Week 11 Preview

If you've been reading this blog recently, you will see that I quoted Bill Simmons and his "Law of Gus" which means the game is in for an incredibly exciting ending or something close to it.

For example, Gus Johnson called the Houston-Jacksonville matchup which was ranked at three stars last week by yours truly. Of course, the game ended in a Hail Mary to Mike Thomas and helped me log the luckiest fantasy week ever.

On a sidenote, about that. Thomas had a solid game (10) before the 11-point Hail Mary touchdown (21) pushed it to a monster game. Fred Jackson saw his carries expand after C.J. "Fantasy Team Killer" Spiller hurt his hamstring. He scored 28, 20 above his fantasy average. And then there was Michael Vick. 42 POINTS!!! To show just how ridiculous his fantasy impact was last week, I entered the game with Vick and DeSean Jackson against LeSean McCoy down 19 points. One 88 yard touchdown later and I was tied with my opponent...FOUR SECONDS INTO THE GAME!!! Mix in the fact that a 58 point lead in an ESPN.com standard fantasy league, and Vick has to be one of the most dangerous players in fantasy football. But I digress...

Any game Gus Johnson calls should be automatically bumped to a five star game because of Johnson's recent body of work. Alas, I have no way of finding this out...but everyone else can? Somebody help me here!

Here's your preview for Week 11 of the 2010 NFL season...

FIVE STAR GAMES Indianapolis Colts (6-3) at New England Patriots (7-2) 3:15 Sunday CBS
Is it just me, or has it been a long time since Peyton has had to visit Foxboro? Anyways, one of the best non-division rivalries in the NFL resumes on Sunday in this matchup. As usual, both teams are on top of their divisions (the Patriots being tied with the Jets) and will be looking to get a leg up when it comes to playoff positioning. A Patriot win would give them a tiebreaker AND a two game lead with five games to play. Certainly not daunting, but it's a pretty big game for Indianapolis. Foxboro is nicer in November than it is in January.

Both teams are evenly matched and it should be a good game to watch, but the Colts are in their usual November swoon and it is Foxboro. They should get Joseph Addai back, which should help the Colts battered offense, but there are other injuries, such as the one to Gary Brackett, that will give the Patriots the advantage this time around. Come January, when the Colts get healthy, this one could be a different story.
PREDICTION: Patriots
Philadelphia Eagles (6-3) at New York Giants (6-3) 7:30 Sunday NBC
Holy Michael Vick! I have to wonder, will other teams try to frame their quarterbacks so that they can come out of prison this dominant. Vick has put in the work to become a better quarterback since his incarceration, and you have to wonder if those prison football games are super intense or something.

When you think about it, Vick seems to be the real life version of Paul Crue, the quarterback in The Longest Yard who was thrown into jail for a gambling scam. There are people who will not forgive Vick for the dogfighting ring, but there is no doubt he is one of the most exciting quarterbacks to watch in the NFL right now.

This week, Vick will matchup against one of the best defenses in the league. The Giants have looked pretty good every week they haven't played the Cowboys, and they have one of the leagues most fearsome defensive lines, but can they get to Vick, who has become a master of extending the play. The secondary for the Giants also has some question marks for me when it comes to the offensive weapons Philly has at wide receiver.

It's not that the Giants have an offense that isn't capable of keeping up with Vick and company, it's that I think the Eagles are playing too well to lose this game...even on the road.
PREDICTION: Eagles

FOUR STAR GAMES Oakland Raiders (5-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) 12:00 Sunday CBS
Woah, what happened Pittsburgh? You seemed like such a lead pipe lock to whomp the Steelers and then you just came out flat. Seriously, what happened? The league's best defense gave up 39 points and gave up three touchdowns to something called Rob Gronkowski. Wow.

Well, this week they'll get a lighter test, but a test nonetheless. This week they host the Oakland Raiders who have won three straight and lead the AFC West for the first time since 2002. Yes, the OAKLAND RAIDERS. Perhaps Tom Cable knows what he's doing after all. The draft class has contributed (Jacoby Ford) and they possess one of the league's best rushing attacks (Darren McFadden and Michael Bush). However, that is their strength and downfall this week.

The Steelers will be angry and ready to stop the run at all costs. Having Jason Campbell beat you isn't a bad strategy. Also, Rashard Mendenhall should have a better game than he did last week as Oakland's run defense is middle of the pack. The only hope for the Raiders is for Nhamdi Asomough to blanket emerging deep threat Mike Wallace, but since the Steelers are built on running the football and defense, I pick the Steelers in this one.
PREDICTION: Steelers
Denver Broncos (3-6) at San Diego Chargers (4-5) 7:30 Monday ESPN
It's really hard to follow the AFC West at this point. The best team in the division appeared to be the Kansas City Chiefs who got destroyed by the Broncos, who got destroyed by the Raiders, have yet to play the Chargers, who got beat by the Chiefs. What the hell?

Well, the Broncos have an opportunity to climb back in to the race, and if all falls into place, San Diego could be tied for the AFC West lead after a slow start. It's looking like the Chargers will get Antonio Gates and Malcom Floyd back for this game, and if Ryan Matthews practices this week, he will go up against one of the worst rushing defenses in the league.

Add in the fact that Vincent Jackson will return next week for the Chargers, and they could be the NFL's sleeper team from here on out.
PREDICTION: Chargers

THREE STAR GAMES
Chicago Bears (6-3) at Miami Dolphins (5-4) 7:20 Thursday NFL Network
Team Smoke and Mirrors faces off against Team Boredom on Thursday Night Football. The Bears are coming off a whomping of a lifeless Vikings team and the Dolphins are coming off their first home victory of the season against a good Titans team.

It seems like the Bears can pick up a victory easily, but it always seems like there is a quirky bounce, missed call, or something else that gives them a win. Jay Cutler has limited his interceptions and is leading this Bears team to heights I didn't see coming (I tagged six wins for the Bears all season, FYI).

And then we have team boredom. The Dolphins are the San Antonio Spurs of the NFL. Play defense, grind it out, get a win. Tony Sparano has implemented the four corners offense and it's resulted in some really boring television. Even with the addition of Brandon Marshall, I would rather watch paint dry than watch this team. Ok, maybe not, but they don't blitz like Pittsburgh does, and they don't have anything that gets out from behind Sparano's sunglasses.

The Dolphins will start Tyler Thigpen in this game in part because Chad Henne sucks. They were so desperate that they tried Chad Pennington at quarterback last Sunday and, as predicted, Pennington tore the last thread in his throwing shoulder. Unless, Thigpen can get the ball to Marshall, I see a low scoring game and a Bears victory. (7-3????)
PREDICTION: Bears
Cleveland Browns (3-6) at Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4) 12:00 Sunday CBS
Interesting comes to mind with this matchup. The Browns are improved, and I've been really impressed with Colt McCoy. However, something tells me the Browns aren't quite there. That could change if Bad Jacksonville shows up.

Oh yeah, Good Jacksonville is the team that runs the ball, gets a solid performance from David Garrard, and plays great defense. Bad Jacksonville is when they come out looking like zombies from Thriller. I think Good Jacksonville shows up this week.
PREDICTION: Jaguars
Houston Texans (4-5) at New York Jets (7-2) 12:00 Sunday CBS
You expect this Jets team to stumble at this point, but they're very headstrong. They had back-to-back overtime efforts against mediocre teams and now they get another one in the Texans.

Yes, folks the Texans are a mediocre team. Gary Kubiak has gotten away from what the Texans do the best and that's throw the football. Don't get me wrong, you need to give Arian Foster the rock, but it's hurt their offense to suddenly go run heavy. This team is losing momentum, and their defense is something out of a Rob Zombie horror movie.
PREDICTION: Jets
Atlanta Falcons (7-2) at St. Louis Rams (4-5) 12:00 Sunday FOX
So you want to be a playoff team, St. Louis? Remember, the Rams had the number one pick in the draft and are still in playoff contention. That's pretty good. I like Sam Bradford a lot and he should continue to develop into a franchise QB. However, they're a couple good pieces away from knocking off a good team like the Falcons, who seem to be getting hotter and hotter every week. This is my sleeper matchup of the week.
PREDICTION: Falcons

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3) at San Francisco 49ers (3-6) 3:15 FOX
San Francisco can't get any more magic could they? After an improbable World Series victory, the 49ers seem to be a team of destiny suddenly. They showed great grit in picking up a win against the Rams last Sunday, and Troy Smith seems to be filled with enough piss and vinegar to turn in a gritty effort every week.

However, they're not playing someone from the NFC West this week. Those three touchdowns that were called back won't be able to be made up against a Tampa Bay team that beats bad teams who make mistakes, which is exactly the category that the 49ers fall under.
PREDICTION: Buccaneers
Seattle Seahawks (5-4) at New Orleans Saints (6-3) 3:15 FOX
Suddenly, the Saints have come back from the sleepwalking. They come off a bye and will get Reggie Bush back after a fibula break in Week 2. This should help the Saints offense which takes on a gritty Seahawk defense. However, Bush will probably get the best of his former college coach, Pete Carroll, and the Saints will move further to a playoff spot.
PREDICTION: Saints
TWO STAR GAMES Arizona Cardinals (3-6) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-4) 12:00 FOX
The Chiefs have struggled the past two weeks after a 5-2 start, but here comes the NFC West team on the road to cheer them up! The Cardinals will go to Arrowhead, where the crowd blows a collective .25 BAC every home game. Pack a lunch.
PREDICTION: Chiefs
Green Bay Packers (6-3) at Minnesota Vikings (3-6) 12:00 FOX
Brad Childress said after the Vikings last home game that fans came "expecting an execution." Well, they might get it this week. Chilly has lost his players, and that's not good. Aaron Rodgers will get the last laugh on Brett Favre and it's possible that Childress and Favre see their last game in purple on Sunday. This will be a rout.
PREDICTION: Packers

ONE STAR GAMES Buffalo Bills (1-8) at Cincinnati Bengals (2-7) 12:00 CBS
Fred Jackson could have a big game, but there's too much talent on the Bengals to lose this game.
PREDICTION: Bengals
Washington Redskins (4-5) at Tennessee Titans (5-4) 12:00 FOX
So the Redskins say hello to another running QB? What did the last one do against them again? Oh, that's right.
PREDICTION: Titans

Baltimore Ravens (6-3) at Carolina Panthers (1-8) 12:00 FOX
Ray Lewis vs. Jimmy Claussen. Uh oh.
PREDICTION: Ravens

Detroit Lions (2-7) at Dallas Cowboys (2-7) 12:00 FOX
Jason Garrett seems to have sparked his team after a coaching change. ARE YOU LISTENING ZYGI???
Prediction: Cowboys