As we make the turn to Week 11 of the NFL season the playoff urgency is in the air. There are a number of NFC teams that are teetering on the brink and will have to pick up wins to stay in the thick of things. Here’s a look at the five best matchups of the week.
New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers
Odds: Panthers -4
The Saints fell to 4-5 after a wild 25-23 loss at home to Denver, but they’re still ahead of the Panthers, who allowed 17 fourth-quarter points in a 20-17 home loss to Kansas City to drop to 3-6. A loss on Thursday for the Panthers will likely end their playoff hopes – if they aren’t dashed already. The Panthers are 6-4 SU and 4-6 ATS in their last ten meetings with the Saints, who have covered in each of the last three.
Baltimore Ravens @ Dallas Cowboys
Odds: Cowboys -7
The Ravens kept Cleveland winless with a 28-7 home victory last Thursday, while the Cowboys rolled to 8-1 by holding off Pittsburgh 35-30 on the road. That sets up a meeting of division leaders, although both teams are in different positions.
Very quietly, the Ravens enter with the league’s No. 1 defense. They’ll try to slow down the Cowboys, who are fourth in the NFL in points per game (28.7). Rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott leads the NFL in rushing (1,005 yards) while quarterback Dak Prescott has now finished with a completion percentage of 66% or higher in seven of his last eight games.
The Ravens are 6-3 SU in their last nine meetings with Dallas, including five wins in a row.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Kansas City Chiefs
Odds: Chiefs -7.5
The Buccaneers are still in the mix in the NFC South at 4-5 after a 36-10 romp over Chicago at home. They’re a big dog at Kansas City, who enters on a five-game winning streak. The Chiefs are 7-2, sit atop the AFC West and are now the second seed in the AFC. They are 4-4 SU in eight meetings with Tampa Bay, but the Buccaneers have won the last four. The Bucs are also 5-2 ATS in those games, but they are 0-3 ATS and SU against teams with a winning record this year.
Philadelphia Eagles @ Seattle Seahawks
Odds: Seahawks -6
The Eagles are 5-4 after a 24-15 win at home over Atlanta but they face an uphill battle earning a second straight win. The Eagles are just 1-4 ATS and SU in road games this year and now have to visit Seattle, which is one of the toughest places to play. They have won all four of their home games this year and 18 of their last 22.
The Seahawks are 6-4 SU and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 against the Eagles, winning and covering in four of the last five.
Green Bay Packers @ Washington Redskins
Odds: Redskins -3
The Packers are 4-5 and should be officially panicking after a 47-25 loss in Tennessee. That now makes it losses in four of their last five games and their defense is giving up over 30 points per game in that span. The good news is that they’re still not out of the playoff hunt since they’re just a game behind the Detroit Lions, who lead the NFC North at 5-4.
Meanwhile, the Redskins are now 5-3-1 after a 26-20 win at home over Minnesota. They’re a small home favorite in this spot but are just 1-5 ATS in their last six home games when they’re favored by three or less.
The Packers are 7-3 SU and 7-1-1 ATS in their last 10 against the Redskins, winning and covering in each of the last two. The Redskins will also have revenge on their minds after losing to the Packers 35-18 at home in last season’s wild card round of the playoffs.