PIGSKIN 2015: Week Eleven

PIGSKIN

FOOTBALL SUNDAY

Week Eleven

RESULTS

Week One 

Week Two 

Week Three 

Week Four 

Week Five
Week Six
Week Seven
Week Eight

Week Nine

Week Ten

Scoreboard:

Week Ten Record:  4-9
Overall Record:  64-55-3
Schmear of the Week:  5-5
Bagels in the Basket:  +6


1st and Ten:

• Two undefeated teams remain: Patriots and Panthers.  If you remember, the Patriots defeated the Panthers in pre-season game #3 by a 17-16 score.  Just saying...

2nd and Long:

• After the Jets waited to play their worst game of the season against the Bills, both are pressed to keep pace with (idle) Pittsburgh.  Buffalo plays the Patriots Monday night, so if the Jets intend on taking flight, this would be the week.

• First things first, there are all of five teams in the NFC playing above .500 football. That said, things aren't so cheesy in Green Bay anymore, are they?  The Packers have regressed to the level of the Falcons.  After those two teams, the rest of the NFC members are as threatening as the Little Rascals.

No Gain:

• Parity hovers over the NFL like smog over Los Angeles.  I'm going against the Colts, Bengals, and Packers.  Go figure...

PUNT!

• Ray Rice lecturing Greg Hardy.  Think about it...

Week Eleven:
Friday Line ~ NYDN


Jets -2 (TEXANS)
The Jets blew a chance to control the Wild Card picture last week, but get a second chance this week. I don't think they're in trouble, so much as they just need to clean up their act. Houston is vying for the division lead with a losing 4-5 record.  They're lacking at key offensive positions which should translate into a good day for Gang Green.  All eyes, however, should be on the Jets offensive line.   While Houston's defense has tightened up of late, they still can't stop the run.  You would think, then, with Ryan Fitzpatrick coming off (left thumb) surgery that Houston should expect a heavy dose of Chris Ivory, right?  The big boys up front have two main objectives then - create daylight for Ivory, and keep J.J. Watt away from Fitzpatrick (and hope Nick Mangold's neck is up to the task).
Loss; 24-17 Texans

PANTHERS -7 (D.C.Hogs)
These ain't the Saints!  Dance, Cam, dance.
WIN; 44-16 Panthers

Raiders -1 (LIONS)
A young, upcoming, albeit inconsistent Oakland team that got taught a lesson in focus against the Vikings last week, versus a woefully underachieving, just plain bad Detroit team that caught Green Bay at precisely the right moment last week....
Loss; 18-13 Lions

Cowboys PK (DOLPHINS)
Heads I win, tails you lose.  Actually, the Cowboys are just better.
WIN; 24-14 Cowboys

FALCONS -6 (Colts)
Here's one of those games that just makes you wanna shake your head.  The Colts are playing like they suffer mad cow disease.  The Falcons magical flight, meanwhile, is losing altitude fast.  They've gotta be kicking themselves after losing three of their last four against some very pedestrian competition (Saints, Bucs, 49ers).  Go with Atlanta's ability to pull their heads out of their posterior before the Colts can.
Loss; 24-21 Colts

Rams -2 1/2 (RAVENS)
Necessity is the mother of all invention.  The Rams need to figure out a way of posting more points. In a proactive measure, Jeff Fisher is benching his starting QB, in favor of Case Keenum.  That's what good coaches do.
Loss; 16-13 Ravens

VIKINGS -1 (Packers)
This game is screaming follow the trends.  The Vikes couldn't be any hotter - the Packers couldn't be any colder.  Blaming Olivia Munn for Aaron Rogers' performance is laughable.  She's far from being Jennifer Lopez, Halle Berry (or Tom Cruise - doh)!
Loss; 30-13 Packers

EAGLES -5 1/2 (Bucs)
All I have to offer is an exasperated sigh.  If the Eagles defense plays halfway decently, then laying two field goals at home seems almost too reasonable.
Loss; 45-17 Bucs

Broncos +1 (BEARS)
Crappy weather, cold, and confusion...  The Bears suddenly wanna play football.  They're 3-2 in their last five games.  I get that.  But, a healthy Jay Cutler versus Denver's Plan-B is a wash.  Yeah, that's an exercise in hyperbole, but defense was meant for inclement weather, and the Broncos aren't exactly a dome team.  Wear long-johns and take the point.
WIN; 17-15 Broncos

CARDINALS -5 (Bengals)
Game of the day!  This is only Week Eleven, so have a little fun this weekend.  Watch this like a Super Bowl preview.  Two good defenses; Cards hold the edge in scoring.  Covering this is going to be tough, but I do like the Cards to win (perhaps barely).  Proceed with caution.
Loss; 34-31 Cardinals

SEAHAWKS -12 1/2 (49ers)
With or without Marshawn Lynch, this is going to be one of those days!
WIN; 29-13 Seahawks

CHARGERS +3 (Chiefs)
Everything says take the Chiefs.  Sometimes I'm just such a contrarian.  You're on your own with this one.
Loss; 33-3 Chiefs

Schmear of the Week:
Cowboys (Pick'em)


Guten Appetit:
Flag on the play!  Kitchen Encroachment - I've been banned from cooking anything this week.  The wife has commandeered the entire first floor of the house in preparation for Thanksgiving.  I've been restricted to my Man Cave (when not being ordered to do something, that is).

Good Luck, and have a great Football Sunday everyone!

Post Game:
Week Eleven Record:  4-8
Overall Record:  68-63-3
Schmear of the Week:  6-5
Bagels in the Basket:  +5