SportSteem NFL Week 11 Recap
There were a lot of blowouts in Week 11 but Redskins-Saints gave us some much-needed drama during the Sunday 1 pm ET slot. New Orleans (8-2) rallied from a 15-point fourth quarter deficit to outlast the Redskins, 34-31, in OT. The Saints remain in control of the NFC South but the surging Panthers are lurking. The Lions also won a close one as the Bears missed a game-tying kick at the end of regulation. Detroit stays in the playoff hunt while Chicago gets one step closer to a top-5 pick.
In the lopsided losses, we constantly scrutinize, analyze, and pick apart the games but sometimes the answers are simple – you need good quarterback play to succeed. Each week we see teams trot out signal callers that just simply don’t give their teams a chance to win. In Week 11, poor Nathan Peterman – controversially inserted into the starting lineup over Tyrod Taylor – threw FIVE (!) interceptions in the first half against the Chargers. Coach McDermott mercifully let T-Mobile play the second half but by that point the game was over. In Green Bay, a similar situation unfolded as the Packers – playing at home on the frozen tundra – were shutout as Brett Hundley (21/36, 3 INTs) failed to get anything going offensively. And in Cleveland, well, we see it every week as DeShone Kizer (16/32, 1 TD, 2 INTs) hasn’t been the answer. Football has changed but one thing remains the same – you need good QB play to have a chance.
By this point in the season, key injuries continue to impact the playoff races. In Dallas, the absence of Tyron Smith and Zeke Elliott has absolutely torpedoed the Cowboys’ season. Dak Prescott looks ordinary without an excellent running game to lean on. Again, in Green Bay, losing Rodgers has effectively ended the Packers’ Super Bowl hopes. Tonight, we’ll see if the Seahawks can overcome injuries to Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman as a potent (but inconsistent) Falcons offense comes to Seattle.
It was another great week for the favorites as they went 11-2 SU and 9-3-1 ATS. The previously hapless New York Giants were the underdog pick of the week (+10, +350) as they beat the Chiefs at MetLife Stadium. This weeks’ “Bad Beat” is for everyone that took the under (43) in the Buccaneers-Dolphins game. With the scored at 23-20, the Buccaneers recovered a fumble in the end zone on the last play of the game, giving them a meaningless score as time expired to win 30-20.
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football pits the Seahawks (6-3) against the Falcons (5-4) at CenturyLink Field. This is a huge game for both teams as Seattle can pick up a game against the division-leading Rams while the Falcons can’t afford to fall farther behind streaking Carolina and New Orleans in the NFC South. The Falcons will need to move the ball through the air against a depleted Seahawks secondary, especially since star RB Devonte Freeman won’t play. Seattle is currently a 1-point home favorite. There’s still time to get your last picks in for the SportSteem NFL Challenge!