SPORT NEWS: NFL Week 11 takeaways: Bills beat Chiefs, Steelers make statement win, and more.giang

As playoff races heated up in Week 11, this past weekend’s NFL slate was replete with matchups that had a major impact on how those races shake out.

The first game of the week was a battle in Philadelphia for first place in the NFC East between the upstart Washington Commanders and the Eagles.

The Commanders have been one of the biggest surprises in the league this year and could have taken over first place in the division with a win. However, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley had other ideas: 198 of them.

The week ended with a lopsided game between the Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys. There was much more drama to be found on Sunday.

Another division matchup came down to a blocked field goal. A quarterback re-emerged as a dynamic starter. The Steelers sent a message. Bo Nix is now pushing for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Meanwhile, Joe Burrow and his Cincinnati Bengals are licking their wounds during another disappointing campaign.

Bleacher Report NFL analysts Gary Davenport, Kristopher Knox, Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski broke it all down, with the biggest takeaway from every game during Week 11 action.

Final Score Masks Ongoing Concerns for Texans

Houston ended up winning fairly decisively, though that doesn’t mean the Texans should feel great about their performance on Monday night.

Issues that have plagued the Texans during their recent 1-3 stretch were present against Dallas. The offensive line remains arguably the offense’s biggest liability, and it provided one of the most frustrating moments of the game.

On Houston’s first play from scrimmage, Nico Collins, returning from a five game absence, took a short pass 77 yards to the end zone. However, Laremy Tunsil, who is supposed to be Houston’s top offensive lineman, was flagged for ineligible man downfield.

Penalties (9 for 69 yards) were also an issue throughout the game, as they have been all season. The Texans were the league’s seventh-most penalized team entering Monday night.

Quarterback C.J. Stroud still seems to be just a tad off from where he was as a rookie. Poor pass protection has obviously been part of the problem, but at no point did he truly find a rhythm on Monday.

Houston’s problems led to another ongoing and discouraging trend. The Texans did finally snap their streak of not scoring an offensive second-half touchdown.

However, the Texans offense didn’t find the end zone until late in the fourth quarter, after being handed the ball at the Dallas 35-yard line following a failed fourth-down attempt. Seven of Houston’s 17 second-half points were the result of a Derek Barnett fumble return.

Since their Week 6 win over the New England Patriots, the Texans have struggled to put teams away. They did pull away from Dallas, but not in the sort of fashion that should inspire confidence ahead of the final playoff push.

Playing for the Future, Cowboys Can Find Positives in Lopsided Loss

With Dak Prescott done for the year following hamstring surgery, the Cowboys aren’t going to salvage their season. In all likelihood, head coach Mike McCarthy, who is in the final year of his contract, will be replaced in the offseason.

Dallas is playing for 2025 and beyond, which is why finding small positives in games might be more important than wins and losses.

The Cowboys have to be happy with a few things they saw on Monday night. They certainly weren’t glad to see starting tight end Jake Ferguson leave the game with a concussion—or to see linemen Zack Martin and Tyler Smith depart with injuries—but a strong response from tight ends Luke Schoonmaker (6 catches, 56 yards) and Brevyn Spann-Ford (3 catches, 31 yards) was encouraging.

Dallas needs to find out what it has in Schoonmaker, the 2023 second-round pick who entered Week 11 with only 16 career receptions.

Wideout Ka’vontae Turpin flashed with an electric 64-yard touchdown catch-and-run, which is noteworthy because Dallas has been searching for an explosive playmaker in the passing game not named CeeDee Lamb.

Quarterback Cooper Rush (323 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) had a better game than he had against the Eagles last week. While it would make sense to get an extended look at Trey Lance at some point before the season ends, Dallas should be motivated to retain Rush in the offseason.

Perhaps most importantly, the Cowboys showed some fight, something teams amid lost seasons don’t always do. While that won’t be enough to save McCarthy’s job, it’s good to see that players haven’t quit.

With only $25.2 million in projected 2025 cap space and an extension for Micah Parsons incoming, the Cowboys may face some tough decisions that don’t involve their head coach in the offseason. Figuring out who can contribute long-term aside from centerpiece players like Prescott, Lamb and Parsons will be a big part of Dallas’ final seven games.

Lions Are Ready for Everyone’s Best Shot

The Detroit Lions aren’t going to run away with the NFC’s No. 1 seed because teams like the Eagles and Minnesota Vikings are nipping at Detroit’s heels. One slip could potentially cost the Lions the conference’s lone first-round bye, but that slip didn’t come on Sunday.

To be fair, the Jacksonville Jaguars were never expected to present a big challenge. Bleacher Report’s NFL panel unanimously picked Detroit to cover a 13-point spread. This did, however, have the potential to be a trap game.

Last Sunday night, the Lions had to overcome a five-interception performance from Jared Goff and a 23-7 halftime deficit against the Houston Texans. They won on a last-second field goal from kicker Jake Bates, arguably the most emotional finish Detroit has seen all season. Head coach Dan Campbell preached maintaining focus after the win.

“We have to assume we will get the best version of what they are and what they’re capable of,” Campbell said, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “And so with that, we have to be on our game, and it really is about yourself and it’s about the details to what we do.”

How would the Lions respond? With a decisive victory. Against Jacksonville, Detroit showed that it is firmly focused on racking up wins and remaining in position for that top seed.

A week ago, the Texans nearly took advantage of some serious miscues. They didn’t, and it’s unlikely that any team will catch the Lions napping from here on out.

The Jaguars Are In Need of a Reset

Again, the Jaguars weren’t expected to even make things interesting against the Lions. They’ve struggled all season and were again playing with backup quarterback Mac Jones because of Trevor Lawrence’s AC joint injury.

Still, it was a sad showing for the Jags on the road. For most of the game, Jacksonville—which tallied just 170 offensive yards and a pair of field goals—had the look and feel of a team going through the motions, which is an indictment of head coach Doug Pederson.

It’s time for some sort of change in Jacksonville, and franchise owner Shad Khan seems to know it.

“The Jaguars, mired in a miserable rut after losing four of their last five games, might be looking at another regime change for 2025, and sources say a dramatic move could come as soon as this week, pending the results of Sunday’s game against the Lions,” NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport wrote on Saturday.

Pederson became the head coach in 2022, while general manager Trent Baalke took over full-time the previous season. They appeared to have Jacksonville trending in the right direction during Pederson’s first year on the job, which ended with a 9-8 record and a playoff victory.

The Jaguars also started last season 8-3 but have floundered since. They’re now in the midst of a lost season and playing like it.

Jacksonville gave Lawrence a $275 million contract in the offseason. If Pederson and Baalke can’t put a competitive team—or even a team willing to compete—around the quarterback, the Jags need to find someone else to run the show.

Cornerback Remains a Top Offseason Need for Vikings

For the first time in several weeks, the Minnesota Vikings got a relatively clean game from quarterback Sam Darnold. After committing six turnovers in his last two outings, his only giveaway came on a botched pitch to running back Aaron Jones.

While Minnesota still needs Darnold to clean a few things up before the stretch run, he’s not going to be the team’s starting quarterback in 2025. Barring a massive surprise, the Vikings will pivot to 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy.

Darnold was always expected to be a short-term bridge to McCarthy, who suffered a season-ending injury before Week 1.

Along with the quarterback change, Minnesota needs to prepare for a serious cornerback search. We’ve seen the Vikings secondary be a liability too often this season, and it was far from great against the struggling Tennessee Titans.

The Titans got next to nothing going on the ground, but they compiled 261 passing yards. Will Levis (17-of-31 for 295 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) often found easy yards against a pass defense that came in ranked 21st in yards allowed and 21st in passing touchdowns allowed.

Along with Darnold’s recent penchant for mistakes, Minnesota’s secondary looms as its biggest liability heading into the final playoff race. Cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore, Fabian Moreau, Shaquill Griffin and Byron Murphy are all set to be free agents in the spring.

The Vikings, who have $76.8 million in projected 2025 cap space, must target cornerbacks early, often and throughout the offseason.

Titans Must Consider Extending Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

The biggest question facing the Titans entering the offseason remains at quarterback. Levis has shown some good things since returning to the lineup in Week 10, but the second-year signal-caller continues to play at an inconsistent level.

If Levis doesn’t show more progress over the final seven weeks, Tennessee will likely eye QB prospects in the 2025 draft.

Regardless of what the Titans do at quarterback, they need to think long and hard about extending receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.

Westbrook-Ikhine, who re-signed with Tennessee on a one-year deal this offseason, provided one of the most exciting plays from any game on Sunday, a thrilling 98-yard catch-and-run.

The 27-year-old has quietly been one of Tennessee’s more dependable receivers in recent weeks. Sunday’s touchdown marked his fifth in his last six games, and he came into Week 11 providing a 107.2 quarterback rating when targeted.

Tennessee needs to surround its quarterback—whoever it may be—with talent in 2025. The midseason trade of DeAndre Hopkins opened the door for Calvin Ridley to become the Titans’ new No. 1 receiver, and he’ll be a big piece of the passing attack moving forward.

Westbrook-Ikhine continues to show that he deserves to be a part of Tennessee’s future puzzle too.

Darren Rizzi Continues Making Case for Saints’ Coaching Job

Two weeks ago, the New Orleans Saints made the decision to fire head coach Dennis Allen. Special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi was named the interim coach, and he’s now 2-0 in that role.

It’s worth noting, of course, that the Saints have been healthier over the past couple of weeks than they had been previously. Derek Carr is back under center, and do-it-all playmaker Tayson Hill has been as close to 100 percent as he’s been since the early season.

However, the spark Rizzi has provided goes beyond the final score in Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns or last week’s win over the rival Atlanta Falcons. The way New Orleans has performed under the interim coach has been impressive.

“We’re going to be aggressive play callers,” Rizzi told reporters during the week (h/t Darrion Gray of Saints Wire).

We saw an aggressive brand of ball against Cleveland, along with a creative game plan that kept Jim Schwartz’s defense off-balance throughout the day. Hill (188 scrimmage yards, 3 TDs) was a huge part of it.

The Saints feel a lot more like the team we saw during their 2-0 start. At 4-7, it may be too little, too late for New Orleans in 2024. If the team keeps competing as it did on Sunday, though, the Saints may have to consider making Rizzi a central part of their future.

Kicking Woes, Dawand Jones Injury Expose More Offseason Needs for Browns

The Browns’ loss doesn’t mean much because they aren’t winning anything of note in 2024. The rest of the season is all about evaluating the roster for 2025 and beyond.

Cleveland should be looking for a long-term replacement for quarterback Deshaun Watson, though it’s unclear whether franchise owner Jimmy Haslam is ready to give up on the failed trade acquisition.

Sunday’s game put another team need into focus in the most unfortunate of ways. Second-year tackle Dawand Jones, who was getting an opportunity to audition for the left tackle job, suffered an ankle injury in the first half that will end his 2024 campaign.

This marks the second season-ending injury for Jones in his two seasons. Cleveland has seen enough from 2020 first-round pick Jedrick Wills Jr. to know that he’s not the left tackle of the future—which is why Jones got a chance and why Wills will likely depart in free agency.

Along with a quarterback and a left tackle, the Browns should be in the market for a kicker. After receiving a three-year, $15.9 million contract in the offseason, Hopkins has struggled. The 34-year-old came into Sunday making just 77.8 percent of his field-goal attempts. He missed several kicks against the Saints—including a 32-yard attempt that was nullified by a penalty and then the subsequent 27-yard chip shot.

On a positive note, young pass-catchers Jerry Jeudy (142 yards, 1 TD), Elijah Moore (66 yards, 1 TD), Cedric Tillman (3 catches, 47 yards) and David Njoku (9 catches, 81 yards) all looked like players who should be part of Cleveland’s future.

Rams Should Keep Matthew Stafford For as Long as He Wants to Play

Heading into Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots, it was fair to wonder what the offseason might hold for the Los Angeles Rams. There was some speculation that quarterback Matthew Stafford might have been available at the trade deadline.

The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue reported on October 22 that the Rams weren’t “protecting” the 36-year-old quarterback.

The speculation made some sense. Stafford gave up most of his 2025 guarantees with this past offseason’s contract restructure. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported in August (h/t Bleacher Report’s Jack Murray) that the Rams viewed Stafford’s future as a “year-to-year proposition.”

After watching Stafford (18-of-27 for 296 yards, 4 TDs) carve up the Patriots defense on Sunday and after winning four of their last five games, Los Angeles should be willing to employ Stafford for as long as he wants to keep playing.

Stafford was spectacular against the Patriots, thanks in no small part to an offensive line that played better in its second game with Steve Avila (MCL) back in the lineup.

The Rams are back to .500 and remain playoff-relevant in 2024. With a strong young supporting cast—headlined by players like Puka Nacua, Kobie Turner, Kyren Williams and Jared Veerse—L.A. has a bright future.

With Stafford continuing to play at an elite level, the Rams should be focused on extending him, not replacing him.

Patriots Have a Perfect Pairing in Drake Maye, Alex Van Pelt

The Patriots hope they have found their version of Stafford in rookie quarterback Drake Maye. The North Carolina product continues to look like a future NFL star, and as we noted last week, New England could have a special offense if it can find a true No. 1 receiver.

Maye couldn’t do enough to get the win on Sunday, and his game-sealing interception on the Patriots’ final drive was a back-breaker. However, he made several plays more impressive than his final stat line, which was far from awful.

The 22-year-old finished 30-of-40 for 284 yards, two touchdowns, one interception and 27 rushing yards.

We could go on about how good Maye has been since taking over as the starter, especially in recent weeks. What really stood out on Sunday, though, was how offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt kept putting Maye in favorable positions.

Not every throw Maye made was an easy one, but Van Pelt continually dialed up plays that kept the Rams’ defense off-balance—including a fourth-quarter touchdown pass to offensive tackle Vederian Lowe.

Having the right offensive system matters for any rookie quarterback, something the Chicago Bears learned with their ill-fated Shane Waldron experiment.

Van Pelt is the right offensive coach for Maye, and the Patriots have a bright future because of the pairing.

It’s also worth noting that Van Pelt might give New England an edge in its search for that No. 1 wideout. As Cleveland’s offensive coordinator last season, he coached Amari Cooper to a 1,250-yard season. Cooper, the eighth-ranked player on B/R’s 2025 free agent big board, is currently playing for the rival Buffalo Bills but will be a free agent in March.

Anthony Richardson Back Where He Belongs as Indianapolis Colts’ QB1

Maybe head coach Shane Steichen made a massive mistake by replacing Anthony Richardson with Joe Flacco as the Indianapolis Colts’ starting quarterback. Or, maybe he didn’t.

In retrospect, the Colts weren’t a better team with Flacco behind center, as evidenced by the team’s two losses with the veteran leading the way. With Richardson reinserted into the lineup Sunday, Indianapolis claimed a 28-27 victory over the New York Jets, with Richardson scoring the game-winning touchdown during the Colts’ final possession.

Maybe the whole point of the benching had nothing to do with Flacco despite what Steichen said publicly. Rather, the decision was necessary because of what Richardson hadn’t done to that point.

“Conversations with teammates and multiple sources have created a clearer picture of what transpired behind the scenes,” ESPN’s Stephen Holder reported. “What they laid out was the story of a young quarterback described as ‘naïve’ rather than resistant, a player who didn’t know what he didn’t know. The benching, according to a team source, was an effort to get Richardson’s attention.”

Richardson came to play against the Jets. The sophomore signal-caller completed a season-high 66.7 percent of his attempts for a career-high 272 passing yards. As a runner, the 6’4″, 250-ish-pound athlete scored twice, including a devastating goal-line carry to score Indianapolis’ first touchdown.

What’s easily forgotten with Richardson is how young he really is. He’s in his second season. But he’s younger than rookies Bo Nix, Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams. The process in learning how to be a pro isn’t easy.

“What Steichen meant when he said Richardson needed more ‘attention to detail’ included investing more time into the job,” sources told Holder. “Richardson, who at 22 is the NFL’s youngest starting quarterback, was already adhering to a schedule he had since becoming a pro, but he was apparently unaware that expectations of a franchise quarterback are higher.”

Steichen’s decision became a wake-up call for an extremely talented young man, who responded in the right way once he was provided with another opportunity to do so.

New York Jets Should be Eyeing a Long-Term Rebuild

The Jets decided to go all-in with an aging, previously great quarterback in Aaron Rodgers. Much like the Brett Favre acquisition years earlier, the organization hasn’t seen a significant return. Gang Green’s only real choice is restarting from scratch with a new head coach, quarterback and possibly general manager.

Obviously, the franchise can’t be blamed for Rodgers rupturing an Achilles tendon during his first game with the team. However, Year 2 hasn’t gone much better. The Jets are now 3-8 after losing to the Colts.

Hopes of making any type of postseason berth are all but gone.

“I know Aaron would love to be playing better, but it’s not just him—it’s all of us,” interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich told reporters after the contest.

Rogers is about to turn 41 in two weeks. He has one year left on his contract. The team brought in veterans like Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses and Davante Adams to win now. They’ve failed to do so.

After already firing head coach Robert Saleh, the first step of the rebuilding process already occurred. The front office can release Rodgers after this season and designate him as a June 1 cut to save $9.5 million toward the 2025 salary cap, according to Over The Cap.

As one of the teams currently earmarked for a top-10 draft pick, the Jets should make a move for another quarterback prospect and start over yet again.

What’s the alternative? The veteran core is only going to get older. The team isn’t built to win now. A clean slate, including a new general manager to replace Joe Douglas, feels like the inevitable conclusion after a woeful start to the campaign.

Steel Curtain Call For Ravens QB Lamar Jackson As Pittsburgh Reignites Old Identity

Pittsburgh Steelers football is built on the reputation of playing game-defining defense, stretching back to the Steel Curtain, through the Blitzburgh era to Dick LeBeau’s fearsome units. But the Steelers haven’t been as stout in recent years despite featuring multiple standout performers. They were Sunday against the rival Baltimore Ravens.

The Ravens entered the contest as the game’s No. 1 total and scoring offense. Quarterback Lamar Jackson once again looked like a strong MVP candidate. An argument could have been made that he had been playing better than ever.

The Steelers didn’t care.

Mike Tomlin’s squad held the Ravens to 303 yards. That number may seem a tad high, but not when you consider Baltimore is still averaging 430.1 yards per game even after its latest effort. Individually, Jackson threw for only 207 yards. Derrick Henry never got rolling. Most importantly, Pittsburgh created three turnovers and got a crucial stop on a two-point conversion with 1:06 left to play.

“They made the necessary plays,” Tomlin said after the contest. “Certainly, it wasn’t perfect. But it’s not going to be when it’s highly competitive when you’re playing good people. I like the way our guys responded to the challenge, particularly our defense.

“A lot was written and said about that offense coming into this game and rightfully so. They have a lot of talent. They have a lot of weapons. They have good schematics. Our guys played hard and together.”

Typically, these discussions start with T.J. Watt or Cam Heyward or Minkah Fitzpatrick. They’re stars for a reason. Others are now stepping up. Patrick Queen led the team with 10 tackles. Rookie linebacker Payton Wilson ripped the ball away for a critical fourth-quarter interception.

Finally, Pittsburgh’s top cornerback, Joey Porter Jr., is blossoming into a star himself. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the Steelers’ top cover man didn’t allow a single reception throughout the entire game.

Quarterback Russell Wilson stabilized Pittsburgh’s offense in recent weeks. At the same time, the Steelers defense showed it can still dominate games.

Justin Tucker’s Misses Are a Major Problem For Baltimore Ravens

Justin Tucker is the greatest kicker in NFL history. But all kickers eventually lose their swing. The Ravens still hold Super Bowl aspirations despite Sunday’s loss to the Steelers.

In previous years, Baltimore could always rely on Tucker in crucial moments to come through with yet another fantastic kick. That’s no longer the case. Tucker missed two field goal attempts in a game where the Ravens lost by two points. The man, who used to be automatic beyond 50 yards, is now three-of-seven when asked to boot bombs.

“Each kick is its own kick,” the specialist told reporters when asked about the misses.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the five-time first-team All-Pro currently owns a minus-5.4 field goal percentage over expected this season.

The following statement feels borderline blasphemous to even think about, let alone state. But if Tucker doesn’t show better consistency in the coming weeks, the Ravens may be forced to consider a change prior to the postseason.

Packers Must Accept the Good with the Bad in Jordan Love’s Turnover-Ridden Season

Even in a victory, the Packers must acknowledge they have a major problem with Jordan Love’s interceptions. He’s thrown an interception in all eight of his appearances this season.

In several games, Love has turned the ball over deep in Green Bay territory, which put his defense in tough spots. On Sunday, he threw an interception in the red zone.

Fortunately for Green Bay, Love scored the go-ahead touchdown, and the Packers came away with the victory.

Nonetheless, going forward, Packers head coach and offensive play-caller Matt LaFleur should feed running back Josh Jacobs more carries inside the opponent’s 20-yard line to avoid costly turnovers.

That being said, the Packers shouldn’t restrict Love in key situations. He can make big plays with his arm and legs in clutch moments.

Caleb Williams’ Involvement in Ground Game Is Key to Unlocking Bears Offense

The Bears fired Shane Waldron and promoted passing game coordinator Thomas Brown to offensive coordinator. Immediately, he’s turned Chicago’s offense into a grittier unit with the ground game, which featured Caleb Williams in Sunday’s loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Chicago racked up 179 yards and scored twice on the ground. Williams ran the ball nine times for a career-high 70 yards. He helped re-energize the Bears’ rushing attack and looks like a natural scrambler.

The Bears should continue emphasizing the run game, with Williams picking up yards on foot. Though the rookie quarterback must work on his pocket passing and presence, he can help his team win games with his legs.

Under Thomas, the Bears can establish a new gritty offensive identity with a trio of ball-carriers, running backs D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson and Williams.

Brock Bowers Is the Best Reason to Watch a Sinking Raiders Team

The Las Vegas Raiders have lost six consecutive games. Coming into Week 11, they ranked 25th and 30th in scoring and points allowed, respectively. The Raiders are currently in line for a top-three draft pick.

But if you’re a fan of the Silver and Black, Brock Bowers is the reason to watch the Raiders as they hit rock bottom.

On Sunday, Bowers saw an uptick in opportunities and production under interim offensive coordinator Scott Turner. He went in motion and caught balls all over the field, showing off his elite pass-catching ability. Bowers hauled in 13 out of his 16 targets for 126 yards and a touchdown.

Since Davante Adams’ departure, it’s been Bowers’ season in Las Vegas, and Turner clearly received that memo.

Bowers should break multiple records this season. On Sunday, he etched his name in the records books with the most catches by a rookie tight end in a game (h/t ESPN’s Field Yates).

Jonnu Smith’s Emergence Is Much-Needed Boost for Dolphins Offense as Tyreek Hill Battles Wrist Injury

Dolphins star wide receiver Tyreek Hill is playing with a torn ligament in his wrist. Though he’s scored touchdowns in back-to-back weeks, he’s not the same explosive playmaker compared to his performances in previous years.

Hill hasn’t topped 80 receiving yards since the season’s opening week. Fortunately for the Dolphins, tight end Jonnu Smith has emerged as a key playmaker.

On Sunday, Smith caught six passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns, his most productive game in eight seasons.

The Dolphins offense may not be as explosive with Hill banged up, but Smith can keep the chains moving and has enough athleticism to make big plays downfield.

Bo Nix Pushing Jayden Daniels to Become NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year

When the month of November began, the Washington Commanders’ Jayden Daniels looked like a stone-cold lock to become the NFL’s next Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Denver Broncos’ Bo Nix wasn’t ready to anoint anyone but himself.

Nix has been on fire as of late, which continued with his performance Sunday during Denver’s 38-6 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. This year’s 12th overall pick completed 84.8 percent of his passes (33 attempts) and set a new single-game career-high with 307 passing yards and four touchdown passes.

Since the start of Week 4, Nix settled into his role as the Broncos’ starting quarterback. From that point forward, he has posted a 17-to-two touchdown-to-interception ratio. His competition percentage of Denver’s last four games stands at 72.9 percent.

Conversely, Daniels’ play sputtered in recent weeks. During the same four-game stretch, the second overall draft pick completed 59.5 percent of his passes, while the Commanders lost their last two games.

People around the league are certainly taking notice of Nix’s play.

“I see Patrick [Mahomes] and knowing him and (he) just turned to me and said, ‘You got one,'” head coach Sean Payton told reporters on Wednesday.

Real recognizes real. Nix is helped by the fact he was placed in the ideal situation for his skill set with a coach who believed in his abilities. Many questioned how Nix would transition to the professional level. Those concerns no longer apply.

Also, much like Washington, Denver is firmly in the playoff hunt.

If Nix continues to ascend and play as he has recently, voters could very well have a toss-up which rookie quarterback will take home the hardware as the league’s best.

Atlanta Falcons’ Lack of Pressure Places Undue Pressure on Team’s Playoff Hopes

The Falcons are the league’s worst team at generating pressure. If Atlanta plans on doing anything other than posting another mediocre season, it needs to find someone who can disrupt opposing offenses.

Entering Sunday’s contest against the Broncos, the Falcons has a pathetically low sack total, with only nine through the team’s first 10 games. The problem became more glaringly obvious based on how Atlanta managed its 10th sack of the season.

The Falcons acquired edge-defender Matthew Judon in August. He hadn’t registered a single sack until Sunday. Technically, he got the sack because he bull-rushed Denver’s right tackle Mike McGlinchey and Nix tripped over his blocker’s foot.

You read that correctly. It takes a quarterback essentially falling over for Atlanta to actually get a sack.

Otherwise, Nix shredded the Falcons defense from a clean pocket. As an example, the rookie completed 16-of-17 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. By that point, the Broncos had taken complete control of the contest.

Atlanta’s roster may feature numerous playmakers on offense. But today’s NFL requires defenses to create muddy pockets and make life more difficult on opposing quarterbacks. The Falcons can’t do so.

Geno Smith’s Game-Winning Score Could Fuel Seattle’s Midseason Run

The Seattle Seahawks snapped a six-game losing streak to the rival San Francisco 49ers. Coming into Week 11, the Seahawks had lost five of their last six games, with three of four games coming up on the road following a Week 10 bye.

The Seahawks recorded a much-needed win at crucial point in the season that may help them out of a two-month slump.

Even more encouraging, Smith didn’t play particularly well, throwing for 221 yards and an interception, but he put Seattle on top with a couple of key scrambles on the Seahawks’ final drive of the game.

Following a victory over a division rival that’s dominated them over the last few years, the Seahawks may have the momentum to make a move in a competitive division without a sub-.500 team.

Jauan Jennings Is Clearly the 49ers’ Best Receiver

Tight end George Kittle didn’t suit up for Sunday’s game because of a hamstring injury. While Christian McCaffrey performed better than he did last week coming off his Achilles injury, Jauan Jennings led the 49ers in catches (10) and receiving yards (91).

Deebo Samuel Sr. isn’t a pure wide receiver. He plays a multifaceted role as a receiver and ball-carrier. Without Brandon Aiyuk (torn ACL and MCL), Jennings has been quarterback Brock Purdy’s go-to target in the passing game.

Last week, even with Kittle on the field, Jennings led the 49ers across all receiving categories. He isn’t a household name but has garnered buzz this season. In Week 3, Jennings caught 11 passes for 175 yards and three touchdowns.

On a new two-year deal, Jennings could rack up 1,000-plus yards in a season for the first time in his five-year career.

Chiefs Could Be a More Dangerous Team Without Weight of Perfection on Them

In Week 11, the Kansas City Chiefs tasted defeat for the first time this season. Patrick Mahomes didn’t have the magic to overcome a late deficit and lead his team to a miraculous victory.

Chasing history to become the first NFL team to three-peat as champions, the Chiefs are far beyond moral losses, but they no longer need to think about perfection. Kansas City just needs to make the postseason.

At 9-1, Kansas City will play meaningful games in January, but the Chiefs have already proven that they don’t need home-field advantage to win the Super Bowl.

Last year, Kansas City went into the postseason as the No. 3 seed, winning on the road against the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens before beating the San Francisco 49ers for consecutive title wins.

Looking forward, the Chiefs should consider resting players or limiting their workloads in preparation for the long haul and a run at another Lombardi Trophy.

Bills Are the Team to Beat in the AFC

To be the best, you have to knock out the top club. On Sunday, Buffalo beat Kansas City by two scores.

Even more impressive, the Bills won the game without starting tight end Dalton Kincaid and wide receiver Keon Coleman. Wideout Amari Cooper played through a wrist injury. Yet Josh Allen put on his Superman cape and carried the Bills to victory with a late touchdown run to give Buffalo a nine-point lead, with Tyler Bass’ extra point kick.

Heading into their bye week, the Bills have won six consecutive games, and they’re undefeated at home (5-0).

The one-loss Chiefs still have the AFC’s best record, but if they lose another game, Buffalo will control its destiny for home-field advantage in the playoffs.

The Bills need to find this type of success against the Chiefs in the playoffs, but they should feel confident about their chances against the reigning champions if these teams meet again in January.

Los Angeles Chargers’ WR1 Emerges in Rookie Ladd McConkey

A difference exists between being a team’s leading receiver and an actual WR1. Every team has a leading receiver. Not every team has a true WR1 capable of making plays when it matters the most.

On a field Sunday night that featured Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the Chargers’ second-round rookie, Ladd McConkey, turned out to be the best wide receiver during Los Angeles’ 34-27 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. McConkey caught six passes for 123 yards, including two critical snags during the Chargers’ game-winning drive.

Quarterback Justin Herbert connected with this year’s 34th overall pick for 28 yards to start the drive that began with only 45 seconds remaining.

Two plays later, Herbert found McConkey again for another 27 yards, which set up J.K. Dobbins’ eventual 29-yard scoring scamper.

McConkey’s emergence is critical. The new Chargers regime received some flak after the NFL draft for passing on a top wide receiver prospect in order to select offensive tackle Joe Alt. The decision came after Los Angeles released Mike Williams and traded Keenan Allen.

On paper, the Chargers’ receivers don’t scare anyone. Yet McConkey is someone with the speed and separation skills who Herbert can trust. He clearly did so with Los Angeles’ latest game on the line, which will be vital if the Chargers are going to finally make some noise in the postseason.

SNF Defeat Deflates Cincinnati Bengals Season With Little-to-No Hope of the Postseason

The Bengals had built significant momentum coming out of October and going into November. But two losses over the last two weeks all but guarantees that Cincinnati will miss the playoffs in back-to-back years.

As it currently stands, the Bengals own a 4-7 record. They may have to win all six of their remaining games to make a postseason appearance. A 5-1 run is the minimum of what should be expected in order to do so.

Technically, Cincinnati is only two games behind the seventh-place Denver Broncos. Not every other team is going to fall apart, though. Ten wins were necessary to punch a ticket into the AFC bracket a year ago.

It’s not impossible and the Bengals do have a somewhat favorable schedule, with the Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns as remaining opponents. Although, Cincinnati still has to face the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers twice. The aforementioned Broncos are also on docket in Week 17.

Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense are easy to envision going on a late-season run. The same can’t be said of the defense, which surrendered 435 yards Sunday and currently ranks among the league’s bottom 10.

All hope is not lost. But something needs to change for the Bengals to sniff anything beyond another disappointing season.

Saquon Barkley Makes Eagles the Most Dangerous Team in NFC

The Detroit Lions are considered by most to be the front-runners in the NFC. They have earned that status. They are lethal on offense, physical on defense, and they have just one loss.

However, after watching the Philadelphia Eagles handle the Washington Commanders 26-18 on Thursday night, two things became clear.

The first is that when the Eagles are firing on all cylinders, they are capable of beating any team in the league—handily.

The second is that the best way for the Philly offense to fire on all cylinders is to make running back Saquon Barkley the centerpiece.

The Eagles certainly aren’t lacking for talent offensively. Jalen Hurts is one of the most explosive dual-threat quarterbacks in the game. There aren’t many teams with better one-two punches at wide receiver than A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Dallas Goedert is arguably a top-10 tight end. Philly’s offensive line is as good as any in the league.

The addition of Barkley has taken the Eagles to a new level offensively, though.

The two-time Pro Bowler gashed the Commanders for 146 yards on the ground on 26 carries, including the touchdown that blew the game open.

He also caught two passes for 42 more yards. On a night when Hurts and the passing game were just OK, it was Barkley who carried the Eagles to their sixth straight win with two touchdowns and 198 total yards from scrimmage.

Philly isn’t without issues—the team has a penchant for starting slow and then exploding in the second half. But the pass defense that unraveled the 2023 campaign is vastly improved, and the Eagles were already stout up front.

There hasn’t been a more impactful free-agent addition in 2024 than Barkley, because he may just carry the Eagles back to the Super Bowl.

Jayden Daniels and Commanders Aren’t Quite Ready for Prime Time…Yet

The Washington Commanders have been one of the biggest surprises in the NFL this year.

And while the play of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has drawn most of the attention, head coach Dan Quinn believes the offense is only scraping the surface while offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and the signal-caller get more comfortable with each other:

“I’ve found out the competitor that he [Kingsbury] is and the detail that he wants to get to with the group. And we’ve got, we think a lot more under the hood, about where we can develop and how far we can take it. And Kliff’s a really big part of that. He’s got incredibly high standards for the group. He’s got a very creative mind. So, to think that all of our playbook has been seen, you would be mistaken.”

That offense hit a snag Thursday night, though. And for the second straight week, Daniels looked less superhuman and more like a rookie quarterback.

The Philadelphia Eagles took Terry McLaurin and Washington’s wide receivers out of the game completely, and the LSU product struggled as a result—less than 200 passing yards, three sacks and an interception.

Of course, we need some context here. Even after the loss, Washington is 7-4—a record no one expected it to have after 11 games. Daniels is all but certainly going to be the Offensive Rookie of the Year. The future is as bright in the nation’s capital as it has been in a long time.

However, for the second week in a row, the Commanders were tested by a Super Bowl contender. For the second week in a row, they failed.

The Commanders are a good football team. Probably a playoff team.

But they’ll need to focus in the offseason on hanging with the big boys, because they aren’t there yet.