NFL Week 15 schedule: 5 best games to watch
With the NFL Week 15 schedule rapidly approaching, these five games of going to headline the weekend ahead.
5. Cincinnati Bengals at Denver Broncos (-2.5)
This is almost a playoff game. After losing two straight, the Bengals travel to Denver for a meeting of two 7-6 teams. Both Cincinnati and Denver are tied for the final playoff spot in the AFC playoff picture with a host of other teams including the Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills. Whoever wins has a critical win and potentially, a key tiebreaker. The loss would have to win out and perhaps get some help.
4. Green Bay Packers (-5.5) at Baltimore Ravens
This being a really intriguing game hinges on whether Lamar Jackson plays. If he doesn’t, this is going to get really ugly, with due respect to Ravens backup quarterback Tyler Huntley. At 8-5, Baltimore is leading the AFC North by one game over the Bengals and Cleveland Browns. It needs a win to stay out of the wild card portion of the playoff chase. For the Packers, they’re trying to stay as the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and this is easily the toughest remaining game on their schedule.
3. Tennessee Titans (-1.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Titans and Steelers are in different positions, but both need to win. For the Titans, they are going to win the AFC South, but they’re fighting for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Right now, Tennessee is tied with the Patriots and Chiefs in that regard at 9-4. Meanwhile the Steelers are hanging on at 6-6-1 and trying to make a late-season push. A loss at home to Tennessee finishes them off in what is likely Ben Roethlisberger’s last season.
2. New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts (-2.5)
Similar to Pittsburgh-Tennessee, this is about two teams contending in the AFC, but in varying ways. Indianapolis is trying to make the playoffs for a second straight year, as it’s 7-6. The Colts have a tough slate ahead but beating the Patriots would go a long way towards getting that postseason ticket punched. For New England, this starts a two-week stretch of taking on the Colts and Buffalo Bills. Win these games, and it’s likely a No. 1 seed.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (-3) at Los Angeles Chargers
Whoever wins is in the driver’s seat for the AFC West. The loser is likely going to be either the No. 5 or 6 seed and need to win three playoff games on the road to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. These two teams met in Week 3, and on the back of four Kansas City turnovers, the Chargers won 30-24 at Arrowhead Stadium. Can Justin Herbert get the season sweep of Patrick Mahomes?