NFL TV Schedule 2014: Week 16 Coverage Map Listings for Every Game

We've arrived at the penultimate week of the regular season, and only four playoff berths have been clinched. With eight more playoff spots still up for grabs and another 17 NFL teams in contention to see action in January, we should expect some gridiron thrills in Week 16.

The NFL cleverly schedules an abundance of divisional clashes late in the season, making for some very compelling football. This Sunday, a few of those contests could ultimately decide the fate of their respective divisions. However, interdivision play is still prevalent, and the importance of this week's matchups can be summed up with this: There are only two games that have zero postseason implications this week.

We're absolutely in for an impactful week on the gridiron, and fans of the NFL can rejoice, as the culmination of college football's regular season has allowed the professional level's takeover of Saturday. Four days of the NFL lie ahead, as Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday grace our television screens with a captivating 16-game slate.

To ensure not a moment of the forthcoming action is missed, let's take a look at the full schedule, via nationwide coverage map, followed by some analysis for the top games to watch on Sunday.

Date	Matchup	Time (ET)	Channel
Thu., Dec. 18	Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars	8:25 p.m.	NFLN
Sat., Dec. 20	Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins	4:30 p.m.	NFLN
Sat., Dec. 20	San Diego Chargers at San Francisco 49ers	8:25 p.m.	NFLN/CBS
Sun., Dec. 21	Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans	1 p.m.	CBS
Sun., Dec. 21	Cleveland Browns at Carolina Panthers	1 p.m.	CBS
Sun., Dec. 21	Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears	1 p.m.	Fox
Sun., Dec. 21	Green Bay Packers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	1 p.m.	Fox
Sun., Dec. 21	Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers	1 p.m.	CBS
Sun., Dec. 21	Minnesota Vikings at Miami Dolphins	1 p.m.	Fox
Sun., Dec. 21	New England Patriots at New York Jets	1 p.m.	CBS
Sun., Dec. 21	Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints	1 p.m.	Fox
Sun., Dec. 21	New York Giants at St. Louis Rams	4:05 p.m.	Fox
Sun., Dec. 21	Buffalo Bills at Oakland Raiders	4:25 p.m.	CBS
Sun., Dec. 21	Indianapolis Colts at Dallas Cowboys	4:25 p.m.	CBS
Sun., Dec. 21	Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals	8:30 p.m.	NBC
Mon., Dec. 22	Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals	8:30 p.m.	ESPN

Full television info via nationwide coverage map can be found at 506 Sports.

Top Games to Watch on Sunday

Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints

The NFC South won't be producing a division winner with a winning record. The Saints have a chance to finish the season at .500, but that's as good as it's going to get. Still, horrid records aside, this clash between New Orleans and Atlanta could be one of the best on Sunday.

Here's a look at how the division currently stands, via NFL on ESPN:

So here are the postseason implications for this contest. If the Saints win and the Carolina Panthers lose to the Cleveland Browns, they clinch the division on Sunday. Although if the Falcons win and follow it up with a victory over Carolina in Week 17, they would be division champions. It all starts with this Week 16 bout.

These teams first met in Week 1 and put on arguably the most exciting game of the week. Atlanta ended up winning that contest 37-34 in an overtime thriller. Based on the way these quarterbacks have been playing of late and how poorly these secondaries have been performing, we should expect another shootout this time around.

Drew Brees and Co. are coming off a big 31-15 Monday Night Football win over the Chicago Bears, and while the Falcons are riding a two-game losing streak, quarterback Matt Ryan has been impressive, eclipsing the 300-yard passing mark in each of his last three games. With prolific wide receiver Julio Jones returning to action this week, the quarterback will most likely make it four straight.

If you like playoff environments, a high level of intensity and lots of offense, this is the game for you.

Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals

Here's yet another divisional contest that has severe consequences within the NFC West and also in the conference's wild-card picture.

Currently, Arizona resides atop the division with an 11-3 record. However, its grip is not strong, as Seattle defeated the Cardinals earlier this season and holds the series tiebreaker. If Arizona wins, of course, it remains on top, but if Seattle wins, it only needs a Week 17 victory over the St. Louis Rams to clinch the division—and possibly home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The last time these teams met, Arizona struggled to generate any kind of offense, losing to the Seahawks 19-3 in Week 12. Well, that was with backup quarterback Drew Stanton at the helm, but he'll be missing Sunday's contest with a knee injury. Enter third-string quarterback Ryan Lindley.

Lindley is making his first start since 2012, and things didn't go so well for him in a limited time on the field in Week 15, completing just four of his 10 passing attempts for 30 yards. Also, this statistic doesn't bode well for the signal-caller, via ESPN Stats & Info:

Needless to say, he'll be in for some tough sledding against Seattle's top-ranked pass defense.

Luckily for Arizona, however, it already clinched a playoff berth. So even if the Cardinals lose the division lead to the Seahawks, they are still guaranteed a playoff spot. While it looks like Seattle has every advantage in this contest, you just never know what will happen in these highly competitive division games.

This showdown makes this week's edition of Sunday Night Football must-see TV.