NFL: Week 11 talking points

bet365 News Team Updated: Nov 22 2022 15:05 Published: Nov 22 2022 10:33

The Buffalo Bills ended a two-game losing skid and there were mixed fortunes for two one-loss NFC teams in Week 11 of the NFL regular season.

Snow couldn't stop the Buffalo Bills, +400 to win Super Bowl LVII, from returning to winning ways after they were forced to move their home game against Cleveland to Detroit, but the weather did impact a dour defensive battle between two of their AFC East rivals.

Bills beat snow, Browns to get back on track

Question-marks had begun to be raised about Bills' playoff credentials after back-to-back losses while their star QB Josh Allen had also looked shaky. So it was hardly ideal when Buffalo were forced to give up home advantage this week by the threat of several feet of snow falling ahead of Sunday's game with the Browns.

The whole of Buffalo was enveloped in a whiteout with some players having to dig their way out of their snow-covered homes to make the flight to Detroit for the game, but the Bills showed their fighting spirit to get back on track with a 31-23 win.

"We easily could've folded and allowed it to be an excuse for us," said Allen, who went 18 of 27 passing for 197 yards and a touchdown while kicker Tyler Bass made a career-best six field goals.

The Bills return to Detroit on Thursday to play the Lions in one of the Thanksgiving Day games and Buffalo are -110 to cover a -9.5 point Spread.

Rare punt return TD seals dramatic Foxboro finale

Windy conditions and two dominant physical defenses meant Sunday's rematch between the New England Patriots and New York Jets was never going to produce many points, but it looked like the two great rivals were heading to overtime deadlocked at 3-3 until one moment of brilliance won the game.

Rookie Marcus Jones stepped up to beat an 84-yard path to the end zone on the first successful punt returned for a TD in the NFL this season and the first kickoff or punt return touchdown for the Patriots in a fourth quarter since Week 11 of the 2002 season.

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It came with just five seconds left in regulation and sparked wild scenes at Gillette Stadium as Patriots fans celebrated their third consecutive win and 14th straight over the Jets, who fell from second to last place in the ultra-competitive AFC East.

New England are currently -105 to make the playoffs with the Jets, who host the Chicago Bears in Week 12, now +120 to make the postseason.

Hurts' late heroics rescues Eagles

Jalen Hurts' MVP candidature took a bit of a hit last week when the Philadelphia Eagles lost their unbeaten status in a dire display against the Washington Commanders.

The dual-threat QB, who is +600 to scoop the award this year, found his superman cape again this week to virtually carry the Eagles offense on his own in a 17-16 comeback win over the Indianapolis Colts.

He ran 16 times for 86 yards on Sunday and eight times for 49 yards in the fourth quarter alone, including a 23-yard scramble, a three-yard run on a 4th-and-2 after the two-minute warning and the game-winning seven-yard TD scamper.

The 24-year-old Texan also threw the ball beautifully - finishing 18-for-25 for 190 passing yards, a TD, no interceptions and a 107.0 passer rating.

Philly now look in great shape to earn the NFC's number one seed for the playoffs and a first-round bye - particularly after the Minnesota Vikings lost their one-loss status in a blowout defeat in Dallas.

Cowboys owner talks up Super Bowl win

Fresh off a win over the Super Bowl-contending Bills, Minnesota attracted plenty of support to follow that up with a win over a Cowboys team coming off a chastening defeat in Green Bay to the inconsistent Packers.

ESPN reported that it was the first time since 1976 that a team 8-1 or better starting its regular quarterback was rated a home underdog.

However, America's Team brought their A-game to U.S. Bank Stadium and left with all the loot in a 40-3 win that reignites their +1000 Super Bowl chances, according to owner Jerry Jones.

"A resounding yes. Yes. Unequivocally yes," Jones said when asked if this Cowboys team is championship-calibre. "I think we've had adversity.

"I think if we use the experience of what we're having in the season, then we're going to be playoff-ready. But I sure do think that what I see out here right now is the team like that you could go get a Super Bowl with."

Defensive Player of the Year frontrunner Micah Parsons led the way with two of the Cowboys' season-high tally of seven sacks.

Running back Tony Pollard racked up 189 scrimmage yards out of the backfield, including 109 receiving yards and two touchdown catches.

When the dust settled on the defeat it emerged that it was the sixth largest in franchise history and the Vikings' second-heaviest home defeat ever.