NFL 2024 (Week 11)

You know there's a big game when they make it nationally exclusive and even the pregame show makes a road trip.  That's certainly the case this week with Bills-Chiefs.  CBS actually hit the jackpot this week.  They've also got Ravens-Steelers.  That's quite a doubleheader!  Although, I'm kinda shocked that Baltimore-Pittsburgh didn't get flexed into Sunday night (I'm sure CBS protected Buffalo-Kansas City, so that likely wasn't even a flexing option).

I'm also kinda shocked that Jets-Colts actually got flexed out!  Have they finally realized that America doesn't deserve to be subjected to the New York Jets every week?  (Only those of us in New York get that pleasure.  But, hey, at least the Jets and Giants can't both lose this week!)  In place of Jets-Colts, it's Chargers-Bengals, which still isn't great, but is much better than the original Sunday night choice.

Thursday Night: Philadelphia (Win)

Packers (6-3) at Bears (4-5): Green Bay-Believe it or not, this is the Bears' first division game of the season.  Which means their record is likely about to come back to Earth after that hot start.  I hope you had fun while it lasted, Bears fans.  While I do think they'll likely beat one of their division foes at some point this season, I don't think it'll be this week.  The Packers win and keep up with the Lions and Vikings heading into a big one with San Francisco next week.

Jaguars (2-8) at Lions (8-1): Detroit-Just when it looked like the game was lost, the Lions got two miracle field goals to stunningly knock off the Texans last week.  If this isn't the best team in the NFL, they're sure up there!  This week, they're back at home to face a Jacksonville team that actually gave Minnesota a game last week.  Can they do the same on the road against the Lions?

Vikings (7-2) at Titans (2-7): Minnesota-While I still think the Vikings are only the third-best team in the NFC North, they keep making their case for the playoffs.  They were 5-0.  Then they lost two straight.  Now they've won two straight, and neither one was exactly pretty.  With the NFC North playing the whole AFC South this season, the NFC North teams need to be their three non-Texans AFC South opponents.  Especially with how close the division race is playing out.

Raiders (2-7) at Dolphins (3-6): Miami-The Dolphins going into SoFi and beating the Rams was perhaps the most surprising result last week.  If they can follow it up with a win over the Raiders, a second half run to a wild card spot might not be too crazy a thought after all.  With their remaining schedule, it certainly looks possible.  If they lose to Las Vegas, though, that chance becomes even slimmer.

Rams (4-5) at Patriots (3-7): New England-Last week was, without a doubt, the Patriots' best game of the season.  They went into Chicago and beat the Bears from start to finish.  The Rams, meanwhile, suffered a bad loss to the Dolphins last week, which dropped them to the bottom of the NFC West standings.  I still don't really know what to make of them.  On paper, the Rams should beat the Patriots no problem.  In reality, I think a New England victory is very realistic.

Browns (2-7) at Saints (3-7): New Orleans-Can the Saints do what the Raiders did last season and turn their season around under an interim head coach?  Because they looked like an entirely different team last week!  And they beat Atlanta, who's actually good.  Now they get Cleveland, who isn't.  Look for the Saints to make it two in a row.

Colts (4-6) at Jets (3-7): Indianapolis-Both of these teams are badly in need of a win.  The Colts have dropped three straight.  The Jets are the Jets.  A lot has gone wrong this season that even a coaching change couldn't fix.  Yes, they upset the Texans two weeks ago.  Then they went to Arizona and got slaughtered 31-6.  If the Colts have any chance of getting back into the playoff race, they need to not fall into the same trap as Houston.  You can't lose to the Jets when you have games against the Bills and Lions on either side of them.

Ravens (7-3) at Steelers (7-2): Pittsburgh-Whenever Pittsburgh and Baltimore meet, you know it's gonna be a grind-it-out battle.  That's especially true when first place is on the line.  They're both in good shape to make the playoffs, and they're both coming off a crazy one-point win.  It sure looks like we're gonna get another classic chapter in this epic rivalry.  I can see them splitting the season series, with the home team winning both games.  And, since this one's in Pittsburgh, the Steelers take the first game.

Falcons (6-4) at Broncos (5-5): Denver-Sean Payton deserves a ton of credit for that turnaround in Denver.  All he needed was to get the right personnel in, and now we're seeing the fruits of his labor.  Of course, playing in the same division as the Chiefs means a wild card is probably the best they can hope for.  And we saw them almost beat Kansas City last week!  They're still in wild card position, but need this one to avoid dropping below .500.  More importantly, they need this one to stop a two-game losing streak and prove they can beat a good team.

Seahawks (4-5) at 49ers (5-4): San Francisco-With the first-place Cardinals on their bye week, this game presents an important opportunity for both teams.  Either the 49ers, who haven't played well this season at all, will be tied for first or the Seahawks will be right back in the race.  It's quite a difference from the first meeting between these two, when the 49ers won in Seattle on a Thursday night.  Seattle is 1-4 since starting 3-0.  San Francisco is has won two straight since starting 3-4.  Clearly these two teams are headed in opposite directions.

Chiefs (9-0) at Bills (8-2): Buffalo-Kansas City has found every possible way to win a game this season.  Last week, it was a blocked field goal on the last play of the game.  The Chiefs' luck has to be running out, though.  They've been very public about wanting to go undefeated, but you've gotta think a loss is coming eventually.  And this might be the week.  The Bills are probably the team most equipped to beat them, especially in Buffalo.  And you know they want to avenge last season's playoff defeat!  The winner here will obviously have the head-to-head tiebreaker, too, just in case the importance of this game hasn't already been stressed enough.

Bengals (4-6) at Chargers (6-3): Chargers-Jim Harbaugh's Chargers get the Sunday night treatment for the first time against Joe Burrow and the Bengals.  I'm not gonna sugarcoat it.  Cincinnati's loss to Baltimore was bad.  Not just because of the penalties that weren't called.  Because they were already behind the 8-ball in the playoff race.  They can jump right back in it with a win here, but the Chargers are a good team that's well coached and looks poised to be headed towards a wild card.

Texans (6-4) at Cowboys (3-6): Houston-That loss to the Lions wasn't just devastating emotionally, it really damaged the Texans' playoff standing.  They still have a comfortable lead in the AFC South, but losses in three of their last four have dropped them to the 4-seed.  So, they need to straighten things out if they want to move up.  Speaking of needing to straighten things out, may I present the Dallas Cowboys?  Simply put, they're a mess.  They're 0-4 at home and have been outscored 81-15 in their last two at Jerry's World.

*GREY CUP-Argonauts (10-8) vs Blue Bombers (11-7): Winnipeg-As per usual, I'm making a special bonus pick with the Grey Cup.  Last season, Toronto had the best record in the CFL, but got upset by Montreal in the Eastern Division Final.  This season, it was the reverse.  Montreal had the best record and lost to Toronto.  In the Grey Cup, the Argonauts face a Winnipeg team they beat in both regular season matchups.  It's tough to beat a team three times in a season.  Which is why the Blue Bombers are the pick.

This Week: 1-0
Last Week: 8-6
Overall: 90-63