Week 11 of the 2008 NFL season is upon us and teams are already eyeing a playoff spot.
One of the games that we’re sure to influence that was Thursday’s night showdown between the Jets and Pats. The loser of that one will be watching their backs against the rest of the division.
With Sunday’s games Denver and Atlanta are two teams looking to go deep into January. The Broncos can defend on occasion but if they don’t pay attention the Falcons will run them to the ground.
Carolina meanwhile are looking to coast along in the NFC South. Their run game is strong and the defense is battle-tested. It’s tough to see the Lions and their woeful squad catching them napping.
The Eagles are playing catch-up in their division. The defense has been pretty good but they need to flash their run game more. They should plenty of chance against a hapless Bengals defense.
The Bears and Packers have an epic rivalry and their game will mean even more as both eye a playoff spot. Chicago can stop any run while Green Bay will need to challenge the secondary down-field.
Indianapolis is surprisingly mediocre and time is running out for them to turn it around. Houston at this point is looking for respect and can gain some if their passing steam-rolls the Colts defense.
The Saints have the passing and offense to batter any mediocre defense. Their defense is the only reason why they’re not in first place.
The Chiefs don’t have much to offer save for the element of surprise. If New Orleans snooze then expect them to lose.
Miami are on the cusp of seriously challenging for a playoff spot in a weak conference. Pennington may be getting the glory but its Porter and the defensive line that’s doing the job. If they out-hustle the Raiders they’ll be well on their way.
Baltimore and New York brandish two of the most bruising defenses. Don’t expect a high-scoring game here. Instead look for who can create the most turnovers and get more points via field goals.
Tampa Bay seem to turn their offense on and off at will. But a gruelling season can take its toil on the defense. With a hungry and running Vikings team in town they’ll need to give Brooks and company as much rest as possible.
St. Louis are primed to steal second place in the division. The thing is they’re below average in everything, including offense.
They’re passing will have to wake up and score touchdowns in bunches to get past the woeful Niners.
Arizona are a defense away from being one of the NFL’s best. Yet their offense has them primed for the playoffs. Look for another game that’ll prove that fact when they take on the beleaguered Seahawks.
Tennessee continues to churn out victories and grind down defenses. Their methodical approach could frustrate the Jaguars unless Jacksonville runs them ragged first.
The Chargers will be lucky to finish above .500 this season. Somewhere along the line they turned into just a passing team. The Steelers will appreciate the soft defense after a pounding from the Giants.
The premier match-up this weekend is between the Cowboys and the Redskins. Dallas is a loss away from battling Philly to avoid the division cellar. The team’s future for next season hinges on the emergence of a steady run game and aggressive defense against Washington.
Monday’s match-up shows two AFC teams a few wins away from the playoffs. Both the Browns and the Bills have the balance to get in. In their match-up the winner will be who can stop the big plays down field.
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