What We Learned From Week 11 in the N.F.L.

What We Learned From Week 11 in the N.F.L.

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Kansas City 30, Chargers 27: Every time these teams play each other, they deliver. With a healthy receiving corps, Justin Herbert finally got to uncork deep passes, including a 50-yard shot to Josh Palmer for a touchdown. It was a reminder that Herbert can still be a force with just a bit of help. But, true to form, the unassailable Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce came alive in the fourth quarter, pulling off another come-from-behind touchdown connection that feels more routine than special at this point.

Bengals 37, Steelers 30: In his second game back from injury, T.J. Watt was a menace, snagging an interception of Joe Burrow that gave Pittsburgh new momentum while down by 4 points late in the third quarter. The Steelers cut their deficit to 1 point on a field goal, but Cincinnati scored on three of the next four drives. Still playing without receiver Ja’Marr Chase, Burrow leaned heavily on Tee Higgins and finished with 355 passing yards and four touchdowns.

Cowboys 40, Vikings 3: This was an unexpected rout so bad that CBS cut to a more competitive game with a quarter left to play. The Vikings’ defense didn’t put up much of a fight: Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard were a troublesome two-headed monster out of the backfield and Dak Prescott was nearly perfect as a passer, going 22 of 25 for 276 yards and two scores (both to Pollard). The 37-point beating moved the Vikings’ point differential to -2, an almost incomprehensible parity with their opponents for an 8-2 team.

Raiders 22, Broncos 16 (overtime): New play-caller, same Broncos. The quarterback coach Klint Kubiak took over play-calling duties for Coach Nathaniel Hackett this week, but the Broncos’ offense was more on Russell Wilson than ever. Denver scored its only touchdown on the team’s opening drive, and by contrast Las Vegas slowly chipped away at the defense. In overtime, Derek Carr connected on two throws of more than 30 yards on a three-play drive that ended with Davante Adams in the end zone.

Bills 31, Browns 23: It took a quarter for the Bills to realize it, but the Browns’ defense cannot stop the run. The Bills, one of the worst rushing teams in the league, registered 33 rushes for 171 yards, led by Devin Singletary’s 86 yards and touchdown score. Browns quarterback Jacoby Brissett had one of the best passing days of his career (28 of 41 for 324 yards and three touchdowns) but Josh Allen didn’t throw a red zone pick this week and that was enough to put Buffalo back in the win column in this relocated game in Detroit.

Eagles 17, Colts 16: A closer game than it needed to be, as the Eagles struggled to contain running back Jonathan Taylor early and Philadelphia’s passing offense was disjointed for large parts of the game. To wit, A.J. Brown fumbled in Colts territory during a fourth-quarter drive with the Eagles down by 3 points. Philadelphia ran the ball on its final nine plays, including quarterback Jalen Hurts’s 7-yard touchdown.

Patriots 10, Jets 3: This game had quarterback play that could make a viewer grimace. Mac Jones was sacked on the first play of the game and five more times after that, while the Jets’ Zach Wilson was sacked four times. The difference was Jones played a quick, clean game otherwise (23 of 27 passing, 246 yards), whereas Wilson kept throwing would-be interceptions that Patriots defenders dropped. The Jets needed make gains with runs and screens, but never really did so effectively, which forced Wilson into a lot of difficult situations.

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