NFL Picks Week 11: Super Bowl Preview Arizona Cardinals vs Cincinnati Bengals!
By Dan Salem
NFL week 11 surprises with multiple powerhouse matchups, but only one is can’t miss. Our game of the week honors go to Cardinals versus Bengals for NFL Picks Week 11. Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL Sports Debate. Check out more of the brothers in Seesaw Sports Debate on BuzzChomp. Two brothers from New York yell, scream, and debate sports.
TODD:
There are a handful of bad games on the NFL docket this Sunday. That is the case every week around this time of year. There are a bunch of teams that aren’t interesting nationally. However, Week 11 of the 2015 season is also chock full of some great matchups with major consequences. This is simple; what’s the best game of the day?
Is it Colts at Falcons?
-Two teams with playoff spots on the line but walls crumbling around them.
Is it Jets at Texans?
-Two AFC middleweights battling for playoff positioning where a loss could push them out completely.
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Is it Packers at Vikings?
-A battle for NFC North supremacy doubles as a contest to determine elite status in the conference.
Is it Bengals at Cardinals?
-Two teams looking to prove they are either the first or second-best team in their respective conference.
Is it Bills at Patriots?
-Two of only six teams in the AFC above .500, with a lot of history to boot and an undefeated record on the line.
Picking Bills at Pats as the best game of Sunday would be cheating since it actually takes place Monday night, but let’s include it anyway. I think that is probably the best game of Week 11, but it’s not the most interesting to me.
I really want to see how Packers at Vikings turns out. I am completely flabbergasted by Green Bay and continue to struggle with the legitimacy of Minnesota. This outcome will convince me one way or the other…unless something weird happens that we can later write off as fluky.
Nov 15, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback
Carson Palmer(3) hugs wide receiver
Michael Floyd(15) following their touchdown pass and reception, respectively, against the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
DAN:
You’ve singled out two great matchups of NFL week 11, but neither is the best game of the week. That honor belongs to Arizona versus Cincinnati. If I call it a Super Bowl foreshadowing it would only jinx both teams, but considering their level of play, it’s not out of bounds to slap such a lofty label on this game.
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First let me address the contenders. New England versus Buffalo would be good if the Bills were a better football team. They needed three wacky turnovers by the Jets to win last week, and it took all that New York had to lose with dignity to the Patriots. New England is on some crazy mission, to the surprise of no one who followed Deflategate, and no matter how much we want this battle to be real, it’s not nearly as close at the current moment.
As for Green Bay versus Minnesota, I would pick this game if not for the even more exciting option. Are these teams great, or just better than a thoroughly average NFC? The winner likely wins the division, putting a ton of pressure on both teams.
Cardinals versus Bengals is easily our best game this weekend. Cincinnati is no longer undefeated, leaving them with everything to prove. Their loss to Houston was ugly, and the critics all started screaming the second the game clock hit zero on Monday night. Are the Bengals as good as they looked, or was the competition just mediocre? This game answers all of our questions.
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Arizona is excellent. They are scoring against top defenses, and shutting down strong offenses. The way they gritted out a victory over Seattle showed me everything I needed to know about this team. If Carson Palmer had stayed healthy last season, it may have been Arizona who lost to New England in the Super Bowl. They are easily the best team in the NFC right now, tied with Carolina in my opinion. This will either be a battle of giants, or a humbling experience for the Bengals. One way or another, its two powerhouse teams running straight for one another in an otherwise average league this season.
Dan Salem is a Staff Writer for NFL Spinzone. He’s also Lead Editor, Staff Writer, and Featured Vlogger at BuzzChomp, and a New York Jets Analyst for Pro Football Spot. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or Instagram.
Todd Salem is a Staff Writer for NFL Spinzone. He’s also a Contributing Editor at BuzzChomp, a Featured Columnist at College Sports Madness, and an Analyst for Tipster Labs, among others. Follow him on Twitter.