NFL Week 11 Picks
The 2008 NFL Season heads into Week 11 this weekend, with several intriguing matchups on the schedule. Our team of writers and handicappers pick four games from Week 11 and make their predictions.
Tennessee Titans (9-0) at Jacksonville Jaguars (4-5), 4:00 PM ET
While the Tennessee Titans continue to find themselves increasingly in the spotlight with each successive win, the blue-collar team’s focus is on its first goal of the season – its first AFC South title since 2002.
Looking to move closer to the division crown, the unbeaten Titans hit the road to face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
Tennessee (9-0) held on to win again last week, outlasting Chicago 21-14 at Soldier Field. With its formidable run game limited to 20 yards, veteran Kerry Collins stepped up and threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns to give the Titans a franchise-record 12th straight victory.
Pick: Tennessee – View Game Matchup | Best Line: -3 SBG Global
St. Louis Rams (2-7) at San Francisco 49ers (2-7), 4:00 PM ET
In a season full of drama for the San Francisco 49ers, Monday night’s loss was just the latest episode.
The 49ers hope to write a different chapter on Sunday when they host the equally woeful St. Louis Rams.
Two weeks after interim coach Mike Singletary’s postgame tirade following their 34-13 loss to Seattle, the 49ers were on the verge of winning their first game since Sept. 21 on Monday at Arizona.
Allen Rossum’s 104-yard opening kickoff return gave San Francisco a lead it wouldn’t relinquish until 4:21 remaining. But as they had done in their previous five games, the 49ers (2-7) lost as fullback Michael Robinson was stuffed at the 2-yard line as time expired in the 29-24 defeat.
Pick: St. Louis – View Game Matchup | Best Line: +6.5 SBG Global
Houston Texans (3-6) at Indianapolis Colts (5-4), 1:00PM ET
Considering the dominant run the Indianapolis Colts have had atop the AFC South in recent years, their current position is likely an unfamiliar one.
Looking to chip away at their four-game deficit in the division, the Colts on Sunday aim for their third straight victory while improving to 13-1 all time against the struggling Houston Texans.
Indianapolis (5-4) has posted a 25-8 record en route to winning the division each of the last five seasons. The only time that it has failed to come away with the crown was in 2002 – the first year the NFL went to an eight-division format – finishing one game behind Tennessee.
The Colts are in second entering Sunday – four back of the first-place Titans with three divisional contests remaining, the first coming against the last-place Texans (3-6).
Indianapolis has been particularly successful against Houston.
The Colts have won 12 of 13 all-time matchups, and three straight including a 31-27 victory on Oct. 5 in Houston. Indianapolis also has won all six home meetings by an average of 19.3 points.
But despite their dominance over the Texans, coach Tony Dungy knows that his team can’t afford a letdown.
In spite of their overall struggles, the Texans have been boosted by wide receiver Andre Johnson, who had seven receptions for 66 yards on Sunday and leads the NFL with 900 yards overall. Against Indianapolis earlier this season, Johnson had nine catches for 131 yards.
Pick: Indianapols – View Game Matchup | Best Line: -8 SBG Global
San Diego Chargers (4-5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3), 4:15PM ET
The Pittsburgh Steelers and San Diego Chargers both have plenty of concerns. At the top of those lists are their franchise players.
Two teams who were considered Super Bowl contenders entering this season, but have not played much like it recently, will meet Sunday as a struggling Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers host the Chargers and frustrated star LaDainian Tomlinson.
Pittsburgh (6-3) goes into this matchup in much better position, tied atop the AFC North with Baltimore, while San Diego (4-5) sits a game behind AFC West-leading Denver and trying to get back to .500.
Neither team has looked worthy of winning its division lately, with Roethlisberger making too many mistakes and Tomlinson failing to find much running room.
The Steelers have lost two of their last three games, and in the one win – 23-6 at Washington on Nov. 3 – backup Byron Leftwich led both of the team’s second-half touchdown drives in place of an injured Roethlisberger.
Second to only Tom Brady in passer rating last season, Roethlisberger is 25th this year at 76.1 and he’s tied for second in the league with 11 interceptions – eight in his last 10 quarters. The Pro Bowler has one touchdown pass during that span while getting sacked 10 times.
San Diego has never won in 12 regular-season games in Pittsburgh, but has won both playoff meetings there, including the 1994 AFC championship game.
Pick: Pittsburgh – View Game Matchup | Best Line: -5 SBG Global
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Posted: 11/15/08 9:00PM ET
