NFL Week 11 notes
The AFC looks really interesting right now.
New England is starting to look really, really good. They're 9-2, at least tied for the best record in the league. Their next two games are against the Bengals and the hapless Giants, so I expect them to continue to roll for the next two games. Things get tougher after that with Buffalo and Baltimore on the schedule.
About Baltimore: after starting the season 1-5, they're 5-5 and closing in on the Steelers for the AFC North. Their latest win was not pretty but they're a scrappy, well-coached bunch. Coming up: Jets, Bengals, Steelers, Bengals. All winnable games, especially if Aaron Rodgers is out for a while.
Speaking of Aaron Rodgers, the Steelers just pulled off a win against the Bengals in a match of geriatric quarterbacks. They're looking at an interesting schedule coming up: Bears, Bills, Ravens, Dolphins. Miami doesn't appear to be a pushover any more, and who knows what the always-interesting Bears will bring. The other two games are probably losses. The Steelers had a losing streak at the end of last year, so I expect them to try very hard to avoid multiple losses. They put all their eggs in the 41-year-old basket of Aaron Rodgers, and they're got to be praying he gets healthy and can play.
Buffalo can score like crazy but their defense is suspect. The Chiefs are 5-5 and could easily miss the playoffs for the first time since before they drafted Mahomes. The Broncos have a terrific defense but their offense is suspect. The Chargers might be coming to realize that maybe Justin Herbert isn't the man after all, and even if he is, he gets hurt A LOT. The Colts were off this week and the Jaguars had an impressive win over L.A.
And as for the NFC, the Rams continue to sparkle with a solid win over Seattle. Darnold had four turnovers. Don't feel too bad for the Seahawks, though; coming up they have the Vikings, the Titans, the Falcons and the Colts. 7-3 now; expect them to be 10-4. Not bad.
The Bucs are 6-4 with the surprising Panthers a half game back at 6-5. Tampa: Rams, Cards, Saints, Falcons. Carolina: Niners, Rams, Saints, and the Bucs again. I don't see the plucky Panthers getting any closer over the next month.
The mighty Eagles almost have the NFC East wrapped up, with a 3 1/2 game lead on Dallas. Their upcoming schedule looks like they're going to keep winning: the Lions right now followed by the Cowboys, the paper-tiger Bears, and the suddenly vulnerable Chargers.
Those Bears. 7-3! But the fun is probably over, as their next four opponents are (in order) the Steelers, the Eagles, the Packers and the Browns. The Packers play a very nasty kind of defense and they have not forgotten that their long-time rivals beat them last time out. It's in Lambeau as well. The Bears might pull off a win against the Rodgers-less Steelers and should beat the Browns, but I doubt they're better than 9-5 in four weeks. The Lions (6-4) are the most talented team in the division and I fully expect them to be formidable in December. Their next four games: Eagles (right now), Giants, Packers, Cowboys. They're dealt with adversity before. The Packers will rise and fall with Jordan Love. They're 6-3-1 now; their next four games are Vikings, Lions, Bears and Broncos. Jordan Love has had streaks of ineffectiveness in the past followed by near-invincibility. Their defense can play with anybody. Their fate is tied inextricably to Jordan Love.
Wow! If you couldn't tell I am really, really into football right now. Above I have almost certainly listed all 14 playoff teams, though I couldn't say who will make it and who will win in January. I'm certainly looking forward to it, however.
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Thanks! 
