Week 16 in the NFL is almost here, and you might be entering the weekend with your own preferences regarding which games to focus on, and which to place on the backburner. Most of you have your favorites and fantasy players to track. But in case you're completely neutral or need help breaking ties with regard to what to watch, we've ranked all 16 games from most appealing to least enticing.
1. Saints at Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX): Carolina couldn't hang with the Saints last time out but they get a second chance to take control of the division after tying up the NFC South last week. At home, there's no way they don't put up more of a fight this time. This is going to be a hell of a game, and it carries some major implications. In fact, this might be one of the best games we've had all year.
2. Patriots at Ravens (Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, CBS): New England could gain the No. 1 seed or lose a bye entirely, while the Ravens could wind up with a bye or miss the playoffs entirely. This is the biggest game all year in the AFC, at least thus far. And meetings between these two are always dramatic.
3. Bears at Eagles (Sunday night, NBC): The thing about this game is that it'll matter a lot to the Bears regardless, but it'll only matter to the Eagles if Dallas beats Washington. If that does happen — and the Vegas odds support the Cowboys — then this is a phenomenal matchup between two desperate teams trying to win their respective NFC divisions. Plus, the Jay Cutler-Josh McCown debate rages on.
4. Cowboys at Redskins (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX): Train wreck vs. train wreck, and the Cowboys are still clinging to life. This is gold in the eyes of the American football-viewing public.
5. Steelers at Packers (Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, CBS): Can Green Bay keep rolling after that season-saving comeback in Dallas? With or without Aaron Rodgers, this should be a tight game as the Pack fight for their playoff lives.
6. Cardinals at Seahawks (Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, FOX): Arizona is still alive and the Seahawks can wrap up the top spot in the NFC. This should be a fun late-season divisional matchup between two strong defensive teams.
7. Vikings at Bengals (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX): The Vikings have been loving the spoiler role and Cincinnati still doesn't have the AFC North locked up. If this is close in the second half, check it out.
8. Giants at Lions (Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, FOX): Detroit tries to stay alive in the playoff race against the disaster that is the New York Giants. You never know what you're going to get from either team, and this really matters a lot to the Lions, so it's worth monitoring.
9. Colts at Chiefs (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): There's a very good chance they meet again in two weeks on wild-card weekend. That could mean they hold back a bit here, but this still has something to it since the standings aren't set. Could be fun.
10. Dolphins at Bills (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): Miami still controls its own destiny for a playoff spot, making this a watchable game. Plus, it's on the road and the Bills beat the Dolphins last time out. I'm not expecting a blowout, regardless of who Buffalo starts under center, so this game is far from the worst.
11. Raiders at Chargers (Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, CBS): I mean, sure, the Chargers are still faintly alive, so keep an eye out. But really, who cares?
12. Broncos at Texans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): Let's not pretend this won't be a complete blowout. Don't bother unless it's somehow a one-score game in the fourth quarter.
13. Falcons at 49ers (Monday night, ESPN): Atlanta has thrown in the towel and we're pretty certain the Niners will be a wild-card team. Not a lot happening here.
14. Buccaneers at Rams (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX): Would you believe that Tampa is 4-2 in its last six games and St. Louis is 3-2 in its last five and coming off a victory over the Saints? This should be a semi-interesting game in terms of setting the tone for the offseason.
15. Browns at Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): Wow, it becomes hard to say anything good about some of the lower-rung matchups this late in the season.
16. Titans at Jaguars (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): Now that Jacksonville's roll has been slowed a tad, there's really nothing intriguing left here. Crappy divisional game between two eliminated teams. Stay away.
