Hard to believe it but we’ve made it to Week 13 of the NFL Season. We have six teams on a bye, the penultimate week for byes in the 2023 NFL Season. Below are the five games on the Sunday slate that have me most bullish for this crucial Week 14.

Early Games:

Detroit Lions (8-3) at New Orleans Saints (5-6)
About: This is a crucial game for both teams as we come down the stretch of the season. The Lions lost on Thanksgiving and haven’t looked sharp for a couple weeks. They’re still in first in the NFC North, but they want to end the season on a solid note and earn a top seed. The Saints, meanwhile, were in first in the NFC South until a big loss to the Falcons last week. The Saints have slipped below .500 and need a win to get back to even and remain in contention for a division title and the playoffs. This should be a good matchup.

Denver Broncos (6-5) at Houston Texans (6-5)
About: This is a battle of the No. 8 and No. 9 teams in the AFC. Both are above .500 and both are fighting for a Wild Card slot. Each need wins to get there. The Broncos have won five straight and turned into the league’s hottest team after a woeful start. The Texans, meanwhile, rebounded from a putrid 2022 season and appear ahead of schedule. Both teams are hungry for a win and this game will have a huge impact on the AFC playoff picture.

Late Games:

Cleveland Browns (7-4) at Los Angeles Rams (5-6)
About: Another game with big playoff implications. The Browns would be in if things started today. But the team is still trying to find an offense with Nick Chubb and Deshaun Watson done for the season. Meanwhile, the Rams started strong, faded a bit, and have come on of late. The team has Kyren Williams back and remains firmly in the NFC playoff picture. A win would move them that much closer to a Wild Card slot. Both teams will be fighting for a big win here.

San Francisco 49ers (8-3) at Philadelphia Eagles (10-1)
About: A re-match of last year’s NFC Championship game, both the 49ers and Eagles come in as division leaders. Both look like the best teams in the NFC, once again. While the 49ers went through a rough patch, the squad is back to dominating. The Eagles, meanwhile, haven’t always looked pretty but they’ve gotten wins in all but one game in 2023. This is a huge matchup to determine seeding in the NFC.

Sunday Night Football

Kansas City Chiefs (8-3) at Green Bay Packers (5-6)
About: On paper, this should be a Chiefs game. But the Chiefs, despite their record, have struggled to put teams away. The Packers, despite their record, are coming on strong of late. The Packers are now in the thick of the playoff race and coming off a big win in Detroit. Can Jordan Love get Green Bay back to .500? This should be a fun battle on Sunday night.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.