NFL Week 13 schedule: 5 best games on the slate

5. Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers and Browns are a decades-old rivalry that hasn’t been very fierce in recent years. That was until two weeks ago, of course, when Myles Garrett slammed a helmet over the exposed head of Mason Rudolph. Now, the two teams clash in the rematch at Heinz Field with plenty on the line. At 5-6, the Browns can move past the Steelers in the race for an AFC playoff spot by winning. However, a win for Pittsburgh and Cleveland is effectively finished.

4. Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs

Another key AFC divisional battle between two age-old rivals. The Chiefs are coming off their bye week at 7-4 and host the Raiders, who are trying to recover after being blown out 34-3 by the New York Jets. If Kansas City wins, the Chiefs will all but guarantee a fourth-straight divisional title. They would be up two games on the Raiders with the tiebreaker in hand, having only four games to go. The victory would also put them in the conversation for the second or third seed. However, if the Raiders win, they vault into first place while Kansas City is left to scramble.

3. New England Patriots at Houston Texans

Sunday night has the Patriots visiting the Texans in a key AFC matchup. New England is 10-1 and trying to hold off the Ravens for the top spot in the playoff picture. Meanwhile, Houston knows that losing means a first-place tie with either the Indianapolis Colts or Tennessee Titans, as both are 6-5 and play each other on Sunday afternoon. With a win, though, the Texans would knock their hardest remaining game off the docket before playing the Titans twice in the last four weeks.

2. Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks

Monday night should be a great one. The Vikings and Seahawks are both vying for their respective divisional titles, with both currently in wild card slots. Losing isn’t a disaster in those terms, but a win and the pressure mounts on the San Francisco 49ers or Green Bay Packers, who are desperately trying to cling onto leads.

1. San Francisco 49ers at Baltimore Ravens

Best game of the week, maybe the best game of the season. The 49ers and Ravens could very well see each other in February, and the two clash this weekend in Charm City. If San Francisco wins, it’s tough not calling them the favorites in the NFC. Should Baltimore win, that continues a seven-game winning streak that has already seen the demolition of the Seahawks, Patriots and Los Angeles Rams.