Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) at Atlanta Falcons (6-5), 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Atlanta holds a one-game lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers within the NFC South however misplaced the final two video games. The Falcons are in search of their first successful season and playoff look since 2017. Previous to the bye final week, Atlanta misplaced 38-6 on the highway to the Denver Broncos. The offense managed simply 226 complete yards, whereas producing its lowest level complete of the season. The Falcons’ protection did not fare significantly better, because the unit was gashed by rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who threw 4 touchdowns. QB Kirk Cousins has thrown for two,807 yards — good for fifth within the NFL — and would turn into the primary Falcons quarterback since Matt Ryan in 2008 to guide the workforce to the playoffs in his first 12 months. Chargers first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh has his workforce within the second AFC wild-card spot, sandwiched between the 8-4 Baltimore Ravens and 7-5 Broncos and gained extra respiratory room with Miami’s loss at Inexperienced Bay on Thanksgiving night time. After beginning the 12 months 3-3, the Chargers gained 4 video games in a row earlier than dropping their dwelling sport Monday to the Ravens, 30-23. In a battle between Jim and his brother John, Los Angeles squandered a 10-0, second-quarter lead. Making issues worse, beginning working again J.Okay. Dobbins suffered an MCL sprain in his left knee within the loss, and is predicted to be out this week. He’s thought of week-to-week past that. Chargers backup working backs Gus Edwards and Hassan Haskins will attempt to account for the absence of Dobbins, who’s rushed for 766 yards and eight touchdowns this season.

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-7), 1 p.m., CBS

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin heaped reward upon Bengals QB Joe Burrow for his MVP-level play in 2024 and warned his troops this highway journey is not one to take calmly. Pittsburgh is not panicked after a stunning Thursday night time loss at Cleveland final week and with 10 days between video games, Tomlin expects an effort consultant of a division chief on Sunday. All three of the Steelers’ losses this season have come towards groups that at the moment have a shedding file. Pittsburgh additionally fell to the Dallas Cowboys and Indianapolis Colts. The Bengals have been in a rut — with three losses of their previous 4 video games — and had been on the fallacious finish of a 34-27 determination towards the Chargers on Nov. 17. Like Pittsburgh, Cincinnati got here again from a large deficit solely to lose the final trip. Joe Burrow threw three second-half landing passes towards Los Angeles because the Bengals climbed out of a 27-6 gap, however Chargers working again J.Okay. Dobbins discovered the tip zone from 29 yards out with 18 seconds left in regulation to interrupt a 27-27 tie. Burrow went 28-for-50 passing for 356 yards and the three TDs. Making issues more durable for the Steelers may very well be the absence of linebacker Alex Highsmith, who didn’t follow on Wednesday due to an ankle harm that has compelled him to overlook two video games.

Houston Texans (7-5) at Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9), 1 p.m., FOX

Every week after a demoralizing loss to the Tennessee Titans, the AFC South-leading Texans go to Jacksonville with the Jaguars rested following a bye week. The week prior, Jacksonville was overwhelmed in a humiliating 52-6 loss to the Detroit Lions. It marked the fourth straight setback for the Jaguars, who had dropped their earlier three video games by a mixed 13 factors. Jaguars coach Doug Pederson famous that adjustments are coming, though he opted to not present his playing cards. QB Trevor Lawrence, who has not performed since Nov. 3 resulting from a left shoulder harm, is keen to play and compete towards Texans QB C.J. Stroud, who has run into some struggles throughout his sophomore season. Stroud has thrown 9 interceptions in 12 video games (all begins) after throwing solely 5 as a rookie. He was picked off twice within the 32-27 setback towards Tennessee, additionally throwing for 247 yards and two touchdowns on 20-for-33 passing. The Texans have misplaced three of their previous 4 video games and 4 of their previous six as defenses proceed to resolve Stroud. The Texans topped Jacksonville 24-20 again on Sept. 29.

Arizona Cardinals (6-5) at Minnesota Vikings (9-2), 1 p.m., FOX

Add the Minnesota Vikings to the observers who had been urging the Bears to make use of a trip within the last 25 seconds of their Thanksgiving Day loss to the Lions, who maintained a one-game lead within the NFC North by hanging on for a 23-20 win. With their focus again on the sphere, the Vikings are concentrating on a second five-game successful streak this season when the Cardinals come to city. Minnesota claimed a 30-27 additional time win on the highway towards the Bears final Sunday. The Vikings have gained every of their previous three video games on the highway, they usually return dwelling for the primary time since beating the Indianapolis Colts 21-13 4 weeks in the past. Arizona is making an attempt to return to successful after a 16-6 defeat on the highway towards the Seattle Seahawks final week. The defeat snapped a four-game successful streak for the Cardinals, who began the season 2-4 however have gone 4-1 since then. However Sunday’s sport and a rematch towards Seattle might show pivotal for his workforce’s postseason hopes. Two wins would put Arizona at 8-5; two losses put the workforce under .500. Kyler Murray owns a 98.0 passer score, throwing for two,343 yards, 12 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. He additionally has 380 yards and 4 touchdowns on the bottom. James Conner is Arizona’s prime backfield menace with 705 dashing yards and 5 touchdowns. Tight finish Trey McBride has a team-high 61 catches for 685 yards.

Indianapolis Colts (5-7) at New England Patriots (3-9), 1 p.m., CBS

Penalties crippled the Colts’ offense and erased a number of huge performs by QB Anthony Richardson in Week 12, a loss to the Lions that left the locker room pissed off. However all just isn’t misplaced for the Colts as they hit the highway for an additional AFC East opponent. Richardson and Co. collected solely 11 first downs in a 24-6 loss to the Detroit Lions. Richardson accomplished 11 of 28 passes for 172 yards. He was additionally the Colts’ main rusher (10 carries, 61 yards). Star working again Jonathan Taylor was held to 35 yards on 11 carries towards Detroit, however Indianapolis coach Shane Steichen is hopeful that he’ll do extra harm towards the Patriots. Getting the run going might turn into much more essential if large receivers Josh Downs, Alec Pierce and Ashton Dulin aren’t capable of take the sphere. All three would not have practiced on Wednesday had the Colts not opted to easily do a walkthrough. Downs’ absence might find yourself hurting Indianapolis probably the most. The second-year man has a team-leading 53 catches for 594 yards and 4 TDs. Patriots rookie QB Drake Maye mentioned he isn’t nervous concerning the so-called wall first-year gamers usually encounter with the longer NFL season. Maye makes his ninth look (eighth begin) of the marketing campaign. He did not excel within the Patriots’ 34-15 loss to the Miami Dolphins final Sunday. He completed with 222 yards, one landing and one interception on 22-of-37 passing.

Seattle Seahawks (6-5) at New York Jets (3-8), 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Many of the focus for the Jets, who’ve misplaced six of their previous seven video games, already factors to subsequent season. That is a part of the explanation they won’t threat a hobbled Breece Corridor, who has 632 yards dashing together with 46 catches for 401 yards and 6 complete touchdowns this season however started the week with a knee harm popping out of the bye week. QB Aaron Rodgers, who turns 41 Monday, wasn’t amongst these listed on the harm report for the primary time since September. The streaky Seahawks are again to their successful methods and are tied with the Cardinals atop the NFC West. After opening the season by going 3-0, Seattle misplaced 5 of its subsequent six video games earlier than successful its previous two towards division rivals. Coach Mike Macdonald’s protection has been a lot improved since a bye in Week 10, because the Seahawks defeated the host San Francisco 49ers 20-17 and visiting Arizona 16-6 over the previous two weeks. Coby Bryant returned an interception 69 yards for a landing and Leonard Williams had 2.5 sacks towards the Cardinals.

Tennessee Titans (3-8) at Washington Commanders (7-5), 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Commerce deadline acquisition Marshon Lattimore, a bodily cornerback picked up from the Saints, might debut for the Commanders. They may use a jolt. Having misplaced three straight after a 7-2 begin, the Commanders final gained Nov. 3 on Hail Mary landing from rookie QB Jayden Daniels. Tennessee is coming off a 33-27 upset of the Houston Texans that featured one in all Will Levis’ greatest begins of the season. Washington has misplaced to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys the previous three weeks and enters Week 13 two video games behind the NFC East-leading Eagles. After sputtering for 3 quarters towards Dallas, Washington scored 17 fourth-quarter factors in a wild 34-26 loss final week. Daniels accomplished 25 of 38 passes for 274 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, however 86 of these yards got here on a late catch-and-run rating by Terry McLaurin. Within the three current losses, Daniels has a 61.5 completion proportion, three touchdowns, three interceptions and a 77.7 passer score whereas being sacked 10 instances. Daniels did have his greatest dashing day since Week 1 when he gained 74 yards towards Dallas. Enchancment may not come straightforward. The Titans’ protection that ranks second within the NFL behind the Eagles, giving up simply 276.4 yards per sport. Levis returned from his proper shoulder harm and the Titans have averaged 224.3 passing yards per sport, with 9 landing passes and 6 interceptions previously six outings. RB Tony Pollard had his greatest sport of the season towards Houston, dashing 24 instances for 119 yards and a landing.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6) at Carolina Panthers (3-8), 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX

Few introductions are wanted on Sunday, as first-year Panthers coach Dave Canales got here to Carolina after serving as Buccaneers offensive coordinator a season in the past. Canales’ prized pupil final season, Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield was with the Panthers for a part of the 2022 marketing campaign. The Buccaneers (5-6) enjoying a division opponent for the primary time since an Oct. 27 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The purpose shall be notching back-to-back wins for the primary time because the first two weeks of the season. 4 totally different ball-carriers, together with Mayfield, discovered the tip zone on the bottom throughout a 30-7 drubbing of the New York Giants final Sunday. Mayfield additionally accomplished 24 of 30 passes for 294 yards. Star wideout Mike Evans was again in motion for Tampa Bay following a three-game absence resulting from a hamstring harm. He completed with 5 receptions for 68 yards towards the Giants and now will get a crack at a Carolina workforce permitting a league-high 30.9 factors per sport this season. Nonetheless, the Panthers have tightened up their play as of late, successful two video games in a row earlier than hanging with the two-time defending champion Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in a 30-27 setback final Sunday. The outing towards Kansas Metropolis could have been probably the most environment friendly efficiency of Panthers quarterback Bryce Younger’s two-year profession. Younger accomplished 21 of 35 passes for 263 yards and one rating with out throwing a decide. Carolina and Tampa Bay would possibly as effectively get used to one another, as the 2 groups will collide once more in 4 weeks.

Los Angeles Rams (5-6) at New Orleans Saints (4-7), 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX

The Saints gained each video games they’ve performed since interim head coach Darren Rizzi was promoted from particular groups coordinator to interchange Dennis Allen, who was fired Nov. 4 after a seven-game shedding streak. New Orleans comes out of its bye sitting in third place within the NFC South, two video games behind the Falcons and one sport behind the Buccaneers. The Rams’ go to would be the third straight dwelling sport for Rizzi as interim head coach. The Saints beat the Falcons 20-17 in his debut and adopted that with a 35-14 victory over Cleveland through which they outscored the Browns 21-0 within the fourth quarter. A sequence of serious accidents contributed to the shedding streak, however New Orleans has gotten progressively more healthy in current weeks. Quarterback Derek Carr improved in every of the final three contests after getting back from a three-game absence brought on by an indirect pressure. The return of heart Erik McCoy from groin surgical procedure after a seven-game absence was a lift towards the Browns. The Saints’ signing of veteran receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling on Oct. 22 with prime receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed injured has given Carr a much-needed big-play menace. Prior to now two video games, Valdes-Scantling has three landing receptions and has averaged 39.2 yards on 5 catches. The Rams are coming off a 37-20 dwelling loss towards the Eagles on Sunday night time, their second defeat in three video games after a three-game successful streak. They’re tied with the San Francisco 49ers for final place within the NFC West, however they’re only one sport behind the first-place Seahawks and Cardinals and have one sport remaining towards every of the three rivals. Coach Sean McVay known as the loss to the Eagles “a humbling night time” after his workforce struggled on each side of the ball. The protection allowed Saquon Barkley to hurry for a career-high and franchise-record 255 yards in addition to two touchdowns, and Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford was sacked 5 instances.

Philadelphia Eagles (9-2) at Baltimore Ravens (8-4), 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS

The Eagles have gained seven in a row and play 4 of their last six video games in Philadelphia, touring solely about 125 miles to go to the Ravens this weekend and the Commanders in Week 16. Sunday’s sport options the NFL’s two main rushers. Saquon Barkley (1,392 yards) and Derrick Henry (1,325) are far forward of Inexperienced Bay’s Josh Jacobs (944) in third place. Henry leads the league with 13 dashing touchdowns. Barkley (10) is tied for fourth and Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts (11) tied for second. The matchup additionally options two of the highest candidates for Most Invaluable Participant honors coming into Week 13 in Barkley and Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson, who gained his second MVP award final season. Their competitors consists of quarterbacks Josh Allen of Buffalo and Jared Goff of Detroit, with Allen broadly thought of the favourite. The showdown at M&T Financial institution Stadium additionally pits Baltimore’s No. 1 offense (426.7 yards per sport) and No. 2 scoring offense (30.3 factors per sport) towards Philadelphia’s No. 1 protection (274.6) and No. 6 scoring protection (18.1). The Eagles have held seven consecutive opponents to beneath 300 complete yards, whereas the Ravens have gained no less than 329 yards of offense in all 11 video games. Philadelphia is coming off a 37-20 highway win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night time through which Barkley smashed the franchise file with 255 dashing yards. Baltimore additionally earned a prime-time win in Los Angeles final week, defeating the Chargers 30-23 within the “Harbaugh Bowl” on Monday night time behind Jackson’s three touchdowns (two passing, one dashing). Philadelphia is 5-1 away from dwelling this season — 6-1 in the event you rely their season-opening “dwelling” victory towards the Packers in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Baltimore is 4-1 at dwelling.

San Francisco 49ers (5-6) at Buffalo Payments (9-2), 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

Buffalo can clinch the AFC East earlier than the calendar flips to December whereas the 49ers are staggered and stumble into New York bracing for snow with a superb probability of backups within the forecast. QB Brock Purdy (shoulder) missed the Week 12 loss at Inexperienced Bay and San Francisco was additionally with out All-Professional DE Nick Bosa (indirect, hip), with LT Trent Williams (ankle) motoring by way of the locker room this week on a knee scooter. Buffalo just isn’t the perfect place to attempt to get wholesome. The Payments dealt the Chiefs their solely loss this season and Buffalo has scored no less than 30 factors in 5 consecutive video games. QB Josh Allen has handed for 18 touchdowns towards 5 interceptions this season after throwing a career-worst 18 picks final season. San Francisco bought walloped final week with out Purdy, falling 38-10 to the host Packers. Brandon Allen began at quarterback and accomplished 17 of 29 passes for 199 yards with one landing cross, one interception and one misplaced fumble. Allen is 2-8 as an NFL starter. He’s once more getting heavy work in follow in case Purdy’s shoulder does not considerably enhance. The 49ers might use a giant efficiency from working again Christian McCaffrey, who had simply 31 yards on 11 carries and caught three passes for 37 yards towards Inexperienced Bay.

–Discipline Stage Media