NFL Week 11 Picks: Power Ranking The Most Exciting Games Of Week 11
It's time to make some NFL Week 11 picks! This week is chock full of fantastic matchups between division rivals, conference foes or good teams.
But these are no ordinary picks, because we here at Bleacher Report are committed to helping you, the fan, see the best games of Week 11. So we're power ranking the most exciting games of the week, using the patented "Gussies" scale.
Yes, it's been a while since we've used this, but the Gussies are going to help you know which games to watch this Sunday.
For those who don't know, the scale is named for excitable CBS announcer Gus Johnson, whose incredible play-by-play skills can make even the most lifeless contest exciting. When he gets a thriller, he nearly loses his mind. The more Gussies a team gets, the more excited Johnson would be to broadcast it. Let's get rolling.
16. Seattle Seahawks @ New Orleans Saints
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Why It’s Exciting: The Saints have one of the most explosive offenses in football. The Seahawks have one of the worst pass defenses in the league. So you know they're going to score a ton of points.
Why It’s Not: The Seahawks have struggled mightily in three of their five road games this season, and the Superdome is one of the toughest places to play in the NFL.
Gussies: 2/10. This one could be over by halftime. Thank the football gods it's on FOX, so Gus won't get stuck with it.
Who’s the Pick: New Orleans 35, Seattle 14. Guess whose offense isn't nearly good enough to hang with the Saints?
15. Buffalo Bills @ Cincinnati Bengals
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Why It’s Exciting: Both of these teams can air it out. Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is a former Bengal who is single-handedly making Bengals fans feel sick by playing better than Carson Palmer every week. Neither defense is all that good, so it should be high-scoring.
Why It’s Not: When a 2-7 team plays a 1-8 team, there will always be better games on.
Gussies: 3/10. Could be exciting, but hard to get too excited about a couple of teams who have no shot at the postseason.
Who’s the Pick: Cincinnati 21, Buffalo 17. Fitz can't get the better of his former team in this one.
14. Baltimore Ravens @ Carolina Panthers
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Why It’s Exciting: If you're a Ravens fan, it'll give you a thrill to see your team beat up on one of the league's lightweights in Week 11.
Why It’s Not: Carolina is on its third-string quarterback and the first two stunk out loud. The Panthers are one of the worst teams in football this season, and the Ravens are one of the best.
Gussies: 3/10. This one will be over by halftime. And John Fox will send his resume to four or five other teams after the third quarter.
Who’s the Pick: Baltimore 35, Carolina 14. Who can stop Ray Rice and Joe Flacco? Not the Panthers!
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13. Dallas Cowboys @ Detroit Lions
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Why It’s Exciting: The Lions have a potent offense, the Cowboys have a decent offense and both teams have terrible defenses.
Why It’s Not: Once again, when you pit a pair of 2-7 teams against one another, it's hard to get too jazzed up about it.
Gussies: 3.5/10. Gus would be nodding off after the first quarter.
Who’s the Pick: Detroit 31, Dallas 21. The Cowboys go back to being in trouble after beating the Giants.
12. Chicago Bears @ Miami Dolphins
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Why It’s Exciting: The Bears have one of the most explosive offenses in football, capable of putting points up in bunches. The Dolphins come into this one having just upset the Titans and looking to keep up in the AFC East race.
Why It’s Not: The Dolphins are on quarterback No. 3 right now, and Tyler Thigpen is not an NFL quarterback. The Fins have overachieved a bit this season but the Bears will provide the reality check they need.
Gussies: 4/10. The Bears should win this one, but Miami's got enough grit to potentially make things interesting.
Who’s the Pick: Chicago 21, Miami 10. The Dolphins don't have much in terms of offense right now, and they need it to beat the Bears.
11. Cleveland Browns @ Jacksonville Jaguars
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Why It’s Exciting: The Browns are looking better every game. The Jags are 5-4 and both teams have been playing well as of late.
Why It’s Not: The Jags might be overachieving a bit. The Browns are still just 3-6 and there are never more than 12 fans at any Jacksonville game. Jacksonville's offense isn't as good as it's been in the past couple of weeks, and Cleveland's defense is stellar. This one has the makings of a 10-7 stinkfest.
Gussies: 4/10. Should be close, but close doesn't always equal exciting.
Who’s the Pick: Cleveland 17, Jacksonville 7. The Jags just don't have the weapons offensively.
10. Arizona Cardinals @ Kansas City Chiefs
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Why It’s Exciting: The Chiefs offense is clicking. The Cardinals have the capability to be good offensively, and both teams are in the playoff hunt.
Why It’s Not: Arizona's been one of the league's most-hapless teams outside of the NFC West, and the Chiefs just got waxed by the Broncos in Week 10. This could get ugly in a hurry.
Gussies: 4.5/10. At least both teams are still in the playoff race, even if Arizona would be eliminated if they played anywhere but the NFC West.
Who’s the Pick: Kansas City 21, Arizona 10. This one won't be pretty, especially for Cards fans.
9. Atlanta Falcons @ St. Louis Rams
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Why It’s Exciting: The Rams are in the thick of the playoff race and the Falcons are winning the NFC South. These offenses are both potent and the defenses are stout. Plus, St. Louis is a much better team in the Edward James Dome than they are out of it.
Why It’s Not: The Rams are clearly the inferior team here, and we saw that in their blowout loss to the Lions. Plus, much like the Cardinals, they probably wouldn't be as close to a playoff berth as they are if they weren't in the NFC West.
Gussies: 5/10. Should be a fun one, but nothing special.
Who’s the Pick: Atlanta 24, St. Louis 21. The Birds have too many weapons, and the Rams can't stop all of them.
8. Denver Broncos @ San Diego Chargers
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Why It’s Exciting: These teams have two of the most potent offenses in the NFL. The Broncos can score on anyone and the Chargers can score with anyone. Seyi Ajirotutu, Antonio Gates, whoever, it doesn't matter.
Why It’s Not: One of these teams has one of the NFL's best defenses, statistically. The other has one of the worst. That could make this game a quick one.
Gussies: 5.5/10. The offenses will keep it exciting, but it won't be as good as some of the other games today.
Who’s the Pick: Denver 28, San Diego 21. The Broncos have more receiving threats than the Bolts are used to dealing with.
7. Washington Redskins @ Tennessee Titans
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Why It’s Exciting: The Redskins and Titans are both fighting for their playoff lives. Both have shown capable offenses in 2010 and both need a win here to stay in the hunt for the postseason.
Why It’s Not: The Redskins offense hasn't been good since the Houston game. Tennessee's is spotty at best, and neither defense is all that good. Washington's defense is flat-out awful.
Gussies: 6/10. Should be a good game, just not one of the best.
Who’s the Pick: Tennessee 21, Washington 14. This would never have happened if Donovan McNabb were still alive.
6. Oakland Raiders @ Pittsburgh Steelers
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Why It’s Exciting: The Raiders are one of the surprises of 2010 and are tied for the AFC West lead. Likewise, the Steelers are tied for the AFC North lead and both need a win here to keep pace. These offenses know how to score points and Pittsburgh's defense is formidable. Plus, the Steelers just lost at home to the Patriots, so we know they're vulnerable.
Why It’s Not: The Steelers will come out angry in this one, eager to prove last week was a fluke. The Raiders might be overacheiving slightly and have gotten blown out by good teams this season.
Gussies: 6.5/10. The Raiders have enough to keep it close for a while, but not close enough to win.
Who’s the Pick: Pittsburgh 24, Oakland 17. The Steelers get another win to get their season back on track after last week's hiccup.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ San Francisco 49ers
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Why It’s Exciting: The Bucs are one of the league's surprises in 2010. The Niners have been a disappointment. But San Fran has won two straight and gets the Bucs at home, always a recipe for excitement.
Why It’s Not: Tampa's defense is bad, and itsoffense can get locked down. But San Fran has been the most inconsistent team in football this season, showing up on some plays and not on others.
Gussies: 7/10. The Niners look like the team people expected them to be and the Bucs are still looking solid. With potent offenses going at it, this has the potential to be a fun one.
Who’s the Pick: San Francisco 27, Tampa Bay 21. The Niners steal another win and the comeback continues.
4. Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings
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Why It’s Exciting: These teams hate each other and every game they've played in the last two seasons has been a classic.
Why It’s Not: This is a different Vikings team. The coaching staff is a mess, the locker room feels more tense than it has ever felt and they're essentially out of the playoffs. Meanwhile, Green Bay has looked excellent in the last two wins.
Gussies: 7.5/10. Crazy things happen when Brett Favre plays the Packers. Does he have one more trick up his sleeve?
Who’s the Pick: Green Bay 24, Minnesota 20. No, he doesn't.
3. Houston Texans @ New York Jets
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Why It’s Exciting: The Texans have one of the league's best offenses and are in desperation mode after their recent skid. New York has one of the league's best defenses and is leading the AFC East.
Why It’s Not: Houston's offense can be locked down and its defense has been atrocious all season. If New York can't score on the Texans, the Jets are in trouble.
Gussies: 8/10. I don't know why, but this one feels like a shootout to me.
Who’s the Pick: Houston 28, New York 24. The Jets' luck runs out after two straight near losses.
2. Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants
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Why It’s Exciting: This game will go a long way towards determining the NFC East champ and features two of the most potent offenses in football. The Giants have been rolling of late but stumbled badly against the Cowboys last week. Can the Eagles keep their momentum going with another win over a top team?
Why It’s Not: There's nothing bad about this one. Must-see T.V.
Gussies: 9/10. Michael Vick versus Eli Manning? Someone get Gus on the phone! He needs to call this game.
Who’s the Pick: New York 28, Philadelphia 24. Eli snags a prime-time victory.
1. Indianapolis Colts @ New England Patriots
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Why It’s Exciting: These are two of the AFC's best teams and both are leading their divisions. Anytime Peyton and Tom Brady square off, it's going to be a classic. Two fierce competitors who hate losing make this one a top game every year.
Why It’s Not: If you miss this, you don't like football.
Gussies: 10/10. Gus had better be there. If we get Jim Nantz on this game, I'm writing my congressman.
Who’s the Pick: Indianapolis 28, New England 27. Peyton's got the better team this year, by a hair.
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