Thursday

Steelers at Rams

8:15 p.m., NFL Network

The Poinsettia Bowl on ESPN will get three times as many viewers. Nice going, Goodell.

Saturday

Cowboys at Panthers

8:15 p.m., NFL Network

Dallas running back Marion Barber makes the Pro Bowl and he doesn’t even start ahead of Julius Jones. That’s either an indictment of the Cowboys or the Pro Bowl or the NFC running back depth. More likely, all three.

Sunday

Giants at Bills

1 p.m., FOX

That “beep, beep, beep” you’re hearing, that’s not a sand truck on your street. It’s the Giants backing into the playoffs.

Texans at Colts

1 p.m., CBS

When someone tells you someone like Mike McCarthy of Green Bay deserves to be NFL Coach of the Year over Bill Belichick because he’s done more with less, gently remind that person that the 2006 Coach of the Year was Tony Dungy.

Dolphins at Patriots

4:15 p.m., CBS

Think you had it rough during last Sunday’s storm? Talk to someone who went to Foxborough and had to deal with the mess down there.

Redskins at Vikings

8:15 p.m., NBC

This is pretty much all the NFL has to offer for meaningful, do-or-die football this late in the season. Ah, parity.

Monday

Broncos at Chargers

8 p.m., ESPN

Go to bed early or watch “A Christmas Story.” Merry Christmas.