As the NFL heads into Thanksgiving week, the playoff picture is starting to take effect. Playoff standings suddenly matter as the final third of the season approaches, with some huge games on the horizon between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The Philadelphia Eagles finally suffered their first loss of the season in Week 10, but still lead the NFC with eight weeks to play. The Minnesota Vikings are right on Philadelphia’s heels in the race for home field advantage, while the New York Giants are one game behind the Eagles for the NFC East lead.
The Kansas City Chiefs are in control of home field advantage in the AFC, while the Buffalo Bills are looking to get their act together and make a run at the top seed. The Bills first need to regain control of the AFC East, as they currently sit in third place in the division, a half game behind the first place Miami Dolphins.
There are quite a few games over the next few weeks that will have a significant impact on both conferences’ playoff races, as well as shake up the standings. Which games should be seen on TV?
Here are the five games you shouldn’t miss:
Dallas Cowboys (6-3) vs. Minnesota Vikings (8-1)
Week 11 (November 20)
This one has big implications in the NFC playoff race, especially since the Vikings are tied for the best record in the NFC with the Eagles (Philadelphia owns the head-to-head tiebreaker after beating Minnesota in Week 2). A Vikings win would be important to keep the Eagles on pace for home field advantage in the NFC, especially since the Vikings won’t play a game outside of a dome for the rest of 2022.
The Cowboys are still two games out of the NFC East race (they also lost a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Eagles), but they need to stay ahead of the dogfight for the final playoff spot. Currently the sixth seed in the NFC, a loss would put the Cowboys within striking distance of the San Francisco 49ers (5-4), Washington Commanders (5-5) and Green Bay Packers (4-6) in the race. for the last playoff spot in the NFC. Dallas also plays New York four days later on Thanksgiving, so a bounce-back win from a loss to Green Bay would be significant.
If Dallas loses, the Cowboys can forget about winning the NFC East. If Minnesota loses, taking home field advantage in the NFC will be significantly more difficult.
Week 13 (December 4)
The Chiefs have one of the easiest schedules of the second half of the season, which brings the AFC leaders with their biggest test remaining. Cincinnati is the last AFC team currently holding a record over .500 facing Kansas City, as this matchup is a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship Game (the Bengals beat to the Chiefs twice last season).
Cincinnati is fighting for their playoff lives in the AFC, as the Bengals sit a game behind the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North (and lost to Baltimore earlier this year). Making the playoffs is paramount for Cincinnati, which has remaining games against the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns (with Deshaun Watson at quarterback), Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills and Ravens to close out the year.
Currently the No. 9 seed in the AFC playoff race, it’s fair to say the Bengals need this one. If the Chiefs win, Kansas City will have control of the home field advantage race in the AFC.
Philadelphia Eagles (8-1) at New York Giants (7-2)
Week 14 (December 11)
Incredible the Giants are one game out of the NFC East race at this point in the season and have won seven of their first nine games in the process. The Giants are creating some separation from the pack in a crowded wild-card playoff race, making this game for first place in the NFC East all the more meaningful. Sure, the Giants have a big game on Thanksgiving against the Cowboys (who they’ve already lost) and four straight games against the NFC East, but this is an important litmus test for a team looking to prove that is a contender for the NFC East. division title.
The Eagles are just one game up on the Giants in the NFC East race, and they play them twice in the last five weeks. This game will have the most significant meaning with Philadelphia fighting for home field advantage and looking to take control of the division for good, especially if New York escapes early.
The Eagles-Giants rivalry is back as major playoff implications are at stake in the division.
week 15 (December 15)
The NFC West race just got a lot more intriguing with the Seahawks losing to the Buccaneers and the 49ers beating the Los Angeles Chargers last week. San Francisco is just one game behind Seattle in the NFC West race, which has a playoff spot and a home playoff game to play.
The Seahawks should be able to stay steady in the division race with three straight games against sub-.500 teams immediately following the bye week before the matchup with the 49ers. There’s also a chance to create separation for a wild-card spot in the NFC wild-card race if Seattle loses to San Francisco and relinquish the division lead at some point down the road.
The 49ers don’t have an easy road either, facing the Miami Dolphins and Buccaneers before taking on the Seahawks, who also play on a short week (Thursday Night Football on the road). The 49ers have some tough matchups, so sweeping Seattle in their NFC West matchups is imperative.
This game might be the best Thursday Night Football game of the year.
Miami Dolphins (7-3) vs. Buffalo Bills (6-3)
Week 15 (December 18/19)
The AFC East race is as tight as it gets with three teams separated by half a game in the division standings and all four teams separated by 1.5 games. Heading into Week 11, all four teams in the AFC East are in the playoffs, making the battle for playoff spots and the division title must-see TV over the last eight weeks.
Miami heading to Buffalo may be the biggest matchup, especially since the Dolphins beat the Bills earlier in the year. Not only is this a must-win game for Buffalo to take control of the division, but for the Bills to stay ahead in a wild-card race that features the New York Jets (6-3), the New England Patriots (5- 4). , Chargers (5-4) and Bengals (5-4).
This is the last of three consecutive AFC East games for the Bills in December, as Buffalo essentially controls its own AFC East destiny. The Dolphins have challenging games against the 49ers and Chargers before facing the Bills, the third of three straight road contests.
Not only could this game be for the AFC East title, but one of the top two seeds in the conference could also be on the line (especially if the Chiefs slip away).
