While the AFC North brought the heat, Week 11 is a bit of a down week. But there are a handful of gems out there - and even a flawed but interesting uniform combo debut for a team from the Lone Star State. Let’s dive in.

A quick note on methodology.

As always, I’m analyzing every NFL uniform matchup and picking a winner against the spread based on who dresses best. And just because a team is ranked higher in the Uniform Wardrobe Power Rankings doesn’t mean it will automatically win the uniform matchup. It’s what you wear in the instant matchup that counts.

Week 11 Uniform Matchups and Picks.

Steelers at Browns gives us Part II of AFC North Supremacy Week. As noted in the Thursday issue, we needed a tiebreaker to land on best of the week. And Pittsburgh-Cleveland was left holding the short straw. While it’s relegated to the runner up spot, this is still an excellent uniform matchup. Admittedly, I’m not throwing this one into best of the year contention like some others. The yellow-orange pants combo is a bit too “clash of the highlighters” for me. But still sharp all around. It’s always a delight when the Browns break out white facemasks, and it’s enough to put Cleveland over the top as the pick.

With the Ravens taking care of business on Thursday, a win in this one critical to stay in lockstep for the AFC North race. The Steelers won the first meeting back in Week 2 in a game where TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith put the team on their backs - each scoring a defensive touchdown. While Deshaun Watson is now out for the year, he was low on the totem pole as a reason for Cleveland’s success. Dorian Thompson-Robinson is set for his second start of the year, but the Browns rise and fall with their defense.* Against a Bottom 10 Steelers offense, I think Myles Garrett and the boys even the season series.

*First in the league in defensive expected points.

The Pick: Browns -1

Let’s get right to the big uniform news of the week: the Texans - for the first time - are pairing the red helmet with the navy jersey (and pants). As much as I love Houston mixing it up and introducing some contrast with the red helmet blues, this uniform doesn’t quite work. The navy unitard makes it bottom heavy, and the red numbers of the color rush jersey don’t offer the same level of contrast seen on the primary home jersey. But top marks all around for the effort. I genuinely believe Houston is going to knock the redesign out of the park, and I appreciate the willingness to give the people what they want and try something new. My love for the icy white Cardinals is well known, and Arizona gets the nod.

I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited for a 2-8 team to visit a 5-4 team.* Battle of the rookie coaches. The Jonathan Gannon Cardinals are 1-0 with Kyler Murray. And the DeMeco Ryans Texans are the story of the year. With Houston riding high off the biggest win of their season, they may be overlooking Arizona. But the Cardinals have been frisky all season and finally have a top tier quarterback ceiling (all due respect to Josh Dobbs and his otherworldly charms). I think they keep this game close to the end.

*The teams with the two lowest Super Bowl odds coming into the season.

The Pick: Cardinals +6

When the schedule first came out, I thought the Panthers would go white against the Cowboys to relive their playoff win from 1996. But no complaints from me going black instead - which plays especially well off the Cowboys in their Triple Mismatch Club classics. Dallas is the pick, but thumbs up all around.

Dak and the Cowboys offense are firing on all cylinders. And I see no reason for a slowdown against the thrown-in-the-towel Panthers. It’s hard to remember a lower franchise feeling than Carolina ten weeks into the Bryce Young era. The offensive line has been abysmal, the supporting cast has been lackluster, and the coaching staff have done him no favors. But it’s hard to escape the thought that Bryce just doesn’t look like he belongs - at least not yet. Up next is Micah Parsons and the Dallas defense. In the words of the human trafficker on the phone in Taken: good luck.

The Pick: Cowboys -10.5

NOTE - The Panthers have yet to reveal their choice of uniform.

Bears at Lions had legitimately good uniform matchup potential. But the Lions just couldn’t help themselves breaking out the Honolulu blue unitard. The Bears look best on the road and are the no brainer choice here.

While the uniform matchup may be lopsided toward Chicago, the actual matchup is even more lopsided toward Detroit. David Montgomery revenge game incoming. But at least the Bears will be getting Justin Fields back (for whatever that is worth). We’re scraping the bottom of the barrel looking for stats to boost the Bears, but here it goes: last week was only the second single digit win for the 7-2 Lions (all other victories were by at least 12 points). The last time Detroit won by single digits, they lost the next game. In the immortal words of Lloyd Christmas: so you’re telling me there’s a chance?

The Pick: Bears +8

NOTE - The Lions have yet to reveal their choice of pants.

Raiders at Dolphins is my choice for best non-AFC North uniform matchup of the week. What’s not to like? The Raiders can do no wrong in silver and black. And the primary Dolphins look best in icy white. Las Vegas is the choice, and I’m pumped to see this one on the screen.

People forget that Antonio Pierce has the best winning percentage as a head coach in NFL history. The man has turned the interim coach game hack into a 2-0 tenure. A road trip to Miami with the Dolphins coming off the bye will be his biggest test yet. I’m going to be honest, I think this could border on a massacre. The best offense in the AFC against a Bottom 5 defense in the AFC. And while most will assume the carnage will come through the air, the Raiders are giving up the third most rushing yards per game to opposing running backs.* It’s a lot of points, but we’ll be holding on for dear life.

*De’Von Achane could not have picked a better week for his return.

The Pick: Raiders +13.5

Chargers at Packers has a number of people excited for the Packers 50s throwbacks. To be honest, they just don’t do it for me. The jersey is sharp. But at the end of the day, it’s a green unitard with a plain yellow helmet.* As always, Los Angeles can do no wrong on the road. And they make my life easy here.

If you’ve been watching the Chargers for any period of time, you knew they were going to fall just short against the Lions.** At 4-5, Los Angeles is on the outside looking in on the AFC playoff race. But a win here in an ideal get-right spot puts them right back in the mix (especially with Joe Burrow now out for the year). Jordan Love looks more and more like a one-and-done starter in Green Bay, and he should have his hands full with the potent Chargers pass rush.

*Just because it’s a throwback doesn’t mean it’s good.

**Chargers gonna Charger.

The Pick: Chargers -3

NOTE - The Chargers have yet to reveal their choice of pants.

Giants at Commanders in the runner up for worst of the week. The Commanders blackout uniform is the worst in the league, and what can I say that hasn’t already been said.* While the Giants are fine, this look - and stop me if you’ve heard this before - would really benefit from gray pants. New York by default.

While this may be runner up for worst uniform matchup of the week, it is safely the winner of worst football game of the week. I need to call my friends at Madden to see if there is a way to just simulate through this one in real life. I have no faith in Tommy Devito and the 2023 Giants, but I do have faith in the Uniform Gods. In them we trust to deliver us from the evil that is the Commanders in all black.

*Shoutout Silky Johnston.

The Pick: Giants +9

Buccaneers at 49ers. The Reddy Metal Bowl. Usually a showdown between Top 5 uniform wardrobes would land you in the best of the week conversation. But the color palettes are a touch too similar to tap into the right level of complementary contrast. Two elite uniforms nonetheless (and a solid uniform matchup overall). The Niners carry the day.

After a surprising three-game skid, San Francisco roared back in a major way against the Jags. Brock Purdy sure seemed to be over his concussion as the 49ers played like the best team in the league (by a longshot). The Bucs ended a five-game skid of their own right - dominating the Titans on both sides of the ball. The operative question here feels more about how much the Niners will win by rather than whether they win. But crazier things have happened. I’m content to be riding with the scariest team in football, but that’s a lot of points.

The Pick: 49ers -12

I’ve been asking for gray pants with the white jersey all season, and the Seahawks finally deliver. Thank you, Seattle. The Rams will be looking sharp in their own right for a solid modern uniform matchup. But the Seahawks earned this pick with wolf gray.

It’s been ten weeks since the Rams trounced the Seahawks to open up the 2023 season. I imagine Seattle circled this date immediately after. The biggest difference from then to now is the health of Matthew Stafford. He’s expected to start, but a thumb injury makes a Carson Wentz appearance a possibility. Look for both offenses to get theirs, but I like a healthier Seahawks team getting points.

The Pick: Seahawks +2

Jets at Bills. And would you look at that? New York is treating us to some green below the helmet.* And Buffalo is treating us to a much needed break from the blueberry unitard. The Bills are the pick, but let’s appreciate the balanced showing of team colors all around.

Would a real AFC East wild card contender please stand up? Both the Jets and the Bills are on the outside looking in if the season ended today. New York is stuck with a subpar option at quarterback, and Buffalo is stuck with the hardest remaining schedule in the league. If the Bills have any chance at roaring back into 2023 relevancy, they need to win the (relatively) easy ones. Let’s see what new offensive coordinator Joe Brady can do.**

*You love to see it.

**Interim OC game?

The Pick: Bills -7

Vikings at Broncos in the Super Bowl XXXIII We Deserved Bowl.* And the Broncos are appropriately wearing the blue jersey introduced in that era. As much as i enjoy the nostalgia bomb, the overall look is lacking without white pants. And the Panelist Era sides are still too much for me to overlook regardless of coloration.** While I know Broncos fans will be excited to see this one, I’m giving the slight edge to the Vikings.

The Josh Dobbs miracle tour rolls on. Next stop: Denver. The Broncos have put themselves back into the AFC playoff picture - winners of three straight following a 1-5 start. But there are forces at work here beyond our comprehension. The Passtronaut - putting on an NFL version of Linsanity - must have come into contact with an extraterrestrial macguffin because there’s no other explanation for a career journeyman turning into a must-watch electric factory. My football sense tells me the Broncos roll at home. But sometimes Cinderella stories are written in the stars.

*I will never forgive Gary Anderson.

**Plus, for whatever it’s worth, I think the current Broncos look best in navy-orange-white. Contrast - as always - is king.

The Pick: Vikings +3

NOTE - The Vikings have yet to reveal their choice of pants. Rooting for the white pants so Dobbs dresses like an actual spaceman.

Eagles at Chiefs should have been on the best of the week shortlist, but the lack of green pants from Philly misses the moment (and makes me wonder if a redpocalypse from the Chiefs is a possibility). I’m hoping Kansas City does the right thing, and they earn the benefit of the doubt pick.

Eagles-Chiefs gives us a Super Bowl LVII rematch and a possible Super Bowl LVIII preview.* Jalen Hurts and the Birds have spent the entire offseason thinking about what could’ve been.** And they’re well on their way to getting to the big game - cruising toward home field advantage. But until someone does something about it, the NFL starts and stops with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. And I think the defending champs are about to remind everyone about that fact on Monday Night Football against the top dog in the NFC.

*As the season currently stands, my money is on the first Super Bowl rematch since Bills-Cowboys in Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII.

**Hurts even had the confetti-filled aftermath of the Super Bowl loss set as his phone background.

The Pick: Chiefs -3

NOTE - The Chiefs have yet to reveal their choice of pants.

Worst NFL Uniform Matchup of Week 11.

From best of the week to worst of the week for the Jags.* The lesson is simple: if you’re the Jacksonville Jaguars, wear something teal. This is especially the case with the black helmet and jersey. White practice pants with this outfit makes it seem like someone took an eraser to the bottom half. Teal pants would be a massive improvement, but I digress. The Titans wardrobe is a consistent disappointment, and this icy white iteration is no exception.

The Titans need a win to save their season, and the Jags need to remind the football world they’re not the punching bag we saw against San Francisco. While I expect to see the latter more than the former, it’s all about points (or lack thereof) for our purposes. The Titans defense under Mike Vrabel is never slow to hit someone in the mouth. And Jacksonville is slowly but surely morphing into a defense-first team while Trevor Lawrence idles in neutral. Together, these teams combine to give up 41 points per game. Throw in the element of a divisional slugfest, and I like our chances.

*As Frank Sinatra famously crooned: “You’re riding high in Week 10. Shot down in Week 11.”

The Pick: Under 40

Best NFL Uniform Matchup of Week 11.

Check out the full breakdown in this week’s Thursday Night Football issue.

The Pick: Over 46

The Gridiron Uniform Database.

The uniform graphics you see here are courtesy of The Gridiron Uniform Database. If you’ve never paid their site a visit, stop what you’re doing right now and check it out. Best site on the Internet and an invaluable resource to uniform nerds and casuals alike.

Coming Attractions.

Another uniform week in the books. You know the drill. Back for more on Thursday with the annual Thanksgiving issue.

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