There’s an old adage in professional wrestling: ‘send them home happy’. That typically means the good guy wins, but it also speaks to the quality of your star attractions, your main events. 

A certain boxing card from this past weekend certainly failed to deliver on that promise. But the NFL doesn’t pit washed up legends against celebrity wannabees, it’s the best versus the best. Week 11 featured three matchups of teams with at least seven wins. The Eagles handled their business on Thursday, as Saquon Barkley furthered his case for Offensive Player of the Year in a 26-18 victory over the upstart Washington Commanders. On Sunday, it was the AFC’s time to shine, as the four best teams in the conference (according to Gridiron’s power rankings) locked up. We’ll break down both of those games below. 

 

Week 11 Scores 

Washington Commanders 18 (7-4) @ Philadelphia Eagles 26 (8-2)

Green Bay Packers 20 (7-3) @ Chicago Bears 19 (4-6) 

Jacksonville Jaguars 6 (2-8) @ Detroit Lions 52 (9-1) 

Miami Dolphins 34 (4-6) @ Las Vegas Raiders 19 (2-8)

Los Angeles Rams 28 (5-5) @ New England Patriots 22 (3-8) 

Cleveland Browns 14 (2-8) @ New Orleans Saints 35 (4-7) 

Minnesota Vikings 23 (8-2) @ Tennessee Titans 13 (2-8) 

Indianapolis Colts 28 (5-6) @ New York Jets 27 (3-8) 

Atlanta Falcons 6 (6-5) @ Denver Broncos 38 (6-5)

Seattle Seahawks 20 (5-5) @ San Francisco 49ers 17 (5-5)

Baltimore Ravens 16 (7-4) @ Pittsburgh Steelers 18 (8-2)

Kansas City Chiefs 21 (9-1) @ Buffalo Bills 30 (8-2)

Cincinnati Bengals 27 (4-7) @ Los Angeles Chargers 34 (7-3)

Game of the Week I — Baltimore Ravens 16 @ 18 Pittsburgh Steelers 

At his post coach presser, Mike Tomlin was asked for his thoughts on his team besting a hated rival without finding the endzone. His response?  A simple, “Steelers, Ravens”, delivered with a knowing shrug. Coach needn’t say more. This was classic AFC North football. Hardnosed, tactically sharp, nip and tuck. 

Neither team could assert dominance over the other. The vaunted Baltimore offense, which has laid waste to the NFL for the last couple of months, struggled for consistency. Derrick Henry fumbled on the opening drive, Lamar Jackson completed less than 50% of his passes, and some Mike Tomlin timeout hoodoo scuppered a two-point conversion attempt in the dying embers. Perhaps most worrying for the Ravens, is the decline of superstar kicker Justin Tucker. Tucker has missed more kicks this season (six), than he did in the entirety of the 2023 season (five). For years, the Ravens would have been on the right side of a field goal heavy game such as this, but it was Chris Boswell that covered up for his offense’s stuttering drives rather than the Hall of Fame-bound Tucker. 

And the Steelers offense did stutter. While Russell Wilson has looked comfortable lobbing up moonballs to George Pickens and Mike Williams, the Steelers offense could only manage 4.1 yards per play on Sunday. Crucially. The veteran was able to connect on third down completions, routinely finding Pickens to position the Steelers within scoring range. 

This loss marks a watershed moment for the Ravens. For all their offensive success, they seem unable to topple the conference’s power players. They’ve now lost to the Chiefs and Steelers, while a baffling loss to the Browns may also consign Baltimore to a wildcard spot come January. If they can rebound, a Week 16 home rematch could be their last shot at wresting control of the division from the Steelers. 

 

Game of the Week II — Kansas City Chiefs 21 @ 30 Buffalo Bills 

The spell is broken. The 1972 Dolphins are popping corks. The Chiefs have finally lost a game in 2024. 

This felt massive for the Buffalo Bills. Yes, this is the fourth straight victory for Buffalo over the Chiefs in the regular season, but to arrest Kansas City’s seemingly unstoppable momentum throws the race for the AFC’s top seed wide open. 

It’s a feather in the cap for both Josh Allen and his coach Sean McDermott. Allen was sensational as the clock ticked down, leading two 60+ yard scoring drives and completing nine-of-11 passes in the fourth quarter. McDermott held his nerve at the crucial moment, going for a 4th-and-two with just minutes remaining, and holding a two point lead. Rather than put the ball back in Patrick Mahomes’ hand, the Bills coach trusted his star quarterback, and Allen returned the favour by punching in a 26-yard rushing touchdown. 

Kansas City’s defense has been the key this season, holding opposing teams to just the right number of points for Mahomes to work his magic. The Chiefs allowed more than 28 points for the first time in 38-regular season games. Neither line was able to assert themselves either, with Kansas City pressuring Allen just four times, while Mahomes was repeatedly harried. 

MVP of the Day — Taysom Hill 

Every summer, without warning, the flying ants descend on the UK. There is no real pattern, no portents or signs. Once or twice in the season, they arrive. All of a sudden, you can’t move a foot down the road without being attacked by suddenly winged creatures on a kamikaze mission. Without fail, the words ‘Flying Ant Day’ trend on Twitter as micro bloggers battle with a maelstrom of anger, confusion, fear and annoyance. You cannot prepare, you can only react. 

Taysom Hill is the NFL’s version of ‘Flying Ant Day’. The quarterback-tight end-running back hybrid put up one of the most staggering box scores you’ll ever see against the Cleveland Browns. Hill threw the ball (one-for-two for 18 yards and a pick), ran the ball (sevens totes for 138 and three touchdowns), caught the ball (eight for 50) and presumably inflated the balls, as well as mixing the Gatorade, manning the turnstiles and sweeping the stands in a staggering demonstration of ubiquity. 

A few years ago the ‘football cognoscenti’ were vehemently anti-Hill. Granted, that was during a prolonged stay at quarterback, a position the ‘hyphen’ cannot play at the requisite level. Now, I think we can enjoy Hill for what he is. A truly unique player that, once or twice a season, does something that beggars belief. Even with such impact, the human flying ant managed to turn the ball over three times. Pure chaos. You cannot prepare, you can only react. 

 

Winner — Anthony Richardson 

Two games. That’s how long Anthony Richardson’s benching lasted, and given the uptick in his performance against the Jets, riding the pine for a fortnight could look like a small sacrifice as the Colts continue to push towards the playoffs. 

Richardson was more accurate, more composed and, crucially, it appeared he was more prepared. He completed nine of 13 passes which travelled more than ten yards in the air, and he routinely completed downfield throws to both Alec Pierce and Josh Downs. The athleticism was on show too. Richardson found paydirt twice on the ground, including the go-ahead score with just 46 seconds to go. If Richardson can continue to improve his understanding of the game, the raw materials for success are clearly there. 

Loser — Doug Pederson 

Remember earlier in this article? Where I said the NFL pits the best versus the best. Well, this game might be proof of the opposite. 

It’s hard to play the Lions right now. They are so balanced, coached to a ridiculously high level and can spring surprise after surprise on you, as well as physically dominate. All that said, this was a pretty damning indictment on the state of the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

Before kickoff, Ian Rappoport reported the Duval County franchise would consider a coaching change if the team was embarrassed in the Motor City. I’d say they were humiliated. The Lions amassed a franchise record 652 yards of offense. On a long Jameson Williams catch and score, the Jags defensive backs looked like they’d given up. Jacksonville’s own attack was putrid under the guidance of Mac Jones. 

Earlier in the season, Doug Pederson laughed off questions about his job security. There’s nothing to laugh about now. There’s every chance Pederson has lost his job by the time you read this. 

Winner — Sean Payton 

Yes, Russ is thriving in Pittsburgh, but that doesn’t mean the Broncos’ head coach is ruing his decision to move on from the vet. Sean Payton must be ecstatic with the development of his team, and his young quarterback in particular. 

After throwing four interceptions in his first two starts, Nix has totalled 14 touchdowns against two picks. Peyton has built a dink and dunk offense that built on Nix’s metronomic efficiency at Oregon. While Nix’s 3.6 air yards per attempt would suggest a staid and stuck attack, his ability to find his skill position players in rhythm is creating opportunities after the catch. On Sunday, Nix was able to find some completions deep and over the middle, turbocharging Denver’s ability to score. The Broncos scored 38 points, and Nix threw four touchdowns to just five incompletions. Should these plays become a constant presence in this Broncos offense, this team is a genuine force to be reckoned with. 

Loser — The Cincinnati Bengals 

Bengals vs Chargers is one of those matchups where two perennially losing franchises ‘bad juju’ goes head-to-head. Despite their best efforts, one of these teams has to win. First Los Angeles springs out to a 21-point lead, which they fritter away. Then, Cincinnati, powered by Ja’Marr Chase’s insatiable taste for touchdowns and Tee Higgins’ best game of the season, make the comeback, before their usually dependable kicker Evan McPherson keeps pulling kicks to the left. 

It seems Jim Harbaugh was the missing ingredient in reversing the Chargers’ fortune. When the going got tough, Harbaugh and Greg Roman iced the game away with their foundation: a well-designed run game. When J.K. Dobbins followed pulling lineman to daylight and the go-ahead score, the Bengals season was probably put to rest. 

Aside from a Week 8 drubbing by the Philadelphia Eagles, the Bengals have lost by the following deficits: six, one, five, three, one and seven points. It’s unlikely that Higgins comes back next year, meaning the explosive offensive triumvirate on which Cincinnati has built its recent success will be broken up. Could all these near misses also mark the beginning of the end for Zac Taylor’s tenure? 

Stats of the Week 

• Jared Goff completed 24 of 29 pass attempts (82.8 percent) for 412 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions for a 158.3 passer rating – the highest attainable mark – in Detroit’s demolition of Jacksonville. The former number one overall pick is the first player in NFL history with multiple career games with at least 400 passing yards, four touchdown passes and a 158.3 rating, also reaching the mark in Week 4 of the 2018 season with the Los Angeles Rams. There have only been seven such performances all-time.
• The Lions are the second team to score 50+ points in back-to-back home games since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970. 
• Another Detroit stat! The Lions have scored a rushing touchdown in 24 straight games, including the postseason. This is the longest streak in NFL history.
• Derrick Henry has scored a touchdown in every game this season. He is just the fourth player to score in the first 11 games of an NFL season.
• Bo Nix joined Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (1998) as the only rookie quarterbacks all-time with at least 200 passing yards and multiple touchdown passes in four consecutive home games.