ATLANTA (CNN/SI) -- Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers go head-to-head with Jeff George and the Minnesota Vikings in Week 15 with the loser a longshot to make the playoffs. Both NFC Central teams are 7-6 and trail the division- leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers by two games.
The 9-4 Bucs can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the 6-7 Oakland Raiders, and the upstart 8-4 Detroit Lions have a slim chance of getting in with a victory over the 5-8 Chicago Bears. But the Lions need plenty of help.
In the AFC, the 10-3 Tennessee Titans can put the clamps on a playoff berth with a win over the woeful 3-10 Atlanta Falcons.
In two of the biggest games of the week, the 11-2 St. Louis Rams play host to the New York Giants, who must win to stay in the playoff hunt; and the 8-5 Washington Redskins visit the 11-2 Indianapolis Colts in an interconference matchup of division leaders.
| Week 15 NFL Preview |
| |
| Falcons (3-10) at Titans (10-3), 1 p.m. Sunday |
| Key Stat |
|
11.5: Number of sacks this season by the Titans' Jevon Kearse, arguably the defensive rookie of the year.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
|
Falcons' defense against the run vs. Eddie George and the Titans' running game, which is averaging 107.1 yards per game. George had 199 yards rushing against the Raiders.
|
| Player to Watch |
|
Terance Mathis: Falcons wide receiver is about the only bright spot left for the Birds. Has 67 receptions for 827 yards.
|
| |
| Giants (7-6) at Rams (11-2), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
|
216: Number of yards rushing by the Giants' season leader, Joe Montgomery.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
|
Kurt Warner and the Rams' explosive attack vs. Giants' injury-riddled passing defense, which is allowing an average of 204 yards per game.
|
| Player to Watch |
|
Marshall Faulk: The league's third-leading rusher is a solid compliment to the Rams' premier passing game.
|
| |
| Lions (8-5) at Bears (5-8), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
|
8-3 Gus Frerotte's touchdown to interception ratio as the fill-in for Lions' starter Charlie Batch.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
|
Bears running back Curtis Enis vs. Lions front four of Tracy Scroggins, Luther Elliss, James Jones and Robert Porcher.
|
| Player to Watch |
|
Germane Crowell: Lions' leading receiver has 65 catches for 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns.
|
| |
| Jaguars (12-1) at Browns (3-11), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
|
.610: Career franchise winning percentage (47-30) for the Jaguars, the highest in the history of the league.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
|
Jaguars' running game, ranked second in the AFC with 131.5 yards per game, vs. the league's worst rushing defense, which allows 165.8 yards per game on the ground.
|
| Player to Watch |
|
Kevin Hardy: Versatile Jaguars' linebacker leads league's best defense with 63 tackles, and is tied for ninth in sacks with nine and a half.
|
| |
| Patriots (7-6) at Eagles (3-11), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
|
14: Number of different players who have scored touchdowns this season for the Eagles.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
|
The struggling Patriots will try to break out of their offensive slump against an Eagles' defense that gives up 333.5 yards per game.
|
| Player to Watch |
|
Duce Staley: The bright spot on the Eagles' offense this year is on pace for the fourth-highest rushing season in club history (1,298 yards).
|
| |
| Saints (2-11) at Ravens (6-7), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
|
8-3: Career record of Ravens quarterback Tony Banks in the month of December.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
|
Baltimore's offense has taken flight in the weeks since Banks has taken over as the starting quarterback, but the Ravens' defense is still what keep them in games. The struggling offense of the Saints will be challenged by Baltimore's young, aggressive defense.
|
| Player to Watch |
|
Qadry Ismail: Coming off a 258-yard performance against the Steelers last week, and he needs only 112 yards for his first career 1,000-yard season. |
| |
| Redskins (8-5) at Colts (11-2), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
|
9: Number of games the Colts' Edgerrin James has rushed for more than 100 yards, a record held by four others. Likely to break it against the Redskins.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
|
Peyton Manning and the Colts' high-powered offense vs. the Redskins' passing defense, which is giving up an average of 240 aerial yards per game, among the league's worst.
|
| Player to Watch |
|
Stephen Davis: Redskins' running back leads the league in rushing yardage, with 1335. Has scored 17 touchdowns.
|
| |
| Chargers (5-8) at Dolphins (8-5), 1:00 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
|
19-22: John Carney's field goal record for the Chargers this season. He made four in Week 14.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
|
Chargers receiver Jeff Graham and the passing game vs. Dolphins secondary, which gives up an average of only 182 yards per game.
|
| Player to Watch |
|
Zach Thomas: Dolphins' defensive leader has 87 tackles and a sack and has been vocal during the team's recent slide.
|
| |
| Buccaneers (9-4) at Raiders (6-7), 4:05 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
|
6: Number of consecutive games won by the Buccaneers, a franchise record.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
|
Rich Gannon and the Raiders' passing attack vs. Buccaneers' defense, which allows only 175.8 yards per game -- well below the league average.
|
| Player to Watch |
|
Warren Sapp: Buccaneers' defensive tackle already has surpassed his previous season sack total of 11, with 11.5.
|
| |
| Seahawks (8-5) at Broncos (4-9), 4:15 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
|
3: Number of weeks it took the Seahawks to lose their three-game lead in the AFC West.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
|
Brian Griese and the Broncos offensive attack vs. Seahawks' secondary, which gives up an average of 222 yards per game -- well above the league average.
|
| Player to Watch |
|
Ricky Watters: Seahawks' running back has coughed the ball up at key times in consecutive games. Needs to contribute big time for Seattle to win.
|
| |
| Jets (5-8) at Cowboys (7-6), 4:15 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
|
6-0: Cowboys' record at home. They're 1-6 on the road.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
|
Curtis Martin and the Jets' running game vs. Cowboys' rushing defense, which allows only 90.7 yards per game.
|
| Player to Watch |
|
Chris Warren: Cowboys' second-team running back has filled in well for Emmitt Smith, gaining 92 yards on 25 rushing attempts against the Eagles.
|
| |
| Bills (8-5) at Cardinals (6-7), 8:20 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
|
10: The number of consecutive wins by the Bills against teams from the NFC East before losing to Giants in Week 14.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
|
Jake Plummer and the Cardinals scrambling attack vs. defensive line of Bills, led by Bruce Smith.
|
| Player to Watch |
|
Doug Flutie: Bills' quarterback has rushed for 399 yards, third-best on his team.
|
| |
| Packers (7-6) at Vikings (7-6), 9 p.m. Monday |
| Key Stat |
|
76.9: Brett Favre's quarterback rating, second-worst in his nine-year career.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
|
Jeff George and the Vikings' passing attack vs. Packers' defense, which was riddled by Carolina in Week 14.
|
| Player to Watch |
|
Jake Reed: The forgotten man in the Vikings' receiving trio will be asked to take up the slack caused by the absence of Cris Carter, out with an ankle injury.
|
