The final full Sunday of the season. I notice that the league has pushed basically every meaningful game to a 4:25 Eastern start. I'm not going to gripe about it like John Harbaugh, but it is going to impact my New Year's Eve plans a little. But it's OK, I'm off the market anyway. Anyway, here are some of the key expected actives and inactives.
Neither Chris Hogan nor James White is expected to play for New England. The Patriots want and need a win, but they're not going to play guys who are banged-up. Mike Gillislee has already been ruled out.
Joe Mixon is expected to play for the Bengals. It's not certain, but likely. If he does, it might be a committee with Giovani Bernard, making neither one particularly appealing. Mixon not being healthy works against him getting a full workload.
Melvin Gordon is expected to tough it out and play through a high ankle sprain. Expectations should be modest for a player who it seems very possible could be sidelined during the game at some point.
Charcandrick West has been ruled out for Kansas City. Kareem Hunt probably won't play very much. I think Akeem Hunt is the best option in this backfield. DeAnthony Thomas might get some change-of-pace work.
Mike Wallace will play for Baltimore.
Matt Forte is out (on IR, actually) for the Jets. This increases the value of Bilal Powell and to a lesser extent Elijah McGuire. Should be a two-man rather than a three-man committee at Foxborough.
--Andy Richardson