Last week, MDS and I disagreed on six games. We split.
Split was the operative word overall, since we both went 7-7 for the week. Which isn’t good.
Will we be any better in Week 11? See for yourself and chime in if you want.
I still lead MDS by four games. Which is horrible news for him because I stink.
Saints at Panthers
MDS’s take: Who would have guessed before the season that this game would match up two teams with losing records? I think the Panthers may go on a late-season run, but it will be too little, too late.
MDS’s pick: Panthers 24, Saints 21.
Florio’s take: This one feels like an elimination game, more for the Panthers than the Saints. And since the Panthers are at home only three days after both teams lost in heartbreaking fashion, let’s give them the edge.
Florio’s pick: Panthers 24, Saints 23.
Steelers at Browns
MDS’s take: This is one of the more winnable games remaining on the Browns’ schedule, but I expect the Steelers’ good offense to put plenty of points on the board against the Browns’ bad defense. The Browns take another step toward 0-16.
MDS’s pick: Steelers 28, Browns 14.
Florio’s take: The Browns have six more chances to avoid going 0-16. Make that five.
Florio’s pick: Steelers 35, Browns 17.
Ravens at Cowboys
MDS’s take: The Cowboys’ offensive line against the Ravens’ front seven is a great matchup for people who like old-school football. I think the Ravens may actually win that battle and hold Ezekiel Elliott in check, but I don’t think the Ravens’ offense will do much, and Dallas will win a low-scoring game.
MDS’s pick: Cowboys 16, Ravens 13.
Florio’s take: Eight years ago, the Cowboys hand picked the Ravens to close out Texas Stadium. And the Ravens beat them. This version of the Cowboys is a far cry from that one.
Florio’s pick: Cowboys 31, Ravens 20.
Jaguars at Lions
MDS’s take: The NFC North is there for the taking for the Lions, and I think they’re going to come out playing hard against a weak Jaguars team.
MDS’s pick: Lions 31, Jaguars 17.
Florio’s take: The old Lions would find a way to lose this one. Let’s see if the new Lions are any different.
Florio’s pick: Lions 27, Jaguars 17.
Titans at Colts
MDS’s take: This is a must-win for the Colts if they’re going to stay alive in the AFC South race. I think they’ll win it, perhaps thanks to their big special teams advantage.
MDS’s pick: Colts 27, Titans 20.
Florio’s take: If the Titans want to be taken seriously, they need to win at Indy — especially since the Colts already have beaten them in Tennessee. It won’t be easy, but that Colts win over the Packers doesn’t look nearly as impressive now that the Titans put up 47 against them.
Florio’s pick: Titans 27, Colts 24.
Bills at Bengals
MDS’s take: Rex Ryan just hasn’t been able to get the Bills’ defense playing well. Andy Dalton and A.J. Green should have a big day.
MDS’s pick: Bengals 30, Bills 23.
Florio’s take: Cincinnati is operating on a short week and the Bills are coming off of a bye. But the Bengals have their backs against the wall, and there’s enough left of the five-time playoff team to dig deep, at least for one week.
Florio’s pick: Bengals 27, Bills 20.
Buccaneers at Chiefs
MDS’s take: I see this as a close game, but the Chiefs’ defense should force Jameis Winston into a couple turnovers, and that will be the difference.
MDS’s pick: Chiefs 17, Buccaneers 14.
Florio’s take: Despite being 17-2 in their last 19 regular-season games, the Chiefs have been cutting it close lately. And with a huge game looming against the Broncos in prime time, it could be easy to look past the Buccaneers. Count on Andy Reid not letting it happen.
Florio’s pick: Chiefs 31, Buccaneers 20.
Bears at Giants
MDS’s take: Year Two of the John Fox era is a disaster in Chicago. The Giants will win this one handily.
MDS’s pick: Giants 31, Bears 13.
Florio’s take: The Giants are on a roll. The Bears are in a roll. Time for the Giants to eat.
Florio’s pick: Giants 24, Bears 10.
Cardinals at Vikings
MDS’s take: This game is basically a tossup, but I’ll say the Vikings’ slide continues, from 5-0 to 5-5.
MDS’s pick: Cardinals 21, Vikings 20.
Florio’s take: If the Vikings don’t win this one, they may not win another one.
Florio’s pick: Vikings 17, Cardinals 13.
Dolphins at Rams
MDS’s take: The Jared Goff era begins against a Dolphins defense that can make life hell for an opposing quarterback. I don’t like Goff’s chances.
MDS’s pick: Dolphins 20, Rams 10.
Florio’s take: You want Goff? You get Goff. And so will the Dolphins.
Florio’s pick: Dolphins 17, Rams 10.
Patriots at 49ers
MDS’s take: The 49ers have played a little better since Colin Kaepernick took over for Blaine Gabbert, but they’re not going to keep it close against the Patriots.
MDS’s pick: Patriots 31, 49ers 10.
Florio’s take: Four years ago, Colin Kaepernick torched the Patriots. The bad news is that Kaepernick is no longer that guy. The worse news is that Bill Belichick won’t go any easier on the 49ers because of it.
Florio’s pick: Patriots 45, 49ers 23.
Eagles at Seahawks
MDS’s take: This is a great matchup with major implications in the NFC playoff race. I’m tempted to pick the Eagles in the upset, but I think the Seahawks’ defense and the home-field advantage may give Carson Wentz a rough day.
MDS’s pick: Seahawks 17, Eagles 13.
Florio’s take: This looks like the game of the week. Until kickoff.
Florio’s pick: Seahawks 34, Eagles 13.
Packers at Washington
MDS’s take: The Packers are cratering, for reasons I can’t fully explain. On Sunday they looked like they were giving the kind of effort you usually see in the fourth preseason game. Mike McCarthy is running out of time to get that turned around.
MDS’s pick: Washington 24, Packers 21.
Florio’s take: If Green Bay doesn’t get things back on track this weekend, it may never happen.
Florio’s pick: Packers 30, Washington 20.
Texans at Raiders
MDS’s take: This is a big game in the AFC playoff race, and one that the Raiders should win. I’d love to see it come down to Sebastian Janikowski trying an NFL-record 65-yard field goal in the altitude of Mexico City.
MDS’s pick: Raiders 23, Texans 20.
Florio’s take: The Texans win the games they’re supposed to win and they lose the games they’re supposed to lose. If they’re ever going to break that cycle against the Raiders in Mexico City, ahora es el momento de hacerio.
Florio’s pick: Raiders 24, Texans 13.