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RDS at 1 p.m.: Jaguars vs. Colts
Qualified for the playoffs, the Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) enter week 16 with a six-game winning streak. They are in position to win their division for the first time since 2022 and have a chance to clinch first place in the conference when they face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday
A win against the Colts would give Jacksonville a 6-2 road record and its first 12-win season since 2005. The Jaguars have had their share of struggles this season, including losing rookie Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter to a serious right knee injury in late October.
Things are less difficult for the Colts (8-7), who had a difficult second half of the season, having lost five consecutive games and six of their last seven games.
At the trade deadline, Indianapolis acquired safety Sauce Gardner to help a decimated defense, but the newcomer was injured in his third game with the team and missed his new team’s final three games.
For his part, cornerback Charvarius Ward is back on the injured list after suffering a second concussion this season.
Indy’s defensive troubles had concrete consequences on the field. Last Monday, the Colts gave up five touchdown passes to the San Francisco 49ers.
This week, Indy’s defense will face Trevor Lawrence who has at least 225 passing yards and two passing touchdowns in his last three games.
The Colts lost quarterback Daniel Jones to a torn Achilles tendon, prompting the club to bring 44-year-old Philip Rivers out of a five-year retirement. The veteran has done well since his return to action, but the Colts have blown the two games he has played.
For the Jaguars, Lawrence needs 343 passing yards to pass Blake Bortles (17,646) and move into second place among the best passers in franchise history, behind Mark Brunell (25,698).
Running back Travis Etienne needs two majors to pass tight end Marcedes Lewis (33) and move into fifth place in team history. Etienne is also one yard away from crossing the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the third time in four seasons.
RDS2 at 4 p.m.: Eagles vs. Bills
After securing first place in the NFC East for the second straight season, the Philadelphia Eagles travel to the Buffalo side to face the Bills.
The Bills (11-4) can still hope to finish first in the AFC East with a victory against the Eagles (10-5). However, they will have to see the New England Patriots lose one of their last two games to get there.
Despite an injured right foot, Bills quarterback Josh Allen is expected to play Sunday against the Eagles according to the team’s head coach Sean McDermott.
“He should be ready to play,” McDermott said Friday. Yes, the pain gets better day by day as the week goes on. So he should be in great shape.”
The Bills will, however, have to do without several starters on defense, including safety Jordan Poyer (hamstring) and DaQuan Jones (calf). Poyer made his first interception since 2022 in the last game against the Cleveland Browns. Jordan Phillips (ankle) and kicker Matt Prater (right quadriceps) will also miss a second straight game.
Allen participated fully in Friday’s practice after being limited in Wednesday’s practice and absent from Tuesday’s practice. He completed 296 of 425 passes for 3,406 yards and threw 25 touchdown passes this season.
With 1,532 rushing yards, James Cook III led the NFL in this regard before Sunday’s games. The Bills running back is having the best season of his career and also has 12 rushing touchdowns.
Cook will therefore try to finish first in the NFL in rushing yards. He will go up against the best running back in the NFL last year when he faces Saquon Barkley.
Barkley has 1,072 rushing yards since the start of the campaign, a significant drop for the star player after his extraordinary campaign in 2024. Barkley then collected 2,005 yards in 16 games.
RDS2 at 8 p.m.: Bears against 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers may have to make do with star tight end George Kittle in Sunday night’s game against the Chicago Bears.
Kittle, a doubtful case for the game, was injured in San Francisco’s victory last Monday night against the Indianapolis Colts by a score of 48-27.
The win allowed the Niners to qualify for the playoffs, but quarterback Brock Purdy’s team remains chasing the Seattle Seahawks (12-3) and the top of the NL West with two games remaining.
With a victory against Chicago, then against the Seahawks in Week 18, San Francisco could gain home field advantage and potentially participate in the Super Bowl in front of its fans without having to travel. Super Bowl LX is presented at Levi’s Stadium, home of the Niners.
For their part, the Bears have little at stake for this meeting. The defeat of the Green Bay Packers against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday night allowed Chicago to secure the top of its division. If Green Bay had won, the Bears could have ensured it with a victory against the Niners.
Chicago therefore achieved such a feat for the first time since 2018.
Bears receiver Rome Odunze will not be available for the game against San Francisco. Odunze still has a foot injury.
