of calls and texts, sipping on a little holiday vino. Shoot, that's a real big night in these parts. And, alas, it's the last one of these until next September. So, while I'd be lying if I said I was going to savor this game between two generally awful football teams, I'll certainly be paying fairly close attention even though there is nothing other than draft-selection jockeying at stake. So, yeah, I've got nothing to sell here other than the night of the week during which this game is being played. The reality is, you can't help but watch it, as it's in 100 percent of the country instead of the 8 percent or whatever it would normally be available to as a regional game. So embrace it. Don't fight it.
What To Watch For: Jags have come dangerously close to getting rookie quarterback Blake Bortles mangled at several points this season, and it's no surprise his status is in question now after an eight-sack outing Sunday in Baltimore. The kid tends to hold the ball too long, which can be a blessing and a curse, but at some point, a la Big Ben, it could be a huge playmaking asset ... The Titans' defense is a total disaster. Could be the rarest of weeks where the Jags' offensive skill personnel have an opportunity to win matchups ... Somebody better block Jurrell Casey, and block him a lot. He will feast on this young offensive line and the Ravens had tremendous success collapsing things from the inside out last week ... Toby Gerhart ran very hard last week and seemed up for the challenge. Jags have little going for them in the run game with Denard Robinson's season over, and getting something out of this free-agent signing down the stretch would be a boost. Need to find a way to keep some heat off of Bortles ... The Titans don't have anything going on, but we'll always have Charlie Whitehurst's glorious hair, which is back in a helmet and under center ... Titans seem pretty intent on keeping their eight-game winning streak going, including at the end of last week's home loss to the Jets. Might as well try to play for that first overall pick ... Wonder if Ken Whisenhunt understood just what a disaster of a roster he took over, and can't help but wonder if big changes are coming in football operations. This team doesn't seem equipped to dig out of this hole.
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Philadelphia at Washington
Saturday, Dec. 20, 4:30 p.m. ET (NFL Network)
Why To Watch: Oh, Washington, how you never fail to disappoint. You do dysfunction with such reckless abandon, such an over-the-top nature, that I've actually come to appreciate the ineptitude. Far from content to just be boring and horrible like most of the dregs of the league, you, Dan Snyder, always keep it interesting. For that I applaud you. Now, we get Robert Griffin III back under center, with coach Jay Gruden seeming at best partially enthused by all of this, and it happening only because of another neck injury to Colt McCoy. You can't make this stuff up. Of course, has Snyder succeeded in his efforts to trade up for Mark Sanchez, he wouldn't have been in position to mortgage three drafts for RG3. Now he gets to watch The Sanchize, from his owner's box, try to get the Eagles in the playoffs as an impending free agent. And Chip Kelly, at a time when his offense has looked anything but highly-evolved and cutting- edge, gets to take advantage of a Skins defense that, well, stinks. Eagles need to keep winning and get some help just to get into the postseason after leading the NFC East for quite some time. It's a Saturday afternoon. We're all going to be watching, no matter how much of a blowout this is.
What To Watch For: Sanchez hasn't always been graceful under pressure -- as anyone who saw the shot of him attempting to hold a newborn in a photo that aired during last Sunday night's broadcast could attest to -- and he knows his job is on the line. As is his earning potential. He keeps handing the ball to the other team, and even the knowing hand of Chip Kelly can't save him. Oh, and Sanchez is still a first-rate double agent. He has thrown nine picks in seven games -- on pace to beat the 18 picks he threw in 2012, his last year as a starter. His 4.0 interception percentage this season is actually above his league average, and Eagles quarterbacks have combined for 24 giveaways, which, were they one person, would tie them with Jay Cutler for the NFL lead ... Still sending out an SOS for Riley Cooper. Looks like money well wasted for the Eagles there ... So that was more like what I expected from Eagles corners Bradley Fletcher and Cary Williams last week. They keep their highs high, and their lows low. And that Philly defense goes as they go. Don't think for a minute that Skins receiver DeSean Jackson won't all of a sudden be fully healthy and motivated for his second crack at his old team, too. There is a real hatred there and he was lighting them up in the first game, and drawing taunting penalties in the process. Him against Williams could lead to someone getting ejected ... Not enough being made of Washington's running game dropping to 20th in the NFL. Sure, some of it has to do with trailing so many games so quickly, but a lack of fight and intent seems to have plenty to do with it as well.
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Detroit at Chicago
Sunday, Dec. 21, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
Why To Watch: One of these teams is super physical, built from the inside out, playing intense football, finding ways to win, and has a chance at a surprising division title. The other team is the Bears -- one of the least competitive, most apathetic outfits I've seen in quite some time. So, yeah, this looks like a blowout. When they met on Thanksgiving, and the going got tough in the second half, only one team was really playing. Add in the fact the Bears have been putrid at home, 2-5 with plenty of suspect efforts, and that their fans seem ready to revolt unless sweeping changes are made, and that they trailed the staggering Saints 24-0 at Soldier Field at one point last week, and I tend to like the Lions' chances to force their looming Week 17 meeting at Lambeau Field to decide the NFC North.
What To Watch For: After running away with the league's interception and fumble titles, Jay Cutler has been benched this week. His ambiguity toward rallying his team speaks volumes and with this coaching staff and general manager perhaps on the cusp of getting whacked -- and their massive financial commitment to Cutler no small part of why they are in this predicament -- it would send at least some sort of message to sit him and let someone else get a shot. Josh McCown of all people starred in this offense a year ago, for what it's worth ... This Bears defense will want no part of Joique Bell and his pounding running style. I'd let him set a tone early ... I don't figure the Bears try to put rookie corner Kyle Fuller back on Calvin Johnson after Thanksgiving, but then again, defensive coordinator Mel Tucker, deprived of any talent on his unit, doesn't have too many other options ... I'd set the over-under at six sacks for the Lions, and that's probably a little low ... Bears might as well just rest Matt Forte for the rest of the season. They pretty much just forgot he's there ... So if the Bears are going to clean house, and if they keep Cutler, I'm putting Kyle Shanahan, Gary Kubiak, and, I suppose, Mike Shanahan on the shortlist of possible candidates. See how long it takes for one of their names to be mentioned on the broadcast should you dare to sit through all four quarters of this ... Not sure what is more difficult to watch -- the false starts from Bears receivers, the ineptitude of their pass protection or the failure to display any sense of urgency when trailing games in the second half.
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Green Bay at Tampa Bay
Sunday, Dec. 21, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
Why To Watch: Time for the Packers to wake up. They were sleepwalking through the second half of their game against Atlanta, they were off-kilter as heck against the Bills and never got anything going on offense. So what better time to press the reset button, recalibrate and get some confidence going? The Bucs stink, and they are particularly stinky at home, where they have yet to win this season under new head coach Lovie Smith. If this isn't enough to get Green Bay going again, then they just might end up missing the playoffs all together. They know they host Detroit in Week 17, and their play the last six quarters should be enough to ensure they don't take anything for granted here. The Packers had some issues with Bucs starter Josh McCown last season when he was in Chicago, but it's hard to see that mattering much here given the state of Tampa's team. Had best be a feel-good weekend for the Packers.
What To Watch For: After placing a bunch of guys on IR, including team leader Gerald McCoy, you have to wonder how inspired this Tampa Bay team is. The environment at their stadium is going to be bleak with two home games still to play and the team unable to win there yet ... Bet we don't see another uncharacteristic dropped bomb by Jordy Nelson, and I see Randall Cobb in particular gutting this Tampa zone defense all over the middle of the field ... Tampa's secondary has been a wreck most of the season, and that will show up early and often in this one ... If the Bucs aren't super competitive to try to get a veteran, proven NFL offensive coordinator then I'll be more dumbfounded about that than I have been about the entirety of their two-win season ... I might think about leaning on James Starks a little more here and keeping Eddie Lacy as fresh as I can for Week 17 ... Watch Rodgers take out his frustration from last week on the Bucs. Great chance to pad some MVP stats and spread the ball around ... I'd expect a much better effort from the Packers special teams units after getting dismantled in Buffalo. Otherwise, Mike McCarthy might lose it on the sidelines entirely ... Tale of 2014 has been that the rookie head coaches have fared better than the second-time guys. Smith and Whisenhunt have had awful seasons, with Jim Caldwell in Detroit the exception, while rookies like Bill O'Brien, Mike Pettine and Mike Zimmer have generally fared better than could have been expected (with Jay Gruden the exception in that group).
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Minnesota at Miami
Sunday, Dec. 21, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
Why To Watch: The Vikings have made a strong case for rookie head coach Mike Zimmer this season. It's clear they want to finish strong and they gave the Lions all they could handle in Detroit last weekend. They have pretty much flown under the radar with everyone else in their division making noise for either all the right reasons (Detroit, Green Bay) or the wrong reasons (Chicago). But it's worth seeing how they close out the season, whether or not they can get to .500. With the Dolphins and Bears looming, I like their chances. As for the Dolphins, well, its another miserable December for them. Their playoff hopes have faded, again, and their perpetual search for stability and continuity is ongoing. Coach Joe Philbin and general manager Dennis Hickey could be in their final days, and this looks like a team that is content to go out meekly. Would a very late surge change anything? Yeah, I doubt it too.
What To Watch For: Eat a potato chip every time there is a camera angle that reveals a section of the stadium that is less than half filled. I'll bet you will have finished the entire bag by the half. If not sooner. This will be slim pickings. The fans barely show up when the games actually matter ... Teddy Bridgewater has been better than he's getting credit for. He's completing just under 64 percent of his passes and has a shot at 3,000 yards. Yes, they've brought him along slowly and he's limited and this team isn't going to scare anyone downfield, but I like how Norv Turner is bringing him along. Considering they have had to play all year without Adrian Peterson and pretty much all year getting nothing out of expensive tight end Kyle Rudolph, this has been a fine rookie season. If you haven't watched much of him, try to get a look down the stretch. If not here then against that horrible Bears defense next weekend ... I'm enjoying seeing my man Dan Marino up in the owner's suite. With Miami's season winding down, and big changes possibly ahead, look for even more camera shots of Marino and owner Stephen Ross chopping it up. Ross isn't one to sit on his hands for long, and he'll have to move quick if he wants to land a big fish ... These are probably Mike Wallace's final games in Miami. Enjoy them, I suppose. A new regime isn't going to take kindly to that contract, and he'll be lucky to be making 50 percent as much per year on the open market ... Where in the world is Mike Pouncey? Maybe he could play all five offensive line positions in this game. Why not? ... Will Ryan Tannehill attempt a pass over 30 yards downfield? Odds say no ... Will the erosion of Miami's defensive line continue? They bowed up against the Pats' run game last week for the first time in a month. Not sure if it was a sign of things to come.
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New England at N.Y. Jets
Sunday, Dec. 21, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
Why To Watch: Some things never change. Fall leads to winter. The sun rises in the East and sets in the West. The Patriots win the AFC East. This game, it turns out, doesn't really matter much, other than the Patriots get a crack at Rex Ryan probably for the last time ever (assuming Rex doesn't resurface at some point in say Miami or Buffalo, and end up staying in this division). So lets remember what a rivalry this was, for the good two or three years when the Jets were able to overcome their personnel issues and make a long playoff push, anyway. Let's recall how Rex could flabbergast Tom Brady at times and let's remember Mark Sanchez actually functioning at a high level in the postseason. And of course, who could forget the butt fumble on Thanksgiving night a few years back? Oh, those were heady times. And it's all coming to an end. The next Jets coach can't possibly have the same bluster and bravado as Ryan, refusing to kiss Bill Belichick's rings and all. We might not ever get that back. So, well, watch this one, I suppose.
What To Watch For: Belichick isn't one to sit guys and wait for the postseason, but with so many quarterbacks being hurt lately and with only a rookie behind Tom Brady, does he change his tact at all? They are going to be locked into that top seed and have essentially claimed a bye already. This Jets defense can still get after you and if Mo Wilkerson returns, all the more reason why discretion could be the better part of valor here ... Have to think Darrelle Revis gets plenty of cheers from the New York crowd, and given his stellar play, have to think he makes an impact on this game as well ... Geno Smith has been pretty decent the last two weeks. Give him that. These could be his final two starts with the Jets given all the change on the horizon there, but he's got a chance to put something decent on tape to compete for back-up jobs and to catch someone's eye as a reclamation project. Man, sounds like The Sanchize when you put it that way ... Jamie Collins continues to make plays every week for the Patriots. Kind of amazing. Same thing with Akeem Ayers and Jonathan Casillas. The Pats' trades have paid off big time; amazing how other team's spare parts continue to shine under Belichick's tenure ... Jonas Gray is out of the doghouse and this could be a game, like last week, when Shane Vereen features big in the game plan as well ... Rob Gronkowski will have little resistance from this New York secondary.
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N.Y. Giants at St. Louis
Sunday, Dec. 21, 4:05 p.m. ET (FOX)
Why To Watch: Odell Beckham, Jr. has just two more games to play in his rookie season. He has been can't-miss TV pretty much since hitting the lineup after a series of offseason injuries and he has three touchdown receptions last week alone. His numbers, translated to a full season, are ridiculous, and he and Eli Manning clearly have something going. This game doesn't have much else going for it, other than the Giants seeming to make a statement about wanting to keep playing for Tom Coughlin. But the Rams defense has gone like three games without giving up a touchdown, which is pretty nuts, and they might be able to make short work of this offensive line. Eli may be scrambling for his life, making a Manning Face or two, I suppose, which might be enough to conjure a few of you into tuning in.
What To Watch For: How many sacks will Manning end up taking here? He's getting sacked on five percent of his dropbacks and he isn't exactly mobile. His tackle, Justin Pugh, is tied for eighth-worst in the NFL by STATS, Inc. with 7.5 sacks allowed. With Robert Quinn and Chris Long coming off the edge on a fast track in a dome, that could be a problem ... Rashad Jennings could be in for more of a role here as he rounds back into shape. Rams were vulnerable against the run last week and the Giants can't get too cute slinging the ball around. Plenty of work for both backs. He has just three carries in two games since returning to the lineup ... Kenny Britt didn't exactly have the impact comeback season I thought he might, but he's done enough to revive his career on and off the field. Good for him. Solid production with 35 catches -- third on the team -- for 607 yards, tops on the team, and with a gaudy average of 17.3 yards per catch. Britt's three touchdown catches are one off from the team high. The reunion with Jeff Fisher has paid off ... Aaron Donald is destroying people. He's my pick for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, and he will be a nightmare for Manning here ... Beckham has missed four games, out of 14, and still has nearly 300 more receiving yards than anyone on his team. He also has 12 more receptions.
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Buffalo at Oakland
Sunday, Dec. 21, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
Why To Watch: I think, in the end, Derek Carr will be the best of this class of rookie quarterbacks. In fact, I believe he will be that by a wide margin and that will be especially true if Jim Harbaugh is his head coach beginning next season. It's been a long and ugly season for the Raiders, but then again it's kind of always been that way, and we can't go too overboard with their mistakes. It's who they are. The Bills, meantime, seem to be turning some sort of metaphysical corner, to me, and actually seemed primed for some greater purpose beyond losing a ton of football games for the first time since the early 1990s. The good people of Western New York deserve a winner, or at least a .500 team, for the first time in forever, and I think this might as well be the year for that. So, its time for WNY to rally and win this game on the road and finally get something going for the future.
What To Watch For: If the Bills had a quarterback they'd be truly dangerous. Kyle Orton is probably gone after this season and after deep-reaching for EJ Manuel, I really wonder where the Bills go next ... I can't imagine the Bills actually go with C.J. Spiller in the backfield after his extended absence and after all he has been through ... Bills might have the best group of defensive backs in the NFL. They're all ballhawks and Stephon Gilmore in particular is a beast ... Raiders will focus on their tight ends here as the Bills are vulnerable against them ... I like Jerry Hughes for a good three sacks here. The Raiders will have no answers ... When will D.J. Hayden show some signs of life? He's been less than eye-opening since he was (over) drafted into this league ... Is Maurice Jones-Drew still a member of the NFL? And if he is, why is he? The Raiders need to cut the cord with these over-the-hill running backs, and do so right now.
