NFL Takeaways: Week 11
Photo by Ron Chenoy from Imagn Images
Is there one single great team in the NFL this year?
Frankly, I’m not so sure.
Every team seems to have pretty key flaws.
But hey. That just makes it more fun!
Here’s what we learned.
Patriots defeat Jets 27-14
I know people were excited that the Jets won two games in a row, but they were over the Bengals and Browns. Two teams who are not good.
The Patriots are.
This wasn’t a contest.
Dolphins defeat Commanders 16-13
The Jayden Daniels injuries have really ruined this Commanders season.
It’s a bummer, but it is what it is.
Just build around him for next year.
Panthers defeat Falcons 30-27
The Falcons got a defensive head coach, traded up to get another pass rusher to improve the defense in this past draft, and their defense is currently mediocre at best, they’re 3-7, and don’t have their own first round pick next year.
Yikes!
Bills defeat Buccaneers 44-32
The Bills look like the best team in football some weeks, like this one, and in others they look plainly terrible.
I don’t know if I can trust them come playoff time.
But, the good news for them, is that I don’t know if I can trust anyone in the AFC.
Texans defeat Titans 16-13
I know the Texans defense is really good, so I’m not exactly surprised the Titans offense was lifeless.
But man.
This team is bad.
Bears defeat Vikings 19-17
Once again, this was looking like the most “Bears” loss of all time.
And once again, the Bears pulled out a win in the end.
This isn’t the Bears we’re used to!
They’re leading the NFC North!
Packers defeat Giants 27-20
Jordan Love was awesome this game, but the Packers are now 3-7 against the spread this year.
Now, I don’t gamble, and I don’t want to tell Vegas how to live their lives, but if you’re 3-7 against the spread but 6-3-1 in record, maybe they’re being favored by too much!
Steelers defeat Bengals 34-12
Sit Joe Burrow for the year, Cincy.
I know he wants to come back. I know he wants to play.
But this defense is atrocious. You’re not making the playoffs.
This season is lost.
Get a new coach, get a good defensive player in the draft, and move forward.
Jaguars defeat Chargers 35-6
Trevor Lawrence didn’t even play that well, and the Jags blew the doors off the Chargers.
That’s how bad the Chargers were on Sunday.
I know they’re injured a ton, but that was horrid.
Rams defeat Seahawks 21-19
Sam Darnold has more turnovers this year than Geno Smith does, and the Seahawks are -7 in turnover differential.
This defense is elite, and because of that in this years NFL, that makes them Super Bowl contenders (we’ll get to another team like that in a bit).
But if they don’t stop turning the ball over, it won’t matter one bit.
49ers defeat Cardinals 41-22
Credit to Jacoby Brissett for setting the NFL record for the most completions in NFL history!
None of it matters, because Kyle Shanahan sliced and diced the Cardinals defense like it was nobody’s business.
I don’t even think Brock Purdy played that well (understandable, considering some rust coming off an injury) and the Niners still put up 41 points!
Jonathan Gannon might be on the job market soon.
Ravens defeat Browns 23-16
There’s no reason to overreact to this game.
Divisional matchup against an insanely good Browns defense. These happen all the time.
We just watched the Bills lose to the Dolphins.
The Ravens did what they needed to do.
Broncos defeat Chiefs 22-19
I don’t think Bo Nix is good, and I think Sean Payton is overrated.
Sorry, Broncos fans. This win over a Chiefs team that I also don’t believe in doesn’t sway me.
However, as I mentioned earlier in this post, and while mentioning the Bills and the Seahawks, the Broncos are clearly contenders.
That defense is unbelievably good, and since I don’t think there’s a clearly great team in the league this year, that elite defense will clear up plenty of flaws I think the offense has.
But much like how I won’t be surprised if the Seahawks lose come playoff time due to turnovers, I won’t be surprised if the Broncos lose come playoff time due to poor offensive play.
As for the Chiefs, there is a very, very real chance they miss the playoffs this year.
They just don’t look very good.
Eagles defeat Lions 16-9
This Eagles offense feels like a ticking time bomb.
The problem is, I don’t know what way it’s going to explode.
Will they turn into the dominant force they were last year because of all the offensive talent they have?
Or, will they blow up completely due to an unhappy receiver and a running back who isn’t having anywhere close to the year he had last year?
I guess we’ll find out.
Cowboys defeat Raiders 33-16
It feels hard to think the Raiders should blow things up in just year one under Pete Carroll, but this has been a very, very difficult year, and Tom Brady is one of the minority owners of the Raiders.
He doesn’t like to lose.
I think they should stay the course and try to improve, but boy.
It’s brutal to watch.
