With 11 weeks down in the NFL, Week 12 presents a number of crucial matchups for sides pushing to secure their spot in the playoffs.
The Philadelphia Eagles (9-1) and Minnesota Vikings (8-2) look set to slug it out for number one spot in the NFC but the picture is far tighter in the AFC, where the 8-2 Kansas City Chiefs lead the way ahead of four sides with a 7-3 record.
Week 12's action includes a number of sides looking to boost their chances of featuring in the postseason, with the Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs all having home field advantage.
Stats Perform has taken a look at some of the more interesting numbers ahead of these and other big games on Sunday.
Cincinnati Bengals (6-4) @ Tennessee Titans (7-3)
The Bengals head to Tennessee having scored 37 and 42 points in their last two games, with a total of 79 standing as their most over a two-game span since 2005, and Joe Burrow will be looking to make an impact against an opponent he went touchdown-less against last time out.
In the playoff win against the Titans last season their franchise quarterback did not throw a touchdown pass, with that still the only game which the Bengals have won without Burrow throwing a TD when he has started.
The Titans only really got going in Week 3 this season, boasting a 7-1 record since. That stands as the joint-best across the NFL, tied with Minnesota and Philadelphia – the top two in the NFC, as it stands.
Since Week 4, the Titans have held their opponents to an average of 2.8 yards per rush, the best in the NFL, while the 387 yards rushing allowed in those seven games is the lowest tally by any NFL side in such a span since the 2014 Detroit Lions.
Chicago Bears (3-8) @ New York Jets (6-4)
The Bears have won five straight in matchups against the Jets but travel to New York on the back of a three-game losing streak, each of which has been decided by three or fewer points – the first time in franchise history they have experienced such a run.
Chicago will come up against Mike White as the starting QB for the Jets, who have benched Zach Wilson after last week's horror show against the New England Patriots, where they scored just three points despite not turning the ball over in the game.
White last started in Week 10 of last season, while his four games in 2021 saw him throw an interception on 6.1 per cent of his passes, the highest mark of quarterbacks across the NFL last season with at least 100 passing attempts.
Sunday's matchup will see two vastly different teams on the ground, with the Bears rushing for 54 first downs since Week 8, 15 more than the next-closest team over that span, while the Jets have rushed for just 13 first downs in the same period – the lowest total across the NFL.
Las Vegas Raiders (3-7) @ Seattle Seahawks (6-4)
The Raiders head to Seattle having lost their last five road games against the Seahawks, tied for their longest active losing streak on the road against a single opponent – also losing five straight at Green Bay.
Las Vegas have had no more than one takeaway and no more than one giveaway in nine straight games, the longest streak by any NFL side in the Super Bowl era, but come up against a formidable force in rookie Tariq Woolen.
Woolen has five of the Seahawks' seven interceptions in this season (71.4 per cent) and is on course to shatter the NFL rookie record for the highest percentage of a team's interceptions, which is currently held by Washington's Dan Sandifer, who had 13 of 24 in 1948 (54.2 per cent).
Quarterback Geno Smith has completed at least 64 per cent of his passes in all 10 games so far this season, tying him with Steve Young (1992), Drew Brees (2011) and Kyler Murray (2021) for the longest streak to start an NFL season.
Los Angeles Rams (3-7) @ Kansas City Chiefs (8-2)
The Rams head to Kansas City on the back of a four-game losing streak, tied with the 1999 Broncos and 2002 Patriots for the third-longest losing streak by a defending Super Bowl champion – behind only the 1987 Giants and 2009 Steelers (five straight losses).
In the past eight games, the Rams have just a single takeaway, which stands as the lowest by any side over an eight-game span in the Super Bowl era.
The Chiefs have a devastating record against the Rams, having scored 246 points (41 per game) over their last six games against Los Angeles, the second most by any NFL team over a six-game span against an opponent since the 1970 merger.
Having fought back from behind to beat the Chargers last time out, the Chiefs have now won six in a row when trailing at halftime, dating back to last season, the longest streak by any NFL team (regular and postseason) since the 49ers won seven such games in a row from 1989-90.
Elsewhere…
All 10 of the Denver Broncos' games this season have been decided by single digits. If that happens again against the Carolina Panthers, they will tie the second-longest such streak to begin any NFL season, trailing only the 2015 Ravens (12 games).
Green Bay head to Philadelphia having won six of their last eight matchups against the Eagles. They had won just five of their previous 17 prior to that.
The 49ers host the Saints having recorded at least one sack in 37 straight games, the longest active streak in the NFL and the longest streak for San Francisco in the Super Bowl era.
The Falcons travel to Washington with six wins in their last seven against the Commanders. Atlanta have scored at least 24 points in nine straight games against Washington – the franchise's longest streak against any opponent in team history.
Reports: Jordan Love to miss 3-6 weeks with MCL sprain
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love has been diagnosed with an MCL sprain, multiple media outlets reported Saturday, and he is expected to return this season.
NFL Network reported that the Packers’ initial timetable for Love’s return is three to six weeks.
The team will reportedly seek a second opinion to be sure.
The only other active quarterback on Green Bay’s roster is Malik Willis, who was acquired via trade from the Tennessee Titans less than two weeks ago. Former fifth-round draft pick Sean Clifford is on the practice squad.
Love was injured on the penultimate play of the Packers’ 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday.
Love was 17 of 34 for 260 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in the Packers’ season opener in São Paulo.
Green Bay hosts the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Sept. 15, followed by games at Tennessee and against the Minnesota Vikings.
Entering his second season as the Packers’ starter, Love signed a four-year, $220million contract extension this summer.
Filling the shoes of the departed Aaron Rodgers, Love threw for 4,159 yards with 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season, leading the Packers to a 9-8 regular season and a play-off win over the Dallas Cowboys.
Sirianni excited by 'playmaker' Barkley after stellar Eagles debut
Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni is excited to see what comes next from Saquon Barkley after he scored three touchdowns on a memorable debut for the team on Friday.
Barkley shone as the Eagles started the season with a 34-29 victory over the Green Bay Packers in the NFL's first international game to take place in Sao Paulo.
The former New York Giants back rushed for two touchdowns and caught a Jalen Hurts pass for another, becoming the first player to score three touchdowns on his Eagles debut since Terrell Owens in 2004.
Barkley finished with 109 rushing yards and 23 receiving off two catches, including a terrific 18-yard reception for his first score – the first touchdown to be scored in South America.
Sirianni hailed the two-time Pro Bowler's influence after the win, saying: "We are so excited to have him. He made some huge, huge plays throughout this entire game.
"He made it in the pass game. He made plays in the run game. He made some huge plays in critical moments and scored a bunch of touchdowns.
"To have him on our football team means a lot. [General manager] Howie [Roseman] did a great job of putting this team together.
"He's a playmaker and he's a great leader and a great person. People feed off his energy and so you could feel all of that, not only in the plays he was making but the energy he had."
Barkley, meanwhile, was delighted to make NFL history as he became the first player to score a touchdown on three different continents, having previously done so in London with the Giants in 2022.
"I'm the first person to ever score in South America!" Barkley said. "That's cool. I'm definitely trying to get the game ball and that's something to hang up and put in my house.
"The O-line played great. That's a big reason why I wanted to come to Philly when I had the opportunity and why it was a no-brainer for me.
"We still have a lot to improve on, including myself. So, it meant a lot to come out here and take advantage of the opportunity to be the first team to play in South America. Not only just play, but to take care of business and get the W too."
'That's the franchise right there' – Packers wait on Love injury after Eagles loss
The Green Bay Packers are waiting to discover the severity of an injury suffered by quarterback Jordan Love in the closing stages of their Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Packers were beaten 34-29 by Philadelphia in the NFL's first international game in Sao Paulo, letting a halftime lead slip as debutant Saquon Barkley inspired the Eagles to victory.
Running back Barkley rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns as well as catching two Jalen Hurts passes for 23 yards and another score, becoming the first player with three touchdowns on their Eagles debut since Terrell Owens in 2004.
Things got worse for the Packers on the final drive of the game, as Love dropped back to pass and was caught between Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter and outside linebacker Josh Sweat.
Love appeared to twist his lower left leg and had to be helped from the field, with Malik Willis coming in to take the final two snaps as Green Bay failed to fight back.
Love's injury came in his first game since he was handed a new four-year, $220million contract that made him the league's joint-highest paid player, leaving the Packers nervous about his condition.
"That's the franchise right there," defensive lineman Kenny Clark said. "Hopefully, he can be back next week and he can be all right."
Head coach Matt LaFleur was twice asked about Love's condition in his post-game press conference, simply responding: "I don't know".
Love completed 17 of his 34 passing attempts in Friday's game for 260 yards, two touchdowns and one pick.
The Packers are next in action versus the Indianapolis Colts at Lambeau Field on September 15, before visiting the Tennessee Titans for their first road game one week later.
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