Buffalo Bills (7-3) at Houston Texans (5-5), Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET
The Texans have a pretty darn good defense, so this one could actually be interesting. That said, it obviously doesn't matter much to the Bucs. If you want any reason to take a side, Tampa Bay beat Houston and lost to Buffalo, so a Texans win would pump up the Bucs' strength-of-victory number, which might come into play in a potential tiebreaker. I wouldn't worry about that too much, though.
Verdict: Go Texans!
Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) at Chicago Bears (7-3), Sunday, 1:00 a.m. ET
What the heck just happened in the NFC North?! We've been rooting for the Bears in recent weeks, and now all of a sudden they're in first place. Crazy. Anyway, this one isn't difficult because they're playing an AFC team, and maybe their "owner" in Aaron Rodgers, if his messed-up left wrist allows. If Rodgers can't play, it will be Mason Rudolph at the Steelers' helm, and this game will instantly become about 75% less interesting. Rodgers reportedly will try to practice on Thursday.
Verdict: Go A-A-Ron's wrist!
New York Jets (2-8) at Baltimore Ravens (5-5), Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET
New England Patriots (9-2) at Cincinnati Bengals (3-7), Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET
Indianapolis Colts (8-2) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-5), Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET
Here's a trio of all-AFC games, and you know what that means. Entertaining football, perhaps, but not anything for Bucs fans to worry about. That said, Colts at Chiefs is very interesting. Are we still wondering if the Daniel Jones-led Colts are true AFC Super Bowl contenders? Do we still think of the Chiefs as AFC favorites, or at least close to it, despite a .500 record? This game could tell us a lot. It's hard to dispute that an Indianapolis win would put a wildly more interesting spin on the AFC playoff hunt. Put this one on while chopping vegetables for that crudités platter for that Sunday night party.
Verdict: Go Colts!
New York Giants (2-9) at Detroit Lions (6-4), Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET
It looks like rookie Jaxson Dart is on track to return from his Week 10 concussion to play the Lions, so we won't be pulling for Jameis like it's 2019 all over again. But we will be pulling for Dart and company. Despite a 6-4 record that currently has the Lions outside looking in on the NFC playoff field, it's hard to shake the notion that they remain real Super Bowl contenders. Actually, we would love to be disabused of that idea. One thing the Giants do have going for them is a talented group of pass-rushers. Perhaps they can discombobulate Jared Goff the way their NFC East brethren Eagles did last weekend. You hate to kick a man when he's down, but another Lions loss would be great for the Buccaneers, in case they end up in a Wild Card battle.
Verdict: Bullseye! Go Dart!
Minnesota Vikings (4-6) at Green Bay Packers (6-3-1), Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET
Jordan Love was sneaky good last week against the Giants, but his receivers kept dropping passes. Are we dismissing the Packers too quickly after their two low-scoring home losses to the Panthers and Eagles and their narrow escape from the Giants. I think so. This team is still only a half-game out of first in the NFC North and gets to play division-leading Chicago twice in the weeks ahead. Meanwhile, Minnesota has a struggling first-year starter at quarterback in J.J. McCarthy and has not looked like a contender recently. That could change, but for now the Packers seem like much more of a threat in the conference.
Verdict: Go J.J.!