Week Ten was the last week of byes, so every week from here on out is a full slate of games…awesome! And, there are some pretty good ones here in Week Eleven.
Thursday, November 18:
8:20 – Chicago (6-3) at MIAMI (3-6)
Records aside, the Dolphins are a better team. Plus, they are at home, with a better coach on a short week, and they need this game desperately. The Bears are coming off a big win over Minnesota and have the Eagles coming up. I like Miami here on the NFL Network.
Sunday, November 21:
1:00 – BALTIMORE (5-4) at Carolina (6-3)
The Ravens are the better team and will probably really need this game. Plus, they have three extra days to rest and prepare for Carolina’s running attack. I like the Ravens here.
1:00 – Houston (5-4) at N.Y. JETS (6-3)
I’m not as big of a Jets fan as many, so I looked for a reason to pick them to lose this game, but I just couldn’t. The weather in Jersey in the middle of November is probably a much bigger help to the Jets style of play than Houston’s and the Texans are coming off a tough divisional matchup in Jacksonville. The only thing that gave me pause was the short week coming up for the Jets (they play the Bengals on Thanksgiving night), but it wasn’t enough to sway me to the Texans on the road.
1:00 – Arizona (3-6) at KANSAS CITY (3-6)
Early game for a West Coast team. Still a decent homefield advantage. And, honestly, I think the Chiefs are almost as good (if not better) than the Cardinals on a neutral field. Give me the Chiefs here, at home.
1:00 – Washington (3-6) at TENNESSEE (5-4)
I want to take the Redskins here, but it’s just not a good spot. They are coming off of an emotional game against the Eagles on Monday night. The short week, on the road, coming off an emotional game leads me to a pretty easy pick of Tennessee here.
1:00 – Buffalo (1-8) at CINCINNATI (5-4)
The Bengals are coming off a tough game in Indy, and have a short week to prepare for the Jets on Thanksgiving. This would be a really good spot to pick against them in a “trap” game, but the schedule-makers gave them a huge break by giving them the Bills at home here. If my analysis of either of these two teams is even close to correct, then this should be a walkover for Cincy.
1:00 – Oakland (7-2) at PITTSBURGH (4-5)
I almost had to do it again, as the schedule-makers continue to throw gift after gift at the Oakland Raiders. Somehow, I was able to exert enough willpower to just pick the better team here. The Steelers are going to really need this game, so at home, they should be able to get it. But, it’s not a good spot. The Raiders are coming off of a bye, so they’ve had two weeks to prepare for this one. The Steelers, on the other hand, are coming off these three games: @NO, @Cincy, vs. NE. It’s a brutal part of their schedule, and this is no easy game. I had a lot of trouble with this one, but I’m going to go with the Steelers here to pull it out at 1:00 against a West Coast team.
1:00 – Cleveland (2-7) at JACKSONVILLE (3-6)
Just when you think the Jags are done, they get a nice cushy part of their schedule, and they’ve won three straight.
1:00 – Detroit (3-6) at DALLAS (6-3)
I like the Lions this year, but the schedule just won’t give them any breaks. Though the the Cowboys are coming off a tough one with the Giants, they should be able to take care of Detroit here at home, as both teams prepare for their annual Thanksgiving home games.
1:00 – GREEN BAY (6-3) at Minnesota (4-5)
The schedule just keeps throwing haymakers at the Vikings, as they get their chance at hosting the Pack here thwarted by coming off a tough game at Chicago, while Green Bay is coming off of the bye. Two weeks to prepare and all this emotion leads me to thinking that Green Bay should go into the dome and get a big win here.
4:05 – Seattle (1-8) at NEW ORLEANS (7-2)
Saints off of a bye at home against Seattle? No-brainer.
4:05 – ATLANTA (7-2) at St. Louis (1-8)
Atlanta off of their bye at a bad St. Louis team who is coming off of a trip out west. Another easy one.
4:05 – Tampa Bay (1-8) at SAN FRANCISCO (5-4)
A bad Bucs team out west to face a decent Niners team? Man, these late games are not exactly must-see events, huh?
4:15 – Indianapolis (8-1) at NEW ENGLAND (7-2)
I guess who cares about those other games when you’ve got the game of the week to pay attention to. This one is really tough, obviously. Both teams are coming off tough games (Indy against Cincy, NE at Pitt). Both teams have tough games coming up (Indy hosts SD, NE is at Det on T-giving). In the end, I had to just go with the home team, but I don’t feel confident about it at all, that’s for sure.
8:20 – N.Y. Giants (5-4) at PHILADELPHIA (6-3)
This is a really tough one. The Eagles have a short week of preparation, coming off a Monday night game against Washington. The Giants are coming into this after a brutal game at home against Dallas. Just like the game right above, I have no idea here, so I’m going to reluctantly go with the home team, but it’s 51-49.
Monday, November 22:
8:30 – Denver (3-6) at SAN DIEGO (7-2)
I’m not sure why ESPN picked this game as the Monday night game, but I guess we’ll get some early rest, as this one should be a blowout. The Chargers off the bye, hosting a bad Denver team? Easy win for SD.
STANDINGS AFTER WEEK 11
NFC EAST
7-3 Dallas
7-3 Philadelphia
5-5 N.Y. Giants
3-7 Washington
The Cowboys and Eagles stay atop the division, as the Birds get a huge win over Big Blue. The ‘Skins are pretty much done, at this point, while the Giants need a big finish.
NFC NORTH
7-3 Green Bay
6-4 Chicago
4-6 Minnesota
3-7 Detroit
On the back of a big win at Minnesota, the Packers regain the top spot in the North. The Vikings may have dug themselves too big of a hole now, at 4-6.
NFC SOUTH
8-2 New Orleans
8-2 Atlanta
6-4 Carolina
1-9 Tampa Bay
A slip-up from Carolina gives the two big boys some breathing room here.
NFC WEST
6-4 San Francisco
3-7 Arizona
1-9 Seattle
1-9 St. Louis
At 6-4, the Niners aren’t far away from clinching this division…ugh.
AFC EAST
8-2 New England
7-3 N.Y. Jets
4-6 Miami
1-9 Buffalo
Pats and Jets continue to roll, while the Dolphins get a big win over Chicago to keep their slim chances alive. The Bills have clinched another losing season.
AFC NORTH
6-4 Baltimore
6-4 Cincinnati
5-5 Pittsburgh
2-8 Cleveland
The big three all win this week and this division continues to be hotly contested. The Browns have now lost 8 in a row after a 2-0 start.
AFC SOUTH
8-2 Indianapolis
6-4 Tennessee
5-5 Houston
4-6 Jacksonville
Another big win for the Titans puts them into second-place, as the Texans fall back to their familiar .500 record. The Jags have won three straight to make themselves somewhat relevant again.
AFC WEST
8-2 San Diego
7-3 Oakland
4-6 Kansas City
3-7 Denver
The Chargers take the lead back by themselves, as the Raiders fall just short in Pittsburgh. The Chiefs are putting together a nice season, while the Broncos fall to last in the West.
PLAYOFF PICTURE AFTER WEEK 11
NFC
#6 Philadelphia (7-3) at #3 Dallas (7-3)
#5 Atlanta (8-2) at #4 San Francisco (6-4)
t.b.d. vs. #2 Green Bay (7-3)
t.b.d. vs. #1 New Orleans (8-2)
In the mix: Carolina (6-4), Chicago (6-4)
The NFC is starting to take some shape here after 10 games. The Saints are still in the top-spot because of their tiebreaker against Atlanta. The Packers are now #2, having passed the Bears for the North lead, and winning their game against Dallas in Week Nine. The Eagles are by themselves in the 6-spot and are set up for another epic playoff matchup with the hated Cowboys (who have the division because of a better divisional record). And, you can probably pencil in the second-place team from the South (currently, Atlanta) as traveling to San Francisco for the wild card round.
AFC
#6 Oakland (7-3) at #3 Indianapolis (8-2)
#5 N.Y. Jets (7-3) at #4 Cincinnati (6-4)
t.b.d. at #2 New England (8-2)
t.b.d. at #1 San Diego (8-2)
In the mix: Baltimore (6-4), Tennessee (6-4), Pittsburgh (5-5)
The Chargers have now taken the #1 spot, thanks to their win over New England. The Pats are now #2, thanks to their win over Indy this week. The Colts, at 8-2, fall to the 3-spot and will have to play the opening round of the playoffs if things hold as they are now. But, they get a shot to get back into the top two, as they have a showdown with the Chargers in Week Twelve. The Bengals, having beaten Baltimore already this year, win the North and get the #4-spot. The Jets and Raiders are the only two 7-3 wild card contenders, so they get the two spots. The Jets have a better record vs. the AFC, so they are currently #5 with the Raiders #6.
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