Bills halt Chiefs' run, Steelers hold off Ravens: Best (and worst) from NFL Week 11
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NFL Week 11 is (almost) in the books. Are you not entertained?
➤ Three and out (your Week 11 must-reads):
- 32 things we learned: Rivalry games put contenders to the test
- Winners and losers: Bengals might be done, real challenge lies ahead for Bills
- Your updated playoff picture through Sunday's games
➤ Game of the day: Los Angeles Chargers 34, Cincinnati Bengals 27 — The Chargers snatched victory from the jaws of Charger-ing. These are Jim Harbaugh's Chargers now, not those capable cruel defeats under Brandon Staley. Oh, these Chargers tried, sacrificing a 21-point second-half lead before pulling out this thrilling win over a desperate Bengals team that really needed this one to keep diminishing playoff hopes alive.
➤ Dud of the day: New Orleans Saints 35, Cleveland Browns 14 — This is no knock on the Saints. Kudos to them for getting back into the NFC South division race after enduring a seven-game losing streak. The Browns, meanwhile, an 11-6 playoff team a season ago, is a weekly disappointment that boasts a 2-8 record. Now, they get a short week before hosting a Pittsburgh Steelers team that can't lose at the moment.
➤ How about the ...!
- Buffalo Bills: Great win, Bills Mafia! Now do it in the playoffs.
- Green Bay Packers: If not for a last-second blocked field goal attempt that would have won it for the Chicago Bears, the Packers would have been kicking themselves over missed opportunities earlier in the game to score points that ended in an interception and a failed fourth-down try. But, this is the NFL, and you take the Ws as they come, and the Packers' ownership of the Bears continues.
- Los Angeles Chargers: Don't lie, when the Bengals tied it up at 27-27, you thought that was curtains for the Chargers.
- New Orleans Saints: Interim head coach Darren Rizzi is the second Saints coach to start 2-0. The other is Sean Payton. He won a Super Bowl in New Orleans.
- Pittsburgh Steelers: It wasn't pretty on Sunday, but not only did the Steelers build a game and a half cushion atop the AFC North, but also are now a game back in the race for home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs. That Steelers-Chiefs game on Christmas Day now looms large.
➤ What's up with the ...?
- Atlanta Falcons: Does any team want to win the NFC South? Division-leading Atlanta has lost two in a row. The second-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered their bye week riding a four-game losing streak. Maybe the now-hot-again Saints can win their way back into the race.
- Cleveland Browns: Joke's on us, we football fans have to endure watching this horrendous team on "Thursday Night Football." Let's not kid ourselves ... we're still going watch it, though.
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Totally expect to wake up Monday morning to a "Jaguars fire Doug Pederson" Paste BN Sports alert.
NFL Week 11 key storylines
➤ 32 things we learned: From the Steelers pushing back the Ravens to the Bills spoiling the Chiefs' perfect run, the sparks flew in heated rivalries in Week 11.
➤ Winners and losers: While the "Sunday Night Football" loss felt like the end of the Bengals' season, the Dolphins are finding their form … but is it too late?
➤ NFL MVP front-runner can't explain struggles vs. one team: Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense started the year on a record setting pace before the Steelers once again threw their AFC North rival off course.
➤ Bills' fearless approach is ultimate edge against Chiefs: The Bills knew they couldn't back down against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs even when they had a lead, and their bold fourth-down call paid off.
➤ Playoff picture: The Chiefs' loss adds intrigue to the AFC, opening the door for another top contender to snag home-field advantage.
📸: Fans, mascots, cheerleaders and celebrities at NFL games
NFL Week 11 results
- Los Angeles Chargers 34, Cincinnati Bengals 27: The Chargers aren't Charger-ing anymore, despite their best efforts on Sunday night.
- Buffalo Bills 30, Kansas City Chiefs 21: Larry Csonka and the '72 Dolphins were popping champagne 🍾 after the Bills took down the NFL's last remaining undefeated team.
- Denver Broncos 38, Atlanta Falcons 6: Bo Nix was stellar, throwing for 307 yards and a season-best four touchdowns as the Broncos snapped a two-game skid and routed the struggling Falcons.
- Seattle Seahawks 20, San Francisco 49ers 17: The Seahawks ended a six-game losing streak against the NFC West rival 49ers, and re-entered the NFC playoff picture in the process.
- Green Bay Packers 20, Chicago Bears 19: It took a last-second blocked field goal attempt for the Packers to extend their winning streak over their longtime rivals to 11 games, the longest streak by either team in series history.
- Detroit Lions 52, Jacksonville Jaguars 6: This represents the third 50-burger 🍔 of the 2024 NFL season, with two coming from the Lions.
- Miami Dolphins 34, Las Vegas Raiders 19: Now on their first win streak of the season, the schedule sets up well for the Dolphins to go on a nice late-season run.
- Los Angeles Rams 28, New England Patriots 22: Matthew Stafford threw for four touchdowns – two to Cooper Kupp – in a surprisingly high-octane offensive day in Foxborough.
- New Orleans Saints 35, Cleveland Browns 14: Taysom Hill had a huge game as the Saints spoiled Jameis Winston's return to the Big Easy.
- Pittsburgh Steelers 18, Baltimore Ravens 16: Chris Boswell tied a franchise record with six field goals as the Steelers won their fifth consecutive game and opened their AFC North lead on the rival Ravens.
- Minnesota Vikings 23, Tennessee Titans 13: Vagabond quarterback Sam Darnold overcame an early miscue to help guide the Vikings to a third consecutive win to remain a game behind the division-leading Lions.
- Indianapolis Colts 28, New York Jets 27: Anthony Richardson performed admirably as the Colts got a big come-from-behind win against the reeling Jets.
- Philadelphia Eagles 26, Washington Commanders 18 (Thursday): The Eagles emerged from this one with their sixth consecutive victory. But it wasn't easy. Philly overcame a painfully slow start, eventually pulling away on the strength of Saquon Barkley's legs and some timely defensive plays.
Coming up this week 🗓️
➤ Monday: Week 11 concludes with the Dallas Cowboys hosting the Houston Texans at AT&T Stadium (8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN). The Cowboys have won four of the last five games against Texas' other NFL team.
➤ Tuesday: Paste BN Sports offers its power rankings for all 32 NFL teams after Week 11.
➤ Thursday: Week 12 kicks off with a AFC North rivalry showdown between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on "Thursday Night Football" (8:20 p.m. ET, Prime Video). Before the game, make sure to check out our expert picks for every Week 12 game.
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