The NFL Roundup 2018: Week 11

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

Well football fans, this is it. The Playoff Push is upon us at last and that means we can expect greater effort and a tougher fight from every single team that is in the playoff hunt. So, with so many great games awaiting us in Week 11, let’s not waste any time today and get right down to discussing the top stories we will be keeping an eye upon, along with the most fascinating games to watch this weekend.
 
Will the Green Bay Packers be able to maintain their playoff push?
It’s been a tough year for Green Bay, since their normally dominate play has been replaced with mediocrity in 2018. But they are still in the playoff hunt, and if they can continue working together and executing plays, they have a chance at going 5-4-1 on the year and staying in postseason contention. But it won’t be a cake walk to get there this weekend, for the Seattle Seahawks are a stout team and they have made life difficult for their opponents as of late. So really, the answer to the question I posed is yes, provided that Green Bay doesn’t turn over the ball on offense, and they do their best to contain Russell Wilson when he’s on the field, and if they can pull that off, then they’ve still got a shot at making the postseason.
 
Can the Falcons keep their postseason hopes alive?
If there’s one team whose record has turned out to be a bit of a surprise this year, it’s the Atlanta Falcons. Because this is a talented squad that has dropped some embarrassing games this year. But, despite their follies, they are still in the hunt right now and they need a win over Dallas to keep those playoffs hopes alive and well, I think that’s an attainable goal for the Falcons, they just have to fluster the Cowboys on both offense and defense. So, if Matt Ryan can exploit the Dallas secondary with some quick passes and the defense can contain Elliott and force Prescott to win the game with this arm, then they’ll be in a more comfortable place come Monday. But, if the same Falcons team that lost to Cleveland last week shows up, well, you know how the story will end.
 
Can the Philadelphia Eagles pull off an upset this weekend?
We are all well aware of the old ‘any given Sunday’ saying simply because it is so true, and considering how the mighty Patriots fell last week, one has to wonder if the Saints are now ripe for a surprise loss as well and in all honesty it is possible. Because New Orleans’ only weakness at this point is their secondary. So, if the Eagles can keep the ball moving with a quick passing game, they have a shot at dueling with Drew Brees and potentially pulling away with the win. But in all honestly, I think that’s a long shot, and that the Saints will do their thing and win this game handily. But Philly does stand a chance based on the ‘any given Sunday’ rule, and I do hope they put up a better fight against the Saints than the Bengals did.

---

The Most Fascinating Games to Watch This Weekend

Houston Texans (6-3) at Washington Redskins (6-3)
FedEx Field – Landover, MD
1:00 p.m. EST – CBS

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it’s strange the difference a year makes in the NFL. Because these teams weren’t even in the playoff discussion last year. But here we are, with both of them fighting to be at the top of their respective divisions and that fight is exactly why this game has my attention because both of these teams want the crown to ensure a spot in the playoffs and well, I cannot wait to watch what may be quite the shootout when all is said and done. Because both of these defenses tend to be a touch on the porous side, and both teams’ quarterbacks are talented. So, don’t be shocked if both Watson and Smith find the end zone again and again in a game that honestly, I think Houston will win, simply because their defense is a little more stout than Washington’s. 

Minnesota Vikings (5-3-1) at Chicago Bears (6-3)
Soldier Field – Chicago, IL
Sunday Night Football – 8:20 p.m. EST – NBC

There are some matchups that are simply a must see, and NFC North Divisional battles are one of them. These games just get so incredibly chippy since no one in the North gets along and while I’m expecting some rough moments and a lot of trash talking on the field in this one, I’m also expecting a down home defensive struggle to present itself as well. Because both of these teams feature fantastic defenses and that’s going to make life difficult for Kirk Cousins and Mitch Trubisky so really, the key to this one, will come down to a quarterback’s I.Q. since the man that figures out the weakness of the respective defense he’s facing will exploit it to the fullest and don’t be shocked in the slightest if this one goes to overtime or ends up being a low scoring affair because defense is something that these two teams are known for. 

Kansas City Chiefs (9-1) at Los Angeles Rams (9-1)
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – Los Angeles, CA
Monday Night Football – 8:15 p.m. EST – ESPN 

​I suppose if I had to pick a ‘Nerds That Geek Game of the Week’, this would be the one because this…well this is going to be one hell of a matchup. I mean come on, the top team in the AFC, facing off against one of the best in the NFC on prime-time Monday Night Football? You can’t ask for a better way to end Week 11 and this, well this game could go all kinds of ways. One team could dominate, or this could be a shootout, but regardless of which way this one goes, the fans are in for quite the treat and honestly, I haven’t a clue who might win this one because both teams are just so incredibly good. So rather than try and call this one, I’m just going to sit back and enjoy the fireworks because this game, is going to be downright magical.