In addition to our game previews below, be sure to keep an eye on our NFL injury report and the latest fantasy football news. For player usage updates and roster context, check out RotoWire's NFL depth charts, and don't miss the Weekly Projections to see how this week's matchups shape up.
CHRISTMAS DAY
Dallas at Washington (+8), o/u 50.5 – Thursday, 1 p.m. EST
Having nothing on the line but pride hasn't been working out so well for the Cowboys of late. Three straight losses have officially eliminated them from the playoffs, with the defense collapsing once again. DC Matt Eberflus' unit has coughed up at least 34 points in each loss with just one total takeaway and one sack, while consistently failing to take advantage of their opponents' most obvious vulnerabilities. Perhaps predictably, the offense also stumbled last week under the strain of having to carry the team. Dak Prescott led the team to points on its first three drives then got shut out by the Chargers the rest of the way, and Dallas ended the game with its fewest points 917) and yards (340) since Week 9. Last week was George Pickens' turn to be the top downfield option for Prescott, but it could be CeeDee Lamb back in that role just as easily this week. Without some kind of help from the defense though, coach Brian Schottenheimer will likely need to find a way to make both wideouts productive in the same game to stay ahead.
The Commanders have won just once in their last 10 games and seem comfortably headed toward a top-10 pick in next year's draft, especially considering they're down to their third-string QB. Josh Johnson hasn't started an NFL game since 2021, but the 39-year-old will be under center for this one with both Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota on the shelf. Johnson will at least have a mostly full complement of skills players to work with aside from Zach Ertz, but Dan Quinn's injury-ravaged secondary has been nearly as big a problem for him as the Dallas secondary has been for Eberflus. It's hard to imagine Johnson winning a fireworks display against Prescott if it comes to that, but the Commanders' three-headed backfield of Chris Rodriguez, Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols might be effective enough to keep the Cowboys offense off the field for a while.
Key Info
DAL injury report: WR Ryan Flournoy (questionable, knee), WR KaVontae Turpin (questionable, shoulder), LT Tyler Guyton (IR, ankle), RG Tyler Booker (questionable, ankle), DT Quinnen Williams (questionable, concussion), LB DeMarvion Overshown (questionable, concussion), CB DaRon Bland (IR, foot), CB Caelen Carson (questionable, shoulder), S Donovan Wilson (questionable, hip), S Juanyeh Thomas (NFI, migraines)
WAS injury report: QB Jayden Daniels (out, elbow), QB Marcus Mariota (out, hand/quadricep), RB Austin Ekeler (IR, Achilles), WR Noah Brown (IR, ribs), TE Zach Ertz (IR, knee), LT Laremy Tunsil (questionable, oblique), EDGE Dorance Armstrong (IR, knee), EDGE Deatrich Wise (IR, quadricep), DT Daron Payne (questionable, back), CB Trey Amos (IR, lower leg), CB Marshon Lattimore (IR, knee)
Strong lean: TE Jake Ferguson (WAS 32nd in DVOA vs. TE)
Strong lean: QB Josh Johnson (DAL 31st in passing DVOA, 32nd in passing yards allowed, 32nd in passing TDs allowed, 32nd in rushing TDs allowed to QBs)
Slight fade: WR KaVontae Turpin (WAS ninth in DVOA vs. WR3)
No WAS fades against a consistent feeble DAL defense
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NFL weather report: 5-15 percent chance of rain
Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 7-4 DAL, average score 28-21 DAL, average margin of victory 21 points. This has been the most volatile rivalry in the NFL in recent years, with only three of the last 12 meetings being decided by less than 15 points. The Cowboys won the first meeting this season 44-22 in Week 7
The Scoop: Javonte Williams churns out 100 yards and a touchdown. Prescott throws for 290 yards and three TDs, one to Lamb (who tops 100 yards) and two to Ferguson. Rodriguez leads the WAS backfield with 80 yards and a TD. while JCR adds 50 yards. Johnson throws for 200 yards and two scores, both to Terry McLaurin. Cowboys 31-27
Detroit at Minnesota (+7.5), o/u 43.5 – Thursday, 4:30 p.m. EST
The Lions' playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, but it might be a slightly thicker strand of silk than Detroit fans think. At 8-7, the best they can do is the final wild-card spot in the NFC, which would require them to win out, and the Packers to lose both their remaining games. If Jordan Love misses both those games, though... well, first the Lions have to get their own house in order. They've lost two straight and four of their last six to land themselves in this predicament, and while all four losses were to playoff-caliber teams, that doesn't get them closer to playing deeper into January. The running game has been held in check by the Rams and Steelers in those two most recent defeats, but Jared Goff has kept the offense afloat, going four straight games without committing a turnover while posting a 9:0 TD:INT, 67.1 percent completion rate and 8.2 YPA. The problem is, the defense has surrendered 32.8 points and 444 yards a game during that same four-game stretch, and injuries have once again hit the unit hard. This time around it's the secondary that's taken the brunt, with the Lions missing three starters on the back end, including both safeties.
On the bright side for the Lions, they'll be facing a QB this week who probably can't take advantage. J.J. McCarthy has a new health issue, which puts undrafted rookie Max Brosmer back under center. The last time Brosmer got a start, the Vikings got shut out by the Seahawks, with the poor kid throwing four INTs and getting sacked four times. This time around, he'll be missing his starting center and left tackle against Aidan Hutchinson. Ulp. Minnesota's offense will also be down a couple key skill players, so unless Justin Jefferson somehow puts together an absolutely legendary performance, it's hard to see how Brosmer can keep his team competitive.
Key Info
DET injury report: RB David Montgomery (questionable, illness), WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (questionable, knee), TE Sam LaPorta (IR, back), TE Brock Wright (IR, neck), LT Taylor Decker (questionable, shoulder), LG Christian Mahogany (questionable, leg), EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad (questionable, abdomen), DR Alim McNeill (questionable, abdomen), CB Terrion Arnold (IR, shoulder), CB Amik Robertson (questionable, hand), S Kerby Joseph (IR, knee), S Brian Branch (IR, toe), S Avonte Maddox (questionable, back)
MIN injury report: QB J.J. McCarthy (out, hand), RB Jordam Mason (out, ankle), TE T.J. Hockenson (out, shoulder), LT Christian Darrisaw (IR, knee), C Ryan Kelly (out, concussion), RT Brian O'Neill (questionable, heel), EDGE Jonathan Greenard (IR, shoulder), DE Javon Hargrave (out, thigh), LB Eric Wilson (questionable, thumb), S Josh Metellus (IR, shoulder)
No DET leans against a stout Brian Flores defense for MIN
Slight lean: WR Justin Jefferson (DET 22nd in DVOA vs. WR1)
Slight fade: WR Kalif Raymond (MIN sixth in DVOA vs. WR3)
Slight fade: TE Josh Oliver (DET ninth in DVOA vs. TE)
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NFL weather report: indoors
Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 6-5 DET, average score 28-25 DET, average margin of victory seven points. The Lions had won five straight meetings by an average score of 31-21 prior to the Vikings' 27-24 victory in Week 9
The Scoop: Jahmyr Gibbs collects 90 yards and a score. Goff throws for 280 yards and three touchdowns, one each to St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Shane Zylstra. Aaron Jones manages 60 yards. Brosmer throws for less than 200 yards and gets sacked five times, but he does find Jefferson for his first career TD pass. Lions 31-10
Denver at Kansas City (+13), o/u 36.5 – Thursday, 8:15 p.m. EST
The Broncos remain a game up on the Chargers in the AFC West and still control their own destiny when it comes to the No. 1 seed in the conference, but the biggest obstacle to both will be a Week 18 clash with the Bolts. (It's very, very weird to consider that a game against perennial division heavyweight like Kansas City might be a game Denver needs to make sure it doesn't look past, but here we are.) The Broncos likely avoided that risk with last week's loss to the Jaguars though, their first defeat since late September and the end of an 11-game win streak. It wasn't for a lack of trying by Bo Nix, though. The second-year QB chucked up a career-high 352 yards, and he's topped 300 yards in three of the last four games with a 6:2 TD:INT, 67.7 percent completion rate and 7.2 YPA. Nix kicked things into high gear a little later in 2025 than he did as a rookie, but the throttle seems fully open now. Rookie back RJ Harvey has also scored five TDs in those four games, and while Denver's played some sketchy defenses since a Week 12 bye, averaging 26.3 points and 398.5 yards is going to plenty of support most of the time for DC Vance Joseph's elite defense, which is still nearly lapping the field in sacks – the gap between the Broncos and the second-place Falcons is as big as the divide between Atlanta and 12th place.
Two straight weeks, two quarterbacks lost to serious knee injuries. This truly isn't Kansas City's year. With Gardner Minshew joining Patrick Mahomes on the IR, Andy Reid's offense is in the hands of Chris Oladukon, a 2022 seventh-round pick of the Steelers who has precisely zero NFL pass attempts prior to last week. The South Dakota State product didn't look completely overwhelmed when thrust into action, completing 11 of 16 passes for 111 yards without a TD or a turnover, but that was against a Titans defense which is... not the Broncos. Oladukon's backup is Shane Buechele, and if somehow KC goes 0-for-3 in keeping its QB upright, there will be a handy "sons of former MLB players" narrative for the broadcast team to lean on to fill some time. The team's also placed Rashee Rice on IR and begun to phase Kareem Hunt out of the offense as the focus shifts firmly to 2026, and it's kind of amazing how easily the coaching staff has slipped into rebuilding mode given how little experience they have with it. I can think of a few other teams that should be taking notes.
Key Info
DEN injury report: RB J.K. Dobbins (IR, foot), WR Pat Bryant (questionable, concussion), C Luke Wattenberg (questionable, shoulder), LB Dre Greenlaw (doubtful, hamstring), S Brandon Jones (IR, pectoral)
KC injury report: QB Patrick Mahomes (IR, knee), QB Gardner Minshew (IR, knee), WR Rashee Rice (IR, concussion), WR Tyquan Thornton (IR, concussion), LT Josh Simmons (IR, wrist), RT Jawaan Taylor (out, tricep), CB Trent McDuffie (questionable, knee)
Slight lean: WR Marvin Mims (KC 24th in DVOA vs. WR3)
Slight lean: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (DEN 26th in DVOA vs. WR3)
Slight fade: WR Troy Franklin (KC ninth in DVOA vs. WR2)
Strong fade: RB Isiah Pacheco (DEN second in rushing DVOA, second in rushing yards allowed to RBs, t-sixth in rushing TDs allowed to RBs, second in passing DVOA vs. RB)
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NFL weather report: 1-10 percent chances of rain
Head-to-head record, last five-plus years: 8-3 KC, average score 22-20 KC, average margin of victory 12 points. All three recent Broncos victories have come in the last four meetings, but they haven't won a game in Kansas City since Week 2 of the 2015 season, losing nine straight road games in this rivalry.
The Scoop: Harvey puts together 80 scrimmage yards and a receiving TD. Nix throws for 240 yards and two more scores, finding Courtland Sutton and Lil'Jordan Humphrey. Pacheco gets held to 50 yards. Oladukon throws for under 200 yards and gets sacked six times but does hit Travis Kelce for a touchdown. Broncos 24-13
SATURDAY
Houston (+2) at LA Chargers, o/u 39.5 – Saturday, 4:30 p.m. EST
The Texans just need to avoid losing out while the Old Man Rivers Colts win out to make sure a wild-card berth doesn't slip through their fingers, but they also still have a chance of catching the Jaguars for the AFC South title. Houston struggled early when the offense couldn't get going, but DeMeco Ryans' crew has reeled off seven straight wins (three with Davis Mills at the helm, four with C.J. Stroud back under center) to rocket toward the playoffs. While the defense has been elite during that stretch, allowing just 18.3 points and 277.9 yards a game during the win streak, they actually haven't needed to be for the most part. The offense has put up 25.4 points and 327 yards a game in that same span, although the Texans did cut things close against the lowly Raiders last week. The secret sauce in that relative offensive success has been the improved play of the offensive line, so it's a little worrying to see both starting tackles banged up. The defense might need to win some more low-scoring games after all.
The Chargers already have a playoff berth locked up, but with the Broncos only one game ahead for the AFC West crown, they aren't going to let up yet. The Bolts have won four straight since their bye and seven of their last eight, and they're finding ways to get the job done despite the turnstiles they had to install at left and right tackle. I suspect I'm going to wind up with a lot of Justin Herbert shares in 2026 – he's having a fabulous season under tough circumstances, and if he gets better protection next season, he could easily post MVP-caliber numbers given the talent around him. Last week's 300-yard, three-TD (two passing, one rushing) effort came against a shockingly bad Cowboys defense, though, and he'll have no such easy pickings this week. It might be time to see what Omarion Hampton can do in a true lead role instead. He hasn't handled 20-plus touches in a game since Week 3, the game in which Najee Harris got hurt, and he's had to split the workload with Kimani Vidal since the rookie returned from his own ankle injury. Vidal's now dealing with a neck issue though, and Hassan Haskins really isn't suited for a significant role on offense. If Hampton can pop, even in a very tough matchup, it would take a lot of pressure (both literal and figurative) off Herbert.
Key Info
HOU injury report: RB Joe Mixon (NFI, foot), WR Tank Dell (PUP, knee), TE Dalton Schultz (questionable, knee), LT Aireontae Ersery (questionable, hand), RT Trent Brown (questionable, knee), EDGE Denico Autry (questionable, knee), DT Sheldon Rankins (questionable, knee), LB Azeez Al-Shaair (questionable, ankle), CB Derek Stingley (questionable, oblique), CB Kamari Lassiter (questionable, foot), S Jaylen Reed (out, forearm)
LAC injury report: RB Kimani Vidal (questionable, neck), RB Najee Harris (IR, Achilles), LT Rashawn Slater (IR, knee), LT Jamaree Salyer (questionable, hamstring), RG Mekhi Becton (questionable, knee), RT Joe Alt (IR, ankle), NT Teair Tart (questionable, shin), LB Denzel Perryman (out, suspension)
Slight lean: TE Dalton Schultz (LAC 29th in DVOA vs. TE)
Slightest of leans: WR Quentin Johnston (HOU 22nd in receiving yards per game allowed to WR2s)
Slight fade: WR Jayden Higgins (LAC third in DVOA vs. WR2)
Strong fade: QB Justin Herbert (HOU first in passing DVOA, sixth in passing yards allowed, t-fourth in passing TDs allowed, t-first in rushing TDs allowed to QBs)
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NFL weather report: indoors
The Scoop: Woody Marks leads the HOU backfield with 80 yards. Stroud throws for 200 yards and two TDs, one each to Nico Collins and Schultz. Hampton erupts for 110 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. Herbert throws for under 200 yards and gets sacked four times, but he does find Johnston for a score as this one goes to extra time. Texans 23-20 in OT
Baltimore (+3) at Green Bay, o/u 40.5 – Saturday, 8 p.m. EST
The Ravens' collapse has been somewhat stunning, as they've lost three of their last four to see their playoff hopes almost completely evaporate, but that's what happens when your franchise QB isn't 100 percent. Lamar Jackson hasn't really looked like himself since about Week 3, and now he's got another issue to worry about after getting kneed in the back at the end of a run. Baltimore's saying it's only a bruise, and he'll probably power through it, but things are looking appropriately bleak in Poetown. Derrick Henry has gotten rolling at least, topping 100 scrimmage yards in four straight games while averaging 6.0 yards per carry, but that hasn't been the main problem. DC Zach Orr's unit had at least 27 points hung on it in all three losses, and the improvement it was showing in the middle of the schedule has all but vanished. If Jackson's powers were at their peak, that wouldn't be a big deal, but when the offense hasn't scored more than 24 points in six straight games, giving up 27-plus is a big. big problem.
Bad as the Ravens look right now, the Packers might not be in much better shape. In theory, they simply need to avoid losing their last two games while the Lions win their last two to secure a wild-card spot. In reality, they might need to pull that off with a third-string QB. Jordan Love left last week's OT loss to the Bears with a concussion while also picking up a left shoulder issue along the way, and then backup Malik Willis came out of the contest with a sore throwing shoulder. If neither player can suit up Saturday, former Cardinal Clayton Tune, a fifth-round pick in 2023, would have to be added from the practice squad. Green Bay's already down its best defensive player and No. 1 tight end, and if the roster takes any more hits, the Packers may just have to rely on the Lions blowing it to limp into the postseason.
Key Info
BAL injury report: QB Lamar Jackson (questionable, back), RB Justice Hill (IR, neck), LG Andrew Vorhees (questionable, foot), EDGE Nnamdi Madubuike (IR, neck), NT John Jenkins (questionable, illness), LB Teddye Buchanan (IR, knee), CB Chidobe Awuzie (questionable, foot)
GB injury report: QB Jordan Love (questionable, concussion), QB Malik Willis (questionable, shoulder), RB Josh Jacobs (questionable, knee/ankle), TE Tucker Kraft (IR, knee), RG Aaron Banks (questionable, neck), C Elgton Jenkins (IR, lower leg), C Sean Rhyan (questionable, knee), RT Zach Tom (questionable, back), EDGE Micah Parsons (IR, knee), DT Devonte Wyatt (IR, ankle), S Evan Williams (questionable, knee)
Slight lean: WR Rashod Bateman (GB 28th in DVOA vs. WR2)
Slight lean: WR Christian Watson (BAL 27th in DVOA vs. WR1)
Slight fade: TE Mark Andrews (GB sixth in DVOA vs. TE)
Slight fade: WR Jayden Reed (BAL t-first in receptions per game allowed to WR2s)
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NFL weather report: temperature in the mid-30s, 5-15 percent chance of rain
The Scoop: Henry stomps for 110 yards and a touchdown. Jackson plays and throws for under 200 yards and a score to Zay Flowers. Jacobs responds with 120 combined yards and a TD. Willis gets the start for GB and throws for under 200 yards and a touchdown to Watson while also running in a crucial score. Packers 21-20
Last week's record: 11-5, 6-8-2 ATS, 12-4 o/u
2025 record: 154-85-1 (.644), 126-106-8 ATS (.543), 123-116-1 o/u (.515)
