NFL Previews

Remember when the Green Bay Packers lost five of their first seven games to start the Jordan Love era and appeared destined for a dismal season at quarterback and overall? Green Bay does and, despite a revival that includes three consecutive wins and full footing in the NFC playoff picture, prefers not to fully forget. “As soon as you start feeling yourself and feeling like you’ve arrived, this league has a way of knocking you

Earlier this season, a December date for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns was viewed as a matchup of two of the NFL’s top young quarterbacks. Instead, a battle of backup quarterbacks is likely in Cleveland on Sunday. Last month, Cleveland starting quarterback Deshaun Watson was placed on injured reserve and was declared out for the season with a broken bone in his throwing shoulder. Joe Flacco, the fourth starter at the position for Cleveland

Propelled by clutch overtime wins, the Cincinnati Bengals host the streaking Indianapolis Colts in a matchup of surprise playoff contenders. The Colts (7-5) won their fourth straight last week, beating the Titans on the road by responding to an overtime field goal with a touchdown for a 31-28 win. Quarterback Gardner Minshew found Michael Pittman in the back of the end zone with 2:31 left in overtime to lift the Colts into the AFC South

From the back of the pack in the NFC West, the Los Angeles Rams performed like a different team since a bye week, winning three straight games to climb back into the playoff picture. The Rams try to stay the course when they visit the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, but it won’t be easy against one of the most well-rounded teams in the NFL. And now it’s the Ravens who are rested. Baltimore is coming

The Los Angeles Chargers have everything that an NFL team needs to win a football game. Their quarterback has franchise player stamped all over him. They also have one of the league’s best receivers, solid pass rushers and special teams performers. Yet they find themselves on the outside looking in prior to Sunday’s home game with the Denver Broncos. At 5-7, Los Angeles has no less than five teams to jump over in the season’s

The Minnesota Vikings welcome back their best offensive player when they visit the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday afternoon. All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson was a full participant in practice Wednesday and likely will return for Minnesota (6-6). Jefferson missed the past seven games because of a hamstring injury that he sustained Oct. 8 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The 24-year-old was off to a terrific start to the season before it was interrupted by

Ever the optimist, Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll still believes he has a playoff team. But the Seahawks reside below the postseason cutoff line after absorbing three consecutive losses and four in the past five games heading into Sunday’s showdown against the NFC West-leading San Francisco 49ers (9-3) in Santa Clara, Calif. “I just believe we’re of that caliber,” Carroll said. “We have to find our way through it and get there. I don’t know

The Buffalo Bills are making their fifth visit to Kansas City in 34-plus months but it certainly doesn’t feel like a welcoming second home. The Bills are back in the Midwest on Sunday to face the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs, and the contest has a must-win feel for a Buffalo squad that has lost four of its past six games. The Bills (6-6) are fresh off a bye but sit on the outside of

With an 0-2 record this season against teams that currently have winning records, the Dallas Cowboys still have a lot to prove, starting with their Sunday night showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles in Arlington, Texas. It will be the 130th meeting in the 63-year rivalry and the stakes could not be higher. Dallas is flying high on a four-game winning streak, while Philadelphia comes to Texas trying to shake off an ugly 23-point home loss