Both main networks have doubleheaders this week with huge games in the late afternoon slot.
This evening, the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks will play in a game with significant NFC playoff implications as the Sunday Night Football game for week 15. However, the rest of the schedule for today’s games is equally compelling, with a pair of cross-conference games getting top billing this afternoon.
Both FOX and CBS have nationwide doubleheaders this week in a quirk of scheduling, and their featured games make that decision more than worthwhile for the NFL. After the networks get a relatively uninteresting set of games early in the day, the action picks up with two games between four division leaders that all have already reached double-digit wins.
On CBS, the 12-1 Detroit Lions will host the 10-3 Buffalo Bills, who are coming off a loss in one of the most exciting games this season. Buffalo lost to the Los Angeles Rams 44-42 last Sunday afternoon, and now they appear to be in for another high-scoring affair against the Lions, who will look to maintain their lead in the NFC North.
Meanwhile, FOX has the battle for Pennsylvania as the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles square off in Philly. The Eagles are one game behind the Lions in the race for the NFC’s top seed, while Pittsburgh holds a two-game lead on the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North.
Pittsburgh has a murderer’s row of games to finish out the season, however. After their game in Philly, they travel to Baltimore before ending the season with home games against the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals. A Steelers loss today would give Baltimore a real chance to come back and take the division crown with a late-season surge, especially if they take care of their own business as 16.5-point favorites against the New York Giants today.
After those games, it will be time for Packers-Seahawks, so enjoy the early action and keep your browsers locked to APC this evening for full coverage of the prime time matchup.