:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/5247911/158436307.0.jpg)
The early struggles of Denver and New England's recent loss to the 49ers have the Texans looking down at every one else in the AFC. Winning out would assure them a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. But the Vikings are game, currently sitting in the second Wild Card spot in the NFC after their defeat of the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.
Houston clinched the AFC South with their 29-17 win over the Colts on Sunday and silenced critics who pointed to their Week 14 loss to the Patriots as spirit-crushing. The Texans are third in the NFL in scoring, have the 5th best rushing attack and sport a +15 turnover margin. All of these things point to Houston being an elite team ready for a deep playoff run.
The Vikings have the Bears to thank for their inclusion in the NFC playoff picture. After a 7-1 start, Chicago has lost five of their last six, including a Week 14 loss in Minnesota. The Vikes can clinch a spot if they run the table, beating the Texans and a Packers team that may be taking it easy in Week 17.
Here's the rest of the NFL schedule for Week 16:
Saturday, December 22
- Raiders at Panthers, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Bills at Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Bengals at Steelers, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Patriots at Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Colts at Chiefs, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Saints at Cowboys, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
- Redskins at Eagles, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
- Rams at Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
- Chargers at Jets, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Titans at Packers, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Vikings at Texans, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
- Browns at Broncos, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS
- Bears at Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
- Giants at Ravens, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
- 49ers at Seahawks, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC