The New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers will clash in a huge game for Week 7 of the NFL regular season on Sunday. The game is one of three late afternoon starts on Sunday, but with both teams topping their respective divisions, this could be a preview of a postseason head to head in the AFC. The game has a scheduled start time of 4.25 p.m. ET and takes place from Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. The game can be watched on TV on the CBS network or online through live stream via the link below.
Make no mistake about it, these are two AFC teams that we can expect to see in the Playoffs. The Patriots come into today's game with a 5-1 record and sit atop the AFC East, above the 4-2 Buffalo Bills, and the 2-4 Miami Dolphins.
Meanwhile, the Steelers are currently clear in the AFC North, with a record of 4-2, which is good enough to put them above the 3-3 Baltimore Ravens and 2-4 Cincinnati Bengals.
As we approach the midway point in the season, the teams will begin to look at the Playoff picture, and with these two teams at the top of their AFC divisions, they could very well be fighting it out for the top seeding and a potential bye in the first round of the postseason.
That means this isn't just any game, but there is a lot more at stake here, and both teams no doubt will be going all out for the win.
Quarterback Tom Brady has been back for a few weeks already and he is expected to play a big part again today as the Patriots look to secure their postseason spot as soon as possible.
Earlier in Week 7, NFL Thursday Night Football saw the Green Bay Packers claim what in the end was an easy win over the Chicago Bears.
Even though the 26-10 scoreline would indicate that the Packers had it all their own way, that was not the case, and through the opening three quarters just field goal separated the teams.
However, when things came to the crunch, the hapless Bears fell down again and disappointed. With just three points between the teams heading into the fourth quarter, Chicago fans may have been hoping their team could sneak the win at the end. But 13 unanswered points for the Packers saw Green Bay run out victors to move to 4-2.
That result condemned the Bears to their sixth defeat of the season so far as they dropped down further to 1-6, and this is already turning into a long and painful season for them.
Aaron Rodgers threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns. His 39 of 56 set a franchise record for completions in a single game.
The Bears meanwhile lost quarterback Brian Hoyer to a broken left arm in the second quarter, and so he joins the injured list with Jay Cutler, leaving Chicago to turn to third stringer Matt Barkley, who ended 6 of 15 for 81 yards and two interceptions.
Bears coach John Fox said, "Well, when you lose your starting quarterback it can be disruptive. It's not an excuse, it's just a reality,"
Today's big NFL game between the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers has a scheduled start time of 4.25 p.m. ET and can be watched on TV on the CBS network or online through live stream by clicking here.
