NFL Week 12 storylines to watch: Upstart Broncos face Browns; The Bills get a great opportunity versus the Eagles

NFL Week 12 got off to a strong start with a Thanksgiving triple-header, followed by the league’s first Black Friday game.

Things are very interesting after Thursday’s results: The Cowboys and Packers helped their playoff appearances with impressive wins over the Commanders and Lions, respectively, and the 49ers solidified their place atop the NFC West with a win over the Seahawks.

At the same time, despair began to descend upon the struggling teams. Two other coordinators, Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada and Chiefs defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio, were fired this week. Will these latest efforts change anything over the next six weeks?

Get ready for another round of intense competition. Here are five of the most compelling storylines to follow for the rest of this weekend’s events. (Find the NFL Week 12 schedule here.)

1. Hotly contested divisional battles

Six of the week’s remaining 12 games are divisional matchups, including the Saints at Falcons, Steelers at Bengals, Rams at Cardinals, Chiefs at Raiders, and Bears at Vikings. But perhaps the most interesting divisional matchup is in Houston, where the Texans host the Jaguars.

Jacksonville leads the AFC South with a 7-3 record, but the 6-4 Texans could take a significant — and surprising — step toward the division title with a win on Sunday. They already shocked the Jaguars in Week 3 with a 37-17 victory, and a season sweep would move them into a tie with Jacksonville for first place in the division with six games remaining. However, the Texans will retain the head-to-head tiebreaker. Meanwhile, a Jaguars win would put the Texans back two games, and Houston would have no major playoff berth.

The Texans enter this game on a three-game losing streak, but oddsmakers were projecting them as 1.5-point home underdogs. Can DeMeco Ryans, CJ Stroud and company continue their impressive run? Or will Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars rise to the occasion? (Jaguars at Texas, 1 p.m. ET Sunday.)

Don’t look now, but the Broncos (5-5) are one of the hottest teams in the NFL, riding a four-game winning streak entering Sunday’s matchup with the visiting Browns. The Browns (7-3) are challenged offensively due to Deshaun Watson’s season-ending shoulder surgery, but they still boast one of the most dominant defenses in the league. This means that Russell Wilson and Sean Payton’s offense will be put to a very tough test.

This will be a good barometer for the Broncos, because if they are still able to operate effectively against Cleveland’s defense, we will know that Wilson (seven touchdowns, zero interceptions during this four-game winning streak) is indeed back and that Denver’s playoff hopes are legitimate. The Broncos will have a long way to go, but a win would represent another big step in the right direction. (Browns at Broncos, 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday.)

3. Another measuring stick game

Bills – Eagles seemed like a potential Super Bowl preview when the schedule was released in May, but at 6-5, it’s hard to see Buffalo as a contender at the top level. A win over the 9-1 Eagles — perhaps the most well-rounded team in the league — would help restore the Bills’ bill as one of the favorites to compete for the Lombardi Trophy.

Beating Philadelphia will be tough. The Eagles boast a balanced offensive attack and a deep, versatile defense. The Bills tend to start slow (averaging 12.6 points in the first half) and that can put more pressure on quarterback Josh Allen, who leads the NFL in touchdown passes (22) but has also thrown a season-high 12 interceptions. Jalen Hurts and the Eagles are flawless, but they are flexible and can change plays quickly with their big-play ability. They just pulled off an impressive victory over the Chiefs, and another complete win over a projected AFC powerhouse could bolster their case as Super Bowl candidates. (Bills at Eagles, 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday.)

4. Long shipping mission

After another disappointing loss, Chargers coach Brandon Staley bristled when asked if he would hand over defensive play-calling duties to an assistant. The Chargers, who are 4-6 and in last place in the AFC West, rank 31st in yards allowed and 24th in points allowed. With every defeat, it seems to be a case of when, not if, Staley will be fired.

However, Staley could get some temporary relief if he can find a way to beat the AFC-leading Ravens. Staley’s defense will have to stop MVP candidate Lamar Jackson, who ranks among the league leaders in completion percentage and passer rating while also averaging 9.2 yards per rushing attempt. Jackson will be without his top target, Mark Andrews, who is likely done for the season with a fractured fibula. Wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. will likely have to. And Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor and tight end Isaiah have to step up. (Ravens at Chargers, 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday.)

5. The separating image

As November draws to a close, it looks like the playoff race will be a tense battle to the finish in both the AFC and NFL. If the season ends this week, the NFC seeding would look like this: 1. Philadelphia, 2. San Francisco, 3. Detroit, 4. New Orleans, 5. Dallas, 6. Minnesota, 7. Seattle. The AFC stadium will include 1. Miami, 2. Baltimore, 3. Kansas City, 4. Jacksonville, 5. Cleveland, 6. Houston, 7. Pittsburgh.

But this weekend’s results could destabilize the regime. The Saints lead the NFC South, but at 5-5, find themselves on shaky ground, especially if the Falcons (who return Desmond Ridder at QB) pick up a win in their rivalry game this week. The 4-6 Rams, who face the Cardinals this week, are close. Can they work their way into the depths of things?

As mentioned earlier, Houston could edge out Jacksonville with a win. Denver could jump into the AFC picture with another victory.

Pittsburgh and Cleveland are among the AFC’s most underrated teams. The Browns’ quarterback situation (will rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson still be the starter, or will newly signed Joe Flacco shake off enough rust to save the season?) could doom their hopes. The Steelers hope Canada’s dismissal will shock Kenny Pickett and his teammates.

(Photos by Josh Allen, Myles Garrett and Russell Wilson: Maddy Meyer, Nick Cammett, Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)