Week 15 NFL early games open thread

While you’re waiting for the Falcons to seek unholy vengeance against Kyle Shanahan today, there are games to watch. Some of them are even interesting!

You’ll have Patriots against Bengals, where a team once again embroiled in video-related scandal tries to ply their awful offense against a Cincinnati team gunning for Heisman winner Joe Burrow. You’ll get Buccaneers against Lions, a battle of two NFC underachievers. And you’ll get Seahawks against Panthers, with one of the top teams in the conference squaring off against a Carolina team the Falcons have beaten twice this year.

While you’re watching those, I’d get pickled and maybe grill up some good eats for that Falcons game, which is either going to be a stunning, rollicking good time or an ugly loss you’re going to want to be in an altered state for. Either way, see you back here at 4:25 p.m. on the dot.