Christmas comes early, with a massive eight live NFL games on ESPN

Christmas has come early on ESPN, with the gift of eight live games as part of the Week 15 NFL schedule, and every game is crucial to the NFL playoff race and both the AFC and NFC divisional titles.

Not a single NFL franchise has officially confirmed their playoff status, making 2021 one of the closest post-season races in history.
 
Kicking off the massive week of NFL are the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers on Friday December 17 at 12.15pm, live on ESPN.
 
The Chiefs have won six straight games, and it is amazing to think most had them missing the playoffs at the early point of the season.
 
At 9-4, they remain a chance to win the AFC, as they chase both the Patriots and Titans for the top seed in the division.
 
Los Angeles sit fifth in the AFC standings and must win to maintain their playoff push, in the all AFC affair.
 
The Chargers are riding a two game winning run, meaning Friday’s battle is between two in-form teams in the NFL.
 
ESPN will bring the perfect Sunday morning NFL entrée at 8.30am AEDT, live on ESPN, when the Las Vegas Raiders meet the Cleveland Browns.
 
With the Raiders playoff hopes virtually extinguished, all eyes fall to the Browns.
 
Cleveland remain in the hunt for the post-season, courtesy of a thrilling two-point win over the Ravens in Week 14. The win has lifted the hopes of their supporter base, as Cleveland are still in the hunt for both the AFC wildcard and division.
 
The Raiders were destroyed by Kansas City 48-9 last round, and will need to hope the Browns do not find their attacking mojo.
 
Following at 12pm AEDT, also live on ESPN, the New England Patriots clash with the Indianapolis Colts.
 
New England currently hold top spot in the AFC, but face mounting pressure from the Titans, Chiefs and Ravens.
 
The Patriots will be fresh following their bye week last round and could clinch the division in the next fortnight, with wins against the Colts and Bills.
 
Loses by the Bengals and Bills has seen the Colts playoff stocks rise in the last week, and the scalp of the Patriots will push them to the next level.
 
Monday again sees a four-game NFL marathon, live across ESPN, ESPN2 and the ESPN App*.
 
First up at 5am AEDT on ESPN, the Tennessee Titans battle the Pittsburgh Steelers, in another game crucial in the AFC division chase.
 
Tennessee addressed a two-game losing streak, downing Jacksonville in Week 14 as expected. It moved the Titans to the same win-loss record as the Patriots, at the top of the AFC division.
 
Pittsburgh have a difficult run in the final weeks of the season, and the Steelers will need to shock Tennessee to spark them once again.
 
Over on ESPN2 and the ESPN App* ay 5am AEDT, the Arizona Cardinals tackle the Detroit Lions.
 
The Cardinals lost their hold on the top spot in the division after falling to the Los Angeles Rams last round.

They can still become the first team in the NFL to officially secure a playoff position, given the condensed nature of the playoff picture, in both the AFC and NFC.
 
Arizona will be expected to comfortably contend with the Lions, but the pressure of a tightening NFC divisional race can cause problems.
 
It is that NFC divisional race that gets interesting at 8.25am AEDT on ESPN, when the Green Bay Packers face the Baltimore Ravens.
 
Green Bay jumped the Cardinals for top spot in the NFC, and enjoy the advantage, courtesy of a head-to-head tiebreaker, if both teams end the season on the same win-loss record.
 
Baltimore are fighting their own playoff battle, at #4 in the AFC. Two consecutive losses have seen them tumble from top spot, but they are still an outside chance of taking out the division, meaning all eyes of the NFL will be on this matchup.
 
Monday’s final game is live at 12.15pm AEDT when the New Orleans Saints face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
 
The Buccs 33-27 overtime win over the Bills was huge in the context of their quest for the NFC top seed.
 
A win for Tampa Bay in Week 15 would see them clinch the NFC South.
 
However, the Saints have won all three regular season meetings against Tampa Bay, since Tom Brady joined the Buccs.
 
ESPN’s final live NFL matchup of Week 15 comes on Tuesday December 21 as the Minnesota Vikings meet the Chicago Bears.
 
Sitting at 6-7, the Vikings simply must win to keep the pressure on the sides in the NFC wildcard spots.
 
These two sides will be familiar to each other in the next month, with two of the Vikings four remaining matches being against Chicago.
 
The Bears are simply playing for pride at this point, and will take great pride in stopping the Vikings.

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Week 15 NFL on ESPN


 
Friday December 17
 
12.15pm AEDT, Kansas City Chiefs vs Los Angeles Chargers, ESPN
 
Sunday December 19
 
8.30am AEDT, Las Vegas Raiders vs Cleveland Browns, ESPN
 
12pm AEDT, New England Patriots vs Indianapolis Colts, ESPN
 
Monday December 20
 
5am AEDT, Tennessee Titans vs Pittsburgh Steelers, ESPN
 
5am AEDT, Arizona Cardinals vs Detroit Lions, ESPN2/ ESPN App*
 
8.25am AEDT, Green Bay Packers vs Baltimore Ravens, ESPN
 
12.15pm AEDT, New Orleans Saints vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ESPN
 
Tuesday December 21
 
12.15pm AEDT, Minnesota Vikings vs Chicago Bears, ESPN


 
*Streaming functionality on the ESPN App and ESPN.com.au is available to ESPN channel subscribers via Foxtel, Fetch TV and SKY NZ who enter their platform credentials. (Note: Kayo subscribers cannot
stream via the ESPN App or ESPN.com.au).  Download the ESPN App from the Apple and Android app stores.


 
ESPN and ESPN2 are available via Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV and SKY NZ.