The Ravens made a massive statement in the AFC with a blowout win over the Texans. The Saints and Cowboys got back on track with wins, the Colts got a big victory in the AFC South and the Vikings came back from a 20-point deficit to beat the Broncos.
All that and more in Week 11’s biggest takeaways from NFL Nation.
Jump to a matchup:
HOU-BAL | NO-TB | DAL-DET
DEN-MIN | JAX-IND | ATL-CAR
NYJ-WSH | BUF-MIA | PIT-CLE
The Ravens are looking like the NFL’s scariest team after Lamar Jackson delivered another MVP-type performance with four touchdown passes. What really should catch the league’s attention is the statement delivered by the Baltimore defense. The Ravens recorded a season-high six sacks and forced two turnovers in holding the Texans scoreless for 3½ quarters. In a span of four weeks, Baltimore has beaten Seattle, New England and Houston by an average of 21.6 points. — Jamison Hensley
Next game: at L.A. Rams (8:15 p.m. ET, Nov. 25)
The Texans showed they have a long way to go before they can be considered one of the top teams in the AFC. Quarterback Deshaun Watson did not play like an MVP candidate, and the defense showed how much it misses defensive end J.J. Watt. Houston has a short week to respond, as they host the Colts on Thursday night. The winner of that game will be in first place in the AFC South. — Sarah Barshop
Next game: vs. Indianapolis (8:20 p.m. ET, Nov. 21)
So much for the idea that New Orleans would be in trouble without No. 1 cornerback Marshon Lattimore. The Saints (8-2) re-established their dominance in the NFC South by snagging four interceptions from Jameis Winston in Sunday’s victory. It was the kind of emphatic win they needed after last week’s inexplicable flop at home against Atlanta. And now they have the chance to widen their division lead even more over second-place Carolina (5-5) next week at home. — Mike Triplett
Next game: vs. Carolina (1 p.m. ET, Nov. 24)
A week after the Buccaneers finally learned how to close out a game, they forgot how to start one, falling behind 20-0 in the second quarter before losing 34-17. The Saints smothered Winston, resulting in four interceptions and a fumble (which the Bucs recovered). They doubled up on Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. They dominated the line of scrimmage in the run game, resulting in negative yardage for Ronald Jones II. And they capitalized on the Bucs’ double coverage of Michael Thomas, allowing Alvin Kamara to run free. The Bucs now face the upstart Falcons, who won their second consecutive game and share last place in the division with Tampa Bay at 3-7. — Jenna Laine
Next game: at Atlanta (1 p.m. ET, Nov. 24)
It wasn’t pretty, but the Cowboys left Detroit with a win, which is all that really matters. The defense knows it has a lot to clean up after allowing too many big plays. The offensive line knows it has to find way to get the running game going. But at 6-4, the Cowboys also know for at least another week they will be in first place in the NFC East as they continue to monitor what Philadelphia does. “Needed a win, needed a win on the road, needed a win outside the division,” right guard Zack Martin said. “I think it’s big for us. Got a tough one going to New England next week, and this was, as much as you don’t want to say, it was kind of a must-win for us.” — Todd Archer
Next game: at New England (4:25 p.m. ET, Nov. 24)
The Lions’ defense is broken, and there are no real answers in sight. Dallas’ Dak Prescott took them apart Sunday for close to 400 yards. Lions linebacker Devon Kennard said he knows he “sounds like a broken record” when he’s talking about what ails the defense. The reality is it’s combination of players and scheme, which has led to the consistent failings, a 3-6-1 record and last place in the NFC North. — Michael Rothstein
Next game: at Washington (1 p.m. ET, Nov. 24)
The Vikings pulled out a remarkable come-from-behind victory and head into their bye week at 8-3. The type of resiliency and scheme adjustments it took to overcome a 20-point halftime deficit should be applauded, but the fact that Minnesota was in this position to begin with is concerning. The Vikings’ last two wins have come down to the final play of the game. And had it not been for some questionable late-game coaching decisions by opponents, Minnesota might not have been given those windows in the first place. It took way too long for the offense to incorporate play-action on Sunday, and the Vikings made some baffling decisions in the first half (like running on 2nd-and-20 down 17 points). And a slew of boneheaded penalties leave a sour taste from this victory. Still, the Vikings are in prime position headed into a critical NFC showdown in Seattle in two weeks and remain very much in the playoff picture. — Courtney Cronin
Next game: at Seattle (8:15 p.m. ET, Dec. 2)
The Broncos can’t stop blowing games late. Before Sunday’s loss at Minnesota, the Broncos already had lost three games this season on field goals in the final 22 seconds — two of those were made on the game’s last play. Now they let a 20-0 halftime lead get away, the third time in franchise history they did not win a game they led at the half by at least 20 points. The Broncos have three road games in the next four weeks and still have games against playoff hopefuls — Buffalo, Kansas City, Houston and Oakland — on the docket. Some serious ugliness awaits if they cannot keep their edge despite all of the disappointments. — Jeff Legwold
Next game: at Bills (1 p.m. ET, Nov. 24)
The Colts had their best rushing performance in nearly 15 years, running for 264 yards against Jacksonville. Running backs Marlon Mack, who left the game in third quarter with a hand injury, and Jonathan Williams were the dominant performers for Indianapolis. Mack rushed for 109 yards on 14 carries, and Williams had a career-high 116 yards on 13 rushes. The 264 yards rushing as a team were the most for the Colts since they ran for 275 yards against Chicago on Nov. 21, 2004. Mack and Williams are the first two Indianapolis players to both rush for at least 100 yards in the same game since Randy McMillan and Albert Bentley did it in 1985. — Mike Wells
Next game: at Houston (8:20 p.m. ET, Nov. 21)
The Jaguars’ playoff chances took big hit Sunday. The Jaguars couldn’t stop Indianapolis’ ground game, as the Colts averaged 7.3 yards per carry. The Colts didn’t do anything fancy, either: They lined up and manhandled the Jaguars’ defensive front. Figuring out how to stop the run this week against Tennessee is critical and a must if the Jaguars (4-6) are to salvage any hope of getting a playoff spot. — Mike DiRocco
Next game: at Tennessee (4:05 p.m. ET, Nov. 24)
The Falcons defense looks like a totally different unit from the one that struggled through most of the first half of the season. And it’s sparked a dramatic turnaround resulting in a two-game win streak and 2-0 start in the NFC South. The defense hasn’t allowed a touchdown since the end of the second quarter against Seattle (Week 8), keeping both New Orleans and Carolina out of the end zone. In the past three games, the Falcons have recorded 13 sacks, 25 quarterback hits, and four interceptions. “If we keep playing the way we are as a defense, offense and special teams put together, that’s the team we believe we can be,” free safety Ricardo Allen said. “I know we’ve got something we can do. I know who we have. We just have to put it out there and not talk about it.” — Vaughn McClure
Next game: vs. Tampa Bay (1 p.m. ET, Nov. 24)
You can’t put all the blame on Panthers quarterback Kyle Allen for Sunday’s embarrassment. He had a lot of help from an offensive line that didn’t give him time to throw. But his four interceptions against the Falcons and eight in the past four games are alarming. Carolina (5-5) has no chance to make the playoffs if this trend continues. Sunday’s loss may have been the beginning of the end of Carolina’s playoff hopes. “I understand that I can’t make these same mistakes because it ends up with us losing the game,” Allen said. — David Newton
Next game: at New Orleans (1 p.m. ET, Nov. 24)
The Jets beat a bad team for the second consecutive week, but they did it in convincing fashion. The big story was quarterback Sam Darnold and the offense, which has scored eight touchdowns in the past two games after scoring only eight in the first eight games. Darnold has regained his confidence, and that should be worth at least two or three more wins down the stretch. — Rich Cimini
Next game: vs. Oakland (1 p.m. ET, Nov. 24)
The Redskins have a long way to go just to reach respectability. Losing by 17 to the Jets at home — after a bye — is inexcusable. They’re going to suffer growing pains with rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins, but don’t confuse that with blaming him for the loss. He’s not good enough to carry an offense that needs carrying. And the defense continues to make the same mistakes that has plagued it for more than half a decade. It’s maddening to watch for a fan base that long ago had it so much better. But this is where the Redskins are at: 1-9 with no hope in sight for the immediate future. — John Keim
Next game: vs. Detroit (1 p.m. ET, Nov. 24)
Josh Allen was at his absolute best against the Dolphins on Sunday. He accounted for four touchdowns and more than 300 yards of offense. It was a much-needed performance in a “get right” game before the Bills’ most difficult stretch of the season. With an AFC wild-card spot on the line, Buffalo plays Denver in Week 12 before facing Dallas, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and New England in consecutive weeks — although the team isn’t looking at any game as more important than the others. “I would say every game is a must-win, whether it’s a conference game or not,” left tackle Dion Dawkins said. “Every Sunday needs to be a W.” — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Next game: vs. Denver (1 p.m. ET, Nov. 24)
Riding a two-game win streak, the Dolphins took a step back defensively in their loss to the Bills. It was a sign that some of their issues won’t truly be solved until they add more talent and experience to that group. It doesn’t erase some of their recent progress, but it does put it in perspective. — Cameron Wolfe
Next game: at Cleveland (1 p.m. ET, Nov. 24)
The Browns won one of their biggest games in years, and nobody will be talking about it. Instead, all focus will be on defensive end Myles Garrett, who inexplicably ripped the helmet off Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Rudolph and slugged him in the head with it in the final seconds of Thursday’s win. Garrett is suspended indefinitely and will miss at least the remainder of the 2019 season. It was a black mark on the Browns organization, who come off dysfunctional even in a win. — Jake Trotter
Next game: vs. Miami (1 p.m. ET, Nov. 24)
Before the end-of-game melee, the story was the Steelers’ woeful offense. It didn’t help that Pittsburgh’s top three offensive threats — James Conner, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson — went out with injures over the course of the game. But Pittsburgh averaged a paltry 3.7 yards per play, and Rudolph threw four picks to just one touchdown. “At this point, we were just not good enough,” guard Ramon Foster said. “We had just not been supporting our defense. As a whole, we just have to be better. Everyone is going to say whatever they want about us, but we are sticking together and making it happen. … This is probably as humbling as it can be on a marquee-type game. Very humbling.” — Brooke Pryor
Next game: at Cincinnati (1 p.m. ET, Nov. 24)