Predicting the NFL games - Week 11
AKA the Kansas City Chiefs Seasonal Invitational goes on.
Seriously, I’m not sure who exactly is going to beat the Kansas City Chiefs this season. In the midst of all the stories this season, none of them will matter if the Chiefs three-peat. The only thing that stands in the way of that possibility is the fact that there’s never been a team to win the Super Bowl three years in a row, but we live in interesting times so nothing is certain. Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid will win the Super Bowl if no one steps up to stop them in the playoffs. There are contenders, yes, but past history is against the likes of Baltimore and Buffalo, both of whom suffered defeat at the hands of Kansas City last season in the playoffs. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh looks like they could be a threat but there’s no indication that they would be able to topple KC, whereas Houston is too inconsistent to have a meaningful run.
Last week had some interesting games and also some not as fun games. The Ravens and Bengals played in one of the best Thursday night games of the season, the Vikings continue to sputter, and the Lions proved that they were still the class of the NFC. I did good but not great in my predictions and I hope to improve upon that this week.
Previous week: 9-5
Season Overall: 96-56
We’re starting off with the game of the week, I see.
Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles (Thursday)
The fight for control of the NFC East comes down to this game between two talented teams. The Eagles took the lead thanks to some help from the Steelers and no help from the Cowboys, so it’s up to the Commanders to take out the trash themselves. I’m pretty confident that Washington can play well against the Eagles and the offense should be able to move the ball. The one question is whether or not the defense can hold up against Jalen Hurts and Philadelphia’s offense. They did well enough against the Steelers until the end, but a second straight game without Lattimore will test this group further. But this is a new era and what better way to define it than by winning over your division rival? Washington will win this one by a field goal. Prediction: Commanders: 33 - Eagles: 30
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
Yeah, things haven’t been going well in Chicago since being on the receiving end of the Miracle in Maryland. Caleb Williams in struggling and the Bears have just fired their offensive coordinator, so that should tell you what the situation is over there. Green Bay, on the other hand, comes off their bye and is ready to make their push for the post-season. I think we all know how this one ends. Prediction: Packers: 34 - Bears: 17
Jacksonville Jaguars at Detroit Lions
Two cat teams enter, one cat team emerges victorious and it won’t be the Jaguars. Prediction: Jaguars: 10 - Lions: 40
Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans
Will the Vikings have a bad performance again? Sam Darnold has come back to Earth but the Vikings are still a better team than the Titans. Prediction: Vikings: 20 - Titans: 13
Las Vegas Raiders at Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins aren’t good but at least Tua’s starting so they’ll be fun to watch on offense at least. Las Vegas isn’t fun to watch at all. Prediction: Raiders: 7 - Dolphins: 27
Los Angeles Rams at New England Patriots
The Rams are at least better than the Patriots, I think. Prediction: Rams: 24 - Patriots: 16
Cleveland Browns at New Orleans Saints
I have to pick somebody, don’t I? The Browns, I guess. Prediction: Browns: 23 - Saints: 10
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
This match-up is for the AFC North lead and I always think that these two teams usually split their series, but the Steelers usually play good against the Lamar Jackson led Ravens. For once, Pittsburgh doesn’t have a completely terrible offense, so they have a good advantage going in to this game. This game is going to be close, that much I’m sure of. Prediction: Ravens: 17 - Steelers: 20
Indianapolis Colts at New York Jets
The Colts are going back to Anthony Richardson, which isn’t exactly inspiring. The Jets are even less inspiring, so something’s got to give here. Prediction: Colts: 24 - Jets: 14
Atlanta Falcons at Denver Broncos
Last week’s game against the Saints is why I can’t buy into the Falcons. They just set people up for disappointment. The Broncos are familiar with that, but at least their disappointment was due to the Chiefs and their BS. Denver wins this one. Prediction: Falcons: 19 - Broncos: 27
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers won the first time around and I think they win this time as well. Prediction: Seahawks: 24 - 49ers: 34
Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills
The most anticipated game of the week. Buffalo has played better than Kansas City has and they have a good shot to deliver the Chiefs their first loss of the season. Of course, this will have little meaning in January but the Bills, I think, are going to do the job here and win. Prediction: Chiefs: 20 - Bills: 24
Cincinnati Bengals at Los Angeles Chargers
Joe Burrow cannot catch a break. He has a great game last week and still loses. The Chargers, meanwhile, have played much better on the defense and will probably play a lot better than the Ravens did. Prediction: Bengals: 21 - Chargers: 28
Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys
This was probably a much better match-up on paper before Dallas lost Dak for the season. The Texans have not exactly played up to expectation, but they are a lot better right now than the Cowboys. At least Jerry Jones won’t have to complain about the sun this time around? Prediction: Texans: 27 - Cowboys: 14
Optimism is at a dangerous high here, I feel.