On Thursday, before the Seattle Seahawks vs. Dallas Cowboys game could kick off, the NFL had a scheduling announcement to make. In addition to Monday Night Football getting flexed for the first time in league history, football fans will now be treated to a Saturday Week 15 NFL triple-header.
It’s an exciting development for football fanatics everywhere aimed at delivering better matchups in primetime action for one of the most important weeks on the NFL schedule. Now, instead of trying to catch all the games during the 1 PM portion of the schedule, a couple more games with potential playoff implications will be played on Saturday instead.
Since the announcement has drawn a lot of interest, the idea of ranking the top games for Saturday’s new Week 15 NFL slate came to mind. Which games are we looking forward to most? Here they are, in reverse order.
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Minnesota Vikings vs. Cincinnati Bengals is worst game on Saturday’s NFL Week 15 schedule
Minnesota Vikings vs. Cincinnati Bengals start time: 1 PM ET
Kirk Cousins vs. Joe Burrow. Wait, no. Justin Jefferson vs. Ja’Marr Chase. Yeah, that’s the star power the NFL is bringing to Saturday in Week 15, when the two former LSU superstar receivers do their best to put on a show while catching passes from their backup quarterback.
As of today, both the Vikings have a shot at reaching the postseason. Depending on how the Vikings’ backup QB (It may be Joshua Dobbs, it may be Nick Mullens or Jaren Hall) performs in Week 14 after Minnesota’s bye, the Vikings could suddenly be facing long odds of snagging a Wild Card slot.
That’s the same story for the Bengals, who are now putting their trust in former undrafted QB Jake Browning for the remainder of the season. If the QBs were healthy, maybe we’d see fireworks, but as is, this will likely be a low-scoring bout that fans wish they weren’t forced to watch in primetime.
Related: NFL playoff predictions entering Week 13
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Indianapolis Colts
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Indianapolis Colts start time: 4:30 PM ET
Few predicted the Steelers or Colts to make the postseason before the year began, but here we are, and both teams are in the AFC playoff picture. The Colts are competing despite being without their first-string QB and top player selected in the 2023 NFL Draft. Yet, a top-ten offense led by first-year head coach Shane Steichen gives them a fighting chance in each game they’ve played thus far.
Meanwhile, it’s been the same story for the Steelers since Ben Roethlisberger hung up his cleats in Pittsburgh. Mike Tomlin’s team boasts a top-ten defense, but they can’t score enough points to pose a real threat. Yet, the offense has improved since firing Matt Canada, and it’s possible the Steelers become one of the toughest matchups as the temperatures continue to drop. Yet, this game will be played in the controlled environment of Lucas Oil Stadium, meaning the Colts may have the advantage here.
Related: Updated Super Bowl odds for all 32 teams entering Week 13
Denver Broncos vs. Detroit Lions is best game on Saturday’s Week 15 schedule
Denver Broncos vs. Detroit Lions start time: 8:15 PM ET
Finally, a matchup between two teams with strong chances of reaching the playoffs. Obviously, how the Broncos fare over their next two weeks will be crucial to their odds of playing in the postseason, but right now they’re one of the hottest teams in the NFL. Coach Sean Payton’s team has suddenly won five in a row, and Russell Wilson’s back to being a great QB. On paper, the Broncos should be able to hang with the Lions every step of the way.
Meanwhile, the Lions are sitting pretty atop the NFC North, but they’ve faced some adversity as of late. This primetime matchup will have millions of eyes tuned in, waiting to see how the Lions perform under the lights. Considering the Lions are 3-1 in primetime games this season, coach Dan Campbell should have his team ready to restore the roar at Ford Field.