Time to match up 11 bold predictions for Week 11 on the NFL schedule.
Rivers and Mahomes to provide air show
The Chargers and Chiefs get together in Mexico City. Last year’s scheduled game for Mexico had to be moved to the LA Coliseum and the Chiefs and Rams put on a classic. Don’t expect 100-plus points this year in the thin air. However, do expect Philip Rivers and Patrick Mahomes to pass the night away. Look for 675 yards between them and at least five passing scores.
Ezekiel Elliott will light up the Lions
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Coming off an atypical off-game when the Vikings held Ezekiel Elliott to less than 50 yards on the ground, the Cowboys’ star RB gets his shot at a Detroit defense that is ranked 26th and allowing almost 130 rushing yards per game. Expect the former Buckeyes star to notch nearly that many on his own as he comes back strong.
Dwayne Haskins will throw multiple picks
The Jets allow less than 82 yards per game. Washington will try to get Adrian Peterson loose against Gang Green. However, when that fails, Bill Callahan will have no choice but to let Dwayne Haskins throw the ball and the rookie will find many Jets defenders. And if you can’t throw it against the 2-7 Jets, the immediate future is bleak.
Pats will suffer back-to-back November losses
For any other team, this would not be worth a bold prediction. The Patriots, however, are not any team. New England has not lost back-to-back games in the month of November since 2006. In that season, NE went from 6-1 to 6-3 with defeats to the Colts and Jets. The Pats finished the year 12-4. They are coming into Philadelphia off a loss to Baltimore, their first of the season. The Eagles will make it two straight defeats for the Super Bowl champs.
Broncos, Bengals or Cardinals will win
Entering Week 11, Denver, Cincinnati and Arizona are all double-digit underdogs. In this case, two out of three will be bad as one of the ‘dogs finds its way to victory. The team that feels like it has the best shot — and it still is a long shot — is the Cardinals. They played SF tough a couple weeks ago and catch the Niners on a short week coming off a tough game.
Lamar Jackson will outduel Deshaun Watson
No sense stepping away from the Lamar Jackson train as it rolls through his second season in the NFL. This week the Ravens and their scintillating quarterback meet the Texans and their scintillating QB, Deshaun Watson. In a game that will like likely have less scoring than one might anticipate, look for Jackson and the Ravens to grab another “W.” By the way, Jackson also finished ahead of Watson in the race for the 2016 Heisman Trophy.
The Falcons will make it two straight
Coming off the upset of the Saints in New Orleans, look for the Atlanta Falcons to pluck the Panthers in Carolina. It was hard to believe Dan Quinn’s team was as awful as it appeared going to 1-7. Now, are they as good as they looked in stopping the Saints? We’re gonna go with yes and think they will pick up their second straight victory on the road over a tough NFC South foe.
The Bears will survive the Rams
Don’t expect much offense — the o/u seems high at 41 — as the Bears look to win their second straight against the Rams at the Coliseum. Chicago shook, rattled and rolled Jared Goff last season. Expect more of the same this year in what becomes an almost do-or-die battle for Wild-Card playoff contention. Surprising how both teams have put themselves up against it already.
Josh Jacobs will ravage the Bengals
Cincinnati has the worst rushing defense in the NFL. It isn’t close as the Bengals allow nearly 180 yards per game on the ground. So, it goes to figure the Raiders will hand the ball to their star rookie early and often. Expect him to shred the defense en route to another 100-yard effort.
The Saints will make Winston pay
A home loss is tough to digest. A home loss to a divisional foe that was 1-7 entering is impossible to swallow. Pity poor Jameis Winston as the Saints come to the Sunshine State after falling to the Falcons. All this means is a fired-up team and plenty of pressure and turnovers for the Bucs’ QB. Look out as the Saints’ front harasses him from start to finish.
The Jaguars will rock the Colts
Nick Foles and the magic return to the Jacksonville lineup against Indy. It’s the second half of the season and Foles will turn his magic on and the Jags will play a complete game on both sides of the ball as Indy drops to 5-5 and Jacksonville will be 5-5 after Week 11.
