NFL Week 11 Predictions: Everybody’s QB Hurts Edition

The writer’s strike may have ended weeks ago, but apparently the NFL already outsourced the 2023 season’s script to ChatGPT or another AI, because we are getting 2017 all over again. First it was the low-scoring games with stats not seen since 2017 around the league, then the quarterback injuries just got too eerily similar after Deshaun Watson (shoulder) and Joe Burrow (wrist) both went down for the season this week.

I was so concerned in not going over my character limit so that this tweet would display to get the full effect that I forgot the Vikings’ QB1 is another match. The 2017 Vikings lost Sam Bradford early and had to roll to the title game with Case Keenum. Now the 2023 Vikings lost Kirk Cousins and are on a winning streak with Joshua Dobbs.

All we’re missing is the No. 1 seeded Eagles to lose their MVP front-runner to a torn ACL and watch Marcus Mariota win Super Bowl MVP after he outplays Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl 58. And Kenny Pickett and the Steelers can play the role of Jacksonville even better than 2023 Jacksonville can in the AFC Championship Game.

It’s been a rough season, but with the way contenders are dropping like flies, we just might see that Super Bowl rematch after all. We are seeing it for sure Monday night, but that might only be 1-of-2 meetings between the Eagles and Chiefs this year.

This Week’s Articles

Will Chiefs-Eagles Be the NFL’s Rare Super Bowl Rematch in February? – I did a deep dive on just how rare it is for an AFC and NFC team to meet in 3 straight seasons, and it’s still less rare than seeing two teams meet in back-to-back Super Bowls, which has only been done by 1992-93 Bills-Cowboys. But in doing the research for this one, I was absolutely shocked at just how few close calls there have been to another case of this. But I also think the Chiefs and Eagles are uniquely qualified to do it this year. The fact that they are No. 1 seeds entering Week 11 is good proof of that.

NFL Week 11 Predictions

It has always been the Ravens for me in the AFC North this year, but what a bummer of a game to lose Mark Andrews and Joe Burrow for the season. It was the best scheduled TNF game all year and that’s what happened to it. If you would have told me those injuries would happen, Lamar Jackson would go to the blue medical tent and look injured a few times himself, and the game still ended 34-20, I wouldn’t have believed it. But that ended a streak of 13 straight unders in the island games. Is this the week that turns the other way? Would be nice with the games scheduled, but I have my doubts.

Packers are my upset pick. I think they score 21+ points and it’s another close game for the Chargers.

Not sure what to do with TEN-JAX. I’m largely avoiding it but read my prop picks above to see why I’m manifesting the first Evan Engram TD catch of the season.

The Miami spread feels a little high, no? But then I looked at their 4-0 home record with every win by multiple touchdowns against scrubs and it makes more sense. I could see a 31-17 game there.

Kind of hated to pick Dallas to win big on the road since they haven’t really done that since Week 1 against the Giants. But that Carolina offense is so toothless that I just don’t see how they keep up. Dak is in a zone right now. Might be like Week 1, Cowboys finally win big on the road and Tony Pollard finally returns to the end zone.

I had a lot of success with picking games to be high scoring in the late window last week, and I think Cardinals-Texans has the potential for that. I have a nice parlay in my Scott’s Seven for this game, and you could even throw some overs for Marquise Brown and Nico Collins in there on yardage.

I might have picked the Steelers to lose to Cleveland if Watson was playing if only because I think Pickett is going to struggle with the defense on the road, and he won’t get the luxury of 2 return scores like Week 2. Then when I heard Watson was out, I still thought Cleveland because of P.J. Walker. But rookie DTR? I’m changing my pick. I’ll take Steelers to win this game, then lose to Jake Browning in his first start in Cincinnati next week. But I do really like the over for David Njoku in this game. It’s not like the Browns are going to have no yards. Pittsburgh’s defense isn’t great. They’re just timely in close games, and somehow the Steelers are drawing a schedule now with some of the only quarterbacks worse than Pickett.

I don’t trust the Commanders with a spread that big against a team they haven’t scored on in a couple of years. But I do trust Sam Howell over DeVito enough to get the win.

Definitely like Detroit to beat Chicago, and Justin Fields coming back doesn’t change my pick on the spread. I’m cautious on picking David Montgomery to have a big day since Gibbs is more established and the Bears have stopped the run well. But this is also easily the best rushing offense they’ve seen this year. I think you should work a Sam LaPorta TD into your parlays this weekend.

The 49ers crushed Tampa Bay 35-7 last year and it won’t be that bad again, but I like them to build off last week and win comfortably.

I’ll probably be keeping the Bills-Jets game out of most of my bets. Too unpredictable with Buffalo. But I could see a 24-14 game out of that one.

Not feeling Rams-Seahawks as a good betting game either. At least Stafford is back, so I’ll go with the Rams to steal another one. Return the favor for last year’s Seattle sweep.

I’m torn on SNF because I feel like Joshua Dobbs has done a great job, but Denver’s defense is legitimately improved and I could see him struggle, especially if Justin Jefferson doesn’t make his return. You need that extra wide receiver with the Broncos having Simmons and Surtain in the secondary. I still don’t believe in the Denver offense. I think it’ll be a close game and prime-time games involving Russell Wilson are usually batshit. Remember last year’s FG fest with Matt Ryan and the Colts? That was a Thursday. Remember the 6-6 OT tie with Arizona years ago? That was SNF. Take your pick with his Monday night games in Seattle, or just this Monday against Buffalo.

As for Eagles-Chiefs, I think I’ve covered the game enough in my links above at 365Scores about the Super Bowl rematch, my parlay pick, and in the prime-time pick articles. My gut feel is both teams are playing at a lower quality than they were last year, but the ways that they are different favor the Chiefs. Better on defense to keep the score low so it won’t be 38-35, Eagles not as good at running, and too reliant on A.J. Brown which could only get worse with Dallas Goedert out. That’s why I like another big DeVonta Smith game, but again, that under is 11-1 on MNF and we’ve been letdown so much by these “Game of the Year” choices in 2023. I’m rooting for a 24-20 type of game, but I am backing the Chiefs at home.

Let’s win something big this week. I feel like we’re running out of chances as I don’t want to be trying to figure out if Jake Browning can throw for 2 touchdowns in a game.

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