2017 Week 11 Predix

Written by Sam DeCoste

Week 11 is already upon us. Being that its now mid November, the season is starting to get real. It's crunch time. Win and you can keep playing, otherwise you'll be watching the dance from home. Week 11 opens up as the Steelers host the Titans on Thursday night, and it ends when the Falcons travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks. But in between, you have Rams-Vikings, Redskins-Saints, Patriots-Raiders, and Eagles-Cowboys. This could potentially be the best week of the season yet, so let's project the scorelines of this week's games! Let's get it!

My overall record last week: 11-3

Lock of the Week record: 8-2

My overall season record: 97-49

This should be one of the best Thursday night games we'll get all year. Both teams are in the playoffs if the season ended today, but, it doesn't. But you'd be hard pressed to say that one of these teams loses the plot and somehow blows it and misses the playoffs. The Titans have quietly won four in a row, while the Steelers have loudly won four in a row. I think the Steelers win just because they're just more talented and better coached.

Prediction: TEN 17, PIT 33

This undoubtably has to be the game of the week. And honestly, both teams are surprising us this season. The Rams can double their win total from last season with an eighth win, while the Vikings can go on their way to clinching the division. And what's so great about this matchup is that it is strength against strength, one of the league's elite defenses versus the league's highest scoring team. The Rams have blown teams out all year, but they haven't been battle tested yet. The Vikings are legit, and I think they can pass the test.

Prediction: LAR 20, MIN 24

I don't think there is a more complete team in the NFL than the Saints. They have a Hall of Fame quarterback in Drew Brees, they have a brilliant one-two punch at running back, and their defense is flummoxing quarterbacks week in, week out. The Redskins are getting the Saints at the worst time. The Saints are on a roll, and the Redskins would have to shock the league to somehow win in the Superdome. It's not gonna happen.

Prediction: WSH 13, NO 29

I loved this matchup back in the preseason, but now it's pretty bad. You can't get me hyped for Joe Flacco versus Brett Hundley. You just can't. Don't @ me. The Packers are done, and the Ravens are still in it. At least the Ravens aren't a one man team, unlike their opponent, so I'm picking the team coming off their bye, preparing a defensive gameplan to neutralize Brett Hundley.

Prediction: BAL 26, GB 20

Remember this game? This was the Week 1 game which both teams were scheduled to play to raise the curtain, but Hurricane Irma had other plans. They would be on bye this week if not, but no, they're playing this game. Fun. That's all I got.

Prediction: TB 12, MIA 20

I picked the Buccaneers to win when this was still scheduled in Week 1, but it is not Week 1. That was ten weeks ago.

The Lions may have the easiest schedule among NFC Wild Card contenders, and this should be easy for them. The Lions are stacking up the wins, and they should be able to beat the Bears in Chicago. If you don't, you deserve to watch the playoffs from the couch. Win the freaking game, Lions. 

Prediction: DET 21, CHI 10

Both teams have significantly underperformed this season, but both teams have suffered horrible injuries as well. They've certainly been unlucky, but they're also exactly what their records say they are, and they could be starting new eras of coaching staffs in 2018. Now, talking Week 11, Arizona struggles on the road, and Drew Stanton looked horrible the last time we saw him. The Texans still have DeAndre Hopkins, and he can still catch if Tom Savage throws it around him. I think that is enough to lead Houston over the finish line.

Prediction: ARZ 12, HOU 20

It's an odd week, so the Jags win. I don't care that they're playing the Browns. They win this week. And I feel so good about this game, that this is my Lock of the Week. Sorry, I'll make a better Lock next week, but c'mon.

Prediction: JAX 27, CLE 7

What a horrible game this is. The Chiefs have to blow the Giants out, don't they? Marquise Goodwin looked like Jerry Rice in that secondary, and now Tyreek Hill is coming to town? This could be my Lock of the Week! But it's not. But the Chiefs will still win.

Prediction: KC 42, NYG 20

I love Sean McDermott's decision to play Nathan Peterman this week. I know, the Bills defense is the unit struggling, but the offense can't score! The Bills can't do things the same way and expect different results. That's how the United States missed the World Cup (yeah, I went there). Now, the Chargers defense is pretty good. Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram on the outside rushing the quarterback, and the offense can explode at any time. The Chargers are due for a win, and the Bills don't look like they're going to win a game for awhile.

Prediction: BUF 10, LAC 28

The Broncos were many peoples' Super Bowl favorite after Week 2. Now it's Week 11, and Denver is an absolute mess. Their defense can't stop anybody now because everybody stops their offense. Cincinnati doesn't have anything to brag about either, but they are pretty bad on the road. In Denver, I feel like the Broncos are due to win. It's not a get right game for them, because they won't get right this season again, but I think Denver can win.

Prediction: CIN 23, DEN 24

Esto partido es uno de los partidos mejores para semana diez. Yes, it's that time. The Patriots and Raiders battle it out in the glorious Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The Raiders are coming off of a bye, and a great win in Miami, while the Patriots have won five straight. The Patriots are playing really well, and their bad defense in the beginning of the season is good again. The Raiders are not getting better, and this is a horrible matchup for them. Los Patriots ganarán esta semana en Mexico.

Prediction: NE 37, OAK 22

Now this is a marquee matchup. The Eagles are the best team in the league, at least, according to wins and losses. The Cowboys were trending until they laid an egg in Atlanta last week, and Dak Prescott looked like Russell Wilson (he was running for his life). Now this matchup is really based on home field advantage for me, because the Cowboys are desperate for a win, and the Eagles have so much momentum. No Ezekiel Elliott certainly makes it worse for the Cowboys, but there's something different about division games. What you expect to happen doesn't go how it should've. I think the Eagles will win, but I'm picking the Cowboys.

Prediction: PHI 27, DAL 30

This game has really lost the intrigue it once had. A rematch of the NFC Divisional Round last year, and two, arguably, Super Bowl contenders. Ha, nope. Atlanta is struggling to score points, and the Legion of Boom has been discontinued. No Sherman, no party. But then again, I don't think Atlanta is capable of exposing the vulnerabilities of this defense, especially in Seattle, in primetime. When it comes down to Seattle, if they're playing at home under the lights, they will win every time.

Prediction: ATL 19, SEA 24

Picture credit: https://fansided.com/2016/05/14/5-players-madden-18-cover/2/