Because the NFL heads into Thanksgiving week, the playoff picture begins to take full impact. Swiftly the playoff standings matter as the ultimate third of the season is coming, with some large video games on the horizon between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The Philadelphia Eagles lastly suffered their first lack of the season in Week 10, however nonetheless lead the NFC with eight weeks to play. The Minnesota Vikings are proper on Philadelphia’s heels within the race for home-field benefit, whereas the New York Giants are a sport behind the Eagles for the NFC East lead.
The Kansas City Chiefs have management for home-field benefit within the AFC whereas the Buffalo Bills look to get their act collectively and make a run on the high seed. The Payments first must regain management of the AFC East as they at the moment sit in third place within the division — a half sport behind the primary place Miami Dolphins.
There are fairly a number of video games over the course of the subsequent few weeks that can have a major impression on the playoff races in each conferences, together with inflicting a shakeup within the standings. Which video games will likely be should see TV?
These are the 5 video games not value lacking:
Dallas Cowboys (6-3) vs. Minnesota Vikings (8-1)
Week 11 (Nov. 20)
This one has main implications within the NFC playoff race, particularly because the Vikings are tied for the very best report within the NFC with the Eagles (Philadelphia owns the head-to-head tiebreaker after beating Minnesota in Week 2). A win by the Vikings can be important in retaining tempo with the Eagles for home-field benefit within the NFC, particularly because the Vikings will not be enjoying a sport exterior a dome for the remainder of 2022.
The Cowboys are nonetheless two video games out within the NFC East race (additionally misplaced a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Eagles), however have to remain forward of the dogfight for the ultimate playoff spot. At present the No. 6 seed within the NFC, a loss would put the Cowboys in hanging distance of the San Francisco 49ers (5-4), Washington Commanders (5-5), and Green Bay Packers (4-6) within the race for the ultimate playoff spot within the NFC. Dallas additionally performs New York 4 days afterward Thanksgiving, so a bounce-back win after a loss to Inexperienced Bay can be important.
If Dallas loses, the Cowboys can neglect about successful the NFC East. If Minnesota loses, taking home-field benefit within the NFC will likely be considerably harder.
Week 13 (Dec. 4)
The Chiefs have one of many best schedules within the second half of the season, which brings the AFC leaders with their greatest check remaining. Cincinnati is the final AFC crew that at the moment has an over .500 report Kansas Metropolis faces, as this matchup is a rematch of the AFC Championship Recreation final yr (the Bengals beat the Chiefs twice final season).
Cincinnati is preventing for its playoff lives within the AFC, because the Bengals sit one sport behind the Baltimore Ravens within the AFC North (and misplaced to Baltimore earlier this yr). Making the playoffs is paramount for Cincinnati, which has video games remaining towards the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns (with Deshaun Watson at quarterback), Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Payments, and Ravens to shut the yr.
At present the No. 9 seed within the AFC playoff race, truthful to say the Bengals want this one. If the Chiefs win, Kansas Metropolis could have management of the home-field benefit race within the AFC.
Philadelphia Eagles (8-1) at New York Giants (7-2)
Week 14 (Dec. 11)
Unimaginable the Giants are a sport out of the NFC East race at this level of the season, and have received seven of their first 9 video games within the course of. The Giants are creating separation from the pack in a crowded wild card playoff race, making this sport for first place within the NFC East much more important. Positive the Giants have a giant sport arising on Thanksgiving towards the Cowboys (who they misplaced to already) and 4 consecutive video games towards the NFC East — however this can be a main litmus check for a crew seeking to show they’re a contender for the division title.
The Eagles are just one sport up on the Giants within the NFC East race, and play them twice within the last 5 weeks. This sport could have the extra important that means with Philadelphia preventing for home-field benefit and seeking to take management of the division for good — particularly if New York slips up earlier than then.
The Eagles-Giants rivalry is again, as important playoff implications within the division are at stake.
Week. 15 (Dec. 15)
The NFC West race simply bought much more intriguing with the Seahawks dropping to the Buccaneers and the 49ers beating the Los Angeles Chargers final week. San Francisco is only one sport behind Seattle within the race for the NFC West, which has a playoff spot and a house playoff sport up for grabs.
The Seahawks ought to have the ability to maintain regular within the division race with three consecutive video games towards groups underneath .500 instantly after the bye week earlier than the showdown with the 49ers. There’s additionally a possibility to create separation for a wild card spot within the NFC wild card race ought to Seattle lose to San Francisco — and quit the division lead someplace alongside the best way.
The 49ers do not have a straightforward path both, going through the Miami Dolphins and Buccaneers previous to going through the Seahawks, who in addition they play on a brief week (Thursday Night time Soccer on the street). The 49ers have some difficult video games arising, so sweeping Seattle of their NFC West matchups is a should.
This matchup is likely to be the very best Thursday Night time Soccer sport of the yr.
Miami Dolphins (7-3) vs. Buffalo Payments (6-3)
Week 15 (Dec. 18/19)
The AFC East race is as tight as it may possibly get with three groups separated by a half sport within the division standings and all 4 groups separated by 1.5 video games. Heading into Week 11, all 4 groups within the AFC East are within the playoffs — making the battle for playoff spots and the division title must-watch tv over the ultimate eight weeks.
Miami heading to Buffalo stands out as the greatest matchup, particularly because the Dolphins beat the Payments earlier this yr. Not solely is that this a must-win sport for Buffalo to take management of the division, however for the Payments to remain forward in a wild card race that options the New York Jets (6-3), New England Patriots (5-4), Chargers (5-4), and Bengals (5-4).
That is the final of three consecutive AFC East video games for the Payments in December, as Buffalo basically controls its personal AFC East destiny. The Dolphins have difficult video games towards the 49ers and Chargers previous to going through the Payments, the third of three consecutive street contests.
Not solely might this sport be for the AFC East title, however a top-two seed within the convention may very well be in play as nicely (particularly if the Chiefs had been to slide up).
