The ability to watch live sports programming has long been the reason many Americans pay for overpriced cable packages. And with many millennials opting to cut the cord, NFL prime time games have taken a ratings hit. But after last week’s Thursday night game with the Vikings nearly taking down the one-loss Cowboys, we now have a slate of prime time games that could usher in a ratings spike for the rest of the season. Best news of all? If you check the lines at BetPhoenix.com, all of these prime time matchups are within a touchdown.

Let’s preview the prime time games after the jump…

Oakland Raiders @ Kansas City Chiefs (-3) 12/8

This matchup between bitter division rivals should be a great one with the Raiders seeking to get revenge on the Chiefs who beat them earlier in the season. David Carr looks to improve his MVP resume while Alex Smith wants to squash those “game manager” comments made by Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio earlier in the week.

Whoever comes away the winner in this game will lead the competitive AFC West–a division which could see three teams make it into the playoffs and possibly have home field advantage.

 

Dallas Cowboys (-3.5) @ New York Giants 12/11

The Cowboys are the only team in the NFL to have clinched a playoff spot by only losing one game this season. But that one loss has come at the hands of the division rival New York football Giants. Rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott will likely attempt to beat up on that Giants defense who will be without their most important player in Jason Pierre-Paul, who was lost for the season after hernia surgery earlier this week.

If the Prescott can keep up his MVP-type numbers, it also could signal that Dallas may try to rest their starters early so Jerry Jones can give his beloved Tony Romo some late season action while the starters sit the bench.

 

Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots (-7) 12/12

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The Baltimore Ravens are one of those teams that you look at each year and say, “There’s zero chance they’ll make the playoffs” but every year they prove us all wrong by finding a way to win. Speaking of winning ways, the Ravens now get the opportunity to go up against the New England Patriots on Monday night football.

 

While Week 15 leaves much to be desired as far as night games are concerned, we do have Broncos @ Chiefs (12/25) and Lions @ Cowboys (12/26) still left on the prime time schedule.

 

Featured image via Chiefs Twitter