NFL Weekly Wonder, Edition #11

By Peyton Schultze

Despite a terrible storm wiping through Gillette Stadium, Cam Newton and the Patriots were able to keep their playoff hopes alive with a huge home win over the favored Ravens (via The Boston Globe).

For the first time all season, the playoff picture in both conferences became a little more clear in Week 10 of the NFL season. Last weekend’s action was thrilling and down-to-the-wire throughout, and several teams pulled out some key moments to flip the course of their season completely. From the Rams’ defensive dominance against Russell Wilson and the Seahawks to the Cardinals’ miracle Hail Mary from Kyler Murray to DeAndre Hopkins to put them in first place in the NFC West, Week 10 saw some instantly-iconic plays that will played on repeat for the rest of the year. And with this week’s western shootout for first place on Thursday Night Football between the Cardinals and Seahawks almost ready to kick off Week 11 of the NFL season, the pressure of late-season football is only beginning to rise higher for teams around the league.

So what happens next in Week 11? Will the Raiders beat the Chiefs for the second time this season on Sunday Night Football? Can the Dolphins keep up their momentum with a road win this weekend in the Mile High City? Will the Rams continue their dominant play on defense against a loaded offense in Tampa Bay on Monday night? And who wins the rematch of last year’s AFC Divisional Round game between the Titans and Ravens? Let’s look ahead at a Week 11 slate full of games that have a chance to put a serious dent on the playoff picture in both conferences as we inch closer and closer to winter.

Game-by-Game Looks

With Drew Brees sidelined with an injury indefinitely, Jameis Winston has a chance to be the savior for the Saints’ season as their starting quarterback (via Yahoo! Sports).

Thursday: Arizona @ Seattle (-3.0), 5:20 PM PT, FOX/NFL Network

The last time these two teams met was in one of the best games of the year on Sunday Night Football, so what are the chances of a repeat performance from both squads in another primetime game? Very high, especially as both teams try to make a statement in front of a national TV audience. The Cardinals pulled off a miracle on their Hail Mary attempt last weekend to get them in a tie for first in the NFC West, while the Seahawks once again continued with their recent struggles with a bad loss on the road to the Rams. So what gives this weekend? Seattle is desperate right now, and even though they do not have anyone that can stop Kyler Murray and the Cardinals’ offense, the Arizona defense doesn’t have anyone that can stop Russell Wilson and the Seahawks’ offense either. Russ and the ‘Hawks have the slight advantage in this home matchup, which could be another thriller that comes down to the final play of the game.

Arizona: 35 Seattle: 38

Sunday: Tennessee @ Baltimore (-6.0), 10:00 AM PT, CBS

The Ravens didn’t play very well last weekend with so many injuries across the board, but did everyone overreact a bit to their play on both sides of the ball? With a monsoon running through Foxborough, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens still had a chance at a late win before a storm ended those hopes in the 4th quarter. Ultimately it didn’t pan out for the Ravens, but can they respond this week with a win against the team that beat them in last year’s playoffs? Meanwhile, the Titans are in a bit of a funk of their own, but should be able to return to their roots on the ground with Derrick Henry this weekend with some extra rest under their belt. It’s a huge game for both teams and one that each team has to win if they want to prove to be a real contender in the AFC, but we’ll give the edge to the better defense in Baltimore to create a turnover or two that happens to be the difference in the game.

Tennessee: 20 Baltimore: 27

Sunday: Philadelphia @ Cleveland (-3.5), 10:00 AM PT, FOX

Philadelphia remains arguably the toughest team to figure out in all of football, especially when Carson Wentz is playing as bad as he has been in recent weeks. Their inconsistent tendencies make this team a guess from week-to-week, but they do have a chance at a win this weekend against a vulnerable Cleveland team. The Browns are playing well as of late and are benefitting from the return of running back Nick Chubb, but their defense still remains a question. Their box scores show impressive totals in recent weeks, but one has to wonder how much that has to do with the weather instead of their actual play on defense. This is a tough call and it is easy to like the Browns at home here, but we’ll take our upset of the week in the Eagles for the sheer hope that Wentz and the Eagles’ offense pops out of their slump.

Cleveland: 27 Philadelphia: 31

Sunday: New England (-2.0) @ Houston, 10:00 AM PT, CBS

New England was super impressive last weekend against Baltimore on Sunday night, so are they officially back in the playoff hunt? This week will say a lot about that question, especially as Deshaun Watson prepares to host Cam Newton and the Pats in Houston. The Patriots struggled against this same Texans’ team last year, but they do appear more well-suited this season with their newfound running identity on offense as led by Newton and Damien Harris. That duo has been prolific in the past two weeks, and with a matchup against one of the league’s worst run defenses, New England should be able to get back to .500 and capture their fifth win of the season.

Houston: 17 New England: 23

Sunday: Pittsburgh (-10.0) @ Jacksonville, 10:00 AM PT, CBS

Despite their undefeated record on the season, the Steelers have typically played down to some of their opponents this season. Yet that narrative was completely thrown out the window last weekend against the rival Bengals, which saw Ben Roethlisberger put on a phenomenal display through the air for the Steelers’ passing game. Now, as the Steelers head south for a road battle with the terrible Jaguars, will the team with the best record in the league show any signs of fatigue against one of the worst teams in football? Not very likely at all, as we give the Steelers a great chance of once again coming home with a win to stay undefeated.

Jacksonville: 7 Pittsburgh: 31

Sunday: Detroit @ Carolina (-3.0), 10:00 AM PT, FOX

The Panthers have been a tricky team to figure out all season due to their tendency to hang in games late until the 4th quarter, which applies even more to this weekend’s matchup with Teddy Bridgewater injured and questionable for Sunday’s home matchup with the Lions. Meanwhile, Detroit is still hanging around in the NFC playoff picture with an outside chance of a spot, but they’ll need to rattle off some key wins in the next couple of weeks to make some noise. But their shaky defense remains a fatal flaw, especially with their inability to stop the run, which makes us lean toward taking Carolina no matter who suits up under center for the Panthers.

Detroit: 20 Carolina: 21

Sunday: Atlanta @ New Orleans (-5.0), 10:00 AM PT, FOX

Just one week ago, the New Orleans Saints looked invincible and on their way to the best record in the NFC. But one week and an injured starting quarterback later, the Saints are running on fumes and at least nervous about their chances for the top spot in the conference this season. Meanwhile, before last week’s bye week, the Falcons have jumped out to a bit of a winning streak, slowly beginning to turn around their misadventures earlier in the season. The Falcons are rested, healthy, and have been looking forward to another matchup with their most bitter rival for weeks, and we’ll give them the edge in the first meeting between these two enemies.

New Orleans: 31 Atlanta: 34

After a huge divisional win against Tennessee last week, Indianapolis hosts Green Bay in a huge game for the unproven Colts (via USA Today).

Sunday: Cincinnati @ Washington (-2.0), 10:00 AM PT, CBS

Alex Smith and the Washington Football Team nearly pulled off a come-from-behind upset win over the Lions last weekend, giving fans in the nation’s capital their first look at a competent offense for the first time in what seems like years. But as they prepare to host Joe Burrow and the entertaining Bengals offense, will they be able to finally seal the deal and capture another win? That remains to be seen, especially given how well Burrow has played against weaker competition over the course of the season. Every win matters for Burrow’s Offensive Rookie of the Year case right now, and he and the Bengals will get it done in a win on Sunday.

Washington: 24 Cincinnati: 30

Sunday: New York J. @ Los Angeles C. (-8.5), 1:05 PM PT, CBS

The ever-so-cursed Chargers once again fell to the Dolphins a week ago, but they’re due to come out of this slump sometime soon, right? With the way rookie quarterback Justin Hebert has continued to play, that certainly appears to be the case soon enough, especially against Joe Flacco and the measly Jets heading across the coast. New York is coming off a bye week and played well in their last outing against New England, but it is hard to see them competing with a Los Angeles squad that still has plenty of talent in a plethora of areas. It won’t be easy for the Bolts, but take them to win in the end to keep the Jets winless on the season.

New York J.: 23 Los Angeles C.: 30

Sunday: Miami (-3.0) @ Denver, 1:05 PM PT, CBS

Are the Broncos quietly one of the league’s worst teams? If so, they are in serious trouble this weekend when they host a fiery Dolphins squad that appears ready to make a playoff run in the coming months. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has not had to do too much for the Dolphins on offense so far, but he has taken care of the ball and rode the play of a defense that is firing on all cylinders right now. Meanwhile, Drew Lock and the Denver offense is a flat out mess right now, and a blowout performance last weekend to the Raiders now has everyone on the hot seat in the Mile High City. Don’t expect too close of a game this weekend in another huge win on the road for Miami.

Denver: 13 Miami: 21

Sunday: Green Bay @ Indianapolis (-2.5), 1:25 PM PT, FOX

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers as a road underdog? It is not always something you see that often, especially against an offense that isn’t very prolific in Indianapolis, but Green Bay’s sloppy play last week against the Jaguars certainly has many people concerned. Nevertheless, we still like Green bay in this game, even despite Indy’s incredible play on defense as of late such as on Thursday against the Titans. The Colts simply do not have enough on offense to match up with Rodgers and the Packers’ offense, and even though a strong pass rush could cause some serious difficulties on offense on Sunday, we trust Rodgers over Philip Rivers to get it done late in the 4th quarter. Expect a game that is lower scoring than expected, in a much-needed win in the NFC North for the Pack.

Indianapolis: 20 Green Bay: 23

Sunday: Dallas @ Minnesota (-7.5), 1:25 PM PT, FOX

The Vikings may be the hottest team in the league right now after three straight wins, and a home matchup with the terrible Cowboys could keep their streak going. However, Dallas is coming off a much-needed bye week and will see quarterback Andy Dalton return to the starting lineup, which could give them an offensive spark. In addition, Minnesota’s defense is still battered despite a nice performance on Monday night, and you can guarantee that Mike McCarthy will feature a heavy dosage of creative playcalling to Ezekiel Elliott early and often on Sunday. Minnesota still has the advantage at home and with an elite offensive attack right now, but it should be an extremely tight ballgame with a bloated spread.

Dallas: 24 Minnesota: 28

Sunday: Kansas City (-7.0) @ Las Vegas, 5:20 PM PT, NBC

Kansas City’s only loss of the season came at home to Jon Gruden and the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5, who then decided to take a victory lap in the parking lot on the team bus after the organization’s biggest win of the past decade. So does the sequel to their first matchup have the makings of a high-flying and bitter matchup with some added fireworks? The Raiders have played very well as of late and appear poised to be a playoff team this season, but the Chiefs are a sleeping giant that may need an opponent like this on their schedule to once again open up everyone’s eyes around the league to the greatness of head coach Andy Reid. Patrick Mahomes and the offense will have a field day in a massive rout in favor of the road team.

Las Vegas: 20 Kansas City: 45

Monday: Los Angeles R. @ Tampa Bay (-3.0), 5:15 PM PT, ESPN

The Rams pulled out their biggest win of the season last week against Russell Wilson and the Seahawks, but can they knock off two NFC powerhouses in back-to-back weeks? It will be tough after how well Tom Brady and the Buccaneers’ offense played a week ago coming off their Week 9 embarrassment, but Los Angeles’ defense does have what it takes to rattle Tampa’s explosive attack. The Rams’ defense, featuring Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Donald, is red-hot and may have the league’s best pass rush in the league to go up against Brady, which could bode well for their chances on Monday. Jared Goff will need a big game through the air, but the Rams will continue to impress with a big road win in primetime.

Tampa Bay: 23 Los Angeles R.: 24

Daily Fantasy Targets

With Christian McCaffrey likely out again this weekend, running back Mike Davis has a chance at a big game against a weak Lions’ defense (via DraftKings Nation).

Quarterbacks: Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Kirk Cousins (Minnesota Vikings)

Big Ben once again showed his elite form last weekend against the rival Bengals with four touchdowns passes, and he has all the tools at his disposal this weekend for another big game. The Jacksonville defense has almost nothing that figures to get in Roethlisberger’s way this weekend, and plenty of time in the pocket with chances to keep the play alive has been a winning formula for the veteran signal caller for most of his Hall of Fame career. Expect huge numbers from Roethlisberger once again this weekend in a rout against the Jaguars. Meanwhile, after finally overcoming the Monday Night Football curse that has hurt him for his entire career, Kirk Cousins has another great matchup on his hands this weekend. Cousins played well last weekend against a good Bears’ defense, but now has an opportunity to exploit a terrible Cowboys’ defense that can’t stop anybody. Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson will help to make life easy once again for Cousins in what should be a great day through the air for the Minnesota quarterback.

Running Backs: Kalen Ballage (Los Angeles Chargers) and Damien Harris (New England Patriots)

Kalen Ballage has floated around fantasy circles for several years now, but is gaining a bit of an opportunity in Los Angeles with their entire backfield injured or not playing very well. That means the door has opened every so slightly for Ballage to have a big game against his former team with the Jets, which could see over 15 touches or so for the lead back. Fantasy owners are banking on some magic from the underrated back this weekend, but should ride a good matchup against the terrible Jets to place him inside your starting lineup. Over in New England, even though it is always risky to have a ton of faith in the Patriots’ running back core, young back Damien Harris is starting to take over the lead role alongside quarterback Cam Newton. Harris was a stud last weekend against the Ravens on Sunday night, and a favorable matchup this weekend against a bad Texans’ run defense should bode well for fantasy owners. Harris needs to get in the endzone and make sure Rex Burkhead isn’t the lead back near the goal line, but he has a chance to explode for a career game on Sunday if his volume continues to be so high.

Wide Receivers: Terry McLaurin (Washington Football Team) and Travis Fulgham (Philadelphia Eagles)

Washington found some rhythm on offense last weekend, which should be an encouraging sign for one of the league’s most underrated offensive weapons in Terry McLaurin. The young wideout has produced at a high level once again this season despite mostly poor quarterback play, and a matchup against a Cincinnati secondary that was just torched by Ben Roethlisberger last weekend should be a great sign for Washington fans. Alex Smith will need to deliver the ball to McLaurin early and often on Sunday, but look for a score or two and over 80 yards for the blossoming star reciever. Over in Philadelphia where the options have been limited all season long, Travis Fulgham has developed as a favorite of Carson Wentz this season. However, the reciever disappeared from the game plan last weekend against the Giants for some odd reason, but should be due for a comeback effort this week against an inconsistent Browns’ secondary. Fulgham should be the Eagles top weapon near the goal line on Sunday, so look for a key touchdown to put his fantasy value sky high once again.

Tight Ends: Hayden Hurst (Atlanta Falcons) and Hunter Henry (Los Angeles Chargers)

Tight end has been pointed out as a struggle for most of this season, but Hayden Hurst has been a surprisingly solid option this season alongside Matt Ryan in Atlanta. Although he has a lot of other star offensive players around him, Hurst has been key in third-down situations and near the end zone this season for the Falcons’ offense. It’s a guess for anyone at the position outside of Travis Kelce right now anyways, but Hurst has room to make a mark on Sunday’s game against a New Orleans defense that has not defended tight ends well this season. In addition, tight end Hunter Henry has a chance to find pay dirt on Sunday against a Jets’ team that has been poor against air attacks. Justin Herbert has targeted Henry often in the redzone on top of Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, but the Jets have been especially bad this season against tight ends. Look for Henry to find the endzone at least once this weekend in a great offensive game from the Chargers.

Defenses: Miami (vs Denver) and Green Bay (vs Indianapolis)

For the most part this season, defenses have not really been the shining star with so many quarterbacks lighting up the scoreboard on a weekly basis. With that said, the Miami Dolphins have quickly formed one of the best defensive units in the league with the ability to create turnovers and sack the quarterback at a very high level. A matchup this weekend with a Broncos’ team that has given the ball away at a ridiculous rate is just what Dolphins’ fans want to hear heading into this Week 11 matchup, as Miami should roll to another big win on the backs of their increasingly dominant defense. Over in Green Bay, although they have not been amazing this year, their defense has some capable playmakers that should return to the starting lineup this weekend. If the Packers can start fast on offense from the jump and force Indy to throw the ball a ton from the start with Philip Rivers, Green Bay can create some turnovers in this one and flip the course of the game. Green Bay is a risky play, but they are a great value play that could pay off in a big way on Sunday.

Fanatical Focus

Eagles’ Quarterback Carson Wentz

With plenty of extremely concerning traits week in and week out, Eagles fans have to be worried about the future of the quarterback position with the recent play from Carson Wentz (via Philadelphia Inquirer).

Before the season began, it was once a debate of who was the best quarterback of the 2016 draft class: Jared Goff, Dak Prescott, or Carson Wentz? But since Goff has made a Super Bowl appearance with the Rams and responded in a big way this season, while Prescott has put up gigantic numbers in back-to-back season for the Cowboys before getting injured this year, Wentz appears to be the player under the most scrutiny as the Eagles’ starter. Why though, exactly? Largely because he ranks as a former MVP candidate and has struggled to stay on the field for large portions of his career, while also having that ridiculous Nick Foles cloud over his head, Wentz has struggled to gain popularity among NFL fans. But even though Wentz has had some unfortunate breaks in his career and has earned some unfair judgement over the course of his young career, he needs to start playing better for the Eagles right now if they want to flip the script.

Last weekend was a great example of why fans in Philadelphia have had so many stressful nights with Wentz as the starting quarterback of the Eagles. The team had been performing better as of late with two straight wins before their bye week, and were all but expected to come out and beat the underwhelming New York Giants on Sunday afternoon. But what did the Eagles do? Almost nothing on offense, with Wentz putting up unimpressive offensive numbers behind a shaky offensive line and barely giving the ball to their best offensive player in running back Miles Sanders. While this remains as much as Wentz’s fault as it does head coach Doug Pederson’s, the point of exhaustion is only building up more and more with each passing week. The still-young quarterback also seems to have taken a step back this season, with a disappointing 12/12 touchdown to interception ratio, as well as 9 fumbles on the season. These are numbers that rookie quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert are already exceeding this season despite being just around 10 games into their careers, which puts the blame back on Wentz’s shoulders.

Is he the real problem in Philly right now? And if not, do many people think there is a gap between Wentz and other quarterbacks in his division right now? Although Prescott is not heathy and has proven to be the better player when on the field in recent years, are there many people who think Wentz is a lot better than Daniel Jones of the Giants right now? Jones is still a raw prospect who makes some questionable choices with the ball in his hands, but Wentz has some similar traits this far into his career, which is an extremely troubling sign given his recent decline that seems all but obvious at thus point. Has Wentz hit his peak as a professional quarterback? Is he the long-term answer in Philadelphia? Should more of the blame be placed on Doug Pederson and the rest of the coaching staff? The clock is slowly running out for Wentz in the City of Brotherly Love, and it is time for the gunslinging quarterback to start performing right now if he wants to be the quarterback in Philly next season and if the Eagles want to return to the playoffs once again in 2020

* The Eagles match up with the Cleveland Browns this Sunday at 10:00 AM PT on FOX. *