Here are nine things we learned from Sunday’s games of Week 11 and what they mean for the future:
9. Changing of the QB in Chicago?
After the Rams took a 17-10 lead with less than four minutes left, the Bears surprisingly yanked quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and inserted backup Chase Daniel. It didn’t help, but it spoke volumes. Trubisky had no apparent injury. But, like he has been most of the season, Trubisky was ineffective. He completed 24 of 43 passes for 190 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Daniel is not a long-term answer. But, neither is Trubisky, the second overall pick in 2017. His time in Chicago likely is coming to an end. The Bears almost certainly will sign a free agent (Teddy Bridgewater?) or draft a quarterback.
8. The Raiders are for real
The Raiders have some of the most dedicated fans in the league. They never were a negative factor during the battle to get a new stadium in Oakland. That fiasco was between local government and the team. With the team moving to Las Vegas next year, wouldn’t it be nice to see Oakland fans enjoy a home playoff game before the team leaves? Winning the AFC West might be a stretch. But it’s no stretch to picture the Raiders in the playoffs. Sunday’s victory over winless Cincinnati might not seem like a huge deal. But it was important. The Raiders are 6-4 and very much in contention for the playoffs. Suddenly, their Dec. 1 game with Kansas City is looming large in the AFC West.
7. Kirk Cousins will get another huge contract
The Minnesota quarterback has been on fire since Week 5, after being publicly criticized by receiver Adam Thielen. Cousins had another big game Sunday, throwing for 319 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Vikings to a 27-23 win over Denver after rallying from a 20-0 deficit. A lot of people laughed when the Vikings signed Cousins to a fully guaranteed three-year, $84 million contract last year. But no one is laughing now. Cousins still has next year left on the contract. But, if he keeps playing like he has been in recent weeks, Cousins will get an even bigger contract for 2021.
6. Jameis Winston has had enough time
The Tampa Bay quarterback is in the final season of his rookie contract. He hasn’t proven he’s a franchise quarterback. I’ve been saying the Bucs should use the franchise tag and bring Winston back for one more season with coach Bruce Arians. After Sunday’s four-interception loss to the Saints, I’m thinking it’s time to forget the franchise tag and let Winston move on. My opinion is influenced by a recent conversation I had with a former general manager who said, “Winston’s had five years. He hasn’t done it. What makes you think he’ll ever do it?”
5. Adam Gase really is safe
When ownership gives a coach an endorsement, it often turns out to be the kiss of death in the end. That’s what I thought when Jets ownership said last week that Gase was safe for this year and will be the coach in 2020. But Gase now has won two in a row. More importantly, quarterback Sam Darnold threw four touchdown passes against the Redskins. Gase is supposed to be a quarterback guru. With Darnold playing well, Gase’s job is safe.
4. The Falcons could save Dan Quinn’s job
Dan Quinn appeared to be the coach on the hottest seat a few weeks ago. The Falcons were 1-7. But they beat Carolina on Sunday, a week after winning at New Orleans. That alone won’t save Quinn’s job. But if the Falcons can win out or come close to it, Quinn could stick around. Owner Arthur Blank might settle for less than a playoff berth if the Falcons finish with strong momentum.
3. Bengals now lead Joe Burrow sweepstakes
Early in the season, the assumption was the Miami Dolphins would get the No. 1 pick and draft Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. But things have changed. The Dolphins won a couple games and people started connecting his name to the winless Bengals, who remained on target for the top pick with Sunday’s loss to Oakland. LSU quarterback Joe Burrow’s stock has been steadily rising. He now could be the top pick. Tagovailoa suffered a major hip injury on Saturday, and his stock could drop.
2. One game can win an MVP award
Generally speaking, one game won’t win an MVP award. But Sunday might have been the exception. Houston’s Deshaun Watson and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, who (along with Russell Wilson) are the favorites for MVP, faced each other. The Ravens won 41-7 and Jackson put distance between himself and Watson. Jackson threw four touchdown passes and rushed for 86 yards. Voters are going to remember what happened when the two met head to head.
1. Dak Prescott is Cowboys’ identity
On the FOX pregame show and during the broadcast between the Cowboys and the Lions, the announcers talked about how Dallas needs to find an identity. The logic was that the Cowboys needed to be either quarterback Dak Prescott’s team or running back Ezekiel Elliott’s team. On Sunday, there was no question they were Prescott’s team. He threw for 444 yards and three touchdowns. It needs to stay that way going forward. Elliott should remain an important part of this team. But this needs to be Prescott’s team to go deep in the playoffs. If you have a franchise quarterback, he needs to be the franchise.
Pat Yasinskas has covered the NFL since 1993. He has worked for The Tampa Tribune, The Charlotte Observer and ESPN.com and writes for numerous national magazines and websites. He also has served as a voter for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
