NFL Week 11 preview
Weekend game previews, staff predictions
Cowboys (4-5) at Falcons (4-5)
Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox Pregame.com line: Falcons by 3 Cowboys’ keys: They need WR Amari Cooper to carry a receiving corps that has little ability outside of elusive WR Cole Beasley. QB Dak Prescott has to build off his Philadelphia performance; Dallas can’t rely so much on RB Ezekiel Elliott and the O-line to lead the way. Falcons’ keys: They have to generate more pass rush pressure than they did on rookie Browns QB Baker Mayfield (zero hits, zero sacks). On offense, someone other than WR Julio Jones has to produce. Rookie WR Calvin Ridley has scored once in last five games. Who wins? Atlanta is more talented and is at home. Falcons, 31-21
Bengals (5-4) at Ravens (4-5)
Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS Line: No line
Bengals’ keys: The offense took advantage of the middle of the field in a Week 2 win over the Ravens. With WR A.J. Green out, that task will fall to RB Joe Mixon and TE C.J. Uzomah.
Ravens’ keys: If QB Joe Flacco (hip) plays, the Ravens must get better offensive line play. There also needs to be a bigger commitment to running the ball throughout the game. Defensively, the Ravens need to put pressure on QB Andy Dalton and get a stout performance from the defensive line.
Who wins? Both teams are beaten up. Baltimore knows this may be last chance to save season. Ravens, 23-21
Panthers (6-3) at Lions (3-6)
Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox Line: Panthers by 41⁄ 2
Panthers’ keys: RB Christian McCaffrey, a multidimensional weapon, presents a major challenge for Detroit LB Jarrad Davis. The Carolina defensive line, led by DT Kawann Short, needs to generate pressure on QB Matthew Stafford, who hasn’t been sharp.
Lions’ keys: They must convert redzone opportunities into touchdowns instead of settling for field goals. Picking up the pace and playing to QB Matthew Stafford’s strength in up-tempo situations should set up longer drives. Who wins? Carolina has too many paths to victory over the reeling Lions. Panthers, 30-17
Titans (5-4) at Colts (4-5)
Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS Line: Colts by 11⁄ 2
Titans’ keys: They have had success using RB Dion Lewis as a runner and as a pass catcher. QB Marcus Mariota will need to continue spreading the ball, a common factor in Tennessee’s victories. Colts’ keys: They need to continue to seek balance in their offense, and RB Marlon Mack plays a key role. When QB
Andrew Luck has time in the pocket, coach Frank Reich’s play-calling is more effective. Defensively, the Colts must stay strong up front.
Who wins? Tennessee’s underrated defense has been particularly effective on the road and is coming off a win against the Patriots. Titans, 23-20
Buccaneers (3-6) at Giants (2-7)
Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox Line: Giants by 11⁄ 2
Giants’ keys: They must slow down the league’s top passing offense. With a thin secondary, the challenge will fall on defensive coordinator James Bettcher to dial up blitzes and find ways to keep consistent pressure on the quarterback.
Buccaneers’ keys: The key is rattling New York QB Eli Manning and keeping safeties deep to take the big play away from WR Odell Beckham Jr. The Bucs will have to bottle up RB Saquon Barkley at the line of scrimmage.
Who wins? Tampa Bay is better with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback and the Giants are prone to giving up big passing plays. Buccaneers, 33-20
Texans (6-3) at Redskins (6-3)
Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS Line: Texans by 3
Texans’ keys: Any chance Houston has will be determined by QB Deshaun
Watson, who has eight TD passes and no interceptions in his last three games. WR DeAndre Hopkins ranks among the league leaders in all the major receiving categories. Defensively, the Texans will need to stop RB Adrian Peterson, who will be extra excited to play against his hometown team.
Redskins’ keys: They’ll need QB Alex Smith to make an impact. His numbers this season are lower than usual. CB
Josh Norman has had some inconsistent moments, so he will need to be locked in on Hopkins.
Who wins? Coming off a bye week, the Texans likely will be too much for the Redskins to handle on the both sides of the ball. Texans, 27-14
Steelers (6-2-1) at Jaguars (3-6)
Time, TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS Line: Steelers by 6
Steelers’ keys: They enter with the NFL’s No. 4 offense, and their best bet against the Jacksonville defense, which has had difficulty defending the run, is RB James Conner, assuming he clears the concussion protocol. Conner is third in the league with 771 rushing yards.
Jaguars’ keys: RB Leonard Fournette, who returned in Week 10 after missing four games because of a hamstring injury, ran for 290 yards and five TDs in two games vs. the Steelers last season.
Who wins? The Jaguars look like a shell of their 2017 team, while the Steelers are hot. Steelers, 24-17
Raiders (1-8) at Cardinals (2-7)
Time, TV: 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS Line: Cardinals by 51⁄ 2 Raiders’ keys: They have to make Arizona QB Josh Rosen uncomfortable and must protect QB Derek Carr against a defense that has had multiple sacks in every game. Cardinals’ keys: Keeping RB David Johnson involved. Since Byron Leftwich took over as offensive coordinator, Johnson has had two good games — including 183 total yards and two touchdowns last week.
Who wins? Oakland continues to look like a team that doesn’t really want to win, and the Cardinals get another big game from Johnson. Cardinals, 27-13
Broncos (3-6) at Chargers (7-2)
Time, TV: 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS Line: Chargers by 7
Broncos’ keys: QB Case Keenum appears to be trending in the wrong direction and will need to take care of the ball. The Broncos still have a good defense and boast one of the top passing defenses; forcing turnovers would help. Chargers’ keys: The offense faces its stiffest test to date on defense. RB Melvin Gordon had 165 total yards last week and continues to carry the Chargers on the ground and through the air. Who wins: Denver has a shot to hold Los Angeles under 20 points. But it won’t be enough to get the Broncos out of their doldrums. Chargers, 23-14
Eagles (4-5) at Saints (8-1)
Time, TV: 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox Line: Saints by 9
Eagles’ keys: Philly needs to let QB
Carson Wentz and newly acquired WR Golden Tate get into a groove early. It also must make up for the loss of CB
Ronald Darby (torn ACL).
Saints’ keys: They field an offense built around physicality. RBs Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram can run over and through opponents, QB Taysom Hill keeps defenses on their toes and WR
Michael Thomas stresses even the best defensive backs. But funneling too many touches (especially passing targets) to Kamara and Thomas could tip their hand. WR Brandon Marshall, whom the Saints added this week, could help open up the offense.
Who wins? It’s hard to see the Eagles’ shaky defense slowing down the QB Drew Brees-led Saints, who have won eight in a row. Saints, 35-24
Vikings (5-3-1) at Bears (6-3)
Time, TV: 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday, NBC Line: Bears by 3
Vikings’ keys: The pass rush found new life heading into the bye week, and Minnesota needs that to carry over. The return of DE Everson Griffen has made a huge difference, and the Vikings will need him to be a complementary threat to DE Danielle Hunter. Chicago CB Kyle Fuller has been executing lockdown coverage lately but hasn’t faced a receiver of the caliber of the Vikings’Adam Thielen this season.
Bears’ keys: The return of OLB Khalil Mack last weekend provided a much needed boost, and Chicago has thrived from creating turnovers in the past two games. When the defense is clicking, it takes pressure off QB Mitchell Trubisky and the offense.
Who wins? The Bears are clicking, but the Vikings can match them blow for blow. Vikings, 24-23
Chiefs (9-1) at Rams (9-1)
Time, TV: 8:15 p.m. ET Monday, ESPN Line: Rams by 31⁄ 2
Chiefs’ keys: They are so successful because of their high-powered offense, but their defense will be one of the keys to victory. LBs Anthony Hitchens and
Reggie Ragland have to step up and shut down Rams RB Todd Gurley if Kansas City is to have any chance to win.
Rams’ keys: Like the Chiefs, the Rams can score almost at will. They’re near the top in just about every offensive statistic. Los Angeles will be without WR Cooper Kupp (torn knee ligament). The key will be slowing down the Chiefs offense. CB Marcus Peters has to hold on for one more game without CB Aqib
Talib, while S John Johnson will be tasked with covering TE Travis Kelce. Peters doesn’t have great speed and could have trouble keeping up with WR Tyreek Hill.
Who wins? The Rams proved their defense couldn’t stop the Saints, and Kansas City has more weapons than New Orleans. Chiefs, 40-35
Game previews provided by USA TODAY Sports Media Group affiliates