Week 11 (November 21):
- Tentative game: Pittsburgh @ LA Chargers
- Prospects: 4-3 v. 5-3. If the Steelers have righted the ship after a 1-3 start this game should keep its spot.
- Likely protections: Ravens-Bears (CBS) and Cowboys-Chiefs or Packers-Vikings (FOX).
- Other possible games mentioned on last week’s Watch and their records: Bengals (5-4)-Raiders (5-3), Cowboys (6-2)-Chiefs (5-4), Packers (7-2)-Vikings (3-5).
- Impact of Monday Night Football: The Steelers are trying to stay above .500.
- Analysis: Realistically I was probably always going to choose the tentative to keep its spot and set things up for me to write this post only because there was at least an outside possibility the league would flex this game out, but that probably depended on the Bengals and Raiders winning and the Steelers and Chargers losing, and so far none of those things have played out as needed. Cowboys-Chiefs would actually be the more attractive flex candidate at the moment, but even if it was unprotected and even if the Steelers lost to bring their game to 4-4 v. 5-3 against a 6-2 v. 5-4 game, that probably isn’t going to overcome the tentative game bias, especially with Cowboys-Chiefs selected before the season as Fox’s feature game and no non-crossflex available replacements for that spot that don’t involve teams at 3-5 or worse.
- Final prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers @ Los Angeles Chargers (no change).
I think Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Chargers game on week 11 stays on Sunday Night Football. Here are the scenarios for Sunday Night Football NBC week 14 and week 17. The Packers vs. Bears game at Lambeau Field on Sunday night football NBC week 14 can easily decide if Green Bay eliminates Chicago Bears in the playoffs or not of this season since Aaron Rodgers owns the Bears and week 17 Packers vs. Vikings at Lambeau field SNF NBC can also decide if GB Packers eliminates the MN Vikings in the playoffs this season or not in which it could lead to the Vikings at least clinch the wild card in 2nd place. Those can be the possible scenarios.
I understand that traveling shouldn’t be the main concern for Sunday Night Football but keeping Steelers-Chargers means they were in Los Angeles last night, Las Vegas next week and Los Angeles the week after so it minimizes travel for those weeks. I also don’t see why FOX wouldn’t protect Cowboys-Chiefs for that week as America’s Game of the Week.
As for other weeks, I think the Broncos surprising win over the Cowboys gives Broncos-Chiefs a strong chance of being flexed-in for Week 13 for the tentative of 49ers-Seahawks.
Here’s my take on things so far.
Week 11
# 1 – Steelers(5-3) @ Chargers(5-3) <—tentative
# 2 – Cowboys(6-2) @ Chiefs(5-4)
# 3 – Bengals(5-4) @ Raiders(5-3)
Tentative – Steelers(5-3) @ Chargers(5-3) – this game is a lock now due to both being 5-3. This game seemed in bad shape a few short weeks ago, but no more.
Week 12
# 1 – Rams(7-2) @ Packers(7-2)
# 2 – Browns(5-4) @ Ravens(6-2) <—the tentative
# 3 – Titans(7-2) @ Patriots(5-4)
# 4 – Steelers(5-3) @ Bengals(5-4)
# 5 – Chargers(5-3) @ Broncos(5-4)
Tentative – Browns(5-4) @ Ravens(6-2) – The Rams @ Packers is my choice, but the tentative gained strength this week and looks good to stay. Some rather decent games on Thanksgiving weekend and that's usually not the case.
Week 13
# 1 – Ravens(6-2) @ Steelers(5-3)
# 2 – Chargers(5-3) @ Bengals(5-4)
# 3 – Broncos(5-4) @ Chiefs(5-4)
# 4 – Buccaneers(6-2) @ Falcons(4-4)
Tentative – 49ers(3-5) @ Seahawks(3-5) – 3 much better alternatives at the moment
Week 14
Tentative – Bears(3-6) @ Packers(7-2) – starting to lose its luster with the Bears falling to 3-6 tonight vs. the referees, I mean the Steelers
Week 15
Tentative – Saints(5-3) @ Buccaneers(6-2) – this looks like a lock to stay put
Also of note for this week’s games: 2 of a pre-selected 5 games will be played on Sat. 12/18/21 on NFL Network exclusively
Panthers(4-5) @ Bills(5-3) – can still get in, but falling fast due to Patriots/Colts
Raiders(5-3) @ Browns(5-4) – looking good
Patriots(5-4) @ Colts(4-5) – just surpassed Panthers/Bills in my book
Jets(2-6) @ Dolphins(2-7) – 5 cities in the whole USA will see this game on Sunday 12/19/21
Redskins(2-6) @ Eagles(3-6)
The decision has to be made by the conclusion of the Week 11 games at the latest and down to 2 weeks away for that decision.
Week 16
Tentative – Redskins(2-6) @ Cowboys(6-2) – unless this game is a total mismatch and a much better alternative game is found, this stays put. And it's starting to look like a total mismatch. Jerry Jones could be unhappy to lose a SNF game at Jerry World…..hmmmm…..Cowboys losing this week helped this game, but…
Week 17
Tentative – Vikings(3-5) @ Packers(7-2) – time will tell
Week 18 (sounds so weird to say that)
2 games will be moved from their preliminary Sunday slot to Sat. 01/08/22 and they’ll both be aired on ESPN/ABC. This is an interesting move to me. These 2 games and the SNF game will both be announced with the rest of the Week 18 schedule, at the conclusion of the Week 17 schedule (at the latest).
Tentative – none of course
Current Games and Records of each team
Jets(2-6) @ Bills(5-3)
Patriots(5-4) @ Dolphins(2-7)
Steelers(5-3) @ Ravens(6-2) – looking very good for a Nationally televised game (for now)
Bengals(5-4) @ Browns(5-4) – currently looking good for a Nationally televised game, uh maybe…..hmmm…..Bengals fading?
Titans(7-2) @ Texans(1-8)
Colts(4-5) @ Jaguars(2-6)
Chiefs(5-4) @ Broncos(5-4) – I still believe the Broncos will keep this from being a Nationally televised game
Chargers(5-3) @ Raiders(5-3) – currently looking really good for a Nationally televised game
Redskins(2-6) @ Giants(3-6)
Cowboys(6-2) @ Eagles(3-6)
Packers(7-2) @ Lions(0-8)
Bears(3-6) @ Vikings(3-5)
Saints(5-3) @ Falcons(4-4)
Panthers(4-5) @ Buccaneers(6-2)
Seahawks(3-5) @ Cardinals(8-1)
49ers(3-5) @ Rams(7-2)
I currently have 3 games looking pretty good for the 3 Nationally televised games in Week 18. We’ll see how that progresses.
Any thoughts anyone?
Go Pack Go this week at Lambeau vs. the Seahawks and if no Rodgers, we could lose.
Just checked nflcommunications.com and see no changes to the Week 11 schedule. Amazing that NOTHING has changed in the schedule for the first 11 weeks of the season.
Week 13 SNF 49ers-Seahawks has a strong chance to be flexed, with a few nice alternatives available. Week 14 SNF Bears-Packers has a small chance of flex, IMO, due to not a lot of good options at this time. Week 15 SNF Saints-Buccaneers is a lock, unless the Saints completely fall apart. Week 15 Fox DH game, however, is currently Seahawks-Rams. Fox has Packers-Ravens at 1pm, so I think they may move that game to America’s Game of the Week, in what could be a battle of potential 1-seeds/Super Bowl preview.
I would love to see Washington at Carolina game flexed to SNF since Cam is returning and playing against his former head coach, Ron Rivera.