Conor Allen

The 4-11 Texans will travel to Santa Clara Sunday to take on a banded up 49ers team that remains in the hunt for an NFC wildcard slot despite a costly loss to Tennessee on Thursday. Any temptation to take the Texans lightly should be tempered by their 41-29 win over the Chargers on Sunday. Texans quarterback Davis Mills completed 21 of 27 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns,  while running back Rex Burkhead ran for 149 yards and two scores in the win, Houston's second straight.  Mills has completed 219 0f 329 passes this season for 2,200 yards and 12 touchdowns with 9 interceptions. The rookie third-round pick stepped in early in the season after Tyrod Taylor suffered a hamstring injury in Week 2. Taylor, an eleven-year veteran who the Texans signed to a one -year contract this off-season, struggled upon his return, and Mils was named the official starter heading into Week 14. Brandin Cooks (80 REC, 945 YDS, 5 TDS) leads the team in receiving yards and touchdown receptions, but

The 8-6 Colts will travel to the desert to take on the 10-4 Cardinals in a Christmas day battle featuring two AFC teams that are poised to make deep playoff runs. The Cardinals have lost two straight, including an almost unthinkable 30-12 defeat at the hands of Detroit on Sunday, while the Colts have won four of their last five.  Following a Week 5 loss to the Ravens the Colts were 1-4 and looked like one of the worst teams in the league. They've gone 7-2 since and have a shot to overtake Tennessee and win the AFC South. Colts QB Carson Wentz has completed 271 of 432 passes for 3,005 yards with 23 touchdowns and just six interceptions. Wentz's 3,005 passing yards have him at a pedestrian 19th amongst quarterbacks, but his 23 touchdowns are good for 10th. His six picks are among the lowest of QBs who have attempted at least 300 passes this season.  Michael Pittman Jr. (68 REC, 889 YDS, 5 TDS) leads the Colts' receivers in yards and touchdown catches, and their ground attack

The 6-7 Vikings will travel to Chicago Monday to try to keep their playoff hopes alive against a 4-9 Bears team that is hoping for better things in their future with rookie Justin Fields at the helm.  Minnesota beat Pittsburgh 36-28 Sunday, one week removed from losing to the previously winless Lions. Kirk Cousins did not have a great game, completing 14 of 31 passes for 216 yards with two touchdowns with two interceptions, but the Vikings ran for 242 yards, while their defense sacked Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Rothlisberger five times.  Cousins has completed 319 of 477 passes this season for 3,569 yards (68.2%) with 27 touchdowns and just five interceptions. His 27 touchdown passes are tied for fifth in the league. Justin Jefferson (85 REC, 1,288 YDS, 8 TDS), Adam Thielen (64 REC, 686 YDS, 10 TDS) and tight end Tyler Conklin (49 REC, 489 YDS, 3 TDS) are key parts of a Viking offense that is averaging 267.4 yards per game through the air (7th) with a 66.07 completion percentage (12th).

The 8-4 Rams will travel to the desert for a Monday night matchup against a 10-2 Cardinals team that has managed to hang tough despite injuries to J.J. Watt, DeAndre Hopkins and Kyler Murray at different points this season. The Cardinals can clinch a playoff berth with a win or a tie and beat the Rams 37-20 when the two teams met earlier this season.   Los Angeles lost three in a row in November, then took their frustrations out on the Jacksonville last Sunday, beating the Jags 37-7. Matthew Stafford, who tossed four interceptions during a two-game stretch that saw the Rams drop games to the Titans and 49ers, threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns, while Sony Michel racked up 121 yards on the ground in the win. Stafford has completed 292 of 438 passes for 3,611 yards and 30 touchdowns this seasons. His 30 touchdowns put him at second in the league, and his 3,611 passing yards are third.  Stafford is surrounded by receiving talent. Cooper Kupp (100 REC, 1,366 YDS, 11 TDS) leads the te

The Broncos head to Arrowhead Stadium Sunday looking to get their first win in Kansas City since 2015, but they'll have to beat a Chiefs team that has turned their season around with four straight wins. Denver has won three of four after dropping four straight in October. Both teams have struggled with consistency this season but have clawed their way above .500 and are very much in the playoff hunt.  The Broncos racked up 147 yards on the ground and intercepted Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert twice, both at the hands of rookie Patrick Surtain, in a 28-13 win on Sunday. Denver QB Teddy Bridgewater suffered a leg injury on a sack in the first quarter, but eventually returned, and finished 11-of-18 for 129 yards and a TD. He remains questionable for Sunday.  Bridgewater has completed 233-of-339 passes this season for 2,518 yards and 15 touchdowns with five interceptions. His 68.7 completion percentage is good for sixth in the league, but Denver has had problems protecting their e