Must see match ups of Week 15: Rams-Niners, Bucs-Chargers, Bills-Lions, Steelers-Eagles, Packers-Seahawks

As we inch towards the finish line of the regular season, each and every game gets more and more important as playoff lives are on the line for some teams. Other teams will be trying to take the top spot in the division or the conference to position themselves for a deep postseason run. Week 15 offers us some massive games that will mold the way the playoff picture looks for the final weeks of the season. We start out west with a Thursday night showdown from the Bay. And then get right into a jam packed afternoon slate on Sunday with four games that feature six division leaders and eight teams that would be in the playoffs if the season ended today.

Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers, Thursday, Dec. 12 @ 8:15 p.m. ET

We head to the Bay for a massive matchup in the NFC West to start Week 15. It’s our only divisional game on the list of must see Week 15 showdowns, but boy is it a big one. This is just about as do or die as it gets, and with the season on the line what better drama then to go up against your most hated rival. The Rams and Niners don’t like each other. These two teams have represented the NFC in four of the last six Super Bowls. This year they aren’t the favorites to get to Super Sunday as both teams have battled injury problems all season. This year they are wrapped in a four team divisional sprint that most likely won’t be decided until the final week of the season. The Rams have their core of offensive stars back and proved just how good they can be when they are healthy on Sunday against the Bills. They snapped Buffalo’s seven game win streak and proved they can compete, and beat the best teams in the league with Stafford, Kupp and Nacua on the field. The Niners are not as fortunate on the injury front. Things have gone from bad to worse as San Fran saw their star RB Christian McCaffery likely go down for the season a couple weeks ago in Buffalo. They were able to wipe out the Chicago Bears last in their first truly dominant performance of the season, but will they be able to do that to a Rams team who are looking to knock them out of the NFC West race?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Dec. 15 @ 4:25 p.m. ET

These two teams hardly know each other, but that doesn’t take away from the importance of this Sunday afternoon matchup from Sofi Stadium. Both of these teams are currently in the playoffs, but hanging on by a thread. The Bucs have stormed back to take the lead in the NFC South after the Falcons late season collapse erased their one time cushy division lead. Baker Mayfield and the offense were dealt a huge blow when Mike Evans and Chris Godwin went down with injuries in the same game midway through the season. Tampa hung on for dear life and stayed in the race until Evans was able to come back and now they have won three straight and are at the top of the division after their win over the Raiders last week. The Chargers are 8-5, but they are facing some serious questions concerning their ability to beat good teams. They have lost two of their last three, and despite a two game lead over the Dolphins and Colts in the Wild Card race there are still shadows of doubt surrounding Jim Harbaugh’s team. The defense has been the rock for this team, but the offense has struggled with consistency over the course of the season. Just one of their wins have come against a team win a winning record heading into Week 15, and if they are going to hold off the pack chasing that final Wild Card spot, they need to beat the Bucs at home.

Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 15 @ 4:25 p.m. ET

There are a lot of you out there who are calling this a Super Bowl preview, and you know what? I’m on board. I would love to see these two teams who have been historical laughing stocks reach Super Sunday. Neither of these two teams have won a Lombardi Trophy, but before we get ahead of ourselves with a potential match up in mid February, let’s talk about Week 15. The Bills are coming off a loss to the Rams last week which snapped their seven game win streak and probably cost them a chance at home field advantage throughout the playoffs. They have looked like the best team in the AFC pretty much all season, but they are going to have to keep winning if they want the two seed in the playoffs, and that starts with Sunday’s game against the Lions in Ford Field. The Lions have been the best team in the league all season. They are in the toughest division in football and have the best record in the league. Jared Goff is playing at an MVP level, and they have the best running back duo in the game. Their defense is banged up, but that didn’t matter against the Packers last Thursday night. Goff and the offense engineered a perfect game to keep their defense off the field as long as possible, and when it mattered most Dan Campbell risked it all on a 4th and 1 instead of kicking a field goal that would have gave DET the lead but left time on the clock for a potential game tying or winning score from the Packers. The belief their coach instills in them has spread throughout the locker room and his infectious attitude mixed with his fearless decision making late in games has the Lions at the top of the NFC, but will they be there by Sunday night?

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, Dec. 15 @ 4:25 p.m. ET

The pride of Pennsylvania is on the line from Philly on Sunday afternoon in another massive game between two teams at the top of their respective conferences. Pittsburgh has won seven of their last eight games and are coming off of an ugly but effective win over the Browns last week. Mike Tomlin took a gamble changing QBs in the middle of the season, but that gamble has paid off. Russell Wilson is 6-1 as the Steelers starter and has this offense rolling for the first time in a long time in Pittsburgh. Wilson and his offense has eased the burden on the defense which has carried this team for the last few years. That has them at the top of the AFC North and still in the hunt for the one seed in the conference, but they have the toughest final four weeks of any team in the league, and that starts on Sunday from the City of Brotherly Love. Philadelphia has made their fans forget all about last year’s late season collapse and much of that has to do with the new franchise record holder for single season rushing yards. Saquon Barkley has been dazzling, he’s been spectacular, and he is on the verge of having the best rushing season in NFL history. More importantly he has eased the burden on Jalen Hurts, who doesn’t have to do everything for the Eagles offense anymore. While Saquon and the offense get a lot of the credit, the fact of the matter is, this defense is the rock of the team. In their nine game win streak, they have only allowed their opponent to score more than 20 points once. It’s a must win for both teams, and there is going to be a playoff type atmosphere in the air at Lincoln Financial Field.

Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Dec. 15 @ 8:20 p.m. ET

Sunday wraps up with another big game in the NFC playoff race. The Green Bay Packers are looking to rebound after coming up just short of beating the Lions in Detroit last Thursday night. It’s looking like their Wild Card spot is just about locked up, but the Packers have struggled against teams with winning records. They are 2-4 against teams above .500 coming into Week 15, and their four losses came at the hands of the three teams who are currently in front of them in the NFC Standings. The Packers will have a chance to beat a team with a winning record on Sunday night when they play the Seahawks from Seattle. The Seahawks are riding a four game win streak to take command of the NFC West. Mike Macdonald’s team has been the most streaky side in the league, winning their first four then losing five of six only to rattle off another four straight wins. Lately it’s been the defense that has been easing the burden on Geno Smith and the offense. They aren’t just holding their opponents to 15.5 ppg, but they are also scoring defensive TDs that have turned the tides in their games against the Cardinals and the Jets. The Seahawks need a win to keep their distance in the division race while the Packers will be looking to show the rest of the league they can beat a playoff caliber team.