The Panthers had us wondering all week who would play quarterback. Then, they clawed the NFC’s top team, the Cardinals. This shocking outcome further complicated the divisional races in the Wild West and the Dirty South, as all three of the Panthers' division rivals lost games.
 
In other insanity, we scratched our heads all week over the Green Bay-Seattle game. At the beginning of the season, it was seen as a marquee showdown of two Super Bowl winners. But all week long, both star QBs were questionable — Russell Wilson because of an injury and Aaron Rodgers because of a COVID incident. Both QBs played — the Packers looked like they had not missed a practice and the Seahawks were still on vacation. Who knew?
 
Elsewhere, the floundering 49ers suddenly rose up and trounced the Rams, plunging the 4-5 Niners back in the playoff hunt.
 
The NFC races in the East and North do not look as dramatic, as the Cowboys and Packers hold comfortable leads, but we do have to keep our eyes on the Vikings, who have been creeping up and now have a chance to make some real noise this week — against the Packers.
 
In the American Conference, the clearest leader is still the Titans, holding a comfortable three-game lead over the Colts in the South.
 
But elsewhere in the AFC, it’s a complete free-for-all, with the Patriots suddenly breathing down the Bills’ necks. 
 
In the North, the Steelers shocked the football world, playing to a tie against the lowly Lions and stalling Pittsburgh’s recent advance on the Ravens. The Browns and Bengals are right there — all four teams are at .500 or better. 
 
Ditto for the AFC West, where the four teams are within a game of each other. I went with the Chiefs to win that division, but it’s a good bet that those divisional showdowns in December will be played in . . . Heartburn City!
 
(Quick shout out to my editor . . . predict the Super Bowl? Are you kidding??)  

Last week, with a boatload of upsets, my picks went a lousy 4.5-8.5. Worst of the season. This week, perhaps things will return to some semblance of normalcy? 

Nah! Forget I said that. Here are the NFL Week 11 matches and my picks.
 
     Away                  Home              My Pick
 
1.     Patriots           Falcons            Patriots
2.     Saints              Eagles              Saints
3.     Dolphins          Jets                  Dolphins
4.     Washington      Panthers          Panthers
5.     Colts                Bills                 Bills
6.     Lions                Browns           Browns
7.     49ers               Jaguars            49ers
8.     Texans             Titans              Titans
9.     Packers            Vikings             Packers
10.   Ravens            Bears               Ravens
11.   Bengals           Raiders            Raiders
12.   Cardinals         Seahawks        Cardinals
13.   Cowboys         Chiefs              Cowboys
14.   Steelers           Chargers          Chargers
15.   Giants              Buccaneers     Buccaneers
 
Try to enjoy the chaos.