Week 11 of the NFL brought dramatic twists, with the reigning Super Bowl champions suffering their first loss, struggling teams sinking deeper, and kickers experiencing an unusually rough season. Here’s a breakdown of the week’s key moments:
AFC Shake-Up as Chiefs Stumble
The Kansas City Chiefs appeared poised to dominate the AFC after starting the season 9-0. However, their first loss of the season came at the hands of the Buffalo Bills in a 30-21 defeat on Sunday.
Buffalo, now just one game behind Kansas City, holds the critical tiebreaker due to this victory. Spearheaded by an MVP-caliber Josh Allen, the Bills’ offense showed its versatility, with Allen’s dual-threat capabilities sealing the game with a spectacular rushing touchdown. Their defense also played a pivotal role, intercepting Patrick Mahomes twice and limiting the Chiefs to just 259 yards.
Despite the win, head coach Sean McDermott and the team remain focused on the bigger picture. “This is not the finish line,” McDermott said. The AFC race is tighter than ever, with seven weeks to go and several teams in contention, including the Steelers, Texans, Chargers, and Ravens.
Season Over for Jets and Cowboys?
The New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys continued their disappointing campaigns in Week 11, suffering losses that may signal the end of their playoff hopes.
- Jets Collapse: New York fell to 4-8 after a late Colts touchdown handed them a 28-27 defeat. After Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending injury last year, the team’s struggles have persisted, even with notable offseason moves like acquiring Davante Adams. A big offseason looms as questions arise about their quarterback situation, with Rodgers turning 41 in December.
- Cowboys in Freefall: Dallas’ 34-10 defeat to the Houston Texans marked their fifth straight loss, dropping them to 3-7. Injuries to key players like Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons, combined with poor home performances, have derailed their season. With head coach Mike McCarthy under pressure, significant changes may be in store.
Kickers Struggling Across the League
Even the NFL’s most reliable kickers are faltering this season. Baltimore’s Justin Tucker, the most accurate kicker in league history, missed two field goals in a loss to the Steelers, lowering his field goal percentage to a career-low 71.4%.
Other kickers, like Younghoe Koo and Greg Zuerlein, have also been inconsistent, with a surprising increase in missed kicks across the league. The trend comes despite advancements in the kicking game, leaving fans wondering if this is just an anomaly or part of a broader challenge for special teams.
Full Week 11 Scores
Thursday:
- Washington Commanders 18-26 Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday:
- Green Bay Packers 20-19 Chicago Bears
- Jacksonville Jaguars 6-52 Detroit Lions
- Las Vegas Raiders 19-34 Miami Dolphins
- Los Angeles Rams 28-22 New England Patriots
- Cleveland Browns 14-35 New Orleans Saints
- Baltimore Ravens 16-18 Pittsburgh Steelers
- Minnesota Vikings 23-13 Tennessee Titans
- Indianapolis Colts 28-27 New York Jets
- Atlanta Falcons 6-38 Denver Broncos
- Seattle Seahawks 20-17 San Francisco 49ers
- Kansas City Chiefs 21-30 Buffalo Bills
- Cincinnati Bengals 27-34 Los Angeles Chargers
Monday:
- Houston Texans 34-10 Dallas Cowboys
Week 11 has left the playoff picture in flux, with thrilling games, unexpected upsets, and plenty of storylines heading into the final stretch of the season.
[Source: CNN]
