This incredible season of NFL football is coming to an end. There's just three more weeks on the schedule after Week 14 is in the books and we all know what that means: Playoffs! This season has featured the runaway Green Bay Packers who are cruising to an undefeated season and the runaway Indianapolis Colts who are cruising towards a winless season and an Peyton Manning / Andrew Luck decision.
The biggest races for playoff spots appear to be in the AFC West where the Oakland Raiders and Tim Tebow (and his Denver Broncos supporting cast) are duking it out for the division. The loser of that battle will likely still have a very good shot at a Wildcard spot. Both teams are 7-5 heading into Week 14 as are the Tennessee Titans and New York Jets who will also be fighting for the final Wildcard berth with the other going to the Balitmore Ravens (9-3) or Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) (whichever doesn't win the AFC North).
In the NFC, the only real division race is in the East with the New York Giants (6-6) and Dallas Cowboys (7-5). Those team square-off Sunday night in the most important game on the Week 14 schedule. In the other divisions the Packers and San Francisco 49ers have already clinched and the New Orleans Saints (9-3) have a solid lead over the Atlanta Falcons (7-5).
The Wildcard race in the NFC is much more open than in the AFC with the NFC East loser battling with three 7-5 teams, the Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, and Falcons. That's four teams for two spots but with the way those teams are playing (and the Bears injury issues), it's impossible that one of the 5-7 teams from the NFC West could sneak in if either the Seattle Seahawks or Arizona Cardinals can run the table. Not likely, but possible.
So with that recap of the NFL Playoff race, here's the Week 14 TV schedule with the games you won't want to miss.
New Orleans Saints (9-3) at Tennessee Titans (7-5) at 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox. The Saints are trying to lock up their division while the Titans are very much in the Wildcard hunt (and with the Houston Texans quarterback injury issues, perhaps even the AFC South Division race). The Saints are a four-point road favorite.
Chicago Bears (7-5) at Denver Broncos (7-5) at 4:05 p.m. ET on Fox. Both these teams, as described above, are very much in the playoff chase. The Bears, however, are in trouble with both their starting quarterback and running back now down with injuries. Still, it will be very interesting to see if the Chicago defense can figure out Tim Tebow and keep themselves in this game. Probably not. The Broncos are a three-point favorite in what should be a low-scoring game.
New York Giants (6-6) at Dallas Cowboys (7-5) at 8:20 p.m. on NBC. This prime time match up will likely determine the winner of this division. Both teams are coming off losses and both understand the importance of this game. The Cowboys should have the edge at home which is reflected in the line -- Dallas is a four-point favorite.