Early Games
Pittsburgh (4-6) at Cleveland (4-6)
Whichever team wins stays alive in the AFC North, two games behind Cincinnati, and also could possibly end up in a tie for the 6th wild card spot if the Jets and Dolphins lose.
Tampa Bay (2-8) at Detroit (6-4)
If the Lions win they could take over sole possession of the lead in the NFC North with a Bears loss at St. Louis; a loss could drop them a game behind Chicago.
Minnesota (2-8) at Green Bay (5-5)
With a win the Packers could end up in a three-way tied for the lead in the NFC North if Lions and Bears lose; if Green Bay loses and Detroit or Chicago win then they will be two games behind. The Packers are currently one game behind San Francisco for the final wild card spot, so they need a win to keep close for that as well.
San Diego (4-6) at Kansas City (9-1)
The Chiefs are looking for a win and then for the Patriots to beat Denver, as that would put them back in first place in the AFC West as well as put them in the #1 seed in the AFC. San Diego needs a win to keep their playoff hope alive; a victory plus losses by the Jets and Dolphins puts them in a three-way tie for the final AFC wild card spot.
Chicago (6-4) at St. Louis (4-6)
A victory by the Bears plus a loss by Detroit puts Chicago in sole possession of first place in the NFC North; a loss and a Packers win drops them into a tie for second place. The Bears also need a win to keep up with San Francisco for the last wildcard spot; right now SF has the tiebreaker in conference record (2-1 vs 2-2).
Carolina (7-3) at Miami (5-5)
The Panthers are only one game behind New Orleans in the loss column, with two games remaining on the schedule against the Saints. Besides the division race, a victory helps them maintain their one-game lead over the 49ers, Arizona and Chicago for the top wild card spot. Miami can pull within one game of the Pats in the division with a win, and pass the Jets for a wild card spot with a win and a victory by Baltimore.
NY Jets (5-5) at Baltimore (4-6)
The Jets are hoping for a win and a Denver victory, as that would put them one game behind the Patriots in the AFC East; it would also improve their 2-5 conference record if a playoff spot came down to a tiebreaker. A Jets loss could drop them out of the 6th seed as the winner of the Oakland-Tennessee game would tie them at 5-6, and be ahead on the conference record tiebreaker. The Ravens can pull within two games of Cincy in the AFC North with a win, and into a tie for the last wildcard spot with a win and a Miami loss to Carolina.
Jacksonville (1-9) at Houston (2-8)
A Jaguars loss puts them two games ahead of the Texans in draft positioning.
