NFL Picks Week 11: Baltimore Ravens and 3 Teams That Will Bolster Playoff Hopes

With the season now over halfway over, the playoffs loom closer and closer and some teams will be improving their playoff chances while others will be leaving their fans in tears. Which teams are going to help their chances the most?

Baltimore Ravens

The Cincinnati Bengals, led by Andy Dalton, will be hoping to prove to the Baltimore Ravens and the world that they are for real. Here's the rub, though: they aren't.

The Bengals are the 10th-worst team in the NFL in terms of yards with just 312.1 per game. The Baltimore are the third stingiest defense just giving up 284.7 yards a game. When you have an irresistible force meet an immovable object, there might be an interesting paradox, but when you have an easily resistible force meet an immovable object, it's pretty obvious what's going to happen. 

Additionally, the Bengals have been winning mostly on strength of their defense this year, but their defense has been softer since the bye week. Before the bye they were giving up just 278.5 yards a game. Since the bye it's been 355.

Look for the Ravens to win this game going away as they just wear down the Bengals defense. In doing so they will gain a game on the Bengals in the standing, improve their division record to 2-0 and also have the first game in their column. The Ravens will be in the drivers' seat for the first wild card spot in the AFC. 

Dallas Cowboys

Presently, the Dallas Cowboys are outside of the playoffs looking in, but they are very much in charge of their own destiny. With a game against the Washington Redskins, they will take a big step in that direction. 

The Redskins have lost five in a row and they will make that six this week. During their losing streak Washington has been minus-7 on turnovers. In winning their last two, the Pokes are a plus-6 in turnovers. Additionally, the Cowboys are 4-0 when rushing for at least 125 yards this season, a number which four of the Redskins' last five opponents have exceeded. 

The Cowboys will easily win this game, and in so doing maintain control of their own destiny. They have two games left against the Giants whom they trail by just one game. Also, should the Giants fall to the Eagles, an unlikely but realistic possibility, then the Cowboys would take over first in the NFC East. 

Buffalo Bills

With a win over the Dolphins, coupled with the Bengals' loss to the Ravens, the Bills would move into control of the final AFC playoff spot. 

The Dolphins have some people buzzing. After starting 0-7, the Fins have won their last two. The problem is that those teams, Kansas City and Washington, weren't very good. Let's not get carried away. The Dolphins still have a pretty unreliable offense.

Miami has won by keeping their opponents off the board, but his week is not likely to be a repeat of that. Miami has struggled against the league's better offenses giving up over 400 yards to the Patriots, Giants and Chargers.

The Bills will present a nice balance between Ryan Fitzpatrick and Fred Jackson and that will give Miami fits. The win will be enough to put Buffalo on top and move them into playoff position.