By Ron Johnson
NFL Week 11
The madness of week 11 started on Thursday when the Bengals lost the game AND their quarterback. One can even say that their playoff hopes are in jeopardy as well. We all remember what happened the last time Joe Burrow fell for the season. And there’s a good chance that Pepperidge Farm remembers too.
So let’s go through this installment of the Gridiron Gang.
Cowboys vs. Panthers
So the Cowboys have a problem. While they have trouble with teams with winning records, they tend to dominate teams with losing records. Yet, ESPN says that they are sizzling and red hot? Make it make sense. After CeeDee Lamb’s claim to be the best receiver in the game today, and Micah Parson’s ignorance co-signing that false statement, I would expect a team that is 2-3 on the road to be a little more humble than this. But then again, this is the Cowboys. Not surprised by the cockiness of the team. This time around, they get their easiest win of the season as they face a Carolina Panthers team that has only one win on the season and has been dismal all season long. If the Cowboys have ANY trouble with Carolina whatsoever, expect ESPN to bury those doubts deep. While Dallas is hoping that Kansas City does it again against Philly on Monday night, it still will not be enough to remove the stench of losing to those Eagles a few weeks ago.
Seahawks vs. Rams
To say this game is going to be a good one is a rather loaded statement. Both teams have been trying to find their footing, and while one team (Seattle) has been thriving under pressure most of the time, the other (LA) has been lying to themselves. Now the Rams are coming back from their bye week with Puka Nacua questionable to play Sunday, and Matthew Stafford returning from a thumb injury. But there are new wrinkles on the horizon for both teams. Many are wondering if Geno Smith is devolving, while everyone (myself included) is wondering what role if any will newest Ram Carson Wentz play in his first game back in months. Both teams are looking to rebound from shocking losses (granted, Seattle survived Washington a week after they didn’t both showing up in Baltimore), but the Rams are just trying to play spoiler for playoff teams now. Garnering a 3-6 record and only being able to win one game at home out of four has not given the fans much reason to celebrate them this season.
Steelers vs. Browns
The Steelers are still one of the worst looking teams with a winning record in the league right now. And this isn’t a personal insult; this is a fact of football life. Pittsburgh has been outgained in each game this season, yet have still found ways to win (either by luck, ref stupidity or sports karma). But I’m sure they are breathing a sigh of relief with Deshaun Watson out for the season. The Browns did work out Joe Flacco in hopes of getting him for this game, but it could PJ Walker’s time to shine if he plays his cards right. This game will be all about the defense as it’ll be TJ Watt and Myles Garrett who will look to steal the show in bunches. The Browns showed that they can hang with the best after overcoming a 14-point deficit to defeat the Ravens last week, so maybe they will be the team that shakes things up in a still wide open AFC North.
Bears vs. Lions
It has been three decades since the Detroit Lions could call themselves division champs. With a two-game lead to this point, they are hoping to run it back to yesteryear. Standing in their way is a team that has had its share of shockers. Detroit is looking to keep its momentum against the Bears and improve on its best record in nine years. As for the Bears, they can be happy about one thing: they’re not the worst team in the NFL to this point. Good news for them is that they will get quarterback Justin Fields back after missing the last four games with a dislocated thumb. This will also mean that DonnWann’s Justin Fields TO Clock will return on Sunday, and I for one am looking forward to the prediction numbers he will have for this game.
Chargers vs. Packers
While the Chargers are 2-1 against the NFC North this season, they are still having nightmares about a different Detroit team than they’re used to beating them last week. There are rumors swirling around the win or bust mentality of LA’s front office with many speculating that this will indeed be Brandon Staley’s last season as coach of the Chargers. That for my take is long overdue. And then there are the Packers. This team has had one of the most lackluster performances in recent memory, and the fans are letting them know about it. While the postseason is not in their sights at this moment, we all know that all it takes is one shining moment to turn a season around (just ask Denver). Who will the odds favor in this rare late season matchup?
Raiders vs. Dolphins
If there is any team that is enjoying the misery of Buffalo, it is Miami. While everyone has been focused solely on the Bills rise to the AFC East Crown, Miami has played the role of Deebo and is looking to snatch some chains of their own. The Dolphins are still undefeated at home, but they have a new beast coming to town this time around. After showing Josh McDaniels the door, the Raiders have put their fate and the future of the season in the hands of Antonio Pierce. It has worked to their advantage as Pierce comes into this game 2-0 as head coach with a defense that has been reinvigorated. The only question for the Raiders is do they continue to rely on Aidan O’Connell as their quarterback, or if a Jimmy G sighting is in the cards for them. The Dolphins know what is at stake for this game as they look to continue their push for the AFC East and the playoffs.
Giants vs. Commanders
This game has hot garbage written all over it. While some fans are wanting Ron Rivera gone, others are wishing that Eli Manning would return since they have no true gunslingers in New York right now. The Commanders had promise at the beginning of the season, but since then, the team has continued to collapse heavily. Maybe a trip from the Giants is just the ticket considering the last time these two teams met, it was a dumpster fire (14-7 Giants win).
Titans vs. Jaguars
The Titans are another team that is not playing for much this late in the season. While there is speculation that Derrick Henry wants out of Trashville, the focus of this game will definitely be on the continuing evolution of Will Levis. But the Jaguars need to get back in the saddle themselves after a dismal performance against the Niners last week. Whatever mojo Trevor Lawrence is missing, he will need to find it because the Titans may be mediocre, but they are not dead.
Cardinals vs. Texans
This game is no longer a garbage game for one simple reason: Kyler Murray vs. CJ Stroud. The Cardinals got their second win of the season last week in Murray’s return, and Stroud has the Texans talking playoffs for the first time since Watson, and they have earned this talk. This team is actually looking better than advertised, and they look to continue this trend against a Cardinals team just trying to finish the season on a high note. As for the Texans, one cannot understate the job that DeMeco Ryans and his staff have done. The Texans are getting back to relevancy, and I am damn proud of them for doing that.
Bucs vs. 49ers
The Bucs have been struggling to get back to the good times. The good news for them though is that they are in a division that is becoming hot garbage itself. But they did manage to snap their own losing streak last week, but now that is going to get put to a huge test. The Niners returned from their bye week and decimated the red-hot Jaguars to snap their own losing streak. Are the Niners back? Not sure, but they are going to love giving Baker Mayfield hell come Sunday. With the NFC West on the line, it’s almost inevitable that the Niners will be watching how the Seahawks do against the Rams.
Jets vs. Bills
At the beginning of the season, this game had a lot of fanfare. Now, it’s more like a coronary waiting to happen depending on who you watch. If you’re a Jets fan, you’re counting down the days before your Ayahuasca God returns to the field to fail once again. If you’re a Bills Mafia member, you’re waiting for Josh Allen to play like the Josh Allen of old. Either way, everyone is going to get disappointed because when you lose to the formerly lowly Broncos on Monday night, there isn’t much to get happy for. Good thing this isn’t primetime this time right???
Sunday Night Football
Vikings vs. Broncos
The Vikings are 2-0 with Joshua Dobbs under center. Now whether he knows where everything is in his new home yet remains to be seen, but right now, he’s having fun again. Ironically, so are the Broncos. After silencing the Bills Mafia on Monday night, the Broncos find themselves back in the saddle of their own destiny. The Vikings are looking to move one step closer to the Lions at the top of the NFC North, while the Broncos are trying to get back to .500 and put a little pressure on the Raiders who have claimed second place heading into Sunday. A game that didn’t have much to deal with the postseason has now changed to having a lot now that the Vikings are picking up where they left off, and the Broncos are getting back to that Unlimited phase.
Monday Night Football (Game of the Week)
Eagles vs. Chiefs (Super Bowl Rematch)
The last time these two teams met, it was barnburner. Despite the refs having a hand in the outcome, it was still a fun game to have. Now on Monday night, and both teams looking tougher than before, Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts intend to light it up once again. It is more than a redemption story for the Eagles and more than a domination story for the Chiefs. This game is a potential Super Bowl matchup once again, and the Eagles are not letting the refs snatch this one from them this time. The Chiefs are starting to look like the Chiefs of old in some cases, but the loss of Eric Bienemy is affecting them. Either way, expect fireworks, a slugfest, a defensive battle and madness courtesy of Team Swiftny (Brittany Mahomes and Taylor Swift) as they look to do their Trademark Handshake after every Chiefs touchdown.