NFL Week 12 got off to a flying start with a Thanksgiving tripleheader followed by the league’s first Black Friday game.
Things are looking pretty interesting based on Thursday’s results: The Cowboys and Packers improved their playoff position with impressive wins over the Commanders and Lions, respectively, and the 49ers strengthened their position at the top of the NFC West by beating the Seahawks .
Meanwhile, desperation is spreading among the struggling teams. Two other coordinators, Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada and Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio, were fired this week. Will these latest efforts make a difference in the next six weeks?
Strap in for another round of intense competition. Here are five of the most compelling storylines that will keep you watching for the rest of the weekend. (Find the NFL Week 12 schedule here.)
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1. Hotly contested division battles
Six of the week’s remaining 12 games are divisional showdowns, including Saints at Falcons, Steelers at Bengals, Rams at Cardinals, Chiefs at Raiders and Bears at Vikings. But perhaps the most intriguing divisional duel takes place in Houston, where the Texans host the Jaguars.
Jacksonville leads the AFC South with a 7-3 record, but the 6-4 Texans can take a significant – and surprising – step toward the division crown with a win on Sunday. They already shocked the Jaguars with a 37-17 win in Week 3, and a win would move them into a tie with Jacksonville for first place in the division with six games to play on the season. However, the Texans would retain the direct tiebreaker. Meanwhile, a Jaguars win would set the Texans back two games and Houston would no longer have a decisive tiebreaker.
The Texans enter this game on a three-game losing streak, but oddsmakers projected them to be 1.5-point underdogs at home. Can DeMeco Ryans, CJ Stroud and Co. continue their impressive march? Or will Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars rise to the occasion? (Jaguars at Texans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET.)
Don’t look now, but the Broncos (5-5) are one of the hottest teams in the NFL, entering Sunday’s game against the visiting Browns on a four-game winning streak. The Browns (7-3) are challenged offensively due to Deshaun Watson’s season-ending shoulder surgery, but still boast one of the league’s most dominant defenses. That means Russell Wilson and Sean Payton’s offense will be put to the test.
This will serve as a good benchmark for the Broncos because if they are still able to operate effectively against this Cleveland defense, we know that Wilson (seven touchdowns, zero interceptions during this four-game winning streak) is indeed back , and that Denver’s playoff hopes are justified. The Broncos still have a long way to go, but a win would be another big step in the right direction. (Browns at Broncos, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET.)
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3. Another game with measuring sticks
When the schedule came out in May, the Bills-Eagles looked like a potential Super Bowl preview, but at 6-5, it’s hard to see Buffalo as a top contender. A win over the 9-1 Eagles – perhaps the strongest team in the league – would help put the Bills back among the favorites in the fight for the Lombardi Trophy.
Beating Philadelphia will be a challenge. The Eagles have a balanced offensive attack and a strong and versatile defense. The Bills tend to get off to slow starts (averaging 12.6 points per first half) and that could put even more pressure on quarterback Josh Allen, who leads the NFL in touchdown passes (22) but has also thrown a season-high 12 interceptions. Jalen Hurts and the Eagles are not flawless, but they are resilient and can quickly change the tone of games with their ability to make big plays. They just pulled off an impressive comeback win over the Chiefs, and another statement victory over a projected AFC power could strengthen their position as Super Bowl favorites. (Bills at Eagles, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET.)
4. The big task of the chargers
After another disappointing loss, Chargers coach Brandon Staley became testy when asked if he would hand defensive duties to an assistant. The Chargers, who are 4-6 and in last place in the AFC West, are 31st in yards allowed and 24th in points allowed. With every loss, it seems to be a matter of when, not a matter of whether Staley will be fired.
However, Staley can get some temporary relief if he can find a way to beat the AFC front-runner Ravens. Staley’s defense must stop MVP candidate Lamar Jackson, who is among the league’s leaders in completion percentage and passer rating while averaging 9.2 yards per rushing attempt. Jackson will be without his top target, tight end Mark Andrews, who is likely out for the season with a torn fibula. Wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr., Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor as well as tight end Isaiah Likely must step up. (Ravens at Chargers, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET.)
5. Playoff picture
As November comes to a close, the playoff race in both the AFC and NFC is shaping up to be an exciting fight to the finish. If the season ended this week, the NFC seeding would look like this: 1. Philadelphia, 2. San Francisco, 3. Detroit, 4. New Orleans, 5. Dallas, 6. Minnesota, 7. Seattle. The AFC field would include 1. Miami, 2. Baltimore, 3. Kansas City, 4. Jacksonville, 5. Cleveland, 6. Houston, 7. Pittsburgh.
But this weekend’s results could throw the order into disarray. The Saints lead the NFC South but find themselves on shaky ground at 5-5, especially if the Falcons (who have tapped Desmond Ridder at QB) pull out a victory in their rivalry game this week. The 4-6 Rams, who face the Cardinals this week, are close. Can they get into the thick of things?
As mentioned, Houston could move past Jacksonville with a win. And Denver could catapult itself into the AFC scene with another win.
Pittsburgh and Cleveland are among the AFC’s most uncertain teams. The Browns’ quarterback situation (will rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson remain the starter or will newly signed Joe Flacco shed enough rust to save the season?) could be theirs cause hopes to fail. The Steelers hope Canada’s shot gives Kenny Pickett and his teammates a jolt.
(Photos of Josh Allen, Myles Garrett and Russell Wilson: Maddie Meyer, Nick Cammett and Justin Edmonds / Getty Images)