2018: Five [Opfer's Take]aways from NFL Week 11

Week 11 food for thought: 

Sign of parity or a coincidence? 11 of the 13 NFL games played in week 11 were decided by five points or fewer (one possession) with the average margin of victory being 2.7 (two games decided by 1, two games by 2, five by 3, one by 4, and one by 5).

Five takeaways

5. Back-to-back? No chance!

There will be a new team hoisting the Lombardi trophy come February.  

Now the question becomes whether the Eagles will even crack the postseason? Of the 51 prior Super Bowl champions, 16 have missed the playoffs the following season (31.4%). And after losing five of its last seven, including an embarrassing 41-point loss to the Saints on Sunday, Philadelphia is on the brink of becoming team number 17.

The only thing going for the defending champs is that they play in one of the worst divisions in the league (NFC East). At 4-6, they remain only two games back of the first place Redskins, who just lost their starting QB (Alex Smith) for the remainder of the season.

There’s still a chance, but even if they sneak in, Philly will not be making a trip to Atlanta.  

4. Texas turn-around.

Is it time to take the Texans seriously? After starting the season 0-3, Houston has quietly won seven in a row, creating a two-game lead on the woeful AFC South. DeShaun Watson has been a big reason, as he has drastically improved after taking some time to adjust from last season’s injury.

First three games (0-3): 63-of-106 (59%), 5 TD, 3 INT

Last seven games (7-0): 138-of-203 (68%), 13 TD, 6 INT

Watson and the Texans continue to be a sleeper in the AFC (NJ.com). 

The defense continues to impress, ranking 9^th in sacks (28), 7^th in total defense (330.5), and 6^th in both points allowed (20.5) and takeaways (17).

With a balanced offense (avg 242.1 passing and 122.1 rushing) and a top-10 defense, the Texans could be a tough matchup come January. Especially with a signal caller who knows a thing or two about winning on the biggest stage (runner-up and National champion in back-to-back seasons at Clemson).

3. Steel comeback. 

One minute with the game on the line and your team down one score, who are you taking? Aaron Rodgers? Drew Brees? Tom Brady? 

How about Ben Roethlisberger? The 6-foot-5 signal caller rarely gets mentioned in the same category as said QBs, yet he continues to deliver in crunch time.

Trailing 16-0, Big Ben led the Steelers to 20 unanswered points, including the game-winning 1-yard TD run with seconds left to stun the Jaguars on Sunday. It was the 41^st game-winning drive of his career in the fourth quarter or overtime, passing John Elway for sixth all-time by any quarterback since the NFL merger (Sporting News). He ranks third among active QBs.

It’s hard to go wrong choosing any of the elite QBs, but Roethlisberger deserves more credit for consistently leading the Steelers to last-second victories.

2. The Saints keep on marching… to the Super Bowl?

Is there a better or more complete team in the league right now? It’d be hard to make a case.

Drew Brees is leading a prolific offense in the Big Easy (sportingnews.com).

Winners of nine straight, including a 48-7 drubbing of the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles on Sunday, the Saints are tearing through the rest of the league. An opposition nightmare, Drew Brees is leading a historic offense. The 18-year veteran is enjoying arguably his best season, tallying 25 touchdowns to just one interception. Through 10 games, the Saints have tied the NFL record for most 40+ point games in a season with six. They’ve outscored their last three opponents 144-56. Averaging a league high 37.8 points per game and 427.1 yards per game (ranked third), Sean Payton may have his most talented team yet. And the current Super Bowl favorites at that.

1. Game of the year!!

In a matchup featuring the two highest-rated passers in primetime since 2000 (Jared Goff 139.9, and Patrick Mahomes, 106.7), Monday Night Football exceeded the hype.

Like a heavyweight fight, the Chiefs and Rams delivered punch after punch as both offenses (and defenses on occasion) responded to the other in dramatic fashion. The Rams were left standing with a 54-51 win, giving football fans everywhere a satisfying appetizer to the holiday week ahead.

Jared Goff and the Rams outlasted the Chiefs in a MNF instant classic (therams.com). 

Here's a look inside the numbers:

- It was the first game in NFL history in which both teams scored 50 points or more. Entering the night, teams to score 50 points were 216-0 all-time (ESPN Stats).

- The teams combined for 105 points – the third-highest point total of all-time and the most ever for a Monday Night game (NFLResearch).

- There were 14 touchdowns in the game. To put that into perspective, the Bills have scored a total of 13 all season.

- The teams combined for 1,001 yards (Chiefs 546, Rams 455), averaging a whopping 7.0 yards/play.

- Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill led all skill players with 215 yards and two TDs on 10 catches. 

- In just his 12^th game behind center, MVP front-runner Patrick Mahomes completed 33-of-46 passes for 478 yards and 6 TDs. He committed five turnovers (3 INT, 2 fumbles) but those were overshadowed by his play-making ability, as he joined the Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger (2014) and the Giants' Y.A. Tittle (1962) as the only players since 1950 with multiple games with six or more touchdown passes in a single season (ESPN Stats). He’s up to 37 through 11 weeks.

- His counterpart, Rams QB Jared Goff completed 31-of-49 passes for 413 yards and 4 TDs, while adding a rushing score.

- The Rams won despite RB Todd Gurley not finding the end zone for the first time this season, snapping his 13-game TD streak which was tied for the fourth longest since 1950 (NFLResearch). He was a non-factor by his standards: 12 carries for 55 yards, and 3 catches for 39 yards.

- There were six lead changes, including four in the fourth quarter.

- In a game loaded with offense, the defenses also had some fun, tallying eight sacks (five by the Chiefs), seven turnovers (five by the Rams), and three touchdowns (two by the Rams). 

- Rams’ linebacker Samson Ebukam returned an interception and a fumble for touchdowns – joining Bears safety Eddie Jackson as the only two players to accomplish that in the same game in the last ten seasons (NFLResearch). Chiefs’ DE Allen Bailey added a fumble return for a score in the fourth quarter.

On a night with nonstop action and video game-like numbers, both teams put on a clinic in what will go down as the game of the year.

All we can hope for now is a rematch in the Super Bowl.