NFL Week 11 games, spreads, predictions, and analysis

Week 11 of the NFL is upon us, and it’s stacked with great games and matchups. I have covered everything you need to know, including analysis and predictions for every game. Week 11 includes a crucial AFC East matchup between the Patriots and Jets, an NFC showdown between the Vikings and Cowboys, and the one-loss Eagles take on Jeff Saturday and the Colts.

Jets (6-3) at Patriots (5-4)

WHERE: Gillette Stadium: Foxborough, MA

TIME: 1:00 p.m.

NETWORK: CBS

SPREAD: Patriots -3

Seen as one of the week’s biggest matchups, the two AFC East rivals will square off for the second time this season in a crucial game for both teams. The Patriots look to extend their winning streak to 14 games against the Jets and their seventh consecutive season sweep. The two teams will be playing for the second time in three weeks, with the Patriots coming out victorious in Week 9, winning 22-17. Both teams are well rested coming off their bye week. The Jets are averaging 219 yards passing, 19th in the league, and own the 18th-best rushing offense, with 116 yards per contest. Sophomore Jets quarterback Zach Wilson is 96 of 167 on the season, throwing for 1,202 yards and four touchdowns against five interceptions. Wilson had to miss the beginning of the season with a knee injury, and Joe Flacco took over quarterback duties completing 91 of 155 passes for 901 yards. The Jets suffered a significant injury loss when rookie Breece Hall went down in Week 8 with a torn ACL. New York acquired running back James Robinson from the Jaguars two weeks ago, who helps veteran Michael Carter in the running game. Carter currently leads the team with 95 carries for 330 yards and four touchdowns. Meanwhile, receiver Garrett Wilson leads the wideouts with 42 receptions for 521 yards and two scores. The Jets’ defense is ranked first, per PFF, earning an 85.1 grade on the season, led by stud rookie cornerback Sauce Gardner.

Onto the Patriots, who improved to 5-4 with a 26-3 home win against the Colts but currently sit at the bottom of the AFC East. The Patriots’ defense has been stellar this season, and in Week 9, they didn’t allow the Colts to move the chains on third down. New England enters Week 11, averaging 202 yards through the air, 23rd in the league, and 117.2 yards on the ground (14th). Their average is 22.6 points a contest, which is good for 14th in the league. However, they have difficulties scoring in the red zone and ranking at the bottom of the league in red zone play. Mac Jones is 111 of 168 passing for 1,140 yards and four touchdowns against seven interceptions. Jones had to miss a couple of games after suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 3 and returned to action in Week 7. Bailey Zappe took over and threw for 781 yards completing 65 of 92 passes and tossing five touchdowns. Rhamondre Stevenson leads the rushing attack with 618 yards on the ground, with 129 carries and 35 receptions for 227 yards. Jakobi Meyers leads the team with 40 receptions and 452 yards while missing two games on the season. The Patriots look to continue their dominance on defense and repeat the success they had against the Jets last matchup.

Prediction: 27-22, Patriots

Bears (3-7) at Falcons (4-6)

WHERE: Mercedes-Benz Stadium: Atlanta, GA

TIME: 1:00 p.m.

NETWORK: FOX

SPREAD: Falcons -3

The Chicago Bears will fly south as they collide with the Atlanta Falcons in an NFC matchup. After the Bears won against the Patriots on Monday Night and moved to 3-4, they have dropped three straight and now sit at the bottom of the NFC. The Falcons have also begun to skid as they have lost two in a row but are second in a terrible NFC South led by the 5-5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bear’s record doesn’t indicate how well quarterback Justin Fields has done in the last month and a half. The sophomore quarterback has thrown eight touchdowns against two interceptions during that span and has rushed for 476 yards on 50 carries, averaging over nine yards an attempt. Justin Fields is showing how he can be the best dual-threat quarterback in the NFL. He has led the Bears to average 31 points during this stretch, but the defense couldn’t hold up their side of the bargain. The Bear’s defense is 25th in the league in scoring and 28th against the run. Chicago will look to turn their recent offensive success and get a win in Atlanta.

Although the Falcons have six losses, they remain in contention for a division title in an appalling NFC South. Atlanta is scoring at a high rate and ranks 12th in the NFL in scoring this season, despite poor offensive pass catchers. However, their rushing attack moves chains for 160.3 yards a game (4th in the league). The Falcons’ defense is a cause for worry, as their numbers aren’t pretty, ranking 18th against the run, and they are last in the league against the pass. Both teams will run the ball as both rushing attacks are top 5, and both defenses aren’t great against the run. The Falcons somehow win games late, usually in bizarre endings, and they should do just enough against a struggling Bears team.

Prediction: 28-21, Falcons

Panthers (3-7) at Ravens (6-3)

WHERE: M&T Bank Stadium: Baltimore, MD

TIME: 1:00 p.m.

NETWORK: FOX

SPREAD: Ravens -13

The Panthers will head to Maryland and face the Ravens in a rare meeting between the two teams. The Panthers are coming off a big division win against the Falcons on Thursday night and are well-rested. On the flip side, the Ravens took down the New Orleans Saints 27-13 in Week 9 and are well-rested off their bye week. The Panthers have scored 20.4 points per game and are averaging just under 300 yards a contest, 30th in the league. Even with the loss of Christian McCaffrey, the Panther’s rushing attack propels the offense. They are running for 118 yards per game, 16th in the NFL. D’Onta Foreman is the RB1 for the Panthers and has run for 426 yards and four touchdowns this season. In last week’s matchup, he ran for 130 yards against his former team. The Panthers’ quarterback situation has been rough this season; they are throwing for 176.2 yards through the air, 28th in the league. P.J. Walker suffered an injury against Atlanta, and Baker Mayfield is expected to start this week with Sam Darnold backing him up. Mayfield has thrown for six touchdowns against four interceptions this season. D.J. Moore leads the receiving game with 478 yards and three touchdowns. Onto the defense, where the Panthers are giving up 24.3 points per contest, which is 24th in the league.

The Ravens are hot, winning three straight wins and leading the AFC North. Offensively, Baltimore is finding the endzone, scoring 26.1 points per game and averaging 354.9 yards per game (12th in the league). Led by Lamar Jackson, the Ravens are producing on the ground, averaging 168.1 rushing yards per game, second in the NFL. Lamar Jackson’s dual-threat ability shows up in the passing game, where he has thrown for 16 touchdowns against six interceptions and leads the team with 635 rushing yards. However, a significant contributor to the Ravens’ passing game is in question Sunday, as tight end Mark Andrews is battling an injury. On the season, he has 488 yards and has caught five touchdowns. Defensively the Ravens are improving as the season is moving along. Their run defense is top-tier, as they’re allowed 92 yards on the ground, but the same can’t be said about the pass defense, which has allowed 258.8 yards a game.

Prediction: 38-14, Ravens

Eagles (8-1) at Colts (4-5-1)

WHERE: Lucas Oil Stadium: Indianapolis, IN

TIME: 1:00 p.m.

NETWORK: CBS

SPREAD: Colts +13

The Colts and Eagles face off in Indianapolis. The Eagles are coming off their first loss of the season in a brutal division defeat at home against the Commanders. Meanwhile, the Colts stunned Vegas last week on the road, and interim head coach Jeff Saturday earned his first win in his first game. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni has connections with the Colts as he was the offensive coordinator for three seasons before his current stint with the Eagles. Last week Philly was 11-point favorites before their 32-21 loss against the Commanders. However, the Eagles are 8-1, only one game ahead of the Giants, and need to take care of business this week against the Colts. Part of the Eagles’ success is because of Jalen Hurts’ stellar start. Hurts has 2,217 passing yards, 14 touchdowns against three interceptions, and additionally has run for 354 yards. Hurts’ most consistent receiver, A.J. Brown, only tallied one reception last week but has overall been a difference maker in Philly, logging 725 yards. However, the Eagles suffered a big setback when they added Dallas Goedert to the injured reserve. Nevertheless, the Eagles’ defense should have no problem stopping a rough Colts’ offense and should be able to notch their ninth win this season.

With firing their head coach, benching their quarterback but then playing him two weeks later, and recently hiring an ESPN analyst as head coach, it’s fair to say the Colts have been on a rollercoaster this season. They snapped their three-game losing streak with a 25-20 win against the Raiders last week and need to pull off an upset if they want to be in contention for the playoff picture. Veteran Matt Ryan was back last week and now has 2,230 yards with ten touchdowns against nine interceptions. After Week 9, the Colts decided to bench Matt Ryan, but with Jeff Saturday taking over for Frank Reich, he chose to start Matt Ryan, and it paid off. All-Pro Jonathan Taylor will need to continue his dominance to take the pressure off of Matt Ryan. Last week he ran for 147 yards. Taylor now has 609 yards on the season after missing a few games due to an injury. Michael Pittman also continues to produce with 603 receiving yards this season. The Colts’ defense keeps them in games as they rank seventh against the path and 10th against the rush.

Prediction: 24-20, Eagles

Lions (3-6) at Giants (7-2)

WHERE: MetLife Stadium: East Rutherford New Jersey

TIME: 1:00 p.m.

NETWORK: FOX

SPREAD: Giants -3

The 7-2 Giants will host the Detroit Lions, who are coming off of a big win against the Lions have now won two in a row. The Giants have won five of the last six and are looking to continue their momentum. The Giants have one of the weakest schedules moving forward, and they can fight for a division title with Philly if they take care of business against the Lions. Running back Saquon Barkley has been a big part of the Giants’ success this season, leading the third-best rushing attack in the NFL. Daniel Jones has done just enough to win games for the Giants, partly due to being conservative with the football. Jones has thrown for eight touchdowns this season with only two interceptions. However, the Giants’ wide receiver room remains one of the worst in the NFL, and Kenny Golladay and Wan Dale Robinson both have injuries that list them as questionable.

Don’t look now, but the Lions have a path to the postseason! It sounds crazy, but it is doable. The Lions have back-to-back wins for the first time since 2014 but are on the road for the second consecutive week. Dan Campbell earned his first road win in Chicago last week in a thriller. The Lions want to win this week because they face the Buffalo Bills on Thanksgiving, and for a playoff push, the Lions will have to win one of the next two games. If the Lions can limit Saquan Barkley and make the Giants one-dimensional, they have a good chance at an upset at MetLife.

Prediction: 21-20, Lions

Browns (3-6) at Bills (6-3)

WHERE: Ford Field: Detroit, MI

TIME: 1:00 p.m1

NETWORK: CBS

SPREAD: Bills -7.5

This game had the potential to be the biggest weather game in NFL history, but the NFL and the Bills decided to move the game to Detroit, allowing the Bills and Browns to play at a neutral location. It didn’t look good for Clevland last week when they got blown out 39-17 by the Dolphins. Meanwhile, the Bills are coming off a 33-30 overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The Browns still have to wait a couple more weeks until Deshaun Watson can return, and in the meantime, it has been Jacoby Brissett as quarterback. Cleveland is averaging 24.1 points per game and rushing for 158.7 yards a game, led by Nick Chubb, who has 904 yards this season and 11 touchdowns. Unfortunately, Cleveland hasn’t been the same defensively, allowing 26.4 points per game.

The Bills still have a sour taste as their coming off a tough loss in overtime. The Bills choked in the second half and allowed the Vikings to score 17 points in the second half. They averaged 27.8 yards a game and 294 through the air. The Bills may be the most well-rounded team in the NFL, but their second-half play will have to improve. Last week Josh Allen completed 67 percent of his passes, throwing for 330 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. The biggest flaw in the Bills’ offense has been their running game, led by Devin Singletary and James Cook. Last week Singletary had 13 carries for 47 yards and two touchdowns. Stefon Diggs is targeted the most, picking up 72 receptions this season. Buffalo’s defense only allows 16.8 points per game, first in the NFL, and will look to rebound against a tough outing last week.

Prediction: 27-13, Bills

Rams (3-6) at Saints (3-7)

WHERE: Caesars Superdome: New Orleans, LA

TIME: 1:00 p.m.

NETWORK: FOX

SPREAD: Saints -3.

One of the more disappointing teams this season is the three-win Los Angeles Rams, after winning a Super Bowl last season. The Saints aren’t doing much better at 3-7. The Rams recently lost their most valuable player Cooper Kupp with a high ankle sprain injury suffered last Sunday against Arizona and will need to find other ways to produce on offense. The Rams are 29th in the NFL, averaging only 19.8 points a game. Furthermore, they are last in the NFL in rushing offense. Furthermore, it doesn’t get much better for the passing attack as they rank 21st. Defensively the Rams have struggled but have been successful at stopping the run, ranking fourth in the NFL. Part of the issue for Ram’s losing season is their carelessness with the football, and they have a turnover differential of -7.

Meanwhile, the Saints have lost four out of their last five games and are spiraling out of control. They lost to an awful disoriented Steelers team last week in a 20-10 loss and were shut out through three quarters. Even with the Saint’s offensive struggles, coach Dennis Allen is sticking with veteran Andy Dalton at quarterback. The Saints are 17th in the NFL, scoring 22.2 per game. Wide receiver Jarvis Landry did return to action last week, but three offensive linemen were missing for the second consecutive game. Aaron Donald should have his way with a weak Saints offensive line. Somehow the Saints are in the playoff picture, like the rest of the NFC, and desperately need a win.

Prediction: 20-14, Saints

Commanders (5-5) at Texans (1-7-1)

WHERE: NRG Stadium: Houston, TX

TIME: 1:00 p.m.

NETWORK: FOX

SPREAD: Texans +3

The Commanders and Texans will square off in an NFC matchup on Sunday afternoon. The Commanders are coming off of a thrilling win against the previously undefeated Eagles on Monday night and are riding high. Conversely, the one-win Texans lost their seventh game against the Giants last week. After starting the season 1-4, the Commanders have turned it around and improved to .500 with Monday’s win, where they were 11-point underdogs. Washington has won four of their last five games, led by backup QB Taylor Heinicke. There will be a quarterback question about when Carson Wentz is eligible to come off the IR after he suffered a hand injury. Heinicke is expected to get the start as he’s thrown for 840 yards, eight touchdowns, and four interceptions, with a 3-1 record. Before Wentz’s injury, the veteran quarterback recorded 1,489 yards and ten touchdowns against six interceptions. For the rushing attack, Antonio Gibson leads the team with 372 rushing yards on carries. Terry McLaurin was a big reason the Commanders had a dominant performance against Philly, and in his last three games, he had 19 receptions. On the season, he has 737 yards and continues to show he’s the WR1.

The Texans haven’t won a home game this season. However, they do have a tie in Week 1 again the Colts at home. The Texans have lost four straight games, partly due to the poor offensive play. Quarterback Davis Mills threw for 319 yards last week but has a touchdown-to-INT ratio of 11:9 on the season. However, Damien Pierce is a difference maker in Texas, as he has accumulated 772 yards on 4.8 yards per carry. He’s making a case for rookie of the year and should continue his success against a poor Washington front. On the other side of the ball, the Texans’ rush defense is ranked last in the NFL, while their pass defense is in the middle of the pack.

Prediction: 26-17, Commanders

Raiders (2-7) at Broncos (3-6)

WHERE: Empower Field at Mile High Denver, CO

TIME: 4:05 p.m.

NETWORK: FOX

SPREAD: Broncos -3

Two division rivals will be facing off, both of which have lowered their expectations for the season. The Raiders have lost three straight games after losing to the Colts last week 25-20, and the Broncos have lost five of its previous six. The Raiders and first-year coach Josh McDaniels are struggling to string together wins. They have been in every game, with six losses by one score (an NFL record). After last week’s loss, quarterback Derek Carr was seen shedding tears at his press conference, and with tight end Darren Waller and wide receiver Hunter Renfrow being placed on the IR, it should be a big game for Davante Adams. However, Adams will be going against a tough Broncos defense. Adams will be facing off with star cornerback Patrick Surtain II. The AFC is still open, and the Raiders have a manageable second-half schedule. You can’t ever count a team out, but the clock is ticking for Vegas.

The problem for the Broncos hasn’t been the defense. It’s been the offense led by newly acquired quarterback Russell Wilson. Like the Raiders, the Broncos are finding themselves on the opposite side of closer games. On the season, Russell Wilson completed 57.4 percent of his passes, throwing for 1,980 yards, seven touchdowns, and five interceptions. Melvin Gordon led the rushing attack after JaVante Willams suffered a torn ACL earlier in the season. The Bronco’s defense is statically the best in the NFL, but their offense ranks dead last in points. If the season were to end today, they would join the 1946 Steelers as the only teams in the NFL to lead in scoring defense and rank last in scoring offense.

Prediction: 17-10, Raiders

Cowboys (6-3) at Vikings (8-1)

WHERE: U.S. Bank Stadium: Minneapolis, MI

TIME: 4:25 p.m.

NETWORK: CBS

SPREAD: Vikings +1.5

The Vikings will travel south and play the Dallas Cowboys for the fourth straight season. The carrier series has been a roller coaster for both teams. Dallas has won the last four of five after losing six straight. Both games went to overtime last week, but only one team came out victorious, the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings are stunning the NFL after beating the Bills and have now won seven straight. The Vikings were down 17-points late in the game and took control late, partly due to Justin Jefferson’s performance. Jefferson finished with 193 yards and a touchdown. Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins holds the longest streak in the NFL with 39 straight games with one touchdown pass. Drew Brees has the record with 45 consecutive games. The Viking’s ability to win games late is impressive, but the Cowboy’s pass rush will be too intense against a weaker Vikings o-line.

Last week the Cowboys blew a 14-point second-half lead against the Green Bay Packers and now sit at third in the division. However, CeeDee Lamb had his best game yet, tallying 11 receptions for 150 yards and two touchdowns. For the running game, it was Tony Pollard again. He led the Cowboys with 22 carries on 115 yards and a touchdown. The Cowboys lost because they couldn’t contain the Packers’ rushing attack. Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon ran for 207 yards on 39 carries. The Vikings are going to want to run the back.

Prediction: 38-32, Vikings

Bengals (5-4) at Steelers (3-6)

WHERE: Acrisure Stadium Pittsburgh, PA

TIME: 4:25 p.m.

NETWORK: CBS

SPREAD: Steelers +4

Time for some AFC North action when the Steelers and Bengals battle it in Pittsburgh. This will be the second matchup between the two, the first of which the Steelers won in overtime. However, since that win, the Steelers have plummeted to a 3-6 record while the Bengals are one game above .500. The Bengals aren’t in the playoff picture yet, but a win would help their chances. Make no mistake, the Bengals will want their revenge for their Week 1 loss. The Bengals’ rushing attack is struggling, however, and ranks 27th in the league in rushing yards per game. However, the last Bengals win featured Joe Mixon’s five-touchdown performance. Quarterback Joe Burrow will need an exceptional performance against a top-of-the-line Steelers defense for a chance in this game.

Onto the Steelers, where the playoffs remain slim. The Steelers were coming off a 20-10 home victory against the Saints and proved they have a top-tier defense. TJ Watt returned to action after missing some time due to injury. Last week the Steelers had their best rushing game of the season, running for 187 yards led by Najee Harris. Harris panned out the way Steelers fans would hope, but he’s been improving as of late. Both teams need a win to increase their playoff hopes, and the Steelers will have a tough time making the playoffs if they lose today.

Prediction: 22-17, Steelers

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