The NFL playoff drive is hitting high gear, Week 15 marking the return to action of all 32 teams – which will continue for the remainder of the regular season now that all bye weeks have been exhausted.
The docket kicks off Thursday, the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers clashing in a longstanding rivalry with major NFC West implications and, perhaps to a lesser extent, the conference picture at large.
Moving into the weekend, four more clubs can gain entry into the postseason field with the Houston Texans potentially locking down the AFC South. The Philadelphia Eagles, who already secured their playoff berth, can wrap up the NFC East. The Eagles will host the Pittsburgh Steelers in a compelling interconference, intra-state battle featuring contenders eyeing home-field advantage.
But the game of the weekend is pretty clearly the Buffalo Bills’ visit to the Detroit Lions in another heavyweight bout with significant ramifications for No. 1 seeding in each conference. The Bills can’t afford to lose any more ground to the (currently) top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs, while the Lions are clinging to a one-game lead over both Philadelphia and the Minnesota Vikings.
Here’s how USA TODAY Sports’ panel of NFL experts see things going down:
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Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers
Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers
Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns
Miami Dolphins at Houston Texans
New York Jets at Jacksonville Jaguars
Washington Commanders at New Orleans Saints
Baltimore Ravens at New York Giants
Cincinnati Bengals at Tennessee Titans
New England Patriots at Arizona Cardinals
Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos
Buffalo Bills at Detroit Lions
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Los Angeles Chargers
Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles
Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks
Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings
Atlanta Falcons at Las Vegas Raiders
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