NFL Schedule 2017: Patriots, Cowboys, Raiders, Rams Highlight Best Week 11 Games

With the 2017 NFL season already well into its third month, plenty of games on the Week 11 schedule have playoff implications. The Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins are looking to stay alive in the postseason race. Teams like the New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams are trying to take one more step toward securing a first-round bye.

The contest between the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks ranks as one of the year’s best “Monday Night Football” matchups. The same can be said for “Sunday Night Football” when the Cowboys host the Philadelphia Eagles.

Here’s a look at the five best games on the Week 11 schedule:

Los Angeles Rams at Minnesota Vikings

This is undoubtedly the best game of Week 11. Both teams are likely headed to the playoffs since they are tied for the second-best record in the entire NFL. Sunday’s contest could determine which team gets one of the first-round byes in the NFC. It’s a battle of the Rams’ elite offense and the Vikings’ elite defense. L.A. leads all teams with 32.9 points per game, and Minnesota ranks third in yards allowed.

Washington Redskins at New Orleans Saints

If neither the Rams nor Vikings end up with a bye on Wild-Card Weekend, it’s going to be because the Saints took one of the conference’s top-two seeds. New Orleans is as hot as any team in the NFL with seven straight wins, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll cruise past Washington. The Redskins had a big win in Seattle two weeks ago, and they are hoping a recent rash of injuries won't knock them out of the postseason race. Even if the Saints win by a few scores, Sunday’s contest could feature a lot of points.

New England Patriots at Oakland Raiders (Mexico City)

This was supposed to be a potential AFC Championship preview. While that probably isn’t the case, it’s still a game to watch out for on the upcoming schedule. New England needs a win to keep pace with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the best record in the conference. Oakland will have a hard time catching the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West, but they are very much alive for a wild-card spot. The Buffalo Bills have a one-game lead over the Raiders for the No.6 seed, and they are a team in flux after benching quarterback Tyrod Taylor.

Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys

Dallas needs a win in Week 11 if they want any chance of defending their NFC East crown. A victory against the Cowboys would give the Eagles a virtually insurmountable four-game division lead, further cementing Philadelphia as the NFC Super Bowl favorite. Dallas is one of 10 NFC teams that has a winning record, making it that much more difficult to reach the playoffs without winning the division.

Atlanta Falcons at Seattle Seahawks

Atlanta and Seattle find themselves in a similar position as Dallas. The Seahawks are the No.6 seed in the NFC, and the Falcons sit just outside the playoff picture, currently holding the tiebreaker among the four 5-4 teams in the conference. Both teams are looking to answer major questions on “Monday Night Football.” Can Atlanta get its offense to perform near the level that it did a year ago? Can Seattle still have a top defense with Richard Sherman out for the year and both starting safeties battling injuries?