NFL Picks Week 11: Baltimore Ravens and More Teams That Will Win When It Counts

Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens know that Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals a win is the only possible outcome for the birds, as the AFC North is now up for grabs.

As the 2011-2012 NFL season enters the final third stretch, there are teams in must-win situations that have to and will come out on top in Week 11. The Ravens are one of those teams that have to and will come out on top when it's all said and done.

With nearly every division (with the exception of the NFC West, of course) on the line, these are the Baltimore Ravens and the three teams that must and will win in Week 11.

3. Baltimore Ravens

If there's one game on the schedule where the Ravens must come through, it's their Week 11 matchup against the Andy Dalton-led Cincinnati Bengals.

What makes the Bengals, now 6-3, such a dynamic team is the way they win games on the defensive end while still managing to put up solid numbers offensively. Quarterback Andy Dalton has burst onto the scene, as his play at the quarterback position has been both consistent and impressive for the Bengals this season. Dalton has thrown for over 1,800 yards and 14 touchdowns on the year.

The Ravens have the advantage in this game with their experienced, top-notch defense that has the potential to keep the Bengals offense off the field.

The Ray Lewis and Ed Reed-led defense has given up the sixth-fewest passing yards and third-fewest rushing yards in the league this season. The Ravens go up against a below-average offensive team in yards per game, and will have the evident advantage on the defensive side of the ball.

In a close, hard-fought game, expect the Ravens defense to make the most of their opportunities against a developing Bengals team on the offensive side of the ball. Quarterback Joe Flacco and company will put up enough points offensively to take care of business Week 11, as the Ravens have scored 70 points over the last three games. 

2. Philadelphia Eagles

Although it sounds like a broken record, the Eagles have to—and will—win this Sunday against the New York Giants on the road.

The Giants, although clearly the better team as of late, have given up points and struggled defending both the run and pass overall this season. The Eagles may well have Vince Young starting on Sunday, yet there is no question that this team doesn't have the ability to get it done without Michael Vick.

Young running back LeSean McCoy has burst onto the scene and is playing arguably the best football of any running back in the NFL as of late. McCoy has scored a touchdown in each of his last five games, while boasting back-to-back 100-yard games at Washington and against Dallas at home.

As the Giants are not a team known for their ability to stop the run this season, the Eagles will attack this weakness early and readily and will take advantage of this matchup in a big win on the road over the Giants.

1. San Diego Chargers

As the San Diego Chargers are notorious for their sluggish starts to the season, their 4-5 start comes as no surprise. 

Yet, as a team that is on the verge of falling two games below .500 with just six games left in the season, the panic meter has just risen greatly for these Chargers. 

The key to a victory over the Chicago Bears on the road will be forcing the Bears to win the game through quarterback Jay Cutler. Cutler has been as inconsistent as any quarterback in the league this season, and the offensive line hasn't helped his cause. Cutler has been sacked 23 times this season, the sixth-most of any QB in the league.

The San Diego Chargers have the ability to get to the quarterback and force problems with the Bears passing game. The No. 8 passing defense in the NFL will give Cutler plenty of different looks in their Base 3-4 D and will undoubtedly get to the quarterback regularly in Week 11.

Despite the Bears top-notch play as of late, this league as most is one about matchups. The Chargers have just the right matchup to pull out the victory in Week 11, make no mistake about it.