Green Bay Packers (5-3-1) at N.Y. Giants (2-8)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Packers -7, Total 42.5
Series Rewind: This is the third meeting in four seasons. The Giants have won the past two games against the Packers by a total of seven points. The decades-old rivalry includes five NFL Championship games, four of them won by Green Bay.
Green Bay is packing good-luck charm Micah Parsons, who is 8-0 in his career against the Giants from his time with the Cowboys. Parsons can introduce himself to first-game head coach Mike Kafka, who is at the controls of the Giants on an interim basis following the firing of Brian Daboll on Monday. Kafka won’t have rookie QB Jaxson Dart (concussion), but turns to Jameis Winston in their joint debut in new roles. Winston was the No. 3 quarterback behind Russell Wilson, who was demoted by Kafka this week. Now in his fourth season with the Giants, Kafka had the offense performing reasonably well. New York had Chicago down by 10 points last week but fell apart in the fourth quarter. WR Wan’Dale Robinson leads New York with 53 receptions and might get an opportunity to line up across from former Kentucky teammate Carrington Valentine, a corner for the Packers. Winston’s undoing in the past has been turnovers. He has the arm to attack vertically if protection keeps Parsons and Rashan Gary at bay. The Packers have only three interceptions this season. Scoring has been the moving target for the Packers and QB Jordan Love. In losses to the Browns, Panthers and Eagles, Green Bay totaled 30 points. They averaged 30.5 in their other six games (five wins and a 40-40 tie at Dallas) this season.
Carolina Panthers (5-5) at Atlanta Falcons (3-6)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Falcons -3.5, Total 41.5
Series Rewind: The Panthers enter having won consecutive games against the Falcons for the first time since 2014-15. Prior to that, Atlanta had won 13 of the last 18 against Carolina and leads the all-time series 37-24.
At seven years apiece, the Panthers and Falcons are tied for the second-longest active playoff drought, shorter than only the New York Jets. This week’s game feels important as both teams attempt to hang on the precipice of postseason contention this season. Atlanta enters on a four-game losing streak, with the last two defeats coming in heartbreaking fashion on a missed extra point at New England and an overtime loss to Indianapolis in Berlin last week. Second-year QB Michael Penix Jr. ranks 31st among qualified passers in completion percentage (58.8), while the offense has converted just 3 of 29 (10.3%) of its third-down attempts across the last three games. Carolina has shown higher highs of late, handing Green Bay just its second loss of the season on the road two weeks ago before laying an egg in Sunday’s 17-7 home loss to the New Orleans Saints, who previously had just one win. Bryce Young ranks 30th in the NFL with 168.2 passing yards per game for a Carolina offense that’s 15th of 16 NFC teams in scoring (17.7 points per game).
Cincinnati Bengals (3-6) at Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Steelers -5.5, Total 49.5
Series Rewind: The Steelers have dominated the all-time series with this AFC North rival, but the Bengals have snatched up the past two wins, including a 33-31 home win last month.
Two AFC North teams struggling for consistency meet for a rematch of a dramatic finish from mid-October. Joe Flacco outdueled Aaron Rodgers and led the Bengals’ game-winning drive in the final two minutes, capturing a 33-31 win on Evan McPherson’s 36-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining. Flacco finished 31-of-47 for 342 yards and three touchdowns, while Rodgers threw for 249 yards and four touchdowns but was intercepted twice. Last week, the Steelers managed just 10 points and 221 total yards in a prime-time flop at the Chargers. “I don’t need a pat on the back,” coach Mike Tomlin deadpanned. “We stunk it up. We’ll be back.” Flacco again practiced only once this week due to a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder, but he’s been the least of the Bengals’ problems. They rank last in the league in total defense, rushing defense and points allowed, and defensive ends Trey Hendrickson (hip/pelvis) and Shemar Stewart (ankle) were pronounced doubtful to play early in the week. Pittsburgh, whose division lead has shrunk to one game, may be without cornerback Darius Slay (concussion) and linebacker Alex Highsmith (pectoral), among others.
Houston Texans (4-5) at Tennessee Titans (1-8)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Texans -5.5, Total 37.5
Series Rewind: After an 0-3 start, the Texans got their first win of the season in shutout fashion, 26-0, over the Titans back in Week 4. Houston has won five of the last six meetings to trim Tennessee’s lead in the all-time series to 24-23.
With a chance to pull itself back to .500 for the first time this season, Houston will again turn to Davis Mills at quarterback, with C.J. Stroud (concussion) ruled out for his second straight game. The good news for the Texans is that Mills sure seemed up to the task last week when he anchored a 19-point fourth-quarter comeback with three late touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) to fuel a 36-29 win over the Jaguars. He’s supplemented by a defense that leads the league in total defense (261.3 yards per game) and scoring defense (16.7 points per game). The Titans are coming off a bye week which they hope has set the stage for a strong finish to a challenging rookie season for No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward. He still hasn’t thrown multiple touchdowns in a game this season and has more interceptions (six) than passing TDs (five) through his first nine starts. A return of receiver Calvin Ridley, who has been limited in practice this week after missing the last three games with a hamstring injury, would certainly make things a bit easier for Ward.
Los Angeles Chargers (7-3) at Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Chargers -3, Total 43.5
Series Rewind: This will be the first time these teams face off since Jacksonville rallied from a 27-0 deficit to stun Los Angeles 31-30 in an AFC wild-card playoff game in January 2023. The Jaguars have won the last two games, but the Chargers lead the all-time series 9-5.
Los Angeles brings a three-game winning streak into Jacksonville as it remains right in the middle of the contested AFC West race, a game behind Denver and two ahead of Kansas City. While the Chargers have done that despite battling injuries, they received good news on that front this week. Star QB Justin Herbert, who is second in the league in passing yards (2,610), has been practicing fully after he was seen limping during last week’s win over Pittsburgh. Jacksonville, which was 4-1 in early October, is 2 1/2 games behind Indianapolis in the AFC South after blowing the largest lead in franchise history (19 points) last week at Houston. The team announced Tuesday that two-way sensation Travis Hunter Jr. was undergoing season-ending knee surgery, and top receiver Brian Thomas Jr. also appears questionable to return this week after he was limited in the team’s first two practices. That could make things hard for Jacksonville QB Trevor Lawrence, who has two TDs and two interceptions in the last three games.
Chicago Bears (6-3) at Minnesota Vikings (4-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Vikings -2.5, Total 47.5
Series Rewind: Minnesota has won eight of the past nine meetings, including a 27-24 road victory in Week 1.
Chicago is soaring with six wins in its past seven games after stumbling out of the gate. After Chicago’s opening loss to Minnesota, the Bears were walloped 52-21 by the Detroit Lions. But Chicago has rebounded well under first-year coach Ben Johnson and has scored at least 24 points in all six of its victories. Second-year quarterback Caleb Williams has emerged and has thrown for 2,136 yards and 13 touchdowns against four interceptions. But perhaps the 14 sacks are the most impressive stat. As a rookie, Williams was sacked a league-worst 68 times. Safety Kevin Byard and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (team-best 80 tackles) are tied for the team lead with four interceptions. Minnesota has dropped three of four games and is looking for first-year starting QB JJ McCarthy to get more comfortable. He has been picked off six times in 108 attempts and has a meager 53.7 completion rate. McCarthy has thrown six scoring passes but has been sacked 15 times in four games. Star wideout Justin Jefferson hasn’t had a 100-yard receiving game since Oct. 5 and has ended up with less than 50 each of the past two weeks. He caught four passes for 37 yards with a long of 11 in last week’s 27-19 loss to Baltimore.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3) at Buffalo Bills (6-3)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Bills -5.5, Total 47.5
Series Rewind: Josh Allen passed for two scores and rushed for one as Buffalo defeated visiting Tampa Bay 24-18 in Week 8 in 2023. Baker Mayfield tossed two touchdowns for the Buccaneers.
Two star quarterbacks from the 2018 draft class square off in this contest. Buffalo’s Allen is the reigning NFL MVP, while Tampa Bay’s Mayfield was the No. 1 overall pick of their class. Allen was the seventh overall selection and has passed for 2,139 yards and 15 touchdowns against five interceptions this season. However, not all is well for the Bills as they were whipped 30-13 by the lowly Miami Dolphins last week for their third loss in five games. Buffalo running back James Cook has been superb and ranks second in the NFL with 920 rushing yards. Cook and Allen have both run for seven scores. The Buccaneers also have slowed down and are just 3-3 after a 3-0 start. Mayfield has been a high performer and has thrown for 2,192 yards and 16 touchdowns and has been intercepted just twice. Star rookie Emeka Egbuka has been a force with 40 catches for 677 yards and six touchdowns. Tampa Bay could get running back Bucky Irving (shoulder/foot) back after missing the past five games. Buccaneers star nose tackle Vita Vea (back) is responding well to treatments. He was injured in last week’s 28-23 loss to the New England Patriots.