Now that we're into Week 11 of the 2020 NFL season, we near the first playoff spots being clinched – especially with the extra postseason spot in each conference.
Here’s a quick look at all the Week 11 matchups with Sports Interaction’s NFL odds. Buffalo, Chicago, San Francisco and the New York Giants are on the bye. Games Sunday unless noted.
Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks, Thursday
Huge game in the NFC West, and these teams played arguably the game of the season so far back in Week 7. They combined for nearly 1,110 yards offence and Arizona rallied from down 10 points late in regulation to eventually win 37-34 in overtime. Kyler Murray vs. Russell Wilson might be the NFC’s best QB rivalry for the next five years. Wilson has been struggling with turnovers of late, though, as Seattle has dropped three of four.
Pick ATS: Seattle (alternate line of -2.5)
Philadelphia Eagles at Cleveland Browns
Two young quarterback on whom the jury is still somewhat out here in Philly’s Carson Wentz and Cleveland’s Baker Mayfield. Neither looked very good Sunday. Philly was upset 27-17 at the Giants and Wentz threw for only 208 yards with no TDs. The Browns beat the visiting Texans 10-7 on a very windy day so that partially explains why Mayfield threw for only 132 yards. Cleveland destroyed Houston on the ground.
Pick ATS: Cleveland (alternate line of -3)
Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints
These NFC South rivals will play again in just two weeks. Matt Ryan and Drew Brees have had some serious shootouts over the years, but it sounds as if Brees may miss this game with an injury to his ribs suffered in Sunday’s win over San Francisco. Former Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston likely would start. Atlanta comes off its bye week.
Point spread: TBA (on official word on Brees)
Pick ATS: New Orleans (even without Brees)
Cincinnati Bengals at Washington Football Team
This game features the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft in Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow and No. 2 pick in Washington defensive end Chase Young. Both could win their respective Rookie of the Year Award. Neither team is very good, though, and both lost Sunday.
Pick ATS: Cincinnati
Detroit Lions at Carolina Panthers
There was some talk that Detroit was ready to fire Coach Matt Patricia had it lost Sunday at home to Washington. The Lions tried their best to do that, but kicker Matt Prater bailed them out with a 59-yard field goal at the end. Pro Bowl receiver Kenny Golladay missed it injured. Carolina was without All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey and was crushed by Tampa Bay. QB Teddy Bridgewater injured his knee; it’s not serious, but he may miss this one. Former XFL player P.J. Walker is his backup.
Point spread: Panthers -3
Pick ATS: Carolina (alternate line of -2.5)
Pittsburgh Steelers at Jacksonville Jaguars
This looks like one of the mismatches of the season between the NFL’s lone unbeaten and a Jaguars team on an eight-game losing streak. Then again, Pittsburgh could be caught looking ahead to a Thanksgiving night showdown vs. bitter rival Baltimore, and the Jaguars nearly upset the Packers on Green Bay on Sunday.
Pick ATS: Jacksonville (alternate line of +10.5)
Tennessee Titans at Baltimore Ravens
Potential AFC playoff preview as it’s likely both will make the postseason – although neither looked very good in losing in Week 10. The Ravens already have lost more games than they did all of last regular season. These teams played last postseason in the Divisional Round and the Titans pulled a stunning upset at top-seeded Baltimore.
Pick ATS: Baltimore
New England Patriots at Houston Texans
Perhaps we were too quick to write off the Patriots as New England won its second in a row Sunday, upsetting Baltimore 23-17. Cam Newton ended a four-game TD passing drought and also rushed for a score. The Pats rushed for 173 yards against a very good defence. Houston is 0-7 against teams not named Jacksonville this year after a 10-7 loss in Cleveland on Sunday. The Texans were held to 243 yards but it was crazy windy.
Pick ATS: Houston
Miami Dolphins at Denver Broncos
Miami won its fifth in a row and improved to 3-0 under rookie QB Tua Tagovailoa with Sunday’s 29-21 win over the Chargers – the Fins are now just a half-game behind Buffalo for the AFC East lead and tied in the loss column. The team might have a new featured back, too, as rookie Salvon Ahmed rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown. Denver was blown out Sunday in Las Vegas as Drew Lock was picked off four times.
Pick ATS: Denver (alternate line of +3.5)
New York Jets at Los Angeles Chargers
Can the Jets get their first win of the season coming out of their bye? It’s a minor miracle that Adam Gase is still the team’s coach. The Chargers are 2-7 this year and all seven losses are by one possession – Sunday, it was 29-21 in Miami. Rookie QB Justin Herbert played well again, though, in throwing for two scores and rushing for one.
Pick ATS: New York
Green Bay Packers at Indianapolis Colts
Green Bay might have been caught looking past an awful Jaguars team Sunday as the Pack barely escaped 24-20 – although the weather was terrible and could have played a role. Aaron Rodgers threw for 325 yards and two TDs. His 78-yard TD pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling was Rodgers’ longest completion since early in the 2014 season. The Colts got a huge win at the Titans last Thursday to tie Tennessee for first in the AFC South. Philip Rivers has struggled at times this year but was very good in that one.
Pick ATS: Indianapolis
Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings
The Cowboys come out of their bye an injured mess. Andy Dalton will be back at quarterback after missing the past two with a concussion/COVID. Not that it likely will matter. It’s a short week for Minnesota as it entered Monday night’s game in Chicago playing easily its best football of the season.
Point spread: Vikings -9.5 (may change after Monday)
Pick ATS: Dallas
Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders
Sunday night game. Kansas City comes out of its bye as still the Super Bowl betting favourite. If the Chiefs win this game, the AFC West race is essentially over. That said, Kansas City’s only loss was a 40-32 home shocker to the Raiders in Week 5. Derek Carr was actually the better QB over Patrick Mahomes that day, and Josh Jacobs rushed for two scores. Las Vegas kept the division race interesting for now by winning its third in a row Sunday, a rout of Denver.
Pick ATS: Las Vegas (alternate line of +7.5)
Los Angeles Rams at Tampa Bay Bucs, Monday
Yet another primetime game for Tom Brady, although the Bucs have been terrible under the lights this season for some reason. They routed the Panthers on Charlotte on Sunday, 46-23. Brady threw for 341 yards and three scores, and Ronald Jones had a career game with 192 yards rushing and a TD – a franchise-record 98-yard gallop. The Rams moved into a three-way tie for first in the NFC West with a 23-16 home win over Seattle. The L.A. defence forced three turnovers.
Pick ATS: Tampa Bay (alternate line of -3)
