[Preview] Week 11: Dallas Must Pull Out The Muscles

After another defeat of the Packers against the still serious Titans, now place the rest of the NFL. This week, head to the NFC. Minnesota may have just won the game of the year against the Bills, but Kevin O’Connell’s men will have to be on the bridge again. They receive a Dallas team that wants to make up for its loss to the Packers. Vikings–Cowboys is THE match not to be missed this week.

Spotlight also on a duel of pass-rushers, the AFC West, a crazy runner and Sean McVay. Here is precisely the program for week 11.

Table of Contents

The match not to be missed

Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
Minnesota Vikings (8-1) – Dallas Cowboys (6-3)

Since the loss of the Eagles last Monday, Minnesota is now the team to beat. The one with the longest winning streak in the NFL right now (7). A feeling reinforced by his victory against the Bills last week in the form of a message sent to the league: we will have to be strong to bring down these Vikings. That’s good, it’s the ambition of Dallas. The Cowboys are moving to Minneapolis with the idea of repositioning themselves in this race for the NFC playoffs. Their loss to the Packers last week hurt them. As against the Bears the previous weekend, they took more than 200 yards on the ground.

A sector that will have to be strongly reinforced against Dalvin Cook. The running back is coming off a great performance against the Bills, including a touchdown of 81 yards. But it will also take (and especially) beware of the air. The distance duel between Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb promises to be explosive!

The duel: Von Miller vs. Myles Garrett

Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Buffalo Bills (6-3) – Cleveland Browns (3-6)

Von Miller and Myles Garrett are much more related than it seems. First statistically. They are indeed the only two players to have accumulated 7 or more sacks in each of the past 6 seasons. Symbol of performance and longevity. But this is not the only common point between them. They both come from Texas A&M for example. Besides, the day Von Miller broke the Broncos sack record, he swapped his jersey with… Myles Garrett.

This season, they are still at the top of the basket. Von Miller has already 10 bagswhile Myles Garrett is at 8. Sunday, they will have an opportunity to increase this total. The Bills welcome Cleveland to Detroit because of a weather forecast that was going to be complicated on the side of Buffalo.

The stat: 13

Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
New England Patriots (5-4) – New York Jets (6-3)

Here is the number of consecutive victories of New England over New York. It’s simple, the Jets have not beaten their rivals since an overtime in week 16 of the 2015 season. 8 years without victory, at the rate of two confrontations per year. Suffice to say an eternity in the NFL. Rarely the term ” black beast “ will be so apropos. Take for example this season. The Jets began their revival with victories in particular against the Bills or the Dolphins, proving that they are serious candidates for the title in this division. A game against the Patriots, who flirt with the 50% of victory since the beginning of the year, should only be a piece of cake. In any case, that’s what we said to ourselves when Robert Saleh’s men welcomed New England while they remained on 4 consecutive wins.

Except that as for many seasons, New York failed to measure up. Zach Wilson has been below everything with in particular 3 interceptions and New Yorkers stumbled relentlessly on this Patriots defense (22-17). This Sunday, they again have the opportunity to put an end to this series. A victory in Massachusetts would definitively confirm the change of era for the Jets. Are Robert Saleh and his men capable of it? Answer Sunday.

Player: Saquon Barkley

Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
New York Giants (7-2) – Detroit Lions (3-6)

With already seven wins in nine games, the Giants are off to a thunderous start to the season. An explosion which is a combination of factors. For example, we continue to weave praise to Brian Daboll. We also congratulate this defense which is more and more solid. But if New York is where it is today, it is above all thanks to one man: Saquon Barkley. The running back is back to its best. Before this week 11he is the runner who amassed the most yards (931). For example, he martyred the defense of the Texans last week with no less than 152 units earned.

And it would not be surprising if he repeated this Sunday. In front of him, he will have one of the worst squads in this sector (161 yards allowed per game on the ground, 31st in the NFL). The opportunity to further confirm his return among the best runners in the league. And allow the Giants to keep winning.

Coach: Sean McVay

Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
New Orleans Saints (3-7) – Los Angeles Rams (3-6)

A state of emergency is declared in Los Angeles. For the first time since arriving in California, Sean McVay has a record below 50%. Above all, the Rams start the weekend with 2.5 wins behind on the leader of the NFC West: Seattle. the playoffs are getting further and further away for the defending champion. The technician must absolutely find the solution. And quick. This Sunday, the Californian team travels to Louisiana to face the Saints who are not doing much better.

On one side or the other, the position of quarterback will be a question mark as this meeting approaches. For Los Angeles, Matthew Stafford, absent last week, resumed training and could be able to take his place. For New Orleans, the performances of Andy Dalton did not convince and it could be that Denis Allen chooses to trust Jameis Winston again.

AFC West

Kick-off Sunday at 10:05 p.m.
Denver Broncos (3-6) – Las Vegas Raiders (2-7)

Kick-off in the night from Sunday to Monday 02:20
Los Angeles Chargers (5-4) – Kansas City Chiefs (7-2)

When the four teams of a division compete within the same weekend, it is necessarily a small event. At the start of the season, this AFC West was announced as the highest division in the league. A few weeks later, reality caught up with some of these teams. If Kansas City has regained its cruising speed, others are in great difficulty. This is the case of Denver and Las Vegas. Between them, these franchises display only 5 cumulative successes. On Sunday, the Broncos and Raiders meet for the scare game. Woe to the loser at the end of this game.

Side Chargers, it’s a little better. We sometimes tend to forget it, but Los Angeles has a positive record and is still in the playoff race. But expectations were so high for this team that this uneven start to the season is somewhat disappointing. Justin Herbert’s state of health still raises questions. On this Sunday Night Football, however, it will take the best version of the pitcher to endanger the Chiefs. In this disappointing division, Patrick Mahomes and his teammates manage to be consistent. With 7 winsthey are once again consolidating their rank as conference leaders.

The (other) division duels

Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
Pittsburgh Steelers (3-6) – Cincinnati Bengals (5-4)

Kick-off in the night from Monday to Tuesday at 02:30
Arizona Cardinals (4-6) – San Francisco 49ers (5-4)

The AFC West will not be the only division to offer us duels. In the second part of the evening, the unfortunate losers of the last Super Bowl travel to Pittsburgh. Like their explosion last year, the Bengals want to take advantage of this second half of the season to regain momentum and be able to defend their AFC championship title. This week of rest could have done them good to prepare for this match against the Steelers. And even if Mike Tomlin’s men are sometimes in difficulty this season, we still remember that they had put a real cold snap in Cincinnati a few months ago. A victory 23-20 to the general surprise against the Bengals in week 1 which had brought Joe Burrow and his family back down to earth.

Finally, we will have to wait for the last match of the weekend to see the final division duel. This time, heading to the NFC with a clash in the West. Even if geographically, it will rather turn to the south, because the NFL has decided to relocate this meeting to Mexico City. Cardinals and 49ers will therefore play in the Mexican capital for a Monday Night Football which promises to be explosive. A small nod to history too since these two franchises had played the first regular season game outside the United States. It was in 2005 and it was already at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Arizona had won 31-14 and the 49ers now have a chance for revenge.

The rest

Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Atlanta Falcons (4-6) – Chicago Bears (3-7)

Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Baltimore Ravens (6-3) — Carolina Panthers (3-7)

Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Houston Texans (1-7-1) – Washington Commanders (5-5)

Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Indianapolis Colts (4-5-1) – Philadelphia Eagles (8-1)

In the rest of the games of the week, Atlanta and Chicago are likely to engage in a duel hanging on the ground. Both franchises have the most rush attempts since the start of the season (360 for the Bears and 328 for the Falcons) and should not change philosophy this Sunday. Another ground-facing team, Baltimore is back from its week off. The Ravens welcome Carolina for a largely affordable return to competition.

At the same time, the Commanders want to confirm their great victory against the Eagles with a trip to Houston. On paper, the adversity is much less. Washington goes from one of the best teams in the league, to one of the weakest. However, beware of overconfidence. The Eagles precisely want them to return to the path of victory. Direction Indianapolis for this with a meeting against the Colts. Jeff Saturday is currently undefeated and Jalen Hurts and his teammates want to take him down.

The posters

Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Atlanta Falcons (4-6) – Chicago Bears (3-7)
Baltimore Ravens (6-3) — Carolina Panthers (3-7)
Buffalo Bills (6-3) – Cleveland Browns (3-6)
Houston Texans (1-7-1) – Washington Commanders (5-5)
Indianapolis Colts (4-5-1) – Philadelphia Eagles (8-1)
New England Patriots (5-4) – New York Jets (6-3)
New Orleans Saints (3-7) – Los Angeles Rams (3-6)
New York Giants (7-2) – Detroit Lions (3-6)