Our N.F.L. playoffs calculator has an up-to-date take a look at the most recent playoff image.
You know the faculty soccer season is winding down when N.F.L. video games pop up on a Saturday. For years, the N.F.L. and the N.C.A.A. have had stayed out of one another’s manner, with Saturdays devoted to faculty soccer and Sundays for N.F.L. video games.
But with solely bowl video games left on the faculty calendar, the N.F.L. will host three matchups on Saturday that may assist make clear its playoff image. All three video games shall be carried on NFL Network in addition to by native broadcast networks within the groups’ dwelling markets.
The Indianapolis Colts (4-8-1), whose postseason aspirations have all however vanished, will go to Minneapolis to tackle the Vikings (10-3), whose latest efficiency raises questions on whether or not they can final by a couple of weekend of the playoffs.
The Baltimore Ravens (9-4) will journey to Cleveland to play the Browns (5-8), an A.F.C. North division rival attempting to salvage a misplaced season.
In the prime-time finale, the Miami Dolphins (8-5), who’ve misplaced their previous two, tackle the Buffalo Bills (10-3) in a sport that may have an effect on A.F.C. seeding.
All six groups are technically nonetheless within the playoff hunt, although the chances that the Colts or the Browns will make the postseason are within the single digits, in accordance to The Times’s playoff simulator).
All instances are Eastern.
Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m., NFL Network
The Vikings have constructed a four-game lead within the N.F.C. North the onerous manner: Seven of their 10 wins have been by one rating or nearer. But the staff has misplaced two of the previous 4 video games in embarrassing vogue — a 40-3 trouncing by the Cowboys at dwelling in Week 11 and a 34-23 loss to the Lions final week — elevating questions on whether or not Minnesota can advance within the playoffs.
With Kirk Cousins, Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook at talent positions, it’s by no means clear why the Vikings’ offense goes darkish for lengthy parts of video games. Through Week 14, the protection had given up essentially the most yards from scrimmage within the league, usually letting opponents again into video games.
Still, the Vikings can clinch the N.F.C. North with a win over the Colts, who’re a multitude. The staff benched after which reinstated quarterback Matt Ryan, and the staff’s proprietor, Jim Irsay, fired Coach Frank Reich and changed him with a former Colts heart, Jeff Saturday, whose solely prior teaching expertise was with a highschool staff. The shake-up has resulted in just one win beneath Saturday.
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns, 4:30 p.m., NFL Network
The Ravens could possibly be with out their star quarterback, Lamar Jackson (who sprained the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee), and his backup, Tyler Huntley, who left final week’s sport with a concussion. Jackson is such an integral a part of the staff — he’s additionally the main rusher — that the Ravens will now have to lean on their protection if he isn’t obtainable. Luckily, that protection — ranked eighth within the league — is permitting simply 13.4 factors per sport, in accordance to ESPN, because it added center linebacker Roquan Smith in Week 9.
The Browns may be the proper matchup for the Ravens this week. Cleveland has given up the fifth most factors this yr, and its video games can go sideways in a rush. Quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was suspended for the primary 11 video games of the season after greater than two dozen girls accused him of sexual misconduct throughout therapeutic massage appointments, has been underwhelming in his first two video games again. And whereas working again Nick Chubb has 1,153 yards dashing, Kareem Hunt has been subpar, and receiver Amari Cooper (874 yards, seven touchdowns) has been stable however not nice.
Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills, 8:15 p.m., NFL Network
This prime-time sport is essentially the most compelling of the day’s matchups. After a few messy losses to the Jets and the Vikings, the Bills have righted their ship and are once more tied with Kansas City for the perfect file within the A.F.C. Buffalo would qualify for the playoffs by beating Miami and would hold itself within the working for a first-round bye.
The Dolphins are second within the division and maintain the second wild-card spot, however their high-powered offense, led by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, has cooled not too long ago, shedding their previous two video games after profitable their earlier 5.
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