Redskins, Packers, Chargers, Broncos dominate Week 11 Picks
By John Hendrix
Jan 11, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) shakes hands with Andrew Luck (12) after the 2013 AFC divisional playoff football game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Who Dat Dish NFL Pick’em is back with our weekly edition of staff picks. Things just got interesting. Andrew, who holds the currently lead, had a bad week at 7-6. He’s now only up by two games. Barry (11-2) lead everyone for the week, and yes, he picked the 49ers (reverse psychology has failed you). Let’s look at the overall standings after Week Ten:
- Andrew (@ShootsMcGavin), 101-45-1
- MacGyver (@SaintsTailgate), 99-47-1
- Barry (@HarahanWhoDat), 99-47-1
- John (@JohnJHendrix), 98-48-1
- Simon (@Daugulis), 96-50-1
- Federico (@FedeFerrari10), 95-51-1
- Ryne (@RHancock19), 91-55-1
- Ian (@IDear_Sports), 86-60-1
There’s four teams on the bye this week: Jaguars, Cowboys, Jets, Ravens. Most of the good action is found in the late games and Sunday Night Football. We’re increased to fourteen total games to pick from this week, and here’s how Week Eleven plays out, and as of now we’re minus a MacGyver.
Buffalo (5-4) at Miami (5-4)
New England currently has a grip on the AFC East, and a victory by either of these teams will put them in a position to potentially make the division interesting. Both of these teams would be far out of contention of a Wild Card spot if the season were to end today, which also makes this game so important. That being said, the Dolphins are currently riding a three-game losing streak to the Bills, and have lost three of the last four. It’s time to fix it.
Atlanta (3-6) at Carolina (3-6-1)
Atlanta is in a golden position to cripple the rest of the NFC South with a victory. They’d move to 4-0 in the division, and have to hope that New Orleans would lose. The Panthers are playing some terrible football right now, which doesn’t give them much hope. What does give the Panthers hope is the fact that they’ve won three in a row against the Falcons, and have outscored them 64-30 in the home games. However, we’re having to bank on the fact that the offense can put something together.
Minnesota (4-5) at Chicago (3-6)
Chicago is returning home with their tail between their legs to try to win their first home game (0-3) this year. Tell me they’re not going to lose four straight. I foresee many booes in this game.
Houston (4-5) at Cleveland (6-3)
Nov 6, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Ben Tate (44) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Just as everyone thought, the Cleveland Browns would be leading the AFC North after ten weeks of football. This team has found their identity, and will only get stronger when Josh Gordon returns. For now, they’ll have to live with dining on Ryan Mallett on Sunday. Brownies.
Seattle (6-3) at Kansas City (6-3)
On paper, you might think that the Chiefs’ four game winning streak is impressive. They’ve beat the Chargers, Rams, Jets, and Bills. The Seahawks have a streak of their own going as well, winning their last three (Giants, Raiders, Panthers). Can you really say that these two teams are just playing that good of football, or have the teams that they’ve faced are just playing that bad? At any rate, the Chiefs look to give the Seahawks a taste of their own medicine with their own version of the 12th Man, who don’t need acoustics to bolster their 142.2 decibels of chaos. I have to give the nod to the home team.
Cincinnati (5-3-1) at New Orleans (4-5)
The Saints need this game more than the Bengals do, but a loss by the Bengals yields way for that final Wild Card spot to land in favor of a host of teams. No Giovani Bernard hurts the Bengals, and for their sake, they have to hope their defense can muster a decent outing for once this season. Whoever gets off to the fast start should dictate this game, and I like the Saints to rebound.
San Francisco (5-4) at New York Giants (3-6)
Last week, the 49ers got the type of victory that could somersault them for the rest of the season. Did you know the 49ers haven’t beat the Giants at home since 2002? In fact, they’ve only one once in their past six games dating back to 2005. After such a huge win against the Saints, I believe the 49ers are going to drop this one to the Giants.
Denver (7-2) at St. Louis (3-6)
I smell a classic trap game for the Broncos, but Austin Davis isn’t exactly the quarterback to outdo Peyton Manning. Broncos should continue rolling.
Tampa Bay (1-8) at Washington (3-6)
It’s likely the least entertaining game of Sunday, and there’s little to suggest that the Bucs will put together something that resembles a football team to march into Washington and knock off the Redskins.
Oakland (0-9) at San Diego (5-4)
Losers of three straight, the Chargers are doing the same old song and dance from the past few seasons. They should get things back on track this week, I mean it’s the Raiders. If they don’t, then stick a fork in them.
Detroit (7-2) at Arizona (8-1)
Nov 9, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer reacts as he is taken off the field on a cart after suffering an injury in the second half against the St. Louis Rams at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Rams 31-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
I get it. Carson Palmer is gone, so the Cardinals will flop, right? Think again. Drew Stanton is 2-1 with the Cardinals this year, and the only loss suffered was at the Broncos (everyone knew who was going to win that one). The Cardinals are 5-0 at home right now, and even with Stafford and the Lions playing some of their best football right now, I don’t think they’ll win. Here’s some other food for thought: The Lions have lost five straight contests to the Cardinals, and haven’t won in Arizona since 1993. That was back in the days of Sun Devil Stadium and the Phoenix Cardinals!
Philadelphia (7-2) at Green Bay (6-3)
Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t help but think of 4th & 26 every time I think of this matchup. That’s a play that will haunt the Packers forever. As for this game, we have a tale of one team (Eagles) clinging to the division lead, while the other team (Packers) is looking to regain the division lead. This matchup basically boils down to asking if the Eagles defense can stop Aaron Rodgers, who has been ridiculously on fire. I say no.
New England (7-2) at Indianapolis (6-3)
Is the third time the charm for Andrew Luck? In his rookie season, the Colts would lose 59-24 to the Patriots, and last year’s divisional playoff game saw the Colts lose 43-22. Believe me when I say that Lucas Oil Stadium holds a special place in the Patriots’ hearts, as they lost Super Bowl XLVI to those pesky Giants 21-17. It’s the first time they travel to play the Colts in a regular season game since the 2009 season. I believe they’ll exercise their demons here.
Pittsburgh (6-4) at Tennessee (2-7)
I can’t even justify this Monday Night Football game. It won’t be one that many watch, as the Steelers should roll. Of course, I thought the same thing against the Jets last week, and look how well that turned out.
Agree or disagree with our picks? Who do you have as a ‘upset of the week’ candidate?