Heralded as the game of the week, the showdown in Louisiana lived up to expectations, with Jimmy Garoppolo throwing for four touchdowns and 349 yards, while Drew Brees answered with 349 passing yards of his own and five touchdown passes.

While the 49ers are yet to clinch a postseason berth, they vaulted back to the top of the NFC after the Seattle Seahawks suffered a first defeat in six games, as they lost 28-12 in Los Angeles against the Rams.

After a gruelling three-game stretch that included games against the Packers, Ravens and Saints, San Francisco’s schedule gets easier next week, with the 49ers hosting the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday afternoon.

The Saints, meanwhile, welcome the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football, as they look to climb back into the top two spots in the NFC. Indianapolis’ 38-35 defeat in Tampa Bay in Week 14 was its fifth in the last six games and left the Colts at 6-7 and with a mountain to climb to clinch a wildcard berth in the AFC.

The loss to the Buccaneers was made even worse by the fact Colts spurned the chance to close the gap on the Houston Texans, who remain in charge of the AFC South despite suffering a 38-24 loss at home to the Denver Broncos.

Houston travels to Tennessee on Sunday, taking on a Titans team that is firmly in the race for a wildcard spot after winning six of their past seven games, including a 42-21 thrashing of Oakland on Sunday.

Elsewhere in the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs clinched a fourth consecutive AFC West title and a playoff spot with a 23-16 road win over New England, which handed the Patriots a first defeat at home in two years.

The Chiefs have overtaken Houston in third place in the AFC standings and travel to Denver on Sunday afternoon looking to extend their winning run to four games.

The Patriots, meanwhile, will be hoping to avoid a third consecutive defeat when they take on the Bengals on the road on Sunday. The reigning Super Bowl champions remain second in the AFC, but Kansas City has closed the gap to just one game and the Patriots slipped further behind Baltimore.

The Ravens made it nine wins in a row and secured a playoff spot with a 24-17 road win in Buffalo and have a two-game lead over the Patriots, courtesy of holding the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Baltimore can take another step towards securing first spot and home advantage throughout the playoffs when they host the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football.

The Bills, meanwhile, take their 9-4 record to Pittsburgh on Sunday Night Football against a Steelers team that has won seven of its last eight games and currently holds the final AFC wildcat spot.

Elsewhere in Week 15, the 10-3 Green Bay Packers welcome NFC North rivals Chicago Bears looking to consolidate second spot in the NFC, while the Bears need a fourth consecutive win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

Here’s all you need to know about Week 15.

TV coverage

The current season marks the sixth year under the current broadcast contract with ESPN, CBS, FOX and NBC.

CBS and FOX, meanwhile, will carry the Sunday afternoon games.

Live stream

Live stream will be available through the four broadcasters’ digital platforms, which includes apps on Apple and Android devices as well as via connected TVs. Similarly, NFL Network’s game pass will be available via connected TVs and on mobile devices.

Live stream will also be available via fuboTV and DirecTV.

TV schedule (all times ET)

Thursday, December 12

Sunday, December 15

New England Patriots @ Cincinnati Bengals—1 p. m. , CBSTampa Bay Buccaneers @ Detroit Lions—1 p. m. , FOXHouston Texans @ Tennessee Titans—1 p. m. , CBSDenver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs—1 p. m. , CBSMiami Dolphins @ New York Giants—1 p. m. , CBSPhiladelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins—1 p. m. , FOXSeattle Seahawks @ Carolina Panthers—1 p. m. , FOXChicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers—1 p. m. , FOXMinnesota Vikings @ Los Angeles Chargers—4:05 p. m. , CBSJacksonville Jaguars @ Oakland Raiders—4:05 p. m. , CBSCleveland Browns @ Arizona Cardinals—4:05 p. m. , CBSLos Angeles Rams @ Dallas Cowboys—4:25 p. m. , FOXAtlanta Falcons @ San Francisco 49ers—4:25 p. m. , FOXBuffalo Bills @ Pittsburgh Steelers—8:20 p. m. , NBC

Monday, December 16

Indianapolis Colts @ New Orleans Saints—8:15 p. m. , ESPN