In some weeks, everything goes to plan in the NFL, where contenders win and pretenders lose.
Week 11 is not one of those weeks.
The Titans were stunned by a one-win Texans team. The Bills, who were considered by some to be the frontrunner to represent the AFC, were blown out at home by the Colts. In the NFC, the top-seeded Packers fell to the Vikings at Minnesota and the Cowboys got shut down by the Chiefs.
Well... at least the Jaguars and Lions lost?
But this is all part of another week filled with surprises and upsets, shaking up the power rankings once again. The first stop? We head back to the 313.
#32: Detroit Lions
Week 11 @ CLE: L, 10-13 | Record: 0-9-1
Previous Rank: #31
The Lions keep finding new ways to lose close games in the ugliest of ways. With Jared Goff injured, they were forced to turn to Tim Boyle as their starter. It went as how you would expect it to go. Boyle threw for just 77 yards, a pair of interceptions, and averaged a pitiful 3.3 yards per attempt. It’s not all that bad, however. D’Andre Swift has been a bright spot in a dark season, with 136 rushing yards and a touchdown. He ranks 7th among running backs in all-purpose yards, with 555 on the ground and 420 through the air. But the Lions are still looking for their first win of the season. Their Week 10 tie to the Steelers ensures that they will not finish 0-17, but when looking at their remaining schedule, their Week 16 trip to Atlanta to play the Falcons may be their best chance at not finishing the season without a win. They fought hard in their 13-10 loss to the Browns, but it is clear that their quarterback of the future is not on the roster. On the bright side, an argument can be made that they have more spirit than teams of similar positions as them like the Texans, Jets, and Jaguars, especially with a lot of draft capital.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
RB: D’Andre Swift
WR: Kalif Raymond, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Josh Reynolds
TE: TJ Hockenson
OL: Taylor Decker (LT), Jonah Jenkins (LG), Evan Brown (C), Halapoulivaati Vaitai (RG), Penei Sewell (RT)
DL: Michael Brockers (LDE), Alim McNeill (NT), Da’Shawn Hand (RDE)
EDGE: Julian Okwara (WLB), Charles Harris (SLB)
ILB: Alex Anzalone (LILB), Jalen Reeves-Maybin (RILB)
CB: Amani Oruwariye (LCB), Bobby Price (RCB)
S: Will Harris (SS), Tracy Walker III (FS)
ST: Riley Patterson (K), Jack Fox (P), Scott Daly (LS)
RS: Godwin Igwebuike (KR), Kalif Raymond (PR)
#31: Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 11 vs. SF: L, 10-30 | Record: 2-8
Previous Rank: #29
The Jaguars’ blowout loss to the 49ers was the second consecutive game in which they trailed 17-0 in the first half and their 6th loss of at least 10 points. While they showed signs of life in recent weeks, they didn’t have much of a pulse in this loss. The playmaker-deficient offense is putting Trevor Lawrence in a position to fail, especially against a team on the rise like the Niners. But despite being outclassed in every way, Urban Meyer is insisting that the team is making progress. “I love our quarterback [Trevor Lawrence], I love our owner [Shad Khan], and I love the fact that we have a good core group of players,” said Meyer, via the team’s website. “I was extremely disappointed with everything about today, but you keep going. You keep working. There are times we have played excellent football. Today wasn’t one of those days. ... We have another chance to prove to our home crowd that we love them and care about them. We’re going to play hard next week against the Falcons. That’s the way I look at it. I’m not going to panic. That was a very poor display of football in so many areas but go back to work and try to go beat the Falcons next week.” Yeah, no. Meyer can talk up his team all he wants, but the Jags are 31st in the league in scoring offense and 25th in scoring defense, despite all that (the other) Josh Allen is doing. Allen had three sacks, six QB hits and a forced fumble this past month, but they’re going to need more impact plays from him through a season filled with lows. Lawrence’s hyped up debut season hasn’t delivered the fireworks they hoped: He has just eight touchdown passes in 356 attempts and his QBR of 35.0 has him 29th among qualified starters. Combine that with the fact that the team is scoring the 2nd-fewest points per game and allowed the 8th-most, you’re not winning a lot of games. Someone, please, give him help.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Trevor Lawrence
RB: James Robinson
WR: Marvin Jones Jr., Laviska Shenault Jr., Laquon Treadwell
TE: Dan Arnold
OL: Cam Robinson (LT), Andrew Norwell (LG), Tyler Shatley (C), Ben Bartch (RG), Jawaan Taylor (RT)
DL: Malcom Brown (LDE), DaVon Hamilton (NT), Dawuane Smoot (RDE)
EDGE: Josh Allen (WLB), Jihad Ward (SLB)
ILB: Damien Wilson (LILB), Myles Jack (RILB)
CB: Tyson Campbell (LCB), Shaquill Griffin (RCB)
S: Rayshawn Jenkins (SS), Andrew Wingard (FS)
ST: Matthew Wright (K), Logan Cooke (P), Ross Matiscik (LS)
RS: Jaydon Mickens
#30: New York Jets
Week 11 vs. MIA: L, 17-24 | Record: 2-8
Previous Rank: #30
It has been ugly for Gang Green, mostly because of a carousel of ugly quarterback play... well, except for a blip of success from Mike White and Josh Johnson in consecutive weeks, but outside of that, not much else. The newest QB to be part of this carousel is Joe Flacco. In their game against the Dolphins, there were just a lot of mistakes, whether it be the missed opportunities or the seven penalties that came at the worst possible time. It’s basically summing up their whole season: For every good thing there is for the Jets, there are three bad things that show up. To be fair, he didn’t actually play that badly. On the positive side, the 36-year-old threw for 291 yards and two scores without an interception. Elijah Moore had his best game as a pro, with eight catches for 141 yards and a touchdown as he continues to live up to the training camp hype. And that’s good for the Jets, considering that the QB position for them has been shaky. Getting him involved more will help Zach Wilson or whoever is under center. Michael Carter, despite getting injured, is now a solid starter for them at the running back position, and Alijah Vera-Tucker has been good in his first year starting as the team’s left guard. If Wilson finishes on a positive note to end the season, the 2021 Draft class will go down as a masterpiece for the Jets and GM Joe Douglas.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Zach Wilson
RB: Tevin Coleman
WR: Corey Davis, Elijah Moore, Jamison Crowder
TE: Ryan Griffin
OL: George Fant (LT), Alijah Vera-Tucker (LG), Connor McGovern (C), Greg Van Roten (RG), Morgan Moses (RT)
DE: John Franklin-Myers (LDE), Shaq Lawson (RDE)
DT: Sheldon Rankins (LDT), Quinnen Williams (RDT)
LB: Del’Shawn Phillips (WLB), CJ Mosley (MLB), Quincy Williams (SLB)
CB: Isaiah Dunn (LCB), Bryce Hall (RCB)
S: Ashtyn Davis (SS), Elijah Riley (FS)
ST: Matt Ammendola (K), Braden Mann (P), Thomas Hennessy (LS)
RS: Braxton Berrios
#29: Houston Texans
Week 11 @ TEN: W, 22-13 | Record: 2-8
Previous Rank: #32
The most shocking result of Week 11 was the one-win Texans knocking off the AFC’s top-seeded team at Nissan Stadium. You can even argue that this game was more about the Titans losing than the Texans winning. The Texans had just 190 yards of offense compared to the Titans’ 420. However, when a team turns over the ball five times and the opponent has zero, the opponent usually wins. Regardless, this team is a lot more watchable when Tyrod Taylor is playing. He led the offense with some level of efficiency, scoring twice on the ground in one of the biggest upsets of the season. Ryan Tannehill was intercepted four times and the Texans made big plays and crucial moments despite getting blown out in total yards. Linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill told reporters that this win was huge for the franchise. “It’s just huge to get this thing rolling,” said Grugier-Hill. “It’s been tough. It’s been super tough. To come out here and get a big win on the road against probably one of the best teams in the AFC, that’s huge. So, we’re excited.” However, even though they won this game, they lost in a way, since the win, combined with another Lions loss, puts them 1.5 games behind the Lions in the race for the 1st overall pick.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Tyrod Taylor
RB: David Johnson
WR: Brandin Cooks, Nico Collins, Chris Conley
TE: Pharaoh Brown
OL: Geron Christian Sr. (LT), Tytus Howard (LG), Jimmy Morrissey (C), Justin McCray (RG), Charlie Heck (RT)
DE: Jonathan Greenard (LDE), Jacob Martin (RDE)
DT: Maliek Collins (LDT), DeMarcus Walker (RDT)
LB: Zach Cunningham (WLB), Neville Hewitt (MLB), Kevin Pierre-Louis (SLB)
CB: Desmond King II (LCB), Terrance Mitchell (RCB)
S: Eric Murray (SS), Justin Reid (FS)
ST: Ka’imi Fairbairn (K), Cameron Johnston (P), Jon Weeks (LS)
RS: Desmond King II
#28: Chicago Bears
Week 11 vs. BAL: L, 13-16 | Record: 3-7
Previous Rank: #27
Week 11 was a golden opportunity to steal a win from a Lamar Jackson-less Ravens team. There’s just one problem for the Bears, however. They, too, were short on players, including Justin Fields, who left the game with bruised ribs. When Andy Dalton tried to lead the Bears to an upset win, when it was all said and done, they once again found themselves in the same place as they have been for the 5th straight game: On the wrong side of the scoreboard. If they can’t dish out a win against a Ravens team without Jackson, nobody knows how many more wins they will pull out. Even though Dalton threw two touchdown passes, including the dramatic would-be game-winner to Marquise Goodwin with 1:41 left in regulation, the problem was that they left too much time on the board for the Ravens to lead a comeback. And the Bears defense flattened in the clutch, allowing Tyler Huntley to march the Ravens 72 yards to get the game-winning score in the last minute. It was so bad that Bears fans were even chanting “Fire Nagy!” during the game. The chants even extended to a Chicago Bulls game and during a high school football game where Matt Nagy went to watch his son play. With Fields out, it’s likely we will see Dalton under center for their Thanksgiving match against the Lions. The rest of the season is about evaluating their roster. All optimism by this point is dead. They now rank 29th in points for, 21st in points against, and they don’t have their best edge rusher in Khalil Mack. Nagy is on very thin ice.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Andy Dalton
RB: David Montgomery
WR: Darnell Mooney, Marquise Goodwin
TE: Cole Kmet, Jimmy Graham
OL: Jason Peters (LT), Cody Whitehair (LG), Sam Mustipher (C), James Daniels (RG), Larry Borom (RT)
DL: Angelo Blackson (LDE), Eddie Goldman (NT), Bilal Nichols (RDE)
EDGE: Cassius Marsh (WLB), Robert Quinn (SLB)
ILB: Roquan Smith (LILB), Alec Ogletree (RILB)
CB: Jaylon Johnson (LCB), Artie Burns (RCB)
S: Tashaun Gipson Sr. (SS), Eddie Jackson FS)
ST: Cairo Santos (K), Pat O’Donnell (P), Patrick Scales (LS)
RS: Jakeem Grant
#27: Atlanta Falcons
Week 11 vs. NE: L, 0-25 | Record: 4-6
Previous Rank: #26
Whatever playoff hopes the Falcons had two weeks ago have evaporated into the air. They don’t have the worst record in the league or even the NFC. But this team is BAD. In a five-day span, they were outscored 68-3 in consecutive games against the Cowboys and Patriots, the latter where they were shut out at home for the first time since 1988. In that same two-game span, they totaled 379 total yards of offense while giving up 739. The offense is empty of any sort of real threat, even without Cordarrelle Patterson. The run game is essentially nonexistent. The wide receivers were not great when Calvin Ridley was with them and are terrible without him. The defense is also terrible—only one team has allowed more points per game than the Falcons this season. And these past two blowouts confirmed the Falcons’ pretender status and should prompt a deep look at the team moving forward. The combination of a shaky O-line and an increasingly immobile QB is killing the Falcons whenever they face a strong pass rush. There are just too many holes for the Falcons to be competitive. A fresh start is needed for both sides. At least they hit on their last two 1st round picks in AJ Terrell and Kyle Pitts? Even though watching Pitts is more fun, Terrell looks like he could be one of the best shutdown corners in the league.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Matt Ryan
RB: Cordarrelle Patterson
WR: Russell Gage, Tajae Sharpe, Olamide Zaccheaus
TE: Kyle Pitts
OL: Jake Matthews (LT), Jalen Mayfield (LG), Matt Hennessy (C), Chris Lindstrom (RG), Kaleb McGary (RT)
DL: Jonathan Bullard (LDE), Tyeler Davison (NT), Grady Jarrett (RDT)
EDGE: Dante Fowler Jr. (WLB), Adetokunbo Ogundeji (SLB)
ILB: Deion Jones (LILB), Foyesade Oluokun (RILB)
CB: AJ Terrell (LCB), Fabian Moreau (RCB)
S: Duron Harmon (SS), Erik Harris (FS)
ST: Younghoe Koo (K), Thomas Morstead (P), Josh Harris (LS)
RS: Cordarrelle Patterson (KR), Avery Williams (PR)
#26: Seattle Seahawks
Week 11 vs. ARZ: L, 13-23 | Record: 3-7
Previous Rank: #23
The Seahawks have entered unfamiliar territory. There has never been a Russell Wilson-led Seahawks team struggling like this. After yet another miserable performance against the Colt McCoy-led Cardinals, they have now fallen to 3-7 and at the basement of the NFC West. Ever since his return from a broken finger, the Seahawks have scored a whopping one touchdown. This is their worst 10-game start to a season in the Pete Carroll era. Carroll was at a loss of words following the 23-13 loss to the Redbirds. “I’m just not any good at this. I’m not prepared for this,” said Carroll. “I’m struggling to do a good job of coaching when you get your butt kicked week in and week out.” Here, it is clear that Carroll sounded like a frustrated coach who knows he may not be coming back after this season. Wilson, however, told reporters that he remains hopeful that the team can turn things around despite losing three straight games for the first time in his career. “I’m going to look internally to see what can I do better, and then also, too, what can we do better collectively?” said Wilson. “So, the reality, though, is that I’ve been through tough times before, and I think about some of the tough moments I’ve gone through. There’s always something better on the other end of it. That’s what I really believe, and so the thought process of it, man, it can feel like it’s your worst day just as a team, as a group, and it can feel heavy and all that, but I do think that you have to have perspective and know that there’s still opportunity, and we have to decide and we have to execute on it, and we have to go do it.” At this point, the playoffs are a pipe dream. The offense is broken, and the team doesn’t have a 1st round pick as it is property of the Jets. Plus, Chris Carson is not returning this season, so they have to turn to Alex Collins, who has been arguably their most important non-QB for the struggling team. It’s not hard to look on if it is the end of an era. Now that they have lost five of their last six, don’t be surprised if Carroll goes hard on a style of football he trusts—running the ball. But this team is done. There’s a small chance they blow it up, especially if Wilson becomes even more dissatisfied.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Russell Wilson
RB: Alex Collins
WR: DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Freddie Swain
TE: Gerald Everett
OL: Duane Brown (LT), Damien Lewis (LG), Ethan Pocic (C), Gabe Jackson (RG), Brandon Shell (RT)
DE: Rasheem Green (LDE), Kerry Hyder Jr. (RDE)
DT: Poona Ford (LDT), Al Woods (RDT)
LB: Jordyn Brooks (WLB), Bobby Wagner (MLB), Benson Mayowa (SLB)
CB: DJ Reed (LCB), Sidney Jones IV (RCB)
S: Jamal Adams (SS), Quandre Diggs (FS)
ST: Jason Myers (K), Michael Dickson (P), Tyler Ott (LS)
RS: DeeJay Dallas (KR), Freddie Swain (PR)
#25: New York Giants
Week 11 @ TB: L, 10-30 | Record: 3-7
Previous Rank: #24
There was optimism for the Giants heading into their Monday Night match against the Buccaneers. The returns of Saquon Barkley and Kenny Golladay offered them their best compliment of offensive firepower. But you would have not known it to see Daniel Jones playing against the Bucs. He was awful against a Bucs defense that was exploited in recent weeks by Trevor Siemian and Taylor Heinicke. Jones had just 167 passing yards with two picks and a passer rating of 57.7, while Barkley could not get anything going on the ground, with just 25 yards on six carries. The same issues continued to plague the Jason Garrett-run offense that led to Garrett’s firing. While the Giants moved the ball well at times, the failed in critical situations. When they needed plays to get themselves back in the game, Jones vanished. Their only touchdown came on a possession starting inside the red zone, ending with a fat man touchdown to Andrew Thomas. Even with the returns of their guys on offense, it may be too late for the Giants to turn their season around. A primetime match against the defending champions is a tall order for any team, but the Giants really needed a performance that could turn their season around. That didn’t happen.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Daniel Jones
RB: Saquon Barkley
WR: Kenny Golladay, Darius Slayton, Kadarius Toney
TE: Evan Engram
OL: Andrew Thomas (LT), Matt Skura (LG), Billy Price (C), Will Hernandez (RG), Nate Solder (RT)
DL: Dexter Lawrence (LDE), Austin Johnson (NT), Leonard Williams (RDE)
EDGE: Lorenzo Carter (WLB), Azeez Ojulari (SLB)
ILB: Tae Crowder (LILB), Reggie Ragland (RILB)
CB: James Bradberry (LCB), Adoree’ Jackson (RCB)
S: Xavier McKinney (SS), Julian Love (FS)
ST: Graham Gano (K), Riley Dixon (P), Casey Kreiter (LS)
RS: Kadarius Toney (KR), Adoree’ Jackson (PR)
#24: Miami Dolphins
Week 11 @ NYJ: W, 24-17 | Record: 4-7
Previous Rank: #28
Regardless of their win against the Jets, the Dolphins aren’t really doing a lot. If they want to match last year’s win total, they need to win the rest of their games. But credit Brian Flores and the coaching staff for pulling the Fins out of a nosedive. Their 24-17 win over the Jets is their third in a row after the seven-game losing streak that ruined their season. But the rest of their season is more about 2022 if anything. And where next season is concerned, they have a franchise-defining decision to make: Is Tua Tagovailoa “that guy” under center? They have been linked to Deshaun Watson almost all the time. There were reports that the Fins were willing to offer three first round picks and two second rounders for the disgruntled QB, but they would not do it without resolution of the 22 civil lawsuits tied to the allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. For his part, Tua is making this investment look much more riskier. He had two touchdown passes, including a 65-yard strike, just six incompletions, and a passer rating of 108.7. The lone play of more than 30 yards made up for an otherwise sleepy offense managing just 4.9 yards per play on all other snaps against a broken Jets defense. He showed that he can be a viable starter in the NFL, but in the final six weeks of the season, he will need to light it up to pull the Fins out of the Watson trade talks.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Tua Tagovailoa
RB: Myles Gaskin
WR: DeVante Parker, Mack Hollins, Albert Wilson
TE: Mike Gesicki
OL: Liam Eichenberg (LT), Austin Jackson (LG), Austin Reiter (C), Robert Hunt (RG), Jesse Davis (RT)
DL: Christian Wilkins (LDL), Emmanuel Ogbah (RDL)
EDGE: Andrew Van Ginkel (WLB), Jaelan Phillips (SLB)
ILB: Elandon Roberts (LILB), Jerome Baker (RILB)
CB: Xavien Howard (LCB), Byron Jones (RCB), Justin Coleman (NB)
S: Eric Rowe (SS), Jevon Holland (FS)
ST: Jason Sanders (K), Michael Palardy (P), Blake Ferguson (LS)
RS: Jaylen Waddle
#23: Denver Broncos
Week 11 Bye | Record: 5-5
Previous Rank: #22
The Broncos are some sort of an enigma upon hitting their bye week. They faced a trio of bottom feeders to start the season and started 3-0. Then, as the competition stiffened, they dropped four straight. That followed up with two wins, including their most impressive win of the season over the Cowboys. However, any momentum they had faded in a lopsided loss to the Eagles. That loss came with Teddy Bridgewater’s non-tackle on Darius Slay’s fumble return for a touchdown. After that, there were calls for Drew Lock to replace Bridgewater, but head coach Vic Fangio shut down those calls. The Broncos are 20th in total offense and 23rd in scoring offense, so a late push for the playoffs is unlikely. Given that Lock has a livelier arm but a bigger penchant for turnovers, the odds for a change under center are not that good. Bridgewater isn’t out of this either. He has to convince his team that he is not just a one-year rental. He wasn’t able to do that last season with the Panthers, and he will have to show more over the final seven games of the season to convince the Broncos he should be part of their 2022 plans. He is liked and well-respected in the locker room and in the league, but the soon-to-be free agent may be looking at his 5th team if he can’t deliver a surge that has them make an unlikely late push for the playoffs.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Teddy Bridgewater
RB: Melvin Gordon III
WR: Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick
TE: Noah Fant
OL: Calvin Anderson (LT), Dalton Risner (LG), Lloyd Cushenberry III (C), Quinn Meinerz (RG), Bobby Massie (RT)
DL: Shelby Harris (LDE), Mike Purcell (NT), Dre’Mont Jones (RDE)
EDGE: Bradley Chubb (WLB), Stephen Weatherly (SLB)
ILB: Kenny Young (LILB), Baron Browning (RILB)
CB: Ronald Darby (LCB), Pat Surtain II (RCB)
S: Kareem Jackson (SS), Justin Simmons (FS)
ST: Brandon McManus (K), Sam Martin (P), Jacob Bobenmoyer (LS)
RS: Diontae Spencer
#22: Las Vegas Raiders
Week 11 vs. CIN: L, 13-32 | Record: 5-5
Previous Rank: #19
They’re doing it again. When the Raiders hit their bye week, they were 5-2 that appeared to be in position to contend for an AFC West title despite all the controversies they faced. Not much has gone right ever since that bye. After getting waxed by the Bengals, they have now dropped three in a row to get back down to .500 for the season and fall into a tie with the Broncos for the bottom of the division. This can be traced to an offense that hasn’t been the same since Henry Ruggs III last took the field. They managed just 278 total yards of offense and 13 first downs while converting just one of seven 3rd downs. They were also plagued by mistakes, whether it be the two turnovers or the penalties that extended Bengals drives. The absence of Ruggs is impossible to overlook, but the struggles extend beyond just one player. Derek Carr admitted to reporters after the game that they need to get things figured out quickly. “The men in our room, the way we work, the way we go after things, it shouldn’t always end like this,” said Carr. “We have another one in a few days against a really good football team. If we don’t want to stand up here and have to do this again, we better get it right.” That game against the Cowboys in Thanksgiving comes before trips to Kansas City and Cleveland. They’re going to have to find a way to stop their skid and win some of those matches.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Derek Carr
RB: Josh Jacobs
WR: Bryan Edwards, Zay Jones, Hunter Renfrow
TE: Darren Waller
OL: Kolton Miller (LT), John Simpson (LG), Andre James (C), Alex Leatherwood (RG), Brandon Parker (RT)
DE: Maxx Crosby (LDE), Yannick Ngakoue (RDE)
DT: Johnathan Hankins (LDT), Quinton Jefferson (RDT)
LB: Cory Littleton (WLB), Denzel Perryman (MLB), KJ Wright (SLB)
CB: Nate Hobbs (LCB), Casey Hayward Jr. (RCB)
S: Johnathan Abram (SS), Tre’von Moehrig (FS)
ST: Daniel Carlson (K), AJ Cole III (P), Trent Sieg (LS)
RS: Kenyan Drake (KR), Hunter Renfrow (PR)
#21: Carolina Panthers
Week 11 vs. WSH: L, 21-27 | Record: 5-6
Previous Rank: #18
Life comes full circle. Last year, Matt Rhule made the decision to move on from longtime Panthers QB Cam Newton. After one year with Teddy Bridgewater, the decision was made to replace him with Sam Darnold. Then, when Darnold got hurt after struggling, the Panthers filled in the hole by signing... Cam Newton. Their game against Washington was the first start of the second Newton era. While he played well in his return to Bank of America Stadium (189 passing yards, two touchdowns, and a passer rating of 120.5), the problem came with a former Panther. And no, it wasn’t with former Panthers head coach Ron Rivera. It has more to do with Newton’s former backup: Taylor Heinicke. He lit up the Panthers defense to the tune of three touchdown passes and had Washington outgain the Panthers in total yards—369 to 297. The Panthers defense also could not make key stops on a pair of Washington field goals from another former Panther: Joey Slye. This game is a reminder that while the Panthers are not a bad team, they’re not a good one either. Even so, while running backs may not have the value they once had, there’s no doubting the importance of Christian McCaffrey, who has been averaging over 120 yards of offense in his last three games since returning from injury. If he stays healthy, the Panthers can make a case for a wild card spot. They are up against the Dolphins and Falcons next, the latter who they will face after their bye week, so there is a good chance they will be 7-6 after those games.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Cam Newton
RB: Christian McCaffrey
WR: DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, Brandon Zylstra
TE: Ian Thomas
OL: Dennis Daley (LT), Michael Jordan (LG), Pat Elflein (C), John Miller (RG), Taylor Moton (RT)
DL: Brian Burns (LDE), Derrick Brown (NT), Morgan Fox (RDE)
LB: Shaq Thompson (WLB), Jermaine Carter Jr. (MLB), Haason Reddick (SLB)
CB: Donte Jackson (LCB), Stephon Gilmore (RCB), AJ Bouye (NB)
S: Juston Burris (SS), Jeremy Chinn (FS)
ST: Zane Gonzalez (K), Lachlan Edwards (P), JJ Jansen (LS)
RS: Ameer Abdullah (KR), Alex Erickson (PR)
#20: Washington Football Team
Week 11 @ CAR: W, 27-21 | Record: 4-6
Previous Rank: #25
It’s been mostly a disappointing season for Washington. But after winning just two of eight games before the bye, they had their most impressive win of the season in Week 10 with their upset over the Buccaneers. They later built on that win by doing something they haven’t done this season: Winning consecutive games. While it was a homecoming game for Panthers QB Cam Newton, it was also a homecoming for his backup-turned-starter Taylor Heinicke, who started the first game of his NFL career for the Panthers in 2018. After throwing three touchdown passes and outplaying Newton, former teammate Donte Jackson praised Heinicke on his improvement. “You can always count on him to be a fighter, a competitor,” said Jackson. “He just plays to win. It doesn’t matter if he has to hand it off 100 times or throw it 100 times. He really competed for those guys today.” While Heinicke may not be the most talented QB in the league, he plays like the world is against him. He made big throws throughout the match and has been sharply efficient, with a 77.8 completion percentage and a four-to-zero touchdown-to-interception ratio ni the past two games, sending a message to the same Panthers team that saw him as an expendable. The defense, despite losing Chase Young, allowed fewer than 300 yards in both games. The mini-win streak is not really that likely to get them back in the playoff race, though, as they are just too far off the pace in the NFC East and has too many teams ahead of them in the wild card race. But at least they are showing signs of fight.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Taylor Heinicke
RB: Antonio Gibson
WR: Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, Adam Humphries
TE: John Bates
OL: Charles Leno Jr. (LT), Ereck Flowers (LG), Keith Ismael (C), Brandon Scherff (RG), Saahdiq Charles (RT)
DE: James Smith-Williams (LDE), Casey Toohill (RDE)
DT: Da’Ron Payne (LDT), Jonathan Allen (RDT)
LB: Cole Holcomb (WLB), Jamin Davis (MLB), Khaleke Hudson (SLB)
CB: Kendall Fuller (LCB), William Jackson III (RCB)
S: Landon Collins (SS), Kamren Curl (FS)
ST: Brian Johnson (K), Tress Way (P), Camaron Cheeseman (LS)
RS: DeAndre Carter
#19: New Orleans Saints
Week 11 @ PHI: L, 29-40 | Record: 5-5
Previous Rank: #14
Despite not having Michael Thomas with them, the Saints have kept winning. Despite Jameis Winston suffering a season-ending injury and despite Alvin Kamara being sidelined in the last two games, the Saints have kept on win—oh wait. They are now winless in three straight games since Winston left with an injury, and all the injuries across the roster have turned the Saints vulnerable. They played without Kamara, Terron Armstead, and Ryan Ramczyk against the Eagles, and the result was ugly. Offensively, a sloppy Saints offense turned the ball over three times, including two gross interceptions from Trevor Siemian, one returned for a touchdown, and did most of his work in garbage time. Defensively, the Saints’ top-ranked run defense was gashed for 242 yards on the ground and let the Eagles convert 12 of 21 3rd downs. If the season ended today, the Saints would finish as the 7th seed in the NFC, but given how they are playing, that may be a tall task. They host a Bills team furious about getting blown out by the Colts before a second straight Thursday nighter against a similarly angry Cowboys team. They need a spark, and that could start with either turn the starting job over to Taysom Hill or convincing Philip Rivers to come out of retirement to lead the QB helm.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Trevor Siemian
RB: Tony Jones Jr.
WR: Marquez Callaway, Tre’Quan Smith, Deonte Harris
TE: Nick Vannett
OL: Terron Armstead (LT), Calvin Throckmorton (LG), Erik McCoy (C), Cesar Ruiz (RG), James Hurst (RT)
DE: Cameron Jordan (LDE), Carl Granderson (RDE)
DT: David Onyemata (LDT), Shy Tuttle (RDT)
LB: Kwon Alexander (LILB), Demario Davis (RILB)
CB: Paulson Adebo (LCB), Marshon Lattimore (RCB), PJ Williams (NB)
S: Malcolm Jenkins (SS), Marcus Williams (FS)
ST: Brett Maher (K), Blake Gillikin (P), Zach Wood (LS)
RS: Deonte Harris
#18: Philadelphia Eagles
Week 11 vs. NO: W, 40-29 | Record: 5-6
Previous Rank: #21
Nick Sirianni and the Eagles may have figured something out as of late. After starting the season 2-5, they have now won three of their last four games to get back to within one game of .500. The recipe for success is simple: Keep running the ball. Facing the top-ranked defense in rushing yards allowed per game in the Saints, the Eagles were absolutely dominant on the ground: 242 yards on a mind-blowing 50 carries. Given all of that, it should be no surprise that they dominated the tempo of the game—they possessed the ball for over 37 minutes. Jalen Hurts even accounted for three touchdowns—all of them on the ground. This win is of personal significance to Sirianni, who finally has his first win at home in five tries. Miles Sanders, who had 94 yards in his first game back from injury, spoke to reporters about Hurts and the stout O-line that have both contributed to the success on the ground. “It’s a big impact,” said Sanders. “It opens up big holes for all of us. Having Jalen makes it 10 times easier, but you have to give credit to the offensive line.” Not often do you see teams run the ball 50 times in today’s NFL. But don’t deny that Philly’s dedication to the run is paying dividends. While their next two games are on the road, their matchups against the Giants and Jets present a real opportunity to hit the bye at 7-6 and in the wild card conversation. While they still have some flaws, Hurts has improved greatly, and they may have enough to possibly even fight for the NFC East title. They’re still going to have to pass the ball often, even if they have averaged 20 pass attempts in their last four games. This is when DeVonta Smith comes in, who ranks second among rookies in receiving yards, and has 243 yards and three touchdowns in his last three games. There’s still work to be done, but as of now, they are a player in the NFC wild card race.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Jalen Hurts
RB: Miles Sanders
WR: DeVonta Smith, Quez Watkins, Jalen Reagor
TE: Dallas Goedert
OL: Jordan Mailata (LT), Landon Dickerson (LG), Jason Kelce (C), Jack Driscoll (RG), Lane Johnson (RT)
DE: Josh Sweat (LDE), Derek Barnett (RDE)
DT: Javon Hargrave (LDT), Fletcher Cox (RDT)
LB: Alex Singleton (WLB), TJ Edwards (MLB), Genard Avery (SLB)
CB: Darius Slay Jr. (LCB), Avonte Maddox (RCB)
S: K’Von Wallace (SS), Anthony Harris (FS)
ST: Jake Elliott (K), Arryn Siposs (P), Rick Lovato (FS)
RS: Jalen Reagor
#17: San Francisco 49ers
Week 11 @ JAX: W, 30-10 | Record: 5-5
Previous Rank: #20
The 49ers are back in the playoff race. Last week, they had their biggest win of the season, pounding the Rams by three touchdowns. Winning in similar fashion against the lowly Jaguars isn’t as impressive, but it was every bit as important. They are now back to .500 for the first time since Week 4 after winning three of four. Jimmy Garoppolo threw two touchdown passes for a third consecutive game, and Kyle Shanahan’s creative use of Deebo Samuel led to another touchdown. The Niners remain the deadliest team in the red zone: Their 77.8% touchdown conversion mark leads the NFL by a considerable margin. Their most memorable drive—a 20-play drive lasting 13 minutes—ended with a field goal. Per ESPN, it was the longest drive in 20 years. Left tackle Trent Williams told reporters after the game that the Niners are playing at the level they know are capable of playing. “I don’t feel like some light clicked on or nothing,” said Williams. “That’s what we want to do every game. Sometimes they make a good play, we make mistakes and it doesn’t go our way. But that is how we always want to play a game like that.” The Niners still remain outside the playoff picture, but with two straight games against teams that are .500 or worse and the Niners playing well, they could be in a wild card spot soon enough.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Jimmy Garoppolo
RB: Elijah Mitchell
WR: Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings
TE: George Kittle
OL: Trent Williams (LT), Laken Tomlinson (LG), Alex Mack (C), Daniel Brunskill (RG), Tom Compton (RT)
DE: Arik Armstead (LDE), Nick Bosa (RDE)
DT: Kentavius Street (LDT), DJ Jones (RDT)
LB: Fred Warner (LILB), Azeez Al-Shaair (RILB)
CB: Josh Norman (LCB), Emmanuel Moseley (RCB), K’Waun Williams (NB)
S: Jaquiski Tartt (SS), Jimmie Ward (FS)
ST: Robbie Gould (K), Mitch Wishnowsky (P), Taybor Pepper (LS)
RS: Trenton Cannon (KR), Brandon Aiyuk (PR)
#16: Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 11 @ LAC: L, 37-41 | Record: 5-4-1
Previous Rank: #16
The Steelers have encountered more than a little adversity. They were without Ben Roethlisberger in Week 10 and without TJ Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Joe Haden in Week 11. The latter three losses played a role in their four-point loss to the Chargers. For a team that is well known for having a shutdown defense, not often do you see them getting gashed for over 500 yards of offense and over 40 points. But an undermanned Steelers team showed serious fight in this game. Down 27-10 in the 4th quarter in a de facto home game in Los Angeles, they staged a fierce rally to take the lead before falling apart on the Chargers’ game winning drive on a busted coverage that allowed Mike Williams to score the go-ahead 53-yard touchdown with 2:09 left. NBC color analyst Cris Collinsworth correctly said that Williams never gets that opportunity if Fitzpatrick is on the field. This team has been too good for too long to be counted out, but this game was must-win for them. They can’t afford to fall 1.5 games behind the Bengals with two head-to-head losses, especially not with how tightly packed the AFC wild card race is. But this game is just the start of the second-most difficult stretch-run schedule in the NFL. They face the same Bengals team that blasted them in Week 3 up next. Then they have the first of two meetings with the Ravens, followed by games against the Vikings, Titans, and Chiefs, capped off with two divisional matchups against the Browns and Ravens. They desperately need everyone healthy on defense if they hope to sneak into the playoffs.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Ben Roethlisberger
RB: Najee Harris
WR: Diontae Johnson, James Washington, Chase Claypool
TE: Pat Freiermuth
OL: Dan Moore Jr. (LT), BJ Finney (LG), Kendrick Green (C), Trai Turner (RG), Chukwuma Okorafor (RT)
DL: Chris Wormley (LDL), Cameron Heyward (RDL)
EDGE: TJ Watt (WLB), Alex Highsmith (SLB)
ILB: Devin Bush Jr. (LILB), Joe Schobert (RILB)
CB: James Pierre (LCB), Cam Sutton (RCB), Tre Norwood (NB)
S: Terrell Edmunds (SS), Minkah Fitzpatrick (FS)
ST: Chris Boswell (K), Pressley Harvin III (P), Christian Kuntz (LS)
RS: Diontae Johnson (KR), Benny Snell Jr. (PR)
#15: Cleveland Browns
Week 11 vs. DET: W, 13-10 | Record: 6-5
Previous Rank: #12
The good news for the Browns is that after beating the Lions in Week 11, they are back above .500 for the season. That’s the only good news. They were mostly terrible against a winless Lions team starting Tim Boyle at QB. Nick Chubb had a good game, with 130 yards on 22 carries in his first game back from his COVID-related absence. Where would this team be without him? That would basically be a Thanksgiving dinner without stuffing. Had it not been for the three games he missed because of COVID, he would be in contention for the NFL rushing title. He is third in total rushing yards, with 851, and is averaging more yards per carry (6.0) than Jonathan Taylor, Derrick Henry, Dalvin Cook, and Ezekiel Elliott. Now comes the drama: Baker Mayfield played visibly injured and struggled through four quarters, completing just 15 of 29 passes with a pair of ugly picks, walking off the field upon the game’s conclusion, then left FirstEnergy Stadium without speaking to reporters. His postgame behavior is only drawing more attention to his struggles. Maybe it may be his bad shoulder, or it may be him trying to do too much. But he hasn’t looked good. The team as a whole even struggled to put away the hapless Lions, where Boyle threw for just 77 yards. Now it’s become impossible to take the Browns seriously as a contender. If they were to get back in the playoff discussion, maybe Kevin Stefanski could rest Mayfield and turn to Case Keenum while Mayfield heals up his shoulder. Their upcoming game against the Ravens is crucial on many levels.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Baker Mayfield
RB: Nick Chubb
WR: Jarvis Landry, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Rashard Higgins
TE: Austin Hooper
OL: Jedrick Wills Jr. (LT), Joel Bitonio (LG), JC Tretter (C), Wyatt Teller (RG), Blake Hance (RT)
DE: Myles Garrett (LDE), Jadeveon Clowney (RDE)
DT: Malik Jackson (LDT), Malik McDowell (RDT)
LB: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (WLB), Anthony Walker Jr. (MLB), Sione Takitaki (SLB)
CB: Denzel Ward (LCB), Greg Newsome II (RCB)
S: Ronnie Harrison Jr. (SS), John Johnson III (FS)
ST: Chase McLaughlin (K), Jamie Gillan (P), Charley Hughlett (LS)
RS: Demetric Felton
#14: Minnesota Vikings
Week 11 vs. GB: W, 34-31 | Record: 5-5
Previous Rank: #17
The story of the 2021 Minnesota Vikings has been heartbreak. They have been in every game this season only to come up short in the end. All five of their losses have come by one score, including a pair of overtime losses. In their match against the Packers, it appeared for a while that they left too much time on the clock for Aaron Rodgers to lead a comeback or game-tying drive. After taking a 31-24 lead, the Vikings allowed Rodgers to burn the team for a 75-yard strike to Marquez Valdes-Scantling. However, it was the Packers themselves this time that left too much time on the clock for a game-winning drive. The Vikings rallied, driving the length of the field, leaving no time on the clock for Rodgers to answer back, for Greg Joseph to kick a chip-shot field goal as time expired to get the Vikings back to .500 and into a playoff spot. It’s these wins that can establish some real momentum for a team. But they won’t have time to rest—they travel to Levi’s Stadium to battle a 49ers team that is also contending for a wild card spot in the NFC. But again, the Vikings are the most unpredictable and, perhaps, the most dangerous team in the NFC. During the game, Kirk Cousins threw three touchdown passes, including two to Justin Jefferson, sending a message to the rest of the league: When everything is in sync, they can beat anyone. The Vikings rank 9th in DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average). They may look like a playoff team.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Kirk Cousins
RB: Dalvin Cook
WR: Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, KJ Osborn
TE: Tyler Conklin
OL: Christian Darrisaw (LT), Ezra Cleveland (LG), Garrett Bradbury (C), Oli Udoh (RG), Brian O’Neill (RT)
DE: DJ Wonnum (LDE), Patrick Jones II (RDE)
DT: Armon Watts (LDT), Dalvin Tomlinson (RDT)
LB: Nick Vigil (WLB), Eric Kendricks (MLB), Anthony Barr (SLB)
CB: Patrick Peterson (LCB), Bashaud Breeland (RCB)
S: Harrison Smith (SS), Xavier Woods (FS)
ST: Greg Joseph (K), Jordan Berry (P), Andrew DePaola (LS)
RS: Kene Nwangwu (KR), Dede Westbrook (PR)
#13: Cincinnati Bengals
Week 11 @ LV: W, 32-13 | Record: 6-4
Previous Rank: #15
The Bengals had a lot of work to do after their bye. After losing two straight heading into the off week, they were in a crossroads. Win, and they could move into playoff contention. Lose, and people won’t think they have improved. They chose the first option—they not only beat the Raiders; they outright spanked them, thanks to a 123-yard, two-touchdown effort from Joe Mixon. Their 32-13 win isn’t a work of art, but it was the most important win of their season. They stifled the fading Raiders defensively and did enough on offense to snap their losing skid. While Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase got back on the same page with a touchdown, the star of the game may have been Evan McPherson, who had three field goals from beyond 50 yards in a Justin Tucker-esque performance by the 5th round rookie. Zac Taylor admitted postgame that playoffs has now officially entered the conversation. “We don’t talk a lot about big picture this season, what games we have coming up ... we just put ourselves in a position to control our destiny at this point,” said Taylor. “As long as we take care of our business one week at a time then we’ll be in great shape.” That’s not going to be easy, however. Their schedule from here on out is among the toughest in the NFL. Their first game is against the Steelers in Cincinnati, and from there on out, they don’t face a team that currently has a losing record. There has to be more from them if they are truly ready for a playoff push.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Joe Burrow
RB: Joe Mixon
WR: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd
TE: CJ Uzomah
OL: Jonah Williams (LT), Quinton Spain (LG), Trey Hopkins (C), Hakeem Adeniji (RG), Riley Reiff (RT)
DE: Sam Hubbard (LDE), Trey Hendrickson (RDE)
DT: DJ Reader (LDT), Larry Ogunjobi (RDT)
LB: Logan Wilson (LILB), Germaine Pratt (RILB)
CB: Eli Apple (LCB), Chidobe Awuzie (RCB), Mike Hilton (NB)
S: Vonn Bell (SS), Jessie Bates III (FS)
ST: Evan McPherson (K), Kevin Huber (P), Clark Harris (LS)
RS: Darius Phillips
#12: Los Angeles Chargers
Week 11 vs. PIT: W, 41-37 | Record: 6-4
Previous Rank: #11
Like many other NFL teams, the Chargers have been up and down. There was the up of being 4-1 that included wins over the Browns, Raiders, and Chiefs. Then there was the down of a 1-3 stretch that included a blowout loss to the Ravens and home losses to the Vikings and Patriots. Their win over the Steelers was, in some ways, a microcosm of their season. For most of the game, they did what they wanted offensively, piling up 533 yards of offense. But they almost Chargered this game away, blowing a 17-point 4th quarter lead, until Justin Herbert stepped in to save the day for the Chargers with a 53-yard touchdown strike to Mike Williams, thwarting a furious Steelers rally, allowing the Bolts to escape with an ugly 41-37 win and keep the pressure on the Chiefs in the AFC West. That 4th quarter went in ways both unique and deeply familiar for Chargers fans—it felt like a meltdown in front of 40,000 Steelers fans in the stadium. But do not deny—Herbert is a generational quarterback. He makes the Chargers different. He accounted for 472 total yards and three touchdowns, and even showed his cool when the world was on fire. With the backfield of him and Austin Ekeler, the offense is very difficult to defend based on their skillsets. As long as the defense does enough, the Chargers can beat anyone.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Justin Herbert
RB: Austin Ekeler
WR: Keenan Allen, Mike Williams
TE: Jared Cook, Donald Parham Jr.
OL: Rashawn Slater (LT), Matt Feiler (LG), Corey Linsley (C), Michael Schofield III (RG), Storm Norton (RT)
DL: Jerry Tillery (LDL), Justin Jones (RDL)
EDGE: Joey Bosa (WLB), Uchenna Nwosu (SLB)
ILB: Drue Tranquill (LILB), Kenneth Murray Jr. (RILB)
CB: Chris Harris Jr. (LCB), Michael Davis (RCB), Asante Samuel Jr. (NB)
S: Derwin James Jr. (SS), Nasir Adderley (FS)
ST: Dustin Hopkins (K), Ty Long (P), Matt Overton (LS)
RS: Andre Roberts (KR), Jalen Guyton (PR)
#11: Buffalo Bills
Week 11 vs. IND: L, 15-41 | Record: 6-4
Previous Rank: #5
It’s been a rollercoaster for the Bills this season. Back in Week 9, they suffered the biggest upset of the season, falling 9-6 to the Jaguars. As ugly as that game looked, they appeared to put that upset behind them when they pounded the Jets in Week 10. But now it’s their turn to be on the receiving end of a pounding. And thanks to their blowout loss at home against the Colts, they are out of first place in the AFC East. The alarm has officially sounded in Western New York, rightfully so. The Colts made themselves at home, dominating the Bills on all three phases of the game. Jonathan Taylor scorched the Bills for over 200 total yards and five touchdowns, accounting for 185 of the Colts’ 264 rushing yards, the most surrendered by the Bills in three years. The Bills even had almost as many turnovers (four) as they did 3rd down conversions (five)—Josh Allen threw two interceptions and fumbled once as the Bills continued to look average when the Jets were not involved. Although Stefon Diggs is the Bills’ most important non-QB on offense, having six targets but turning two into touchdowns, it wasn’t enough. However, Allen insisted the team is not panicking about their recent struggles. “We’re a really good football team when we don’t bite ourselves in the butt. What we put on the field today is not who we are,” said Allen. “We need to do a better job on all fronts. There’s no way around it, but at the same time, it’s not panic mode.” While they may not be panicking yet, that doesn’t mean they won’t be soon. After their Thanksgiving match with the Saints, they have their first meeting of the season with the Patriots, followed by a trip to Tampa. It’s going to be tough for the Bills.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Josh Allen
RB: Devin Singletary
WR: Stefon Diggs, Emmanuel Sanders, Cole Beasley
TE: Dawson Knox
OL: Dion Dawkins (LT), Ike Boettger (LG), Mitch Morse (C), Cody Ford (RG), Daryl Williams (RT)
DE: Gregory Rousseau (LDE), Jerry Hughes (RDE)
DT: Harrison Phillips (LDT), Ed Oliver (RDT)
LB: Matt Milano (LILB), Tremaine Edmunds (RILB)
CB: Tre’Davious White (LCB), Levi Wallace (RCB), Taron Johnson (NB)
S: Jordan Poyer (SS), Micah Hyde (FS)
ST: Tyler Bass (K), Matt Haack (P), Reid Ferguson (LS)
RS: Isaiah McKenzie
#10: Indianapolis Colts
Week 11 @ BUF: W, 41-15 | Record: 6-5
Previous Rank: #13
In an interesting Colts season, Jonathan Taylor had himself a day in Week 11. He was absolutely dominant in their shocking blowout win over the Bills. The second-year running back out of Wisconsin gashed the Bills for 185 yards on 32 carries, also adding 19 yards on three receptions. Not to mention that he was an absolute treat for fantasy players who own him, to the tune of five touchdowns. It was an offensive explosion that moved him in sole possession of 1st place in rushing yards this season. It was also the second time that he carried the ball more than 20 times. He now has a legitimate case for winning the NFL MVP. He has now gone over 100 total yards in eight consecutive games. He is their best running back the Colts have had since Edgerrin James and, with Derrick Henry injured and Nick Chubb limited, he is now the best active running back in the NFL. He has amassed 795 yards and 6.6 yards per carry and 11 rushing touchdowns in the last six games. Head coach Frank Reich told reporters that the team is prepared to lean heavily on him down the stretch. “We are hoping that we can just continue to build that workload like in the track and field,” said Reich. “Really have a second half of the year that’s stronger and faster than the first half of the year. That would be the goal.” The Colts are keeping up pace with the Titans in the AFC South—they are just two games back in the loss column and lost both head-to-head meetings with them. But the Colts now have won six of their last eight. They’re not just capable of making a wild card berth. They are the kind of team nobody wants to face in the playoffs.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Carson Wentz
RB: Jonathan Taylor
WR: Michael Pittman Jr., TY Hilton, Zach Pascal
TE: Jack Doyle
OL: Eric Fisher (LT), Quenton Nelson (LG), Ryan Kelly (C), Mark Glowinski (RG), Braden Smith (RT)
DE: Kwity Paye (LDE), Al-Quadin Muhammad (RDE)
DT: DeForest Buckner (LDT), Grover Stewart (RDT)
LB: Darius Leonard (LILB), Bobby Okereke (RILB)
CB: Rock Ya-Sin (LCB), Xavier Rhodes (RCB), Kenny Moore II (NB)
S: George Odum (SS), Andrew Sendejo (FS)
ST: Michael Badgley (K), Rigoberto Sanchez (P), Luke Rhodes (LS)
RS: Isaiah Rodgers (KR), Nyheim Hines (PR)
#9: Baltimore Ravens
Week 11 @ CHI: W, 16-13 | Record: 7-3
Previous Rank: #10
Week 11 did not start as planned for the Ravens. Just before the start of the game, Lamar Jackson was scratched from the lineup with a non-COVID related illness. What followed wasn’t pretty. With Tyler Huntley under center, they could not reach 300 yards of offense or average four yards per carry on the ground. But thanks to the heroics from Huntley and a Devonta Freeman touchdown, they gutted out a win to strengthen their hold at the top of the AFC North. While cornerback Chris Westry was beat on a double move on the 49-yeard touchdown strike from Andy Dalton with less than two minutes to play, it still left too much time on the clock for the Ravens to get a game-winning drive going. Huntley then completed a big-time 29-yard pass to Sammy Watkins to set up the go-ahead touchdown in the final minute to knock off the Bears at Soldier Field. While speaking to reporters after the game, Marlon Humphrey praised the Ravens for overcoming adversity and gutting the win. “I think it means a lot,” said Humphrey. “I think going into the game, there’s a lot of now knowing what was going to happen. We have two corners go down. All week, you don’t have Lamar and then he comes back Friday and you’re like, ‘We’re good, we’re good.’ Then, you see him on the plane curled up in a ball and I look over, I’m like, ‘I don’t think this guy’s gonna be able to play.’ It was just crazy.” Even more so, Marquise Brown joined Jackson on the inactive list for this game, while 15 other players are on the injured reserve. But with this win, along with the Steelers losing, it’s all the more important for the Ravens to cling on to the division lead. Survive and advance.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Lamar Jackson
RB: Latavius Murray
WR: Marquise Brown, Sammy Watkins, Rashod Bateman
TE: Mark Andrews
OL: Alejandro Villanueva (LT), Ben Powers (LG), Bradley Bozeman (C), Kevin Zeitler (RG), Patrick Mekari (RT)
DL: Brandon Williams (LDL), Calais Campbell (RDL)
EDGE: Tyus Bowser (WLB), Justin Houston (SLB)
ILB: Josh Bynes (LILB), Patrick Queen (RILB)
CB: Anthony Averett (LCB), Marlon Humphrey (RCB), Tavon Young (NB)
S: Chuck Clark (SS), Brandon Stephens (FS)
ST: Justin Tucker (K), Sam Koch (P), Nick Moore (LS)
RS: Devin Duvernay
#8: Dallas Cowboys
Week 11 @ KC: L, 9-19 | Record: 7-3
Previous Rank: #3
The Cowboys entered Week 11 with an opportunity to strike. Travel to Kansas City and beat the Chiefs in a game many viewed as a Super Bowl preview, and they can possibly contend for being the NFC’s top team. Instead, they now face the same questions that have seemingly been dodging the franchise for years about their legitimacy as a contender. They entered Week 11 as the top team in terms of yards per game and points per game. In every game, they have found the end zone at least twice. But the Chiefs completely shut down a Cowboys offense shorthanded at wide receiver—the Cowboys were missing Amari Cooper due to COVID protocol and lost CeeDee Lamb during the game due to injury. They were held to just 276 yards of offense and were kept out of the end zone. They also turned the ball over three times and managed just 16 first downs. Dak Prescott even found a wide-open Michael Gallup going down the right sideline… and missed his wideout by five yards on an overthrow on the first play from scrimmage. Prescott struggled on the big stage and the O-line could not protect the most important player on the team. By the end of the game, Prescott threw two interceptions, lost a fumble, and was sacked five times. A lights out performance by the defense should have put the team in a position to make a statement win at Arrowhead. Instead, they faded in the spotlight, leading people to question their legitimacy. Postgame, Prescott showed that he was not pleased by the outcome. “I’m never discouraged but pissed off, yeah, for sure,” he said. “Especially when you have an opportunity to come out and play against a team that’s been in the Super Bowl the last two years, and we had a chance to show what we’re capable of. But this is a resilient team that’s going to continue to fight and get better, I can tell you that.” They aren’t going to have to look back to this game for long—they have a Thanksgiving match with the Raiders up next.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Dak Prescott
RB: Ezekiel Elliott
WR: Michael Gallup, Cedrick Wilson, Noah Brown
TE: Dalton Schultz
OL: Tyron Smith (LT), Connor McGovern (LG), Tyler Biadasz (C), Zack Martin (RG), Terence Steele (RT)
DE: Tarell Basham (LDE), Micah Parsons (RDE)
DT: Osa Odighizuwa (LDT), Carlos Watkins (RDT)
LB: Leighton Vander Esch (LILB), Keanu Neal (RILB)
CB: Anthony Brown (LCB), Trevon Diggs (RCB), Jourdan Lewis (NB)
S: Jayron Kearse (SS), Damontae Kazee (FS)
ST: Greg Zuerlein (K), Bryan Anger (P), Jake McQuaide (LS)
RS: Tony Pollard (KR), CeeDee Lamb (PR)
#7: Tennessee Titans
Week 11 vs. HOU: L, 13-22 | Record: 8-3
Previous Rank: #2
Nothing should be considered stunning in the NFL this season, but not many predicted that the Titans’ impressive winning streak would be snapped at home at the hands of a one-win Texans team. It’s one thing to get beat, but it’s another to get beat by that Texans team despite outgaining them over 2-to-1 because you turned the ball over five times. It was a horrendous all-around performance, and Ryan Tannehill admitted that his four-pick blunder was the biggest of it. “We just kept shooting ourselves in the foot, you know?” said Tannehill. “Turnovers, turnover on downs, penalties. We shot ourselves in the foot all day. And we got to get better, and it starts with me.” Tannehill appeared like someone all alone on an island once AJ Brown joined Julio Jones and Derrick Henry on the list of inactive star players. The Titans have not shown any signs of a sustainable offense since Derrick Henry had foot surgery three weeks ago. They just haven’t been the same offensively, and it’s catching up to them. The pressure on Tannehill has increased exponentially, and he isn’t handling that well. There’s no shortage of reasons to doubt their ability to go into Gillette Stadium to catch up with the surging Patriots. It all comes at a terrible timing, but Mike Vrabel and the Titans have a habit of overcoming all odds.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Ryan Tannehill
RB: D’Onta Foreman
WR: Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Marcus Johnson, Chester Rogers
TE: MyCole Pruitt
OL: Taylor Lewan (LT), Rodger Saffold III (LG), Ben Jones (C), Dillon Radunz (RG), David Quessenberry (RT)
DL: Jeffery Simmons (LDE), Teair Tart (NT), Denico Autry (RDE)
EDGE: Harold Landry (WLB), Ola Adeniyi (SLB)
ILB: Jayon Brown (LILB), Monty Rice (RILB)
CB: Janoris Jenkins (LCB), Kristian Fulton (RCB)
S: Amani Hooker (SS), Kevin Byard (FS)
ST: Randy Bullock (K), Brett Kern (P), Morgan Cox (LS)
RS: Chester Rogers
#6: Los Angeles Rams
Week 11 Bye | Record: 7-3
Previous Rank: #6
The Rams went into their bye week with questions. No team wants to enter their bye week in a slump, but the Rams are in that position after getting blown out by the 49ers in Week 10. If they are to be the kind of team that gets motivation from the doubts of others, then their bye may have been a productive week. They have been bullied by more physical teams in blowout losses to the Titans and 49ers, which shows a narrative that they may not have the toughness to be true contenders. This could be dismissed, but they need to show they won’t be pushovers. Odell Beckham Jr.’s presence went from a luxury signing to a necessity after Robert Woods’ season-ending injury. He hasn’t performed like a star wideout since his days with the Giants. They are in the uncomfortable position of needing him to turn back the clock. However, at the best, he is their WR2, since Cooper Kupp has blossomed into a star, having recorded at least 90 receiving yards in all but one game and has been a great fit with Matt Stafford. On the other hand, when Sean McVay spoke to reporters, he vowed the Rams will come out on all cylinders after the bye. “We’ll look inwardly,” said McVay. “We’re going to figure this thing out, and we’re going to come back freakin’ swinging, I promise you that, these last seven games of the regular season.” First, they’re going to have to focus on an offense that has scored just 26 points in the last two games after scoring at least that many points in their seven wins this season. They won’t have a lot of time to answer their questions. They will face the Packers in Green Bay in a showdown that has a lot of playoff implications.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Matt Stafford
RB: Darrell Henderson Jr.
WR: Cooper Kupp, Odell Beckham Jr., Van Jefferson
TE: Tyler Higbee
OL: Andrew Whitworth (LT), David Edwards (LG), Brian Allen (C), Austin Corbett (RG), Rob Havenstein (RT)
DL: A’Shawn Robinson (LDE), Greg Gaines (NT), Aaron Donald (RDE)
EDGE: Leonard Floyd (WLB), Von Miller (SLB)
ILB: Ernest Jones (LILB), Troy Reeder (RILB)
CB: Darious Williams (LCB), Jalen Ramsey (RCB)
S: Jordan Fuller (SS), Taylor Rapp (FS)
ST: Matt Gay (K), Johnny Hekker (P), Matt Orzech (LS)
RS: Ben Skowronek (KR), Cooper Kupp (PR)
#5: Kansas City Chiefs
Week 11 vs. DAL: W, 19-9 | Record: 7-4
Previous Rank: #9
Not long ago, the frequent conversation was what is going “wrong” with the Chiefs. As it stands right now, the answer is “nothing.” Their win over the Cowboys is their 4th consecutive win, their 3rd straight over a team with a winning record at the time, and their 4th straight game in which they allowed 17 or fewer points. When everyone thought there was going to be an epic shootout between Patrick Mahomes and Dak Prescott, it instead was Chris Jones and the resurgent Chiefs defense stealing the show in the 19-9 win over the current NFC East leaders. Facing a Cowboys offense that, entering Week 11, led the league in both total offense and scoring offense, the Chiefs held Prescott and co. to just 276 yards, as well as holding them out of the end zone for the first time this season. Jones was a dominant force on the field, piling 3.5 sacks, with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He even got help from the back end from Charvarius Ward and L’Jarius Sneed, who each had crucial interceptions of Prescott. Although the Chiefs offense had just three points in their final 10 possessions, the best teams in the league can win on either side of the ball. While they have one more loss than the Titans and Ravens in the AFC, with how they are playing, especially defensively, they are back in the conversation for the Super Bowl. It’s been a season of many swings, but they are looking like a team ready to restore order to a chaotic AFC.
Week 13 Projected Starters
QB: Patrick Mahomes II
RB: Clyde Edwards-Helaire
WR: Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Byron Pringle
TE: Travis Kelce
OL: Orlando Brown Jr. (LT), Joe Thuney (LG), Creed Humphrey (C), Trey Smith (RG), Lucas Niang (RT)
DE: Chris Jones (LDE), Frank Clark (RDE)
DT: Jarran Reed (LDT), Derrick Nnadi (RDT)
LB: Nick Bolton (WLB), Anthony Hitchens (MLB), Willie Gay (SLB)
CB: Rashad Fenton (LCB), L’Jarius Sneed (RCB)
S: Tyrann Mathieu (SS), Juan Thornhill (FS)
ST: Harrison Butker (K), Tommy Townsend (P), James Winchester (LS)
RS: Byron Pringle (KR), Mecole Hardman (PR)
#4: New England Patriots
Week 11 @ ALT: W, 25-0 | Record: 7-4
Previous Rank: #8
The Evil Empire never actually went away last season. They took a one-year hiatus before reloading. After shutting out the Falcons at home, the Patriots have now won five straight games. In their last three wins—two of which came against teams .500 or better entering Week 11—they allowed just 13 points while scoring 94. Mac Jones is an upgrade over Cam Newton for them, and has been the best rookie QB this season. Whether it be Matt Judon on defense or Kendrick Bourne and Hunter Henry on offense, their huge offseason is paying dividends. The biggest difference for them, however, is a defense that has surged during their five-game winning streak. They are giving up just 10 points per game, with 12 interceptions against four touchdown passes. 2021 Matt Ryan was far from his MVP form and was a sitting duck against the fierce Pats pass rush, turning the Falcons’ O-line into turnstiles to the tune of four sacks and 12 QB hits. Judon is now up to 10.5 sacks in what has been an All-Pro worthy season. They may not just be a playoff contender. They’re a legitimate threat to win the AFC East and even make a Super Bowl run. It’s not hard to imagine them winning at home in Week 12 against a Titans team that is struggling offensively. That sets up a battle for first place in the AFC East in Buffalo, which absolutely nobody expected. This team is well-coached. Jones should be considered as the favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year, ranking first leaguewide in overall grade, second in passer rating, and third in passing yardage, per Pro Football Focus.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Mac Jones
RB: Damien Harris
WR: Jakobi Meyers, Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne
TE: Hunter Henry
OL: Isaiah Wynn (LT), Ted Karras (LG), David Andrews (C), Shaq Mason (RG), Trent Brown (RT)
DE: Deatrich Wise Jr. (LDE), Chase Winovich (RDE)
DT: Lawrence Guy (LDT), Davon Godchaux (RDT)
LB: Matt Judon (WLB), Dont’a Hightower (MLB), Kyle Van Noy (SLB)
CB: JC Jackson (LCB), Jalen Mills (RCB)
S: Kyle Dugger (SS), Devin McCourty (FS)
ST: Nick Folk (K), Jake Bailey (P), Joe Cardona (LS)
RS: Gunner Olszewski
#3: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 11 vs. NYG: W, 30-10 | Record: 7-3
Previous Rank: #7
The Buccaneers hit a bump in the road in the weeks leading up to and after their bye—consecutive losses to the Saints and Washington. It was nothing but smoothness against the Giants on Monday Night Football. Those cynical may say that the Bucs’ blowout of the Giants said more about the Giants being terrible than the Bucs fixing their issues that led to losing in back-to-back upsets. But this game against the G-Men saw the Bucs dominating on both sides of the ball. Offensively, they had 415 yards of offense and almost had twice as many first downs as the Giants. Defensively, the Bucs gave up just 215 yards and forced three turnovers. They are moving with efficiency and making splash plays. Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Rob Gronkowski all topped 65 receiving yards, while Tom Brady crossed 300 passing yards for the 5th time in 10 games this season. He spent the final minutes on the sideline as Blaine Gabbert finished things out. What’s amazing is how much Gronk changes the offense at 32 years old after a semi-retirement. So, should it really be a coincidence that their upsets came with him out? Not really. He is 2nd on the team in EPA per target, behind just Antonio Brown. While they may not have the NFC’s best record, the road to the Super Bowl still goes through them. Their next match against a Colts squad that just blasted the Bills is quietly becoming one of their biggest matchups.
Week 12 Projected STarters
QB: Tom Brady
RB: Leonard Fournette
WR: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Tyler Johnson
TE: Rob Gronkowski
OL: Donovan Smith (LT), Aaron Stinnie (LG), Ryan Jensen (C), Alex Cappa (RG), Tristan Wirfs (RT)
DL: Ndamukong Suh (LDE), Vita Vea (NT), William Gholston (RDE)
EDGE: Jason Pierre-Paul (WLB), Shaquil Barrett (SLB)
ILB: Devin White (LILB), Lavonte David (RILB)
CB: Jamel Dean (LCB), Sean Murphy-Bunting (RCB)
S: Antoine Winfield Jr. (SS), Jordan Whitehead (FS)
ST: Ryan Succop (K), Bradley Pinion (P), Zach Triner (LS)
RS: Jaelon Darden
#2: Green Bay Packers
Week 11 @ MIN: L, 31-34 | Record: 8-3
Previous Rank: #1
In Week 10, the Packers held the Seahawks off the scoresheet and 208 total yards. Heading into Week 11, no team in the NFC allowed fewer points per game than the Pack. Week 11, however, was a different story, as Kirk Cousins and the Vikings had little trouble racking up yards and points against them. Cousins threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns in a back-and-forth game, while Justin Jefferson had eight catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns. A Packers defense that surged to begin the month was nowhere to be found. Even a brilliant second half from Rodgers was unable to stave off a last-second loss. The defense had blown coverages and costly penalties and could not make the Vikings pay when Cousins threw the ball up for grabs. Then came the injuries: Elgton Jenkins was lost for the season with a torn ACL, while Rodgers was concerned in his postgame press conference about his aggravated toe injury. One loss, however, isn’t the end of the world for them. They still have a multiple-game lead in the NFC North. But Jenkins’ injury could mean big trouble for a Packers team already thin up front. They need David Bakhtiari fully healthy. Pronto. They may be lucky to have been 8-2 considering they haven’t scored more than 27 points in a game since September. They’ll still be in the playoff mix, though.
Week 12 Projected Starters
QB: Aaron Rodgers
RB: Aaron Jones
WR: Davante Adams, Randall Cobb, Marquez Valdes-Scantling
TE: Marcedes Lewis
OL: Yosh Nijman (LT), Jon Runyan (LG), Lucas Patrick (C), Royce Newman (RG), Billy Turner (RT)
DL: Dean Lowry (LDE), Kenny Clark (NT), Kingsley Keke (RDE)
EDGE: Preston Smith (WLB), Rashan Gary (SLB)
ILB: De’Vondre Campbell (LILB), Krys Barnes (RILB)
CB: Eric Stokes (LCB), Kevin King (RCB)
S: Adrian Amos (SS), Darnell Savage Jr. (FS)
ST: Mason Crosby (K), Corey Bojorquez (P), Steven Wirtel (LS)
RS: Amari Rodgers
#1: Arizona Cardinals
Week 11 @ SEA: W, 23-13 | Record: 9-2
Previous Rank: #4
The Cardinals have been without Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins for the past three weeks. Even so, there was little problems they encountered. After hitting a bump in the road last week in their loss to the Panthers, the Cardinals bandwagon is back on cruise control in Week 11. Colt McCoy scorched the Seahawks’ secondary for 328 yards and two touchdowns. With Hopkins out, Zach Ertz, Rondale Moore, and AJ Green all had at least four catches for 50+ yards. The defense also shut down Russell Wilson and the offense, allowing just 266 total yards and one touchdown. The win prompted questions on Pete Carroll’s future in Seattle as the Cards hit a perfectly timed bye week. Murray and Hopkins now get two more weeks to heal before a favorable Week 13 match against the Bears. McCoy may have also bought himself a spot as a backup QB with his performance. What they did against the Seahawks may have been their most impressive showing all season long, especially considering they were without Murray and Hopkins. Now they get both back for their Week 13 match on the way to preparing for a Monday Night match against the Rams in the fight for the NFC West.
Week 13 Projected Starters
QB: Kyler Murray
RB: James Conner
WR: DeAndre Hopkins, AJ Green, Christian Kirk
TE: Zach Ertz
OL: DJ Humphries (LT), Justin Pugh (LG), Rodney Hudson (C), Josh Jones (RG), Kelvin Beachum (RT)
DL: Jordan Phillips (LDE), Corey Peters (NT), Zach Allen (RDE)
EDGE: Chandler Jones (WLB), Markus Golden (SLB)
ILB: Jordan Hicks (LILB), Isaiah Simmons (RILB)
CB: Byron Murphy Jr. (LCB), Robert Alford (RCB)
S: Jalen Thompson (SS), Budda Baker (FS)
ST: Matt Prater (K), Andy Lee (P), Beau Brinkley (LS)
RS: Rondale Moore (KR), Christian Kirk (PR)
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