There’s a pivotal day in every professional golf tournament where competitors aim to position themselves for a strong finish on Sunday.
That day is Saturday, better known as “Moving Day.” In the NFL, we’re about to experience a similar situation this Sunday.
Week 11 of the NFL schedule is packed with exciting matchups, headlined by the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs traveling to Orchard Park, N.Y., to face the Buffalo Bills.
This game is so highly anticipated that NFL on CBS will be on location, taking a page out of ESPN’s College Game day.
But there are other games that might prove even more crucial, including one that kicks off on Thursday night.
Washington Commanders (7–3) at Philadelphia Eagles (7–2)
If the Commanders win: Washington would be tied with Philadelphia in the loss column and would hold a win at Philly.
Looking ahead, the rematch is in Week 16, by which point the Commanders could be in a strong position where a loss wouldn’t hurt much.
Their next three games are against the Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans, and New Orleans Saints, with the first two at home.
If the Eagles win: Philadelphia would move 1.5 games ahead, ensuring at least a split with Washington.
However, the Eagles have a tougher schedule ahead, facing the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers over the next few weeks.
The skinny: Despite leading by a half-game in the NFC East, the Eagles need this win more than Washington, especially since they’re playing at home and have a tough road ahead.
Baltimore Ravens (7–3) at Pittsburgh Steelers (7–2)
If the Ravens win: Baltimore would take control of the division, at least until they host Pittsburgh in Week 16 on Saturday, Dec. 21.
The Ravens are likely to be favored in their remaining games, but they face a challenging schedule, including matchups with the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans, Eagles, and Steelers.
If the Steelers win: This is the most significant game on Pittsburgh’s schedule.
The Steelers have one of the toughest remaining slates in the league, including games against Baltimore, Kansas City on Christmas, a road game with the Eagles, and two matchups with the Cincinnati Bengals.
The skinny: While the division remains open, this game is more critical for the Steelers given their challenging schedule.
Seattle Seahawks (4–5) at San Francisco 49ers (5–5)
If the Seahawks win: Seattle, which has been struggling lately with five losses in their last six games, could leapfrog the 49ers in both the NFC West and wild-card standings with a win in Santa Clara.
This would also give them a half-game advantage over the idle Arizona Cardinals.
If the 49ers win: It would be their third consecutive victory, and with key players returning from injury, San Francisco would have a shot at tying the Cardinals for the division lead.
However, another NFC West loss would damage their tiebreaker prospects.
The skinny: This is a crucial game for both teams. A loss could see Seattle fall out of playoff contention, while a defeat for San Francisco would make their division title hopes much harder.
Kansas City Chiefs (9–0) at Buffalo Bills (8–2)
If the Chiefs win: Kansas City would essentially lock up the AFC’s top seed, moving at least three games ahead of both Baltimore and Buffalo, with key head-to-head tiebreakers.
A victory would push the Chiefs to 10–0, sparking talk of becoming only the second team in NFL history to go undefeated and win the Super Bowl.
If the Bills win: While the AFC East is all but clinched, Buffalo would have a shot at securing home-field advantage throughout the playoffs for the first time since 1993, their last Super Bowl appearance.
A win would leave them only one loss behind Kansas City with a chance to overtake them.
The skinny: For the Bills to have any hope of hosting the Chiefs in the playoffs, this is a must-win. For Kansas City, it’s more of a luxury.
Cincinnati Bengals (4–6) at Los Angeles Chargers (6–3)
If the Bengals win: Cincinnati would thrust itself back into the playoff race.
The Bengals have a favorable remaining schedule, including two games against the Steelers, and matchups with the Browns, Titans, and Cowboys.
Nine wins might be enough for a wild-card spot, so this game isn’t a must-win, but a loss would shrink their margin for error.
If the Chargers win: A win would all but secure a playoff berth for Los Angeles, barring a significant collapse.
However, a loss would make things precarious with upcoming games against the Ravens, Chiefs, Falcons, and Buccaneers.
They do finish with a more manageable stretch against the Broncos, Patriots, and Raiders.
The skinny: While it’s more critical for the Bengals to win, the Chargers can’t afford to relax with a challenging month ahead.
