–The NFL’s obsession with playing games in Europe will cost them ratings this Sunday. Kansas City and Miami will play one of the best matchups of the season, but the game will be played in Germany at 9:30 a.m. on the East Coast and 6:30 a.m. on the West Coast and will only be shown on the NFL Network except for the two cities in the game. It is Kansas City’s home game because each team has to play one home game overseas every eight years and it is the Chiefs’ turn. The NFL didn’t expect Miami to go into the game as a division leader, but now it has to live with the fact what should have been a prime time game in the U.S. It will be relegated to the ratings waste land of Sunday morning. The Dolphins and Chiefs will both go in as division leaders, but the game means more to the Dolphins, who are only a game ahead of 5-3 Buffalo in their division. The Chiefs have a two game lead in the loss column over the Chargers, who are 3-4.
–The NFL does have a good Sunday night matchup with the 5-3 Bills at 4-3 Cincinnati. The two teams played at Cincinnati last year but the game wasn’t finished after Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest on the field. He is back playing this year. The Bengals are favored at home by 1.5 points now that Joe Burrow has recovered from his hamstring injury.
–The NFL has what amounts to a good Sunday doubleheader because 7-1 Philadelphia brings the best record in the NFL into a home game against Dallas, which is 5-2, in the late afternoon game. This is the start of a brutal stretch for the Eagles, who have a bye next week followed by games against the Chiefs, Bills, 49ers and then Dallas again. The Eagles are three-point favorites even though Jalen Hurts is playing with a sore knee.
–The Thursday night game pits the 3-4 Titans at the 4-3 Steelers. The Titans will find out if Will Levis was a one game wonder after the rookie made his first start last Sunday and threw four touchdown passes against Atlanta. Kenny Pickett was knocked out of the Jaguars game last week and if he can’t go, Mitch Tribisky will get the start. The Steelers offense is sputtering with either quarterback. Titans coach Mike Vrabel has yet to commit to Levis once Ryan Tannehilll is healthy but it would be difficult to go back to him if Levis keeps playing well.
– Baltimore hosts Seattle in a battle of division leaders . Baltimore leads the AFC North at 6-2and the Seahawks are leading the NFC West with a 5-2 mark. The other three teams in the Ravens division are 4-3 while the Seahawks hold the lead over 5-3 San Francisco, which has lost three in a row. It has a bye this weekend.