NFL Week 11 Recap

Week 11 in the NFL has been run and done and The Pyrrhic's very own Jake Klausner has the most comprehensive recap you'll find anywhere on the web!

Thursday:

Patriots: 25 (7-4), Falcons: 0 (4-6)

Final Line: NE -7.0 Jake's Pick: NE

TAKEAWAYS:

• Thanks to a dominating defensive performance, the Patriots continue to trend in the right direction as they blanked the Falcons. The win on Thursday makes it five straight victories for the Patriots, as Mac Jones is quickly starting to look like Tom Brady commanding that offense. Honestly, it's pretty scary to watch; this team was mediocre at the start, but it seems like they have found their true potential. I'm not going to get ahead of myself, but I have a strong feeling that the Patriots could make a deep playoff run.

• Remember after the Saints' win when I was optimistic about Atlanta's playoff hopes? Yeah, that seems like a while ago. If Thursday proved anything, it proved that our offensive line sucks. Matt Ryan got no help from his line, as he felt the pressure from Matthew Judon all night. It also didn't help that the Falcons couldn't avoid the flags. To sum it all up, this Falcons' team does not deserve to make the playoffs.

WHAT'S NEXT:

• The Patriots are setting themselves up for a potential AFC Championship matchup next week when they take on the hottest team in the league: the Tennessee Titans.

• The Falcons will travel to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars. I will be in attendance to watch my team play. If we lose, I will probably fall into a bottomless pit of despair.

Sunday:

Ravens: 16 (6-3), Bears: 13 (3-6)

Final Line: BAL -1.0 Jake's Pick: BAL

TAKEAWAYS:

• Devonta Freeman's touchdown late in the game was enough to lift the Baltimore Ravens past the Chicago Bears.

• Lamar Jackson (illness) was unable to get away from the toilet, and as a result, the game turned into an all-out defensive battle. With Jackson out for the Ravens, Tyler Huntley assumed the role as starting quarterback. Huntley found out that morning that he would be that day's starter, so to say he was surprised was an understatement. Despite being above average for most of the game, the young QB showed some promise, as he led the Ravens down the field to set up three Justin Tucker field goals.

• After the Bears took the lead late in the fourth quarter, thanks to an Andy Dalton bomb, Huntley led the Ravens down the field for a 75-yard drive that included a 29-yard pass to Sammy Watkins, setting up the Freeman touchdown with 22 seconds left to go.

• As for the Bears, offensive playcalling continues to be the issue, as Matt Nagy's seat seems to be getting hotter by the minute. To make matters worse, QB Justin Fields exited the game in the third quarter due to a rib injury, although the damage doesn't appear to be severe. Without Fields, it was up to Andy Dalton to be the man, and he did just that, finishing 11-23, 201 yards, and two touchdowns. Despite a decent showing from Dalton, the Bears still came up short and have now lost five in a row. Dark times, indeed, in the Windy City.

WHAT'S NEXT:

• Ravens will look to build off last week when they take on Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns on SNF.

• The Bears will travel to Detroit for a Thanksgiving matchup with the Lions.

Saints: 29 (5-5), Eagles 40 (5-6)

Final Line: PHI -3.0 Jake's Pick: PHI

TAKEAWAYS:

• If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The Eagles stuck to their run-first approach on offense, and boy, did it pay off! They flat-out dominated the NFL's top-ranked rushing defense on Sunday. QB Jalen Hurts led the Eagles in scoring with three touchdowns, all on the ground. RB Myles Sanders added 94 yards on the ground, with Jordan Howard and Boston Scott continuing their productivity. Not to mention, Darius Slay returned an interception for a 51-yard touchdown. Make it three wins in their last four games for the Eagles; indeed, a team to watch out for.

• The Saints look lost without their best playmakers. Alvin Kamara missed his second-straight game and has lost three games since losing QB Jameis Winston to a season-ending injury. New Orleans was overpowered from the start as Philly's o-line dominated the interior for much of the game. The Saints did make it interesting in the fourth quarter with 15-straight points in the four to cut the deficit to ten. However, Hurts was able to put the game away with his third touchdown of the day.

WHAT'S NEXT:

• Philly will look to keep the ground game going next week as they travel to the Meadowlands for a date with the G-Men.

• The Saints have a date with Josh Allen and the Bills on Thanksgiving night.

Colts: 41 (6-5), Bills: 15 (6-4)

Final Line: BUF -7.0 Jake's Pick: BUF to Win, IND to Cover

TAKEAWAYS:

• In one of the many shockers of the day, the Colts destroyed the Bills on Sunday. The Colts have now won five out of their last six games, and it's in large part due to the success of Jonathan Taylor. The second-year running back torched Buffalo's defense, rushing for 185 yards and four touchdowns. He also added a receiving touchdown to make it five total touchdowns on the day. Not only is Taylor the lead leader in rushing yards, but he is also the leader in touchdowns. After Sunday's performance, Taylor became only the sixth running back to have five touchdowns in the past 30 seasons.

• As for the Buffalo Bills, they now find themselves in a lot of trouble. The offense doesn't appear to be on the same page, as Josh Allen hasn't looked like himself. They also don't have a true identity in the ground game, as Allen has been their leading rusher this season, but they are afraid to use him. A couple of weeks ago, a team picked by many to win the AFC now sits behind the New England Patriots and is in danger of becoming labeled a fraudulent team.

WHAT'S NEXT:

• The Colts play host to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next week.

• The Bills travel to New Orleans for a primetime Thanksgiving matchup with the Saints.

Lions: 10 (0-9-1), Browns: 13

Final Line: CLE -13.5 Jake's Pick: CLE to Win, DET to Cover

TAKEAWAYS:

• There isn't much to say about this game. Just look at the score! The Browns' offense did just enough, as Jarvis Landry contributed to the offense with a rushing touchdown, and RB Nick Chubb scored in his return to the lineup. Baker Mayfield didn't look right after being limited in practice leading up to the game. The QB said he is more "beat up" than at any point in his career. He still showed his toughness and gutted it out on Sunday. Overall, this was a much-needed bounce-back win for the Browns to keep them in the hunt for a playoff spot.

• That first win for the Lions will have to wait another week, as the Lions fell short, yet again. With QB Jared Goff (oblique) out for Sunday's game, Tim Boyle made his first career start, finishing 15 of 23 for 177 yards and two interceptions.

WHAT'S NEXT:

• The Browns travel to Baltimore for a critical divisional matchup with the Ravens on SNF.

• The Lions will look to get their first win next week when they take on the Bears for an afternoon Thanksgiving matchup.

Texans: 22 (2-8), Titans: 13 (8-3)

Final Line: TEN -10.0 Jake's Pick: TEN

TAKEAWAYS:

• I don't think anyone expected this outcome to happen, as the Houston Texans shocked the NFL by beating the hottest team in the league, ending their eight-game losing skid in the process. Led by QB Tyrod Taylor and his two rushing touchdowns, the Texans kept the string of upsets alive by once again proving that anything can happen in this league.

• With the Titans losing on Sunday, there is no clear favorite in either the AFC or NFC. The Titans had just come off a six-game winning streak, in which they knocked off five potential playoff teams. I guess the absence of Derrek Henry caught up to the Titans on Sunday. Ryan Tannehill struggled in this game as he turned the ball over four times. A.J. Brown also left the game early with a chest injury. This result, once again, proves how excited this year's NFL has been.

WHAT'S NEXT:

• The Texans return home next week for a matchup with the New York Jets.

• After losing to the Texans at home, the Titans have to rebound next week against the hottest team in football: the New England Patriots.

Packers: 31 (8-3), Vikings: 34 (5-5)

Final Line: GB -1.5 Jake's Pick: GB

TAKEAWAYS:

• The Vikings outlasted the Packers at home, thanks to a game-winning field goal. The Vikings' offense clicked on all cylinders as Kirk Cousins threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns. One hundred sixty-nine of those yards belonged to second-year sensation Justin Jefferson, who continues to dazzle the NFL with his play-making abilities. Dalvin Cook had 100-yards from scrimmage, once again, as Minnesota keeps their playoff hopes in the balance.

• Aaron Rodgers shows why he is a bad man, throwing for 385 yards and four touchdowns. With no Aaron Jones in the backfield, the Packers relied heavily on the arm of Rodgers, which seemed to pay off, thanks to a 75-yard touchdown pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling with just over two minutes left in the game. That proved to be more than enough time for the Vikings to run out the clock and set up a game-winning field goal. The loss takes the Packers out of first place in the NFC, but they still hold a firm grasp over the NFC North.

WHAT'S NEXT:

• The Vikings will go out west next week for a matchup with the Niners.

• The Packers have a highly-anticipated matchup against the LA Rams.

Dolphins (4-7), Jets: 17 (2-8)

Final Line: MIA -3.5 Jake's Pick: MIA

TAKEAWAYS:

• The Miami Dolphins have won three-straight games. I know it's the Dolphins, but still, three-straight is pretty impressive. QB Tua Tagovailoa played a solid game, finishing 27 of 33 for 273 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. The Dolphins are starting to play some decent football, but they have a challenging task next week against Carolina.

• Despite a valiant effort from Joe Flacco, the Jets couldn't get the job done. Flacco finished with 291 yards and two touchdowns, yet the Jets didn't get the win. As you can tell, I have no interest in talking about this game, as I didn't watch much of it.

WHAT'S NEXT:

• The Dolphins will play host to Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers next week.

• The Jets will travel to Houston to take on Tyrod Taylor and the Texans.

WFT: 27 (4-6), Panthers: 21 (5-6)

Final Line: CAR -3.0 Jake's Pick: CAR

TAKEAWAYS:

• The Washington Football Team ruined Cam Newton's return to Charolette by defeating the Panthers. QB Taylor Heinicke, who had previously played for the Panthers, proved to be the difference-maker in this one. The QB threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns, and Terry McLaurin caught six of his passes for 106 yards and a touchdown, giving Ron Rivera's squad a much-needed win in his return to Charolette.

• It was not the reunion Cam Newton was hoping for, as the Panthers couldn't get the job done. Newton did supply the home crowd with some big moments, throwing for 189 yards and two touchdowns and running for a 24-yard score. He followed that score off by running to the middle of the field, slamming the ball down, and doing his trademark Superman celebration. The Panthers had multiple potential game-winning drives despite those crucial moments, only to turn the ball over on downs. A disappointing result in Cam's return.

WHAT'S NEXT:

• The Football Team will play host to Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks on MNF.

• The Panthers will go to Miami to take on the Dolphins.

49ers: 30 (5-5), Jaguars: 10 (2-9)

Final Line: SF -6.5 Jake's Pick: SF

TAKEAWAYS:

• The Niners seem to have finally found a rhythm on offense, having won three out of their last four games. Jimmy Garoppolo threw for two more touchdowns, and Deebo Samual continues to show why he is one of the most explosive players in the league. You can line him up anywhere on offense, and the defense won't have an answer for him. The Niners' offense also dominated the time of possession, thanks to an opening drive that took up the opening 13 minutes of the first quarter. With the win, the Niners are now sitting just outside of a potential Wildcard spot.

• The Jags got outplayed on Sunday, as the offense couldn't do anything going on offense. The Jags managed 200 yards of offense on only 44 plays, tied for fifth-fewest in franchise history. There isn't much to say about this game, as the better team won in this case.

WHAT'S NEXT:

• The Niners will head back home next week to take on the Minnesota Vikings.

• The Jags will play host to the Atlanta Falcons next week. I've already mentioned I'll be in attendance for this one. Not expecting much!!

Bengals: 32 (6-4), Raiders: 13 (5-5)

Final Line: CIN -2.0 Jake's Pick: CIN

TAKEAWAYS:

• After dropping their last two games, the well-rested Cincinnati Bengals got a much-needed win on Sunday to keep them in the race for the AFC North. Joe Mixon got the ground game rolling with 123 yards and two touchdowns, and Joe Burrow connected with Ja'Marr Chase on a six-yard touchdown pass to help pull the Bengals ahead of the Raiders.

• The Las Vegas Raiders looked lost on offense. After a solid start to the season, Derek Carr has looked less than stellar. All of the unfortunate events in the past month have proven to be costly for the Raiders. It doesn't seem like the Raiders are close to getting back on track.

WHAT'S NEXT:

• The Bengals will head back home for a crucial divisional matchup with the Steelers.

• The Raiders will head to Dallas for a Thanksgiving matchup with the Cowboys.

Cowboys: 9 (7-3), Chiefs: 19 (7-4)

Final Line: KC -2.5 Jake's Pick: KC

TAKEAWAYS:

• The Chiefs seem to have complete control over all aspects of the ball. Kansas City was dominant in running the football as they dominated the defensive line. The Chiefs' defense showed up in a big way by completely stuffing Dak Prescott and the Cowboys' offense. While Mahomes might not have had the best game offensively, the Chiefs flat-out dominated this game the ole' fashioned way.

• The usually electric offense of the Cowboys was not existent on Sunday as Dak had no answer for the Chiefs' defense. Prescott only managed 216 passing yards and had two interceptions. Not to mention, they lost star wideout CeeDee Lamb in the second half after going down with a possible concussion. The Cowboys were already playing without Amari Cooper after testing positive for COVID.

WHAT'S NEXT:

• The Chiefs will go on bye next week. Their next matchup is against the Denver Broncos.

• The Cowboys will play host to the Las Vegas Raiders on Thanksgiving.

Cardinals: 23 (9-2), Seahawks: 13 (3-7)

Final Line: ARI -4.5 Jake's Pick: ARI

TAKEAWAYS:

• For the third-straight game, Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins were inactive. Unlike last week, the Cardinals were victorious this week. Colt McCoy finished 35 of 45 for 328 yards and two touchdowns in an excellent bounce-back performance. Recently acquired Zach Ertz had his best game as a Cardinal. The former Philadelphia Eagle racked up eight catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns in the victory. The Cardinals now have their upcoming bye to look forward to, as Murray and Hopkins should be able to make a full recovery leading up to their next game against Chicago.

• In my mind, the Seattle Seahawks have no shot at making the playoff at this point. They needed to win on Sunday to have any shot at making the playoffs, but it is now looking like that won't be the case. Russell Wilson has struggled since returning from finger surgery. With the loss, the Seahawks fall to 3-7 and are in danger of missing the playoffs for the second-straight season.

WHAT'S NEXT:

• The Cardinals will go on a much-needed bye next week. Their next matchup is against the Chicago Bears.

• The Seahawks need to get back on the win column as they take on the Washington Football Team.

Steelers: 37 (5-4-1), Chargers: 41 (6-4)

Final Line: LAC -6.5 Jake's Pick: LAC

TAKEAWAYS:

• Over the years, the Chargers had developed a knack for blowing double-digit leads. Last night, the Chargers were up 37-20 with five minutes to go in the game. However, the Steelers scored 17-straight points to give the Chargers the lead. This time, the Chargers had different plans, as Justin Herbert connected with WR Mike Williams on a 53-yard touchdown pass to put them up 41-37 with 2 minutes to go in the game. That score would end up holding as the Chargers' defense sacked Ben Roethlisberger twice to seal the victory. This season, five out of the Chargers' six wins have all been fourth-quarter comebacks.

• The Chargers' offense fired on cylinders in this game. Herbert finished 30 of 41 with 382 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. He also led the team in rushing with 90 yards. While Herbert was great, Austin Eckler was even better. The running back had four total touchdowns (two passing, two rushing), his career-high, and 115 scrimmage yards (65 receiving, 50 rushing). Altogether, the Chargers had 533 yards of total offense.

• Although the Steelers failed to get the win, they showed a lot of heart in this one. Despite being down by 14, Big Ben and the Steelers were unphased, as Roethlisberger led the Steelers on three-straight scoring drives to give them the lead. Although they failed at the end, it was the best they've looked on offense all season. Big Ben finished with 273 yards and three touchdowns. Rookie RB Najee Harris ran in a touchdown and had 39 rushing yards but left the game for a brief period due to a possible concussion. Harris would return for the final drive of the game.

WHAT'S NEXT:

• The Chargers will head to Denver next week for a divisional showdown with the Broncos.

• Like the Chargers, the Steelers have a massive divisional showdown next week with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Monday:

Giants: 10 (3-7), Buccaneers: 30 (7-3)

Final Line: -10.5 Jake's Pick: TB to Win, NYG to Cover

TAKEAWAYS:

• The Bucs got the win on Monday night, but they didn't do anything special in the process. Yes, Tom Brady put together a solid performance, but he didn't have many eye-popping plays. Brady finished 30 of 46 for 307 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He did have a nice run (for his standards) in the first half when he stepped into the pocket and scrambled for a first down.

• Rob Gronkowski made his return to the lineup after missing the last couple of games due to back spasms. Both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin had touchdowns in the win. The defense also looked promising as they played their first game without star interior linemen Vita Vea. Keep in mind: they did play the Giants.

• What little hope the Giants had of making the playoffs is now gone. They are just a bad football team that's hurting on all aspects of the game. Despite RB Saquon Barkley making his return after missing the last four games, the Giants looked sluggish on offense. Daniel Jones had 167 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in the loss. Barkley finished with just 25 yards on six carries.

WHAT'S NEXT:

• The Bucs have a crucial matchup next Sunday with Tom Brady's former adversary: the Indianapolis Colts.

• The Giants return to the Meadowlands, where they will face Jalen Hurts and the surging Philadelphia Eagles.

Jake Klausner covers all things sports for ThePyrrhic.com. Keep your eyes peeled for NFL Analysis, World Series Recaps, and more from Jake.

Follow him on Twitter @jake_klausner

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