Week 11 of the NFL saw a lot of truths being passed out around the league, fitting considering Thanksgiving is around the corner and the playoff races are heating up. The Kansas city Chiefs own the AFC West and the Tennessee Titans control the AFC South to beginning, just about locking up playoff berths with their wins this week.
The Dallas Cowboys had their largest highway win in franchise heritage with the aid of thrashing the Minnesota Vikings, whereas the Philadelphia Eagles persevered controlling the NFC East and convention with Minnesota and the big apple Giants dropping. The San Francisco 49ers even took the NFC West lead with their large victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Monday evening.
as the playoff graphic starts to come back into focus, what did we learn about each and every group in Week 11? here's one aspect it really is price bringing up.
second-half offense became general Kliff Kingsbury: The Cardinals offense has passed through inconsistent stretches in games all season, usually within the first half. Arizona saved the bad stretch for the 2d half -- with its backup quarterback in tow.
The Cardinals ran 32 plays for 129 yards in the 2nd half, averaging four.03 yards per play. They became the ball over on downs twice and punted twice, with the final possession leading to an interception when Colt McCoy changed into pulled.
Arizona ran 22 performs for 80 yards on the 4 possessions McCoy become in (3.6 yards per play). The Cardinals did not score any points and the 49ers scored 21 on three of their five possessions (not counting kneel downs). different quarterback, same story.
The Kyle Pitts damage made the flow offense less effective: The Falcons haven't used Pitts tons on offense this year (or utilized him to his strengths), but his knee harm within the third quarter became devastating. Atlanta threw for less than 25 yards considering the Pitts damage, as Marcus Mariota went three of four all the way through the stretch.
Of direction, Atlanta is a working team. Drake London best had three goals and Damiere Byrd most effective entire with two aims, so throwing the soccer is rarely precisely part of the online game plan anyway. devoid of Pitts on the field, it be reasonable to ask yourself if the Falcons can even throw the ball 15 times next week.
DeMarcus Robinson is WR1: Robinson steeped up for an offense that simplest rushed for a hundred and fifteen yards Sunday -- Baltimore's second-lowest complete of the season. He entire with 9 catches for 128 yards on a day the place no different broad receiver had greater than two targets (James Proche had zero catches).
The best different Ravens broad receiver to trap a circulate turned into Devin Duvernay (one catch for three yards). With Rashod Bateman out for the yr, someone among the many Ravens broad receivers had to step up. Robinson has emerged as the right wideout with sixteen catches for 204 yards over the ultimate three weeks.
Baltimore needs more assist at extensive receiver, but Robinson is the go-to wideout on this roster with Bateman out.
Josh Allen didn't carry the ground video game: decent for the expenses to not need to depend on Allen to win a soccer game with his arm -- or his legs. The bills in fact ran the ball with their operating backs, as the running again-via-committee of Devin Singletary and James prepare dinner had 29 contains for 172 yards and a landing (5.9 yards per lift).
Allen only had three carries for 7 yards in the online game, which is a very good issue. The expenses acclimated prepare dinner to the offense well, as he had 11 incorporates for 86 yards (7.eight yards per raise) -- which blanketed a long run of 29 yards to conclusion the third quarter.
Buffalo continues to be struggling throwing the football, nonetheless it's excellent to see the expenses can go to the floor online game to score points.
Baker Mayfield cannot push the ball downfield: The Panthers' deep passing game is nonexistent when Mayfield plays quarterback. Mayfield averaged just 5.9 yards per effort in Sunday's loss to the Ravens, decrease than his 6.four common for the 12 months (32nd out of 35 qualified quarterbacks).
not handiest did Mayfield fail to comprehensive a 20-yard pass unless the 2nd half, his 34-yard move to Terrace Marshall Jr. came with 1:38 left in a 13-three deficit. Mayfield has accomplished 39.7% of his passes that have long past for 10-plus air yards, only bigger than Carson Wentz, Zach Wilson and Kenny Pickett.
most likely here is why the Panthers go to P.J. Walker. Their offense is never a chance within the passing game with Mayfield.
They run the ball too a good deal: hard to head towards a formulation it truly is working, particularly when Chicago has rushed for 225-plus yards in 5 consecutive games. The Bears have the No. 1 run offense in soccer and had a hundred and sixty yards on the floor Sunday -- and nonetheless run the ball too plenty.
Chicago had Justin Fields carry the ball 18 instances and David Montgomery 17 in the absence of Khalil Herbert. this is too a lot for the starting quarterback -- no count how dynamic Fields is on the ground -- particularly given that he is now dealing with a shoulder damage. Chicago ran the ball forty one times and averaged three.9 yards per carry.
sure, the Bears have a very good run offense. They need to enhance Fields and steadiness out the pass attack this offseason.
Trey Hendrickson looks again: some of the surest pass rushers within the NFL over the past two seasons, Hendrickson has gotten off to a sluggish delivery in 2022. although, over the remaining few weeks, the Bengals' desirable circulate rusher has rounded into form.
Hendrickson has 3.5 sacks over his final 4 video games, including seven quarterback hits, two passes defended and 14 pressures within the stretch. The Bengals side rusher had his method in opposition t handle Dan Moore Jr., completing with two sacks, four quarterback hits and 7 pressures in Sunday's win over the Steelers.
Hendrickson has been an unsung hero in Cincinnati successful three of its ultimate four games. he's lower back to taking part in at that professional Bowl degree.
Nick Chubb became shut down for the first time this yr: Chubb has been superb working the football all season lengthy, however he had simply 14 contains for 19 yards in Sunday's loss to the expenses -- averaging 1.9 yards per elevate. The expenses protection deserves loads of credit score for shutting down Chubb, but it surely turned into interesting how the Browns offense worked devoid of him.
Jacoby Brissett threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns, yet the Browns had been just 2 of four within the purple zone as a result of Chubb wasn't a factor in the cases he flourishes in. The Browns ran the football just 12.5% of the time within the red zone -- and Chubb had only 1 carry for -6 yards (on a right away snap). simply an ungainly day for one of the most desirable working backs within the online game.
Dak Prescott looked like Dak Prescott again: Prescott's struggles considering the fact that his return have been a little bit overexaggerated, but his performance against the Packers wasn't one to put in writing domestic about. still, the Cowboys quarterback completed sixty eight.4% of his passes for 722 yards with six touchdowns to 3 interceptions (97.four rating) when you consider that his return.
Prescott was at his most reliable Sunday, completing 22 of 25 passes for 276 yards with two touchdowns (139.3 ranking) in a dominant forty-3 win over the Vikings. The Cowboys are averaging 35.3 aspects per online game seeing that Prescott returned to the lineup, with Prescott finishing seventy two.four% of his passes for 998 yards with eight touchdowns to three interceptions (107.7 rating).
With Prescott playing at a excessive level and the defense being capable of tee off towards the quarterback, the Cowboys are probably the most most fulfilling teams in the NFL.
the new play-caller couldn't assist the offense generate facets: an extra week the Broncos failed to score 20 points in a game -- and this time Klint Kubiak become calling plays instead of Nathaniel Hackett. Denver scored a landing on the primary power and a box aim on the 2nd pressure. An eighty four-yard power on the third possession resulted in a blocked box goal and every thing went downhill from there.
Denver had just six elements the leisure of the way, having just 123 yards on the closing seven possessions (3.three yards per play). The Broncos defense couldn't retain a ten-0 lead, but the offense did not do the rest to prolong it a great deal either.
there have been a number of features to like with Kubiak calling plays, but the culmination changed into more of the identical.
Jamaal Williams is Barry Sanders?: now not somewhat, but Williams achieved a feat that only Sanders reached with the Lions. Williams had his fifth game with assorted dashing touchdowns in Sunday's win over the Giants, the most effective player to have that many video games with distinctive rushing touchdowns in a season now not named Barry Sanders.
Williams has six video games remaining to set a franchise mark for diverse speeding touchdowns. he's additionally the first player on the grounds that Sanders in 1991 to have 12-plus rushing touchdowns in a season (Sanders had 16 that year to set the franchise listing).
The No. 1 operating back on the Lions, Williams has a sound shot at Sanders' franchise mark. He has six video games to get five dashing touchdowns.
insurance breakdowns and scheme did not help: eco-friendly Bay's pass protection became very disappointing in final Thursday's loss to the Titans, as Tennessee had its greatest passing day of the yr. Ryan Tannehill threw simply 5 incomplete passes, Treylon Burks caught two forty-yard passes, Austin Hooper caught two touchdowns and Derrick Henry (yes, that Derrick Henry) threw a landing pass.
eco-friendly Bay became determined to stop the run online game (and did), however the coverage scheme had the Packers play deep, permitting the Titans to have command of the online game throughout the air. For a defense which the secondary is supposed to be a power, the unit become anything however that.
The Packers are fourth in the NFL in flow yards allowed per game, which makes permitting a season-high 320 yards in opposition t the Titans all the more disappointing.
Offense even worse when Dameon Pierce is shut down: Pierce has been the lone bright spot in Houston's offense, leading all rookie backs in rushing yards coming into Week 11. He had 10 incorporates for eight yards in Sunday's loss, making the Texans offense even much less useful as he was taken out of the online game plan.
Davis Mills went 6 of 9 for 22 yards and an interception whereas Pierce had negative rushing yards within the first half, because the Texans had just 5 yards at halftime. Mills is only too inconsistent to bail Houston out when the run game goes away, and the effect changed into a season low in total yards (148) and no possibility to win.
Houston must repair a whole lot on offense for 2023.
Stephon Gilmore thrived towards A.J. Brown: The Colts tasked the former NFL protective player of the 12 months to close down Brown, and Gilmore did a brilliant job in containing some of the accurate receivers in the game. Brown caught just two of 4 objectives for 35 yards when Gilmore turned into overlaying him, which changed into seventy six% of Brown's routes (per NFL next Gen stats).
Gilmore allowed 4 of his seven aims as the fundamental defender to be caught Sunday, and still hasn't allowed a passing touchdown this 12 months. The Colts are becoming incredible play from Gilmore, a brilliant spot on a group nonetheless attempting to figure things out for next year.
Isiah Pacheco is RB1: misplaced in Patrick Mahomes possessing the AFC West and Travis Kelce furthering his case as the most effective tight end of all time, was Pacheco having 15 contains for 107 yards and a landing (7.1 yards per lift) within the victory over the Chargers.
This turned into the first a hundred-yard dashing video game for the Chiefs in view that Week 4 of closing season, furthering Pacheco's case as the beginning operating lower back. bound Clyde Edwards-Helaire is injured and a Jerick McKinnon fumble ended in more touches for Pacheco, however Sunday turned into the rookie's fourth consecutive delivery.
Pacheco has 31 includes for 189 yards over the ultimate two video games (6.1 yards per carry). The Chiefs are averaging 499.eight yards per game in his starts. Pacheco has earned the appropriate to be the characteristic lower back.
A one-ranking win: The Raiders eventually were in a position to win a one-ranking online game, needing the dead Broncos to get on the high-quality side of the win column. in the past 0-6 in a single-ranking games, Derek Carr's 35-yard touchdown move to Davante Adams on the preliminary possession of time beyond regulation snapped a three-online game losing streak and capped a plenty-vital comeback.
The Raiders have been trailing sixteen-13 with with 1:43 left before going seventy one yards on seven plays to force extra time -- the huge play being a forty three-yard flow to Josh Jacobs. Daniel Carlson's 25-yard field goal forced overtime and the Raiders made certain the Broncos never received the ball returned.
Las Vegas finally received an in depth online game. Can the Raiders capitalize on this momentum in a misplaced season?
Derwin James wasn't a solution for Travis Kelce both: The Chargers tried anything to decelerate Kelce, who entire with six catches for one hundred fifteen yards and three touchdowns -- terrorizing the Chargers protection as a matchup nightmare.
They tried James on the last possession, holding on a 27-23 lead with 1:46 left. An All-seasoned protection might match up with an All-pro tight conclusion, correct? Kelce beat James on a 17-yard touchdown to supply Kansas city the lead with 37 2d left, Kelce's third landing of the evening that capped off a online game which he broke Rob Gronkowski's checklist for many one hundred-yard receiving video games through a good end.
Kelce has been a thorn within the Chargers protection for years. James couldn't stop him either.
The Rams might in reality run the soccer: a positive from Sunday's loss to the Saints become the run game. l. a. rushed for a season-excessive 148 yards and averaged 4.9 yards per raise. The Rams got contributions from Kyren Williams (seven includes for 36 yards) and quarterback Bryce Perkins (five includes for 39 yards) -- who entered in reduction of Matthew Stafford.
perhaps greater mobility at quarterback will assist los angeles as the super Bowl repeat quest appears to be over. Cam Akers nevertheless averaged 4.4 yards per carry (14 includes for 61 yards) as the featured back whereas Darrell Henderson Jr. changed into a nonfactor once more.
la hasn't come near this rushing complete all yr, averaging best 3.4 yards per raise this season. possibly the Rams discovered anything.
This crew wants Christian Darrisaw returned: The Vikings offensive line has been one of the crucial reasons at the back of their eight-2 birth, yet Darrisaw's harm turned into brutal for a unit that could not have the funds for to lose him. Darrisaw left with a concussion in the first half (the 2d one in two weeks for him), which had Kirk Cousins running for his life.
Darrisaw did enable two sacks, but the Vikings allowed seven as a crew. Minnesota additionally allowed 20 pressures in the loss, best two were via Darrisaw. Blake Brandel allowed two sacks and four pressures filling in for Darrisaw, showcasing how useful the left tackle has been for the offensive line.
If Darrisaw is out for just a little, the Vikings are back to rectangular one on the offensive line. that is been the group's largest weak point over the last few years.
invoice Belichick can't be happy with the miscues: The Patriots finished with eight penalties for fifty five yards in Sunday's win over the Jets, numbers that may not thrill the hall of reputation head educate. Two of these penalties ended in neglected container dreams via Nick people, taking a total of six facets off the board by way of New England.
Mac Jones took two sacks after those penalties that didn't support folks, who ignored forty three- and 44-yard box intention makes an attempt in the online game. these kicks were in the wind on the open conclusion of the stadium, however the penalties and sacks did not assist the kicker overcome his struggles.
The Patriots took points off the board in opposition t a team that failed to appear to have an opportunity at scoring 10 points on the day. good bet Belichick receives that fastened in time for the Thanksgiving night game in Minnesota.
Juwan Johnson is fitting a drive at tight conclusion: A transformed vast receiver from Penn State and Oregon, Johnson has developed into a fine move-catching tight end within the Saints offense. Johnson had three catches for forty seven yards and a touchdown in Sunday's win over the Rams, his fifth landing in the ultimate five video games.
The Saints were missing Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry -- who scored a TD on Sunday -- however Johnson has been a mismatch for linebackers overlaying him. His potential to stretch the field has been a welcome for the Saints offense.
Over the closing 5 video games, Johnson has 17 catches for 179 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Saints appear to have found their No.1 tight conclusion going ahead.
can't run, can't win: The Giants were suffocated through a Lions run defense that entered Sunday thirty first within the league. Saquon Barkley became held to fifteen incorporates for 22 yards because the Giants comprehensive with simply three.four yards per lift and 89 yards (50 of which came from Daniel Jones).
The Giants have misplaced the past two video games during which they have got rushed for beneath a hundred yards. If Barkley receives contained, the Giants combat to handle the clock and rating points. accidents have performed a major function in this, but the Giants are operating on fumes right now.
happily, the Cowboys -- who the Giants face on Thanksgiving -- have a negative run defense. but so did Detroit.
Time to bench Zach Wilson: When a crew has a more punts (10) than completions by its quarterback, it be time to seriously take into account a quarterback exchange. Wilson went 9 of twenty-two for 77 yards and not using a touchdowns and no interceptions (50.eight score) as the Jets put up simply three features in Sunday's loss to the Patriots.
The Jets had simply 2 yards within the second half, as Wilson turned into just 4 of eleven for 12 yards. To make matters worse, Wilson did not suppose he let a defense -- that held the Patriots to simply three points -- down. The quarterback showed no accountability over the loss.
The Jets ought to bench the former No. 2 average decide on. or not it's time to retailer the season.
the new shielding tackles have been large: No pun meant on this one, but Linval Joseph and Ndamukong Suh made a big effect on the run online game in their debuts for Philadelphia. Jonathan Taylor had seven incorporates for forty nine yards on the primary force for the Colts, then had simply 15 incorporates for 35 yards the rest of how.
This changed into an Eagles run protection that allowed a hundred and sixty rushing yards per game over the ultimate two games, yet held the Colts to just 99 speeding yards and 3.8 yards per carry. Suh additionally had two pressures and a half-sack in sixteen snaps, while Joseph had a drive and a half-sack in 24 snaps.
For players who weren't on the team every week ago, both Suh and Joseph seem to have solved a weakness within the Eagles protection for the stretch run.
George Pickens had an excellent online game and it's going to had been greater: Pickens is beginning to reside as much as the hype surrounding him from training camp, finishing with four catches for 83 yards and a landing in Sunday's loss to the Bengals. Pickens had a pleasant touchdown trap on a route where he had Eli Apple stumbling and a highlight-reel snag in the fourth quarter with Apple masking him.
Pickens had one other landing slip off his palms late in the fourth quarter. Regardless, Pickens goes to be a great player in this league for a very long time. That Justin Jefferson-class online game is coming.
Jimmy Garoppolo and George Kittle had their flip to shine: Garoppolo threw four touchdown passes in Monday's victory over the Cardinals -- two to Kittle and two to Brandon Aiyuk -- as he threw for 228 yards and averaged 7.9 yards per effort. With all of the 49ers weapons on display, three avid gamers had over 50 yards receiving as San Francisco showed off its plethora of riches on that aspect of the ball.
Kittle had simply 4 catches for 60 yards over the closing two video games, but had 4 catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns Monday. With all of the 49ers playmakers, the center of the box and the seams were vast open for Kittle to make performs and ranking touchdowns (primarily on the ultimate score he had).
Garoppolo and Kittle are the historical guards of this 49ers unit. both are still basically respectable, even with the entire brilliant new toys in the closet.
Treylon Burks is never too small: The Titans were waiting all yr for Burks to have his breakout video game, which finally took place in last Thursday's victory over the Packers. Burks hauled in a pair of deep passes, including a 51-yard reception off Jaire Alexander that sealed the win late. Burks also had a forty three-yard capture that resulted in the Titans' first touchdown.
The fifty one-yard reception capped off a performance in which Burks entire with seven catches for 111 yards, with no trouble career highs in each categories. The rookie is emerging because the massive-play receiver the Titans expected when they drafted him, finally overcoming a toe injury that kept him out considering Week 4 (Thursday changed into simply his second video game returned).
If Burks continues this growth, Tennessee may be a very bad team to play within the playoffs.
The dominant protection is again: Washington's protection placed on a medical institution in Sunday's win over the Texans, starting with Houston's 2d offensive play of the video game. Kendall Fuller took Davis Mills' move 37 yards the other way for a ranking -- giving Washington a lead it would not relinquish.
That was simply the beginning of the Commanders' dominant day on protection. Washington held Houston to just 2 of 13 on third down and 148 yards on the day -- as the Texans averaged simply 2.7 yards per play. Dameon Pierce had simply 10 contains for 8 yards and Mils had two interceptions in a poor offensive efficiency by Houston.
The Commanders have 12 takeaways in their ultimate six games, allowing only 253.eight yards per online game. not awesome they are four-1 during the stretch and combating for a playoff berth.
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