If you've been following the 2025 season, you know that November is when the pretenders usually start looking for the exit. The week 11 nfl schedule isn't just another cluster of games; it's the specific weekend where the playoff bracket stops being a theoretical math problem and starts becoming a reality.
Honestly, this year feels different. Between a historic international kickoff in Madrid and a massive slate of eight divisional games, the league is basically forcing every team to show their cards. We're seeing squads like the 8-2 New England Patriots trying to fend off a "trap game" narrative, while the Dallas Cowboys are playing through a level of emotional weight most teams never have to carry.
The Global Kickoff: Madrid Takes the Stage
The most fascinating part of the week 11 nfl schedule happens before most Americans have even finished their first cup of coffee. For the first time ever, the NFL is touching down in Spain. The Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders are headlining this historic 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
Why Madrid? The league is obsessed with expansion, but for fans, it's just another weird time slot to manage. If you're a Commanders fan, you're waking up early to see if your team can steal a win against a Dolphins squad that has been notoriously streaky. It's a logistical nightmare for the equipment managers, but a massive win for the NFL's global brand.
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Thursday Night: Division Rivals and New Threads
The week actually gets moving on Thursday, November 13, with the New York Jets visiting the New England Patriots. This isn't just a regular AFC East clash. The Patriots are planning to debut their "NFL Rivalries" uniforms, which has the fan base buzzing even though the Jets have been a mess lately.
Wait, "a mess" might be an understatement. New York basically signaled a rebuild by shipping off Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams at the trade deadline. Yet, they’ve managed to win two straight. It’s the kind of game that makes bettors nervous. Can the 8-2 Patriots actually lose to a team that just sold its best assets? In the NFL, "trap games" are real, and this one has all the symptoms.
The Sunday Afternoon Grind
Sunday, November 16, is where the schedule gets incredibly dense. We're talking about a lineup that features eight in-division games. That is an absurd amount of "familiarity breeds contempt" for one single day.
The 1:00 PM ET Window
- Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears: A classic NFC North brawl. Caleb Williams is still trying to prove he can handle the Vikings' defensive pressure.
- Buffalo Bills vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: This one is projected as a total shootout. Josh Allen against a Bucs defense that has been vulnerable to the deep ball? Sign me up.
- Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals: AFC North games are basically legal street fights. Expect low scores and high tension.
- Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers: A crucial NFC South meeting.
- Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Los Angeles Chargers: Both teams are fighting for AFC Wild Card relevance.
- New York Giants vs. Green Bay Packers: This is the Giants' first game since moving on from Brian Daboll. The "interim coach bump" is a real thing, but the Packers are a tough draw for a team in transition.
- Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud looking to maintain dominance over the division.
The Late Afternoon Window
The energy shifts to the West Coast and the mountains for the 4:00 PM ET games.
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- Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs: Bo Nix vs. Patrick Mahomes. The Broncos have been surprisingly feisty at home, and the Chiefs always have a target on their backs.
- San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals: The Niners are trying to stay healthy, while Arizona is just trying to stay in the hunt.
- Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens: Another AFC North rivalry that usually ends with a lot of ice bags in the locker room.
- Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks: A pivotal NFC West battle at SoFi Stadium.
Sunday Night Football: A Heavyweight Battle in Philly
When NBC kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET, all eyes turn to Lincoln Financial Field. The Detroit Lions vs. Philadelphia Eagles. This is arguably the game of the year so far. You've got two top-5 power-ranked teams clashing in a stadium that is notoriously hostile to visitors.
The Lions are coming in hot. They recently handed offensive play-calling duties to Dan Campbell, and it worked—they hung 44 points on their last opponent. Jared Goff is playing some of the most efficient football of his career. On the other side, the Eagles are winning, but it hasn't always been pretty. They only managed 10 points in their victory over Green Bay. If Philly doesn't find their rhythm early, the Lions' high-powered offense might run them out of their own building.
Monday Night: The Heart of the Cowboys
The week 11 nfl schedule wraps up in Las Vegas on November 17. The Dallas Cowboys vs. the Las Vegas Raiders. Usually, this is just a high-profile "brand" game between two teams with massive followings. But this week, the context is heavy.
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The Cowboys are mourning the loss of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, who passed away recently at only 24 years old. The team is wearing helmet decals and special T-shirts to honor him. It’s the kind of tragedy that either breaks a team or galvinizes them. Against a 2-7 Raiders team in the "Black Hole," Dallas has to find a way to channel that emotion into a win to keep their 3-5-1 season from spiraling.
Navigating the Bye Weeks
It's sort of easy to forget, but not everyone is playing. The Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints are on their bye weeks. If you've got stars from those teams on your fantasy roster, you're likely scrambling for replacements. This is the sixth week of byes, and they continue through Week 14, so the "depth check" is in full effect for every coach in the league.
Making the Most of Week 11
If you're planning your weekend around the games, here is the most effective way to consume the action:
- Set an Alarm for Madrid: If you want to see history, you have to be up by 9:30 a.m. ET on Sunday for the Dolphins-Commanders game on NFL Network.
- Monitor the Injury Reports: Specifically for the 49ers and Lions. With the playoffs looming, these teams are managing workloads carefully, which can drastically change the betting lines on Friday morning.
- Watch the Interim Effect: Keep a close eye on the Giants. Teams often play with a weird, desperate energy the first week after a head coach is fired.
- Prepare for Monday's Emotion: The Cowboys game will be emotional. If you're watching, expect a lot of tributes to Kneeland.
The 2025 season is hitting its stride right now. This schedule isn't just about wins and losses; it's about who has the mental toughness to survive the November grind.