NFL Week 11 breakdown: Is Jonathan Taylor a top MVP contender? Chiefs humble Cowboys. First-place teams have rough Sunday.
Week 11 is (almost) in the books. Here were some of Sunday's highlights:
- There was chaos as four first-place teams lost Sunday.
- The Chiefs pummeled the Cowboys, who were a dud at Arrowhead.
- The Sunday nighter turned into a wild one at SoFi Stadium.
- The Colts absolutely steamrolled the Bills behind Jonathan Taylor.
That's not all. The two teams that entered the weekend with the best records in their respective conferences - the Green Bay Packers and Tennessee Titans - both lost. Division leaders haven't been great lately. Over the past three weeks, division-leading teams have dropped 11 games to opponents that didn't have a winning record. Yikes!
Even with quarterback Kyler Murray and Pro Bowl receiver DeAndre Hopkins sidelined, the Arizona Cardinals manage to win games and have vaulted back atop the NFC.
The New England Patriots got to sit back Sunday and watch the Buffalo Bills lose, thus pushing Bill Belichick's team into first place in the AFC East.
Biggest moments of NFL Week 11
- Packers coach Matt LaFleur was fuming over "inexcusable" penalties in Sunday's loss to the Vikings.
- The Lions' Jonah Jackson was penalized for insulting Jadeveon Clowney's mother, and it cost his team big time.
- Cowboys QB Dak Prescott took issue with being asked about teammate Amari Cooper's vaccination status.
- Colts coach Frank Reich and his team were rather jubilant following a big win over the Bills and Jonathan Taylor's five-touchdown performance.
- "Fire Nagy" chants broke out at Soldier Field as the Bears lost their fifth consecutive game.
- Eagles QB Jalen Hurts embarrassed the Saints' defense on a 24-yard touchdown run.
- The Panthers gave Cam Newton an epic welcome for his pregame tunnel introduction.
- Tyrod Taylor was absolutely determined to do his part to end the Texans' eight-game losing streak.
NFL Week 11 analysis
- Week 11 winners and losers: While the Chiefs have recaptured their swagger, their AFC title game opponents last season - the Bills - are struggling.
- 32 things we learned: Chaos continued into Week 11, as four first-place teams lost Sunday. Colts RB Jonathan Taylor is now in the MVP conversation.
- Cowboys not discouraged, 'pissed off': With a game on Thanksgiving Day, the Cowboys need to move past Sunday's dismal performance against the Chiefs.
- Ravens get 'another miracle' win: Behind untested QB Tyler Huntley, the Ravens stung the Bears and notched their NFL-high fifth victory of 2021 after trailing in the fourth quarter.
- These guys again? The Patriots have won five in a row to vault into the AFC playoff picture, and have done so with a throwback, defense-first approach, Jarrett Bell writes.
- Don't be scared, Colts fans. You can start thinking playoffs: After an 0-3 start, the Colts are back in business behind the NFL's best running back, Jonathan Taylor, and its most opportunistic defense, Gregg Doyel writes.
- Cam Newton sparks hope for Panthers: Newton didn't emerge with a victory in his return as the Panthers' starting QB, but he still gave Carolina the jolt it needed, Mike Jones writes.
NFL Week 11 rundown
- Chargers 41, Steelers 37: Justin Herbert and Austin Ekeler had huge games as the Chargers prevailed in a wild prime-time shootout.
- Cardinals 23, Seahawks 13: With this victory, the Cardinals have won two of three in Kyler Murray's absence.
- Chiefs 19, Cowboys 9: The Chiefs' defense pummeled Dak Prescott and the Cowboys in what was a measuring-stick game for both teams.
- Bengals 32, Raiders 13: Despite Joe Burrow throwing for only 148 yards and a touchdown, the Bengals put an end to a two-game slide.
- Eagles 40, Saints 29: The Eagles rushed for 242 yards on what had been the NFL's top rushing defense.
- Dolphins 24, Jets 17: The Dolphins are riding a three-game winning streak after this victory over a division rival.
- 49ers 30, Jaguars 10: Instead of a letdown following last Monday night's demolition of the Rams, the 49ers delivered a beatdown of the hapless Jaguars.
- Texans 22, Titans 13: While the Titans had a six-game winning streak snapped (including five in a row over 2020 playoff teams), the Texans won for the first time since Week 1.
- Football Team 27, Panthers 21: Washington spoiled Cam Newton's return to Bank of America Stadium.
- Browns 13, Lions 10: The Browns (barely) avoided a season-wrecking upset at the hands of the winless Lions, thanks in large part to Nick Chubb.
- Colts 41, Bills 15: Behind a historic performance by Jonathan Taylor, the Colts steamrolled the Bills.
- Vikings 34, Packers 31: The Packers defense - a unit that had been quite stout in recent weeks - had a massive letdown in the Twin Cities.
- Ravens 16, Bears 13: With Lamar Jackson out, it was backup Tyler Huntley who provided some of the late-game heroics as the Ravens pulled one out late in Chicago.
- Patriots 25, Falcons 0 (Thursday): New England had four interceptions, including a pick-six, en route to a fifth consecutive victory.
Eyes on the (fantasy) prize
From a fantasy football perspective, the biggest development in Week 11 was the toll injury and illness took on several starting quarterbacks. Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray and Jared Goff didn’t play, while Justin Fields exited early with a rib injury. Couple those developments with the quick turnaround for the six teams that play on Thanksgiving and there’s a lot of uncertainty for the upcoming week.
Washington’s Taylor Heinicke (vs. Seattle), Houston’s Tyrod Taylor (vs. N.Y. Jets) or possibly Chicago’s Andy Dalton (vs. Lions) could be viable fantasy options for teams whose usual starters may not be available. (Also, Murray and Patrick Mahomes will be on bye this week.)
Speaking of Dalton, he seemed to open up the Bears passing attack when he replaced Fields. Darnell Mooney had five catches for 121 yards, including a 60-yard TD on a wide receiver screen. And looking even deeper at the position, teammate Marquise Goodwin benefited the most from Allen Robinson’s absence with four catches for 104 yards and a touchdown.
With Allen Lazard sidelined, Packers wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling scored on a 75-yard bomb and finished with four catches for 123 yards.
Jeff Wilson Jr. led the injury-riddled 49ers backfield with 19 carries for 50 yards. He could be the main man now with Elijah Mitchell dealing with a broken finger.
At tight end, the Saints’ Adam Trautman has been seeing consistent looks the past several weeks. He caught five of eight targets on Sunday for 58 yards and his first touchdown of the season.
Coming this week
Monday: Week 11 wraps up when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the New York Giants (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN2). Tom Brady and the Buccaneers would like to end a two-game losing streak.
Tuesday: Paste BN Sports offers its power rankings for all 32 NFL teams after Week 11.
Thursday: Week 12 kicks off on Thanksgiving🦃 with a heaping helping of football action🏈. First, the Detroit Lions host the Chicago Bears (12:30 p.m. ET, FOX), followed by the Dallas Cowboys hosting the Las Vegas Raiders (4:30 p.m. ET, CBS). The night cap is the New Orleans Saints hosting the Buffalo Bills (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC). Before the game, make sure to check out our expert picks for every Week 12 game.
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