Week 11 of the NFL season is full of captivating matchups. Keep a close eye on these five battles as the most intriguing subplots of the weekend.
10 weeks of the NFL regular season has effectively separated the wheat from the chaff. It’s now relatively clear what teams are contenders as opposed to pretenders. The priority now for each franchise in the league is to lean into their identity and maximize the opportunities available to them.
For pretenders, that means giving more young players opportunities to swink or swim. Maximizing draft position should be a priority for every team that’s already fallen out of the playoff race.
Conversely, the contenders are fully engaged in jockeying for playoff position. That will lead to intense action in Week 11. Pay particularly close attention to the following give matchups.
5. Philip Rivers vs. the Green Bay pass rush
The Packers sit atop the NFC North at 7-2 while the Colts are tied with the Titans for the AFC South lead with a record of 6-3. Both teams still believe they have what it takes to be Super Bowl champions.
This game could easily serve as a referendum for Philip Rivers’ ability to lead Indianapolis to the promised land. He’s failed to justify the big contract the Colts gave him in free agency. Throwing for 11 touchdowns against seven costly interceptions isn’t what Frank Reich had in mind when he handed his offense over to the veteran.
The Packers defense will come into the game with a clear game plan designed to put Rivers under immense pressure. They will load up the box to stop the run and then turn their pass rushers loose on obvious passing downs. Rivers’ ability to convert third downs without turning the football over will go a long way towards deciding this game’s outcome. There is a chance this turns into the week it all falls apart for Rivers.