The 2023 NFL season rumbles on to Week 11, where there is another 14-game slate for punters to get stuck into and our Sunday evening fivefold features action from Denver, Cleveland, Buffalo, Miami and Green Bay.
- Minnesota Vikings to beat Denver Broncos
- Cleveland Browns to beat Pittsburgh Steelers
- New York Jets +7 against Buffalo Bills
- Las Vegas Raiders +12.5 against Miami Dolphins
- LA Chargers to beat Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings @ Denver Broncos
Against all odds, the Minnesota Vikings have won five straight games to move into playoff contention with quarterback Joshua Dobbs grabbing the headlines following wins over the Falcons and the Saints over the last two weeks.
Dobbs, who arrived in Minnesota following the trade deadline a fortnight ago, barely knew the names of his offense when he took to the field against Atlanta and he was still getting to grips with life as a Viking when guiding them to a win over the Saints.
While the remainder of their season looked in serious trouble when Kirk Cousins was ruled out with a torn Achilles, the rest of the Vikings have rallied to the cause and they'll relish a chance to record another win against the Denver Broncos.
The Broncos have also turned it around to win their last three games, including victories over the Chiefs and Bills, but they were fortunate to come up against a sick Patrick Mahomes and they benefited from a huge number of errors from the Bills on both sides of the ball.
That was a Monday night game, so Denver head into this Week 11 contest with less time to prepare, which could play into Minnesota's hands.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns produced a spirited comeback to defeat the Baltimore Ravens last week, scoring 16 fourth-quarter points to win 33-31, and they can continue their rise up the AFC standings with a win over another divisional rival when they host Pittsburgh.
The Browns are on a roll, winning five of their last seven games, and two of those victories came against legitimate Super Bowl contenders in the San Francisco 49ers, who they beat 19-17 in October, and the Ravens last time out.
Before the Baltimore win, Kevin Stefanski's team had demolished the Arizona Cardinals by a 27-0 scoreline, taking their home tally to 4-1 this season, with their only loss coming against the Ravens when rookie QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson proved miles out of his depth.
The Browns have looked much more dangerous with Deshaun Watson calling the shots and, while there is a small injury doubt over the starting quarterback, he is expected to line up for this divisional clash.
The Steelers have a more than respectable 6-3 record but QB Kenny Pickett continues to struggle and he's lining up against a defense which has allowed the fewest total yards this season.
The Steelers QB has struggled
New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey in the wake of an error-strewn loss to the Denver Broncos on Monday night which saw them move to 5-5 for the season, putting their playoff hopes at risk.
At their best, the Bills can compete with anyone in the NFL but quarterback Josh Allen does not look to be operating at full fitness and the team remains banged up on both sides of the ball.
Those injuries, coupled with a short turnaround, could spell problems when Buffalo hosts the Jets at Orchard Park in what is a hugely significant contest for both teams' hopes of catching the Dolphins at the top of the AFC East standings.
The Jets have slumped to back-to-back losses against the Chargers and the Raiders but, for all their offensive failings, the defense remains an elite unit which should allow them to stay on the right side of a seven-point spread.
Las Vegas Raiders @ Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins came up short against the Kansas City Chiefs in Frankfurt before their Week Ten bye and, while the Fins should return to winning ways at their Hard Rock Stadium home, there is scope for Las Vegas to keep this close.
The Raiders made a staffing change of their own recently, firing head coach Josh McDaniels in the wake of a 26-14 loss to the Lions, and the team has responded to interim replacement Antonio Pierce, winning against the Giants and the Jets.
A meeting with the Dolphins' high-powered offense is another matter, particularly in South Florida where the hosts have scored 43.5 points on average this season, helped by a 70-20 mauling of the Broncos.
However, the Raiders are clearly a determined team and, while it's unlikely they can catch the Chiefs in the AFC West, a wildcard spot is not yet beyond them.
Raiders have responded since the sacking of Daniels
Los Angeles Chargers @ Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers have struggled to get anything going in the post-Aaron Rodgers era and their 2023 season could be all but over following this meeting with the Chargers, who can be backed on the money line at Lambeau Field.
Lambeau has been a traditionally hostile environment for visiting teams but the Packers have lost two of their last three in Wisconsin and five of their last six in total to slip to a 3-6 record for the season.
Jordan Love threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns against the Steelers last weekend but the quarterback also threw two costly interceptions and Green Bay's inability to put up big points is a significant problem against the Chargers.
Los Angeles have a reputation for falling apart in the biggest moments. However, it's hard to deny the talent they have on offense, as Justin Herbert and his team showed when going down 41-38 in their Week Ten shootout with the Detroit Lions.
Wide receiver Keenan Allen chalked up 175 yards on 11 receptions with two touchdowns in that contest while Austin Ekeler is starting to find consistency on the ground since returning to full fitness. The Packers are likely to struggle to keep in touch with their visitors.
