What’s the best remedy for an anemic few weeks of midday NFL matchups? How about a mini Rivalry Week. Granted, the NFL doesn’t do this as well as the NCAA does, but if you want to sit on the couch for 12 hours and watch teams who hate each other face off, Week 11 has all that and more.
We’re talking Eagles-Commanders, Steelers-Ravens, Bears-Packers, Cowboys-Common Sense, Bills-Chiefs and 49ers-Seahawks.
Finally, a Sunday worth settling in for on the couch.
Let’s make some picks.
| Name | Last Week | YTD |
| Blake Schuster | 8-5-1 | 85-63-3 |
| Christian D’Andrea | 8-5-1 | 83-65-3 |
| Charles Curtis | 7-6-1 | 76-72-3 |
| Prince Grimes | 9-4-1 | 74-74-3 |
| Robert Zeglinski | 7-6-1 | 72-76-3 |
| Cory Woodroof | 7-6-1 | 71-77-3 |
All odds via BetMGM
Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles (Thursday)
Opening Line: Eagles -3.5
Blake Schuster: Commanders +3.5
I like Washington on a short week a lot more if Brian Robinson is playing, but I’ll roll with Jayden Daniels regardless.
Prince Grimes: Eagles -3.5
This is a big boy game for the budding Commanders. The Eagles have played many of these the last couple of years. I’ll roll with the experienced side.
Charles Curtis: Commanders +3.5
Divisional game, and even with the Eagles playing well, I think Jayden Daniels keeps it close.
Cory Woodroof: Eagles -3.5
The Eagles are playing their best football since 2022, so I’ll give them an edge over a young Commanders team.
Robert Zeglinski: Eagles -3.5
As much as I think Washington is legit, I’m buying Philly’s recent resurgence even more.
Christian D’Andrea: Eagles -3.5
I have utter faith in Nick Sirianni’s ability to botch this, but Philly’s pass defense is even better than Pittsburgh’s — and the Steelers stifled Jayden Daniels late to earn a comeback win in Week 10.
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
Opening Line: Packers -6
Blake Schuster: Packers -6
Somewhere deep in my broken heart, I believe the Bears will win this game, but I am forcing myself to shove aside those feelings in place of logic. Chicago is broken from top to bottom and Green Bay is yet again going to show it what a successful franchise looks like.
Prince Grimes: Bears +6
Everything feels off with the Bears, but maybe they respond to the coaching change for a week before the wheels come back off.
Charles Curtis: Packers -6
Don’t see how you can bet on the Bears even if their offense gets fixed after the coaching change.
Cory Woodroof: Packers -6
I don’t know what’s going on with Chicago, but Green Bay can win this by a touchdown.
Robert Zeglinski: Packers -6
(Deep inhale) HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Christian D’Andrea: Packers -6
I hate laying points on the road in a rivalry game. But the Bears haven’t come within six points of beating the Packers this decade. You really think these guys are gonna find an extra gear for Matt Eberflus???
Jacksonville Jaguars at Detroit Lions
Opening Line: Lions -4
Blake Schuster: Lions -14
I’m not touching this one in real life. That’s far too many points in an NFL game. Nope. Can’t do it.
Prince Grimes: Jaguars +14
That’s just a lot of points. But I’m not coming close to this game.
Charles Curtis: Lions -14
I’m with everyone else. Hate this pick, hate this spread, but got to take the MUCH better team.
Cory Woodroof: Lions -14
No Trevor Lawrence, no avoiding a blowout.
Robert Zeglinski: Lions -14
The Lions won a football game where their QB threw five picks. I repeat, they won a football game where their QB threw FIVE picks. The Jags are stepping up to a meat grinder.
Christian D’Andrea: Lions -14
It’s so many points, but… Mac Jones.
Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans
Opening Line: Vikings -1
Blake Schuster: Vikings -6
I guess I’m refusing to learn anything from all the underdog wins in Week 11 but I can’t trust whatever it is Tennessee is doing.
Prince Grimes: Titans +6
I guess this is the week I finally stop fading the Titans. Sam Darnold isn’t playing great.
Charles Curtis: Vikings -6
The Titans have a little fight in them but not enough.
Cory Woodroof: Vikings -6
Will Levis going up against a Brian Flores defense is not a recipe for success.
Robert Zeglinski: Vikings -6
I’m literally cackling as I type this because I’m imagining Will Levis trying to solve Brian Flores’ defense. Too funny.
Christian D’Andrea: Vikings -6
Sam Darnold’s mistakes are exploitable. But is the team with six turnovers forced in nine games gonna be the one to do it?
Las Vegas Raiders at Miami Dolphins
Opening Line: Dolphins -6.5
Blake Schuster: Dolphins -8
Tua starting to look a lot more like himself again.
Prince Grimes: Raiders +8
I’m just hammering all the massive underdogs at this point.
Charles Curtis: Dolphins -8
Hey bookmakers, I hate all of these.
Cory Woodroof: Dolphins -8
Miami has been better with Tua Tagovailoa on the field.
Robert Zeglinski: Dolphins -8
Hey, Brock Bowers is still on pace for over 1,000 receiving yards as a rookie tight end. So, the Raiders have that going for them (the only thing).
Christian D’Andrea: Dolphins -8
The first time the Raiders had a bye under Antonio Pierce they had eight first downs the following week. Not points; first downs.
Los Angeles Rams at New England Patriots
Opening Line: Rams -4
Blake Schuster: Patriots +4.5
Two super unlikable teams ATS. I’m taking the points.
Prince Grimes: Rams -4.5
A win over the Bears doesn’t mean the Patriots stopped being the Patriots.
Charles Curtis: Rams -4.5
Uneasy about this one but I think the Rams’ offense is the X factor here.
Cory Woodroof: Rams -4.
Los Angeles can convincingly handle business.
Robert Zeglinski: Rams -4.5
Shame on anyone who didn’t think these Rams would come back to life. Sean McVay has earned so much more faith than that.
Christian D’Andrea: Rams -4.5
A bounce-back week for Los Angeles and a glaring coaching mismatch for a first year HC whose most recent wins are over Jeff Ulbrich and Matt Eberflus.
Cleveland Browns at New Orleans Saints
Opening Line: Browns -2
Blake Schuster: Saints -1
I guess? I’ll be honest, I’m not tuning into this game and you can’t make me.
Prince Grimes: Browns +1
Jameis Winston revenge game?
Charles Curtis: Browns +1
Bleh.
Cory Woodroof: Saints -1
New Orleans can squeak by here by a field goal.
Robert Zeglinski: Saints -1
I see we’ve finally reached that point in the year where maybe 30 percent of the NFL games on a Sunday are pointless and meaningless.
Christian D’Andrea: Browns +1
Flip a coin high into the air until you’re staring directly at the sun. Congratulations, you have just watched Browns/Saints.
Indianapolis Colts at New York Jets
Opening Line: Jets -4
Blake Schuster: Colts +3.5
One of these teams is elite ATS and the other is not. New York has never looked more cooked.
Prince Grimes: Colts +3.5
The time off might’ve done A-Rich some good.
Charles Curtis: Colts +3.5
When you can’t trust either team, you take the points.
Cory Woodroof: Colts +3.5
I can’t trust the Jets, and I imagine Anthony Richardson will be extra motivated this week.
Robert Zeglinski: Jets -3.5
I’m shocked by my colleagues’ confidence in one of the worst statistical QBs this century against the Jets defense. Be serious, friends.
Christian D’Andrea: Jets -3.5
New York’s defense so badly needs a win and now it gets to face a quarterback with all the grace and control of a malfunctioning bumper car.
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
Opening Line: Ravens -3
Blake Schuster: Steelers +3
Mike Tomlin is 12-2-2 ATS as an underdog against John Harbaugh and Tomlin is 62-35-4 ATS as an underdog period. This line is just begging you to take Pittsburgh and how can you not given the trends?
Prince Grimes: Ravens -3
Fine, I’ll be the foolish one to do it. I think Derrick Henry gives Baltimore a chance to control this game. And as improved as Russell Wilson has been this season, he’s not Joe Burrow. I don’t think Pittsburgh keeps up without establishing its own run, which Baltimore defends fairly well.
Charles Curtis: Steelers +3
In Mike Tomlin (and Russell Wilson?) we trust.
Cory Woodroof: Steelers +3
That Baltimore defense is shaky, and Pittsburgh’s is not.
Robert Zeglinski: Steelers +3
What a budding AFC North instant classic where I will take the points for MIKE TOMLIN without question.
Christian D’Andrea: Steelers +3
The last time Pittsburgh lost to the Ravens at home by more than a field goal was 2018.
Atlanta Falcons at Denver Broncos
Opening Line: Falcons -3.5
Blake Schuster: Broncos -2.5
This game being in Denver makes all the difference for a defense that’s already pretty elite.
Prince Grimes: Broncos -2.5
Yeah, second straight road game for Atlanta, in Denver. Against that defense. Give me the Broncos.
Charles Curtis: Falcons +2.5
A curious spread, so, fine, I’ll take the bait.
Cory Woodroof: Falcons +2.5
Raheem Morris hasn’t lost in back-to-back games. I expect that to continue.
Robert Zeglinski: Broncos -2.5
Denver almost pulled off an upset of the Chiefs last week and is playing at altitude. That’s a recipe for disaster for the porous Falcons defense.
Christian D’Andrea: Broncos -2.5
Feels like the kind of game where Kirk Cousins tries to right the ship, does too much and gets stung by a top five defense.
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers
Opening Line: 49ers -9
Blake Schuster: 49ers -6.5
It’s a division game, but that line is too small to sway me from taking a superior offense at home.
Prince Grimes: Seahawks +6.5
San Fran’s defense not quite as dominant as its been in years past. I’ll take the points.
Charles Curtis: Seahawks +6.5
A hair too large for a divisional game.
Cory Woodroof: Seahawks +6.5
San Fran has too many points here for my comfort and for how this rivalry typically goes.
Robert Zeglinski: 49ers -6.5
I’ve learned my lesson in regards to spread picks with these teams. I love you Geno Smith, I really do, but never again.
Christian D’Andrea: 49ers -6.5
Unless you’re counting games he spent backing up Russell Wilson, Geno Smith has never beaten the Niners.
Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills
Opening Line: Chiefs -1
Blake Schuster: Chiefs +2.5
Mahomes is 12-1-1 ATS as an underdog, so let’s just go ahead and fast forward to the part where Buffalo wins by 1.
Prince Grimes: Chiefs +2.5
Mahomes as an underdog is almost a lock at this point.
Charles Curtis: Chiefs +2.5
Underdogs? Really? Wow.
Cory Woodroof: Chiefs +2.5
You want to doubt Patrick Mahomes?
Robert Zeglinski: Bills -2.5
The Bills get their revenge for last year’s AFC divisional round matchup.
Christian D’Andrea: Bills -2.5
Look, Buffalo’s resume is garbage. But it takes care of business against the Chiefs. Not when it counts, mind you.
Cincinnati Bengals at Los Angeles Chargers (Sunday Night)
Opening Line: Bengals -2
Blake Schuster: Chargers -1.5
Still no longer betting against Jim Harbaugh’s devil magic.
Prince Grimes: Bengals +1.5
This pick is more about my belief that the Bengals still have a playoff push in them. They really need this game for that to be true.
Charles Curtis: Chargers -1.5
Jim Harbaugh continues to impress.
Cory Woodroof: Bengals +1.5
This will be a fun game, and Cincinnati is going to play desperate.
Robert Zeglinski: Bengals +1.5
The Chargers have been surprisingly competent but Joe Burrow has shown he’s not letting Cincy’s season go down without a fight.
Christian D’Andrea: Bengals +1.5
This is effectively a must-win for Cincinnati, even if it can’t generate the pressure needed to slow down Justin Herbert.
Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys (Monday Night)
Opening Line: Cowboys -3
Blake Schuster: Texans -7.5
It’s curtains on the Cowboys’ season y’all.
Prince Grimes: Texans -7.5
It’s closed curtains on Dallas. Get it?
Charles Curtis: Texans -7.5
Just gonna sit here and admire all the funny curtains jokes my colleagues made.
Cory Woodroof: Texans -7.5
Goodnight, sweet Dallas.
Robert Zeglinski: Texans -7.5
As I told a friend and colleague who shall remain anonymous this week: the NFL is NEVER going to flex the Cowboys out of anything. At least we can laugh about it.
Christian D’Andrea: Texans -7.5
Oh yeah I hate laying this many points with a team as untrustable as Houston. But the Cowboys have played four home games and lost three by at least four touchdowns. And two of those losses came before Cooper Rush was starting quarterback.
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