Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

NFL Week 11 schedule full of pivotal games in playoff picture

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Nov 14, 2025 8:37 PM ET

The NFL Week 11 schedule is has some monster matchups that are going to play a pivotal role in helping to determine playoff spots in both conferences. Let's take a look at a few of them.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Los Angeles Chargers might be most pivotal of them all

There are a lot of important games on the schedule this week, but the one that might be carrying the most weight is one that is really sneaking under the radar.

The Jaguars (5-4) enter Sunday's game clinging to their playoff hopes having lost three of their previous four games, while the Chargers (7-3) are looking to keep pace in the AFC West with the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs.

So what makes this game so pivotal?

The result of this game is going to wildly impact somebody's playoff odds.

Especially as it relates to the Jaguars.

Sunday's game between the Chargers and the Jaguars is the most important game so far this season for playoff odds with 71% combined leverage. Jaguars: 57% playoffs with win, 19% with loss Chargers: 91% playoffs with win, 58% with loss
— Aaron Schatz (@aaronschatz.com) November 12, 2025 at 10:21 AM

A win for the Chargers would make them a near playoff-lock, while a loss would take them down to nearly a coin-flip. The Jaguars need a win just to have a slightly better than a coin-flip chance, while a loss would nearly take them out of the running.

It is a massive game, and one that probably has not been discussed enough.

Kansas City Chiefs really need to beat Denver Broncos

Denver has a chance to deliver a knockout punch to Kansas City on Sunday afternoon, but the Broncos' injury report is going to make that a daunting challenge.

A Denver win would drop the Chiefs to 5-5 and put a serious dent in their playoff chances.

A Kansas City win would put it right back in the AFC West and perhaps even propel the Chiefs for a late-season run toward the division title given their remaining schedule.

AFC North could be tied after Sunday

It was only a few weeks ago that the Pittsburgh Steelers looked to be in full control of the AFC North and the Baltimore Ravens looked to be finished. Fast forward a few weeks, and the Steelers defense has underachieved, Aaron Rodgers looks bad and the Ravens with a healthy Lamar Jackson are right back in it.

A Steelers loss to the Cincinnati Bengals (which has already happened this season), combined with a Ravens win over the Cleveland Browns (which should happen) would leave the Steelers and Ravens tied at the top of the division with matching 5-5 records. At that point, the race would really be on with the two teams still having their two head-to-head meetings remaining.

Big game in NFC West

Then there is the other game of the day for Los Angeles where the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams meet with matching 7-2 records at the top of the NFC West.

Sean McVay's offensive mind goes against Mike Macdonald's defensive mind. There are also several MVP candidates on the field with Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold and wide receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba.

The winner of that game puts itself in the driver's seat in the NFC West.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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