Week 11 of the 2025 NFL season kicked off Thursday with the red-hot Patriots beating the Jets. Rookie TreVeyon Henderson scored three touchdowns, moving New England to 3-0 in the AFC East.
Sunday’s action started in Madrid, where the Dolphins defeated the Commanders in overtime. In the United States, the Panthers forced overtime, then defeated the Falcons on a field goal. Meanwhile, the Jaguars and Steelers came away with dominant wins. The Packers snapped a two-game losing streak by beating the Giants, while the Bears and Texans won on field goals as time expired. The Bills also won a shootout over the Buccaneers, led by three rushing touchdowns from quarterback Josh Allen.
In the afternoon games, the 49ers easily handled the Cardinals despite an NFL-record 47 completions from quarterback Jacoby Brissett, per ESPN Research. The other two NFC West teams also squared off, as the Rams squeaked by the Seahawks after four interceptions from quarterback Sam Darnold. Meanwhile, rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders made his debut for Cleveland and fell short on a game-winning drive against the Ravens. The Broncos successfully pulled off a game-winning field goal against the Chiefs as time expired.
Sunday night’s game featured the Eagles defense stepping up to shut down Jared Goff and the Lions in a 16-9 win.
Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything else you need to know for every team. Let’s get to it.
Jump to:
DET-PHI | KC-DEN
BAL-CLE | SEA-LAR | ARI-SF
CAR-ATL | CIN-PIT | HOU-TEN
TB-BUF | CHI-MIN | GB-NYG
LAC-JAX | WSH-MIA | NYJ-NE
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Lions
What does this loss say about the Lions’ confidence with upcoming games against Green Bay, Dallas and the Rams? Detroit is in a critical November stretch and viewed this game as a “must-win,” according to Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, but big matchups remain on the team’s immediate schedule. Detroit is now 0-3 against Philadelphia since coach Dan Campbell was hired in 2021, and this game served as a barometer for where it stacks up against the league’s elite as it still has things to work on, including better efficiency on third and fourth downs and stronger protection from the offensive line. But the Lions were also competitive in a tough environment, largely due to their defense. Lions QB Jared Goff struggled, playing arguably his worst game of the season while facing heavy pressure but will return to Detroit for a three-game home stretch, which should serve as a confidence booster.
Trend to watch: Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams has caught a touchdown pass in three consecutive games, matching the longest streak of his pro career. He caught a 40-yard TD from Goff at 5:05 in the second quarter. Since Williams entered the league in 2022, he has nine receiving touchdowns of at least 40 yards, the third most in the NFL in that span, behind Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase (13) and Miami’s Tyreek Hill (11), per ESPN Research.
Best quote from the locker room: Dan Campbell talked about the loss by saying, “We’re right there, and we understand what it is.” With the Lions trailing by a touchdown near the end of the fourth quarter, the Lions coach added, “We understand if we make one or two more plays in certain areas, then you’ve got a legit shot to win that game at the end. So as bad as it stings, as bad as it is, we’re so freaking close.” — Eric Woodyard
Next game: vs Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Eagles
What’s the ceiling for this Eagles’ defense? Vic Fangio’s group is rounding into 2024 form, when it was the No. 1 defense in the league. The addition of Jaelan Phillips at the Nov. 4 trade deadline was huge. He finished with six QB pressures and a sack and was part of a defensive line attack that kept Jared Goff off-balance all night. It was a similar deal last week against Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers. And the Eagles seemed to save their best for money downs — Detroit was 0-for-5 on fourth down Sunday. The offense remains a work in progress, but this defense is starting to look championship-caliber.
What to make of the QB performance: Goff and Jalen Hurts played through a steady wind, which likely factored into some of the off-target throws, but Philadelphia’s offensive inconsistencies go well beyond that. Hurts was held to under 200 yards for the sixth time this season. His receivers had some uncharacteristic drops, further complicating things for a unit that has struggled to find a rhythm — a trend that continued even with A.J. Brown (11 targets) more involved this week. The city will celebrate the defense and lose sleep over the offense in the lead-up to next week’s game at the Dallas Cowboys.
Best quote from the locker room: Hurts boasted about his Eagles teammates and their performance Sunday night, saying, “The defense was playing lights-out; it was one of the best performances I’ve ever seen. So, a really, really big-time game on that side of the ball and to be able to do what they did on fourth down against a really good offense or a potent offense that’s capable of doing really, really special things, and I have a lot of respect for that.” — Tim McManus
Next game: at Cowboys (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Broncos
Is this the game that finally tips the AFC West the Broncos’ way? The Broncos haven’t had much success against the Chiefs in recent years. Since the Peyton Manning-led Broncos defeated the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in September 2015, the Chiefs had gone 17-2 against the Broncos and won nine consecutive division titles; the Broncos had beaten the Chiefs only once in a game Patrick Mahomes started. Denver tied the New England Patriots for the best record in the league (9-2) after Sunday’s win. More importantly, the Broncos are four wins ahead of the Chiefs and two wins ahead of the Chargers in the division race before Denver’s bye. The Broncos also had their fifth fourth-quarter comeback win this season.
Trend to watch: Since becoming defensive coordinator in 2023, Vance Joseph, who was head coach from 2017 to 2018, has been one of the league’s best at limiting Mahomes in the red zone. On Sunday, the Chiefs were just 1-of-4 scoring touchdowns in their red zone trips. Since the start of 2023, the Chiefs are 3-of-14 scoring red zone touchdowns against the Broncos, and 3-of-11 with Mahomes at quarterback. Joseph, whose defense leads the NFL in sacks (49), has consistently said a combination of mix-and-match four-man pressures, with a variety of nickel and dime looks “make a quarterback as great as [Mahomes] have to get through some layers as we get some pressure.” — Jeff Legwold
Next game: at Commanders (Nov. 30, 8:20 p.m. ET)
Chiefs
Will one-score losses doom the Chiefs’ chances to reach the postseason? Each of the Chiefs’ five losses this season has been by one score. This is the opposite of a year ago, when the Chiefs won 11 one-score games on their way to the AFC’s top playoff seed. After Sunday’s loss, the Chiefs will have must-win games the remainder of the regular season. It’s likely the Chiefs will have to win a close game — or two — to clinch a playoff spot.
What to make of the QB performance: One poor decision from Mahomes in the third quarter put the Chiefs in a difficult situation. Instead of throwing the ball out of bounds in the red zone, setting up a short field goal for kicker Harrison Butker, Mahomes tried to fit in an intermediate pass to running back Elijah Mitchell. Mahomes’ pass was intercepted, leading to the Broncos’ lone touchdown drive. He was later given his first chance to lead the Chiefs to a winning drive in the fourth quarter. On three consecutive passing plays, Mahomes threw incomplete twice and was sacked on third down. The Chiefs needed a better performance late from their quarterback. — Nate Taylor
Next game: vs. Colts (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Ravens
Should the Ravens be concerned about Lamar Jackson and the offense? Yes, because the Ravens needed trickery to pull out a comeback win over the 2-8 Browns. Tight end Mark Andrews‘ 35-yard touchdown run off a direct snap allowed Baltimore to overcome a lot of sloppiness. This is the second straight week that Jackson was out of sync. After throwing one interception in his first six starts this season, he totaled multiple interceptions in a game for the first time since 2023. The more troubling issue is finishing drives. Last season, Baltimore was the best in the red zone, scoring touchdowns 74.2% of the time. Over the past two weeks, the Ravens have scored three touchdowns on nine drives inside the 20 (33.3%). But the Ravens survived in Cleveland to remain one game back of the AFC North-leading Steelers.
Trend to watch: The Ravens’ troubling pass protection. This goes beyond Browns’ pass-rusher Myles Garrett, who wreaked havoc on Jackson. Baltimore has now allowed 30 sacks in 10 games, which is six more than it allowed all of last season. Entering this game, Jackson said the Ravens needed to “get as many hands and objects” on Garrett as possible. Garrett had four sacks, which are the most by a player against Jackson in one game. — Jamison Hensley
Next game: vs. Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
0:27
Mark Andrews fakes a sneak for Ravens TD
Mark Andrews lines up under center and spins away for a 35-yard rushing touchdown.
Browns
What’s next for the Browns and Shedeur Sanders after his NFL debut? Sanders’ long-anticipated debut came in a high-leverage moment, taking over for the concussed Dillon Gabriel with the Browns leading 16-10 after halftime. After completing his first two passes, Sanders looked like a rookie who had taken minimal snaps with the starting unit. To his credit, though, Sanders nearly engineered a game-tying drive. With Gabriel in concussion protocol, the door has opened for Sanders to make his first start next week.
Stat to know: With his first-quarter sack, Garrett became the first player in NFL history to record at least 12 sacks in six consecutive seasons. Garrett’s four sacks Sunday give him the lead atop the NFL with 15.0 sacks. Giants edge rusher Brian Burns is close behind him with 13.0. — Daniel Oyefusi
Next game: at Raiders (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Rams
What does this victory mean for the Rams’ chances to win the NFC West? In the week leading up to the game, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford said some people look at divisional games as “count[ing] for two,” but he looked at the game against the 7-2 Seahawks as a big matchup “because it’s the next one for us in the division.” But the victory gives the Rams a 66% chance to win the division, according to ESPN Research. The Rams, who entered the game with a 50% chance to win the NFC West, are 8-2 and 2-1 in the division.
Stat to know: The Rams’ defense had four interceptions Sunday, the unit’s most in a game since Week 16 of the 2022 season. Safety Kamren Kinchens finished with two picks and has four of his six career interceptions against Seattle.
Best quote from the locker room: Rams wide receiver Davante Adams said though the offense did not play up to its standards against the Seahawks, “It makes you feel even better knowing that you can play like crap, like what we feel [we did on] offense, and still come out with a victory against a really good team.” — Sarah Barshop
Next game: vs. Buccaneers (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)
0:27
Sam Darnold throws 4 INTs vs. Rams
Sam Darnold throws four interceptions in the Seahawks’ 21-19 loss to the Rams.
Seahawks
What does this loss say about the Seahawks’ chances to win the division title? It will be hard, unless quarterback Sam Darnold and the offense can stop the turnovers. Seattle entered Week 11 as the NFL’s third-highest-scoring team despite 16 giveaways, tied for the second most in the league. The Seahawks got away with it against lesser teams, but they couldn’t overcome four interceptions versus the Rams — even with their defense giving them chances. Per ESPN Research, the Seahawks’ odds of winning the division dropped from 33% to 19% with the loss. Seattle is only a game back of the Rams and will play them again in Seattle next month. The Seahawks need to fix their turnover problem in the meantime.
What to make of the QB performance: Darnold played his worst game of the season, and you couldn’t blame him if he had flashbacks to the Vikings’ wild-card loss to the Rams last January. The difference in this game was that interceptions — not sacks — were his undoing. Darnold has had some tough-luck turnovers this season, but his picks Sunday came from overly aggressive throws under pressure and into tight coverage. Darnold entered Week 10 with the NFL’s best Total QBR in part because he’s avoided sacks. He wasn’t sacked in this game, but he could’ve benefited from taking a few.
Best quote from the locker room: Linebacker Ernest Jones IV defended his quarterback, saying, “Sam’s been balling. If we want to try to define Sam by this game, Sam’s had us in every f—ing game. So, for him to sit there and say, ‘That’s my fault,’ no it’s not. It was plays that defensively we could have made … opportunities where we could have got better stops.” Jones then reassured that Darnold is “our quarterback. We’ve got his back.” — Brady Henderson
Next game: at Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
49ers
Are the 49ers poised to go on a run? After a 3-0 start, the Niners alternated wins and losses. But if they are going to string together some victories, now would be the time. In the next month, the 49ers will play Carolina at home, at Cleveland and then have a bye before hosting Tennessee. Of those three, only the Panthers look like a potential playoff contender — and the 49ers will likely be favored in all of those games. On Sunday, San Francisco benefited from Arizona penalties, special teams production and defensive takeaways. With quarterback Brock Purdy and receiver Ricky Pearsall back, the Niners’ offense has a chance to reach the potential it believes it has had all season. More complementary football like Sunday would put San Francisco in prime playoff position, heading into December.
What to make of the QB performance: Despite a few hiccups, Purdy looked comfortable in his first game back from a right big toe injury. On a day when the offense needed only to finish drives and take care of the ball, Purdy finished 19-of-26 for 200 yards with 3 touchdown passes and, most importantly, no turnovers. The challenges will get more difficult, especially in Cleveland, but it was a good first step in Purdy’s return from a six-week absence.
Best quote from the locker room: Niners right guard Dominick Puni didn’t downplay the importance of Sunday’s win with an eye toward San Francisco making a run down the stretch: “I think today was a must-win,” Puni said. “It’s a turning point in the season. These are the most important weeks of the season. So to go get a big win like that, put up 40 points. It’s a huge momentum swing for us. But we’ve got to show up tomorrow and get back to work. We can celebrate today, but we’ve got to get back to it.” — Nick Wagoner
Next game: vs. Panthers (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
0:21
George Kittle brings down his 2nd TD of game
Brock Purdy combines with George Kittle for his second touchdown of the game vs. the Cardinals.
Cardinals
How can the Cardinals become more disciplined and avoid committing 17 penalties? It all comes down to focus. Sunday was the most disjointed, unorganized and undisciplined the Cardinals have looked during coach Jonathan Gannon’s tenure. The more they can avoid pre-snap penalties and holding calls, the better. Gannon will say it starts with him, and he’s right, to a point. But the players need to play tighter and more focused to avoid days like Sunday.
Most surprising performance: Michael Wilson didn’t disappoint as the WR1 with Marvin Harrison Jr. out because of appendicitis and Zay Jones out for the year because of an Achilles tear. Wilson set a career high with 185 receiving yards, blowing past his previous high of 95 yards. He reached his previous career high in the last game of the 2023 season. — Josh Weinfuss
Next game: vs. Jaguars (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Panthers
Can the Panthers be an NFC South contender without a running game? Not unless Bryce Young shows he can carry Carolina in the passing game. Young managed to pull that off Sunday, passing for 448 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He is now 1-1 when passing for 300-plus yards, but is most effective with a solid run game. The Panthers were averaging 139.7 yards rushing before the Saints loaded the box to hold them to 70 last week. They had only 67 yards against an Atlanta team that gave up 323 yards a week ago. The schedule gets tougher from here on out, and without a run game, staying relevant will be tough.
Most surprising performance: Wide receiver Xavier Legette had one target and zero catches last week. He didn’t exactly light it up Sunday, but he had four catches on eight targets, including a 36-yard touchdown, to show he can be viable in the passing game. That helped free up rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan for eight catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns. — David Newton
Next game: at 49ers (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
0:23
Panthers top Falcons in OT
Ryan Fitzgerald’s 28-yard field goal gives the Panthers a 30-27 win over the Falcons in overtime.
Falcons
With a five-game losing streak, is this a lost season for the Falcons? There was plenty of hope in Atlanta coming into this season, especially with an offense that was projected to be among the league’s best. Instead, the Falcons haven’t found a consistent rhythm on offense despite standout performances from the likes of running back Bijan Robinson and wide receiver Drake London. At 3-7, they are now three games behind in the NFC South race. Atlanta’s underrated defense made stops late over the past few weeks, but the offense hasn’t been able to capitalize on them.
Trend to watch: Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was removed with 5:22 left in the third quarter after taking a hit. He suffered a knee injury and did not return. Kirk Cousins replaced him. The health of the second-year quarterback will be a major focus over the next few days. — Marc Raimondi
Next game: at Saints (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Steelers
What does Aaron Rodgers‘ hand injury mean for the Steelers? The quarterback exited the game at halftime after landing on his left hand late in the second quarter. The severity of his injury wasn’t immediately known, but Rodgers didn’t return to the sideline in the second half. Six-year veteran Mason Rudolph led the Steelers to a field goal and touchdown against one of the league’s worst defensive units. Before his injury, Rodgers wasn’t seeing the field well. Though he completed 9 of 15 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown and had one eight-yard scramble for a first down, Rodgers frequently held on to the ball too long in the first half. On the play where he sustained the injury, he held the ball for 5.5 seconds before throwing it away. Rodgers, who turns 42 on Dec. 2, played solid, yet largely unremarkable football in his first eight starts, but he has appeared to regress in the Pittsburgh’s past six quarters. Though the offense under Rudolph didn’t transform into a high-flying group, the unit still moved the ball and put points on the board, which could decrease the urgency for a speedy Rodgers return in Week 12.
Turning point: Welcome to Pittsburgh, Kyle Dugger. In his third game since being traded to Pittsburgh from New England, the safety returned a Joe Flacco interception 74 yards for a pick-six late in the third quarter. Flacco’s errant throw was forced by pressure from edge rushers T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig. The touchdown marked Dugger’s fourth defensive score of his career, tied for the third-most since he entered the NFL in 2020. Only DaRon Bland (six) and Kenny Moore II (five) have more in that span, according to ESPN Research.
Best quote from the locker room: What was Dugger thinking when he intercepted Flacco’s pass? “Somebody give you a gift like that, you got to make the most of it, maximize it for the defense, for the team. So that’s all I was thinking,” he said. — Brooke Pryor
Next game: at Bears (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
0:40
Joe Flacco throws a pick-six to Kyle Dugger
Kyle Dugger intercepts a pass by Joe Flacco and returns it 74 yards for a Steelers touchdown.
Bengals
With the Bengals dropping to 3-7, is Cincinnati past the point of no return? It appears that way. Entering this week, the Bengals acknowledged winning the AFC North was the team’s most realistic path to the playoffs. But that becomes increasingly difficult after the loss to division-leading Pittsburgh. Cincinnati needed the win to stay close to them in the race. With a daunting stretch ahead (versus New England, at Baltimore, at Buffalo and versus Baltimore), the Bengals could be looking at missing the postseason for the third straight year.
What to make of the QB performance: Flacco never settled into the game. It was not a game in which any quarterback had a dazzling passing performance, but he (23-for-38, 198 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) had his worst game since joining the Bengals ahead of Week 7 (a win against Pittsburgh). In his second game playing with a sprained throwing shoulder, the veteran quarterback struggled much more than he did in the team’s Week 9 loss against the Bears. A pick-six in the third quarter proved to be the turning point of the game, and potentially Cincinnati’s season.
Best quote from the locker room: The Bengals, including safety Geno Stone, were well aware that Sunday’s loss was a missed opportunity for Cincinnati to close the gap in the AFC North. “We knew what was at stake. We knew what we have in front of us. At the end of the day, we just gotta get ready to get better,” he said. — Ben Baby
Next game: vs. Patriots (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Texans
How far can the defense take the Texans? Even though the Titans’ offense struggles against almost everyone, Houston’s defense was dominating for most of the game. Tennessee couldn’t run (58 rushing yards) or throw (171 passing yards with three sacks allowed) the whole afternoon. The Texans’ defense continues to stifle opponents and should be the league’s best scoring defense once again after Week 11. With the playoff push approaching, this unit gives Houston a fighting chance at the postseason, even if it’s a small one, because it continues to keep games in range.
Stat to know: The Texans’ defense finished with a season-high three batted passes against the Titans. It was their most in a single game since they had five against New England on Nov. 20, 2020, per ESPN Research. — DJ Bien-Aime
Next game: vs. Bills (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
0:18
Matthew Wright drills game-winning field goal for Texans
Matthew Wright drills a 35-yard game-winning field goal for Texans as time expires.
Titans
Which players will the Titans need to evaluate going down the stretch this season? It’s time for the Titans to start identifying players who will be a part of the core going forward. They have a young group of offensive players to team with Cam Ward in rookie receivers Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike, along with first-year tight end Gunnar Helm, who has caught 23 of 30 targets this season. Tennessee has decisions to make on tight end Chig Okonkwo, who’s set to be a free agent, and running back Tony Pollard, who will cost $9 million against the cap in 2026. They need to figure out whether Tyjae Spears can be the primary back.
Turning point: The Titans had a three-point lead when they drove the ball to the Texans’ 36-yard line on the opening series of the third quarter. Ward had receiver Mason Kinsey open in the end zone on a corner route, as both Houston defenders went with Ayomanor on the clear-out route. Ward rolled to his right and threw an off-target pass to Kinsey that would have been an easy touchdown if accurate. The score would have given the Titans a 10-point lead, their biggest of the season. — Turron Davenport
Next game: vs. Seahawks (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Bills
Will the Bills find a solution to the run defense woes? It doesn’t look that way. This is the healthiest the Bills defense has been in some time, but another team put up a big performance against them on the ground. The Bills have allowed a league-high 17 rushing touchdowns this season and gave up 145 rush yards before contact to the Bucs — eighth most in a game this season. All three rushing touchdowns came outside the tackles, while 13 of 19 first downs by the Buccaneers came from running the ball. The unit did enough to win, but giving up big chunks on the ground remains a seasonlong concern. The Bucs finished with 202 rushing yards and 5.2 yards per carry.
What to make of the QB performance: Despite throwing two interceptions and having a few off throws, Josh Allen turned this game into a classic MVP-like performance with six touchdowns — including his second career game with three rushing touchdowns. It was his third career game with three-plus passing touchdowns and two-plus rushing touchdowns, breaking a tie with Kordell Stewart (two) for the most in NFL history. Allen went 19-of 30-for 317 yards and rushed for 40 yards on six carries. — Alaina Getzenberg
Best quote from the locker room: Left tackle Dion Dawkins was asked about the offense and Allen bouncing back from a rough start: “No blink,” Dawkins said. “[Allen] didn’t look the other way. He just looked forward, right. It’s never going to be perfect. I promise you. If the games were perfect, y’all would be bored, right? If there wasn’t flags, y’all would be bored. If there wasn’t anxiety or if everybody’s emotions weren’t high, y’all would be bored. So, hey, we’re gonna take what we get, guys are gonna continue to be unperfect and we’re going to play through the unperfectnism, as I made that word up.” — Alaina Getzenberg
Next game: at Texans (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
0:36
Josh Allen fired up after his 6th TD vs. Buccaneers
Josh Allen rumbles into the end zone for his sixth total touchdown against the Buccaneers.
Buccaneers
How concerning is this loss? The Bucs lost their second straight after a 6-2 start, but they’ve been here before, enduring midseason slides lasting at least three games over each of the past three seasons. They still went on to win the NFC South in each of those years, but they’d still like to avoid these slumps. They still remain in first place in the division, but with the Panthers (6-5) knocking off the Falcons, their lead shrunk to half a game.
Most surprising performance: Running back Sean Tucker. With Bucky Irving out, the third-year back had a day, rushing for 106 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries and adding a 28-yard touchdown reception. The surprising part? The receiving touchdown. Tucker, who came into the game with minus-4 receiving yards on the season, finished with 34 receiving yards on two catches. — ESPN staff
Next game: at Rams (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Bears
Can the Bears realistically win the NFC North? The Bears extended their win streak to three and remain in first place in the NFC North after picking up their first division win of the season. But this game had shades of the Week 1 meeting after Chicago blew a 13-point lead, allowing Minnesota to take a one-point lead in the final minute of the game. The Bears had six offensive drives get inside the Vikings’ 40-yard line, but only came away with 19 points. Chicago is still searching for how to put teams away sooner than the fourth quarter, but with the Bears’ schedule getting harder from here on out, a win in Minnesota was critical for maintaining its hold on the division lead.
Trend to watch: While receiver Devin Duvernay‘s 56-yard kickoff return and kicker Cairo Santos‘ game-winning field goal saved the Bears late, Chicago’s issues on special teams continue to make things too close for comfort. The Bears wiped away a 45-yard punt by Tory Taylor when cornerback Josh Blackwell was flagged for fair catch interference, gave up a 43-yard punt return that allowed the Vikings to score their first touchdown of the game late and missed a 45-yard field goal. — Courtney Cronin
Next game: vs. Steelers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
0:35
Bears win it with a FG as time expires
Cairo Santos gives the Bears a comeback win with a 48-yard field goal as time expires.
Vikings
Why did quarterback J.J. McCarthy stay in the game? McCarthy is the Vikings’ short- and long-term plan at the position. Their first three quarters Sunday were the worst of his season, and McCarthy didn’t complete his first pass in the second half until less than three minutes remained in the game. But throughout it all, he never seemed close to being replaced by backup Max Brosmer. Why? First, Brosmer is a rookie and completely untested. Second, the Vikings are committed to McCarthy, which at times — as coach Kevin O’Connell said last week — will require putting him in difficult situations. Had O’Connell made the move, McCarthy would have missed the reps that allowed him to spark an 85-yard drive to briefly take the lead in the fourth quarter. Consider it a sacrifice in the development of a quarterback.
Turning point: The Vikings defense never got a chance to protect the late lead McCarthy gave them, all because Bears kick returner Duvernay found a crease in the coverage and sprinted to a 56-yard return immediately after. The Bears didn’t need to get a single first down to have Santos in field goal range, and he won it with a 48-yard conversion. — Kevin Seifert
Next game: at Packers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Packers
Does this mean the Packers have turned things around? Hardly. It was a struggle for most of the game against a team that came into Week 11 with just two wins. The Packers trailed until quarterback Jordan Love hit wide receiver Savion Williams on a 32-yard heave on third down to set up a 17-yard touchdown pass to Christian Watson with 4:02 left. They still needed an Evan Williams interception in the end zone with 36 seconds left to seal it. Throw in another potentially problematic injury — running back Josh Jacobs (knee) couldn’t finish the game — and the Packers are not exactly humming despite snapping a two-game losing streak.
Trend to watch: The Packers had five drops in the first half alone — two by Romeo Doubs and one each by John FitzPatrick, Luke Musgrave and Dontayvion Wicks — giving them eight in a six-quarter stretch dating back to Week 10. The five drops matched the most by the Packers in a first half since ESPN began tracking drops in 2006. Through Weeks 1 to 9, the Packers had only five drops. Missed interceptions don’t count in the drop stats, but Carrington Valentine missed two in the first half, Javon Bullard dropped one in the fourth quarter and Keisean Nixon missed one on that same drive. — Rob Demovsky
Next game: vs. Vikings (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
0:30
Malik Willis finds Christian Watson for a Packers TD
Malik Willis gets a pass off in time to Christian Watson, who makes a touchdown catch with a defender all over him.
Giants
What did we see from the Giants under Mike Kafka? The Giants came out and fought hard for the interim coach. But it didn’t result in a win despite the Giants leading with less than five minutes left. New York methodically moved the ball through most of the game, but a Jameis Winston interception in the final minute ruined Kafka’s debut. With the interim head coach, there was a noticeably more aggressive approach. The Giants went for it on four fourth downs when they were down six points, stretching the third and fourth quarters. It’s apparent Kafka isn’t going to be playing conservative over the final six weeks.
Trend to watch: Wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins is back. After signing off the Steelers practice squad this week for a second stint with the team, he immediately became their top wide receiver. Hodgins played 78% of the snaps and caught five passes on six targets for 57 yards. That included a huge fourth-down catch in the fourth quarter that helped the Giants grab the lead, temporarily. — Jordan Raanan
Next game: at Lions (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Jaguars
Did the Jaguars set themselves up for a potential mini run? The Jaguars move to 6-4 after upsetting the Chargers, and they have winnable games at Arizona (3-6 entering Sunday) and at Tennessee (1-8 entering Sunday) before a Week 14 showdown against AFC South leader Indianapolis. What made this victory so impressive is that the Jaguars were down their top three corners (Travis Hunter, Jourdan Lewis and Greg Newsome II), top two receivers (Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr.), top two tight ends (Brenton Strange and Hunter Long), best offensive lineman (RT Anton Harrison) and best safety (Eric Murray). All of those players (except for Hunter) are expected to return within the next few weeks.
What to make of the QB performance: Trevor Lawrence‘s numbers weren’t impressive — 14-of-22 for 153 yards with a touchdown and an interception — but he was efficient, which may be more important considering he was without his top three pass catchers. Lawrence also ran for a touchdown, which gives him five this season (tying his career-high set in 2022). Aside from the interception, which came on a throw behind receiver Tim Patrick, it was a good bounce-back from a rough fourth quarter against Houston last week.
Best quote from the locker room: Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said his team was stewing all week after blowing a 19-point, fourth-quarter lead in Houston last Sunday. “It was a quieter week, and I think that was probably because we’re pissed off at the finish last week and we play better pissed off,” he said. — Mike DiRocco
Next game: at Cardinals (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)
0:17
Trevor Lawrence follows a big opening for a TD
Trevor Lawrence runs in the ball for a short touchdown to increase the Jaguars’ lead.
Chargers
Does this loss prove the Chargers aren’t serious contenders? The Chargers had won three straight games coming into Sunday, beating the one-win Titans, the Carson Wentz-led Vikings and the Steelers. But this stretch, ending with a loss to the Jaguars, is a microcosm of the inconsistencies that have defined this team. A deep playoff run for Los Angeles depends on which version shows up, and at this point, that’s anyone’s guess.
Stat to know: The Jaguars sacked quarterback Justin Herbert twice and pressured him 12 times (52% of his dropbacks). Herbert briefly left the game in the second quarter after he was driven into the ground by defensive lineman BJ Green II. The play was flagged for unnecessary roughness, but the hits on Herbert have moved past concerning. If the Chargers continue struggling to protect him, his health could be at risk. — Kris Rhim
Next game: vs. Raiders (Nov. 30, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Dolphins
Can the Dolphins claw their way back into the playoff picture? We would probably be laughed off the internet if we discussed this a month ago — but hear us out! The Dolphins have now strung together their first winning streak of the season and sit at 4-7 entering their Week 12 bye. They’ll return from the bye with games against the Saints and the Jets. If they keep their momentum, this win streak can realistically hit four games by the time they travel to Pittsburgh for “Monday Night Football” in Week 15; if they’re 6-7, not only will the Dolphins be social media darlings, they’ll also be firmly in the AFC playoff picture.
Turning point: Neither team looked like it wanted to win the game in the final minutes of regulation, but on the first play of overtime, Dolphins cornerback Jack Jones undercut a Marcus Mariota pass and returned it 8 yards to the Washington 33-yard line. The play set up Riley Patterson‘s game-winning field goal to send the Dolphins back to south Florida with a win despite questionable decision-making and time management at the end of regulation.
Best quote from the locker room: Linebacker Jordyn Brooks said Jones called his shot before the overtime interception. “If y’all stop the run, [Mariota’s] gonna throw it to me because he can’t throw,” Jones said. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Next game: vs. Broncos (Nov. 30, 8:20 p.m. ET)
0:28
Dolphins pick off Marcus Mariota, kick OT game winner
Marcus Mariota’s interception leads to the Dolphins’ game-winning field goal in overtime over the Commanders.
Commanders
What more could go wrong for the Commanders? Just when it looked like Washington could snap its five-game losing streak, the Commanders found new ways to lose. An overtime interception on the first pass by Mariota set up the Dolphins’ winning points. An injury to Jaylin Lane led to a new punt returner — and a fumble by Mike Sainristil. Washington would have had the ball at its own 40. But it followed a series that ended on a failed fourth-and-1 when Mariota’s pass to tight end Zach Ertz fell incomplete because the veteran slipped on his route. It has been that kind of season for Washington, which had 10 players considered starters entering the season sidelined by injuries or suspensions. And the losing streak has no end in sight.
Biggest hole in the game plan: Washington’s red zone offense. The Commanders failed to convert any of their three trips into touchdowns and it cost them. There was a false start on a fourth-and-1 that forced a field goal; there was a failed run by Mariota and the Ertz slip. Had he not slipped he would have been in position to score. The Commanders entered ranked 22nd in red zone offense. It cost them a game Sunday.
Best quote from the locker room: “I was going to walk in probably if I don’t slip like that,” Ertz said about his fourth-and-1 slip from the Miami 1-yard line with 6:06 left in a tie game. “A play I’ve ran probably 10,000 times in my career and never slipped like that. This is the first time they played an NFL game here. It was not ideal. There was a lot of slippage. But you can’t blame it on the field by any means.” — John Keim
Next game: vs. Saints (Nov. 30, 1 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Patriots
How does running back TreVeyon Henderson‘s role change when Rhamondre Stevenson returns from injury? Through the first eight games, Henderson was a complementary piece in playing 32.2% of the offensive snaps. But in Stevenson’s three-game absence, he has played 82.1% of the offensive snaps and scored five touchdowns. So with Stevenson on the cusp of a return, possibly as soon as Week 12, the Patriots have to decide how to split things up between their top backs. Perhaps it becomes more of a 50-50 split than it was prior to Stevenson’s injury, as limiting big-play opportunities for Henderson seems counterproductive.
What to make of the QB performance: Drake Maye settled into a rhythm early, completing his first 11 passes, the longest streak to start a game in his career. He was effective against the blitz, finishing the first half 5-of-5 for 41 yards and three first downs. Maye entered the game completing 69.1% of his passes against the blitz, ranking third in the NFL. He finished the game 25-of-34 for 281 yards and a touchdown. He was sacked only once, as his work in the pocket was some of his best of the season. — Mike Reiss
Next game: at Bengals (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Jets
Is it time for Aaron Glenn to put Justin Fields on the bench? The first-year coach has been fiercely loyal to Fields, but this feels like a quarterback change is possible. No one expected Fields to blow up the stat sheet with his arm, and he passed for just 116 yards against the Patriots. That makes only 505 yards in his past five starts, one in which he was pulled at halftime. Veteran backup Tyrod Taylor sees the field better than Fields and is more willing to push the ball downfield. He could throw more interceptions than Fields, but there would be more explosive plays.
Trend to watch: It was a rough debut for wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. Acquired from the Colts in the Sauce Gardner trade, Mitchell dropped two passes. He had a step on cornerback Christian Gonzalez on a well-thrown deep ball but couldn’t hold on. The Jets’ passing attack isn’t good enough to overcome killer mistakes. Nevertheless, you will see a lot of Mitchell for the remainder of the season. — Rich Cimini
Next game: at Ravens (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
