The AFC is holding its breath. The confrontation between Josh Allen's Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs risks being decisive in determining first place in the conference at the end of the season. Behind, the whole league is wondering who could beat Andy Reid's men if this Josh Allen and these Bills couldn't do it. And that's not all.
The AFC North offers an XXL meeting between the Steelers of a rediscovered Russell Wilson (QB) and the Ravens of a Lamar Jackson (QB) more MVP than ever. Without forgetting a Chargers – Bengals full of challenges…. In NFC, the posters are more unbalanced in appearance, but no favorite is safe. Panthers, Buccaneers, Giants and Cardinals are rested.
The match and duel of the week: Patrick Mahomes – Josh Allen, see you again!
Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
Buffalo Bills (8-2) – Kansas City Chiefs (9-0)
Impossible to miss this poster. With a cumulative record of 17 victories and 2 defeats, this Bills – Chiefs is on paper the most beautiful confrontation since the Chiefs-Rams of 2018. The mountain had given birth to a continent, with a 54-51 for LA remaining in the memories. This time, it's hard to imagine such a score. The Chiefs have slowed down on offense this year, and rely on one of the best defenses in the league. Despite this, eyes will still be on each team's quarterbacks,
The clashes between Josh Allen (QB, Bills) and Patrick Mahomes (QB, Chiefs) are always expected to be a high point of the year. Particularly since the playoff match of January 24, 2022 which saw the two players exchange blows in the last breathless minutes before Kansas City's victory. Be careful, however, that appearances are deceptive: if the men of Missouri lead 3-0 against the Bills in the playoffs since the arrival of Mahomes, they are led 1-3 in the regular season.
At the heart of a season where Mahomes is struggling a little and where he seems stronger than ever, Josh Allen takes the opportunity to strike hard by putting an end to Kansas City's invincibility. What Lamar Jackson, favorite for the MVP, had not managed to do, by a toe.
Player of the week: Joe Burrow, loading up to start fresh
Kick-off Monday at 2:20 a.m.
Los Angeles Chargers (6-3) – Cincinnati Bengals (4-6)
The Bengals may have a disappointing record of four wins and five losses, but Joe Burrow (QB, Bengals) is not far from having the best statistical season of his career. Author of 24 touchdowns for 4 small interceptions, the Ohio launcher is well helped by his receiver Ja'Marr Chase (WR), much less by his defense (26.2 points conceded per game). The fact remains that after three inaugural defeats, the Bengals still have a chance of clinching the playoffs. By winning this weekend, they would return to a neutral record.
It will be difficult against the Chargers who are also applying for a wild card place. If they win, they will have a 37% chance of achieving this, compared to 14 if they lose. “Joe Cool” will be decisive in the meeting. If the Chargers' defense is formidable, never conceding more than 20 points in a game, it has not yet triumphed against players of Burrow's caliber. Suffice to say that for Jim Harbaugh's men too, it is a hell of a test.
The coach: Thomas Brown, Matt Eberflus' last chance?
Kick-off Sunday at 7 p.m.
Chicago Bears (4-5) – Green Bay Packers (6-3)
The failed performance against the Patriots did not pass in Illinois. On offense, Caleb Williams (QB, Bears) is not progressing, and the team has not scored a touchdown in two games. Under fire, head coach Matt Eberflus has decided to part ways with his offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. He was replaced by Thomas Brown, until then only in charge of the aerial game. It remains to be seen whether the modification will work, especially before a match as difficult as it is crucial against the Packers. More than the future of Brown, it is perhaps that of Eberflus which is at stake in the coming weeks.
The stats: 6-0
Kick-off Sunday at 10:05 p.m.
San Francisco 49ers (5-4) – Seattle Seahawks (4-5)
We often talk about the difficult series for Kyle Shanahan's 49ers, especially against Andy Reid's Chiefs, but the San Francisco coach also has his Turkish heads. His favorite victim is currently the Seattle Seahawks, beaten 6 times in a row by the Californians. And not just half since the average difference in the score over the period is 15 points.
Seattle's last victory dates back to 2021, when the franchise was led by Russell Wilson (QB, Steelers). Counterintuitively, Sunday's game is Shanahan's opportunity to have a positive record against Seattle for the first time in his career. Between 2017 and 2021, he had a record of 2 wins for 6 losses and two draws against Wilson, the real nemesis of the 49ers. How times are changing. Never victorious against San Francisco and author of 3 interceptions in the first match between the two teams this year, Geno Smith (Seahawks) can repeat his credo.
Division of the Week: The Battle of Pennsylvania, the Key to the AFC North
Kick-off Sunday at 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2) – Baltimore Ravens (7-3) To follow live for free on M6+
New Orleans Saints (3-7) – Cleveland Browns (2-7)
A week after the American election, Pennsylvania is preparing to replay its role as a key state in the NFL this weekend. The matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens would be the game of many an NFL week. If the two teams are already very well placed for the playoffs, the match will be of capital importance for the destiny of the AFC North and the rankings.
For Pittsburgh, this is the opportunity to once again announce its ambitions before a busy end of the calendar which will see them face the Bengals and the Chiefs, not to mention the return against the Ravens. From the Steelers' ability to contain Derrick Henry (RB, Ravens) on the ground to Baltimore's ability to prevent Russell Wilson from making long explosive plays, the keys to this duel between two excellent teams will be numerous. Lamar Jackson (QB, Ravens), in MVP form, is one in his own right. While his main rival in obtaining the award Josh Allen (QB, Bills) has a tough reception against the Chiefs, he could take advantage of it to further widen his lead in the eyes of the voters.
The match between the Saints and the Browns appears more at this stage as a preparation for the draft. Neither team has a move to play. On the Louisiana side, a second victory for interim coach Dan Rizzi could increase his rating.
Other matches of the week
Kick-off Sunday at 7 p.m.
Detroit Lions (8-1) – Jacksonville Jaguars (2-8)
Miami Dolphins (3-6) – Las Vegas Raiders (2-7)
New England Patriots (3-7) – Los Angeles Rams (4-5)
Tennessee Titans (2-7) – Minnesota Vikings (7-2)
New York Jets (3-7) – Indianapolis Colts (4-6)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:05 p.m.
Denver Broncos (5-5) – Atlanta Falcons (6-4)
Kick-off Tuesday at 2:15 a.m.
Dallas Cowboys (3-6) – Houston Texans (6-4)
The week features several unbalanced posters. On paper, it's hard to imagine the Jaguars beating the Lions, or the Titans sinking the Vikings. Nevertheless, Jacksonville had several interesting encounters against the “big guys” and the Vikings have made a bit of a mark in recent weeks, Sam Darnold (QB, 7 interceptions in 5 games) the first. Nothing is ever played in the NFL.
Thus, it is not uncommon to see a team that has nothing left to gain playing a nasty trick on an opponent fighting for the playoffs. So beware of the Rams in New England, or for Houston against the Cowboys, who will finally have the joy of seeing a Texan team win in Dallas, which has not yet happened this season.
Between Colts and Jets, the meeting will seal the fate of the loser, especially if it is New York. The winner will earn the right to believe in it just a little bit longer. There is nothing at stake, however, for the Dolphins – Raiders other than still wondering what Miami's season could have been without the concussion suffered by Tua Tagovailoa (QB).
Finally, the Falcons – Broncos is crucial. With a success, Atlanta would take a three-game lead in the NFC South. To try to return to the playoffs for the first time since their 2015 title, the Broncos are condemned to aim for the wild cards. In what will be an apothecary's calculation, every victory will count.
Week 11 matches
Kick-off Sunday at 7 p.m.
Chicago Bears (4-5) – Green Bay Packers (6-3)
Detroit Lions (8-1) – Jacksonville Jaguars (2-8)
Miami Dolphins (3-6) – Las Vegas Raiders (2-7)
New England Patriots (3-7) – Los Angeles Rams (4-5)
New Orleans Saints (3-7) – Cleveland Browns (2-7)
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2) – Baltimore Ravens (7-3) To follow live for free on M6+
Tennessee Titans (2-7) – Minnesota Vikings (7-2)
New York Jets (3-7) – Indianapolis Colts (4-6)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:05 p.m.
Denver Broncos (5-5) – Atlanta Falcons (6-4)
San Francisco 49ers (5-4) – Seattle Seahawks (4-5)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
Buffalo Bills (8-2) – Kansas City Chiefs (9-0)
Kick-off Monday at 2:20 a.m.
Los Angeles Chargers (6-3) – Cincinnati Bengals (4-6)
Kick-off Tuesday at 2:15 a.m.
Dallas Cowboys (3-6) – Houston Texans (6-4)
