NFL Week 11 Picks: Projecting Scores for Biggest Locks

It's not a sure thing that Percy Harvin will play for the Seattle Seahawks in Week 11's showdown with his former team, the Minnesota Vikings.

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll apparently doesn't know if Harvin will play Sunday, but Harvin did utilize a public forum to suggest he'll suit up at CenturyLink Field for the first time with his new club:

What is rather certain—as certain as one can be about anything in the NFL—is that Seattle will trounce Minnesota regardless of how Harvin fares.

The Seahawks have remained dynamic and balanced on offense even without Harvin, which makes it scary for the rest of the league to fathom how Harvin will impact play-caller Darrell Bevell's game-planning.

Before a closer look at the matchup in Seattle and a complete list of picks for the upcoming action, let's examine some other games in which the favorites should be locks to win.

Arizona Cardinals over Jacksonville Jaguars

At home last week against a desperate Houston Texans team, the Cardinals stiffened their pass defense to limit what had been a dynamic passing attack and got nice production—and protection—from their own.

Athletic tight end Rob Housler finally found the end zone for the first time in his career, while receiver Andre Roberts stepped up as Houston's top-ranked pass defense focused on Larry Fitzgerald.

That does not bode well for the Jaguars, who have to be feeling good coming off their first victory of the year in Week 10. However, that brief momentum will be lost, and the franchise's perpetual plight will continue.

An improving Arizona backfield has featured far more of rookie running back Andre Ellington, who is averaging 7.2 yards per carry and nine yards per reception.

Jacksonville has the league's worst rush defense, so look for Ellington to truly burst onto the scene, take the majority of touches away from Rashard Mendenhall and help the Cardinals keep pace in the NFC playoff race.

Prediction: Cardinals 27, Jaguars 17

New York Giants over Green Bay Packers

It's hard to believe two-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback Eli Manning leads the NFL in interceptions with 16. That matches his total from 2011 and exceeds the 15 he threw last season.

Per ESPNWisconsin.com's Jason Wilde, Manning understands there is a sense of urgency to elevate his game:

If Manning even approaches the level of play he's enjoyed in recent years, the Giants are in great shape. In the midst of a three-game winning streak, the running game's outlook is improving with bruising RB Andre Brown in the lineup, and the defense has improved immensely:

Green Bay would offer more of a challenge with Aaron Rodgers under center, but Scott Tolzien is making his maiden NFL start for the Packers on Sunday.

The Giants are somehow still in contention in the NFC East, now trailing by only 1.5 games after a 0-6 start.

In the friendly confines of MetLife Stadium, look for Manning to have his best game of the season and for New York to remain on the ascent and within striking distance in the division race.

Prediction: Giants 31, Packers 13

Seattle Seahawks over Minnesota Vikings

As incredible as Vikings running back Adrian Peterson can be, Minnesota can't rely on him this week as much as it can in other weeks.

That's because the Seahawks happen to sport the No. 2 rushing attack in the NFL, led by Marshawn Lynch, who is as physical a runner this side of Peterson as they come. Plus, QB Russell Wilson is a threat to take off on a scramble or at the mesh point of the read-option.

Wilson is also an excellent thrower of the football and is averaging 8.3 yards per attempt heading into this matchup with a bottom-five pass defense.

It's just not a good matchup for the Vikings, who lost 30-20 last season at CenturyLink Field and got only 63 passing yards on 22 attempts from Christian Ponder.

A similar score should be expected. The 9-1 Seahawks also have Harvin playing for the first time this season against his ex-teammates, which will heighten the incentive for the playmaker to shine in his debut.

There is not much of a case to be made for Peterson to run wild or the Vikings defense to magically shore up and beat the Seahawks in the stadium where Wilson has never lost.

Prediction: Seahawks 34, Vikings 20

Away Team	Home Team	Winner
Indianapolis Colts	Tennessee Titans	Colts
New York Jets	Buffalo Bills	Bills
Baltimore Ravens	Chicago Bears	Bears
Cleveland Browns	Cincinnati Bengals	Browns
Washington Redskins	Philadelphia Eagles	Redskins
Detroit Lions	Pittsburgh Steelers	Lions
Atlanta Falcons	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Buccaneers
Arizona Cardinals	Jacksonville Jaguars	Cardinals
Oakland Raiders	Houston Texans	Texans
San Diego Chargers	Miami Dolphins	Chargers
San Francisco 49ers	New Orleans Saints	Saints
Green Bay Packers	New York Giants	Giants
Minnesota Vikings	Seattle Seahawks	Seahawks
Kansas City Chiefs	Denver Broncos	Broncos
New England Patriots	Carolina Panthers	Panthers