The final NFL team byes happened in Week 11. From now until Week 17, every team steps onto the gridiron. NFL Week 11 was the toughest I’ve ever had in regards to choosing teams against the spread. I lay it all out for you, in stomach churning, graphic, detail in my NFL Week 11 Picks ‘N Posts.
For now, checkout what happened in every single NFL Week 11 game.
2017 NFL Week 11 Recap
Tennessee Titans -6.5 at Pittsburgh Steelers +6.5
I thought the Titans might have a real shot versus the Pittsburgh Steelers in last Thursday’s game. What I didn’t think about is how the Steelers’ passing attack might get it going versus a Titans’ defense that had been playing against bad passing teams.
Pitt only rushed for 65 yards. Big Ben threw for 4 TDs and 299 yards. It’s odd how Tennessee allowed WR Antonio Brown, the best wide receiver in the NFL, to catch 10 of 13 targets for 144 yards. Brown also caught 3 TD passes.
Result: Steelers 40, Titans 17
L.A. Rams +2.5 at Minnesota Vikings -2.5
This was the only game that I got right. The Rams have an excellent offense. The defense isn’t bad, either. Unfortunately, the defense is full of pass rushers. The Rams have a tough time stopping the rush, which is why RB Latavius Murray racked up 95 yards on 15 carries. Murray also scored a rushing TD.
Overall, the Vikings blitzed the Rams’ D for 171 total rushing yards. Vikings’ QB Case Keenum was good as well. He threw for 280 yards and a TD.
Result: Vikings 24, Rams 7
Detroit Lions -3 at Chicago Bears +3
After Chicago took a 10 to 0 lead after the first quarter, I thought I had nailed this game against the spread. Detroit, amazingly, scored 21 points in the second quarter. No team scored in quarter 3. Chicago outscored Detroit 7 to 6 in quarter 4. It didn’t matter.
How did Detroit beat Chicago? How has Detroit won any game this season? QB Matthew Stafford threw for 299 yards and 2 TDs. Stafford completed 4 of 7 targets to Marvin Jones Jr. Jones Jr. racked up 85 receiving yards. He also caught a TD.
Result: Lions 27, Bears 24
Baltimore Ravens -2 at Green Bay Packers +2
I thought Green Bay might put up more of a fight in their ridiculous 0 to 23 loss to the Baltimore Ravens at Lambeau in NFL Week 11. The Packers out rushed the Ravens, 75 yards to 58. They also out passed the Ravens, 190 yards to 161 yards. Green Bay also lost 2 of 4 fumbles.
What Green Bay didn’t do was protect the football. QB Brett Hundley threw 3 interceptions. At least Packer WR Davante Adams had a good game. Davante caught 8 of 10 Hundley targets for 126 yards.
Result: Ravens 23, Packers 0
Jacksonville Jaguars -7.5 at Cleveland Browns +7.5
The Jacksonville Jaguars defense obliterated any chance the Browns had of upsetting the Jags straight up. Jacksonville also pummeled the Browns on the spread. Jacksonville forced the Browns to lose 3 of 5 fumbles.
The Jaguars’ D intercepted Cleveland rookie QB DeShone Kizer twice. They sacked Kizer 5 times for 45 yards lost. They held Isaiah Crowell to 18 yards from 11 carries. It was an absolute butt whipping from the Jaguars’ defense.
If there is one light in Cleveland’s dark tunnel, it’s WR Corey Coleman. Coleman returned to action. He had some success versus the top-rated pass defense in the NFL. Coleman caught 6 of 11 targets for 80 yards. If he can improve off that encouraging first game back from an injury, Cleveland might win a game this season.
Result: Jaguars 19, Browns 7
Washington Redskins +7.5 at New Orleans Saints -7.5
Where to start? At the 5:58 mark in the fourth quarter, Washington QB Kirk Cousins had just thrown a TD pass to Jeremy Sprinkle. The score was Washington 31, New Orleans 16. That’s when the Saints’ future hall of fame QB Drew Brees decided to take over the game.
Brees completed 11 passes in a row in the Saints’ next 2 possessions. On the TD drive that tied the game, rookie RB Alvin Kamara bobbled a pass before catching it and running into the end zone. Kamara also accounted for the 2-point conversion.
In overtime, the Saints’ D stepped it up.
Result: Saints 34, Redskins 31
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +3 at Miami Dolphins -3
The Miami Dolphins have given up on the season. Miami had no business losing straight up to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in NFL Week 11. Tampa Bay scored 30 points versus Miami’s defense. That bothers me more than anything bad that’s happened to Miami’s offense.
The Fins’ D allowed Tampa QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to complete 22 of 37. Fitzpatrick threw for 275 yards. He threw 2 TDs. This is Ryan Fitzpatrick I’m writing about. If the Dolphins’ defense can’t get to Ryan Fitzpatrick, they only sacked him once, the defense can’t get to anybody.
Result: Buccaneers 30, Dolphins 20
Arizona Cardinals -1.5 at Houston Texans +1.5
Arizona headed to Houston with a shot at getting to .500. That didn’t happen. Blaine Gabbert got the start. He threw 2 interceptions. But, Gabbert also threw 3 TD passes for the hapless Cardinals.
It’s difficult to lay blame at Gabbert’s feet. The Arizona Cardinals simply didn’t have it in the rushing game, or via the defense. Arizona RB Adrian Peterson rushed for a measly 26 yards from 14 carries. The D gave up 134 rushing yards to the Houston Texans. RB D’Onta Foreman scored 2 rushing TDs. Lamar Miller rushed for 61 yards from 22 carries.
Result: Texans 31, Cardinals 21
Buffalo Bills +4.5 at L.A. Chargers -4.5
Buffalo had the smart idea of starting rookie QB Nathan Peterman. I have no idea why. Peterman, because the Bills’ offensive coaches decided he’s the next Tom Brady, threw the football 14 times. He completed 6 of 14 passes for 66 yards. He also threw 5 interceptions.
By the time the Bills put in QB Tyrod Taylor, it was all over. The bigger issue for Buffalo was their defense. The Chargers rushed for 146 yards. Bolts’ QB Phillip Rivers threw for 251 yards. He completed 2 touchdown passes.
Result: Chargers 54, Bills 24
Kansas City Chiefs -10.5 at New York Giants +10.5
The New York Giants’ defense finally put it together in a football game. The Giants’ D stopped one of the very best offenses in the NFL in Week 11. The Chiefs did rush for 134 yards. However, the Giants’ secondary picked off KC quarterback Alex Smith twice. They also picked off TE Travis Kelce, who tried to throw a pass in a trick play.
The Chiefs took this game into overtime. The Giants are the ones who got the game winning field goal. NYG, finally, has something positive to build on since their road win versus the Denver Broncos way back in Week 6.
Result: Giants 12, Chiefs 9
Cincinnati Bengals +2.5 at Denver Broncos -2.5
This was one of the few games that I called correctly. I thought Denver might fold in the face of the Cincinnati Bengals. The entire Broncos’ team is showing body language that they’ve given up on coach Vance Joseph.
That body language was very apparent in Denver’s loss to Cincy in Week 11. The Broncos’ out rushed the Bengals 112 to 49. Brock Osweiler threw for 254 yards. Bengals’ QB Andy Dalton only threw for 154 yards. Dalton did throw 3 TD passes, though. Osweiler? He threw a TD pass and a pick.
Result: Bengals 20, Broncos 17
New England Patriots -6.5 vs Oakland Raiders +6.5
I didn’t feel that Oakland would cover the spread versus the New England Patriots in Week 11. I did think that the Raiders would score more than 8 points, though. Oakland’s offense was putrid versus a New England defense that, on paper at least, appeared prone to allowing big passing yards.
Although Oakland’s offense was terrible, the Raiders’ defense was worse. Tom Brady completed 30 of 37 attempts. He threw for 337 yards. He threw 3 TD passes. Brandin Cooks caught 6 of 9 for 149 yards and a TD.
Result: Patriots 33, Raiders 8
Philadelphia Eagles -3 at Dallas Cowboys +3
This was the most infuriating game I watched in NFL Week 11. Sure, the Cowboys were missing offensive lineman Tyron Smith. But, Dallas held a 9 to 7 lead at halftime. The Cowboys also rushed for 112 yards in this game.
How did the Boys lose so badly? Dallas’ D gave up 215 rushing yards. That’s embarrassing. Missed tackles, players in wrong positions, bad defensive play-calling, you name it, the Cowboys did it on defense.
Result: Eagles 37, Cowboys 9
Atlanta Falcons +3 at Seattle Seahawks -3
Don’t get me wrong. Seattle’s defense wasn’t great. In all fairness, though, the Falcons’ only rushed for 89 yards from 30 carries. Atlanta QB Matt Ryan completed 19 of 27 for 195 yards and 2 TD passes. Seattle’s defense did as well as it could without Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman.
Seattle’s offense lost this game. Russell Wilson threw a pick. More importantly, Seattle kicker Blair Walsh failed to make the game tying, 52-yard, field goal. More importantly than that? Instead of taking the 3 points, the Seahawks inexplicably went for a fake field goal with only 7 seconds left in the half.
What? Yeah, confused me too.
Result: Falcons 34, Seahawks 31