NFL Predictions Week 11: Road Teams Sure to Pick Up Victories

Winning on the road in the NFL is no easy task. 

A hostile environment makes life difficult for the visiting offense in what is a mentally demanding experience outside of the obvious physical toll.

However, not all hope is lost for NFL teams on the road in Week 11. Half of the road teams were able to escape unfriendly surroundings the week prior with major victories.

While the ratio may not be as even this week, a few teams are locks to win despite the hurdle of a road game. Here's a look at the full schedule, followed by the lucky three.

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

New York Jets Outlast Buffalo Bills

The New York Jets and Buffalo Bills have had this dance before. The result was a 27-20 victory for the Jets in Week 3 as New York's rookie quarterback Geno Smith was able to outperform Buffalo's rookie EJ Manuel.

Manuel had no answer for the stout Rex Ryan defense, as is evidenced by his horrific 19-of-42 passing for 243 yards and a score.

The Florida State product was clearly shaken by the hostile environment, and the same could be predicted for Smith in Week 11 when New York makes the trip to Buffalo.

While Smith will likely struggle, Ryan's defense will not. The unit ranks No. 1 in the NFL against the run, with just 73.8 yards allowed per game. Manuel led the Bills to less than 300 total yards last week in his return from injury.

Don't expect things to get better for the Bills. Manuel was forced to the air for 42 attempts in Week 4, and the team ran it just 25 times—six of those came from Manuel.

New York's defense will be unaffected by the environment. It will be Manuel who pays the price.

Prediction: Jets 17, Bills 10

Detroit Lions Stun Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers were the team to beat the aforementioned Bills in Week 10. While the 23-10 victory was impressive, it is hard to forget the over 600 yards of offense and 55 points allowed to New England in Week 9.

Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions could replicate those numbers.

The Lions average well over 300 passing yards per game and score over 26 points per game for good measure.

The Lions are hardly known for sound defense, but Detroit ranks in the top 10 at just 100.7 rushing yards allowed per game. Mike O'Hara, a contributing columnist for the team's official website, provided a strong stat to reinforce how impressive Detroit has been:

Heck, the Lions have even been impressive in the red zone, as Tim Twentyman of the team's site illustrates:

Detroit will force Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers into a one-dimensional attack and quickly take advantage. Roethlisberger has been sacked 35 times (second-most in the league) behind a porous line. He'll have no choice but to drop back for extended periods with his team in catch-up mode.

This one might get ugly.

Prediction: Lions 33, Steelers 24

San Diego Chargers Shock Miami Dolphins

The San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins are still very much in the thick of things in terms of a playoff berth.

In fact, this contest is an elimination game, as ESPN's James Walker points out:

We'll ride the hot hand here—San Diego wins big.

The Dolphins are an absolute mess. Miami has lost five of its last six, allows over 23 points per game and ranks in the bottom 10 against the rush and in terms of its own rushing production (last week was a real treat, as starting running back Lamar Miller took seven carries for two yards).

San Diego is by no means an elite team when it comes to rushing the passer, but it will have little issue against a Miami offensive line that ranks worst in the NFL, as Ryan Tannehill has been sacked 37 times.

All of this goes without mention of Philip Rivers and a top-five aerial attack. Coach Mike McCoy has Rivers playing at a high level, and the veteran is surely accustomed to playing on the road.

An early lead becomes insurmountable for the home team, and Tannehill will be on his back as playoff hopes fade.

Prediction: Chargers 27, Dolphins 17

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