While that was going on, there were some players and teams who had good games, while others just didn't show up at all. Here's the best and worst of week eleven.
Best:
Jonas Gray, Running Back New England Patriots
It always seems that the Patriots manage to find a way to have a player come out of nowhere and have a big impact on their football team. In this case, it was Jonas Gray. Standing at 5-10, the 225-pound back returned to Indiana to trample the Colts. He shouldered much of the offensive load, carring the ball 38 times for 199 yards and the first four TDs of his NFL career. He entered the game with 32 career rushes for 131 yards. Add one more ferocious facet to a New England team that seems more Super Bowl-ready with each passing week. The only guy who had more rushing yards this week in the league was Le'Veon Bell of the Steelers. Yeah the Patriots are that good at being able to find players
Worst:
Ben Tate, Running Back Cleveland Browns
During the offseason, Tate was one of the big names landed in free agency by the Browns to help with their running game and make it better. That plan has gone right out the window. Sunday, Tate rushed twice for minus-9 yards. That was his swan song in Cleveland. Rookies Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell have taken away his workload in the run game, so there's no point in him still being around. Thanks to his performance, Tate was just let go by the Browns. So much for this experiment in Cleveland.
Best:
Mike Evans, Wide Receiver Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The rookie wide receiver class that's hit the NFL this season has been a pretty damn good one. Of course everybody has been talking about the guys like Odell Beckham Jr and Sammy Watkins and Kelvin Benjamin that have largely been grabbing the headlines. But Evans came out on Sunday and showed that he can hang in this league as well as the other guys. He had seven catches for 209 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Washington. This was the most prolific performance by a rookie receiver in more than a decade, and the best numbers by a receiver league wide in week eleven. He was out to prove that he can hang with the big boys in this league and then some.
Worst:
Detroit Lions Wide Receivers
When you think of the Lions, you think of Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate, and them having monster games. Together, Tate and Johnson (when he's healthy) had combined for seven 100-plus yard receiving games. But Sunday against Arizona, they were limited to 100 yards total, and 0 TDs, Thanks to the skilled play of Cardinals CBs Patrick Peterson and Antonio Cromartie, among others, Detroit dynamic duo was shut down and the Lions fell into a first-place tie in the NFC North with Green Bay after its 14-6 defeat.
Best:
Chicago Bears
Da Bears actually stepped up big at home for the first time all season, when the Vikings came into town. A strong showing by QB Jay Cutler, WR Brandon Marshall and the defense allowed the Bears to win for the first time this year at Soldier Field, matching the total of the NHL's Blackhawks and the New Zealand rugby team. The win got the Bears back to two games under .500 and helped keep them within relative shouting distance for a wild card spot.
Worst:
New Orleans Saints
Its a tough thing to fathom that the Saints have trouble playing at home. Its rare to see them lose at the Superdome. Its even harder to fathom that they lose two straight at home. Well the unthinkable has happened. The Bengals came in and spanked the Saints 27-10 Sunday, handing them a two game losing steak at home. They hadn't lost two in a row at the Superdome with Sean Payton on the sideline since 2009. Now they find themselves out of the division lead and a virtual afterthought in the NFC wild-card chase.
Best:
Andy Dalton, Quarterback Cincinnati Bengals
I know Dalton didn't put up huge numbers against the Saints on Sunday, as he went 16 of 22 for 220 yards and 3 touchdown tosses. Those numbers won't really scare anybody. At the same time, he was nearly worthless two weeks ago (2.0 QB rating in the loss to Cleveland), he was nearly perfect (143.9 rating) in Sunday's upset of the Saints in New Orleans as the Bengals reclaimed first place in the AFC North.
Worst:
Mark Sanchez, Quarterback Philadelphia Eagles
Here's the Mark Sanchez people like to write about. Sanchez reverted into the mistake-prone quarterback Jets fans remember, as he lost two fumbles and was picked off twice. Two of those miscues were returned for touchdowns by the Packers. as the Eagles were blown out 53-20. In fairness to Sanchez, who was making his second start for Philly, the Green Bay defense was able to key on the pass after taking a 30-3 first-half lead.
Best:
JJ Watt, Defensive End Houston Texans
Watt is quickly becoming one of, if not the best defensive linemen in the league. Watt continued to strengthen his case for defensive player of the year honors with a sack and three tackles for loss in Sunday's win over the Browns. However his biggest highlight was a pretty 2-yard TD reception on offense when he hauled in a pass near the corner of the end zone. This guy proves he can be a double threat. He makes life miserable for Quarterbacks and he can be an offensive threat in the red zone. The guy truly is multi-talented.
Worst:
Antonio Smith, Defensive End Oakland Raiders
The slide is even more pronounced for Oakland's Antonio Smith. A member of the 2013 Houston Texans, who lost their final 14 games, Smith has now been on the losing side the last 24 times he's taken the field. He really can't catch a break in being able to get on a winning team.
There you have it the best and worst of week eleven in the NFL!
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