NFL 2024 Week 11 Prequel
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 8pm
Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles (-3 1.2) — These division rivals are both good football teams. The Commanders lost a tough one point game to Pittsburgh. The Eagles have the edge at home but they never seem to put teams away. They frequently break out to big leads and then barley hang on. That makes the point spread too high. Go with the home field. Eagles win but fail to cover
Sunday, November 17, 1pm
Baltimore Ravens (-3) at Pittsburgh Steelers — This is why we watch football. For years, these teams have been mirror images of each other. John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin love smash mouth football with hard running and tough defense. Home field matters little if anything. Lamar Jackson is better than Russell Wilson and has better offensive weapons. In a close one, go with the better quarterback and the better kicker. Ravens cover
Jacksonville Jaguars at Detroit Lions (-13) — Forget the high spread. This game could be over by halftime. The Lions have won 7 straight while the Jaguars are reeling. Lions cover
Los Angeles Rams (-4 1/2) at New England Patriots — These teams starred in two epic Super Bowls. Now they are just bad teams. Yet the Patriots did go into Chicago and get a big win. The Rams have the better talent, but they aren’t playing well enough to justify the spread as a road team. The Patriots may have carry-over momentum from last week. Go with the home field. Upset special, Patriots win outright
Cleveland Browns at New Orleans Saints (-1) — Both teams are awful, but the Saints got a jolt with a new interim coach. Derek Carr rebounded. They beat a good Atlanta team. If they want to save their season they need to beat a Cleveland team even worse than they are at home. Saints cover
Indianapolis Colts at New York Jets (-4) — The Jets are a mess. They keep looking good on paper and playing terribly on the field. Joe Flacco is old but keeps the Colts competitive. This is the very last time to give the Jets the benefit of the doubt. If they can force Flacco into a couple of turnovers, they should be able to capitalize. Colts win but fail to cover
Minnesota Vikings (-5 1/2) at Tennessee Titans — The Titans are awful but the Vikings are eking out wins that earlier in the season came easy. The spread is too high for a road team that failed to muster one touchdown against lowly Jacksonville. Vikings win but fail to cover
Las Vegas Raiders at Miami Dolphins (-7 1/2) — The Dolphins are better with Tua Tagovailoa back on the field, but they are still not very good. Yet the Raiders are a mess. The Dolphins have little offense but the Raiders have none. The exhausted Raiders defense eventually breaks. The Raiders usually get one early touchdown and then try and win with field goals. The spread is too high given the Dolphins lack of offense and the Raiders good defense. Dolphins win but fail to cover
Green Bay Packers (-6) at Chicago Bears — After some promise earlier in the year, the Bears have regressed again. Losing badly at home to New England was not acceptable.The Packers have more talent. The spread is high for a road team. This is the last time to give the Bears the benefit of the doubt. Packers win but fail to cover
4pm
Atlanta Falcons at Denver Broncos (-2 1/2) — Both teams lost last week, but the Falcons lost to lowly New Orleans. The Broncos took unbeaten Kansas City to the limit, A blocked field goal on the final play prevented the upset win. Go with the home field and the better defense. Broncos cover
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers (-6 1/2) — The 49ers are an average team, but the Seahawks are too inconsistent. The 49ers have the better quarterback and the better running back. Go with the home field as well. 49ers cover
Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills (-2 1/2) — This is also why we watch football. This is the game of the year so far as the 9-0 Chiefs take on the 8-2 Bills. Last year the Chiefs went into Buffalo in the playoffs and won when the Bills missed the tying field goal on the final play. The Bills are burning for revenge. Do not be fooled by the Chiefs undefeated season. They are barely scraping by. They needed a block blocked field goal on the final play to survive Denver at home. The Bills will get their revenge. Bills cover
8pm
Cincinnati Bengals at Los Angeles Chargers (-1 1/2) — The Chargers have been playing decent football while the Bengals still have not overcome their regression from last year. Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert can both sling it. There is no home field advantage in Los Angeles for the Chargers. The Bengals took Baltimore to the limit before a two point conversion try for the win failed. The Bengals are desperate. Expect them to pull out all the stops to save their season. Upset special, Bengals win outright
Monday, November 18, 8pm
Houston Texans (-7 1/2) at Dallas Cowboys