Amid an outbreak of positive coronavirus tests fueled by the Omicron variant, the N.F.L. re-formatted its testing strategy, doing away with daily checks and testing only players who are symptomatic or are deemed to have had a close contact to a positive case.
But players have still tested positive, ending up on the Covid-19 reserve list, making it clear that the pandemic will likely impact the competitive balance as teams make their playoff pushes.
This week’s games have important postseason ramifications. The Ravens and the Bengals will meet in a crucial A.F.C. North game, the Bills and the Patriots will have a rematch of their frigid chess match and the Steelers have a must-win game against Kansas City.