It is an enormous Week 11 of NFL motion, and the Yahoo Sports activities crew has damaged down all 4 of probably the most high-stakes video games within the race for playoff and convention supremacy.
This is the very best of the week from “Soccer 301” crew of Nate Tice, Charles McDonald and Matt Harmon, the “Inside Protection” crew of Andrew Siciliano, Charles Robinson, Jori Epstein and Frank Schwab, senior nationwide columnist Jay Busbee and senior sports activities betting analyst Ben Fawkes.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Buffalo Payments
Watch: Can Bills or Bucs be trusted?
When the Payments misplaced to the Patriots earlier this season … they obtained blown out by the Falcons the next week. The Bucs’ protection has been a lot better since Week 6 … simply as their offense has taken a nosedive. What does this imply for this weekend and past?
Tampa Bay’s fatal flaw as contender might be injuries
Operating again Bucky Irving and vast receiver Chris Godwin have each been dominated out this week with accidents, and that is been a standard theme with the Bucs’ complete roster this season. There’s sufficient expertise right here, particularly on offense, to compete for a Tremendous Bowl berth. However can they overcome a ridiculous rash of accidents? Sunday at Buffalo is an effective place to make an announcement in that regard.
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Watch: Are Bills putting too much on Josh Allen?
Josh Allen often is the reigning NFL MVP, and he could also be superior, however he may be feeling the burden of all of the duty on his shoulders proper now. Nearly as good because the Payments’ run sport is, the protection is not adequate to play that form of complementary model. Who’s creating separation within the passing sport for Allen? Somebody wants to begin, and begin quickly, or else Buffalo will not be capable of play from behind at any level, which might spell hassle.
Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams
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That is set to be one of many video games of the yr within the NFL. When the Rams have the ball particularly, it is a juggernaut matchup. Will Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald dare play man protection once more, like he did in opposition to Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay — however not with Davante Adams — final season? Can the Rams prepare dinner in empty in opposition to a Seahawks protection that is mid in opposition to that formation? As for when the Seahawks have the ball, preserve your eye on how properly the offensive line holds up in opposition to the Rams’ go rush, and whether or not Sam Darnold can kind out all these Rams dime seems to be with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the newly acquired Rashid Shaheed and extra weapons. That is gonna be an awesome one.
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The rebirth of Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold isn’t seeing ghosts, not anymore. A season after his outstanding profession resurrection, Darnold has confirmed to even probably the most skeptical eyes that his landmark 2024 season with the Minnesota Vikings wasn’t a one-off fluke. Now comes the actual problem: Proving that the ugly means his 2024 ended was.
Watch: Could Seahawks’ explosives doom Rams?
Seattle leads the NFL with a 21.1% explosive go play fee. That is not solely good — 14% is the barometer for a real explosive passing sport — it is the very best mark for any workforce since at the very least 2002. That is, properly, that is one thing the Rams must restrict!
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Watch: Rams’ Quentin Lake talks ‘scary’ Seahawks
Veteran security Quentin Lake sat down with Yahoo Sports activities to debate this matchup, together with how Sam Darnold has improved from final season, why the Seahawks’ offense has been rolling, and extra.
Watch: Will Seahawks finish season ahead of Rams?
Our first playoff projections have the Seahawks because the NFC’s No. 2 seed, and thus the NFC West champion, whereas the Rams are the highest wild-card workforce. It is a powerful name for who will win the division.
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at Denver Broncos
Chiefs’ streak of AFC West titles might be on the line at Denver
A loss on Sunday would drop the Chiefs to 5-5, and the Broncos can be 9-2 with simply seven video games left. That is … quite a lot of floor to make up. Kansas Metropolis has received 9 straight division titles, and nonetheless may be the AFC’s finest wager to achieve the Tremendous Bowl. However that AFC West streak is already on the ropes.
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Watch: Is Bo Nix good enough to lead Broncos deep into playoffs?
The Broncos are off to an awesome begin at 8-2, however over time the dropback passing sport would possibly turn out to be a hindrance. Bo Nix’s footwork leaves lots to be desired, and his limitations additionally hamstring head coach Sean Payton’s playbook at instances. That may very well be a deadly flaw if the Broncos hope to contend for a Tremendous Bowl title. Nix has an opportunity to make an enormous assertion in opposition to the Chiefs on Sunday.
Watch: Broncos cannot afford mistakes vs. Chiefs
Sacks and turnovers might have an outsized influence for the Broncos on offense, so that they’ll must restrict each. Additionally, Denver can have success by forcing the Chiefs’ protection into base personnel — which they match 82% of the time on early downs. Discovering these advantageous conditions and never turning the ball over will work hand in hand.
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Detroit Lions at Philadelphia Eagles
Watch: Eagles need big plays to beat Lions
After a tough begin to the season, the Lions’ protection beneath Kelvin Sheppard has adjusted to its personnel. Detroit is fourth in success fee, fifth in dropback success fee, and hovering across the high 10 in EPA per play allowed. The Eagles’ offense has struggled to maneuver the ball persistently, and depends on chunk performs from the weapons they’ve. Will it’s sufficient in opposition to the Lions?
A.J. Brown says Eagles offense must improve, and Saquon agrees
Philadelphia’s star vast receiver has been very vocal this season about, amongst different issues, the workforce’s offensive struggles. This is the factor: An enormous-name teammate agrees. “Whether or not it is we rating 10 or whether or not we rating 40, A.J.’s not saying something fallacious,” Saquon Barkley mentioned this week. “We all the time in search of room to enhance.” They will want it in opposition to Detroit.
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Watch: How much patience to Eagles have left for A.J. Brown?
A more in-depth have a look at Brown’s season-long disgruntled feedback signifies it is not a contract factor, it is a numbers factor. So long as Brown retains placing it on the market, he and the Eagles are going to maintain being requested about it. How does the drama finish? It would take Jalen Hurts or Nick Sirianni or one other chief within the locker room sitting down with him and telling him sufficient is sufficient. Both the best way, the Eagles are profitable — and it’d take some dropping to push towards a decision.
Lions’ Dan Campbell defends tush push
Earlier than the season, the Lions have been considered one of 10 groups to vote in opposition to banning the tush push. Their head coach backed up that sentiment forward of Detroit’s large Week 11 sport in opposition to the Eagles. “I’m a purist,” Campbell mentioned. “You are taking one thing out of the sport, then we’re taking the subsequent factor out of the sport and fairly quickly we don’t have pads anymore. Then fairly quickly you’re solely enjoying half-hour.”
