ESPN delivers crucial six game schedule as NFL regular season enters final month – Just four weeks remain in the NFL regular season and the road to the NFL Playoffs hits the final stretch as ESPN brings six crucial clashes that will all impact the playoff picture and the post-season dreams of NFL heavyweights New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys and more.
ESPN’s bumper six game schedule begins on Friday December 12 live at 12.15pm AEDT with the Atlanta Falcons meeting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
At 4-9, Atlanta are out of playoff contention but have the quality to spoil the playoff ambitions of many in the final month of the season.
The Buccaneers are the number four seed in the NFC, due to holding top position in the NFC South.
But Carolina Panthers have joined them at 7-6, after the Buccs’ 24-20 loss to New Orleans last round.
The Seahawks, 49ers and Chicago Bears all have better records this season, so defeat to the Falcons would see Tampa Bay not only potentially lose the lead of the NFC South, but also slide quickly down the NFC playoff positions.
Monday December 15 sees four-games live with a marathon of NFL action back to back, including five hours of NFL RedZone on Disney+.
Kicking things off at 5am AEDT on ESPN, the Buffalo Bills meet the New England Patriots.
This will be one of the games of the round between the current #2 seed New England and #5 seed Buffalo Bills.
The AFC East counterparts collide at a crucial time of the season, with the Patriots enjoying a two-game buffer over Buffalo in the divisional standings.
The Bills are in winning form, having strung back to back wins together, but stopping the winning run of New England, which now stretches to 10 games, is another task entirely.
The NFL playoff defining games continue over on ESPN2 at 5am AEDT with the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears going head to head.
The Bears surrendered top spot in the division after falling to NFC North counterpart Green Bay 28-21 last round.
Chicago still remain in the hunt for that title, with the 3-10 Browns having a season to forget.
The Bears can keep control of their playoff destiny in their own hands with victory in this one.
The blockbusters continue at 8.25am AEDT on ESPN, when the high flying Los Angeles Rams meet the Detroit Lions.
Los Angeles are holding down top spot in the conference, courtesy of their 10-3 record, whilst Detroit are fighting for a playoff position, having fallen out of the wildcard position.
It will be a test of the Lions’ Playoff credentials and defeat to the Rams will see them slide even further down the playoff picture, into a logjam with Carolina, Dallas and Minnesota below.
Closing out Monday’s marathon at 12.15pm AEDT are the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings.
The Cowboys and the Vikings are both sitting outside the playoffs and simply must keep winning to remain in the playoff race.
Both are two wins away from the Chicago Bears in the NFC Wildcard race and a playoff push will get even more unlikely for the loser.
ESPN’s Week 15 schedule concludes on Tuesday December 16 at 12.15pm AEDT when the Miami Dolphins tackle the Pittsburgh Steelers.
At 6-7, Miami are still a mathematical chance of reaching the playoffs but their current playoff probability languishes at just 1%.
Pittsburgh are priming themselves for a playoff push and currently hold the fourth seed in the AFC and top position in the NFC North.
Pressure is on the Dolphins to keep their faint playoffs hopes alive, while pressure is on the Steelers to withhold the chasing pack that contains the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans.
Week 15 NFL on ESPN
Friday December 12
12.15pm AEDT, Atlanta Falcons vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ESPN
Monday December 15
5am AEDT, Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, ESPN
5am AEDT, Cleveland Browns vs Chicago Bears, ESPN2
5am AEDT, NFL RedZone, Disney+
8.25am AEDT, Detroit Lions vs Los Angeles Rams, ESPN
12.15pm AEDT, Minnesota Vikings vs Dallas Cowboys, ESPN
Tuesday December 16
12.15pm AEDT, Miami Dolphins vs Pittsburgh Steelers, ESPN
ESPN and ESPN2 is available via Disney+, Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV and Sky NZ
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ESPN delivers crucial six game schedule as NFL regular season enters final month
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