The 2011 NFL season became even more competitive thanks to some of the upsets we saw last week. The Philadelphia Eagles look about done for the season after their loss to the Arizona Cardinals while the New England Patriots bounced back to sweep the New York Jets for the season.
Below are my predictions for Week 11 of the 2011 NFL season. Last week there were several games that surprised many of, leaving me with an 8-8 record. I will try to rebound this week for the NFL Pick’em contest.
New York Jets vs. Denver Broncos
The Jets are in dire straits if they want to reach the playoffs at the end of the 2011 NFL season. On top of needing a win, they will need to find a way to shut down the running game of the Broncos, led by Tim Tebow. The Jets will be able to do this by loading the box and letting their secondary make sure none of the wide receivers get behind them. Future Broncos’ opponents should pay attention to this game for the game plan to shut down Tebow.
Jets 21 Broncos 10
Oakland Raiders vs. Minnesota Vikings
The Raiders are clinging to a decent chance of earning the AFC West title this year. On the flip side, the Vikings are eager for this season to be over sooner than later. Both offensive units are going to focus on running the ball and running the ball. The Vikings’ defense is going to do a good job harassing the Raiders’ Carson Palmer but it will not be enough as they lose in front of a home crowd.
Raiders 17 Vikings 14
Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins
The Bills, who are still smarting from the Cowboys throttling, are hoping for a better showing this week when they travel South Florida to take on the Dolphins, winners of their last two games. The Dolphins offense has been kick started by the performance of Reggie Bush who has been a touchdown machine in their last two wins. The Bills defense will step up and perform better this week as they help to slow the team’s free fall.
Bills 24 Dolphins 17
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens
The Bengals, who are entering the tough part of their schedule, lost a close one to the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. Meanwhile the Ravens need to figure out a way to win those games against lesser opponents if they want to be the top dog in the AFC. The Ravens will bounce back this week and hand the Bengals their second loss in a row and fourth of the 2011 NFL season.
Ravens 28 Bengals 10
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cleveland Browns
In the least likely entertaining game of the week, the Jaguars will travel up north to take on the Browns. Both teams have been struggling on offense and have not been able to find any consistency. The Jaguars are going to rely upon their running game led by Maurice Jones-Drew as they try to earn their fourth win of the NFL season. Even though the Browns are 2-3 at home, chalk up another loss for them.
Jaguars 14 Browns 10
Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins
The Cowboys offense exploded last week and showed everyone why they should still be considered a threat if the can wiggle their way into the 2011 NFL playoff picture. Their offense led by rookie DeMarco Murray is going to have a field day against a Redskins team that has hit rock bottom in recent weeks. The Redskins offense is going to struggle, especially their passing game, thanks to the pass rush of the Cowboys.
Cowboys 27 Redskins 17
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Green Bay Packers
The Buccaneers are in danger of being home for the holidays. They will be facing the Packers, who are undefeated, on the road this Sunday. The Packers’ defense finally showed up on Monday night and will be ready for the struggling offense of the Bucs. The big key to this game will be if the Bucs defense can find a way to slow down the Packers to keep the game close. It will start out close but the Packers will pull away by the half.
Packers 31 Buccaneers 21
Carolina Panthers vs. Detroit Lions
Both the Panthers and the Lions enter this contest coming off a dismal defeat in Week 10 where each team lost by twenty points or more. The Lions have shown what they are capable on defense when faced with a running quarterback like Cam Newton. The Panthers defense has done a solid job this season but they are going to find themselves in the hole early in this game and unable to climb out.
Lions 24 Panthers 10
Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers
The Cardinals pulled off a shocker last week when they were able to come back against the Philadelphia Eagles. Now they are charged with taking on the second best team in the NFC, the 49ers, who continue to win. The 49ers defense is going to have a field day with the banged up Cardinals as they help directed them one step closer to a NFC West title.
49ers 23 Cardinals 10
Seattle Seahawks vs. St. Louis Rams
While it has not happened a lot during the 2011 NFL season, both the Seahawks and Rams are coming off wins last week. And just like last week, the key to their success in Week 11 is going to be their ability to run the ball. The Seahawks defense has shown more ability this year to shut down the opposition and make the big play when needed. That will happen again this week as they earn their fourth win of the season.
Seahawks 23 Rams 14
San Diego Chargers vs. Chicago Bears
The Chargers have reached a point during their 2011 NFL season where they need to either put up or shut up. They will be taking on a Bears who are going to be on cloud nine coming off two solid wins in recent weeks. You can expect a partial let down for the Bears, but the home crowd will be enough to help them earn a win by three points.
Bears 27 Chargers 24
Tennessee Titans vs. Atlanta Falcons
The Titans, who are now back into the NFL playoff race thanks to an injury sustained by the Houston Texans’ Matt Schaub, will be facing a Falcons team who gave a win to the New Orleans Saints last week thanks to a fourth down call. Both teams rely on the running game to help open the opposing defenses. We should see a high scoring game thanks to the field at Atlanta while the home team gets the slight edge.
Falcons 28 Titans 23
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants
Despite what some folks think, the Eagles playoff hopes are done, but now they can play the role of spoiler by running the Giants chances of winning the NFC East. The Giants, who seemed to take a step back last week against the San Francisco 49ers , will need their front seven to step up and contain the Eagles’ LeSean McCoy.
Giants 31 Eagles 17
Kansas City Chiefs vs. New England Patriots
Monday night football is going to be a snooze fest when the Patriots play host to the Chiefs. The Chiefs, who looked down right pitiful against the Broncos last week will need to find a way to break out of their offensive funk. Even with their obvious holes on defense, the Patriots will manage to shut down the Chiefs passing game and help secure their fourth win of the 2011 NFL season at home.
Patriots 24 Chiefs 7
2011 NFL Season Record 93-51
