The NFL Roundup 2019: Week 11

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

​My how time flies. Because just like that, we have arrived at Week 11 in the NFL, meaning that the playoffs are quite literally right around the corner and the journey will soon come to an end for twenty teams and glory awaits those in the postseason and well, while this seems like a time to reflect and be wistful of every moment we’ve enjoyed, there is still a lot of football to play. For the teams in dire straits can still play the spoiler and wow their fans, and there are still squads on the bubble that are hoping to hit a hot streak, and of course, the elite want to solidify their standards. Which means we are in for another weekend of incredible games and well, it’s best we dive right in and examine the top stories from the field and which games should wow us as Week 11 gets underway.
 
Can the Dolphins make it three in a row?
Miami has suddenly come to life in the past couple of weeks by way of some impressive wins and well, one has to wonder, can these guys do it again and extend their winning string to three? The answer is… maybe. Simply because, while they did give Buffalo quite the challenge in their last meeting, Buffalo has gotten far better at how they play their game. Which means that while this game is likely going to be an AFC West brawl, the Bills really are the better team through and through and I fully expect them to win this game. But I also expected Miami to lose last week, and they proved me wrong there, so I won’t be shocked if this time around, they finish the job and stun the Bills.
 
How will the 49ers respond now that their perfect season has come to an end?
Make no mistake about it, the Niners loss on Monday night was a stunner to say the least, the kind that can rattle a team beyond belief. Which leaves all of us wondering exactly how this team is going to respond to said loss when they take the field against the Cardinals this week and honestly, I think San Francisco’s misfortune on Monday is going to be bad news for Arizona. Because this team has good leadership across the board, and they cannot be happy about said loss. Which means I expect them to outright whup up on the Cardinals and get their groove back. So, don’t be shocked if San Fran drops an unholy amount of touchdowns on Arizona as they work to make Monday Night Football’s stunner a distant memory.
 
Will the Chiefs rebound from their surprise loss to the Titans?
I know I’m not alone in saying that I fully expected Tennessee to lose to the Chiefs last week. But they didn’t. They figured Kansas City’s defense out real quick and exploited their weaknesses and the Titan defense shut down the powerhouse KC offense with little effort. And at this point I think we are all wondering if the Chiefs will be able to rebound from a loss like that because they are so rarely punched in the mouth in this fashion and honestly, I don’t know. Because that defense has been a liability before and will be again and now there’s film out there on how to beat Mahomes. And to make matters worse, KC is facing off against a divisional rival this week in Los Angeles and the Chargers are hungry to prove to the football world that they’re better than their record reflects. So, really, a rebound in this instance is up to the entire team and if they can’t get their act together and don’t take the Chargers seriously, expect this team to go 6-5. 

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The Most Fascinating Games to Watch this Weekend 

Houston Texans (6-3) at Baltimore Ravens (7-2)
M&T Bank Stadium – Baltimore, Maryland
Sunday, November 17, 2019 – 1:00 p.m. EST – CBS 

One of the big benefits of this time of year is that we start to see more powerhouse/juggernaut teams face off against one another in order to help sort out playoff seeding and that’s precisely what this game entails. Because both of these squads are looking to compete with New England and work toward that all-important first round bye. Which means I expect this game to be quite the contest, one where offense rules the day since these two dynamic quarterbacks will take to the skies to lock up that victory. As to which team pulls that off, well I’d venture to say that the first one who shores up their defense enjoys the win and I’m guessing that’s going to be Baltimore. Because they’re a damn good football team that knows how to adjust in order to win. 

New England Patriots (8-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (5-4)
Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sunday, November 17, 2019 – 4:25 p.m. EST – CBS 

Normally New England going up against a 5-4 team isn’t worth discussing, but this game is different and special. Because the Pats are licking their wounds after a stunning loss to Baltimore, and they’re hungry to get back on track with a win. But they’re also facing a scrappy Philadelphia team, one that doesn’t fear Tom Brady in the slightest since they beat him in a Super Bowl not that long ago, and they’re chomping at the bit to help New England drop to 8-2. So, expect this matchup to be quite the brawl, as for the winner of this one, well that’s all in Philadelphia’s hands. Because if the Eagles are able to disguise their defense and their blitz packages, they should be able to confuse #12 and get to him, and if they pull that off, they land the upset. But if they keep it soft, the Pats are back on track and one step closer to home field advantage in the playoffs. 

Sunday Night Football
Chicago Bears (4-5) at Los Angeles Rams (5-4)
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – Los Angeles, California
8:20 p.m. EST – NBC 

​I know what you’re thinking. Why on earth would I want to highlight two mediocre teams on Sunday night? And the answer to that question is simple, because both of these teams have a lot to prove, and that often leads to a great primetime game. The Chicago offense for instance, has to prove to their fans and the football world that it is indeed dynamic and tough, and the Rams are just looking to show everyone that their Super Bowl LIII appearance was more than a mere fluke. Which means I’m expecting this game to be far better than it appears on paper, complete with aggressive offensive play as both teams work to accomplish their goals. And as for who is going to win this one, well that’s going to come down to which offense gets in gear and I have a funny feeling that Los Angeles is the one that will put it all together and lock up an important win.