NFL Week 11: Ranking the biggest games by what’s at stake

This week’s schedule is packed with games. There are 15 games in Week 11. Five of these games involve two teams that have a winning record. Four of these games feature a divisional leader playing a team who is still in the running to win their division if they are able to pull off a winning week. In each of these games, there’s a great deal at stake. From bragging rights in the division to standings or questions on the field that must be answered. In the following space, we will rank each game by how many stakes are at stake and then explain those stakes. Note: My predictions and explanations, with the exception of Chargers vs Jaguars, are taken from my weekly picks article that I write along with CBS Sports NFL writer Jordan Dajani. Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on CBS (Stream on Paramount+)
In a moment, we will discuss the importance of the Chiefs vs. Broncos match. The Broncos trail the Chargers by one game. By virtue of beating the Chiefs head-tohead earlier in this season, the Jaguars are ahead in the playoff race at 5-4. The AFC standings will be influenced by the outcome of this game. 

Trevor Lawrence has a lot at stake. He needs to demonstrate that he’s capable of consistently scoring against strong defenses. Chargers -3What this comes down to is trust.| Chargers -3What this comes down to is trust. I trust that the Chargers will continue to play at the same high level of defense as they have been for the last few months. Justin Herbert is a great player who can manage the game, avoid mistakes and still make explosive plays even with a (at best patchwork) offensive line. I do not trust the Jacksonville defensive unit to stop the offense if they cannot force turnovers as they did earlier in season. The same way that I trust Herbert, I do not trust Trevor Lawrence to defeat the L.A. Defense. DraftKings is the place to bet on NFL Week 11, NFL odds, and NFL Week 11 games. Users who win $5 in wagers will receive $300 in bonus betting and three months of NBA League Pass for free.

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET on CBS (Stream on Paramount+)
The Bills (6-3), who have lost three out of five of their games in the last few weeks, did so against two teams that were clearly inferior. In those games, their offense looked like it couldn’t get where it wanted to go. Tampa’s superior ability to stop the run is a great opportunity for passing offenses. It’s strange, but it feels like the Bills are struggling most with their passing game. There’s a lot at stake here for the Bills’ offense to see if they can get it off the ground. The Buccaneers are firmly in charge of the NFC South so there isn’t much at stake in this game. However, after losing last week to the Patriots, they want to show that they can compete with the AFC’s top teams. If they are able to get their injured players back to the field, they will want to seamlessly integrate them into the offensive so that they can show they have the ability to take off in the final weeks of the season. Prediction: Bills 24, Buccaneers 23 | Buccaneers +5.5The Bills should be able to bounce back in this game because I don’t expect their offense to look as listless as it did against Miami on Sunday, and I don’t expect that the Bucs will be able to run all over the defense like the Dolphins did — even if Bucky Irving is back in the lineup. The Bucs have the ability to score quickly so I believe it will be close.

3. Chiefs at BroncosSunday. 4:25 PM. ET on CBS (Stream on Paramount+)
The playoff stakes in this game are linked to the Chargers vs. Jaguars game. Kansas City No matter which team wins, the Los Angeles-Jacksonville match can benefit the (5-4) to keep their hopes of winning the AFC West alive. If the Chargers are victorious, the Jags will fall behind the Chiefs. The Chiefs have a better chance of winning the division if the Jags beat the Broncos and Chargers. Denver (8-2) could further consolidate its lead in AFC West if it wins, and put the Chiefs at risk of missing the playoffs altogether if they drop to 5-5 in the remaining seven weeks. No matter how the Chargers play, the Broncos will benefit from their loss. They can maintain their lead in AFC West.

Both teams are in it for the win. Denver’s defense has played well against Kansas CityThe Chiefs’ offense has changed in a very positive way since the last few years, thanks to Vance Joseph. It’s worth keeping an eye on how this battle plays out. Broncos offensive is… let’s say inconsistent. To be able to play four quarters with consistency would be a great improvement, but playing Kansas City’s defense could prove challenging.Prediction: Chiefs 21, Broncos 20 | Broncos +3.5I’m not picking the Chiefs to lose this game. I’m only picking the Broncos keep it close. Over the past few years, they’ve done an excellent job of keeping Kansas in contention. CityThis seems to be the case, especially given how their defense has performed this year. Bo Nix or I can’t throw the Denver offense far enough.

Bo knows Denver Broncos Super Bowl chances could be ruined by their passing game woes

Douglas Clawson

Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC (Stream: Fubo — try for free)
This game does not have any current No. Detroit is a game ahead of the Eagles. Seahawks. and Rams. Losing would likely eliminate the Lions from the race for the top seed, as they would have to finish above Philadelphia (7-2), and be three games behind the rest of the field with only seven games to play.

Dan Campbell is the new play-caller after the Lions racked up a big score against the Commanders in his first match with the play sheet. Philadelphia’s defense was dominant up front in their win over Green Bay. In the Lions’ recent losses, the trenches were a major issue. The Eagles must also show that they can be competent in multiple quarters. Kelvin Sheppard has done a good job this season against the run. If the Lions are able to stop Saquon Barkley, they can put pressure on Eagles’ inconsistency with their passing game.  Lions +2.5The Eagles keep doing that thing where they aren’t very good but yet manage to come out with a win.| Lions +2.5The Eagles somehow keep doing the thing where they don’t actually look very good and yet come away with a victory. You can’t do that against the Lions. You need to play really well on both sides of the ball. How many times has the Eagles done this in this season? Since Detroit’s offensive has looked so good for most of the season, I am betting that the Lions will put on some fireworks.

Detroit is unstoppable now that Dan Campbell has taken over the Lions’ offense. Next up are the Eagles.

Jared Dubin

1. Seahawks vs Rams (-3), Sunday, 4:05 pm ET on Fox (Stream: Fubo — try for free)
This game has so many stakes. There are also No. The NFC has two teams that are 7-2 and will fight for an early lead to earn a first-round bye. Matthew Stafford, Sam Darnold and other players are in contention for the MVP award. Darnold also has personal stakes against the Chris Shula Rams’ defense which ended his year and made it look like he was sub-par in the playoffs last year. Jaxon Smith Njigba, Puka Nacua are both in the running for Offensive Players of the Year. 

Scheme Wars is a game for tape bros or film gals. Sean McVay’s Rams offensive will be up against Mike Macdonald’s Seahawks defensive. Is 13-man really a cheat? Can you play nickel at every snap? Can you pressure Matthew Stafford even without blitzing? Can anyone break through Seattle’s secondary to create separation? All that and more will be determined, not necessarily definitively, but at least for now, on Sunday afternoon.Prediction: Rams 26, Seahawks 21 | Rams -3I absolutely cannot wait for this showdown, which might be the biggest game of the year to date, considering the records of the two teams and the stakes. If the game was in Seattle, my pick might be different. Matthew Stafford’s team is doing well at home, and it would be hard to pick against them, even though the Seahawks may play just as good, if they are not better, than their rivals.

Rams and Seahawks will show the evolution of modern NFL offense

JP Acosta

2025-11-14 18:21:16