Albert Einstein once said, "I never think of the future; it comes soon enough." Yes — and apparently, the future comes loaded with wild cards. As the Ukrainian War was taking a 180-degree turn and a U.S. 'political wave' was changing colors (virtually overnight), pro football kept dealing new face cards (and don't forget the jokers). 
 
In early September, me and my crystal ball performed our annual ritual, projecting the NFL’s 14 playoff teams. Each week, I peer into that smoky ball to predict game winners. But halfway through the season, I am no clairvoyant on the eight division winners. It is difficult enough to make sense of what I'm seeing right this minute. Coaches, players — entire divisions — are being shuffled like playing cards.

Last week, the Colts turned up a true wild card, naming a new head coach, Jeff Saturday. No one saw that coming. On Sunday, Matt Ryan, an ace who had reportedly been discarded ‘for the season,' returned to the top of the deck and led a victory over the Raiders. No one saw that coming, either. How is my crystal ball supposed to predict winners and losers with all this reshuffling?
 
In more than one game last weekend, the outcome was determined by weird plays, questionable coaching decisions, and flawed officiating. The two most important showdowns went into overtime, subjecting everyone to those whimsical coin tosses.

The last undefeated team, the Eagles, finally got set — by, of all teams, the Commanders.

What will this week’s shuffle turn up? On Thursday night, can Green Bay open a new pack and deal defeat to those sometimes-timorous Titans? Can the crazy Colts again deal a full house, or will the Eagles find their lost aces? Will the Jets or Patriots trump the Bills in the AFC East — like the Dolphins just did? And can the Cards continue to shuffle that chaotic NFC West division race when, right now, the 49ers have the hot hand?
 
The Rams just put star WR Cooper Kupp on injured reserve. That changes my thoughts on Sunday's match against the Saints.

If Einstein were studying the NFL game in 2022, he would focus only on the hand that is right in front of him. Last week, my crystal ball went 6-8, so this Einstein will peer through the smoke and try to focus only on Week Eleven. Here are all the matches — and my picks:
 
1.     Titans              at Packers        Titans              TNF
2.     Bears               at Falcons        Falcons
3.     Panthers           at Ravens        Ravens
4.     Browns             at Bills             Bills
5.     Commanders    at Texans         Commanders
6.     Eagles              at Colts            Eagles
7.     Jets                  at Patriots       Patriots
8.     Rams               at Saints          Saints
9.     Lions                at Giants          Giants
10.  Raiders             at Broncos        Raiders
11.  Cowboys           at Vikings         Vikings
12.  Bengals            at Steelers       Bengals
13.  Chiefs              at Chargers      Chiefs              SNF
14.  49ers               at Cardinals     Cardinals          MNF
 
The following teams have byes: Bucs, Dolphins, Jaguars, Seahawks.

It's your turn. What's your bid? Pass or play?