Week 15 sure looks like a playoff round with so many matchups between contenders. From Foxborough to Baltimore to Atlanta, from Chicago to Houston to Dallas. Maybe even throw in St. Louis. It feels like the postseason because of the importance of those games for all involved."I think for us it's an important football game because we've got a lot of stuff in front of us that we want to finish off with this season," said Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan, who could have been speaking for every team still in the playoff races.
And especially for those facing opponents in the same position this weekend, including Ryan's Falcons against the NFC East-leading New York Giants.
Also San Francisco is at AFC East winner New England, AFC West champion Denver at AFC North leader Baltimore, NFC North leader Green Bay at Chicago, Indianapolis at AFC South leader Houston, Pittsburgh at Dallas, and Minnesota at St. Louis.
Elsewhere Sunday, it's Seattle against Buffalo in Toronto; Washington at Cleveland, Tampa Bay at New Orleans; Jacksonville at Miami; Carolina at San Diego; Detroit at Arizona; and Kansas City at Oakland.
On Monday night, the New York Jets are at Tennessee.
The action began on Thursday night when the Bengals won 34-13 at the Philadelphia Eagles (4-10). Andy Dalton threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score for Cincinnati (8-6).
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San Francisco (9-3-1) at New England (10-3)
Six days after exposing the Texans in a prime-time rout, the Patriots take on another likely division winner with Super Bowl aspirations. Should New England, which has won 20 in a row at home in December and has not lost in the second half of the schedule in 21 games, do the same to the 49ers on Sunday night, well, nobody will doubt the Patriots have earned the favorite's role.
The Patriots, winners of seven in a row, tend to live up to such challenges.
"This week it's the 49ers," said Tom Brady, who threw for four touchdowns against Houston. "It's not the weather, it's not the rest, it's not the crowd — it's the 49ers. I think as long as you stay focused on them and you focus on what you need to do against them, then you let those other things really take care of themselves. The more you waste energy worrying about a plane flight or weather conditions, it's really a waste of time. You've got to focus on your opponent because whatever you're dealing with, they're dealing with the same stuff."
Even with the No. 2 defence in the league, the 49ers are dealing with some special stuff as the Patriots take aim on several NFL offensive records.
"Multiple strengths: a really good scheme, really good play calling and then great individual effort at each position, the great ability they have to play as a team," 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said of the Patriots. "You could talk for hours about how good they are."
Denver (10-3) at Baltimore (9-4)
The AFC West champion Broncos have won eight straight as their defence has become staunch. That gives them an edge in that area over the sputtering Ravens, which says a lot in itself considering how good Baltimore's defense usually is.
Then there's the comfort level Peyton Manning has gained with his playmates on offence. In contrast, the Ravens fired offensive coordinator Cam Cameron this week, replacing him with Jim Caldwell — coincidentally, Manning's last coach in Indianapolis before the four-time MVP headed to Denver.
"Jim Caldwell had a tremendous influence on me as my quarterbacks coach," Manning said. "He was very organized, very detail-oriented, which I'm a fan of that philosophy ... I really felt he took my game to another level. He's also been a tremendous friend to me and mentor. I miss being around him every day and I miss his friendship every day. That's how I feel about Jim."
New York Giants (8-5) at Atlanta (11-2)
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