The NFL Roundup Week 11 - The Most Fascinating Games to Watch Sunday and Monday

Written by John Edward Betancourt

If Thursday Night Football was any kind of indicator as to what to expect this weekend in the NFL, we are in for quite the treat. The Panthers were a shining example of a team that took full advantage of every opportunity to secure a win because with the playoffs on the line, every down, every yard, every moment counts.

That means we can likely expect other teams to follow the Panthers lead, and give it their all when they take the field because truly, with only six games left, it's all or nothing and those are the kinds of games we will be keeping an eye on today and tomorrow; the ones featuring teams and players that need to stay sharp and leave everything on the field, or else they risk watching the playoffs instead of participating in them.

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BALTIMORE RAVENS AT DALLAS COWBOYS
1:00 p.m. EST - CBS

While Baltimore may not be considered a strong team right now, they are still in the hunt for a playoff spot and what better way to motivate a team and fire them up down the stretch...than by defeating the top team in the NFL? Expect the Ravens to throw everything they have at the Cowboys on both offense and defense in an effort to stop Dallas, but is this something that they can actually pull off? Absolutely, provided they can shut down the run game and make the Cowboys offense one dimensional, but let's be honest...their chances of that are slim. Ezekiel Elliott is simply a force of nature when he takes the field, and while it's likely that Baltimore loses this game, I think we can expect them to keep things interesting and give it their all for sixty minutes. 

MIAMI DOLPHINS AT LOS ANGELES RAMS
​4:05 p.m. EST - FOX

On paper, this game looks pretty boring, since it features a pair of mediocre teams taking the field. But when you dig a little deeper, there's a lot here to be excited about. At one end of the spectrum, you have the Miami Dolphins, a team riding a four game win streak and their spirits are high coming off of an epic win against the San Diego Chargers and you know they're looking to add another victory to their season. But they must face off against the Los Angeles Rams, who are not only solid on defense but they are finally unveiling the future of the franchise for all the world to see by giving Rookie QB Jared Goff his first career start. Sure the game could be ugly for Goff, but without much tape to study on the young man, he could surprise the Dolphins enough, to allow for the run game to take over. Either way, there's a fair chance this one could turn out to be quite exciting and it should be worth keeping an eye on today. 

GREEN BAY PACKERS AT WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Sunday Night Football - 8:30 p.m. EST - NBC

What makes this game so absolutely fascinating, is the fact that above all else, it features two quarterbacks at a crossroads on a pair of teams desperately in need of leadership. For Green Bay, they need Aaron Rodgers to settle down and lead this team as he has done so many times in the past. With the coaching being sub par this year, someone has to step up and that's why they pay Aaron the big bucks, but to date...his play has been just as rocky as the play calling. As for Washington, while Kirk Cousins hasn't done anything to leave the franchise regretting his twenty million dollar contract, he hasn't exactly shown the team he's worth every penny of that salary as well. He's been merely mediocre all season long and the Redskins need him to play at an elite level. To top it all off, both of these teams have a chance of making the playoffs, which means there's extra incentive for these two men to unleash their inner leader and will their teams to victory.

HOUSTON TEXANS AT OAKLAND RAIDERS
NFL International Series Game - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico
Monday Night Football - 8:30 p.m. EST - ESPN

This is a game that signals the NFL's return to Mexico after an eleven year hiatus and it also features a pair of teams with winning records taking the field, which means on paper we should be in store for a good game, but when all is said and done...the quality of this game will come down to the performance of one man, Texans QB Brock Osweiler. He has been quite the disappointment thus far and well...if he can finally put everything together for this team then he will give the Raiders a run for their money and we are in for quite the treat. But if Osweiler folds, or begins to panic over the constant pressure he is going to be under...this one is going to get outright ugly. It's up to him to finally show the Texans and the football world that his giant contract is justified and if he fails to do so again, Houston's chances at the playoffs become a shaky venture at best and Osweiler's future in the league becomes uncertain...