Ok, so I'm playing a game from the Black side of the Modern Steinitz variation, and we arrive at this position:

... which can also be seen in Game Explorer at

http://www.chess.com/explorer/index.html?flipped=1&movelist=1.e4+e5+2.Nf3+Nc6+3.Bb5+a6+4.Ba4+d6+5.c3+f5+6.exf5+Bxf5+7.O-O+Bd3+8.Re1+Be7+9.Bc2+Bxc2+10.Qxc2+Nf6+11.d4

The question is this: According to both Game Explorer & my other database, Qd7 scores pretty well here, in big-name games.  (Timman played it against Judit Polgar, for instance.)  Knowing that, I had planned to play that line.  However, I can not for the life of me see why white would not just play dxe5 dxe5 Nxe5 and win a pawn.  I can see no tactical trick that prevents that, but it's never been played in any of these databases.

I went another route in my game (11...e4), so the moment is past, and I'm not asking for help in my game.  But for future reference, as well as my sanity, what am I missing here?

This is an interesting position.  12.dxe5 dxe5 is in the database, so it must be fine ;).  13. Nxe5 seems playable to me too, but it looks like it might be too greedy, since after 13...Nxe5 14. Rxe5 o-o-o white is behind in development and a little vulnerable.  I'm still surprised no one has tried it in our database.