NFL Picks Week 11: Ravens vs. Bengals and Other Games with Huge Playoff Impacts

With only so few weeks until the postseason, we're just about past that point in the regular season where teams need to get their act together by beginning to make their playoff push and winning the key games that will get them there.

At this point in the season, every game counts and each win or loss could end up determining who exactly will make the playoffs. In Week 11, there will be a few key matchups that will have a huge impact on who makes the playoffs with a number of key division games.

Cincinnati Bengals (6-3) at Baltimore Ravens (6-3)

With three teams in the AFC North currently separated by half of a game, this matchup features two teams tied for second place and contending for either the top spot of the division or the wild card—no doubt it will have a tremendous effect on who ends up making the postseason.

In one corner, you have the surprise of the year in the Andy Dalton-led Bengals, who has brought about more success to the team than ever thought possible prior to the start of the season. The Bengals are coming off a tough division loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but that only came after the team had won its previous five games.

They Bengals will be taking on one of the most inconsistent offenses as well as the most consistent defenses in Ray Lewis and the Ravens, who carry the same record as the Bengals. The Ravens have been all over the the place this season with two wins over Pittsburgh along with wins over the New York Jets and Houston and losses to the likes of Jacksonville and Seattle.

The rookie Dalton will have his work cut out for him as he takes on one of the most daunting defenses in the NFL.

Philadelphia Eagles (3-6) at New York Giants (6-3)

The Eagles may be 3-6 and their season may appear to be over, but this game could turn it all around if they're able to secure a victory and begin making a significant push to the playoffs with key wins over the course of the season. They're taking on a tough Giants team that has already beaten them once this season with a 29-16 victory in the Meadowlands.

With games against New England, the New York Jets, Dallas, and Washington remaining, the Eagles will need to begin their winning streak at this point in the season.

The Giants have been flying under the radar all year long despite having quality wins against New England, Philadelphia and Buffalo. Eli Manning has once again stepped up in pressure moments once again with a number of fourth-quarter comeback drives that have preserved the Giants spot atop the NFC East.

New York's coming off a loss to the San Francisco 49ers where it fell 27-20 and will be looking to take games like this before facing a daunting last half of the schedule that includes two games against Dallas and games against Green Bay, New Orleans and the New York Jets.

San Diego Chargers (4-5) at Chicago Bears (6-3)

This matchup might feature two teams from different conferences, but the importance is still staggering as both teams look to begin making their playoff pushes or risk falling behind in key, tight races in their division.

The Chargers are riding a four-game losing streak into the Windy City and have since dropped to below .500 after starting out the season with an impressive 4-1 record. Losses to the Jets, Packers, Chiefs and Raiders have quickly made that start forgettable as the Chargers now look towards this game against Chicago as one of their most important games of the year to win. With a loss, they fall to 4-6 on the year with games against Buffalo, Baltimore and Detroit remaining.

Chicago, on the other hand, is having a solid season as it is riding a four-game winning streak into its matchup with San Diego and is also currently tied for second in the NFC North as well as the wild card. With little to no chance of catching up to the 9-0 Packers, the Bears are going to need a game like this to keep up with the Lions and possibly overtake them.