Welcome to our weekly rankings of the best games coming to you this week in the NFL. Games are tiered based on three factors: narrative, implications, and general intrigue. You will be seeing The Lead’s NFL game watchability rankings every Wednesday to get you ready for football action.
The 2024 NFL season now reaches past the halfway point, which means every game carries even more importance. That goes for whether a team sits firmly in first place in its division or right in the thick of the playoff bubble.
The common thread for this week’s games: it’s a pretty polarizing slate. For context, there are more games in Tier 4 than there are in Tier 1. Yet, the four Tier 1 games bring plenty of stakes. As for those Tier 3 and 4 games this week, it’s all about the teams performing good-to-great taking care of business, and not losing their leverage in the standings.
The Lead is here to get you ready for this critical week of the season.
Tier 1: Absolutely can’t miss
Kansas City Chiefs (9-0) versus Buffalo Bills (8-2) – Sunday @ 4:25 pm EST
- Headlining Week 11: a rematch between two of the AFC’s best and a past/memorable postseason matchup. It doesn’t get any better than this. Considering Kansas City remains undefeated, will it be Buffalo’s time to play spoiler and net a significant conference win?
Washington Commanders (7-3) versus Philadelphia Eagles (7-2) – Thursday @ 8:15 pm EST
- In our first of two matchups between seven-win teams in the same division, Washington will look to avenge its most recent loss to Pittsburgh. Philly started sluggishly out of the gate but has since gone on a winning streak. This has a case to be one of the best Thursday night games all season.
Baltimore Ravens (7-3) versus Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2) – Sunday @ 1 pm EST
- Another inter-divisional matchup sees the two best teams in the AFC North clash yet again. There are major tiebreaker, division standings, and playoff implications all on the line. This is easily the headline matchup in the Sunday early-afternoon window.
Cincinnati Bengals (4-6) versus Las Angeles Chargers (6-3) – Sunday @ 8:20 pm EST
- Cincinnati’s playoff hopes are still alive, but it will take a win versus the Chargers to make it certain. Meanwhile, L.A. controls its own destiny, but this game in particular will make a critical difference in the AFC playoff bubble down the line. It’s another pretty great night game.
Tier 2: This could be fun
Seattle Seahawks (4-5) versus San Francisco 49ers (5-4) – Sunday @ 4:05 pm EST
- A third divisional matchup cracks the top-five games in Week 11. This time, both teams are really hoping for a victory. Seattle’s fast start came and went; now, the Seahawks sit below-.500 facing a tough road test. The 49ers are finally at a winning record but needed late-game heroics to beat Tampa Bay this past weekend.
Atlanta Falcons (6-4) versus Denver Broncos (5-5) – Sunday @ 4:05 pm EST
- Unfortunately, this game (plus the one above) will get buried by the Kansas City-Buffalo matchup. Yet, it’s a polarizing game with two teams in the playoff bubble in their respective conferences. Atlanta’s offense versus Denver’s defense will be the main story in this one.
Tier 3: Decent floor, high upside
Green Bay Packers (6-3) versus Chicago Bears (4-5) – Sunday @ 1 pm EST
- Chicago’s recent regression drops this game down a tier compared to how the matchup would’ve looked a few weeks ago. With that said, the Bears still have time to turn this around. It’s a battle between two young quarterbacks and another important divisional game with implications particularly for Green Bay to stay in the thick of the playoff hunt.
Tier 4: It could always be worse
Los Angeles Rams (4-5) versus New England Patriots (3-7) – Sunday @ 1 pm EST
- The Rams are playing better football as of late, but a tough Monday night loss to the Dolphins briefly stalled their momentum. Now, it’s off to New England to face a sometimes-lackluster offense whose defense can at least keep it close.
Indianapolis Colts (4-6) versus New York Jets (3-7) – Sunday @ 1 pm EST
- Neither AFC team here jumps off the page, but it’s the most even matchup left out of any games remaining on the Week 11 board. Plus, there is still a chance for the winner to be “in position to be in position.”
Minnesota Vikings (7-2) versus Tennessee Titans (2-7) – Sunday @ 1 pm EST
- Minnesota barely survived versus Jacksonville last week and is primed for a bounce back. Tennessee’s record is poor but has played close games and could keep this one the same at home.
Houston Texans (6-4) versus Dallas Cowboys (3-6) – Sunday @ 8:15 pm EST
- This game could’ve been a lot higher for different reasons at the start of the year. For a Sunday night game, it’s a bit underwhelming compared to recent weeks. Houston does need redemption after blowing a lead to Detroit. Dallas’ offense is super stagnant, but at least has a puncher’s chance to keep it close.
Las Vegas Raiders (2-7) versus Miami Dolphins (3-6) – Sunday @ 1 pm EST
- Miami can at least control its destiny and propel back into the outer tier of the playoff bubble in the AFC. Las Vegas and Miami are pretty evenly matched as well.
Tier 5: Snooze Fest
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-8) versus Detroit Lions (8-1) – Sunday @ 1 pm EST
- Maybe Jacksonville can pull off a similar performance as it did versus Minnesota. Any way you spin it, Detroit is a mega-heavy favorite.
Cleveland Browns (2-7) versus New Orleans Saints (3-6) – Sunday @ 1 pm EST
- New Orleans’ got the jobe done last week, but these are still two teams falling from grace at this point in the year.
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