New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers – 1.25am, Friday
THIS COULD HAVE been one of the most important Thursday Night Football games in quite some time.
Last weekend, both the Saints and Panthers held convincing leads over AFC West teams as they looked to get to five and four wins respectively and put their seasons back on track.
However, between a game-ending interception and a PAT return, both managed to botch it in spectacular fashion.
Given the state of the NFC, it’s unlikely a Wild Card team will come from the South and though the Falcons are just two games ahead, they are 3-1 against the division so far.
Verdict: This should have been a loser goes home game but they’re both losers really. Saints are not great on the road though. Carolina by 5.
Baltimore Ravens @ Dallas Cowboys (-7.5) – 6pm, Sunday
Don’t sleep on the Baltimore Ravens. Slowly, surely, the Ravens are piecing their season back together thanks to one of the stingiest defences in the league giving up less than 18 points per game.
They currently lead the AFC North and have a 3-0 record against the rest of the division putting them in pole position for the playoffs. This week, they face the hottest team in the NFL in the Dallas Cowboys, currently riding an eight-game win streak.
With Dak Prescott now the confirmed starter for America’s team, running back Zeke Elliott will try to continue his fine form against the league’s best rush defence.
Verdict: I fully expect the Cowboys to win this game but they have struggled against the league’s better defences and the Ravens are the best. Dallas by 3.
Miami Dolphins @ LA Rams (+1.5) – 9.25pm, Sunday
After he was taken with the first overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, we’re finally getting to see Jared Goff take the field with the Rams in a meaningful game.
Goff replaced Case Keenum as the Rams offence continues to struggle scoring just two touchdowns in their last three games.
At 5-4, and riding a four-win streak, the Dolphins must be cursing their luck that the AFC West is so strong this year as a Wild Card spot looks beyond them at the moment.
Verdict: The Fins are just 1-3 on the road but it’s fair to say that the Rams have yet to win over the LA crowd. Miami by 5+
Houston Texans @ Oakland Raiders (-5.5) – 1.30am, Tuesday (Mexico)
After three games in London, the NFL goes international again in week 11 as the Raiders host the Texans in Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca.
Oakland, of course, is sitting at 7-2 with the joint-best record in the AFC and are coming off the back of a very impressive win over the defending Super Bowl champions.
This week they face the 6-3 Texans for whom Brock Osweiler is averaging an almost impossible 5.61 yards per attempted pass.
To put that in context, his running back, Lamar Miller, is averaging 4.3 yards per attempted rush.
And the rest (picks against the spread in bold)
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Detroit Lions (-6.5)
Pittsburgh Steelers (-7.5) @ Cleveland Browns
Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts (-3)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Kansas City Chiefs (-7.5)
Arizona Cardinals @ Minnesota Vikings (scratch)
Buffalo Bills @ Cincinnati Bengals (-2.5)
Chicago Bears @ New York Giants (-7.5)
Philadelphia Eagles @ Seattle Seahawks (-6.5)
New England Patriots (-13) @ San Francisco 49ers
Green Bay Packers @ Washington (-2.5)
