NFL Week 11: 5 best games of the weekend

5. Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens (-4.5)

The Ravens are going to likely be without Joe Flacco on Sunday, but is the a bad thing? Baltimore appears set to give rookie Lamar Jackson his first NFL start, something that will be tough to prepare for from Cincinnati’s standpoint. Without any tape on Jackson, how will head coach John Harbaugh deploy him? The Bengals have the league’s worst-ranked defense, so expect plenty of opportunity for Jackson. With Cincinnati at 5-4 and Baltimore coming off its bye at 4-5, there is plenty on the line in this AFC North matchup.

4. Houston Texans (-3) at Washington Redskins

This is quietly a nice game between two 6-3 division leaders. The Redskins, who are the Rodney Dangerfield of the NFL for getting no respect, are somehow three-point underdogs in their own holding against the Texans, who are coming off the bye as winners of six straight. Still, not a single one of those wins came against a team with a winning record. This gives Houston a chance to prove its mettle, while Washington attempts to put more distance between it and Philadelphia and Dallas.

3. Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts (-1.5)

Another interdivisional matchup, this time with the Colts and Titans squaring off at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis has own three straight games, albeit against the Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars. At 4-5, a win for the Colts would put them right in the thick of the AFC playoff picture, while a loss would all but doom them. The Titans are 5-4 and trying to stay in lockstep with the Texans who lead the AFC South by a game over them. A win would also bury the Colts, making this a two-team race.

2. Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears (-2.5)

We get a terrific Sunday night affair between the two teams atop the NFC North. For the Vikings, this is a chance to get into first place and take control of a division many believed they would win at the outset. Meanwhile, the Bears are playing a team with a winning record for only the second time this season, the first being a tough loss at home to the New England Patriots. If Chicago is going to prove it belongs with the big boys, this would be a prime opportunity to win on national television and send a message.

1. Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Rams (-3.5)

This is the best game of the regular season. Both teams are 9-1, the league’s best marks. While Kansas City and Los Angeles are clearly rolling towards the playoffs, this one has some intriguing storylines, mainly surrounding the offenses and wizardry from the head coaches. It should be phenomenal theater.