NFL Picks Week 11: Picking the 4 Top Games To Watch

This time of year is what NFL fans, players and coaches dream about. The best teams start to rise above, while the rest of them scrap it out for the remaining playoff spots.

There are a few games this week that stand out on the scale of importance. These are the games that will have a tremendous impact on the landscape of the playoff picture. 

The difference between success and failure in the NFL is determined by minuscule margins, and teams are burdened with the tiniest details. The struggle is epic, and that is why we love it so. 

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens

There is no doubting that the AFC North is the toughest division in the NFL. The Bengals go to Baltimore to square off in their first matchup of the season.

Marvin Lewis has been hammered in the past by fans and media alike. Many people thought owner Mike Brown should have fired him long ago. But the veteran head coach has his team playing some of the toughest football in the league.

The Ravens are still repairing damaged wings as they try and recover from a terrible loss to an inferior Seattle Seahawks team. Ray Lewis won't stand for any more of the kind of inconsistent play the Ravens have shown, and he will have the team focused for this divisional game.

I expect the Ravens to bottle up the Bengals running game, and I expect the pass rush to get to rookie quarterback Andy Dalton. 

Bengals rookie wide receiver A.J. Green missed practice on Wednesday, and he is listed as day-to-day. Even if he does play in this game, the other receivers and Jermaine Gresham, the big tight end, will need to step up and have huge games if the Bengals are to win this game.

Baltimore will need to be determined to hand the ball off to Ray Rice. His five carries against the Seahawks is a head-scratcher, and I don't anticipate the same results this week.

The bottom line is that the Ravens will win this game at home against Andy Dalton and the Bengals. The Ravens defense will overwhelm the rookie, and the home fans will go home happy. 

Ravens win 31-17.

Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins

This battle of NFC East rivals features two of the most enigmatic quarterbacks in the last couple of decades. Rex Grossman and Tony Romo are the most unpredictable players that the league has to offer. You never know if you will see the phenom or the joker.

Since Tony Romo is fresh off a tremendous performance at home, it only seems logical to assume he is due for a mental breakdown this week in Washington. 

Since Rex Grossman has been entrenched for a few months in the "bad Rex" mindset, it only seems logical to assume he's ready to break out of his slump and throw for four touchdowns. 

Call me crazy, but this is exactly what I expect to see on Sunday. The Redskins will win at home, crushing the last bit of hope Cowboys fans have left for this season.

Redskins win 28-24.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants

The New York Giants host the Philadelphia Eagles, and for the sake of my own selfish reasons, I would love to see the Eagles pull this game out.

Imagine, if you will, the NFC East teams all within two games of each other after Week 11. The race to the finish line would be incredibly fun to watch.

Too bad for me, I don't think there is any way the Giants lose this game.

Coming back home after a tough loss against the 49ers, the New York Giants will be ready to get things back on track. Ahmad Bradshaw will not play, so the onus falls once again on the broad shoulders of veteran Brandon Jacobs. 

The Eagles have been notoriously bad at stopping the run this season, and I expect the Giants to target that weakness en route to a victory.

Giants win 38-27.

New York Jets vs. Denver Broncos

Who'd have guessed after the Broncos were smeared into the ground by the Lions that they would be on a two-game winning streak coming into this contest against the Jets? 

Using unconventional methods for the NFL, head coach Jon Fox has begrudgingly accepted Tim Tebow's version of an offense. The Broncos won last week despite only eight passing attempts and two completions by Tebow. 

Enter Rex Ryan and the wounded Jets. I can guarantee that the Jets have devised a scheme to shut down the read-option game the Broncos are running. What remains to be seen is whether or not it will work. Kansas City knew what game the Broncos played, yet they could not stop it.

The outcome of this game will depend on the New York Jets' offensive game plan. If they commit to run against the Broncos defense, they will win. If not, this game is a toss-up.

I keep hoping Brian Schottenheimer will come to his senses and push the running game to the forefront of his mind, but he has proven stubborn. I predict he will finally relent, and the Jets will win as a result.

Jets win 24-9.