The NFL playoff picture is starting to take shape after an eventful week 11. The 0-10 New York Jets are officially eliminated from playoff contention and the 10-0 Pittsburgh Steelers can book their place in the playoffs this week.
From Joe Burrow’s season ending ACL injury to the Carolina Panthers shutting out the Detroit Lions, week 11 certainly had it all.
With thanksgiving action to come tomorrow night, let’s have a look at the week 11 NFL action.
A Great Rookie Year Cut Short in Week 11
There is something about FedEx Field. We have seen so many nasty injuries at the home of the Washington Football Team.
There was the injury to Alex Smith two years ago against the Houston Texans. There was the injury earlier this season to Kyle Allen.
Even before Washington played at FedEx Field, Super Bowl winning quarterback Joe Thiesmann also suffered an injury similar to the one suffered by Smith at the RFK Stadium. This would end his career. . Thiesmann’s injury was career.
Now we have seen another injury, this time to Cincinnati Bengals’ number one overall pick, quarterback Joe Burrow.
Burrow was on course for one of the best rookie seasons ever for a quarterback before the injury.
Burrow threw for 2,688 yards, recording 13 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. It will likely be 11-12 months before we see Burrow back on the field. Will he come back the same player?
Offensive Player Of Week 11: Jared Goff (Quarterback- Los Angeles Rams)
I could have given this to Deshaun Watson who recorded three touchdowns and threw for 344 passing yards in the Houston Texans’ 27-20 win over the New England Patriots. However, this game has no bearing on the playoffs and had no real importance, apart from draft pick order.
Goff threw for 376 passing yards and three touchdowns in a win that keeps them level on wins with division rivals Seattle Seahawks at the top of the NFC West. This also gives them the advantage in the playoff picture over the team they beat, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In the 27-24 win, Goff managed to get the job done despite the good defensive showing from Tampa Bay.
This win is huge for not only Goff’s confidence but also the race to reach the post season. They will also use this as something to base their future games on.
The Rams couldn’t beat Tom Brady in Super Bowl 53 when he was with the New England Patriots. They will now know that they can do it against other elite quarterbacks.
Defensive Player Of Week 11: Justin Simmons (Safety- Denver Broncos)
The Denver Broncos managed to humble Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa by sacking him 6 times in their 20-13 win over Miami. Tua was benched late on and Ryan Fitzpatrick came in before throwing the game deciding interception to Simmons.
Simmons also managed to record three stops and six tackles.
Playoff hopes are slim for this season, but this was a brilliant defensive performance. by Denver. The important plays made by players such as Justin Simmons shows how good Denver can be in the years to come.
Elsewhere In The League in Week 11
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was shut out for the first time in his 159 game career as the Lions lost 20-0 to the Carolina Panthers.
This was despite the injury to Carolina quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Former XFL quarterback P.J. Walker did a great job in Teddy’s place, throwing for 258 yards and one touchdown.
The Dallas Cowboys and Washington Football Team both won, which puts all four NFC East teams on three wins each, to make a disastrous division an intriguing one.
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