Thanksgiving week has finally arrived. Some teams are thankful for their successes so far this season, while others should begin planning their winter trips to Cancun. Week 11 was bizarre in the NFL. The Bills and Browns game had to be moved from Buffalo to Detroit due to weather. The Jets and Patriots game ended with a punt return for a touchdown, but that was the only excitement in that contest. The Panthers’ defense held Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense in check, however, Baker Mayfield may have taken his last snap in a Panthers uniform as his play was uninspiring – to say the least. The statement of the week came from the Dallas Cowboys, who beat the Vikings so badly CBS cut from the game in the third quarter.
Before we all stuff our faces Thursday, let’s recap Week 11’s action.
The Cowboys Dominate in Minneapolis:
The Cowboys were favored coming into their game against the Vikings, despite the Minnesota’s 8-1 record. It didn’t take long to see why Vegas picked Dallas to win. The Cowboys’ defense completely shut down the Vikings’ offense. Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott answered his critics, completing 22 of 25 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns. Tony Pollard did a little bit of everything, receiving for 109 yards and rushing for 80 yards. Vikings’ QB Kirk Cousins was disappointing – to say the least, throwing for only 105 yards with a QBR of 14.9. Skeptics of the Vikings will have plenty of ammo after this dreadful performance. Despite being 8-2, the Vikings have a -2 point differential for the season. How good is this team really?
Mahomes’ Magic Strikes Again:
Patrick Mahomes would be my NFL MVP after 11 weeks. Despite losing one of the top receivers in the NFL in Tyreek Hill, Mahomes has the Chiefs at 8-2 and the top seed in the AFC. Mahomes threw for 329 yards and 3 TDs, including the game winning touchdown to Travis Kelce with under a minute to go. The AFC West was supposed to be one of the most competitive division races we’ve seen in a long time, but the Chiefs will run away with it. For the Chargers, it was another case of close, but couldn’t find a way to hold on for a signature win. The Chargers still have a chance to make a push for the wild card, but injuries and tough losses have made this season underwhelming for this group. For now, the road through the AFC goes through Arrowhead Stadium.
Disappointing Day in the Big Apple:
It was a tough Sunday if you live in New York City. Both the Giants and the Jets disappointed Sunday with the Jets losing 10-3 to the Patriots and the Giants losing 31-18 to the Lions. The Jets awful was pathetic and Zach Wilson’s post-game press conference not taking accountability after the game was even more pathetic. The Jets are going to need to seriously consider possibly making a change at the quarterback position if Wilson doesn’t turn it around or it could jeopardize their playoff push. Daniel Jones threw 2 interceptions vs the Lions and the Giants had 3 turnovers as a team while Detroit had zero turnovers. The Giants can’t win turning the ball over at that rate and Saquon Barkley only rushing for 22 yards. The Giants will have to get it together in a hurry as they have a showdown vs the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day.
Quick Takes:
- Don’t look now but the Bengals have won 4 out of 5 and Ja’Marr Chase will be returning soon. This can be a dangerous team in the AFC.
- 49ers are going to be the team nobody wants to see in the NFC. They are getting healthier and the addition of Christian McCaffery has given this offense more juice.
Week 12 Games to Watch:
7-3 Giants vs 7-3 Cowboys (-9): The afternoon game on Thanksgiving Day is a key game in the NFC East and wildcard picture.
6-4 Patriots vs 8-1 Vikings (-2.5): Kirk Cousins hasn’t played well traditionally in prime time games and coming to Minnesota on Thanksgiving night is Bill Belichick and his defense.
6-4 Bengals (-1.5) vs 7-3 Titans: A rematch of the divisional round matchup from last year and a important game for both teams.