Written by: Tyler Deakin
Thanksgiving week was a pretty good one for NFL fans, with ten games decided by one score or less including some of the high-profile games. The Raiders-Cowboys game was highly entertaining, as was the Buccaneers-Colts contest. This week’s action promises to be just as entertaining, with two primetime games & several highly anticipated matchups incoming. I’ve got tickets to watch the Atlanta Falcons play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, which should be the most competitive game of the year for the Falcons (which admittedly isn’t saying much). It’s win or go home for them as they look to establish themselves as playoff contenders. There are plenty of games with similar storylines this week as teams look to separate themselves in the playoff race. Without further ado, here is my list of the best games to watch this weekend.
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday Night Football)
A win here would be huge for the Broncos, as it would put them in the driver’s seat for the AFC West division title. Meanwhile, a Chiefs victory would put some distance between them & the other teams in the division race. The Chiefs are coming off their bye week, and in the Patrick Mahomes era they have a 7-1 record in games immediately following the bye week. Good news for the Broncos is that OT Garett Bolles is likely to return from the COVID-19 list. Bad news is that RB Melvin Gordon is unlikely to play this week as he deals with a hip injury. All key players for the Chiefs meanwhile are healthy, fresh, & ready to play this weekend.
New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills (Monday Night Football)
Let’s face it, this game will likely decides who wins the AFC East division title. A loss for the Bills here would be devastating, as their spot in the playoff picture would be in jeopardy. The Patriots could handle a loss here, but their playoff push going forward would be difficult. Both teams are red hot heading into this contest after dominating last week’s competition. The chess match between Bill Belichick’s defense & Brian Daboll’s offense is worth watching here.
Washington Football Team at Las Vegas Raiders
Two desperate teams face off in this cross-divisional affair on Sunday afternoon. Washington defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio makes his much-anticipated return against his former team, as he was the Raiders head coach from 2015-2017. His defense should have a keen understanding on how to stop Raiders QB Derek Carr in his tracks. The Raiders will likely play without star TE Darren Waller in this contest as he recovers from a strained IT band in his knee. WR Hunter Renfrow, fresh off a career high 134 yards last week, will get tons of run this week.
Los Angeles Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals
The AFC is an absolute gauntlet, with 12 teams with .500 or better records battling it out for 7 playoff spots. Currently, the Chargers (No. 7) & Bengals (No. 5) hold two of those spots; however, a loss by either team would surely drop them out of this exclusive group. More importantly, a win for either team keeps them within striking distance of winning their division. Fans will get to see a great QB battle this weekend in Justin Herbert vs. Joe Burrow. We could see this matchup a lot more often in the coming years, as both players are young & talented.
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
It’s win or go home for the Steelers, whose playoff hopes are hanging on by a thread at this point. More importantly, they need some type of momentum after last week’s embarrassing 41-10 loss to the Bengals. The Ravens are also coming off an uninspiring performance against the Browns last week, one in which QB Lamar Jackson threw 4 interceptions yet somehow won. My prediction for this game is that it turns into a low-scoring defensive slugfest with the final result decided by one score. Tune in to watch one of the NFL’s greatest rivalries in recent years.
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