IN THE NFC SOUTH:
The NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (11-3), who clinched the division on Thanksgiving night, travel to play the TENNESSEE TITANS (8-6) on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX). Including New Orleans, four NFC teams share the best record in the conference. This year marks just the second time since the NFL adopted the 16-game schedule in 1978 that four NFC clubs are tied for the conference’s best record with two-or-fewer weeks to play. It also happened in 2014, when five NFC teams were 11-4 heading into the final week.
Overall, six NFL teams have won at least 11 games, making the 2019 season just the second since 1978 in which six-or-more NFL clubs have won 11-plus through 14 games. It also happened in 2004, when six teams had at least 11 wins heading into the final two weeks.
DREW BREES, who surpassed PEYTON MANNING’s career passing touchdowns record to close Week 15 on Monday night, also recorded his 36th career game of four-or-more touchdown passes, breaking Manning’s NFL record of 35. Brees (10,093) also needs 77 pass attempts to become the all-time leader in that category; the record is held by Pro Football Hall of Famer BRETT FAVRE (10,169).
IN THE AFC SOUTH:
The HOUSTON TEXANS need a win Saturday at Tampa Bay (1:00 PM ET, NFL Network) to clinch their division for a second straight season, and for the fourth time in the last five years. Houston would join New England and Kansas City as the only NFL teams with four-or-more division titles since 2015.
NFL SCHEDULE, DECEMBER 21-23
(All times Eastern)
Saturday | Sunday (cont.) | |||||
Houston Texans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1:00 PM | NFLN | New Orleans Saints at Tennessee Titans | 1:00 PM | FOX | |
Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots | 4:30 PM | NFLN | New York Giants at Washington Redskins | 1:00 PM | FOX | |
Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers | 8:15 PM | NFLN | Detroit Lions at Denver Broncos | 4:05 PM | CBS | |
Sunday | Oakland Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers | 4:05 PM | CBS | |||
Jacksonville Jaguars at Atlanta Falcons | 1:00 PM | FOX | Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles | 4:25 PM | FOX | |
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns | 1:00 PM | CBS | Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks | 4:25 PM | FOX | |
Carolina Panthers at Indianapolis Colts | 1:00 PM | FOX | Kansas City Chiefs at Chicago Bears | 8:20 PM | NBC | |
Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Dolphins | 1:00 PM | CBS | Monday | |||
Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets | 1:00 PM | CBS | Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings | 8:15 PM | ESPN |