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0 out of 32
Bill Feig / Associated Press
It is the time of death or death in the NFL.
For a number of teams, Week 11 was a turning point. Pending at or just under .500, the edict was clear for these teams – win or otherwise.
Some squads responded to the call. The Dallas Cowboys have been slow to get noticed. Lamar Jackson's first start ended with a win for the Baltimore Ravens.
However, for others, things did not go well. These Cowboys and Ravens wins led to losses for the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals. Packers in Green Bay have big problems. The reigning Eagles champion is even more after a staggering defeat to New Orleans.
As every week this season, Brad Gagnon, Bruis Sobleski and Gary Davenport, Bleacher Report analysts for the NFL, gathered as dust settled around Week 11 to rank league teams up and down. . From n ° 32 to n ° 1.
The top dog has not changed. But there has been an upheaval among those who feed on the bottom.
1 of 32
Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press
high: 31
Low: 32
Last week: 27
Result of the week 11: Lost 23-21 against Oakland Raiders
Just when you think the Arizona Cardinals could finally build something. Just when you think rookie quarterback Josh Rosen could get the wind in his sails. Just when you think maybe the Cardinals are not as bad as their record.
The team leaves and loses at home against the Oakland Raiders.
The match was a stark reminder that, aside from receiver Larry Fitzgerald and halfback David Johnson, the Arizona attack was putrid. Rosen had a terrible match Sunday against a bad defense, completing just 45% of his passes with two interceptions. Arizona was outperformed in just about every statistical category and again missed 300 yards.
Fans of the Valley of the Sun will have to be patient and let Rosen make mistakes while he learns at work.
But when a game that seems winner ends in disappointment, his patience is put to the test.
2 of 32
Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press
high: 30
Low: 31
Last week: 32
Result of the week 11: Won 23-21 at the Cardinals of Arizona
At this point in the 2018 season, head coach Jon Gruden and the Oakland Raiders are looking for all the positive things they can cling to as the season crumbles around them.
To be honest, there were a few of Sunday's win over the Arizona Cardinals, the most important of which was Oakland, you know, who won it.
Quarterback Derek Carr had his best game in a while, scoring two touchdown passes and more than 100 passes.
The Raiders managed to run the ball, accumulating 152 yards rushing and averaging 4.6 yards per run.
Oakland has really defeated his opponent for once. Had a better conversion rate on the third decline. Won the battle of the numbers. And had fewer penalties.
Granted, all this has happened against an Arizona team that is as ugly as the Raiders this season.
But hey, at this point, Chucky will take what he can get.
3 of 32
Michael Reaves / Getty Images
high: 26
Low: 32
Last week: 29
Result of the week 11: Goodbye week
New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles needs a hug.
After a loss to the Buffalo Bills at home, the Jets started the following week at 3-7, losing four straight. The loss suffered by Buffalo was embarrassing. The Jets were dominated in every facet of the game by a bad team in a competition where New York 's level of effort was nonexistent.
Given the difficulties of the team lately, it is not surprising that the Bowles seat becomes rather hot. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, Bowles faces a "tough battle" to retain his position after the end of the season.
If Gang Green continues to play as he did against the Bills, Bowles might not even go to Black Monday. The 55-year-old is very popular with players and considered in the league, but in the tenth week, the Jets looked like a team that had resigned.
Unfortunately, the battle will be all the more difficult when the Jets return next week.
New York hosts a thriving New England Patriots team after being beaten by the Titans in the tenth week.
4 out of 32
Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images
high: 29
Low: 31
Last week: 31
Result of the week 11: Goodbye week
Do you remember the summer when some put forth the San Francisco 49ers as the team for the playoffs?
This poor dead horse.
This is not exactly the fault of the Niners if the season has collapsed. The team was devastated by injuries, including the tears of the ACL, which ended the seasons of halfback Jerick McKinnon and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
There have also been more close losses than you can count. OK, you can count them. Five of San Francisco's losses are one-digit, and four to four points or less.
The 2018 season was an exercise in Murphy's Law: anything that could go wrong, a.
In fact, at this point, the best thing that could happen to the Niners is six more defeats to close things. If you are going to be bad, you might as well be terrible.
The No. 1 pick in next year's draft could bring the Niners the unexpected benefit of a needy team, or perhaps an exciting prospect like Nick Bosa.
5 out of 32
Mark Brown / Getty Images
high: 27
Low: 29
Last week: 28
Result of the week 11: Goodbye week
The Buffalo Bills do not have a good season. A year after the playoffs, the Bills are one of football's worst offenses in 2018. At the opening of the 11th week, Buffalo's 13.7 points per game ranked last in the league. NFL.
However, a fairly convincing argument can be made: Head Coach Sean McDermott has done a good job this season, all things considered.
The quarterback position was a nightmare, the Bills starting a handful of signalers in 2018. That the best of the lot (Matt Barkley) was with the team for less than two weeks when he made his first start indicates all that is needed about the level of play for the Bills at the most important position of the NFL.
And yet, the Bills have managed to win three games. Part of the merit lies in a sneaky defense that allowed at least yards into the NFL to enter Sunday.
But McDermott also deserves credit for keeping a team short of offensive talent more competitive than it should be.
6 of 32
Elsa / Getty Images
high: 26
Low: 28
Last week: 30
Result of the week 11: Won 38-35 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Break the giants!
After sending another unfortunate enemy, the unstoppable giant New York has now won two victories in a row.
Yay!
To be fair, there were real positives in this game for the giants. Eli Manning has an excellent game, missing during one of the 18 pass attempts. Saquon Barkley had another huge outing, surpassing 150 yards and scoring three touchdowns. The giants were also plus-four in the department of the turnover.
However, the Giants led 31-14 in the fourth quarter, allowing them to leave almost all the Buccaneers back. New York surrendered more than 500 yards of total attack.
Despite everything, Gagnon offered accessories to Big Blue.
"The competition was weak," he said, "but dreadful teams do not usually win consecutive games with a total of 65. Eli Manning has only one incomplete pass. against the Buccaneers, and Saquon Barkley has really come together – a great season for the rookies, and with Barkley and Beckham this team could ruin the course. "
7 of 32
Elsa / Getty Images
high:
Low:
Last week: 26
Result of the week 11: Lost 38-35 at New York Giants
In week 10, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers racked up more than 500 total offensive yards but only managed three points, mostly because of the turnarounds.
Tampa lost.
During week 11, the Buccaneers again racked up more than 500 yards of offense. Again, they lost despite 35 points.
And again, it was because of the turnarounds.
The head coach of the buccaneers at war, Dirk Koetter, saw enough turnovers from Ryan Fitzpatrick during the 11th week, leading the veteran in favor of Jameis Winston. It was Winston who spearheaded the frantic attempt to return from Tampa, but he had a personal choice in the process.
"The Buccaneers are in disarray," said Davenport, highlighting the evidence. "And Koetter's nervousness at the quarterback has not solved the problem.Since Fitzpatrick is clearly not the long-term solution for the center, it makes sense to let Winston play the rest of the But Koetter seems to be more interested in a desperate attempt to save his job than it makes sense … Drop it, Dirk, you're done. "
8 of 32
Stacy Revere / Getty Images
high: 22
Low: 25
Last week: 25
Result of the week 11: Goodbye week
In last week's power standings, the Dolphins ranked behind no less than 10 teams that had a worse record than Miami (5-5).
There is a good reason for this: the dolphins are just not very good.
Of the five victories in Miami, only one could really be considered a "quality" victory: a stunner in overtime for week 6 against the Bears, north leaders of the NFC.
No offense, Tennessee.
Whenever the dolphins played a good team, they were trained. Miami was hammered by the New England Patriots. Lost by 19 to Houston Texans. And dropped the same amount at Green Bay Packers on his last outing.
This defeat was Miami's third in four games after a 4-2 start, and the following month is not easy. After a trip to Indy for the 12th week, the Dolphins welcome the Patriots and have to travel to Minnesota in the 15th week.
If Miami is still in the generic card race at this time, it will be surprising.
9 of 32
Julio Aguilar / Getty Images
high: 19
Low: 25
Last week: 21
Result of the week 11: Lost 20-16 vs Pittsburgh Steelers
The Jacksonville Jaguars have reached the speed limit.
It's not just that the Jaguars lost their sixth straight game in Week 11. It's not just a season that started with the dream of a trip to Atlanta and officially collapsed completely.
No, that's not enough for this Jaguars team. When they implode, they go completely.
It was a game that Jacksonville dominated in the third quarter. A match that they led 16-6 at the beginning of the fourth. But after scoring their only touchdown of the afternoon in the third quarter, the Jaguars totaled zero first try.
In the last five outings of the game in Jacksonville, the team has generated less than three yards.
The collapse of Jacksonville this season is as surprising as complete. But Davenport thinks he has understood everything.
"There is only one logical explanation for what happened to the Jaguars," he said. "After the Jaguars lashed out at the Patriots, the whole team was kidnapped by aliens who replaced them with simulacra resembling the players but who can not play football because they do not have this sport on the planet of pods. "
OK, so maybe he did not understand it after all.
10 of 32
David Richard / Associated Press
high: 21
Low: 23
Last week: 22
Result of the week 11: Goodbye week
We are in unknown territory with these Browns of Cleveland.
It has been a long time since the fans of Northeast Ohio were really looking forward to the Browns games. The week off was generally a welcome respite for Cleveland fans, a chance to lick their wounds.
This year, after seeing the Browns braking the Atlanta Falcons in Week 10, fans are eager to see the team come back next week in Cincinnati.
This competition with the struggling Bengals seems like a winnable game. After that, though, things get pretty tough: a trip to face the white-skinned Texans and a home meet with a team of Panthers who could fight for their life in the playoffs.
However, with an improvement of the week 's offensive and a good defense game, it' s not inconceivable that the Browns could steal one of those matches. Cleveland is no longer considered an automatic W by his opponents.
When the search for coaches starts in the offseason, people will want the job.
As we said … unexplored territory.
11 of 32
Rey Del Rio / Associated Press
high: 21
Low: 23
Last week: 24
Result of the week 11: Won 20-19 against Carolina Panthers
The Detroit Lions are one of the toughest teams in the NFL to have a pearl for this season.
The Lions certainly had their good times, especially at Ford Field. Detroit beat the Patriots at home in the third week. He defeated the Green Bay Packers at Motown in the fifth week. He also surprised the Carolina Panthers on Sunday by ending a series of three consecutive losses.
The problem is that Sunday's win was a surprise, because in this three-game draw, the Lions did not show that the team was able to defeat the Panthers in the 11th week. The defense has struggled recently to fight. The offensive has on average only 15 points per contest.
Unfortunately, it is rather unlikely that it is more than a single victory, a temporary respite before the end of Detroit 's end – of – year. On Thanksgiving Day, the Lions host the Chicago Bears, who beat Detroit by two numbers in the tenth week. Then comes a home meeting with the Los Angeles Rams.
And Detroit might have to play those games without rookie back Kerryon Johnson. Johnson left Sunday's victory after a knee injury, and according to Kyle Meinke of MLive, the talented young runner is afraid of tearing his ACL.
12 of 32
John Friends / Associated Press
high: 20
Low: 24
Last week: 20
Result of the week 11: Lost 22-19 against the Dallas Cowboys
The Atlanta Falcons were one of the many contenders in the playoffs who took part in the 11th week of "must-win". After bowing to Cleveland last week to fall below the .500 mark, the Falcons took a new risk.
Now the team is probably out of a realistic chance to play in the playoffs.
The culprit in Sunday's heartbreaker was the same as in many Atlanta defeats this season: defense, or lack of defense.
The Falcons had no answer for Ezekiel Elliott, who totaled 201 rushing yards and a score of 30 touchdowns. Dallas converted seven of 13 third tries. The Atlanta defense only managed two bags and zero draw.
Atlanta also allowed Dak Prescott to bring the Cowboys to 51 yards at the end of the game, a goal that almost wiped out Atlanta 's hopes for the playoffs, according to Sobleski.
"There was a glimmer of hope for the Falcons over a run of three straight wins, but all of that disappeared after being treated by the Browns last week and by the Cowboys catching up on Sunday with a last-second goal, "he said. "The injuries all over the list have exhausted the Falcons to such an extent that they are limited in their achievements.The things are not going to work out, with the New Orleans Saints in the program."
13 out of 32
Rob Carr / Getty Images
high: 19
Low: 23
Last week: 16
Result of the week 11: Lost 24-21 to Baltimore Ravens
The good news for the Cincinnati Bengals is that the team did not give away 500 offensive yards in the 11th week after three consecutive games that cost them that amount.
The bad news is that the Bengals still left a total of 400 yards to a rookie quarterback making their first start and gave up 265 yards on the ground in a three-point loss to the Ravens, knocking the Bengals down. .500.
There is not much that has gone well for the Bengals here. The absence of wide receiver A.J. Green has clearly and significantly impacted the offense. The defense allowed Lamar Jackson to acquire the first runs, apparently comfortable legs.
After a 4-1 start, the Bengals have now lost four of five opponents to break the pace in AFC North.
It will now take at least four wins in the next six games for this team to qualify for the playoffs, perhaps five.
Given the last month and more, this does not happen.
In fact, with Hue Jackson now in Cincy, the team can not win another game.
We do not say that Hue is a hexagon. We do not say either that it is not it.
14 of 32
Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press
high: 18
Low: 20
Last week: 23
Result of the week 11: 23-22 at Los Angeles Chargers
The Denver Broncos have turned lost games into a kind of art in 2018. Four of Denver's six defeats this season have been hit by one touchdown or less. For a while Sunday, it seemed to be five hours a week.
But this time, quarterback Case Keenum put the Broncos in the end zone. This time, Brandon McManus did not miss the winning kick and Denver was able to put an end to the mega skid of six defeats in seven games.
It was a win that featured some of Denver's youngsters in attack. Back Phillip Lindsay had another important game, exceeding 100 yards on the ground and scoring twice. Rookie Courtland Sutton rushed for 78 yards and had a big shot in the final.
This victory will not save the Denver season. This will probably not save the work of head coach Joseph Vance. But every day a team can defeat a divisional rival is a good day, and the Broncos reminded us in Week 11 that even though they may not be good, they are not terrific either.
15 of 32
Butch Dill / Associated Press
high: 17
Low: 18
Last week: 14
Result of the week 11: Lost 48-7 to New Orleans Saints
According to the television broadcast of Sunday's game with the Eagles and Saints, there have been eight cases in the history of the NFL where the reigning Super Bowl champion had a losing record at this point of the season. None of these teams qualified for the playoffs.
The Eagles are about to make nine to nine.
This Philadelphia lost to 4-6 in New Orleans is alarming. That he was canceled by 41 points, that's all the more. But the most alarming thing about these Eagles is the fact that there is no easy fix to get this team back on track.
The injury-ridden secondary is appalling at this point of the season. Even though the Eagles can run the ball effectively, they can not stay with that because the secondary is giving up the blocks games left and right.
The hard truth is that the 2018 Eagles are practically over. There will be no title defense.
16 of 32
Andy Lyons / Getty Images
high: 15
Low: 19
Last week: 13
Result of the week 11: Lost 38-10 at Indianapolis Colts
The last two weeks are the perfect microcosm of the 2018 Tennessee Titans.
When the Titans are good, they are really good. That was the case during week 10, when Tennessee opened a 24-point box over the AFC champions in Nashville. It was probably the most surprisingly impressive effort of an NFL team this season.
The problem is that when the Titans are bad, they are terrible. The Tennessee team that lost to Buffalo and was stunned in Baltimore made the trip to Indianapolis on Sunday, where the result was a game ended at half-time – not just because Marcus Mariota was hurt again.
"The Titans have duped me," Gagnon wrote. "I should have seen it coming in. Mariota can not stay healthy? Shocking! Tennessee can not maintain its momentum? No way! It's the same team that after a 3-1 start, was bothered by the Bills and Ravens in early October, the third best team in AFC South and only because the Jaguars imploded. "
Mariota missed the second half of the day with an elbow injury that cost her time earlier in the season. This nudge is suddenly a big problem for the Titans, because a week from Monday, Tennessee faces the Texans at the top of the South.
Yes, the Titans beat those same Texans in the second week with Blaine Gabbert in the middle. But that was in Nashville against a Texan team that was not playing as well as in his seven-game winning streak.
Besides, you know … Blaine Gabbert.
17 of 32
Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images
high: 14
Low: 16
Last week: 11
Result of the week 11: Lost 27-24 at Seattle Seahawks
Packers in Green Bay have problems.
After losing a double-digit lead Thursday in Seattle, the Packers are under the .500 mark at the 10-game mark. At this point, the Pack will likely need a repeat of the six-game winning streak of 2016 to avoid a repeat of last year's playoff miss.
It was a game filled with questionable decisions and questionable decisions from Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy. After a huge outing against the Miami Dolphins, halfback Aaron Jones only carried the ball 11 times. While there was only a little over four minutes remaining in the match, McCarthy chose to attack rather than try for the 4th and 2nd day at Packers 33.
Green Bay has never recovered the ball.
"It's been years," said Davenport, "Aaron Rodgers has been able to overcome Green Bay's weaknesses, to compensate for deficiencies in McCarthy's defensiveness and lack of creativity at the offensive, and it will not work this year. and that sounds like another season of prime minister. " is directed down the tubes. "
Gagnon agrees that the Packers look finished.
"I'm beyond the point where I refuse to count the Packers simply because of the quarterback's roadmap," he wrote. "This quarterback was just not enough, partly because of his bad knee, but it's also a poorly trained team, which lacks depth and has clearly fallen behind, not one, but two teams in his division, Green Bay's season is almost over, like McCarthy's tenure there. "
18 of 32
Patrick Smith / Getty Images
high: 14
Low: 16
Last week: 17
Result of the week 11: Won 24-21 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
For some time now, Baltimore Ravens fans have been demanding more and more rookie quarterback, Lamar Jackson.
Sunday, they had their wish. And since Jackson played in a three-point win over the Cincinnati Bengals, it's a safe bet that there's now a good controversy on the old quarter in Baltimore.
Jackson was not perfect. His statistics were correct but nothing more: 13 completed in 19 attempts for 150 yards with an interception. But as he did in Louisville, Jackson killed the Bengals with his legs, totaling 117 yards on the ground. 27 door.
Add the 115 yards on 17 totes that Gus Edwards picked up, and this was the first time since 2014 that the quarterback and the back for the same team have passed 100 yards in a game.
More importantly, the win brought Baltimore back to .500, ended the Ravens' three-game skid and allowed the team to overtake Cincinnati and take second place in the Northern Cup. AFC.
19 of 32
Scott Cunningham / Getty Images
high: 12
Low: 17
Last week: 18
Result of the week 11: Won 22-19 at the Atlanta Falcons
If you had said three weeks ago that the Dallas Cowboys would be flying in the east of the NFC from here to Thanksgiving, we would have suggested you drop some clumsy juice.
And yet we are there. After defeating the Atlanta Falcons with a setback in Week 11, the Cowboys are 5-5 and one game less than their division's Redskins.
The same Redskins playing Dallas on Thursday.
The same Redskins who have just lost quarterback Alex Smith for the season.
"With six games to go, my money is on Dallas to win the NFC East," Davenport said. "The eagles are spinning. After losing Smith, the Redskins have finished. Dallas has an outstanding defense, with Zeke Elliott and the team, totaling more than 200 rushing yards in the 11th week. Amari Cooper gave the pass game the boost it so badly needed. They will win at Thanksgiving, lose the next week against New Orleans, and then run to the table to finish 10-6. "
20 of 32
Patrick McDermott / Getty Images
high: ten
Low: 15
Last week: 12
Result of the week 11: Lost 23-21 vs Houston Texans
The Washington Redskins are over. Completed. Through. There will be no NFC East championship in 2018. The team will be lucky to be able to keep a wild card spot.
It is not that Washington won Sunday in front of the Houston Texans. It's a pity, of course. But the Redskins are still in first place.
In the third quarter of the game, Alex Smith, the Redskins quarterback, suffered a serious injury. Indeed, according to NFL.com, Smith has fractured the tibia and fibula of the leg and will require an end-of-season surgery.
To say that it is a devastating injury is a euphemism. The Redskins have not won with offensive fireworks this season, but Smith's departure to assist Colt McCoy is rushed.
As if this news was not bad enough, McCoy and the Redskins must now prepare to face the Cowboys, who are in second place for a short week.
He is about to become a miserable Thanksgiving for the team.
21 out of 32
Andy Lyons / Getty Images
high: 11
Low: 13
Last week: 19
Result of the week 11: Won 38-10 against the Tennessee Titans
It arrived quietly. Many of them did not even notice that the Indianapolis Colts had broken the funk from a 1 to 5 start to return to the margins of the playoff race.
After the Colts sounded the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, many people will probably notice the Colts.
The Colts dominated this game from start to finish. That's the case of Andrew Luck and the offensive accumulating 397 yards rushing or Darius Leonard and defense holding the Titans to 87 yards rushing and a decisive touchdown , it was the most impressive performance of Indy for a long time.
Note that it was the same team of Titans who eliminated the New England Patriots last week. That's what's missing from the Colts' recent winning streak: a win over a good (or at least a decent) team.
Before the season, it was presumed that AFC South was to lose to Jacksonville. Eleven weeks later, the Jaguars are the only team in the division not to participate in the race.
And Colts' week trip from Houston to Colts is now emerging as a potential game changer, especially as the Colts have a pair of winnable competitions by then.
"Je ne peux pas croire que je dis cela", a déclaré Gagnon, "mais les Colts pourraient être une équipe du top 10. Andrew extrêmement bien protégé joue un des meilleurs football de sa carrière, et ils ont assez talent en défense pour donner à Luck au moins une petite marge d’erreur. Je ne serais pas du tout surpris qu’ils dépassent les Texans de Houston et remportent l’AFC South. "
22 sur 32
Elaine Thompson / Associated Press
Haute: 11
Faible: 13
La semaine dernière: 15
Résultat de la semaine 11: A gagné 27-24 Green Bay Packers
Les Seahawks de Seattle ne sont nullement un verrou pour participer aux séries éliminatoires. Et il n'y a pratiquement aucune chance que l'équipe gagne la NFC West.
Mais après une victoire face aux Packers de Green Bay jeudi soir, les Seahawks sont revenus à .500 après 10 matchs et ont au moins le pouls.
La nouvelle identité de Seattle, fortement axée sur la course, porte ses fruits pour l’équipe. Après avoir écorché les Rams pour un total de 273 verges lors de la 10e semaine, les Seahawks ont amassé 173 autres verges au sol contre les Packers, une moyenne de 4,9 verges au sol. C’est cette capacité à courir le ballon et à contrôler le tempo qui a permis aux Seahawks d’affronter les quatre dernières minutes du match de jeudi, empêchant Aaron Rodgers d’organiser un retour.
Les Seahawks peuvent-ils se frayer un chemin dans une place pour les wild-cards? Nous ne savons pas
Ce que nous savons, c’est que c’est une équipe à laquelle personne ne veut faire face. Pas avec sa capacité à dicter le déroulement du match.
23 sur 32
Carlos Osorio / Presse associée
Haute: ten
Faible: 11
La semaine dernière: 9
Résultat de la semaine 11: Perdu 20-19 aux Lions de Detroit
Il n'y a pas si longtemps, les Carolina Panthers ressemblaient à l'une des meilleures équipes de la NFC.
Après des défaites consécutives contre les Steelers et maintenant les Lions, les Panthers semblent désormais n'être plus qu'une équipe qui n'a aucune chance de défier sérieusement les Saints ou les Rams dans la NFC.
Les Panthers sont capables de jouer à un niveau élite dans les jets. Pour une promenade ou un quartier ici et là. Parfois, Caroline met tout un jeu ensemble. Mais la cohérence robotique semaine après semaine qui définit New Orleans et L.A. semble échapper aux Panthers.
Sinon, ils ne seraient pas tombés à plat contre une mauvaise équipe Lions dimanche.
"Je croyais aux Panthers il y a quelques semaines", a déclaré Davenport. "Mais je ne le suis plus. D'abord, les Steelers se sont emparés de la Caroline. Ensuite, ce chien qui a joué contre les Lions en dépit du temps supplémentaire dont il disposait pour se préparer. Heck, même Ron Rivera ne croit pas vraiment en son équipe. J'aurais marqué le point supplémentaire à la fin du match de dimanche et joué pour OT au lieu de marquer deux buts (et perdre le match par la même occasion). "
24 sur 32
Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images
Haute: 8
Faible: 9
La semaine dernière: 7
Résultat de la semaine 11: Lost 25-20 à Chicago Bears
Avant la saison, les Vikings du Minnesota constituaient un choix à la mode pour remporter le NFC North. Les Vikings étaient également l'équipe la mieux classée de la division lors de la première semaine de ces classements en puissance, un classement qu'ils ont maintenu pendant la majeure partie de la saison.
Ce n'est plus le cas, car il semble de moins en moins que le Minnesota va remporter cette division.
En raison de la défaite de cinq points du Minnesota à Chicago, les Vikings ont maintenant une défaite de 1,5 match face aux Bears avec une défaite face à face. Minnesota a simplement été dominé des deux côtés du ballon à Soldier Field.
Offensivement, le jeu au sol du Minnesota était inexistant, ne gérant que 22 verges en 14 courses. La protection des laissez-passer n'était pas tellement meilleure. Kirk Cousins a été limogé à deux reprises et a lancé un nombre égal d'interceptions, y compris une défaite décisive en seconde période. Sur la défensive, la défensive tant attendue de Minnesota a permis aux Bears de convertir même 50% du temps.
Les Vikings sont une bonne équipe. Mais la nature unidimensionnelle de l'infraction s'est révélée très efficace contre l'élite de la NFL. Les Vikings ont maintenant affronté tous les principaux prétendants de la NFC dans les catégories Bears, Saints et Rams.
Minnesota a perdu tous les trois matchs.
25 sur 32
Marcio Jose Sanchez / Presse associée
Haute: 7
Faible: 9
La semaine dernière: 6
Résultat de la semaine 11: Perdu 23-22 contre les Broncos de Denver
Malgré six victoires consécutives et une fiche de 7-2 en début de semaine 11, les Chargers de Los Angeles n’avaient pas beaucoup couru en tant que prétendants légitimes au Super Bowl.
Des performances telles que la défaite à domicile face à Denver dimanche ne vont pas aider à changer la perception selon laquelle les Bolts sont un niveau inférieur aux Chiefs, aux Patriots et aux Steelers de l’AFC.
C'était des chargeurs classiques, en ce sens que c'était à la fois source de confusion et exaspérant. C'était une performance à plat face à une équipe inférieure sur le papier dans laquelle les Chargers ont devancé Denver de plus de 150 verges et menaient à deux chiffres en deuxième demie.
"C'est finalement arrivé", a déclaré Gagnon. "Les Chargers Chargés contre les Broncos, minimisant la concurrence à domicile. Difficile de leur faire confiance maintenant, car c’est leur mode de fonctionnement. Ils n’ont pas beaucoup d’avantage sur leur terrain dans cet étrange petit stade, et je Je ne crois pas qu'ils puissent rivaliser avec les poids lourds de l'AFC à Kansas City, en Nouvelle-Angleterre et à Pittsburgh. Ils sont probablement une équipe un-et-terminée avec un plafond de division, mais ils restent dans le top 10 parce que ils sont l’une des nombreuses équipes de deuxième rang peu fiables en ce moment. "
26 sur 32
Patrick McDermott / Getty Images
Haute: 7
Faible: 8
La semaine dernière: 11
Résultat de la semaine 11: A gagné 23-21 à Washington Redskins
Les Texans de Houston sont l’une des équipes les plus en vue de la Ligue nationale de football.
Si vous aviez dactylographié cette phrase au début du mois d’octobre, on vous aurait moqué de vous. Ridiculisé. Mockiculed, même.
Mais après avoir ouvert la saison 0-3, les Texans ont maintenant remporté sept victoires consécutives. Le dernier en date était une victoire sur la route contre une équipe de Washington occupant la première place.
Ce n'était pas un effort sans faille. Les Texans ont commis trois revirements et n’avaient que 4 sur 11 sur les troisièmes.
Mais comme ils le font depuis presque deux mois de suite, Houston a trouvé un moyen d’obtenir le but. Le match au sol s’élève en moyenne à 4,5 verges contre une solide défense de Washington. d'offense pour l'après-midi.
À 7-3, les Texans ont maintenant deux matchs francs d'avance sur les Titans et les Colts, avec une défaite face au Tennessee et à la victoire sur Indy.
"Il est facile de montrer où Houston se débat", a écrit Sobleski. "La ligne offensive des Texans est parmi les pires de la ligue, et la défense est carrément affreuse dans la zone rouge. Pourtant, cette même équipe a remporté sept matchs consécutifs après un débutant à 0-3. over the last two weeks, though. Bill O'Brien's squad is good enough to find ways to win, but the Texans are still a step below the AFC's elite."
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Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images
High: 6
Low: 6
Last Week: 8
Week 11 Result: Won 25-20 vs. Minnesota Vikings
It's officially time to say it. In fact, this is probably overdue.
The Chicago Bears are legit. As in, a legitimate contender to win not just the NFC North but also to represent the conference in Super Bowl LIII.
Sunday's win over the Minnesota Vikings really wasn't as close as the final score indicates. For well over three quarters, Khalil Mack and the Bears defense harassed Kirk Cousins and held the Vikes out of the end zone.
The Bears offense did its part as well, outgaining the Vikings and splitting nearly down the middle on the run-to-pass ratio. Granted, Chicago isn't as potent offensively as Los Angeles or New Orleans, but the Bears also have a much better defense than those teams.
Sunday's prime-time win may have opened some eyes where the Bears are concerned, but Chicago will have more opportunities to earn some PR points in the weeks to come.
Two of the Bears' next three games will be nationally televised, including a Thanksgiving tilt in Detroit and a Week 14 matchup at Soldier Field with the Rams.
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Frederick Breedon/Getty Images
High: 5
Low: 5
Last Week: 5
Week 11 Result: Bye week
If you know what happened to the New England Patriots in Week 10, let us know.
Actually, we know what happened: The Pats got waxed in Nashville by the Tennessee Titans. What we don't know is why.
It's not like the Titans have played great football this year; they just got boat-raced by the Colts. New England had been, though. After a 1-2 start, the Patriots peeled off six straight wins before suffering their worst November loss in years.
It's hardly panic time. This is, after all, the Patriots—no team in the NFL is better at shaking off a bad loss and getting back on track. But there were causes for concern in the loss to the Titans, chief among them that the Pats were wrong outplayed in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
By virtue of Pittsburgh's wild Week 11 win over the reeling Jaguars, the Patriots now find themselves the No. 3 seed in the AFC. As things stand today, they would do something the Pats rarely do: play on Wild Card Weekend.
Of course, there's still the matter of a Week 15 date in Pittsburgh with those Steelers.
The key now is to win the games ahead of that showdown.
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Gary McCullough/Associated Press
High: 4
Low: 4
Last Week: 4
Week 11 Result: Won 20-16 at Jacksonville Jaguars
Sunday's game in Jacksonville was a tale of two halves—halves that were polar opposites.
If you want to get technical, Jacksonville's dominance of the game continued into the third quarter. When Leonard Fournette scored to make it 16-0, it appeared the rout was on. Jacksonville's defense had been dominant, shutting out the Steelers and intercepting Ben Roethlisberger three times.
If NFL games were 40 minutes long, that would have been that…but they are not.
That the Steelers played so poorly for so long in this game is reason for a measure of concern. But the fact that the Steelers fired off 20 unanswered points to stun the Jags cements the team's status as one of the AFC's leading Super Bowl contenders.
Peut être.
"Just when everyone is ready to bury the Steelers after playing horrific football for three quarters against Jacksonville," Sobleski said, "the Jaguars remembered who they are and snatched defeat from the jaws of victory with another significant fourth-quarter collapse. A win is a win. Pittsburgh is vulnerable, but it's also 7-2-1 with no competition among the other AFC North squads."
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Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images
High: 2
Low: 3
Last Week: 3
Week 11 Result: Lost 54-51 at Los Angeles Rams
The Kansas City Chiefs are an amazing offensive football team. In Monday's thriller vs. the Los Angeles Rams, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes passed for approximately all the yards ever with six touchdown tosses as well.
And yet, just as was the case in Kansas City's shootout loss to the New England Patriots earlier this season, the Chiefs came up short. Became the first team in the history of the NFL to score more than 50 points and lose.
Partly, it was a matter of the turnovers. The Chiefs had five, all by Mahomes. He fumbled twice and was intercepted three times.
But the big problem—the elephant in the room for these Chiefs—is a defense that allowed 54 points, 455 total yards and offered no resistance on L.A.'s game-winning drive.
"The Chiefs are a very good team," Davenport said. "One of the best in the NFL. But I just can't see them winning a Super Bowl with a defense this atrocious. In fact, given the franchise's history of postseason disappointment, I don't think as things stand today that KC will even get there."
However, Gagnon thinks the Chiefs could have a chance at revenge down the road.
"The Chiefs went toe-to-toe with the Rams on the road," he said. "I think it's a tossup between the two, but I still think KC has a minuscule edge at a neutral site."
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Harry How / Getty Images
High: 2
Low: 3
Last Week: 2
Week 11 Result: Won 54-51 vs. Kansas City
In the history of Monday night football—well over 700 games—two teams had never combined for 100 points.
In the history of the NFL, no team had ever scored 50-plus points and lost.
Both happened in Los Angeles in Week 11.
It sounds strange to laud a defense that allowed 51 points and surrendered a staggering 546 yards, but this was just that kind of game. You knew going in that the Chiefs and Rams would score—a lot. Winning this game depended on the defense making a play or two here and there that would decide things.
That was the Rams, who forced five turnovers and returned two for scores.
If that game was a Super Bowl preview, then Atlanta can't get here soon enough. It was without question one of the most wildly entertaining games we've ever seen—and we watch a lot of football.
The most important takeaway from that back-and-forth brouhaha isn't that the Rams have an explosive offense. We knew that.
It's that an LA defense that's been under siege a bit of late can make plays when it counts.
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Bill Feig/Associated Press
High: 1
Low: 1
Last Week: 1
Week 11 Result: Won 48-7 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Just wow.
Since losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1, the New Orleans Saints have been on a rampage that would make Godzilla proud. That the Saints have now won eight in a row is impressive. That the last five have all come against teams that had a winning record à l'époque is even more so—especially given it included a road win in Minnesota and a victory over the previously undefeated Rams.
But apparently that was just a lead-up to their masterpiece, a 48-7 beatdown of the defending Super Bowl champions. It marked the single worst loss that any such champion has ever suffered, according to the Fox broadcast team.
It's hard to say what was more frightening: how thoroughly the Saints destroyed the Eagles, or how easy it was to do it. It's bad enough that the New Orleans offense moves up and down the field at will. But when the defense plays at the level it did in Week 11, this team is all but unbeatable.
Through 11 weeks, the Saints are the no-doubt kings of the NFL.
Who dat, indeed,
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