Seems like the emerging story is a team that gave up 70 points a game, which made them 0-3, is going to the playoffs.
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This is the time of the NFL season when playoff favorites truly separate themselves from the rest. This is also the time when teams need guys to step up, replacing injured superstars and fortifying weaknesses.
A nod to Sunday’s unheralded stars, from most surprising to least:
1. Browns QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson
The fill-in for Deshaun Watson won’t have yesterday’s performance enshrined anywhere,
but the UCLA rookie was enough to beat the Steelers, 13-10. These 7-3 Browns can win the AFC North, even without the franchise quarterback. Cleveland’s defense might be the best single unit in the NFL and is at least the best in the division. This team has won games with Watson, Thompson-Robinson and PJ Walker at QB. I expect to see them in the playoffs. Joe Flacco’s
even here to help.
2. Giants QB Tommy DeVito
A week after looking helpless, the 25-year-old rookie threw for 246 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in an unexpected 31-19 win over the Commanders. New York’s season is done already at 3-8,
but we shouldn’t question their pride. (Not surprising?
The showers at FedEx Field breaking, leaving both teams unable to bathe postgame.)
3. Bills OC Joe Brady
Buffalo fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey last week, a sure sign the season was heading to the abyss. Quarterbacks coach Joe Brady found himself promoted and helped direct a 32-6 win over the Jets yesterday in which — of course — the Bills
looked invincible again. I still have no idea what to do with them. Meanwhile, the Jets benched Zach Wilson, lost four turnovers, engaged in a tunnel scuffle and
have never looked worse.
4. Broncos QB Russell Wilson
Yes, a real thing. Wilson has been largely awful the last two seasons, but late last night, it was the former superstar throwing a dart to Courtland Sutton to clinch
a 21-20 win over the 6-5 Vikings. Denver has won four straight after starting 1-5.
5. 49ers QB Brock Purdy
OK, this isn’t shocking, but let’s zoom out a bit. For all the headlines Purdy has earned, this is still a guy who’s played 19 regular-season games in the NFL. Yet he has been a superstar for most of that time, never moreso than yesterday, when he threw three touchdowns in San Francisco’s 27-14 win over Tampa Bay and finished with a perfect 158.3 passer rating.
No 49er has done that since Joe Montana. With two straight dominant wins, 7-3 San Francisco is all the way back, and Purdy is largely the reason.
We have
full takeaways from Week 11 here, including a wild Lions win they probably didn’t deserve. And don’t miss Robert Mays and Nate Tice
reacting live to all the action.