There are 3 weeks nonetheless to play games within the NFL usual season, and the Pace 16 time table contains extra key contests — together with two Saturday.
The Kansas Town Chiefs host the Houston Texans within the first contest Saturday, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes on course to play games. Mahomes exited extreme Sunday’s win over the Cleveland Browns within the fourth quarter with a prime ankle sprain however used to be indexed as a complete player in practices forward of this pace’s assembly with Houston. Kansas Town entered the pace nonetheless eminent the AFC with the NFL’s best possible document at 13-1.
The Baltimore Ravens nearest host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Saturday’s 2nd contest in a pivotal AFC North matchup. Will the Steelers reserve the category name and a season sweep of Baltimore with a win, or will the Ravens clinch a postseason commute with a victory?
Our writers Zak Keefer, Jeff Howe and Mike Sando preview Saturday’s video games and extra on this pace’s roundtable.
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Patrick Mahomes suffered a proper ankle sprain in Sunday’s win. How involved must Chiefs lovers be about him making an attempt to play games Saturday in opposition to the Texans and once more 4 days upcoming in opposition to the Steelers on Christmas Generation? Is there any logical argument to residue him on Saturday?
Keefer: He’s achieved this prior to. Mahomes gained a Tremendous Bowl on a gimpy ankle. So he is aware of the method: the rehab, his ache tolerance, the way it affects him within the patch. If he can play games, Mahomes must play games. (As a former Colts beat scribbler, I will be able to oath Chiefs lovers they don’t need to see what the Carson Wentz experiment looks as if.) The actual fear for Chiefs lovers at the moment, bizarre because it sounds, is that this mediocre offense, in particular the offensive form. The take on spots have buried this unit this season, and I’m no longer certain they get it proper in year for the playoffs. If no longer, any shot at a three-peat is going away. The extreme year Kansas Town didn’t have the ones spots proper used to be Tremendous Bowl LV. They misplaced that contest by way of 22.
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Howe: As a result of Mahomes performed via a prime ankle sprain a few postseasons in the past, I’m no longer overly interested by his skill to do it once more. The larger fear is the Chiefs haven’t given him a lot room for error in a season that’s been stuffed with white-knuckled thrill rides, with the one consistent being Mahomes’ skill to bring within the grasp. The time table is operating in opposition to them right here, too. If it had been the Steelers on Saturday, it may well be a very simple resolution to sit down Mahomes to reserve him as a long way away as imaginable from T.J. Watt. I’d play games Mahomes, assuming it’s no longer reckless. In the event that they beat the Texans, I’d in fact believe sitting him in Pittsburgh prior to seeking to lock up the Disagree. 1 seed in opposition to the Broncos.
Sando: We want to see how Mahomes purposes in opposition to the Texans (and what alternative injury he incurs) prior to surroundings our fear ranges for the after contest. Mahomes used to be no longer at the trauma file past due within the pace. He can have returned to the Cleveland contest, if vital. That makes him more healthy than alternative gamers who will intestine it out in a given pace. Larger image, I’m anxious about his skill to keep up during the playoffs in response to the Chiefs’ skill to offer protection to him and his reliance on scrambling to maintain drives.
Talking of the Steelers, they have got an noteceable AFC North contest in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday that may affect playoff seeding. Who do you favor on this contest and why?
Keefer: I’m going with the Ravens on this one. Frankly, I believe Baltimore is the AFC’s forgotten staff at this level. Presen lots of the communicate has focused round Mahomes’ ankle, Josh Allen’s MVP-worthy season and the Steelers’ revival with Russell Wilson, the Ravens were characteristically constant, piling up a 9-5 document that comes with prime-time wins over the Expenses and Chargers. Simplest Allen’s otherworldly performances are overshadowing Lamar Jackson’s great season — via 15 weeks, his passer score (120.7) is the second one best possible of any quarterback over the extreme 25 seasons (Peyton Manning, 123.9 in 2004). The Ravens also are 2nd in explosive play games share over the extreme 5 weeks. It’s tricky to overcome them as soon as — which the Steelers did again in November. Wager on Baltimore profitable this one at house.
Howe: I’ll shoot the Ravens. Presen the Steelers were extra constant and gained the primary matchup, I nonetheless suppose the Ravens have a better ceiling and can be enjoying with extra urgency to aim to catch their category opponents. However adore it in most cases is going with those groups, I’d be expecting it to be akin, and I’d be expecting it to be a difficult year for Jackson. The Steelers (5-2), Chiefs (4-1) and Raiders (2-1) are the one groups with profitable data in opposition to the two-time MVP. Towards all combatants, Jackson’s finishing touch share (57.0) ranks 2nd to extreme in opposition to the Steelers, his yards in keeping with contest (153.9) are 8th worst, his passer score (66.7) ranks extreme and his 44.0 dashing yards in keeping with contest is his fourth lowest moderate. He’s by no means i’m in a hurry for a TD in opposition to them, both.
Sando: I’d shoot the Steelers if George Pickens had been wholesome and enjoying, however Pittsburgh may well be too restricted offensively with out him, so I’ll incline towards the Ravens. The Steelers nonetheless have a worthy shot in response to their cast historical past protecting Jackson together with Baltimore’s weaker-than-usual protection/kicking. This contest may well be pivotal no longer most effective within the category, but in addition for Jackson’s MVP candidacy.
Falcons rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is ready to put together his first NFL get started Sunday in opposition to the Giants. (Ian Maule / Getty Pictures)
The Atlanta Falcons benched Kirk Cousins later 5 instantly video games of underwhelming quarterback play games, and rookie Michael Penix Jr. will put together his inauguration debut Sunday in opposition to the Brandnew York Giants. Atlanta (7-7) is only one contest in the back of the Bucs (8-6) within the NFC South race. Is playing on a rookie quarterback to get them to the postseason the fitting journey?
Keefer: That is a wide variety of dangerous, throwing a rookie into the hearth with a playoff spot at the form. However I applaud Falcons schoolmaster Raheem Morris for making the transfer as it’s a big gamble this staff needed to put together. Coaches can’t schoolmaster with guarantees weighing on their minds. Now not even $180 million guarantees. They have got to position the staff first, in a different way the warehouse room will sniff it out. And Cousins’ play games over the extreme moment — one landing, 9 interceptions — has value Atlanta dearly. It’s that easy. Penix may well be inauguration his first NFL contest, however he got here into the league as an overly skilled faculty quarterback. Hour to look if he could be a spark.
Howe: I like the journey. The Falcons’ ceiling used to be seriously restricted with Cousins enjoying this manner, playoff race or no longer. It made sense to present him yet one more shot in opposition to the Raiders, who’ve a frisky however gettable protection, and Cousins couldn’t ship a lot in the way in which of effects. Penix has been lighting fixtures it up in follow, so this journey didn’t pop out of nowhere. It comes all the way down to this: Is it extra worthy to aim to leapfrog the Bucs for a playoff spot — one thing that’s no longer within the Falcons’ regulate — to get right into a wild-card contest the place the Falcons could be underdogs, or to get a longer take a look at their first-round pick out prior to figuring out whether or not they must business Cousins within the offseason? I believe the Falcons made the fitting resolution, and it is helping that Penix will play games in opposition to 3 defenses (Giants, Commanders, Panthers) which are susceptible.
Sando: Depart Cousins within the lineup would possibly were a larger gamble in response to how he used to be enjoying. This Falcons staff isn’t a championship contender with both quarterback within the lineup. I’d instead evaluation Penix and notice if he can spark the offense than reserve retaining out hope for Cousins when he isn’t the moment anyway.
The San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins meet Sunday with their playoff hopes all however lifeless and their coaches, Kyle Shanahan and his former offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, below scrutiny. How a lot blame do Shanahan and McDaniel deserve, and which staff is healthier suited to dance again in 2025 and past?
Keefer: Shanahan merits extra of the blame for the 49ers’ backslide, however I don’t suppose it’s all that sudden. This staff is used, and the long playoff runs of the pace few seasons — 11 postseason video games since 2019, together with two gutting Tremendous Bowl losses — appear to have taken their toll. The wounds and absences were a subject from the beginning of coaching camp. The Dolphins’ season boils all the way down to Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion early on. The Dolphins attempted to climb again from 2-6 and just about did, however the hollow they dug used to be too deep. I believe Miami’s a playoff staff in 2025 if Tua remains wholesome.
Howe: The Shanahan dialogue doesn’t put together a lot sense to me. If the 49ers made the drastic resolution to crack with him, he’d have a couple of head training offer prior to the Niners grew to become off his keycard. They’re injured and scale down on intensity, and that is what occurs to groups once they’re injured and scale down on intensity. McDaniel is a great schoolmaster with an excellent offensive scheme, but it surely’s completely honest to be important of him for failing to right kind the similar problems that experience plagued them since his arrival. They don’t beat excellent groups. They don’t play games neatly within the chilly. And even supposing Tagovailoa places up obese numbers extra steadily than no longer, he’s too inconsistent when his early reads aren’t there and he must improvise. A few of these problems are organizational, too. McDaniel must get any other shot in 2025. But when they don’t get nearer to profitable a playoff contest, it may well be usefulness reassessing.
Sando: The Dolphins’ spare quarterback plan and incapacity to serve as with out Tagovailoa used to be probably the most alarming side of those groups’ seasons. The 49ers are in a greater place to dance again in 2025, however that could be a moderately tenuous guess just because it’s no longer sunlit whether or not Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams, Deebo Samuel Sr. and alternative key 49ers can maintain top efficiency over a complete season.
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NFL playoff image later Pace 15: Eagles, Vikings attach Lions atop NFC; Rams govern NFC West
Which surging NFC category chief is extra unhealthy in January: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the Los Angeles Rams? And which is extra susceptible at the street in doable Pace 16 lure video games in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys and Brandnew York Jets, respectively?
Keefer: Tampa Bay, as a result of that offense can rating on somebody. Liam Cohen’s flight below the radar a bit of as a head training candidate this cycle, however the Bucs’ offensive coordinator has been exceptional this season and must get some interviews. His unit is averaging 31 issues a contest all the way through its stream four-game win streak, and because Pace 11, Tampa’s offense ranks 3rd in explosive play games price (14.3 %). Todd Bowles has his protection buzzing, too: The Bucs’ drive price is Disagree. 1 within the league over the extreme 5 weeks. The Cowboys most probably have a greater prospect on the dissatisfied, despite the fact that, as a result of they’re a long way from the dumpster fireplace that’s the Jets.
Howe: I believe the Bucs have a better playoff ceiling as a result of the way in which Coen and Baker Mayfield have the offense buzzing, and so they’ve already overwhelmed the Lions and Eagles. The Bucs protection has been susceptible, despite the fact that, and Mayfield can also be streaky with interceptions. The Rams are scorching and their protection has been higher than previous within the season. Matthew Stafford is enjoying at an overly prime degree, too. I’d say the Rams have extra of a lure contest as a result of they’ve been vulnerable to nail-biters, and Aaron Rodgers is sort of a field of sweets.
Sando: Each groups have proven they are able to keep their very own in a shootout when their supremacy receiving goal is to be had. The Buccaneers have achieved a greater activity blowing out lesser groups extra persistently, so I would possibly accept as true with them a tiny extra. But when the Rams succeed in the playoffs, the Sean McVay/Stafford aggregate may just threaten within the wild-card around as neatly.
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(Govern picture: Nick Cammett / Getty Pictures)
