After drubbing the Broncos last week, the Eagles sprinted into their bye week with an 8-1 record, the best in the NFL. But three NFC teams — the Saints, Vikings and Rams — are lurking close behind this week at 6-2. Each of those teams need victories Sunday to keep pace with high-flying Philadelphia. Can they get it done as the pressure of the season’s second-half gets firmly underway? (All games Sunday unless otherwise noted.)
Game of the Week: Saints (6-2) at Bills (5-3), 11 a.m. New Orleans has won six straight games behind a QB Drew Brees, who completed 81 percent of his passes last week. The Bills are 4-0 at home this season and trail the Patriots by just one game in the AFC East. Big stakes.
Seahawks (5-3) at Cardinals (4-4), 6:25 p.m., Thursday. This is a critical AFC West matchup with both teams chasing the division-leading Rams, who are 6-2. Seattle and Arizona have a record of 1-1-1 in their last three meetings, a stretch that included a 6-6 tie in Arizona last season.
Packers (4-4) at Bears (3-5), 11 a.m. The Packers have lost three straight games since losing QB Aaron Rodgers to a broken collarbone. The Bears, meanwhile, have won two of their last three to stay on the fringe of the NFC North race.
Browns (0-8) at Lions (4-4), 11 a.m. Wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr., who had two touchdown catches in Detroit’s victory at Green Bay on Monday night, has turned into a major deep-ball threat for QB Matthew Stafford and the Lions.
Steelers (6-2) at Colts (3-6), 11 a.m. Pittsburgh is vying for the top spot in the AFC playoff field, but it can’t overlook an Indianapolis team that received a career performance from QB Jacoby Brissett (308 yards, two TDs) in a victory over Houston last week.
Chargers (3-5) at Jaguars (5-3), 11 a.m. Think the Broncos wish they had been able to sign Calais Campbell? The veteran defensive end, who joined the Jaguars in the offseason, has 11 of the Jaguars’ league-high 35 sacks this season.
Jets (4-5) at Buccaneers (2-6), 11 a.m. The Jets can reach the .500 mark through 10 games with a win over Tampa Bay, which is without QB Jameis Winston. Not bad for a team some predicted might not win a game at the beginning of the season.
Vikings (6-2) at Redskins (4-4), 11 a.m. Washington saved its season with an impressive road victory over the Seahawks last week. Next up is a Vikings team that has won four straight games behind surprising backup QB Case Keenum.
Bengals (3-5) at Titans (5-3), 11 a.m. Tennessee is vying for its first four-game winning streak in eight seasons. The Bengals managed only 31 total yards and zero points in the second half during a 23-7 loss to Jacksonville last week.
Texans (3-5) at Rams (6-2), 2:05 p.m. How does the song go? “Anything you can do I can do better?” While Carson Wentz was torching the Broncos last week, fellow 2016 top QB pick Jared Goff was doing the same to the Giants. Goff’s rise in his second season is a major reason the Rams have been among the NFL’s surprise teams.
Cowboys (5-3) at Falcons (4-4), 2:25 p.m. Dallas entered the week with uncertainty surrounding RB Ezekiel Elliott’s status for a game. The Cowboys face a Falcons team in desperation mode and seemingly in the throes of a hangover.
Giants (1-7) at 49ers (0-9), 2:25 p.m. One of these teams has to win this game. Right?
Dolphins (4-4) at Carolina (6-3), 6:30 p.m., Monday. Miami was 4-2 before flopping in back-to-back primetime games on national television. Things don’t get any easier against a Panthers team that has won back-to-back games to keep pace with the Saints in the NFC South.
