Analysis
11/21/22
15 min read
What We Learned: 33 Expert Takeaways From Week 11
On an NFL Sunday that had one gamed moved due to snow and multiple others finish as low-scoring games due in part to weather, there were a number of surprising performances and interesting developments. The 33rd Team’s experts weighed in with 33 takeaways from the day’s games:
Ravens 13, Panthers 3
1.) "The Panthers are playing defense the way many of us expected them to play before the season started — quick, aggressive, and attacking the QB. And Baltimore had a few crucial big plays. Other than that, this was a pretty even game. It was not Lamar Jackson’s best game, but he managed to make key plays in key moments. This Ravens' defense is playing much better than it did early in the season — allowing them to win these tight, low-scoring games like they did today." — Joe Banner
2.) "The Ravens were able to pull that game out today just off of the Panthers' offense being inept... It's almost like Coach Harbaugh just had the mentality 'Don't lose it offense, they can't beat us moving the ball or anything, so let's just get out of here.' The bright spot for Baltimore was Demarcus Robinson coming away with over 100 yards today." — Samari Rolle
Bills 31, Browns 23
3.) "The Bills were able to get the game under control by being able to finally run the ball. All season long, Josh Allen's been seeing seven-man fronts because they've been unable to run the ball, which is why they throw so much. Today, Josh Allen wasn't as healthy as he normally is, they leaned on the running game with James Cook and Devin Singletary. You can't draw it up any better, and maybe the Bills have found a formula to take some pressure off of Josh Allen and play towards the defense, and just shorten games some. You can't win a shootout every week." — Samari Rolle
4.) "The Bills were balanced today and Josh Allen played a clean game. Matt Milano was all over the field and was their best defensive player, and that defense held Nick Chubb to 19 yards. Jacoby Brissett had another really strong performance for the Browns, throwing for 324 yards. They clearly have a great situation at QB long-term in Cleveland, with Brissett there as insurance behind a soon-to-return Deshaun Watson." — Mike Tannenbaum
5.) "Cleveland’s problems appear to be much deeper than its QB, as Jacoby Brissett actually had a pretty good game today. I assume their head coach will return in 2023, but I will be shocked if they do not make a change at the defensive coordinator spot. Even with Deshaun Watson returning in a few weeks, the Browns are unlikely to make a run this season. It’s probably time to start planning for 2023." — Joe Banner
Eagles 17, Colts 16
6.) "Though the Eagles' signings of Linval Joseph and Ndamukong Suh sealed up the holes on defense, the loss of Dallas Goedert was apparent on offense. They looked stagnant and were down one less of a dynamic threat in the passing game. Tyree Jackson and Jack Stoll have big shoes to fill until Goedert’s return. They may have pulled off a close one with the Colts, but teams now have a blueprint in back-to-back weeks with the Colts and Commanders on how to handle Philadelphia on both offense and defense." — T.J. McCreight
7.) "There is no doubt that the Eagles are a very good team, but it’s been a while since they’ve played dominant football. They were behind 14-0 vs. Jacksonville, almost lost to the Cardinals, lost to the Commanders, and were actually outplayed today by the Colts. They need to get their offense back on track consistently. Despite the Colts playing so poorly last week against the pass, they benefited from the Eagles' fairly conservative offensive scheme until the end of the game, when they had to get aggressive through the air. Neither team should walk away from it feeling particularly good." — Joe Banner
8.) "I expect Jeff Saturday to just get better and better like he did his whole career. I expect him to take it on like he took on his football career, as far as getting better and better, improving, learning, every game is a learning experience, and after awhile once you feel like you've got it, the sky's the limit, things are going to go in the direction that he anticipates, the owner anticipates. They're in pretty good hands." — Edgerrin James
9.) "The Colts look rejuvenated with Jeff Saturday as their coach. They ran it 26 times and threw it 23 times, which is their best formula. Defensively, they had three sacks and held Jalen Hurts under 200 yards, which was good, but inexplicably they didn’t account for him in the run game on the game-winning play." — Mike Tannenbaum
10.) "The Colts somehow thought that they could beat the Eagles without having any success passing the ball. After the first quarter, the Colts ran the ball on first downs 12 times for 24 yards, for an average of two yards per carry. In the second half they ran 10 times on first down for only seven yards, an average of 0.7 yards per carry. The coaches put the team in a near-impossible situation for an offense to have success with that gameplan, and chose not to adjust whatsoever." — Joe Banner
Commanders 23, Texans 10
11.) "Momentum is a hell of a drug, and the Commanders are as high as I don't know what. This team has won five of their last six, and their only loss was a small one to the Vikings. How are they doing this? One reason is Taylor Heinicke is playing amazing ball and that team has rallied around him. It seems like once he got injected into that team, hype got injected into their veins." — Tank Williams
12.) "Their defense has been balling out. We saw what they did against the Eagles on Monday night. They had another dominant performance against the Texans this week, scoring a touchdown. And guess what? Chase Young is going to be back next week, as well. And when you look at their upcoming schedule, they have the Falcons and then back-to-backs against the Giants. If they can string together three more wins on the road, that wild card is looking very tempting." — Tank Williams
13.) "Houston continues to build a team that is not showing the progress it should be in the second half of the second season of this front office’s tenure. Its roster has a long way to go, and it needs to draft a QB that it can build around this offseason." — Joe Banner
Saints 27, Rams 20
14.) "This was a much-needed win for New Orleans. No turnovers for Andy Dalton and the Saints in a clean game offensively. Kaden Ellis and Carl Granderson stepped up big on defense with injuries to key contributors Pete Werner, Cameron Jordan and Marcus Davenport." — T.J. McCreight
Patriots 10, Jets 3
15.) "The Patriots are playing lights out from a defensive standpoint, and their special teams won the game for them. I don't think they're clicking on offense enough. In order for them to advance if they do get into the playoffs, they're going to have to run the ball and they're going to have to make some plays in the passing game. Right now, they're winning games because their defense is so sound, they're dominating up front, and they're playing well on special teams." — Rick Spielman
16.) "The Jets' defense is on their backs so much, you can just see the frustration. They selected Zach Wilson second overall, and he's not playing well. There's no way to sugar-coat it. I personally think the Jets would be better right now with Joe Flacco. Flacco is an adult, a veteran a leader, and the Jets have a lot of young guys on the team. Obviously the quarterback is the position of leadership. Zach Wilson, you can't be a leader if your play isn't up to par, and he's holding them back. It's obvious." — Samari Rolle
17.) "Why Bill Belichick is a Hall of Fame coach is regardless of the opponent they're playing week in and week out, he finds a way on how they're going to have to win that game. I think the Patriots take the lead on getting into the playoffs, and this loss may have cost the Jets a ticket to the playoffs, because I thought this was a critical game not only in the division but in the pecking order of who's going to get in and not get in." — Rick Spielman
18.) "I have expressed my doubts about Zach Wilson many times, but gaining a total of two yards in a single half is even hard to imagine. He appears to process slowly and his accuracy is inconsistent. That will make it a tough climb to prove that he is a quality starting QB, despite his draft selection. The Patriots didn’t play much better, but, as usual, did a couple of smart things that allowed them to win a game that they didn’t necessarily play well enough to win. That’s who they are. If they can keep winning this way, they have a chance to put a team together that can compete with the better ones in the league — but they have a ways to go to get there." — Joe Banner
Falcons 27, Bears 24
19.) "Cordarrelle Patterson is special, and once he gets going, it's hard to stop him. What he's done is incredible because the rules have changed in the return game. You can't double team or form wedges now, and for him to be able to do this with all the rule changes is even more special and more impressive than what the guys before him have done. He is just thriving as a return specialist but also at skill positions. Running back, wide receiver, wherever it is, just get this guy the ball. He's fun to watch on a team that is average." — Golden Tate.
20.) "I loved seeing Cordarrelle Patterson respond after a fumble with a record breaking kick-off return for a touchdown. Teams have not been scoring in the return game this year, but today we had two scores, one from a punt in the New England game and one from Patterson's kick return." — T.J. McCreight
Lions 31, Giants 18
21.) "Detroit has now won three games in a row. Jared Goff was efficient but not spectacular, and got help from Amon-Ra St. Brown making big plays in the passing game, with seven catches for 76 yards. Jamaal Williams had another three rushing touchdowns, and is proving to be a great compliment to D'Andre Swift." — Mike Tannenbaum
22.) "Yes, they're still two games under .500, no they're not catching the Minnesota Vikings. But there is perhaps a reason for optimism. Dan Campbell has been through the wringer in his first season and a half as th head coach of the Lions. But the Lions' offense is humming... They're not going to make the postseason, but maybe, just maybe right now, you're seeing the foundation of a team that might turn things around in 2023." — Trey Wingo
23.) "The Giants are going to have to make more plays in the passing game for them to have a meaningful chance to have success in the postseason. At least rookie Wan’Dale Robinson was encouraging with nine catches for 100 yards." — Mike Tannenbaum
24.) "It's clear the Giants are not built to play from behind. Jones has not been terrible, but if Barkley can’t get going and the defense gives up points, they just don’t have the fire power on the outside to get back into games." — T.J. McCreight
Raiders 22, Broncos 16
25.) "Everything from two minutes left and on has been the epitome of the Broncos' season. An awful decision by Russell Wilson. Terrible clock management by Nathaniel Hackett. Defense coming up with a key stop when needed. And on the last play, quarterback and wide receivers not on the same page. Just fantastic stuff." — Mitchell Schwartz
26.) "This poor Denver defense. They finally feel like they’re getting the quarterback to solidify the team. To start playing with leads, win more games. Then the season starts and the offense sucks, but still the D is playing freaking lights out. They continually get no help. It’s so deflating playing this way." — Mitchell Schwartz
Cowboys 40, Vikings 3
27.) "All it took was one beatdown by the Green Bay Packers for that Dallas defense to get a little salty and say 'Alright, we need to pin our ears back and show everyone out there that we are the most dominant defense in the league.' Micah Parsons started that from the first drive harassing Kirk Cousins, and it didn't stop throughout the entire game." — Tank Williams
28.) "I think it's a little bit of a combination of Dallas and the way they lost to Green Bay last week, and then the way the Vikings won last week up in Buffalo, such an emotional win, that it's hard sometimes to match that type of emotion week in and week out. And you saw a Minnesota Vikings team that looked very flat today right from the get-go. They couldn't get anything going on offense. Dak Prescott and the Cowboys' offense went up and down the field on the Vikings' defense. Hopefully this is something that was just a one-off for the Vikings." — Rick Spielman
29.) "Not only did the Dallas Cowboys prove to themselves they're one of the better teams in the league, not only did they prove it to their fans, I think they proved to OBJ that they're one of the better teams in the league, and if he was signing now between the Cowboys, Giants, and other NFC teams, I think Dallas and Jerry Jones have won the prize. I wouldn't be surprised to see OBJ say he's going to big D in a couple weeks." — Tank Williams
30.) "I'm not going to let this game define them, but I think what's going to happen the next few weeks will define the Vikings for me. They get the Patriots, the Jets at home, and then the Lions away. It's important for them to get back on the right track, don't let this beatdown snowball into multiple beatdowns. You have to right the ship right now, get solid wins, and show you're going to be a dominant team in the NFC." — Tank Williams
Bengals 37, Steelers 30
31.) "It seems like the Cincinnati Bengals passed a couple quizzes over the past couple weeks, but now the real exam is coming up. In this latest game, Joe Burrow was able to spread the ball around, whether it was Tee Higgins, Trenton Irwin, and threw four passing touchdowns. But what I think is most important now is their upcoming schedule. They have to face the Titans, and after that the Kansas City Chiefs at home. We're going to really learn a lot about this Bengals team over the next couple of weeks." — Tank Williams
Chiefs 30, Chargers 27
32.) "It's no secret that Mahomes and Kelce love primetime games, and I feel like whenever we turn on a primetime game and Kelce's on TV, he's going to score two or three times. These guys are just rolling. I saw the Chargers score late in the fourth quarter, I looked at the clock and said 'OK, too much time for Kansas City, they'll make something happen.' What do you know, they go out there and make it look very easy on how they score to win the game." — Golden Tate
33.) "I don't think any team can stop Kansas City. I think the only team that can stop Kansas City is Kansas City. And the only hope that I think other teams have is if they can get some turnovers in crucial moments. But if Kansas City plays the way they did tonight, with the players they had, in addition to running the ball like they did tonight, they're hard to beat. And the only hope is for them to self-destruct." — Golden Tate
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