Week 15 is here, and you might be entering the weekend with your own preferences regarding which games to focus on, and which to place on the backburner.
Most of you have your favorites and fantasy players to track. But in case you’re completely neutral or need help breaking ties with regard to what to watch, we’ve ranked all 16 games from most appealing to least enticing.
Potential classics
1. Buccaneers at Cowboys (Sunday night, NBC): The red-hot, under-the-radar Bucs have won five straight games, while the previously untouchable Cowboys have come back to earth of late. Tons of pressure on both teams here, and I can’t see it being one-sided.
2. Lions at Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX): Two fun-to-watch NFC playoff contenders, both of whom are on fire. This is likely to go down to the wire, with a ton on the line.
3. Patriots at Broncos (Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, CBS): New England is making statements and Denver is desperate. Great offense vs. great defense, too, and almost certainly a close game at Mile High.
4. Titans at Chiefs (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): Two of the NFL’s most underrated teams, both in need of wins in their respective AFC divisional races. The Titans are fun to watch and should put up a fight here, so expect drama.
5. Raiders at Chargers (Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, CBS): A lot on the line for Oakland on the road against a tough division rival. Plus, both teams can score. Expecting a thriller.
Good, not great
6. Colts at Vikings (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): A couple injury-ravaged, fading teams just trying to stay alive in their respective playoff races. Desperation breeds intrigue, so this could be fun if it’s close late.
7. Panthers at Redskins (Monday night, ESPN): Carolina doesn’t have much to play for on the road, so I fear a blowout here. But if it’s close, this should be entertaining.
8. Packers at Bears (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX): Chicago has actually been pretty respectable of late, so we’ll see what kind of fight it puts up at home against the desperate, red-hot Packers. If it’s close in the second half, tune in.
9. Eagles at Ravens (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX): Baltimore needs this in a bad way, so with the Eagles struggling I’d beware of a blowout.
10. Steelers at Bengals (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): This is one of those games that looked a lot more awesome in August. Only worth checking out if Cincy is putting up a fight in the second half.
11. Saints at Cardinals (Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, FOX): This means nothing, but it gets some points for having plenty of fantasy football implications with Drew Brees, Brandin Cooks, Michael Thomas, Mark Ingram, Carson Palmer, David Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald.
Dear god…
12. Falcons at 49ers (Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, FOX): San Francisco has lost 12 straight games, so there’s nothing to see here.
13. Jaguars at Texans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): It means a lot to Houston, but it also shouldn’t be close because Jacksonville is terrible. Don’t bother.
14. Browns at Bills (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): A pair of train wrecks with nothing really on the line.
15. Dolphins at Jets (Saturday night, NFL Network): Matt Moore vs. Bryce Petty. You can do better with your Saturday evening.
16. Rams at Seahawks (Thursday night, NBC/NFL Network): This prime-time game will be over by about 7 p.m. local time.
