NFL Picks Week 11: Tom Brady Beats Peyton Manning, and Other Locks for This Week
Week 11 in the NFL season is a dream scenario for those who love rivalries and epic quarterback battles. Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning and Brett Favre vs. Aaron Rodgers headline an exciting slate of NFL games this weekend.
Whenever the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts meet, there is a near certainty it will be one of the best games of the season.
These rivals have dominated the AFC for the last decade, and are led by two of the best quarterbacks ever, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.
Tom Brady and the Patriots are currently 7-2, fresh of a big Sunday night victory on the road vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. New England is currently tied for the AFC East lead with the New York Jets, while the Colts hold a one game lead over the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tennessee Titans in the AFC South.
There are several other rivalry games this week, and the most intriguing is the likely final (although you never know with Brett Favre) meeting between Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers.
Green Bay and Minnesota are heading in opposite directions. The Packers are finally starting to play like the Super Bowl contenders they were viewed as before the season, and the Vikings are just waiting for the season to end.
Now we'll look at the ten best matchups of week 11.
10.) Michael Vick Will Beat The New York Giants
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Michael Vick is the clear MVP of the NFL. There is no debate. No other player on offense or defense affects the outcome of a game like Michael Vick. His great running ability is still present, but Vick has become an elite passer, something defensive coordinators feared when he was first drafted.
Vick can now pass the ball just as dangerously as he run the ball, and there is no scarier scenario for NFL defenses.
Vick has learned to look for the pass first, then survey the run options, and this revolution in Vick's development has made the Eagles the most potent offensive team in the league.
The New York Giants are coming off a bad loss at home to their NFC east rivals, the Dallas Cowboys. The Giants' defense looked very poor vs. veteran Cowboys quarterback John Kitna, and will face an even more daunting challenge with Vick this week.
Vick will be too much for the Giants defense, and the Philadelphia Eagles will beat New York and take control of the NFC east.
9.) Darren McFadden Will Rush The Oakland Raiders Past The Pittsburgh Steelers
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Darren McFadden is having the breakout season every Raiders fan in Oakland was hoping for. The great speed and running ability he showcased in college at Arkansas, is finally being seen in the NFL.
McFadden leads the Raiders against the Pittsburgh Steelers this week, and a win could really help the Raiders make a playoff push.
The Steelers run defense was excellent this season until Patriots running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran all over them last week.
McFadden and fellow running back Michael Bush should find similar success this week.
Pittsburgh has not done a good job protecting Ben Roethlisberger, but to be fair their offensive line has been decimated by injuries.
The much improved Raiders defense and their potent rushing attack will lead them past the Steelers, and on track to make the playoffs this season.
8.) The St. Louis Rams Will Upset The Atlanta Falcons
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The St. Louis Rams have been one of the pleasant surprises of the NFL season so far, and are very much alive in the NFC West race.
The Atlanta Falcons are perhaps the best team in the league, but they must not overlook the improving Rams.
Rams rookie quarterback Sam Bradford continues to prove his doubters wrong every week, and has led the offense with a veteran like poise and confidence.
The Falcons are a very good team, but must show they can build a winning streak, and not have a let down after week's they defeat elite teams (Falcons beat the Ravens last Thursday night).
The Rams can and will beat the Falcons this week, making the NFC West race very interesting going forward.
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7.) Philip Rivers Will Beat The Denver Broncos By Himself
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Philip Rivers has been the sole reason the San Diego Chargers are not winless right now. His historic season is keeping the Chargers alive in the AFC West race.
Rivers has been an all world quarterback this season, and more impressive is he has done very well without his best receivers for the majority of the season.
This week however, his number one wide receiver Vincent Jackson returns from his holdout/suspension, and will give Rivers the reliable target he's lacked the entire season.
San Diego is in the top 3 of best offensive and defensive team rankings, yet they are only 4-5.
Rivers will beat the Denver Broncos on Monday night, and move the Chargers to .500, and further toward a playoff berth.
6.) The Cowboys Will Beat the Lions, Barely
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The Dallas cowboys are coming of an impressive, and much needed win last week vs. the Giants. The victory was the first ever for new interim coach Jason Garrett.
This week Dallas plays the Detroit Lions, and the Cowboys must not take the Lions lightly.
Detroit could easily have won three or four more games than they have so far, but they haven't been able to close games out.
Shaun Hill will start at quarterback, and has many weapons to throw to, including Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson.
The Cowboys will win, but it won't be easy.
The most important job for the Cowboys will be to protect quarterback Tony Romo, because he is ready to play after a collar bone injury, but cannot take much abuse if he is to play well.
5.) The Browns Will Beat The Jaguars
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The Cleveland Browns are a solid football team, but there inexperience has cost them this season. They have impressive wins this season, including beating the New England Patriots easily two weeks ago.
Last week's heartbreaking loss in overtime to the Jets hurt badly, but they will be ready for the Jaguars, who were on the right side of a miracle finish last week.
David Garrard's hail mary pass was caught for a touchdown as time expired last week, helping the Jaguars beat the Houston Texans.
The Jags are now 5-4, good for a second place tie in the AFC South.
The Browns rushing attack has been deadly this season, thanks to Peyton Hillis, a bruising, physical runner, who can catch the ball and run the ball with great success.
The Browns will upset the Jaguars this week with their Hillis led rushing game, and quarterback Colt McCoy. McCoy is improving each week, and is has Cleveland fans excited about the quarterback position for the first time in a long while.
4.) Seattle Will Beat New Orleans and Become an NFC Power
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The Seattle Seahawks are a mystery team.
No one is sure just how good they are. One reason is that they play in the NFC West, one of the weaker divisions in the NFL. They also do not have many star names that jump out at you, but have a solid squad of quality, versatile players.
Seattle head coach Pete Carroll will have his hands full trying to stop the New Orleans offense, led by elite quarterback Drew Brees.
After a sluggish start to the season offensively, the Saints have began to find a new gear each week. Wide receiver Marques Colston is finding his all pro form again, and the addition of Reggie Bush who returns this week from an injury will help the running attack.
But Seattle's defense is very underrated, and Matt Hassellback is looking like he did when he led the Seahwaks to the Super Bowl during the 2005 season.
Seattle wins a close game, and will become an NFC favorite for the rest of the season. The Seahawks are unknown to many outside the pacific northwest, but not after this Sunday.
3.) The Bengals Will Win Again, But It'll Be Too Little Too Late
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The Cincinnati Bengals were a trendy Super Bowl pick at the beginning of the season, but at 2-7 so far, they will fail to make the playoffs which was a minimum goal to start the year.
One Bengals player who has not had an awful season is new receiver Terrell Owens. Owens has been playing like he has his whole career, at an all pro level. He has amassed 59 receptions for 834 yards and seven touchdowns through nine games.
The defense was supposed to improve over last years stellar performance, but the Bengals have not seen that kind of consistency this season.
In Buffalo, the season has gone much worse. After just winning their first game of the season, they face the Bengals, who are finding their rhythm.
The best way for the Bills to win is to force turnovers, and the Bengals find new ways to give the ball away each week.
Carson Palmer's three interceptions last week hurt the Bengals offensive momentum, and made their defense work too much without enough rest.
Even though these teams do not have winning records, the game will be very entertaining, and the Bengals will win easily.
2.) Brett Favre Will Lose To Aaron Rodgers in His Last Ever Game Vs. Green Bay
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Brett Favre is a hall of fame quarterback, but he will not end his all time career on a high note. Favre will play his former team for the last time this weekend, and Green Bay is the clear favorite to win.
Aaron Rodgers has filled in the shoes of Brett Favre in Green Bay as well as anyone could have hoped for. Rodgers is an elite quarterback, and he leads an offense that has plenty of great receivers, including Greg Jennings and Donald Driver.
Favre's body has been decimated by injuries this season, but he will surely play against his old team. The Vikings will not be able to stop Rodgers dominance through the air, and conversely will not be able to pass on the Packers defense.
Green Bay will sweep the season series vs. Minnesota, and win their fourth straight game in a row. For Brett Favre, it will be just another loss in a string of bad endings to his storied career.
1.) Tom Brady Will Beat Peyton Manning in a Big Game, Again
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Tom Brady is the best quarterback of all time. He is the one guy every coach wants with the ball on the final drive of a Super Bowl.
Brady lives for rivalry games like his matchup vs. the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
Tom Brady and Peyton Manning have had some epic duels over the years, including some very memorable playoff games.
But the Colts are banged up right now, having lost key players to massive injuries on both sides of the ball, including all pro tight end Dallas Clark.
Tom Brady's passing attack is running like a well oiled machine, and he is getting lots of help from the running game too.
The Colts do not have the defense to contain Brady, and Manning will need to win the game by himself.
That task is too much to ask of guy, even of Peyton Manning's caliber. The Patriots defense is playing very well right now, led by NFL tackles leader, middle linebacker Jerod Mayo
The Patriots will beat the Colts handily on Sunday, and prove they are the best team in the NFL.
Rivalries and Great Quarterback Duels Highlight an Exciting Week
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Rivalries make for exciting games, even if one or both of the teams involved are having poor seasons. Any week there is a Patriots vs. Colts game, it going to be a great week for NFL fans.
Brett Favre will play against the team he is famous with, but unfortunately he needs to produce one last Favre miracle to beat Green Bay this week.
Several teams will be trying to prove they are elite teams to be feared come playoff time, including the Falcons, Seahawks, Steelers, and Raiders.
Week 11 in the NFL is sure to be one of the most exciting weeks yet in the 2010 season.
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