Stephen A. Smith makes the case that Tom Brady is more pivotal to the Patriots success than Dak Prescott is to the Cowboys' success. (1:15)

Is Dak as pivotal to his team's success as Brady? (1:15)

The Denver Broncos have proved to be Tom Brady's kryptonite in the past. Can the New England Patriots prevail this time and doom Denver's playoff hopes?

Here's a look at the Week 15 matchups:

Los Angeles Rams

Short week, on the road, in the game's most hostile environment, just after letting go of your head coach. This is the Rams' reality, traveling to Seattle to face the Seahawks on Thursday. Read more

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks go into Thursday night's matchup against the Rams knowing they can clinch the NFC West with a victory. But perhaps more importantly, they need to find some consistency on offense after disappointing efforts against the Packers and Buccaneers in the past three weeks. Read more

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins will start backup Matt Moore for the first time since 2011 because of a knee injury to starter Ryan Tannehill. Read more

New York Jets

The Jets are back in prime time to face the Dolphins on Saturday at MetLife Stadium, where they got embarrassed by the Colts on Monday night in Week 13. Read more

Green Bay Packers

The last time the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears played, one team got a record-setting performance from its quarterback and the other moved on to its third-stringer. Read more

Chicago Bears

At 3-10, the Bears hope to play the role of spoiler during the final three weeks. Read more

Jacksonville Jaguars

Houston has owned the Jaguars over the past six seasons, winning 10 of the past 12 meetings dating to the final game of the 2010 regular season. Another victory on Sunday at NRG Stadium would give them the longest winning streak by either team in the series. Read more

Houston Texans

The first time Houston and Jacksonville played this season, the Jaguars held Texans QB Brock Osweiler to 99 passing yards. One reason for Osweiler's struggles was that the Jaguars were able to to limit Pro Bowl receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Read more

Cleveland Browns

The Browns travel to Buffalo on Sunday seeking their first win against a team that might be about to fire its coach. If that leads to inner turmoil, the Browns might be able to take advantage. Read more

Buffalo Bills

Tickets for the largely inconsequential contest were being listed Tuesday on the secondary market for as low as $7 for seats with a face value of $54. Read more

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles' offense is limping to the finish line. This week, it faces a Ravens defense that is first in the NFL in takeaways (25), second in interceptions (15) and fourth in points per game (18.2). Baltimore comes in a little banged up, but dangerous nonetheless. Read more

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens had won five straight over rookie quarterbacks before losing to the Cowboys' Dak Prescott on Nov. 20. To avoid a second straight loss, Baltimore needs experienced pass rushers Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil to rattle Carson Wentz. Read more

Tennessee Titans

The Titans are coming off a couple narrow wins as they head into Kansas City, where the Chiefs are masters of finding a way to win close games. Read more

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs might again have to do more with less in Sunday’s game against the Titans at Arrowhead Stadium. Read more

Detroit Lions

Can the Lions find a way, with Matthew Stafford's busted middle finger, to move the ball on New York's tough defense? Read more

New York Giants

The Giants face another red-hot team on Sunday. This time it's the Lions that come to MetLife Stadium with the league's longest winning streak. Read more

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts have a 4 percent chance of winning the AFC South and securing the automatic playoff spot, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Read more

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings had their most productive offensive day of the season last Sunday in Jacksonville. Their playoff hopes could hinge on them doing it again, this time against the Colts. Read more

Pittsburgh Steelers

With a healthy A.J. Green the Bengals would be much more dangerous to the Steelers' playoff hopes. And Cincinnati could take the field Sunday in Paul Brown Stadium with Green (hamstring). Read more

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals didn't have to face Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell in their first meeting this season. Now he's playing his best football of the year. Read more

New Orleans Saints

Unfortunately for New Orleans, this remains a tough matchup on the road, across the country, on a natural grass surface against a strong defensive team that hasn't allowed a 300-yard passer all season. Read more

Arizona Cardinals

The Saints haven't played well offensively the past two weeks, but they still have one player who'll be a threat this Sunday to the Cardinals: quarterback Drew Brees. Read more

San Francisco 49ers

Traveling across the country to Atlanta means the Niners have to deal with the Falcons' top-ranked offense and all of the weapons that come with it. Read more

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons had a tough time getting the run game going last Sunday against the Rams, so maybe Sunday's opponent will provide the perfect opportunity to bounce back. Read more

New England Patriots

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has a .500 or better record against every team in the NFL except one -- Denver (6-9). Read more

Denver Broncos

Over and over again, it seems, the Broncos and the Patriots find themselves matched up. They aren't division rivals; it just seems that way. Read more

Oakland Raiders

Their mini-bye after last Thursday night's loss at the Chiefs might have served as a salve for the Raiders and their banged-up bodies, though their spirits after the depressing defeat might have needed just as much soothing. Read more

San Diego Chargers

Chargers head coach Mike McCoy says his players have signed up for 16 games. And even though San Diego's playoff hopes are running on fumes, McCoy still expects his team to play with urgency in these last three games. Read more

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers look to make it six in a row this week and keep their playoff hopes alive, taking on the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in a prime-time matchup. It'll be the Bucs' first appearance on "NBC Sunday Night Football" since 2008. Read more

Dallas Cowboys

With last week's loss to the Giants, the Cowboys are no longer the NFL's hottest team. The hottest teams now are the Buccaneers and Lions, who have five-game winning streaks. Who are the Cowboys' next two opponents? The Buccaneers and Lions. Read more

Carolina Panthers

Monday night's game is about so much more than the Panthers facing their former teammate Josh Norman for both teams -- from Carolina getting quarterback Cam Newton back on track to Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins facing a defense that leads the NFL in sacks with 39. Read more

Washington Redskins

The Redskins might need to win the rest of their games to make the postseason -- even then it might not be enough. Read more