Week 7 of the NFL Season is upon us. We have four more teams on a bye, and the international series continues with a Paris game. It leaves us with 12 games on the Sunday slate in four different viewing windows. Below are the five games I’m most excited to see.

Early Games:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5) at Carolina Panthers (3-2)
About: These two were the last teams standing in the playoff race for the NFC South spot in 2025. This year has been a different story. The Panthers are in first and seem to be gaining some steam. The Buccaneers have faded and been without Baker Mayfield the past three weeks. Mayfield could return for this one, but if he doesn’t this team is on the cusp of falling too far back, even in the NFC South.

Cincinnati Bengals (3-2) at Baltimore Ravens (4-2)
About: Every team in the AFC North is above .500. In fact, thanks to a bye week, the Bengals are actually now in last place. That gives them some added motivation in Baltimore this week. This is a crucial matchup between division rivals and one that could be crucial in determining who makes the playoffs. The Bengals are fresh off a bye, and Lamar Jackson could be back. Expect some fireworks.

New York Giants (3-2-1) at Houston Texans (2-4)
About: You couldn’t have had a worse start than the Texans and still make the playoffs. Only one team has previously done it after starting 0-4, and yet the Texans have won two straight and could well get within a game of .500 on Sunday. The Giants started strong but went 0-1-1 in the last two games. That’s led to a quarterback change as J.J. McCarthy gets the start for New York. Will it make a big difference? That’s the question.

Late Games:

Green Bay Packers (4-2) at Detroit Lions (3-2)
About: This is another big clash in the NFC North. The Packers dispatched the Bears with ease, and if they can do the same to the Lions they can stay in the rearview mirror for the Vikings. The Lions, meanwhile, are fresh off a bye and hoping they have done some work to rehab the struggles on defense. This should be an interesting matchup.

Sunday Night Football:

Kansas City Chiefs (5-0) at Seattle Seahawks (3-3)
About: This is Kenneth Walker facing his former team. That should be fun. It’s also about the Chiefs, who are one of only three unbeaten teams left, trying to stay hot on the road against the defending champions. The Seahawks, meanwhile, have struggled with turnovers and inconsistency that has them sitting at 3-3. They need a win at home to get back on track. This is a great way to end a long Sunday!

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.