NFL Schedule 2017: Seahawks, Steelers, Panthers, Vikings Highlight Best Week 13 Games

The Week 13 schedule is one of the best that the 2017 NFL season has seen, thus far. More than one-third of Sunday’s games feature opposing teams that are over .500, and playoff spots could ultimately be determined by a few of the matchups.

Because the NFC South is the league’s best division, the New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons are involved in a couple of highly anticipated contests. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles are looking to hold onto first-round byes. The Seattle Seahawks are trying to find their way back into the playoff picture.

Here’s a look at the five best games on the Week 13 schedule:

Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens

This is one of the five games on the schedule that features two teams with winning records. The Lions might not be able to survive a loss here and still make the playoffs. Baltimore is the current No.6 seed in the AFC, but they have the same record as the 6-5 Bills. Three teams are behind the Ravens with a 5-6 record.

Minnesota Vikings at Atlanta Falcons

It’s a matchup between the team with the NFC’s second-best record and the defending NFC Champions. Minnesota’s defense gives them a chance to win every game, and the unexpected play of Case Keenum has turned the Vikings into one of the Super Bowl favorites. After a rough patch at the start of the season, Atlanta’s offense looks much more like the team that had a 25-point lead over the Patriots in last year’s Super Bowl.

Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints

This game could be what ultimately decides who wins the NFC South. The two teams are tied atop the division with 8-3 records, sitting one-game out of a first-round playoff bye. New Orleans would essentially take a 1.5-game lead over Carolina with a win because they defeated the Panthers in Week 3. Because it will probably take at least 10 wins to get into the NFC playoffs, the losing team will have a lot of work left in order to reach the postseason.

Philadelphia Eagles at Seattle Seahawks

Don’t be surprised if we see this matchup again in the playoffs. Philadelphia has the NFL’s best record, and finishing as the NFC’s No.2 seed might be their worst-case scenario. Seattle’s injuries have put their playoff hopes in jeopardy, but there’s a reason the Seahawks have won a playoff game in five straight years. The defending NFC West champions are on pace to win 10-plus games, yet again, and one of the league’s best home teams has a chance to hand the Eagles their first loss since Week 2.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals

Pittsburgh has the NFC North title all but wrapped up, but there will be plenty on the line during “Monday Night Football.” The Steelers are hoping to maintain their spot as the No.1 seed in the AFC as they look for home-field advantage until the Super Bowl. Cincinnati is only one-game out of the second AFC wild-card spot. The Bengals will be a tough out at home against their division rivals, though Pittsburgh’s offense appears to be running on all cylinders at the moment.