Broncos sack masters & could Chiefs miss play-offs? Best of NFL week 11

Another pulsating Sunday of NFL action featured a hugely significant win for the Denver Broncos, which has given the Kansas City Chiefs a mountain to climb.

Josh Allen demonstrated why he is the MVP in a record-setting performance, while the Philadelphia Eagles have turned winning ugly into an art form that could potentially bring them back to the Super Bowl.

There is a lot to cram in this week, plus Aaron Rodgers’ worrying injury, Shedeur Sanders’ debut, and a row over spitting.

After winning Super Bowl 50 with Denver at Levi’s Stadium, Peyton Manning rode into the sunset. Ten years later, the Broncos appear to have a similar style as they attempt to recapture the title game, which is taking place at the same venue.

Perhaps an omen? Possibly . Similar to this team, it is built on a ferocious defense that will always give them a chance, and Sunday’s statement victory over the Chiefs could give them that confidence.

With a four-game lead over a team they had gone 16-2 against after Manning’s departure, Denver are undoubtedly sitting pretty high in the AFC West. Kansas City have won it nine years in a row.

The defense of Vance Joseph has allowed seven opponents to score less than 20 points and a league-leading 49 sacks, which is the most a team has allowed in 11 games since 1989.

After winning in Philadelphia, they now have defeated both of the previous year’s Super Bowl contenders, and Bo Nix’s fifth fourth-quarter comeback included an incredible 33-point victory over the Giants.

Next week before the run-in, where Denver will face the top seed in the AFC and home advantage in the playoffs, is a well-timed bye.

With five Super Bowl appearances in six years, the Chiefs could well miss out on the playoffs now, which was almost unthinkable at the start of the season.

They are ninth in the AFC play-off standings at 5-5, and three of the four rival teams in the wildcard race have already defeated them this year.

Then, after a bye week, they take on the powerful 8-2 Indianapolis Colts before facing the Broncos, Houston Texans, and Los Angeles Chargers once more.

The lack of a running game, crucial drops, and, yes, some bad decisions by their star quarterback have all contributed to the offensive line issues that have plagued them over the years. Penalty drives and a lack of protection for Patrick Mahomes are still present.

The real strength of Kansas City is now their biggest weakness, as all five of their losses this year came by scores, going 12-0 in single-score games last year.

Mahomes would have previously sprang up some fourth-quarter magic, but he was out on the final two possessions three-and-out.

The Chiefs are not well-versed in the area. In the division, Mahes has never been more than three games a game behind and never been as bad as 5-5 after ten games.

Jalen Hurts’ opinion of the Eagles’ defensive display in the 16-9 win over the Lions was that “the defense was playing lights-out, it was one of the best performances I’ve ever seen.”

Jared Goff and a high-powered Detroit offence were killed by Vic Fangio’s unit, who stopped all five fourth-down attempts. The defense is anything but, despite the offence being a concern.

Jaelan Phillips’ signing at the trade deadline seems like a genius move. In a stellar performance, he pressured Goff six times and had a sack.

Hurts and offensive powerhouses like AJ Brown struggle, but Phillips and Nakobe Dean’s defensive partners Jordan Davis, Jordan Carter, and Jason Carter are dominant. If the Eagles return to the Super Bowl, they will be known by their names.

Even the lowly 26 that Hurts and company have collected have been sufficient because they have allowed the Lions and Packers to score 16 points in total in the previous two games.

The only touchdown for the Eagles was a sixth consecutive run of under 200 yards, but head coach Nick Sirianni is all for it.

Josh Allen, who had a bad start, had a record-setting day as Buffalo defeated Tampa Bay 44-32 with a staggering 317 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, and three rushing touchdowns.

Allen has twice exceeded 300 passing yards and three passing and rushing touchdowns in a game, with the most recent record being against the Los Angeles Rams in 2024.

The reigning MVP is about as significant to a team as anyone in the NFL, despite his short rushing touchdowns and his superb catch-and-run from Ty Johnson to pad his stats.

Otto Graham was the only NFL player to combine for three touchdown passes in the 1954 Championship Game. It represents a success.

Ramsey assured the NFL that it would conduct its due diligence. “They have 100 cameras available,” they claim. They are able to look into. They have complete visibility. It’s facts”.

Davante Adams made his 1, 000th catch as the Rams fought back to defeat the Seahawks 8-2 in a massive NFC West showdown, but both defenses came out on top with more credit than their offenses.

Matthew Stafford struggled to hold onto his position as Seattle outgained his team by 165 yards and had 15 more possession. Sam Darnold particularly had a rough ride with four interceptions.

Shedeur Sanders made his Cleveland debut against Baltimore, saying, “I don’t think I played good at all.”

Sanders was undoubtedly a delight to see him, but Browns fans were right, but Dillon Gabriel will start the following week if he adheres to concussion protocol, otherwise he’ll get his first start.

Myles Garrett recorded four sacks in the first season for the first time in the NFL to total 12 sacks in six straight games.

As a result of the Cardinals’ early deficit with the 49ers, quarterback Jacoby Brissett of Arizona forced himself to throw a new NFL record with 47 completed passes, the most in a regular season game.

Speaking of San Francisco, Brock Purdy threw three touchdown passes and recorded a respectable 133.5 passer rating on his return from injury, which puts them at 7-4 overall.