USA TODAY Sports Network’s NFL Week 11 game previews, predictions

The USA TODAY Sports Network previews the Week 11 games, including the important Texans-Ravens and Patriots-Eagles matchups.

Week 11 of the NFL season kicked off Thursday night with a game that won’t soon be forgotten.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t because the Steelers-Browns game — won by Cleveland, 21-7 — was compelling in a competitive sense. Instead, it was because of what transpired in the final seconds, when Browns defensive end Myles Garrett attacked Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Rudolph with a helmet.

Hopefully, the remaining 13 games on this week’s schedule will be more competitive and less barbaric. With that in mind, the USA TODAY Sports Network previews the remaining 13 games on this week’s slate — with point spreads, game times, TV info, predictions and keys to the game for each team.

(The Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans have a bye this week.)

Dallas Cowboys at Detroit Lions

Dak Prescott Amari Cooper
(Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)

TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox

Records: Cowboys 5-4, Lions 3-4-1

Line: Cowboys by 3½

Cowboys’ keys: Ride RB Ezekiel Elliott to riches. The run game success also helps QB Dak Prescott get into favorable downs and distances to attack downfield.

Lions’ keys: Getting both WRs Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones hot at the same time would be a major boost. They tend to alternate as top weapons instead of having strong games together.

Who wins? The Lions’ defense is no match for Elliott and the Cowboys’ strong offensive line. Cowboys 34, Lions 28

Jeff Risdon

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