Last weekend’s NFL Saturday slate delivered a top-shelf entertainer with an indelible walk-off finish. What’s in store for a Week 17 follow-up?
The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 keeps pro football off Saturday screens until the second weekend of December. That window opened in style for 2025 — the Philadelphia Eagles ripped highlight runs up and down Landover, Md., then Caleb Williams and DJ Moore grated cheese (with some onside kick ice magic).
This Saturday starts with a fascinating playoff rematch from 11 months ago. The red-hot “battle red” Houston Texans have won seven straight games, and they bull rush into Inglewood, Calif., to test the Los Angeles Chargers, playoff-clinchers with a four-game win streak of their own. Afterward, the desperate Baltimore Ravens flock up north to face the Green Bay Packers, both in the postseason bracket and wounded at a crossroads.
All times ET and all game odds via BetMGM.
NFL Saturday guide (Week 17)
Watching in person? Get tickets on StubHub.
| Game | Time | TV | Streaming |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Texans at Chargers |
4:30 p.m. |
NFL Network (national) |
|
|
Ravens at Packers |
8 p.m. |
Peacock (national) |
Peacock |
Houston Texans at Los Angeles Chargers
Texans (10-5): DeMeco Ryans’ defense is a swarm. Through 15 weeks, Houston ranks No. 1 in both points and yards allowed. It has game-wreckers at all three levels. Danielle Hunter (13 sacks) and Will Anderson Jr. (11 1/2) spearhead the pass rush. Azeez Al-Shaair (first-time Pro Bowler) anchors the linebackers. And Derek Stingley Jr. is one of four Texans DBs with four interceptions. Back in January, this group completely warped Justin Herbert throughout their first-round playoff meeting — four picks, four sacks and a 32-12 thrashing. On the other end, C.J. Stroud has thrown five TDs and no INTs in his last three games, and WR1 Nico Collins is a true field-stretcher:
Go get it Nico!
📺 : @nfloncbs / @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/wct7ExB1JG
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 22, 2025
Chargers (11-4): Herbert is in revenge mode. He threw just three interceptions in 17 regular-season games last season, then exceeded that all in one waking playoff nightmare. The Chargers captain comes in after posting 300 passing yards on the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday. Per Next Gen Stats, Herbert went 9-for-11 under pressure, and no passer has been hurried more across 2025. Going from the Cowboys to the Texans defenses is like transitioning from champagne sips to eggnog chugs, but Herbert has skilled options to trust in. Ladd McConkey is a precise route-runner; Keenan Allen is a third-down lock; Quentin Johnston goes long and snares contested catches. True to form, Jim Harbaugh coaches a grinding, physical defense. Southern California’s Tuli Tuipulotu is a rising star, with 13 sacks in his third pro season.
Broadcast: It’s an NFL Network telecast, with over-the-air CBS options for the Los Angeles and Houston areas. Rich Eisen is on play-by-play, and Hall-of-Fame quarterback Kurt Warner adds analysis. Jamie Erdahl and Megan Olivi are the dual sideline reporters.
Playoff stakes: The hosts have punched their tickets no matter what, but a Saturday win would set the Bolts up for an AFC West title match in the Week 18 finale (at Denver Broncos). The visitors can clinch a playoff spot with a win or an Indianapolis Colts loss Sunday (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars). Houston trails Jacksonville by one game in the AFC South. Check out all of the league’s clinching scenarios here.
Best player to wear both jerseys: It might be the late Jacoby Jones, elite kick returner and playoff folk hero. Current Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman played for the Texans in 2023, but he’s serving a two-game suspension for what the NFL calls “repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players.”
Texans at Chargers odds
Baltimore Ravens at Green Bay Packers
Ravens (7-8): Two-time MVP Lamar Jackson is dealing with a back contusion, the latest in his litany of recent injuries. That means extra carries for backup quarterback Tyler Huntley (5.7 yards per carry on keepers) and hulking running back Derrick Henry (5.0 YPC on his usual high volume). Henry is in the middle of his eighth straight double-digit touchdown campaign, and he’s now topped 1,200 rushing yards in five of the last seven seasons. Boxes will be stacked on Saturday. Baltimore lacks a consistent pass rush, but it comes in at No. 6 in red-zone defense. John Harbaugh might be coaching for his job in this one.
Packers (9-5-1): Jordan Love suffered a concussion in last Saturday’s loss at Soldier Field, and he’s out for this game as well. Malik Willis looked sharp in relief, though, and he now has a chance to show out before his impending free agency:
DOUBS WHAT A CATCH!!!
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/QvAobFOT4u
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 21, 2025
Green Bay’s defense ranks ninth in points allowed, with top-10 marks in both passing and rushing yards per attempt. Someone has to step up for the injured Micah Parsons, though. This team has zero sacks since that deflating ACL tear. Matt LaFleur pursues double-digit wins for the fifth time in his seven campaigns.
Broadcast: For national audiences, this game is exclusive to Peacock. In-market viewers around Baltimore and Green Bay get simulcasts on their local NBC stations. Noah Eagle is our narrator, two days after helming the Netflix Christmas doubleheader with his father, Ian. Todd Blackledge flanks him for color commentary, while Kathryn Tappen reports from the field.
Playoff stakes: Baltimore is in a narrow corner. It has to win at Lambeau Field, then hope for the (rival) Cleveland Browns to upset the (even more rival) Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. If both of those outcomes land, the Ravens and Steelers would tangle for the AFC North in Week 18. Green Bay is going to the NFC party, but it will do so as a wild card if it falls short Saturday … or if the Chicago Bears handle either of their last two games (at San Francisco 49ers, vs. Detroit Lions).
Best player to wear both jerseys: Let’s go with Za’Darius Smith. The Ravens draftee had 18 1/2 sacks in his first four seasons (2015-18), then broke out with the Packers for 25 sacks and a pair of Pro Bowl nods (2019-21).
Ravens at Packers odds
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