Week 11 within the NFL had no scarcity of drama, as lots of the early video games went all the way down to the wire.
Out of the gate, the Sunday slate opened up with a back-and-forth affair between the Dolphins and Commanders from Madrid, which required extra time to make Miami the winner. And as we migrated to the early afternoon slate, one-possession video games had been a theme all through. The Bears and Texans notched one other win within the column due to last-second discipline objectives, and the Packers narrowly escaped New York with a victory towards the Jameis Winston-led Giants.
There was a lot to digest all through the Sunday slate, and there is a plethora of storylines bursting from all this motion. However let’s sift via a few of these predominant storylines and decipher which we should always take critically and the opposite with grains of salt, as they do not imply as a lot as they might appear.
NFL Week 11 grades: Josh Allen wills the Payments to an ‘A-,’ Broncos earn ‘B+’ for upset win over Chiefs
John Breech
Dolphins are again within the AFC playoff dialog
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
Miami enters its Week 12 bye on a excessive observe. The membership has gained three of its final 4 video games to maneuver to 4-7 on the season. Whereas that has considerably righted the ship and cooled the seat beneath coach Mike McDaniel, this current surge is not going to thrust them again into the playoffs. This constructive run may proceed out of the bye with matchups towards the Saints and Jets (street) in Week 13 and Week 14, however the schedule will get a lot more durable after that. Assuming they handle enterprise in these two video games and claw to 6-7, the ultimate month will make it tough for them to get to or exceed .500. They tackle the Steelers in Pittsburgh on “Monday Evening Soccer” in Week 15 earlier than back-to-back house video games towards the Bengals (possible with Joe Burrow again at quarterback) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Then, they wrap up the yr in New England towards the Patriots. Miami possible will not be favored in any of these ultimate 4 video games, so this current upward swing might are available useless with a knockout blow over the ultimate 4 weeks.
Chargers liable to lacking the playoffs
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
That was a tough displaying by the Chargers, who had been blown out by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, 35-6. Justin Herbert continues to take his justifiable share of hits, however the quarterback additionally laid an egg. He accomplished 10 of his 18 passes for simply 81 yards and an interception. This loss now drops the Chargers to 7-4 on the yr, and would not do them any favors within the playoff race. They’ve misplaced a key head-to-head tiebreaker to Jacksonville (6-4) within the wild card race and nonetheless have a frightening schedule in entrance of them following the Week 12 bye.
The next three opponents for Los Angeles every boast a powerful go rush, which may additional exploit the Chargers’ weak point at defending Herbert. After seeing the offense go silent with him beneath siege once more on Sunday towards Jacksonville, their footing within the AFC playoff image would not really feel safe.
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
General, McCarthy wasn’t good towards Chicago, even because the Vikings practically pulled off one other fourth-quarter comeback towards their division rival. McCarthy accomplished simply 16 of his 32 passes for 150 yards, a landing, and two interceptions. Up to now, McCarthy has eight interceptions in 5 profession begins and is the primary quarterback to file an interception in 5 straight video games to start his profession since Zach Wilson in 2021. Not precisely the corporate you need to hold within the NFL file books. However does this take us to the purpose the place Minnesota ought to bench McCarthy? That feels a contact too far, not less than proper now. The Vikings used a first-round choose on McCarthy in 2024 and moved off of Sam Darnold this offseason to see that choice via. 5 whole begins is just too small a pattern measurement to maneuver off of him and successfully surrender hope that he is their franchise quarterback going ahead. It hasn’t regarded nice, however the group must grit via and provides McCarthy the remainder of the season earlier than making any long-term proclamations.
Packers usually are not a severe Tremendous Bowl menace
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
Inexperienced Bay as soon as once more performed all the way down to its competitors. Whereas it did not lead to a loss this time round, the Packers wanted a go-ahead landing drive and two-point conversion to fend off the New York Giants. Bear in mind, this can be a Giants crew that had simply fired its coach, and their budding star at quarterback, Jaxson Dart, was out with a concussion. Regardless of that lopsided expertise disparity, Inexperienced Bay allowed the Jameis Winston-led Giants to publish 336 yards of whole offense. New York edged out the Packers in whole yards and time of possession in Week 11. Once more, this can be a Giants squad that’s going to be in rivalry for the No. 1 general choose. Once you pair this efficiency (albeit in a profitable effort) with earlier losses this season to the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers, it is onerous to have a look at the Packers as a severe Tremendous Bowl menace within the NFC in the intervening time.
Dave Canales is off the recent seat
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
The Carolina Panthers (6-5) are again above .500 with a dramatic extra time win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. The membership accomplished the season sweep of their division rival and is second within the NFC South, only a sport behind the Buccaneers within the loss column (6-4). Carolina has been one of many shock groups of the 2025 season, and Dave Canales has been getting essentially the most out of his roster, notably with quarterback Bryce Younger. All of that has cooled what had beforehand been one of many hotter seats within the NFL. Nonetheless, has Canales taken himself off the recent seat totally? Not but. The street in entrance of the Panthers could be very tough as they face the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams over the subsequent two weeks earlier than their Week 14 bye. Over the ultimate month, they’ve two divisional matchups towards the Buccaneers and a contest towards the Seattle Seahawks. That tough schedule within the second half may finish the 2025 marketing campaign on a low observe, leaving questions on Canales’ future regardless of this constructive run in the intervening time.
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
I feel we noticed a short window into why Kevin Stefanski hasn’t been chomping on the bit to see Shedeur Sanders beneath heart. Whereas coming in beneath duress following Dillon Gabriel’s concussion is not precisely the cleanest debut, Sanders did not precisely rise to the event both. The sport regarded quick for him as he accomplished simply 4 of his 16 go makes an attempt for 47 yards, an interception, and was sacked twice. He might get the beginning nod subsequent week if Gabriel cannot clear protocol, however Sanders did not do a lot on this displaying to embolden those that imagine he is a starting-caliber NFL quarterback.
Sam Darnold has was a pumpkin
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
4 interceptions. Yuck. It was a horrendous displaying by Sam Darnold, who registered the third sport of four-plus interceptions of his profession and the primary since his notorious “Seeing Ghosts” sport with the Jets in 2019. Regardless of his exceptional resurgence over the past two years, Darnold’s 30 turnovers since 2024 are essentially the most within the NFL, so seeing his sport deteriorate like we did on Sunday is regarding. Does that imply he is completely was a pumpkin, although? I do not assume we should always go that far. Darnold has been one of many higher quarterbacks within the league this season, however was going up towards one of many prime defenses within the league within the Los Angeles Rams. Sean McVay additionally appears to have his quantity, as they had been in a position to shut him down throughout Wild Card Weekend final season as properly. May chalk this as much as a nasty efficiency towards a crew that is a nasty matchup for him, somewhat than this being the primary signal of Seattle’s playoff hopes evaporating.
49ers are in play for the No. 1 seed within the NFC
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
Welcome again, Brock Purdy! With their franchise quarterback reinstalled beneath heart after lacking the majority of the season with a toe harm, San Francisco dropped a season-high 41 factors en path to a blowout win over the Cardinals. The Niners are actually 7-4 on the season and in a chief place to push for a playoff spot. Actually, there is a path for this crew to pile up sufficient wins down the stretch to threaten for the No. 1 seed.
The following two weeks embrace a house matchup towards the Carolina Panthers (at the moment a landing favourite) and a street contest with the Cleveland Browns, which may realistically see them with a 9-4 file coming into the Week 14 bye. After that, three of their ultimate 4 video games are at house, with their ultimate street contest coming in Week 16 at Indianapolis. Exterior of that matchup, they host Tennessee (Week 15), Chicago (Week 17), and Seattle (Week 18). Even when they go .500 over that ultimate month, you are an 11-6 file, which could possibly be adequate, particularly as they at the moment have the divisional tiebreaker (4-1 file after Week 11) over the NFC West-leading Rams (2-1) and a stellar 7-2 convention file (one other key tiebreaker).
Chiefs hopes of profitable AFC West are dashed
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
Kansas Metropolis’s bid for 10-straight AFC West titles is on life help. With Sunday’s loss to the Broncos, the Chiefs not solely dropped again all the way down to .500 on the season at 5-5, however Denver has prolonged its lead within the division by a large quantity. At 9-2, they’re two video games up on the Chargers and three video games up over Ok.C. within the loss column. That is not even accounting for the present head-to-head tiebreaker benefit they earned in Week 11. The street would not get simpler for the Chiefs both, as they will now need to host a Colts crew that’ll be recent off its bye week earlier than turning round and visiting the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. It could require a herculean effort by Patrick Mahomes and Co. and an utter collapse by the Broncos to even make their ultimate matchup in Week 17 carry any form of weight on this division race.
Detroit’s offense is damaged
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
It was an terrible displaying by the Lions offense on Sunday evening in Philadelphia. The unit mustered simply 9 factors, did not convert any of its 5 fourth-down alternatives, and Jared Goff was spooked from the leap. The Detroit QB accomplished simply 14 of his 37 passes for a career-low 38% completion price. Particularly, he completed the sport, finishing simply two of his ultimate 18 makes an attempt. Gross. Whereas Goff and the offense definitely deserve a giant slice of the blame pie for his or her loss, that will additionally discredit Philadelphia for having probably the greatest defenses within the NFL. The Eagles protection got here into this matchup after placing Inexperienced Bay in an analogous blender in Week 10, so this might converse extra to Philly’s unit than any big-picture drawback with Detroit’s offense.
