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By now, you’ve seen the weather forecast for the upcoming week.
When high temperatures in the deep South aren’t going to rise above the mid-40’s for much of the week, winter has officially arrived!
Saturday, Sunday, and Monday will provide some entertaining football games to help keep your mind off the frigid temperatures.
On Saturday, the NFL’s AFC North crown and, potentially, two wild card spots are on the line
Before the season began, I had penciled in all four of the AFC North teams (Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Cleveland) as possible playoff teams. Just a year ago, all four AFC North teams finished above .500 (a very rare accomplishment).
Many expected a similar outcome this year when the schedule was released. All four combatants of the AFC North take center stage on Saturday to determine the divisional title and (perhaps) two wild card teams.
Cleveland Browns (3-13) at Baltimore Ravens (11-5) – There is no doubt that the Cleveland Browns flopped in 2024. Vastly overpaid (5-years and $230 million guaranteed) and oft-injured quarterback DeShaun Watson failed to deliver results again this season. At 3-13, the Browns are in a 4-way tie with New England, Tennessee, and the New York Giants for the worst record in the NFL.
A win at Baltimore could cost the Browns a top draft pick next spring. Will the Browns give it their all on Saturday or will they lay down in hopes of landing a better draft choice?
Meanwhile, the Ravens maintain a one game cushion over the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6).
A win over struggling Cleveland locks up the AFC North title for Baltimore. The Ravens had been expected to be a Super Bowl contender this season and have only recently started to look like one. Quarterback Lamar Jackson and new running back Derrick Henry (formerly of Tennessee) lead the way for the Ravens.
IF Cleveland (an incredible 20-point underdog) shocks the NFL with a win on Saturday afternoon (3:30PM CST on ABC and ESPN), the door is open for Pittsburgh to wrestle the top spot away from the Ravens.
Cincinnati Bengals (8-8) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) – Immediately following Saturday’s first game (7PM CST on ABC and ESPN), the second AFC North battle of the day has significant wild-card playoff implications.
As our old friend Jerry Reed used to sing, “When you’re hot you’re hot (Bengals) and when you’re not you’re not (Steelers).”
The Bengals are on a late-season hot streak.
Former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow’s passing skills have been on fire as Cincy is riding a 5-game winning streak after stumbling to a 3-8 start of the season.
To claim the final wildcard spot, the Bengals must beat Pittsburgh and then hope that both Denver (9-7) and Miami (8-8) lose on Sunday. Cincinnati has been in “playoff football” mode for weeks just to get into this spot, though.
For the Pittsburgh Steelers, the wheels have started to come off recently.
After a stellar 10-3 start in 2024, Pittsburgh has lost three games in a row coming down the stretch. The Steelers offense (a big concern again in 2024) has tallied just 13, 17, and 10 points during the last three games.
If Baltimore should lose the early game to Cleveland, the AFC North title will go to Pittsburgh if the Steelers are able to end the Bengals season with a victory on Saturday night.
Sunday – More NFL games with playoff implications
The final day of the NFL’s regular features a bit of drama, too.
Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers (Sunday at 12Noon CST on FOX) – The 8-8 Falcons must win to have any chance to make the NFC playoffs.
After an impressive win during his first professional start last weekend, Atlanta rookie quarterback Michael Penix will get the nod over $40 million/year QB bust Kirk Cousins.
The Falcons must win and then hope for Tampa Bay to lose in order to win the NFC South title.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints (Sunday at 12Noon CST on Fox) – At 9-7, Tampa Bay will win the NFC South with a victory over slumping 5-11 New Orleans.
Though Saints fans would love to see their team catch fire in the season finale at the Superdome, handing a divisional title to long-time foe Atlanta (aka the “Dirty Birds”) would be a bittersweet victory.
Miami Dolphins at New York Jets (Sunday at 3:25PM on CBS) – Yes, this sounds like a stinker.
However, the 8-8 Dolphins could snatch the AFC’s final wild card spot if Denver (9-7) loses its game against Kansas City on Sunday afternoon.
The 4-12 J-E-T-S acquired quarterback Aaron Rodgers two years ago attempting to get back into the playoffs. That hasn’t worked out well. Keeping Miami out of the playoffs, though, could make for a competitive AFC East match-up on Sunday.
Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos (Sunday at 3:25 PM CST on CBS) – No matter whether Cincinnati or Miami win this weekend, the 9-7 Denver Broncos control their own playoff destiny.
The 15-1 two-time defending NFL champion Kansas City Chiefs stand in the way, though. Denver nearly won at KC in November after a Chiefs field goal “doinked” off the crossbar but somehow fell in for a last second 16-14 win.
Now in his second season, Denver coach Sean Payton has done a remarkable turnaround job with the Broncos this year.
Special note – the Broncos will wear their 1977 Orange Crush uniforms (orange jerseys with blue helmets) to fire up the home crowd on Sunday afternoon.
Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions (Sunday at 7:15PM on NBC) – The NFC North title is on the lion (ha ha) Sunday night in this nationally televised game. Both teams are 14-2 and want the top seed in the NFC to secure home field advantage during the playoffs. The surprising Vikings have revived the career of quarterback Sam Darnold this year.
The Lions average a league-high 33.3 points per game. Minnesota scores nearly 27 points per game, too. This should be a Sunday night NFC North shootout in a very noisy Ford Field in Detroit.
Also on Sunday night – A college football championship game!
Turn the TV to ESPN Sunday evening at 7PM CST and watch the NCAA Division III title game!
A couple of unbeaten college football teams travel to Shell Energy Stadium in Houston (a soccer stadium) for the Amos Alonzo Stagg D-III national championship.
The 14-0 Mount Union Purple Raiders of Alliance, Ohio are regulars to this game.
They have won 13 national titles and finished second eight times. The Purple Raiders are hungry, though, as their last national championship came eight years ago in 2017. Mount Union won a 45-37 shootout with the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays on December 21 to advance to the title game.
Their opponent has been on a roll, too.
The 14-0 North Central Cardinals of Naperville, Illinois blasted the #6 national seed Susquehanna University 66-0 on December 21 in the semifinals. That score definitely caught the attention of Mount Union as these two teams play for the national championship in a chilly Houston on Sunday night.
Monday Night – It’s the FCS title game. Bobcats + Bison = Brrr!
The best Monday night football game of the year is coming up. No, it won’t involve the NFL.
The FCS small college division championship game will kick-off at 7PM CST on ESPN.
The last remaining undefeated football team in the FCS is 15-0 Montana State. The Bobcats will play perennial power North Dakota State (13-2) for the title on Monday night in Toyota Stadium (yes, another soccer stadium) in the Dallas suburb of Frisco.
The Monday night weather forecast in Big D sounds more like Montana or North Dakota during January. The temperature at kickoff will be in the upper 20’s.
Winners of the Big Sky Conference, Montana State’s offense features dual threat quarterback Tommy Mellott. He was recently named the national Small College offensive player of the year. The 6-foot senior quarterback passed for 2,600 yards and 29 touchdowns and added nearly 1,000 yards and 14 more touchdowns on the ground this season.
The North Dakota State Bison of the Missouri Valley Conference are the #2 FCS seed.
They took down defending national champion South Dakota State 28-21 in a thrilling game two weeks ago.
Monday night’s game will be the 11th appearance in the national championship game for the Bison in the past 14 years. North Dakota State has won the last five meetings with Montana State going back to 2010.
Get your hot chocolate ready and enjoy another long weekend with some great football games!