NFL Week 11 predictions: Here’s throwing caution to the wind
What do you expect during Week 11 of this NFL season?
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports photograph
Predicting NFL games is akin to predicting the weather in Wisconsin … the weathermen give it their best shot, but they are rarely right. There are too many intangibles that come into play halfway through the expected outcome.
That’s why I do this exercise in futility each week with a slight curl of the edges of my mouth and an eyebrow raised – usually at the end of each game.
Nevertheless, here we go one more time to predict this Week 11 in the NFL. Some I’ll get right, most I won’t (in fact, I won’t even tell you my season average – mainly because I don’t know it, nor do I dare want to know).
Let’s have fun out there today rooting for your favorite team. I know I will.
Chicago Bears vs. Baltimore Ravens
Playing at home without Jay Cutler isn’t such a big deal with Josh McCown at the helm for the Bears. While I would love to see the Monsters of the Midway lose today, I don’t think it will happen. I see too many offensive weapons for McCown to work with today as the Bears go on to win, 24-20
Detroit Lions vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have been nothing short of pathetic for the most part this season and I simply don’t see them slowing down the offensive juggernaut in Detroit. Not only do I have Calvin Johnson on my fantasy team, but his chemistry with Matthew Stafford will be overwhelming once again. Detroit wins 34-16.
Green Bay Packers vs. New York Giants
The Packers are in disarray, the Giants are just plain bad, but that doesn’t mean this won’t be a good game. Playing with their third string QB, the Packers will keep it close, but once again their defense will be soft. Giants win at home, 20-17.
New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills
The Bills love to run the ball, the Jets love to stop the run. Something’s gotta give today and it will be the Bills doing the giving. Geno Smith is turning into a pretty good game manager and he will help manage his team to victory. Jets 24 Bills 13.
Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The battle of Ohio turns into a battle of defensive units, but the Bengals will prove they have the better unit. Not only that, but Cincinnati is significantly better on the offensive side of the ball. Bengals 28 Browns 17.
Oakland Raiders vs. Houston Texans
Ready for a nap? If you’re watching this one, you might want to nap between touchdown passes to Andre Johnson. If the Raiders pass defense continues to be as bad as in the recent past, you can expect the Texans to win big in this one. Houston 32 Oakland 10
Arizona Cardinals vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Let’s get right to it – the Jags aren’t going to win this week. In fact, you might see the Cardinals’ defense outscoring the Jags’ offense in this one. Either way, this one will come down to turnovers – with most, if not all of them, going to the Cardinals. Sprinkle in some offense and the Cards win 23-13.
Washington Redskins vs. Philadelphia Eagles
is Nick Foles for real? Well, you might ask the Raiders and Packers. He’s got some decent weapons, the team can run the ball and they will get just enough defense against a reeling RGIII in this one. Eagles win 21-16.
Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Does anyone really care who wins this game? OK, I guess there are some Falcons and Bucs fans out there – somewhere. Anyway, this will be won by the better team (but not a very good one at this point), the Atlanta Falcons, 26-13.
San Diego Chargers vs. Miami Dolphins
Coming off a game where they lost to the previously winless Bucs, the Dolphins are still reeling from the Richie Incognito fallout. It’s amazing how a single controversy can disrupt. Philip Rivers and the Chargers have their way with the Dolphins today, 27-20.
San Francisco 49ers vs. New Orleans Saints
In what could be the best game of the weekend (my apologies to Broncos and Chiefs fans), Drew Brees will continue to impress. He’s so good at slicing apart defenses, the Niners will be sorry they had the Saints on their schedule. The Saints come away after this one vying for the title of best NFC team. Brees and the Saints win easily, 28-16.
Minnesota Vikings vs. Seattle Seahawks
The return of Percy Harvin to the league against his former team is fun, but it won’t have much of an impact overall. The Seahawks will win easily, but they will win for more reasons than just having Harvin on their side of the ball. They are just a lot better than the Vikings. Seahawks win 42-13.
Denver Broncos vs. the Kansas City Chiefs
OK, so you think this is the biggest game of the day. KC is unbeaten and the Broncos have Peyton Manning and Wes Welker. Yes, it’s a big game. The Chiefs have to lose sometime and we don’t want the champagne for those guys in Miami to get warm, so the Broncos do just enough to win this one, 29-22.
Carolina Panthers vs. New England Patriots
Is Cam Newton as good as everyone thinks? Well, I hope so because I have him on my fantasy team, too. Is he better than Tom Brady? I think on this field he will be. The Panthers also have a defense – one of the best in the league – and they will show it all against the Patriots. Brady will make a game of it because, well because he’s Tom Brady – but the Panthers win 17-16.