NFL Week 12 schedule: 5 things to watch for on Sunday

5. Does anybody slip up in the AFC wild card race?

We’ll get to the Oakland Raiders later on, but let’s look at some of the other teams in the mix. The Pittsburgh Steelers might have the easiest game of the group, going on the road to play the winless Cincinnati Bengals. At 5-5, the Steelers can’t afford to lose. Then there are the Cleveland Browns, who play host to the Miami Dolphins. Cleveland has won two straight and is trying to gain momentum. The Buffalo Bills are also at home, welcoming in the 3-7 Denver Broncos. In the AFC South, a win by the Tennessee Titans over the Jacksonville Jaguars would put them at 6-5 and keep them pushing forward.

If any of those teams screw up, it could be the turning points of their seasons.

4. Are the Eagles able to win a key home date?

The Philadelphia Eagles lost a tight game at home last weekend to the New England Patriots. Now they welcome in the Seattle Seahawks fresh off their bye week. Russell Wilson is playing at an MVP level and the defense is starting to gel behind a front seven including Bobby Wagner, Jadeveon Clowney and Jarran Reed. Can Philadelphia find a way to beat the Seahawks and make a statement, or do they drop to 5-6?

3. Do the Raiders avoid the dreaded trap game?

This is the biggest trap game of the year for Oakland. The Raiders are playing the Kansas City Chiefs with first place on the line in the AFC West next weekend. However, they have to get past the New York Jets first. This game is a cross-country trip for Oakland, which is trying to win its fourth consecutive contest. A win here would prove the Raiders aren’t looking ahead.

2. Can the Patriots finally showcase an offense?

The Patriots are a great team attempting to go to their fourth straight Super Bowl. However, even with a 9-1 record, it’s evident the offense could be a problem come January. If New England can’t score against a Dallas defense which is both underachieving and injured, that’s another red flag as we move closer to the playoffs.

1. Who controls the NFC?

This is simple. The San Francisco 49ers are 9-1. The Green Bay Packers are 8-2. Those two are the top seeds in the NFC playoff picture and they play on Sunday night at Levi’s Stadium. The winner holds the No. 1 seed and a massive tiebreaker.