The battle for second place continues
With the Kansas City Chiefs solidly atop the division, the Los Angeles Chargers will look to maintain their hold on second place. The Las Vegas Raiders emerge from their bye week looking to break a 5 game losing streak.
(Insert Seinfeld “That’s a shame” GIF)
Raiders (2-7, +7) at Dolphins (3-6, -7) O/U 43.5
Fortunately(?), the Raiders get a 3-6 Miami Dolphins team. That might be where that ends for them. The Raiders defense is porous. They give up almost 28 points per game. The Dolphins offense when Tua Tagovailoa is on the field can be dangerous.
The bright spot for the Raiders defense has obviously been Maxx Crosby. However, with the ability to just key in on one player, and playmakers all over the field, Miami should have no problem putting points on the board.
The Dolphins seem to have some momentum after winning a Monday Night Football game in Los Angeles against the Rams. Wins like that can be a catalyst to bigger things. Add in that the Raiders look like a team in full tank mode, and the bottom of the AFC West seems secure.
Chiefs (9-0, +2.5) at Bills (8-2, -2.5) O/U 46.5
In the game of the week, the Buffalo Bills host the undefeated Chiefs. Josh Allen and company have been knocking on the Chiefs’ door for the last few seasons. Some of the best games of the recent past have been between these two teams.
Anytime Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen go against each other it turns into one of those shootout games you can’t look away from.
The difference this season is that the Chiefs look somewhat vulnerable. I know. They are undefeated. Have they looked like a team that will stay undefeated. Ian and I have talked about this on Odds and Endzones. Andy Reid has a team that just finds a way.
Should they be undefeated? Ask Alex Forsyth.
None of that matters. The game is essentially a pick ‘em. What should stand out, though, is how the Chiefs keep winning. Not just luck and a little striped help. Steve Spagnolo’s defense is leading the way this season.
Chris Jones is a wrecker for that unit. He moves all around the line, and can cause a lot of problems for Josh Allen. That’s might be the most important match up of this game. Will Josh Allen be able to use his legs to extend plays. Will the Jones disrupt the game enough to get Allen rattled.
If there is a week that stands out as a potential loss for the Chiefs, it is this one. The Broncos showed that Kansas City isn’t invincible. The Bills could capitalize on that and finally put an L on the Chiefs schedule.
Bengals (4-6, +1.5) at Chargers (6-3, -1.5) O/U 43.5
The Chargers have a hold on the second spot in the AFC West. Week 11 brings the Cincinnati Bengals to Los Angeles. They have reached the “must win” phase of their season. Both teams are fighting for playoff spots. At 4-6, the Bengals could be reaching desperation mode.
The Chargers extended their lead over the Broncos in the division by beating the Titans in Week 10, but the competition gets considerably tougher this week.
Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase have that special connection, and it looks like Tee Higgins will be back. Extra weapons could make it a long day for the Chargers. Coming of a heartbreaker against the Baltimore Ravens last week, the Bengals will want to get a bounce back win.
If the Bengals play like they did in Week 10, the Chargers will struggle to keep up. If Los Angeles can establish the run and keep Burrow and the offense off the field, they have a chance to win this game.
Either way, there won’t be any huge changes to the division after Week 11. However, if the games play out just right, the division is setting up to be a real fight between the Broncos and Chargers.