Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has struggled this season. (Frank Victores/AP)
The NFL has been playing late-season games on Saturdays for years, but the concept never fails to be an unexpected delight. And this year, the league spiced things up even more by waiting until mid-November to announce the matchups for Saturday’s games, giving us three pretty good matchups. Five of the six participating teams either have clinched playoff spots or still have a chance of making the playoffs.
Here’s a rundown of Saturday’s schedule. All times Eastern. Point spreads taken Saturday morning from the consensus lines at VegasInsider.com.
Texans at Buccaneers
Time: 1 p.m.
TV: NFL Network.
Point spread: Texans -3.
Currently the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoffs with a one-game lead over the Titans in the AFC South, Houston can clinch the division title by beating Tampa Bay (or if Tennessee loses to New Orleans on Sunday). To do so, the Texans will have to stop a bedraggled Bucs offense that simply has decided to chuck it deep, no matter its personnel issues and no matter the consequences.