The Week 15 Warmup takes an in-depth look at the NFL's most intriguing storylines ahead of the weekend's slate of games.

The Rundown

Romo waiting in the wings

A less-than-impressive performance in last week's loss to the Giants led to some discussion surrounding Dak Prescott's hold on the starting job. There was no way Dallas could have made a change based on one game, but if Prescott's struggles continue to mount against Tampa Bay on Sunday night, there'd be more than enough reason to get Tony Romo some reps. The ceiling on the Cowboys' season is a Super Bowl title, and, looking past the out-of-control hype for a second, Romo is still the far better quarterback when healthy. His presence under center could give Dallas a top-flight passing attack to go with its league-best running game.

Rodgers hobbled

Having rebounded from a disappointing first half, the Packers appear well on their way to running the table and sneaking into the playoffs. Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears should be a win regardless, but Aaron Rodgers' movement will certainly be worth monitoring. The star quarterback, who has a history of leg issues arising in the cold weather, enters a potentially sub-zero game in The Windy City dealing with a calf injury. It goes without saying that he needs to be healthy if Green Bay is to complete the turnaround and make any noise in January.

Are the Titans for real?

Along with a blowout victory over the Packers, taking down the Broncos last week was easily one of Tennessee's more impressive performances of a resurgent season. The organization's first playoff berth since 2008 is well within reach, but there's plenty of doubt as to whether running off a few wins is a possibility thereafter. A matchup with the AFC West-leading Chiefs should tell us everything we need to know. Continuing to pound the rock and beating one of the NFL's most well-rounded teams would confirm that the Titans are ready to compete.

Must-See Matchups

Broncos defense vs. Tom Brady

The reigning Super Bowl champs can't afford another loss if they expect to get to the playoffs and defend their crown. A Sunday afternoon matchup with the Patriots makes matters difficult to that end, but this defense will always give Denver a chance. Von Miller and Co. need to limit Tom Brady as efficiently as they did in last year's AFC title game to come away with a win. With Rob Gronkowski on the sidelines, perhaps it's not such a tall task.

Odell Beckham vs. Darius Slay

Defenses are often hesitant to have any one cornerback shadow an opponent's top receiver, but the Lions would be doing themselves a disservice if they allow the Giants to move Beckham away from Slay. The fourth-year defensive back has quietly established himself as an elite talent. New York has few, if any, reliable playmakers outside of Beckham, so Slay's performance will go a long way toward deciding this game.

Steelers WRs vs. Bengals DBs

The Steelers are once again on track for the playoffs, while the Bengals will almost certainly be missing out for the first time since 2010. That doesn't mean this division matchup won't have its share of intrigue, though. As an explosive Pittsburgh offense continues to round into form, taking on a 10th-ranked Cincinnati pass defense makes for a solid test. Another day of big plays would provide even more reason to like the Steelers' chances in January.

Upset Watch

Buccaneers over Cowboys (-7)

The Buccaneers are no joke. While going to Dallas on Sunday night presents a difficult challenge, don't be surprised if this just ends up being a prime-time stage for their coming out party. A suddenly stingy defense will give Dak Prescott trouble for the second time in as many weeks, and Tampa Bay's offense will be right there to pull out the win in the end. Like it or not, another week of intense debate on the Cowboys' quarterback job would follow.

Stat of the Week Year

Bill Belichick could go 0-16 for 41 consecutive seasons and still have a better winning percentage than Gus Bradley. — JJ Zachariason (@LateRoundQB) December 14, 2016

Unexpected Star

Jerick McKinnon, Vikings

Adrian Peterson is making his long-awaited return, but it would be unfair to expect anything more than spot duty during his first game in months. McKinnon should remain in the lead backfield role as a result, and going up against a porous Colts defensive front should have him poised for his best game of the year. An opponent allowing 115.4 yards per game is just what he needs to improve upon his 3-yard average.