Eric Williams
NFL reporter
After successful 15 straight relationship again to final season, the Kansas City Chiefs lastly misplaced within the largest recreation of the weekend: a 30-21 setback on the highway to the Buffalo Bills in what may have been a preview of the AFC title recreation.
Patrick Mahomes is now 1-4 in opposition to the Bills within the common season; nevertheless, they’re 3-0 in opposition to Buffalo within the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions scored 52 factors for the second time in 4 weeks, handing the Jacksonville Jaguars their worst loss in franchise historical past, a consequence that would lead the group to make main adjustments.
This weekend was additionally full of great missed photographs. The Kickers missed 10 discipline objectives in Week 11. These included two misses every by Cincinnati’s Evan McPherson and Baltimore’s Justin Tucker in shut video games misplaced by each groups.
And the Chicago Bears misplaced a heartbreaker when Cairo Santos noticed his 46-yard discipline aim try blocked by Green Bay’s Karl Brooks.
The excessive for this season, in line with my FOX Sports colleague Greg Auman, is 13 missed discipline objectives in Week 3. The gamers missed 12 discipline objectives in Week 10.
Overall, Week 11 was stuffed with enjoyable video games and memorable performances, so let’s take a better have a look at who’s sizzling and who’s not.
WHO IS HOT
Justin HerbertQB, Charger
On Sunday evening in opposition to Joe Burrow, one other first-round choose within the 2020 draft, Herbert put the Chargers on his again with a 34-27 win. The Oregon product did it together with his arm (297 passing yards and two landing passes) and his legs (65 dashing yards). The Bolts prevented the Charge when JK Dobbins scored the game-winning landing on a 29-yard run after Cincinnati erased a 21-point deficit.
Herbert didn’t throw an interception in a franchise-record 246 go makes an attempt, eclipsing his earlier mark of 233 makes an attempt from Dec. 26, 2022, to Oct. 1, 2023.
The win provides Los Angeles a three-game successful streak and places them among the many AFC’s high groups at 7-3, simply two video games behind Kansas City (9-1). Dobbins mentioned afterward that Herbert belongs within the MVP dialog, whereas coach Jim Harbaugh was succinct in describing his quarterback’s clutch play down the stretch.
“He didn’t bat a watch,” Harbaugh mentioned. “He’s extra cold-blooded than anybody.”
Anthony RichardsonQB, Colts
Benched for 2 video games in favor of veteran Joe Flacco, Richardson regained his beginning spot and led the Colts to a comeback victory in opposition to Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets. Richardson accomplished 20 of 30 passes for 272 yards and a rating. And he additionally ran for 32 yards, together with a 4-yard landing for the game-winning rating with 46 seconds left.
The Colts improved to 5-6 and are simply two video games behind the Houston Texans (6-4) within the AFC South. Indianapolis coach Shane Steichen mentioned he needs to see Richardson proceed to take action.
“We know the way gifted he’s,” Steichen mentioned. “He did an ideal job this week. He has to proceed like that as a result of we all know what sort of participant he will be on this league.”
Chris BoswellOk, Steelers
The AFC North goes to Pittsburgh. Kicker Chris Boswell made positive of that as he was chargeable for all 18 factors for the Steelers within the tight win over the Baltimore Ravens. Bowell kicked six discipline objectives, together with three from 50-plus yards.
Once once more, coach Mike Tomlin’s protection shut down reigning league MVP Lamar Jackson, whereas the Steelers held Jackson out of the tip zone on a failed two-point conversion.
Jackson is 1-4 all-time in opposition to Pittsburgh, and the Steelers at the moment are 8-2 of their final 10 conferences with the Ravens.
Taysom HillTHE Saints
The New Orleans coach led the NFL in dashing Sunday, dashing for 138 yards. Playing a number of positions, Hill had 206 complete yards from scrimmage and scored three touchdowns in his group’s 35-14 win over the Cleveland Browns. He turned solely the second participant within the Super Bowl period to have at the very least eight receptions, 130 dashing yards and three scores in a single recreation.
Hill can also be one among two gamers in league historical past with at the very least 25 dashing touchdowns, 10 receiving touchdowns and 10 passing touchdowns in his NFL profession.
Geno SmithQB, Seahawks
Seattle defeated San Francisco for the primary time in three years, and Smith was on the heart of the comeback highway victory. Smith led the Seahawks on an 11-play, 80-yard drive, punctuated by his 13-yard run for the game-winning rating.
Smith entered the sport 0-5 in opposition to the defending NFC West champions, and Seattle ended a six-game dropping streak in opposition to the 49ers with the win. At 5-5, Seattle stays in playoff rivalry in Mike Macdonald’s first season as head coach.
Geno Smith, Seahawks shock Brock Purdy, 49ers
WHO IS COLD
Justin TuckerOk, Crows
He stays one of the vital correct kickers in NFL historical past, with a profession 89.35% success price on discipline objectives, so Tucker is not going wherever. But 2024 continues to be a battle for the Ravens veteran.
Tucker was vast left from 47 and 50 yards within the first quarter of Baltimore’s 18-16 loss to the Steelers, the primary time since 2022 that he has did not make consecutive makes an attempt. Tucker is 16 of twenty-two discipline objectives (72.7%) and must appropriate that earlier than the postseason.
Raheem Morris, head coach, Hawks
The bye week comes at an excellent time for the NFC South leaders, after dropping their second straight recreation in embarrassing vogue on the highway in opposition to the Denver Broncos.
What is regarding for the Falcons is {that a} group with a defensive coach was torn aside by a rookie quarterback in Bo Nix. Yes, the Oregon product is enjoying properly, however Morris and the Falcons had no reply to Sean Payton’s offense.
A gathering with Herbert’s Chargers looms in two weeks.
Travis KelceTHE Chiefs
One of the various causes the Bills defeated the Chiefs is that they managed to remove Kansas City’s finest offensive weapon in Kelce. The future Hall of Famer completed with simply two receptions for eight yards.
Kelce had been an issue for the Bills in earlier conferences, with 36 profession receptions for 448 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns. But Buffalo lined Kelce defensively, forcing Mahomes to throw the ball elsewhere.
Maybe Kelce’s pre-game outfit was dangerous luck?
Trent Baalke, common supervisor, Jaguars
Jacksonville has reached the expiration date of the coach-GM tandem of Doug Pederson and Baalke. It’s by no means good when a group scores you 52 factors. Jacksonville’s gamers appeared disinterested.
At 2-9, the Jaguars have misplaced 4 straight video games and 14 of the group’s final 17 video games relationship again to final season.
The Jaguars are getting into their bye week and have a former coach on employees who can fill an interim function in Mike McCoy. Firing Pederson and Baalke now would give the franchise a leap ahead in its head coach/GM search.
Owner Shad Khan believed this was probably the most gifted group his group had ever fielded in group historical past, however the Jaguars have woefully underperformed this season, and that falls on the toes of Baalke and Pederson. It’s time to reset.
But hey, at the very least the Jaguars appeared good coming off the bus on Sunday.
Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, protecting the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN e Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams.
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