What NFL games are today? The Saturday matchups to watch

THE NFL is back with another doubleheader on Saturday to start the last week of the 2023 season.

And both games feature teams with playoff hopes on the line.

First of all, the Pittsburgh Steelers I hope to get a spot in the playoffs on the road against the Baltimore Ravenswho locked up the AFC No. 1 seed with the quarterback Lamar Jackson the league's MVP favorite.

And in prime time, CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans travel to face Jonathan Taylor and the Indianapolis Colts in an AFC South battle with a division crown and joker consequences.

Here's what you need to know about the Steelers-Ravens and Texans-Colts matchups on Saturday.

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How to watch Saturday's games

Kickoff for the Steelers and Ravens will be at 4:30 p.m. ET. The Texans and Colts will begin play at 8:15 p.m. Both games will be televised on ESPN/ABC and both can be streamed on ESPN+.

With the No. 1 seed already clinched, Ravens coach John Harbaugh will likely rest his most important players and prepare for a Super Bowl run. And that includes Jackson, who could win his second MVP award.

Meanwhile, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin can celebrate knowing he's already earned a 17th straight undefeated season in Pittsburgh. But a playoff spot would be nice in an eventful season.

Even if the Steelers won in Baltimore, they would need help from several teams to reach the playoffs. Pittsburgh needs to win and get a Buffalo Bills loss to the Miami Dolphins with the AFC East on the line Sunday night, or a Jacksonville Jaguars loss or tie to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, or a tie in the game Texans and Colts to reach the playoffs.

Two other scenarios allow Pittsburgh to advance to the playoffs: Steelers tie, Jaguars loss and Texans-Colts does not end in a tie, or Jaguars loss and win by the Denver Broncos on the road against the Raiders of Las Vegas and Texans-Colts does not end. in a tie.

The Texans and Colts are vying for a playoff spot in their final regular season game, and it's inspiring to see the turnaround both teams make in 2023.

It's simple for the Texans and Colts on Saturday night: win and advance to the playoffs. What if you want to win the AFC South? Win and hope the Jaguars lose to the Titans on Sunday.

For the loser: better luck next year.

Houston selected CJ Stroud with the No. 2 pick in the 20023 draft and found the right head coach in DeMeco Ryans after a carousel of coaching hires and hovering atop the NFL draft order in recent years. If Houston reaches the playoffs, it will be the first time since 2019 when Bill O'Brien, Deshaun Watson, JJ Watt and DeAndre Hopkins were the faces of the franchise.

Meanwhile, the fact that the Colts have a chance to reach the playoffs with Jonathan Taylor in and out of the lineup due to injuries and contract disputes, and Gardner Minshew running the offense without a rookie QB Anthony Richardson (shoulder) for most of the season is due to first-year coach Shane Steichen maximizing the talent. The Colts are 6-5 since Minshew took over and could return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

AFC SOUTH PLAYBACK SCENARIOS:Will the Jaguars come away victorious or can the Texans and Colts win the division?

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