Gerry Dulac's NFL forecast: Week 11
Share with others:
Last week: 9-6 (.600)
Season record: 88-56 (.611)
Miami Dolphins (4-5) at Carolina Panthers (4-5), 8:20 p.m., Thursday
The Skinny: After an 0-3 start, the Panthers have come back to life, jumped past the Falcons and put themselves in position for a wild-card spot. And they don't have to worry about Miami's Wildcat without Ronnie Brown.
Prediction: Panthers, 30-23
Steelers (6-3) at Kansas City Chiefs (2-7), 1 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: Since the middle of the 2007 season, the Chiefs are a pitiful 4-30, a record only the Lions (3-31) can eclipse for futility. Should be a nice way for Ben Roethlisberger to spend his first game in Arrowhead Stadium.
Prediction: Steelers, 34-3
Indianapolis Colts (9-0) at Baltimore Ravens (5-4), 1 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: I'm tired of picking the Colts to lose, so even though they have won their past three by a combined eight points, and even though I believe the Ravens will end their 18-game winning streak, I can't pick against them.
Prediction: Colts, 24-23
Washington Redskins (3-6) at Dallas Cowboys (6-3), 1 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: The Cowboys had their four-game winning streak ended in Green Bay. They will try to restart against the Redskins, who will be trying to win back-to-back games for the first time this season.
Prediction: Cowboys, 24-10
Cleveland Browns (1-8) at Detroit Lions (1-8), 1 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: The Browns' shutout loss to the Ravens was the 12th time in the past 15 games they haven't scored an offensive touchdown. Can the NFL fine a team $250,000 for lewd performance?
Prediction: Lions, 5-2
San Francisco 49ers (4-5) at Green Bay Packers (5-4), 1 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: After ending the Cowboys' four-game winning streak at Lambeau Field, the Packers will need more of that same home-field magic against the 49ers, who are making their way through the NFC North.
Prediction: Packers, 23-17
Buffalo Bills (3-6) at Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4), 1 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: Dick Jauron lasted nine games longer than anyone expected after last season. That is also the same amount of time Terrell Owens has lasted with the Bills. Perhaps they should consider another termination.
Prediction: Jaguars, 24-13
Seattle Seahawks (3-6) at Minnesota Vikings (8-1), 1 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: The Seahawks are starting to play better since Matt Hasselbeck returned. But they might not be able to play well enough to beat the Vikings, who just might be the best all-around team in the NFC.
Prediction: Vikings, 30-17
Atlanta Falcons (5-4) at New York Giants (5-4), 1 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: The Giants are hoping the bye week will help put an end to their four-game losing streak. But that might not be so easy against the Falcons are not a team, even though the birds have lost three of their past four.
Prediction: Giants, 27-20
New Orleans Saints (9-0) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-8), 1 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: It would be easy to say this is victory No. 10 for the Saints, one of two remaining unbatens. But they struggled to beat the Rams on the road and rookie QB Josh Freeman has pumped life into the Bucs.
Prediction: Saints, 27-24
Arizona Cardinals (6-3) at St. Louis Rams (1-8), 4:05 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: One of Ken Whisenhunt's goals this season was to eliminate the inconsistencies of last season. They have at least done that on the road, where they are 4-0 after going 3-5 last season.
Prediction: Cardinals, 30-17
San Diego Chargers (6-3) at Denver Broncos (6-3), 4:15 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: The Chargers have won four in a row since their one-sided loss to the Broncos, who are going in the other direction. They have lost three in a row and are getting an early start on another late-season fold.
Prediction: Chargers, 31-28
New York Jets (4-5) at New England Patriots (6-3), 4:15 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: The Jets are trying to make it three in a row against New England. The Patriots, who have won their past 20 home starts with Tom Brady, are merely hoping to forget what happened in Indy.
Prediction: Patriots, 31-21
Cincinnati Bengals (7-2) at Oakland Raiders (2-7), 4:15 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: The AFC North leaders begin a three-game stretch in which they play teams with a combined four victories. But the Bengals, who are 4-0 on the road, have never won in Oakland (0-9).
Prediction: Bengals, 13-10
Philadelphia Eagles (5-4) at Chicago Bears (4-5), 8:20 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: The big-play Eagles haven't made enough of them in back-to-back losses to the Cowboys and Chargers. Jay Cutler has been making a lot of big plays, too, most of them, though, for the other team.
Prediction: Eagles, 24-20
Tennessee Titans (3-6) at Houston Texans (5-4), 8:30 p.m., Monday
The Skinny: The Titans have won three in a row and averaged 35 points since Vince Young replaced Kerry Collins as the starting QB. That is enough to earn an appropriate salute from owner Bud Adams.
Prediction: Titans, 27-24
First Published November 18, 2009 3:39 pm
