NFL Week 11 reaction: Notes and observations
We have some NFL Week 11 reaction to what was a wild Sunday of football, especially in the ever-wacky AFC playoff picture.
The weather is getting colder. The NFL playoff races are warming up.
With seven weeks remaining in the 2021 regular season, there’s precious little we know for sure. Among the topics? The New York Jets, Houston Texans, Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars looking forward to the upcoming draft. The Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks and Miami Dolphins likely should be as well.
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Conversely, the contenders are beginning to emerge. The Kansas City Chiefs have won four straight. The NFC is a five team race with the Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers all vying for a title. In the AFC, right some names on paper, put them in a hat, shake and take a pick.
Yet to that last point, the Chiefs are worth watching. The two-time defending conference champion — winning a title in that stretch — are starting to get their mojo back. Kansas City took down the Cowboys 19-9 at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday evening, sacking quarterback Dak Prescott nine times while holding Dallas out of the end zone. With a softer schedule ahead, the Chiefs could be peaking at the right time.
Staying in the AFC, the Tennessee Titans have some questions to answer. After going on an incredible six-game winning streak including myriad great victories, Tennessee lost a shocking 22-13 decision at home to the Houston Texans. Tennessee had five turnovers including four interceptions, costing it what should have been a sure win. Now, the Titans go to Foxboro to deal with the New England Patriots, who are red-hot and playing some of the league’s best defense.
Read: NFL Week 11 Games – Biggest Storylines From Sunday
In the NFC, give full marks to the Cardinals. Without quarterback Kyler Murray and receiver DeAndre Hopkins for a third straight week, Arizona beat the Seahawks 23-13, with Colt McCoy completing 80 percent of his throws. McCoy is 2-1 in his three starts, and with the Cardinals going into the bye at an NFL-best 9-2, they should be taken very seriously.
Finally, the Detroit Lions remain without a win. Once again, they were close on the road against an AFC North opponent. Although they couldn’t quite trip up the Cleveland Browns. This week might be Detroit’s best shot to earn a victory, with the lousy 3-7 Chicago Bears coming to Motown on Thanksgiving.
