The Cincinnati Bengals what happened the last time they qualified for the playoffs. It looked like such a bright start as the Bengals looked like the perfect team to knock off the Pittsburgh Steelers…until Kimo Von Oelhoffen fell into Carson Palmer’s knee and threw the franchise off for years.
The Denver Broncos fired coach Mike Shanahan last year when the team lost its final four games, blew a division lead and missed the playoffs. Just one year later under a new coach and a new regime, the Broncos are poised to do the same.
The Seattle Seahawks have been one of the worst teams in the NFL this year and they are set to be this way for years to come. The Seahawks have been outscored 106-24 in their last three games and they have a look of a team that is ready to rebuild.
The San Francisco 49ers had their Super Bowl last week when they stopped the Arizona Cardinals from clinched the NFC West on Monday Night Football. Now, on a short week, the 49ers have to travel on the road to the East Coast and find a way to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
The Dallas Cowboys have begun their annual December collapse and the cure for their ailments is not a road trip to face the lone undefeated team in the NFC. Nonetheless, the Cowboys will try to do what 13 other teams have failed to do: defeat the New Orleans Saints.
The New Orleans Saints are just one of two teams in the NFL that has yet to lose this season and as they head out on the road as a 10-point favorite in Atlanta, the odds makers don’t believe that this is the week that their perfection will end.
The Atlanta Falcons will be very shorthanded this weekend as the Philadelphia Eagles visit. They’ll be without their starting quarterback and starting running back, which is already more starters than they missed all of last year.
Last season, the Falcons only missed one starter for any games as left tackle Sam Baker missed 11 starts. This year has been a very different story as the Falcons, who are already without Harry Douglas, William Moore, Brian Williams and Michael Schneck for the season, and have missed Ovie Mughelli, Jerious Norwood, Michael Turner and Brian Finneran for multiple games, will now be without Turner and Matt Ryan for this week.
The Houston Texans have done some growing in their fourth year under head coach Gary Kubiak. After finishing 8-8 in the previous two seasons, they have made a reason push for the playoffs. Unfortunately, some fourth quarter failures have left the Texans at their typical .500 and they are 5-5 after 10 games.
The Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys rivalry typically produces tight, close contests. That might not be the case this Sunday for a number of reasons.
The Redskins defense has been decent this year and the addition of high-priced defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth has had a ripple effect. Last year, the Redskins had just 24 sacks but as they head to Week 11, they already have 24 sacks on the year and are on pace for 45, which is their highest total since 1991.
Time: 1:00 ET
Venue: Cowboys Stadium
Redskins vs. Cowboys Sunday Football Lines
MoneyLine: Redskins +425 / Cowboys -550
Spread: Cowboys -11
Over/Under: 41.5
The switch has been flipped in Dallas and that’s a dangerous thing for what’s starting to be a muddled NFC championship picture. The Cowboys still have to prove that they can string wins together in January, but for now they’re en route to the playoffs. It’s the exact opposite route the Green Bay Packers are taking this season after giving the Tampa Bay Buccaneers their first win of the season.
The Cincinnati Bengals have been one of the biggest surprises of the NFL season so far this year. They are 6-2 (and really should be 7-1) and currently sit atop the AFC North. They are a completely revived team with a healthy Chad Ochocinco, a replenished defense and a resurgent Cedric Benson.
Time: 1:00 ET
Venue: Heinz Field
Bengals vs. Steelers Sunday Football Lines
MoneyLine: Bengals +250 / Steelers -300
Spread: Steelers -7
Over/Under: 41.5
