Week 11 of the NFL Season is upon us and things are getting tense as we make our way down the stretch drive. That leads to a lot of matchups with playoff implications. Below are the five games on the Sunday slate that have caught my eye.

Early Games:

Green Bay Packers (6-3) at Chicago Bears (4-5)
About: This is a crucial matchup in the NFC North. The Packers are in the Wild Card mix, but they sit in third in their own division heading into Week 11. The Bears, meanwhile, are in the midst of a three-game losing streak and on a three-game home stand that will define their season. The Bears are also looking for a spark on offense. There’s plenty of pressure in a game that’s a huge rivalry matchup as well.

Baltimore Ravens (7-3) at Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2)
About: There is a lot of talk that the Ravens are one of the biggest contenders in the AFC. But the fact is they aren’t even in first place in their own division. That is the Steelers, who’ve seen Russell Wilson win each of his three starts. The team is 7-2 but still has six division games to play, starting with Sunday’s battle with the Ravens. Expect some fireworks.

Late Games:

San Francisco 49ers (5-4) at Seattle Seahawks (4-5)
About: This is another division matchup and one that has huge stakes for the NFC and the NFC West. All four teams in the division have at least four wins. But right now, if the playoffs began, neither of these teams would make the field. The 49ers are talented but have struggled at times, including losing a couple tough division games. The Seahawks, meanwhile, are a game below .500 and in danger of slipping out of the race. This will have major stakes for both teams.

Kansas City Chiefs (9-0) at Buffalo Bills (8-2)
About: These matchups are always fun, be they regular season or post-season. And they always have big stakes. That’s true of this matchup, too. The Chiefs and Bills are the two best teams in the AFC and this game will go a long way toward determining home field advantage in the post-season. With two losses already, the Bills can ill afford another. The Chiefs, meanwhile, are looking to stay perfect as they march toward a third Super Bowl. This is the game of the week.

Sunday Night Football:

Cincinnati Bengals (4-6) at Los Angeles Chargers (6-3)
About: If the playoffs started today, one of these teams would be in the AFC field. But it might not be the one you’d think. The Chargers have been steady, if not flashy, with new Head Coach Jim Harbaugh. That has them sitting as the sixth seed in the AFC at present. The Bengals, meanwhile, are barely hanging on to playoff hopes after dropping six of their first 10 games. A loss Sunday night would likely dash those slim hopes. The Chargers, meanwhile, can take another step toward a post-season berth with a quality home win.

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.