NFL fans are in for treat during October, with the upcoming schedule packed with a host of blockbuster fixtures.
The second quarter of the season often gives us a clearer picture of who will be battling for a play-off berth later in the campaign.
With that in mind, we take a look at five fixtures you cannot afford to miss in the NFL over the next few weeks.
Buffalo Bills v Pittsburgh Steelers – October 9
The Bills are the favourites with NFL betting site Betway to win the Super Bowl and could be tough to stop in their quest to lift the trophy for the first time.
They romped to victory in their first two games of the season, before slipping to a narrow defeat against Miami Dolphins in their third outing.
With the Steelers failing to adequately replace legendary quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, this should be a comfortable victory for the Bills.
Kansas City Chiefs v Buffalo Bills – October 16
The Chiefs have been one of the top teams in the NFL for several seasons now and will be a useful yardstick of the Bills’ title credentials in this match-up,
They posted a 2-1 record in their opening three games this term and are generally tough to beat at the Arrowhead Stadium.
However, the Bills triumphed 38-20 on their last visit to Kansas and will fancy their chances of repeating the trick here.
New England Patriots v Chicago Bears – October 24
The post-Tom Brady era has inevitably been difficult for the Patriots and it may take them some time to climb back to the top of the mountain.
They made a disappointing start to the new season and could have their work cut out against a Bears team that may emerge as play-off contenders.
The Bears struggled last term, but appear to be heading in the right direction this year and could cause the Patriots plenty of problems.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Baltimore Ravens – October 27
This battle of two teams with Super Bowl aspirations could be THE standout game in October, particularly given the quarterbacks on show.
Brady continues to defy the sands of time with the Bucs, while Lamar Jackson is unquestionably one of the finest players in the NFL.
If the Ravens’ inconsistent defensive unit can keep Brady quiet, the visitors could give their play-off hopes a massive boost in this one.
Los Angeles Rams v San Francisco 49ers – October 30
The Rams claimed the Super Bowl last season and are on a mission to become the first team since the Patriots (2004) to retain the title.
They bounced back from an opening weekend mauling by the Bills with two consecutive wins and look a good bet to have another strong play-off run.
While the 49ers remain one of the most inconsistent teams in the NFL, they do have the talent to defeat the reigning champions.
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