GREEN
BAY AT SEAHAWKS (4-5)
Thursday, 8:20 p.m. ET, CenturyLink Field,
Seattle
TV: Fox, NFL Network
Packers’ keys to victory: QB Aaron
Rodgers struggled with a knee injury over the first half of the season
but finally has shed his bulky brace and seems to be on the mend. With more
time on the practice field, Rodgers should start to jell more with his wide
receivers and former Seahawks TE Jimmy Graham. The defense had
allowed 31, 30, 29 and 31 points in its last four games before limiting the
Miami Dolphins to 12 in Week 10. The Packers, who have lost all four of their
road games this year, need to put together a complete game to keep any shot at the
playoffs alive.
Seahawks’ keys to victory: The
Seahawks came out of their early bye week as healthy as they’ve been all
season, but recent setbacks have left some starters on the bench. RB Rashaad
Penny ran for 108 yards in the Week 10 loss to the Los Angeles Rams,
and Seattle will need more of that if RB Chris Carson remains
sidelined by a hip injury. Seattle’s defenders still need to be wary
of Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, an expert at exploiting young secondaries.
CenturyLink Field is still a hostile environment for opponents, but the
Seahawks will need to start fast and play clean to convince the Packers.
Matchup to watch: Packers QB Aaron Rodgers
vs. Seahawks pass rush. DE Frank Clark and DT Jarran
Reed have handled the bulk of the work for the new-look Seattle
defensive line, but the rest of the rotation will have to show up to stop
Rodgers.
Who wins? The Seahawks
need to clean up their sloppy play, strike quickly and keep the turnovers down.
Do that and they win.
Seahawks, 27-20
COWBOYS
(4-5) AT FALCONS (4-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Mercedes-Benz Stadium,
Atlanta
TV: Fox
Cowboys’ keys to victory: The
passing offense was so lifeless in the first half of the season; they gave up a
first-round pick to the Raiders to acquire WR Amari Cooper. The
Cowboys will need him to carry a receiver corps that has little ability outside
of elusive slot WR Cole Beasley. QB Dak Prescott
has to build off his performance in the Week 10 victory at Philadelphia —
Dallas can’t rely so much on RB Ezekiel Elliott and the
offensive line to lead the way. Defensively, the Cowboys need to start
generating more takeaways.
Falcons’ keys to victory: Atlanta
brought in former Raiders and Seahawks DE Bruce Irvin to help
boost the pass rush, but it was nowhere to be found last week. The Falcons have
to generate much more pressure than they did on rookie Browns QB Baker
Mayfield (zero hits, zero sacks). Missed tackles and bad angles also
plagued the Atlanta defense, which clearly was missing LB Deion Jones. On
the other side of the ball, someone other than WR Julio Jones has
to step up and start producing. Rookie WR Calvin Ridley has
been quiet lately after a hot start and has scored only once in his last five
games.
Matchup to watch: Cowboys DE DeMarcus
Lawrence vs. Falcons RT Ryan Schraeder. Dallas doesn’t have
many pass-rush threats, but Lawrence makes up for a lot. He leads the team with
6 1 / 2 sacks heading into Week 11. Schraeder has had some issues
against top-tier pass rushers this season.
Who wins? Atlanta is the
more talented team and is at home.
Falcons, 31-21
BENGALS
(5-4) AT RAVENS (4-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, M& T Bank Stadium,
Baltimore
TV: CBS
Bengals’ keys to victory: The
offense took advantage of the middle of the field in a Week 2 win over the
Ravens and must do so again. With WR A.J. Green out, that task
will fall primarily to RB Joe Mixon and TE C.J. Uzomah. Head
coach Marvin Lewis, a former defensive coordinator, takes over
the role for Teryl Austin, who was fired after Cincinnati became the first team
in the Super Bowl Era to give up 500 yards in three consecutive games. If he
can get the Bengals to lock down WR John Brown, the rest of the inconsistent
Baltimore passing offense should be easier to contain.
Ravens’ keys to victory: If
QB Joe Flacco plays despite his hip injury; the Ravens must
get better offensive line play to have a chance. There also needs to
be a bigger commitment to running the ball throughout the game. Those
two things would allow the passing game to open up a little more
than in recent games. Defensively, the Ravens need to shut down WR
Tyler Boyd and RB Joe Mixon. That can be done by
putting pressure on QB Andy Dalton and getting a stout performance from
the defensive line.
Matchup to watch: Bengals DT Geno Atkins vs.
Ravens LG Alex Lewis. Atkins had two sacks and was in the
backfield all day when he faced Lewis in Week 2. Lewis has not had a great
season and will need to keep Atkins from wreaking havoc again.
Who wins? Both teams are
beat up, but the Ravens know this game might be their last chance to save their
season. A loss would all but remove them from the playoff picture and possibly
cost some people their jobs.
Ravens, 23-21
PANTHERS
(6-3) AT LIONS (3-6)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Ford Field, Detroit
TV: Fox
Panthers’ keys to victory:
Carolina must shake off a dismal loss at Pittsburgh and get the defense back on
track. The Panthers defense allowed nearly 8 yards per play and couldn’t slow
the Steelers offense. The defensive line, led by DT Kawann Short, needs
to generate pressure on Lions QB Matthew Stafford, who has not been sharp. The
Lions offensive line has struggled, which could portend a big game for DEs Mario
Addison and Julius Peppers.
Lions’ keys to victory: The
redzone offense needs to perk up. Carolina ranks 31st in red-zone defense and
has not stopped an opponent from scoring a touchdown inside the 20 in the last
three games. Detroit’s offense must capitalize and convert red-zone
opportunities into touchdowns instead of settling for field goals from K Matt
Prater .Picking up the offensive pace and playing to QB
Matthew Stafford’s strength
in up-tempo situations should set up the Lions for longer drives
and more red-zone opportunities. Coming off three progressively lifeless
losses, creating early momentum is imperative.
Matchup to watch: Panthers RB Christian
McCaffrey vs. Lions LB Jarrad Davis. McCaffrey, a
multidimensional weapon, presents a major challenge for the inconsistent Davis,
but if the Lions linebacker can contain him it’s a big asset.
Who wins? Carolina has
too many paths to victory over the reeling Lions, who would need a much better
all-around effort than they’ve shown in recent weeks to pull off the home
upset.
Panthers, 30-17
TITANS
(5-4) AT COLTS (4-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Lucas Oil Stadium,
Indianapolis
TV: CBS
Titans’ keys to victory: While
the Titans offense has been lackluster for most of the season, they have had
success using Rodions Lewis as a runner and as a pass catcher. QB Marcus
Mariota will need to continue spreading the ball, a common factor in
Tennessee’s victories. Against a solid Colts offensive line, the Titans must
get pressure on QB Andrew Luck to keep him from picking apart the defense.
Stuffing the Colts’ rushing attack also will be vital.
Colts’ keys to victory: They
need to continue to seek balance in their offense, and RB Marlon Mack plays
a key role. When QB Andrew Luck has time in the pocket, Coach
Frank Reich’s play calling is more effective. Defensively, the Colts
must stay strong up front. Rookie LB Darius Leonard leads the
run defense, and DE Jabaal Sheard needs to jumpstart a pass rush
that has been stagnant lately; the Colts haven’t had a sack in either of their
last two games even though they won both.
Matchup to watch: Colts RT Braden Smith vs.
Titans OLB Harold Landry. Two second round picks in this
year’s draft square off. Landry has provided solid production in a pass-rushing
role, and Smith’s ability to lock down right tackle has been the biggest
surprise on the Colts offense.
Who wins? Despite being
at home, the Colts fall to the division rival Titans, whose underrated defense
has been particularly effective on the road and is coming off an excellent
performance against QB Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
Titans, 23-20 Kevin Hickey
BUCS
(3-6) AT GIANTS (2-7)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, MetLife Stadium, East
Rutherford, New Jersey
TV: Fox
Giants’ keys to victory: They
must slow down the top passing offense in the league. With a thin secondary,
the challenge will fall on defensive coordinator James Bettcher, who
must dial up a variety of blitzes and find other ways to keep consistent
pressure on the quarterback. If QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is allowed time to move
around in the pocket and his speedy receivers find space, it could be a long
day for an offense that isn’t built to play catch-up.
Buccaneers’ keys to victory: The
key to beating the Giants is rattling QB Eli Manning and keeping safeties deep
to take the big play away from WR Odell Beckham Jr. The Bucs will have to
bottle up RB Saquon Barkley as best they can at the line of scrimmage and find
ways to get DE Jason Pierre-Paul into the backfield, where he can
wreak havoc on his former team. Offensively, things are as simple as not
turning the ball over and winning the time of possession.
Matchup to Watch: Giants’ offensive tackles
vs. Buccaneers DE Jason Pierre-Paul. When Giants general
manager Dave Gettleman traded JPP before the season, he knew
there was a possibility it could come back to haunt him. LT Nate Solder and
RT Chad Wheeler, who both have struggled this season, will be
tasked with stopping the ex-Giant.
Who wins? The Buccaneers
are a better team with Fitzpatrick at quarterback and the Giants are prone to
giving up big passing plays, particularly over the middle to opposing tight
ends. That will be their doom again Sunday.
Buccaneers, 33-20
TEXANS
(6-3) AT REDSKINS (6-3)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FedExField, Landover,
Maryland
TV: CBS
Texans’ keys to victory: Any
chance Houston has against a tough Washington defense will be determined by the
play of QB Deshaun Watson. He has thrown eight touchdown passes and
no interceptions in his last three games, helping Houston extend its winning
streak to six in a row. His primary target, WR DeAndre Hopkins, ranks
among the league leaders in all the major receiving categories. The Texans
however, have plenty of other playmakers who could pick apart the Redskins.
Defensively, the Texans will need to stop RB Adrian Peterson, who will be extra
excited to play against his hometown team.
Redskins’ keys to victory: To
get past the Texans, the Redskins will need QB Alex Smith to
make an impact. Smith rarely been among the league leaders in passing
statistics, but his numbers this season are even lower than usual. The Redskins
also need RB Adrian Peterson to add another big game to his
strong comeback season and for their defense to duplicate its Week 10 effort
against Tampa Bay.
Matchup to watch: Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins
vs. Redskins CB Josh Norman. It will be interesting
to see how an elite wide receiver fares against one of the best cornerbacks in
the league. But Norman has had some inconsistent moments this season, so he
will need to be locked in.
Who wins? Coming off a
bye week, the Texans likely will be too much for the Redskins to handle on the
both sides of the ball. Look for Washington’s inconsistencies to flare up again
and for Houston to take full advantage.
Texans, 27-14
STEELERS
(6-2-1) AT JAGUARS (3-6)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, TIAA Bank Field,
Jacksonville, Florida
TV: CBS
Steelers’ keys to victory: The
Steelers enter Week 11 with the NFL’s No. 4 offense, but their best bet against
the Jaguars defense is RB James Conner, assuming he clears the
NFL’s concussion protocol. Conner is third in the league with 771 rushing
yards. The Jacksonville defense has had difficulty defending the run this
season, and Pittsburgh’s offensive linemen will aim to continue the physical
approach they’ve established over their last five games. That, in turn, would
create opportunities for WR Antonio Brown.
Jaguars’ keys to victory: Their
best approach would be through the rush, too. RB Leonard Fournette, who
returned in Week 10 after missing four games because of a hamstring injury, ran
for 290 yards and five touchdowns in two games against the Steelers last
season, one in the regular season and the other in the playoffs. A good day by
Fournette could give QB Blake Bortles more time to throw
against a Pittsburgh passing defense that has been so-so.
Bortles’ main target probably would be WR Dede Westbrook.
Matchup to watch: Jaguars CB Jalen Ramsey vs.
Steelers WR Antonio Brown. While Conner should be the main source
of offense, Brown is without a doubt Pittsburgh’s best player. With CB A.J. Bouye’s status
in question, Brown could see a lot of snaps against Ramsey, considered by many
the best corner in football.
Who wins? The Jaguars
look like a shell of their 2017 team, while the Steelers are hot. If they can
put the game in Bortles’ hands, it should result in a Steelers win.
Steelers, 24-17
RAIDERS
(1-8) AT CARDINALS (2-7)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, State Farm Stadium,
Glendale, Arizona
TV: CBS
Raiders’ keys to victory: It’s
all about pressure on the quarterback. The Raiders have to make Cardinals QB
Josh Rosen uncomfortable, and they need to protect QB
Derek Carr against an
Arizona defense that has had multiple sacks in every game this season. The
Cardinals sacked Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes five times in Week 10,
and the Chiefs had allowed only 12 sacks all season before that.
Cardinals’ keys to victory: Keeping
RB David Johnson involved is a must. Since Byron
Leftwich took over as offensive coordinator, Johnson has had two good
games — including 183 total yards and two touchdowns last week — and again is
the focal point of the offense. However, despite fighting hard against Kansas
City, the Cardinals allowed QB Josh Rosen to be sacked five
times and get hit numerous other times. Rosen’s two interceptions made the
difference in the loss to the Chiefs, and in the last four games he has been
sacked 18 times.
Matchup to watch: Raiders LT Kolton Miller
vs. Cardinals DE Chandler Jones. Jones picked up two sacks
against the Chiefs, raising his season total to 8 1 / 2, and
has had at least one sack in seven of nine games this season. Miller,
meanwhile, has struggled this year. If Jones continues to play the way he has,
it will be a long day for Oakland.
Who wins? Oakland
continues to look like a team that doesn’t really want to win, and the
Cardinals get another big game from David Johnson.
Cardinals, 27-13
BRONCOS (3-6) AT CHARGERS (7-2)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, Stub-Hub Center,
Carson, California
TV: CBS
Broncos’ keys to victory: Denver
is coming off a bye and should be adjusted to life without WR Demaryius Thomas,
traded to the Houston Texans. QB Case Keenum appears to be trending
in the wrong direction, and it came at the worst time. He’ll need to take care
of the ball, which hasn’t been easy for him. The Broncos still have a good
defense and boast one of the top passing defenses in the league. They’ll need
to continue to excel to stymie the Chargers’ high-flying offense, and forcing turnovers
would help.
Chargers’ keys to victory: The
Chargers don’t always look pretty, but they continue to get the job done. The
offense faces its stiffest test to date against a Broncos defense that still
can get after the passer and make life tough on a good passing offense. RB Melvin
Gordon had 165 total yards last week and continues to carry
the Chargers both on the ground and through the air. The defense,
meanwhile, thrives on sacks and turnovers. If the Chargers are able to
force Broncos QB Case Keenum into some mistakes, they should win easily.
Matchup to watch: Chargers WR Keenan Allen
vs. Broncos CB Chris Harris. One of the top
receivers in the game goes against one of the best corners, but being the No. 1
cornerback is new to Harris. The team that wins this matchup wins the game.
Who wins: Unlike the
previous defenses the Chargers have played, Denver has a shot to hold them
under 20 points. But it still won’t be enough to get the Broncos out of their
recent doldrums.
Chargers, 23-14
EAGLES
(4-5) AT SAINTS (8-1)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Mercedes- Benz
Superdome, New Orleans
TV: Fox
Eagles’ keys to victory: Hitting
the Saints deep downfield. The Saints’ weakest defensive back is FS Marcus
Williams, whose entire style of play changed after the traumatic
Minneapolis Miracle. Going after him and the other sieve in the secondary — CB P.J.
Williams, in the slot — will generate big plays. Philly needs to let
QB Carson Wentz and newly acquired WR Golden Tate get
into a groove early. It also must make up for the loss of Ronald Darby,
who is considered the Eagles’ best cornerback but tore an ACL in the Nov.
11 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Saints’ keys to victory: Staying
balanced on offense. The Saints field an offense built around physicality. RBs Alvin
Kamara and Mark Ingram can run over and through opponents,
QB Taysom Hill keeps defenses on their toes and WR Michael
Thomas stresses even the best defensive backs. But funneling too
many touches (especially passing targets) to Kamara and Thomas could tip
their hand and limit what they do on offense. WR Brandon Marshall,
whom the Saints added this week, could help open up the offense.
Matchup to watch: Eagles RT Lane Johnson vs.
Saints DE Cam Jordan. Jordan hasn’t seen many one-on-one
protection looks, but the Eagles are one of the few teams equipped for it with
an elite right tackle in Johnson.
Who wins? The Saints have
an eight-game winning streak, and it’s going to end eventually. But it’s hard
to see the Eagles’ shaky defense slowing them down.
Saints, 35-24
VIKINGS
(5-3-1) AT BEARS (6-3)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, Soldier Field, Chicago
TV: NBC
Vikings’ keys to victory: The
pass rush found new life heading into the bye week, and the Vikings need that
to carry over into Chicago. Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky has struggled against
the blitz and under pressure this season, but he has been efficient when he has
had time to throw. The return of DE Everson Griffen has made a huge
difference, and Minnesota will need him to be a complementary threat to DE Danielle
Hunter. If the Vikes also can get an interior pass rush from DTs Tom
Johnson and Sheldon Richardson, their defense shouldn’t
have too much trouble with Trubisky.
Bears’ keys to victory: The
return of OLB Khalil Mack last week provided a much needed boost,
and the Bears have thrived from creating turnovers in the past
two games. Vikings QB Kirk Cousins is hitting his stride but can’t
get too comfortable in the pocket if the Bears are to win. The Bears’
pass rush allows their defensive backs to play with
more confidence, and when their defense is clicking, it takes pressure off
QB Mitchell Trubisky and the offense. If the Bears can get a few
big plays from their defense, they’ll be in position to expand their NFC North
lead.
Matchup to watch: Vikings WR Adam Thielen vs.
Bears CB Kyle Fuller. Fuller has been executing lockdown coverage
lately, but he hasn’t faced a receiver of Thielen’s caliber yet this season.
Who wins? The Bears are
clicking at the right time in a critical portion of their schedule, but the
Vikings can match them blow for blow in what should be an exciting prime-time
showdown.
Vikings, 24-23
CHIEFS
(9-1) VS. RAMS (9-1)
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, Los Angeles, California
TV: ESPN
Chiefs’ keys to victory: The
Chiefs are so successful because of their high-powered offense, but their
defense will be one of the keys to victory. The secondary is susceptible to big
passing plays, and the run defense also has been gashed on a weekly basis. LBs Anthony
Hitchens and Reggie Ragland have to step up and shut
down Rams RB Todd Gurley if the Chiefs are to have any chance to win this game.
There’s no question the Chiefs can score in bunches, but it’s going to come
down to whether they can slow down the Rams offense.
Rams’ keys to victory: Like
the Chiefs, the Rams can score almost at will. They’re near the top of the
league in just about every offensive statistic. With the Chiefs defense
struggling this could be a shootout, though Los Angeles will be without WR Cooper
Kupp (out for the season with a torn knee ligament). The key will be
slowing down Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt, WR Tyreek Hill and TE Travis Kelce. CB
Marcus Peters has
to hold on for one more game without CB Aqib Talib, while S John
Johnson will be tasked with covering Kelce.
Matchup to watch: Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill vs.
Rams CB Marcus Peters. Peters has struggled this season
without Talib, and Hill presents a major problem. Peters doesn’t have great
speed and could have trouble keeping up with Hill, as most corners do.
Who wins? The Rams proved
their defense couldn’t stop the Saints, and Kansas City has even more weapons
than New Orleans. Ultimately, the Chiefs offense will be too much.
Chiefs, 40-35
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