NFL Week 11 Big Match-Ups

 Now that we are more than half way past the middle of the season, things become a little more interesting for some teams. At this point some teams are out of it and know that they are either playing for the first pick and really have lack luster effort to put forth, or they are playing for pride and they really don't like to lose. However, there are teams going into week 11 of this NFL season facing off teams that are fighting for that driver seat of either the division or the playoffs, i.e. Bengals vs Browns.

Left: Green and Right: Haden

  Going into week 11, I am focused on three big match-ups. First, the Cincinnati Bengals are taking on a very hungry Cleveland Browns team that seems to be ready to compete right now under first year head coach, Rob Chudzinski. The Browns have been looking pretty good even after a shaky start to the season and playing musical chairs at the quarterback position with Brain Hoyer (torn ACL), Brandon Weeden, and Jason Campbell who is now the starter. This Browns team took a lot of criticism for trading former first round pick, Trent Richardson, but now it seems as if it's paying off as the Browns are competing for the division without him. The Bengals are not a team to sleep on though, they are a highly talented team still and even after two straight tough losses (one to Miami, one to Baltimore) this team is still in first place in the AFC North. The Bengals are without All-Pro Defensive Tackle, Geno Adkins who is arguably their best defensive player, However, I believe that second year linebacker Vontez Burfict is the key to that defense and he makes the wheels on that Bengals defensive bus go round-and-round. Burfict leads the NFL in tackles and he has an incredible football IQ, and nose for the ball, it really puts you in disbelief that a guy this highly skilled could go undrafted. However, the match-up that will determine the outcome of this game is one that is carried over from a college football rivalry. Wide Receiver, A.J. Green against Cornerback, Joe Haden. Last game they played in, earlier this season Haden had Green almost removed from the Bengals offense ( 7 catches, 51 yards), he didn't allow him a TD catch and rarely does he ever when the two meet up. Green has the home field advantage this week and I hope that he can utilize it to the best of his ability because if the Bengals are going to pull this win off, Green has to win this battle against Haden and to do so, he needs to get in the end-zone and I believe that he has to have at least 80 yards receiving on less than 7 catches.

Robert Griffin III

  The second match-up that I will be looking at is the Philadelphia Eagles against the Washington Redskins. The Eagles are flying high right now, Nick Foles is playing like a man possessed right now, he has 16 touchdowns on the season and no interceptions and has only started 4 games this season but has the Eagles on a two game winning streak and atop of the NFC East at 5-5 with the Dallas Cowboys. The Redskins aren't a team to be taken lightly by any means, it's still a division game and the team started off at 3-6 last season before making a run to the playoffs. With Robert Griffin III looking more comfortable on the field every week it could get back for a very weak Eagles secondary, and I know after an opening day loss at home, Washington is out for revenge against Chip Kelly's Eagles. The match-up in this game that I will be looking at is Lesean McCoy against the front line of the Redskins, they have a very tough front line on their defense, with McCoy being the leading rusher in the NFL, I wonder if they will focus more on him or if they will balance the defense out with different blitz packages, or will they play more conservative and drop linebackers back into coverage. If the Eagles win this game they will be 6-5 in the division ( I called 8 wins at the beginning of the season) and this could be a team that was just 4-12 last season and now a playoff team. However, if the Redskins win, they will still be third in the division and very much alive and still competing for the division.

Alex Smith

  The Third and final game that I will be looking at closely in week 11 is, the Denver Broncos against the Kansas City Chiefs. Peyton Manning is getting ready to take on the best defense in the NFL, they have the most sacks on the season so far, led by Justin Houston and Tamba Hali on the defensive line. This Chiefs team is really good and very surprising under new head coach, Andy Reid and new quarterback, Alex Smith. This Chiefs team is very unique in my opinion, I believe that they are a very good team but I don't believe that they are as good as their record. I do believe that they have the formula down to win games, which is run the ball, control the clock and play good defense, which they do all of those things. My concern for them in this game is Manning. Peyton Manning may not be 100% going into this game with a hurt ankle, however, he's still Peyton Manning and the fact that he has two all-pro receivers- Thomas & Welker- which helps him a lot in being able to call the plays that he wants to. Manning I believe will force Alex Smith to throw the ball in this game to play catch-up, which I don't believe Smith could do successfully against a Broncos defense that hasn't looked that bad since getting Von Miller back. My match-up in this game will simply be Peyton Manning vs the Kansas City defense. If the Chiefs defense can get to Manning early and often they just might have a chance because if teams force him to step out of the pocket, he is less accurate and he begins to make worse decisions with the ball. This game will be almost help to decide the division, the Broncos at 8-1 are second in this division and conference to this Chiefs team who at 9-0 need this game to show the entire NFL that they are as serious as people are putting them out to be. If Alex Smith can get this win and do it while actually having to pass, I believe that everyone will have to look at him in a brand new light.