Week 15 NFL early games open thread

Today’s afternoon paper doesn’t feature the Atlanta Falcons, but it does feature several games important to Atlanta’s playoff hopes.

The most critical is of course Buccaneers–Chargers. The unbelievably screwed Bucs have to go on the road to face a good Chargers team that has hit a little late, and if the Chargers win and the Falcons beat the Raiders tomorrow night, Atlanta will be back in first place in the NFC South. They will then be able to keep the division by simply winning down the stretch and while it isn’t actually simple, it’s better than the alternative. This is the one to watch.

Washington and New Orleans could also have playoff implications, as a New Orleans upset win would further muddy the wild card waters. Ditto Patriots-Cardinals to some extent, because teams like the Commanders and Cardinals swooning could open the door for another team from the NFC South to sneak in as the final seed in the conference.

Use this as your open thread if you watch today!