Sunday has come and gone and things are heating up. Playoff races are get more intense (yes, even in the NFC East!), we still have an undefeated team (and a winless one), and injuries and COVID continue to make games unpredictable. Keep on reading to catch up on everything that went on between the whistles on the eleventh Sunday of the 2020 NFL season.
Pittsburgh Steelers 27- Jacksonville Jaguars 3
Earlier this week, ESPN released a list of the top 10 ranked rookies, decided by NFL writers and analysts…a list that omitted Steelers’ sensation (and Canadian stud) Chase Claypool. Not that he even noticed, but for the sake of storylines, it’s not hard to imagine that the slite fueled his performance today in which he became the first wide receiver in the Super Bowl era to score 10 total touchdowns in his first 10 games. I would call that top 10 worthy. Oh and the Steelers came out on top for the tenth time.
Carolina Panthers 20- Detroit Lions 0
Just as it looks like the Lions are about to get themselves on some form of track, they go out and do that. Don’t get it twisted, it’s not like Carolina played well, P.J. Walker made his first start, throwing two picks and a touchdown and Christian McCaffrey wasn’t even playing. Time to start the countdown clock to Matt Patricia’s firing…
Houston Texans 27- New England Patriots 20
Deshaun Watson looks like he’s playing the best football of his career this year, and unfortunately for the Patriots’ slim playoffs hopes, he continued that form into Sunday. The Patriots had a promising opening drive but then seemed to forget that they had to keep playing.
Tennessee Titans 30- Baltimore Ravens 24
For the second time in 2020, the Titans marched into Baltimore and broke some hearts. First, it was the AFC Divisional Round, where nobody was giving them a chance to knock off Lamar Jackson and Co, until they did so pretty convincingly. This time, with Baltimore struggling to keep pace in the AFC North, it was a closer affair. But the memories of the playoffs were alive and well, with both players and coaches verbally going at each other during warmups. The animosity ramped up on the field as both sides did what they could to wear each other out as they headed to over time. With just over five minutes left, Derrick Henry bullied his way through the whole Ravens’ defence for a walk off touchdown. Titans 2, Ravens 0.
Cleveland Browns 22- Philadelphia Eagles 17
It may be time to start calling Carson Wentz what he is: a bust. Injuries aside, Wentz simply isn’t a good quarterback and was exposed as such by a mediocre Browns defense. An errant pass led to a 50-yard pick six, and another mistaken read became his 14th interception of the season. Wentz isn’t the only woe of the Eagles, their offensive line is as good as sieve, leading to their quarterback being sacked 40 times in 10 games. Credit to the Browns for committing to the run game in a downpour, and further credit to Kareem Hunt, who hurdled an Eagles defender like he was on the track.
New Orleans Saints 24- Atlanta Falcons 9
The Atlanta Falcons had a golden opportunity for a win: playing a team whose starting a tight end (by trade) at quarterback. But as goes the saying, this is why we play the game. Hill looked every bit the human Swiss army knife as the designated quarterback as he has every other game he’s played in for the Saints. From throwing absolute dimes, to getting punt distance on passes, to running in two touchdowns. If the game taught us anything, it’s that the Saints could be better off than they previously looked in the absence of Brees, based on the fact that game planning for Taysom Hill at quarterback looks like it’s become the hardest ask of all defensive coordinators.
Washington Football Team 20- Cincinnati Bengals 9
Another week, another devastating injury. This time, it was number one overall pick, Joe Burrow, going down with what looks to be an ACL tear. The Bengals couldn’t get much going , especially after Burrow’s exit, and it was Alex Smith who led his team right back into the NFC Least playoff picture.
LA Chargers 34- New York Jets 28
You know you suck when not even the 2020 LA Chargers can find a heartbreaking way to lose to you…
Denver Broncos 20- Miami Dolphins 13
It was not Tua Time this week after the rookie was benched for ineffectiveness, but what we do know is that the Dolphins saw FitzMagic revert to FitzTragic. Miami had a chance to send this game to overtime, as DeVante Parker was targeted in the end zone with 63 seconds left. Instead, Fitzpatrick’s pass was caught by Broncos’ safety Justin Simmons to secure Denver’s fourth win of the year.
Dallas Cowboys 31- Minnesota Vikings 28
The quarterback experiment is over in Dallas as Andy Dalton made his return. And boy oh boy did he come back clutch, throwing a game winning touchdown in the dying minutes. The game-sealing score was the fourth lead change of the quarter in what was a truly back and forth affair. The win keeps Dallas in the NFC East’s basement, but just a half-game back of the division lead.
Indianapolis Colts 34- Green Bay Packers 31
It was a tale of two halves for the Colts’ defense on Sunday afternoon. They allowed 28 first round points, looking like no matter what their offence did, they would not give them a chance to win. Suddenly, the second half rolled around and it became apparent why these guys are still ranked as the league’s number one defense. As the second half rolled on, Green Bay wasn’t given an inch, until penalties handed them a mile. Indy took five holding penalties, setting Rodgers up for a chance to break their hearts. A strong red-zone stand forced the Pack to kick a field goal to push it to OT. Even then, the Colts couldn’t catch a break, losing the coin toss and being forced to start the overtime trying to stop a surging Rodgers. That was until rookie safety Julian Blackmon forced a fumble from Valdes Scantling. Indy kicked the game winning field goal minutes later.
Kansas City Chiefs 35- Las Vegas Raiders 31
The Chiefs were out for revenger after having their 13 game win streak snapped by the Raiders in Week 5 of this year (the same win that resulted in the now infamous victory lap). And under the bright lights of Las Vegas, they got it. Just as it looked like the Vegas would sweep Kansas City for the season, Travis Kelce was left all alone in the end zone, a throw Mahomes could make in REM sleep. Derek Carr may have thrown a pick while going for the Hail Mary in the dying seconds, but don’t let the blemish stop you from appreciating the masterpiece of a game that Carr had.
So with that, Sunday came to a close. We were spoiled with storylines and surprises, but how did your team do? Let us know down below!
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