Written by: Tyler Deakin
The mantra “any given Sunday” summarized last week’s action pretty well as there were 7 upsets & 8 blowouts overall. Notable amongst the upsets were the Lions tie with the Steelers, Washington’s win over the Buccaneers, the Panthers shellacking of the Cardinals, and the Dolphins primetime victory over the Ravens. Despite the upsets & blowouts, these factors made for a boring & unwatchable weekend of football in my opinion. I’m hopeful for more drama, closer contests, and statement wins from this week’s NFL action. What exciting new adventures await football fans this week? Here are the best games to watch on the Week 11 NFL docket.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Los Angeles Chargers (Sunday Night Football)
This game has the makings of an instant classic as two AFC playoff contenders clash in a primetime affair. The Steelers are certainly looking forward to moving past last week’s embarrassing tie against the Lions, as they await further word on whether or not QB Ben Roethlisberger (COVID) will be able to play on Sunday. It seems like every year the Steelers have at least one clunker of a game only to rally afterwards & finish in the playoff conversation. Meanwhile, the Chargers are awaiting word on the status of DE Joey Bosa (COVID) to determine whether or not he will be able to play. They need all the help they can get from players like Bosa as they try to rebound after last week’s close loss against the Vikings. Both teams could certainly use a win here as they attempt to establish themselves in the AFC playoff picture.
Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
The return of Aaron Rodgers last weekend spelled trouble for the rest of the league, as their dominating win over the Seahawks reminded us. Combine Rodgers return with a suddenly surging defense, and the rest of the league is certainly on high alert when playing against this team. None of this is to discount the Vikings, who are in the midst of a playoff push after last week’s tight win over the Chargers. Civil allegations involving RB Dalvin Cook continue, but the Vikings are competitive in every game in which he’s on the field & healthy. A victory by either team here would help in the division standings, with the Vikings desperate for such a win.
Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills
This game is a rematch of last year’s AFC Wild Card playoff tilt, a contest which the Bills won 27-24. Circumstances are different now for the Colts with QB Carson Wentz at the helm replacing last year’s starter in Phillip Rivers. I’m not sure that will make much of a difference for them though, as the Bills are one of the hottest teams in the league with an elite defense led by Tre’Davious White & an explosive offense led by QB Josh Allen. The Colts should attempt to counter the Bills offense by running the ball with RB Jonathan Taylor, who has established himself as an elite running back this year. Will the Colts get revenge for last year’s playoff loss, or will the Bills once again emerge victorious? Find out this Sunday afternoon.
Dallas Cowboys at Kansas City Chiefs
Could this be a potential Super Bowl preview? That seems like a stretch, but both teams are coming off 40-plus point wins over their opponents last week. Patrick Mahomes looks like he’s found his lost mojo after tossing for a season high 5 TDs last week. We’ll see if he can continue frustrating defenses as he prepares to face a great Cowboys front that held the Falcons to 3 points last week. Meanwhile, the Cowboys rebounded quite nicely after Week 9’s embarrassing loss to the Broncos. They look to be back on track in the NFC playoff race.
Washington Football Team at Carolina Panthers
This game certainly isn’t lacking in dramatic storylines, as Washington coach Ron Rivera returns to Charlotte to face off against his former QB Cam Newton. Last week’s win over the Buccaneers proved that this Washington team can’t be counted out of the playoff picture yet. They can’t afford any more losses though, so a win over the Panthers would go a long way for their chances. The same can be said for the Panthers after last week’s beatdown over the Cardinals. Cam Newton energized this squad as he made quite the dramatic return in scoring two TDs against the Cardinals. We’ll see if Cam’s team can stay alive in the NFC playoff picture.
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