The NFL will have some tasty leftovers on the weekend after Thanksgiving.
Although two division leaders – Arizona and Kansas City – have byes, there are a lot of good matchups this weekend.
CBS has three games wth playoff implications – Tennessee at New England, Pittsburgh at Cincinnati and Chargers at Denver. Its other game – Jets at Houston – has no playoff implications.
In the Fox early games, Tampa Bay at Indianapolis and Philadelphia at the Giants have playoff implications. The game pitting 5-6 Carolina and 4-7 Miami features two teams that are long shots to get in the playoffs. Ditto for 4-6 Atlanta, which plays at 2-8 Jacksonville.
Both Fox late games, Rams at Green Bay and Minnesota at San Francisco both have playoff implications.
The Sunday night game features two teams – Cleveland at Baltimore — battling for playoff spots.The Monday night game – 3-7 Seattle at 4-6 Washington – is more important for Washington.
Here’s how the games will affect the playoff races:
AFC EAST; A win by 7-4 New England will put the Patriots in first place over 7-4 Buffalo going into next week’s game between the two teams. A loss drops the Patriots a game back of the Bills in the loss column.
AFC NORTH: A win by 7-3 Baltimore over Cleveland keeps the Ravens in first place. A loss ties them in the loss column with theCincinnati-Pittsburgh winner with four losses while the Cincinnati-Pittsburgh loser would be a game back with five losses. A Cleveland upset win over the Ravens would leave the Browns a game behind the Ravens in the loss column with the Cincinnati-Pittsburgh winner with four losses while the Cincinnati-Pittsburgh loser would be a game back with five losses. A Cleveland upset win over the Ravens would leave the Browns a game behind the Ravens in the loss column while a loss would drop them to 6-6, leave them three games back of the Ravens and virtually end their division title hopes.
AFC SOUTH: An upset win by 8-3 Tennessee at New England would leave them with a two- or three2game lead over Indianapolis, depending on whether the Colts can upset Tampa Bay. A Tennessee lost and a Colts win over Tampa Bay would cut the Titans lead to a game over the Colts.
AFC WEST: The Chiefs have a bye so will stay in first place at 7-4. The Chargers can tie them if they beat Denver, which will fall three games behind the Chiefs if they lose. The Raiders are 6-5 after their upset win over Dallas on Thanksgiving Day.
NFC East: Dallas once had a four-game lead in the division but it was cut to two when the Cowboys lost to the Raiders on Thanksgiving Day. The Eagles can stay two games behind in loss column with a win at Giants.
NFC NORTH: Green Bay can keep at least a two game lead over Minnesota by winning at Rams. A Viking win over San Francisco and Green Bay loss to Rams will cut the Packers lead to a game.
NFC SOUTH; Tampa Bay at 7-3 can keep at least a three game lead in loss column with a win at Indianapolis.
NFC WEST: Arizona has a bye at 9-2 – the best record in the NFL – so it will stay in first place. The Rams at 8-2 and 49ers at 5-5 need wins over Green Bay and Minnesota to stay within striking distance of the Cardinals.